Three years after our breakup, you came back to China, and I'm just giving up. Why are you cryi

Lu Hao stopped typing, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the four large characters "Yunlan Clothing" on the screen.

If he remembered correctly, the things Xiao Xiyue said on the phone this morning came from Yunlan Clothing.

wrong.!

He thought about it carefully and realized that Yunlan Clothing seemed to be targeting Xiao Xiyue's company.

Both companies are in the apparel industry, so it's perfectly normal for them to compete.

The problem is that both proposals are now the work of one person.

Lu Hao rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.

Putting aside the quality of the clothes themselves, Xiao Xiyue has absolutely no chance of winning against Yunlan Clothing.

Lu Hao looked at the plan he had already completed. He could finish it by working through the night. Then, Yunlan Clothing would have that minor celebrity as a model. With the celebrity effect, it would be a complete game-changer.

Unless... I tamper with this plan myself?

The thought had barely crossed his mind when Lu Hao quickly dismissed it.

No.

This plan not only reflects his professional ethics, but also concerns whether Lin Ran can secure her position as manager. He promised Lin Ran that he would help her win this project.

Therefore, this plan not only cannot be rigged, but must also be flawless.

But then, what about Xiao Xiyue...?

Lu Hao recalled the madness of last night and this morning, and how alluring that woman was beneath her haughty demeanor.

What kind of luck is this?

You've just fed her a good meal, and now you're going to smash her rice bowl with your own hands?

The more Lu Hao thought about it, the more he felt it was a mess, and his brows furrowed into a knot.

After struggling for a moment in his chair, he finally made his decision.

He took out his phone, skillfully opened the blacklist, added the profile picture of that icy female CEO, and then edited a message and sent it.

[Are you free? Let's chat about Yunlan Apparel.]

The message was sent out and received a reply almost instantly.

【? ? ? 】

The three question marks in a row fully expressed the other party's surprise and confusion.

Lu Hao laughed.

He could imagine the incredible expression on Xiao Xiyue's icy face when she saw the message. She'd be surprised he knew, and also annoyed that he dared to talk about work with her.

Without further ado, he sent a second message.

[Half an hour later, at the coffee shop downstairs from your apartment.]

After sending the message, Lu Hao closed his laptop and got up to change his clothes.

They have done everything they could to be kind and righteous.

He's already handed her the ladder; whether she comes down or not depends on whether she knows what's good for her.

If he doesn't come, then there's no need for him to meddle anymore; he can just focus on dealing with Lin Ran's situation.

Anyway, it's not like I'm the one who's going to suffer a loss.

……

Xiyue Clothing, downstairs coffee shop.

The booths by the window on the second floor.

Lu Hao stirred his coffee, his gaze passing through the glass and locking onto the figure walking out of the Xiyue Building.

She wore a minimalist office lady outfit, a white silk blouse stretched taut by her full figure, and a fitted black blazer over it. With her steady steps, the curves of her chest rose and fell slightly.

Her lower body was covered by a standard bodycon skirt, which perfectly hugged her curvaceous figure. Her long legs were encased in sheer black stockings, and every step she took seemed to pound against Lu Hao's heartbeat.

Her long, smooth, black hair cascaded down her back, swaying slightly as she moved, creating a powerful aura that kept strangers at bay, complementing her indifferent yet stunningly beautiful face.

Even through the glass, Lu Hao could feel the oppressive atmosphere.

Soon, the rhythmic tapping of high heels echoed from the stairwell: "tap, tap, tap."

Xiao Xiyue appeared in front of him, pulled out a chair and sat down.

Lu Hao looked at her, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"Tell me, what exactly do you want to talk about?" Xiao Xiyue got straight to the point, her voice as cold as her personality.

Lu Hao leaned forward slightly, rested his elbows on the table, and lowered his voice: "You, we were just being affectionate this morning, why are you acting all cold again?"

"You have one minute."

Xiao Xiyue completely ignored him. After saying those four words, she leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and adopted a "my time is precious, you better shut up" attitude.

Lu Hao rubbed his nose, surprised that this woman was so stubborn. She was so soft and yielding beneath him this morning, but now she was putting on this aloof and unapproachable act.

He cursed "damn woman" in his heart, but he had to admit that the contrast was quite fascinating.

He knew Xiao Xiyue meant what she said, and that "I'll give you one minute" was no joke. If he could provide useful information within that minute, she would genuinely turn and leave.

Garlic bird, garlic bird, who told me to eat and drink my fill?

He composed himself, leaned back slightly, placed his hands folded on the table, and looked at her calmly.

"Before I say anything, I'd like to know what kind of relationship Yunlan Apparel has with your company," Lu Hao said earnestly.

Xiao Xiyue slowly opened her eyes, her cold gaze fixed on Lu Hao's face.

After a moment, she spoke calmly, "Yunlan Apparel is a long-established local company with a deep foundation. Xiyue Apparel, on the other hand, is constantly expanding, which has had a significant impact on them. Right now, our two companies can be said to be the biggest competitors in the Yongcheng apparel industry. Whoever wins will be able to take the leading position in the Yongcheng apparel industry."

"What if we fail?" Lu Hao pressed.

Xiao Xiyue glanced at him indifferently, feeling that the question was somewhat superfluous. "Their failure simply means their business has shrunk, they've been relegated to the second tier, and they've suffered a major blow."

"I'm asking you." Lu Hao remained unmoved, his gaze fixed intently on her.

He wanted to know what this seemingly invincible woman was hiding deep inside.

Xiao Xiyue frowned slightly, clearly not wanting to dwell on the matter. But Lu Hao's deep eyes seemed to possess a magical power, making it impossible for her to look away.

She remained silent for a few seconds before parting her thin lips slightly, her voice tinged with self-mockery: "My failure simply means leaving this place."

After she finished speaking, she chuckled softly, a laugh tinged with an indescribable desolation. A fleeting look of resentment and helplessness flashed deep in her eyes.

Then she added sarcastically, "Isn't this exactly what you wanted? I won't bother you anymore."

Her tone was defiant, clearly saying: Don't you want to get rid of me?

Upon hearing this, Lu Hao's smile froze, and he stood rooted to the spot.

He remained silent for a long time, his gaze falling on Xiao Xiyue's face with a complex expression, trying to read more emotions from her face.

Leaving? Where is she going?

When she says "this place," does she mean Yongcheng, or everything she currently owns?

Her resentment and helplessness just now seemed to indicate that she was giving in.

Will he succumb to fate, to reality, or... to some pressure he doesn't know about?

Lu Hao didn't understand.

But he knew that the moment he heard Xiao Xiyue say "leave," his heart felt as if it had been clenched by something, and a dull pain rose in his chest.

That feeling was both unfamiliar and intense.

He looked into her eyes, which seemed calm yet held hidden turmoil. Her submission was tinged with stubbornness, as if she were fighting against an invisible force, or as if she were resigned to her fate.

This stirred up a feeling of irritation and heartache in him.

He took a deep breath to calm some of his emotions.

"Hoo..." He let out a soft breath, his gaze fixed intently on Xiao Xiyue. His voice lowered, and he asked solemnly, "If... I could get Yunlan Clothing's summer campaign proposal and give it to you, are you confident you can win?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiyue, who had been leaning back in her chair, trembled.

Her usually cool eyes were filled with shock.