Xiang Wan didn’t understand interior design, so the only way she could help Tang Haichao was with marketing.
Therefore, she didn’t officially clock in for the first two days before going to the company.
After greeting her colleagues and getting a grasp of the basic personnel relationships, she went shopping for clothes and took care of her appearance, getting her nails done.
Tang Haichao’s company was just starting out, with only one construction team and seven or eight office staff.
Seeing a beautiful woman arrive, completely clueless about the company's business, yet immediately given the position of client manager, everyone started gossiping behind her back.
"Is she even here to work? She's clearly the boss's girlfriend, given a sinecure to supervise him at work."
"The court isn't big, but there are many officials, and a portion of them are royal relatives. Our company is really something."
Every time I went to the company, everyone treated me with a lack of respect. It didn't take a genius to figure out what they were saying about me behind my back.
However, I was used to it.
After wandering around for two or three days, the opportunity for me to shine arrived.
Tang Haichao was in negotiations with a tumor hospital in Hangcheng about renovation and refurbishment. Although it was only one building, it had a large number of departments and wards. If they secured the contract, their small company wouldn't have to worry about business for almost the first half of the year.
Unfortunately, the other party was tough to deal with, and there were many competing rivals, so the chances of winning were slim.
Tang Haichao pulled many strings to get the contact information of the hospital's person in charge. That evening, he invited them to dinner.
He brought Xiang Wan and the chief engineer from the design department. The venue was a very high-end restaurant.
A table full of good food and wine was served. Everyone introduced themselves and flattered the person in charge.
Then, Xiang Wan took out cigarettes and a lighter from her bag and actively moved to sit next to the person in charge.
"Director Qian, have a cigarette."
She handed him the cigarette pack with a gentle expression, her slender white fingers holding a windproof lighter.
The person in charge was over forty, with squinted eyes and a bulging belly.
Catching a whiff of a delicate fragrance, he turned to look at Xiang Wan, saw her flattering smile, and beamed.
"Oh, Miss Xiang, you smoke this brand too?"
Xiang Wan didn't usually smoke, but she had experience in such situations and understood the unspoken rules.
She smiled cooperatively and said, "How could I possibly afford such good cigarettes? I only heard our President Tang mention that Director Qian favors this brand, so I prepared it. I hope Director Qian will grant me this favor."
There were three men at the table. The beautiful woman actively showed favor to him alone, greatly satisfying Director Qian's vanity.
He looked at Tang Haichao with satisfaction and said, "President Tang's subordinates are truly attentive."
Tang Haichao raised his wine glass across the table and said, "Not entirely."
"Our little Xiang is usually very temperamental and famously aloof; she's never been this considerate even to me, but she's exceptionally attentive to Director Qian."
"I only mentioned it in passing, and I didn't expect her to take it so seriously. Hahaha, come, I'll toast you again."
Director Qian accepted Xiang Wan's cigarette, and he was very pleased with her "attentiveness."
He took the cigarette into his mouth, let her light it, took a puff, then raised his wine glass to Tang Haichao, getting high on smoke and wine.
Seeing him down a glass of wine, Xiang Wan diligently refilled it for him.
"Director Qian, I'm very happy to meet you today. Let me toast you again."
The man surnamed Qian placed his hand on the wine glass and teased,
"I don't drink without a reason. We've already had a drink just because we met. Miss Xiang is so beautiful; surely she wouldn't be so ignorant of such rules?"
Xiang Wan pouted and smiled, playfully hitting him.
"What reason do you need? You're the first high-quality major client I've met since joining the company. I truly admire you. What's wrong with having a few more drinks with you?"
"If you think I'm too clumsy and don't understand the rules, then I won't toast anymore. You can drink with President Tang."
"I'll just sit here and be your waitress, okay?"
These two playful remarks instantly closed the distance between them, making them seem as if they had known each other for a long time.
Director Qian's heart softened, and he burst into laughter.
"You, girl, you're sharp! You have potential! Alright, to avoid upsetting our beautiful Miss Xiang, I'll drink this."
He took a few slow sips but didn't finish the glass, then looked at Tang Haichao again.
"President Tang, if you want to build your career in Hangcheng, you need to gradually expand your 'Red Detachment of Women' forces."
"Otherwise, if you rely solely on Miss Xiang in the future, I'll feel bad for her over time."
This old man was clearly taken by Xiang Wan's beauty, and the deal was looking promising.
Tang Haichao quickly agreed, "Naturally."
"It's just that the company is small right now with little business, so we can't afford that many people."
"Once Director Qian helps sign this contract, I promise to find more apprentices for Xiang Wan, so she won't be exhausted."
Director Qian turned his gaze back to Xiang Wan, looking at her as if expecting her to acknowledge his effort.
I feel sorry for you, right? I'm already asking for apprentices for you, and you're not even going to thank me properly?
Xiang Wan shifted the topic with him.
"Director Qian, you're being too modest. With your capacity, you're only drinking half a glass?"
"Fortunately, there's no one else here, otherwise, people might say you're bullying a young girl."
As she spoke, she placed her right hand on his shoulder, then, with a smile, picked up the wine glass he had just placed on the table with her left hand and brought it to his lips.
Director Qian, enveloped in her warmth, wasn't annoyed by being pressured to drink.
He smiled and drank, then casually caressed the back of Xiang Wan's right hand, which was on his shoulder.
"Miss Xiang is right. I'll drink. I'll drink."
The contract wasn't going to be signed that easily. After the dinner, he was still sober, and everyone moved to a KTV.
Tang Haichao sat in the front passenger seat, while Xiang Wan sat behind him. The old man's hands were unrestrained, constantly brushing against her hand and knee.
Xiang Wan was calculating the business in her mind. With every touch from him, she thought: five thousand yuan, ten thousand yuan, fifteen thousand yuan...
Let it be this way. Dating someone uncertainly, being freely touched by your boyfriend all day, aren't people still happy?
After enduring until past one in the morning, and having to excuse herself to the restroom to vomit twice, she finally managed to incapacitate the former person in charge.
They also successfully secured the contract.
The next day, Xiang Wan slept until past ten before going to the company.
Tang Haichao had clearly informed everyone about securing the contract. The way people looked at her now was different; the previous flippancy and mockery were gone.
Their eyes were filled with admiration.
Tang Haichao went to his office to talk to Xiang Wan. He saw her standing by the window smoking and went over to snatch the cigarette butt from her.
"You've actually started smoking? Aren't you breastfeeding the child?"
"Breastfeeding my foot. I drank so much yesterday, and who knows how much more I'll have to drink in the future. I've quit. Starting today, I'll use formula."
"Will you hate me? For pushing you out there to negotiate business."
Tang Haichao sighed, "Seeing that old man's hands on you yesterday... it really made me feel awful."
Xiang Wan chuckled, "Is it that serious? I'm already a mother; I'm not a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl. It's not that big of a deal."
"In this society, it's too difficult for women to get ahead. I don't have a good background, but heaven gave me a reasonably good face, so it hasn't been too unkind to me. What else is there to complain about?"