While the people of Imperial went on with their morning, a black car stops in front of An Qing. The driver and passenger door open simultaneously, allowing Qi Li and Liu Shan to step out into the view.
The two men's sudden appearance caused the surrounding people to look their way. Especially their attires that held a mixture of modern and ancient.
"Oh, who are they? Why did they suddenly in front of An Qing?"
"Look at the way they are dress. Can they be actors on their way to film a movie?"
"No, I don't think so. They parked in front of An Qing, so they must be models."
Quickly as the two fashionable men appear, whispers began to resonate from all directions. Some couldn't help but stay to watch, while others could only leave as they needed to reach their destination on time.
"Eh, I wonder who's in the back seat? Is it a celebrity?"
"I don't know, but if we stay, we'll be able to find out soon."
Whispers continue from the curious crowd, but Liu Shan and Qi Li paid no mind to them. The assistant stops in front of the back door behind the passenger seat while Qi Li to the other side.
Liu Shan leisurely pulls the door open as he naturally takes a few steps back. Following, a pair of slender legs step out of the car before a figure clothed in all white comes into view.
"Oh my God! It's Han Yue Ling!"
"Han Yue Ling has made an appearance in public! Did something happen?"
"Wasn't it said that she's the real CEO of An Qing? Could this be why she is here?"
Although an uproar of bystanders' voices can be heard, Yue Ling did not notice them. Like Liu Shan and Qi Li, she wasn't bothered by it and made her way towards her purpose– An Qing.
Behind her, the two men didn't wait and follow in pursuit. However, their demeanors changed from an assistant and ill.u.s.trator into bodyguards.
As the last person in the group, Jiang Shengyi didn't forget to keep a close distance, but one can see a look of admiration in her eyes.
She was genuinely amazed by the scene in front of her. Not from the attention of the crowd but Yue Ling's behavior.
Yue Ling may no longer be a model from her understanding, but she is still a celebrity. However, unlike your usual celebrity who go out in public with bodyguards, there were none. Not only that, she (Yue Ling) seems unfazed by the people watching.
As someone new to the group, she (Jiang Shengyi) felt she had made the right decision by leaving Fang Fabrics. The longer she stared at the back of the three figures walking in front of her, she couldn't help but feel like she traveled back in time.
As Jiang Shengyi's thoughts wandered in her mind, she was quickly brought back to reality. Yue Ling's pace had slowed down until the two women were walking shoulder to shoulder.
"Ah, CEO Han, is something the matter?"
Yue Ling doesn't look at Jiang Shengyi but continues in her steps. Her eyes remained in the direction in front of her.
"A warning in advance."
Her angelic voice softly sounds, and her eyes ever so lightly flutter. She stares at the tall building ahead, and her words continue.
"This meeting will not be like your normal meetings in the past."
Hearing this, Jiang Shengyi could only blink her eyes with a confused look on her face. She wanted to ask why, but seeing a strange look in Yue Ling's eyes, she couldn't bring herself to ask.
"I understand. I will do my best not to disappoint you."
Yue Ling's eyes never faltered away from An Qing. The closer she got to the building she built from hard work, her bluish-green eyes darken like the deepest part of the Meditteranean sea.
Quickly as they appeared, the four individuals disappear as they enter the doors of An Qing, leaving those who cannot enter curiously.
The moment Yue Ling, Liu Shan, Qi Li, and Jiang Shengyi entered through the glass doors, a gust of blistering cold wind brushes past them.
Yue Ling's eyebrows furrow together at the coldness, and she stops in her steps. On her left, Qi Li pursed his lips while Jiang Shengyi couldn't help but rub her arms for warmth.
"What's going on? Why is it so cold in here?"
Standing on the right side of his boss, Liu Shan mutters with an expression like he had eaten something sour. He looks around and slightly leans towards Yue Ling.
"Boss, is it just me, or does the temperature in here feel colder than outside?"
His words entered Yue Ling's ears and remained there. She had thought the same thing when she felt the cold air upon entering.
It was the middle of the cold season. What should feel like summer inside was like that of a frozen lake.
Her eyes glanced around the place, and she can see that every person going on with their work dressed warmly. Even the securities were in their coats and had scarves wrapped around their necks.
"Qi Li."
Hearing her call him, Qi Li turns to face her like a good subordinate waiting for instructions.
"Yes, boss."
"Investigate the situation."
Yue Ling gives a quick order, and Qi Li nods his head before walking away from the group.
Once his figure disappears from view, Yue Ling turns to the receptionist's desk. Her eyes quickly make contact with a middle-aged man ahead.
"Let's go."
As the three of them nears the front desk, the middle-aged man's expression drained of all colors. His entire being washes with panic, and he whispers a few words to a young woman sitting at the desk before storming away in a frantic.
Liu Shan snorted at the sight of this and voiced his disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e.
"Even after seeing us, how dare he not greet us. He must be on his way to warn those snakes."
Yue Ling ignores the middle-aged man's behavior and continues toward the front desk. She wasn't surprised to see that kind of reaction from the employees here.
She is indeed here for a meeting, but she had arrived earlier than the time planned.
"Good morning."
Stopping in front of the desk, Liu Shan tries to keep a professional appearance as he gets the receptionist's attention.
The young woman sitting behind the desk had been staring confusingly in the direction the middle-aged man had gone. He had instructed her to do something for him, but before he could finish, he suddenly left in a hurry.
Her lower lip pouts, and she decides to brush the incident away. She clasps her palms together and rubs them gently like she was trying to keep herself warm.
"It's freezing in here. I've been working here for five years, and they always say the heater is under maintenance."
Just as her words fell into a murmur, she hears a man's voice and lifts her head to look over the desk.
Her cheeks flush at the sight of the man. However, whether she was blushing or adapting to the cold, she kept her composure and smile.
"Good morning, Sir. How can I assist your visit today?"
Liu Shan's eyebrows furrow for a split second before quickly a friendly smile revealing his pearl white teeth.
"We have a meeting with the-"
"Oh, Miss Han!"
Before Liu Shan could finish his words, a woman's cheerful voice interrupts from the side. He turns to look at the person, and dangerous light flashes across his eyes.
"Tang Xu."
Standing a few feet away from Liu Shan was a middle-aged woman dressed in a red dress. Dr.a.p.ed over her shoulders was a white fur coat, and from head to toe, she was cover with expensive diamonds.
When she heard how Liu Shan addressed her informally, she sneers maliciously before replacing it with a chuckle. She ignores Liu Shan and shifts her attention to the person she had been anticipating to arrive.
"Han Yue Ling, it is my deepest p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you. I hope your arrival was of no trouble at all."
Yue Ling stares at the middle-aged woman without returning a smile. Her bluish-green eyes were cold and void of all emotions.
She takes a few steps forward and closes the gap between her and the woman named Tang Xu.
"I do not remember allowing you to address me with such casualness."
Although she is younger than Tang Xu, she should not mind the way an elder addresses her. However, her grandfather had taught her that age does not matter. If one does not respect others, then others should not respect them.
Her eyes did avert away from the middle-aged woman, and her words continue.
"Is this the way the board of directors greets their CEO?"
One corner of her lip raises, and a side smirk appears on her face.
"If so, this is quite disappointing."
