As the first dewdrop fell from the jujube tree with the morning sun, Qin Hui began to get up and prepare breakfast.
While buying breakfast outside would have been more convenient, Qin Hui had grown accustomed to the self-sufficiency of preparing his own meals. More importantly, Qin Hui was quite confident in his culinary skills.
Half an hour later, Jiang Yanxi emerged from her room, stretching lazily and breathing in the fresh air.
"Mmm, it smells so good."
Catching the faint, pleasant aroma in the air, Jiang Yanxi couldn't help but search for its source.
Soon, Jiang Yanxi spotted Qin Hui busy in the kitchen.
Qin Hui's kitchen was very simple, equipped with just a traditional mud stove, the kind that required burning firewood. Food cooked on such a stove carried the rich aroma of morning smoke.
Noticing Jiang Yanxi's curious gaze, Qin Hui urged, "Go wash up quickly, breakfast is almost ready."
Jiang Yanxi nodded and walked to the washroom with a cheerful stride. Compared to the fast-paced life in the city, Qin Hui's slow-paced, countryside lifestyle was much more conducive to well-being.
Qin Hui's breakfast was simple: two bowls of lean meat congee and two perfectly fried sunny-side-up eggs. Despite its ordinariness, Jiang Yanxi found immense happiness in the meal.
After breakfast, Qin Hui took Jiang Yanxi to a teahouse in the city, where Song Bingbing had arranged to meet them.
Qin Hui and Jiang Yanxi didn't wait long before Song Bingbing arrived.
Today, Song Bingbing was dressed very simply, wearing a black mask. She hadn't even brought her agent, Sister Hong, with her, which in a way, saved them a lot of trouble.
When Song Bingbing removed her mask, revealing her fair and radiant face, Jiang Yanxi stood up to greet her.
"Miss Song, hello, I am Jiang Yanxi."
Jiang Yanxi extended her right hand, acting with great politeness. After all, this was her savior, and Jiang Yanxi was genuinely looking forward to collaborating with Song Bingbing.
Instead of shaking Jiang Yanxi's outstretched hand, Song Bingbing turned to Qin Hui and said, "I want to eat candied hawthorn."
Jiang Yanxi was taken aback, not expecting their first meeting to be so awkward. Moreover, Jiang Yanxi could tell that Song Bingbing's intention for coming was not entirely clear.
"Alright, I'll go buy it for you."
Qin Hui nodded, sensing an unusual undercurrent in the air.
As soon as Qin Hui left, Song Bingbing took her seat.
Jiang Yanxi, feeling a bit helpless, withdrew her hand and sat down opposite Song Bingbing.
"Miss Song, I'm here to discuss an endorsement deal for our product. Rest assured, the endorsement fee we offer will surely satisfy you."
Seeing Song Bingbing's indifferent attitude, Jiang Yanxi decided to initiate the conversation, believing the offer she was about to make would entice Song Bingbing.
"Since that is the case, then for Qin Hui's sake, fifty million wouldn't be too much to ask, would it?"
Song Bingbing said in a calm tone, as if discussing something trivial.
Upon hearing the price, Jiang Yanxi was clearly stunned. She had conducted market research beforehand, and the maximum they had budgeted for this endorsement collaboration was thirty million.
Fifty million was undoubtedly a blatant price gouge.
Under normal circumstances, as the company's president, Jiang Yanxi would have immediately refused. However, this time, Jiang Yanxi hesitated.
"What?"
"If President Jiang cannot afford this amount, then I suggest we drop this collaboration. After all, money is merely a fluctuating number to me."
Song Bingbing stated calmly.
"I can afford fifty million, but what is the reason?"
Jiang Yanxi's tone also turned colder. She was an intelligent woman and had sensed Song Bingbing's targeting of her since her arrival.
Jiang Yanxi had only met Song Bingbing for the first time, and she didn't know where she might have offended her. She was aware of Song Bingbing's considerable popularity in the entertainment industry, but their encounter today felt different.
"Since you're so eager to know, I'll tell you. It's because of Qin Hui."
"From my intuition, your relationship with him seems a bit too intimate. To be frank, Qin Hui is mine. If you wish to become his woman, you'll have to get past me first."
Song Bingbing declared assertively.
As women, they possessed a keen intuition when it came to rivals in love.
Hearing this reason, Jiang Yanxi couldn't help but chuckle.
"Miss Song, if this is your reason, then there's no need. Qin Hui and I don't have that much of a relationship."
Jiang Yanxi shook her head helplessly.
"I don't expect you to admit it. Perhaps what you say is true, but who knows what the future holds."
Song Bingbing picked up her teacup and took a slow sip.
"Alright, fifty million. I agree."
Jiang Yanxi swiftly took a contract worth fifty million from her bag, signed her name, and then handed it to Song Bingbing.
Song Bingbing's eyelids twitched slightly. She hadn't expected Jiang Yanxi to be so decisive. It seemed she had underestimated this woman's patience; Song Bingbing had thought Jiang Yanxi might just turn and leave.
"President Jiang is truly straightforward."
Since the money was already in hand, there was no reason for her to refuse. Soon, Song Bingbing signed her name on the contract.
After the contract was signed, the two women began to discuss the finer details.
It was half an hour later when Qin Hui returned from the market. Qin Hui had originally planned to buy one string of candied hawthorn, but on second thought, he bought three, as he could afford to treat Jiang Yanxi to one.
As Qin Hui was about to enter the teahouse, he encountered Song Bingbing coming down.
"Finished so quickly?"
Qin Hui asked curiously.
Song Bingbing didn't answer immediately. Instead, she took a string of candied hawthorn from Qin Hui's hand.
"We're done. Didn't I tell you to buy just one? What, did you buy one for Jiang Yanxi too?"
Song Bingbing asked with a hint of resentment in her eyes.
"Ahem, I couldn't just let her watch wistfully."
Qin Hui coughed dryly, masking his awkwardness.
"Alright, I won't bother you any longer. In a few days, I'll be holding a concert in Jiangnan Province, and you absolutely must attend."
"Oh, and here's the fifty million endorsement fee from Jiang Yanxi. I'm giving it to you, and you're not allowed to refuse it."
After dropping the bank card, Song Bingbing left directly. She wanted to chat with Qin Hui, but she had to maintain appearances, as their relationship was a private arrangement.
Looking at the bank card in his hand, Qin Hui felt a strange sense of being kept. However, with this money, Qin Hui could pursue other endeavors.
A short while later, Jiang Yanxi also emerged from the teahouse, but her expression was not pleasant.
"Now that the contract is settled, what are your plans next?"
Qin Hui called out.
Jiang Yanxi didn't answer immediately. Instead, she snatched the remaining two strings of candied hawthorn from Qin Hui's hand.
Qin Hui was taken aback.
"One of them was mine..."
Qin Hui said somewhat humbly.
"You're this old, and you still eat candied hawthorn?"
Jiang Yanxi gave Qin Hui a cold glance. She had seen Song Bingbing take one, so Jiang Yanxi decided to take two. No matter what, she couldn't be at a disadvantage.
Qin Hui was about to say something, but decided against it after a moment's thought.
"Drive, back to the company."
Jiang Yanxi got into the passenger seat of Qin Hui's car and began eating the candied hawthorn.
"Yes, Miss Jiang."
Qin Hui reluctantly acted as the driver.
For some reason, Qin Hui felt a sense of being the scapegoat.