Chapter 6: Spare Tire & Backup Plan

  Although Ling Shuiyue is proud of his talent and looks down on others, compared to people of the same age, he also appears more mature and stable, making that mixed Russian face of his even more charming with a hint of masculinity.

  No matter how cold his face is, he will still make countless women 'bow down' for him.

  Ling Shuiyue has been in Shuicheng for many years, and his female companions have changed frequently, but he doesn't have a girlfriend. This has left many people puzzled. Even last year, because of a photo of him having dinner with Mingde, rumors spread that he was Mingde's boyfriend.

  Five months ago, he met Tsubaki at a party. Tsubaki fell in love with Ryūgasaki at first sight, and Ryūgasaki also wanted to get rid of the rumors about G and try dating, opening his heart.

  Thus, in other people's eyes, Zixi naturally became Ling Shuiyue's girlfriend.

  But now he regrets it.

  This is the second regret in his life.

  Ryōsui returned to his office from the accounting room and found Shiki sitting listlessly in her chair.

  "How did you run so far?"

  "It's nothing, I just wanted to have dinner with you." Zixi stood up.

  "Just make a phone call, it's so hot today."

  Zhao Qi put another document that had just been sorted out in front of Ling Shuiyue: "This is the bidding list and budget for Blue Bay Resort."

  The bidding for Blue Bay Resort is the most important thing in his work, and 'Old Master' repeatedly reminded him to be cautious.

  "Making a phone call? God knows what excuse you'll use to stall me."

  Ling Shuiyue shook his head and smiled bitterly: What she said is right, he has almost become the king of excuses these days.

  "How can there still be stubble? Didn't I say last time that I don't like it?"

  "I like it. You're not unaware, I hardly shave my beard clean."

  "Why?"

  "You know the reason."

  "I don't know."

  "Do you want to have dinner together?" Ling Shuiyue pointed to the sofa across from him: "I need to finish looking at these reports before I can get off work."

  "You haven't answered me yet?"

  "The man is too good-looking and can't be a good person."

  Zi Xi smiled, a genuine smile: "Is this sentence for me? Are you finally willing to take only one leaf from the forest for me?"

  Ling Shuiyue lowered his head and remained silent, as if all his attention was focused on the reports on his office desk. Zi Xi slowly retracted her smile, she knew Ling Shuiyue's attitude and expression best, he never gave her a response, not even to coax her or make her laugh, it had never happened before.

  She put down all her reserve to chase him, nearly half a year now, he has never said a word about what their relationship is, as if she was just his playmate.

  Today, she took the initiative to find him and make amends for the unpleasantness last time, but he remained indifferent to her.

  Others are in love, being pampered by their boyfriends, sweet words and actions, while she is everywhere hitting cold stones.

  The only time they were passionate was when he got drunk and she took the initiative to kiss him, he kissed her back, passionately like fire, captivating.

  At that moment, she understood everything, and in this life, she would never fall in love with another man again.

  She felt that she had experienced it once, and if she continued to work hard, there would be a second time, a third time, but the passion was only in that moment, and afterwards, it never happened again, as if it had never happened at all.

  Every time she feels exhausted, she tells herself that he will fall in love with her, and one day she will move him with her devotion, but he...

  "Yao! Can't you just tell a lie to make me happy?" Zixi had endured many times, each time enduring and telling herself, if she endures one more time, Yao will get closer to her. Today, she couldn't bear it anymore.

  Ling Shuiyue still didn't speak.

  "Really? Am I that annoying to you?"

  Ling Shuiyue made a mark and raised his head: "I have to work, everyone has to eat. Can we talk about these things while eating?"

  He's still so cold, Zixi can't hold back the anger in her heart: "You also said it's so hot today, I don't have to come over myself. But why did I come over, you know better than anyone else. Did I come here just to hear your impatient words 'I have work to do, everyone has to eat'?"

  "Zixi! I never promised you anything. You know that."

  "Yes! I know! I know you won't make any promises to me. But you should understand, I know you won't make any promises to me, so why are you still trying to get close to me with such a shameless attitude?"

  For Zi Xi, Ling Shuiyao really has countless apologies. She is a good girl. If there was no ugly eight, if he had met her first, he might have fallen in love with her.

  He also tried to be with her and had been trying, but he couldn't control his emotions, he couldn't force himself to be with a woman he didn't love. Ling Shuiyue walked up: "Zixi! Let's not quarrel, okay?"

  "Not good! Not good at all! Couples' quarrels are normal and sweet."

  "Alright then, what do you want to quarrel about, what would be sweet for you to quarrel about?"

  Zi Xi heard this sentence and was absolutely desperate.

  "She angrily shouted loudly: 'What's your attitude? What are you talking about? I don't want this begging! What I want is your sincerity, the unintentional revelation of your true feelings, the deep affection in your eyes for me, the lingering attachment to me - none of which you have, none at all!"

  "You know, I've been trying hard and I also hope we can be a normal couple."

  "You also know we're not normal?"

  "Yes."

  "Let's break up!" Zixi said, turning around and walking away. She knew what he would use to respond to her, except for the coldness that was still cold, even if his words were soft, they would become cold when they reached her.

  Ling Shuiyue sat back in her chair, he didn't try to retain her, he wasn't qualified to retain her. She wasn't his someone, and he wasn't hers either, for him she was free.

  Or perhaps he had been waiting for her to say this all along.

  What if it's 'her'? Would there be such an if? That faint scent seemed to drift into his mind again.

  ——————&&&——————&&&——————

  "Come in!"

  Department head Li Ping'an walked in with a smile: "Director Wu! You're looking for me?"

  "Director Li! What's your take on these three topics?"

  "What do you think? Of course, I would only show it to you if I liked it. This is personally selected by me from a list of 30 candidates. Look at this one, the whole series is based on various noble blues as the tone for evening dresses, and this one, is beach-themed..."

  Muxi Xue didn't interrupt Li Ping'an's words, letting him finish speaking. When he had nothing more to say, she gathered the three designs and neatly stacked them together: "What you said is all good, but I think this isn't up to your standard - no characteristics, no new ideas, no creativity. There are thirty entries that made it to the finals, right? I want them all!"

  Li Ping'an's face showed a difficult expression: "This... or else, I'll send it to your mailbox?"

  "I want to see it on paper, so I can compare. How? Don't you have any there?"

  "No, no, no, no! Yes, yes! I'll go get it right away, I'll go get it right away." Li Ping'an left the office and rushed back to his own office.

  How is he a worldly report? The three copies he gave to Musi Xue were the three designs he thought were the worst, and he only printed out those three sets.

  He resented Mu Si Xue, who didn't understand design and was young and inexperienced. She had never done anything in the company before, so why should she be allowed to manage the company he had worked hard for eleven years just because of her pretty face?

  He paid so much for this company, and finally there was a personnel adjustment. He thought he could sit on the manager's chair with ease, but who knew that Cheng Yaowen would suddenly appear!

  He actually knew in his heart that it was only at 'Versace' that he could have the freedom to design what he liked, without being restricted by the market, and besides, Versace gave him treatment that other companies couldn't match.

  This time, 'Hai Yun' Fashion Week, he also wanted to participate, but he couldn't add luster to Muxi Xue, and even the thirty candidate designs were shot down together. He wanted Muxi Xue to lose in the first battle and start with a defeat.

  It's not black yet, but now he's getting into trouble for himself. Of the thirty designs, twenty-two were initiated and selected by the design department online, and he didn't even print them out. It was just a formality, anyway, so he could just pick two at random and hand them in. But unexpectedly... this girl, looking soft and weak, how can she be so stubborn? Doesn't she see there are still several days left?

  What's the point of complaining now? Hurry up and print it!

  Thirty copies, actually thirty sets, more than three hundred pages. Li Ping'an wiped the sweat from his forehead, and no matter how urgent it was, the printer couldn't print out three hundred different design drafts in one second.

  Assistant Anna walked in with a cup of coffee and saw Li Ping'an hastily tidying something up: "Director! What's the hurry? Let me do it."

  "No need!" Li Ping'an turned around, holding the neatly arranged design drawings, and accidentally knocked over a cup of coffee. Splash! The cup was overturned, and the design drawings were soaked.

  "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Anna apologized repeatedly.

  Li Ping's face turned red with rage, his eyebrows almost twisted together: "You! I told you not to, but you still dared to come forward? This month's bonus will be completely deducted!"

  "Director——!" Anna twisted her waist like a water snake.

  "Useless! It's useless even if I try!" Li Ping'an scowled, forcefully flicking the coffee off the design draft.