Gu Susu was a little surprised. Chang Qingchuan then said, "You haven't been with the company long. Participating in a meeting like this can only be beneficial, not detrimental. It will give you a comprehensive understanding of the company's current situation, which will be helpful for your future design decisions."
She knew she couldn't avoid it and said, "Okay, I understand. I'll go in with you and sit next to you."
"Sit next to me, then what about President Qin..."
"We're both from the design department, so sitting together shouldn't cause any gossip." Gu Susu didn't want to be too close to Qin Tianyi during the meeting. It would be beneficial for both of them to keep their work and personal lives separate at the company.
"Alright."
Gu Susu entered the conference room with Chang Qingchuan and sat in a seat slightly behind and to the right of Qin Tianyi.
When the meeting began, Qin Tianyi did not pay special attention to her, treating everyone equally.
Department heads reported their situations to Qin Tianyi one by one. Gu Susu was merely an observer and had no right to speak.
She also secretly glanced at Qin Tianyi. He looked energetic, and the sadness from yesterday was gone from his eyes, though his under-eye bags were a bit deep.
Where had he gone last night? He probably hadn't rested well. Although he was hiding it well now, it was still no match for her eyes.
Qin Tianyi, who was listening to a subordinate's report, suddenly looked at her, catching her off guard and making her turn her head away.
Fortunately, among the department heads attending the meeting today, only Manager Li and Chang Qingchuan knew her past and true identity. Everyone else just saw her as a newcomer in the design department.
However, she was highly valued by Chang Qingchuan shortly after joining the company, and she had already heard some rumors.
Some people in the company were privately spreading rumors that her relationship with Chang Qingchuan was not normal.
She simply dismissed it with a smile, believing that after the spring launch event, these rumors would be self-defeating.
She was quite confident in her abilities in fashion design.
"Xiao Gu, Xiao Gu, you speak." Chang Qingchuan called her twice before she snapped back to attention.
"What? Speak about what?" She hadn't expected to be asked to speak and had been distracted, so she hadn't heard anything.
Chang Qingchuan smiled at her and said, "Talk about the design concept for the women's wear in this spring launch event. Talk about the concept."
Gu Susu understood. Chang Qingchuan emphasizing that she should talk about the concept meant she should give a general idea, not the complete design proposal.
Before the launch event, too many people shouldn't know the entire launch plan and detailed design drawings.
She composed herself, stood up, and explained the design concept she had come up with.
Several department heads, who had initially been dismissive, found it somewhat interesting as she spoke. The head of the ready-to-wear department couldn't help but ask, "Your concept is indeed novel, incorporating retro and Chinese elements. But won't it be too complicated and chaotic?"
"It shouldn't be. I will adjust it according to the specific styles and details, integrating some innovative elements into the fashion," Gu Susu explained.
Chang Qingchuan also added to her explanation, "Everyone can rest assured about this. It will definitely be a surprise at the launch event."
"I'm looking forward to it." Qin Tianyi, who had not spoken a word, uttered these two words.
The other department heads chimed in, "Yes, we are really looking forward to this year's launch event."
Gu Susu sat down with a smile, sensing that every senior executive at Mishang Company hoped to see improvement in the women's wear sector.
She was the last to speak, as the department heads had finished their reports.
Seeing that no one else was speaking, Qin Tianyi snapped his laptop shut, causing the entire conference room to fall silent.
With a dark expression, he began to critique each department head's report, finding none of them satisfactory.
Gu Susu watched his every move. Previously, he had to pretend to be foolish and never showed his working style in front of others.
Now, with no need to feign ignorance, Qin Tianyi was like a different person. Even though he was younger than most of those present, he could intimidate everyone.
He stood there, blasting each person with his imposing aura, terrifying sharpness, and that devilishly handsome appearance, making her heart pound suddenly, and she felt flustered.
She took a deep breath and stopped looking at Qin Tianyi. No matter how charming this man looked, she couldn't be swayed. Falling for someone like him would only bring her suffering.
He turned a summary report meeting into a battlefield filled with smoke, with everyone being criticized until they were dejected and embarrassed.
Gu Susu noticed that once he pointed them out, each department head had shortcomings. While it seemed like nitpicking, his points were not unreasonable, leaving no room for rebuttal.
They could only silently endure the suffocating atmosphere of the meeting. After two hours, her forehead was covered in cold sweat.
When Qin Tianyi finally announced the meeting's adjournment, everyone felt like they had narrowly escaped death.
However, as everyone stood up to leave, Qin Tianyi suddenly said to Chang Qingchuan, "You and that newcomer stay behind."
Chang Qingchuan responded, preparing himself to be criticized further, but he concluded that the Boss was in a very bad mood today, likely related to Gu Susu, who was by his side.
Did they have an argument at home yesterday?
But when only the three of them remained in the conference room, Qin Tianyi didn't even look at Chang Qingchuan. He only stared at Gu Susu and asked, "Seeing how confident you are in your design proposal, it's best not to have any slip-ups."
Gu Susu looked at him and said with a forced smile, "It's alright."
Qin Tianyi, however, said, "I trust Chief Chang's judgment. Because he believes in you, I agreed to your proposal for a completely new plan. I hope it won't disappoint me."
Chang Qingchuan treated himself as invisible, not interrupting their conversation, and thought about finding an excuse to leave.
Gu Susu calmed herself and said, "Thank you, I'll do my best not to disappoint you."
"Doing your best isn't enough. I need you to have a hundred percent certainty."
Gu Susu felt he was being difficult. The success of a fashion launch event depended on the actual execution. Who could guarantee one hundred percent certainty?
"There's nothing in this world that is one hundred percent certain."
"Then you dare to overturn all previous plans and start anew? Who will take responsibility if something goes wrong?"
Gu Susu was about to say she would take responsibility, but Chang Qingchuan interjected, "President Qin, I will take responsibility for any issues. You two talk. I'll go get the specific design proposals for you to review."
With that, he left the conference room to get the detailed proposals and design drawings without waiting for Qin Tianyi's consent, leaving the conference room to Qin Tianyi and Gu Susu.
"If there are any problems, it has nothing to do with Chief Chang. These are all my own ideas and thoughts." Gu Susu didn't want anyone else to bear the responsibility for her.
Qin Tianyi walked closer to her, put his arm around her waist, looked down at her from above, and said lightly, "He is your supervisor now. Your ideas cannot be implemented without his approval and signature."
Gu Susu found him unreasonable and said with her patience worn thin, "You don't still think there's something between me and Chief Chang, do you? He's been working for you for over two years, and you've given him the position of Chief of the Design Department. Shouldn't you trust him?"