Chapter 65 Sowing Discord

Su Mian answered Si Nan's call, and a helpless voice came from the other end of the line: "Master, why did it take you so long to pick up?"

"What's wrong? Did you run into any trouble?"

Si Nan had just returned to the country and was not yet fully familiar with the domestic environment. It was only natural that some things were still unclear to her.

"Not really. It's too complicated to explain over the phone. Why don't you drop by the studio, and we can discuss it in detail?"

Su Mian agreed and then hung up the phone.

When she arrived at the studio, Si Nan picked up a broom and threatened to sweep her out. "Who are you? You must have the wrong room for a robbery. My studio hasn't even officially opened yet!"

Su Mian was speechless. "Look closely, it's me!"

Why did everyone judge a book by its cover? She was completely defeated by this habit.

Si Nan carefully looked over the woman in front of her and clicked her tongue in amazement. "Master, what kind of shock have you been through?"

"Stop chattering and tell me quickly, what is this all about?"

She hadn't been resting well lately, and her head was throbbing with a severe ache.

Si Nan poured Su Mian a glass of water. "Master, apart from our original team, I've recruited two fairly well-known designers and an operations manager here in China. We can officially open next week."

Su Mian hadn't expected Si Nan's working efficiency to be so impressive, managing to gather a team in such a short period of time.

However, this should have been happy news. Why did she feel somewhat troubled instead?

She asked with a trace of apprehension, "Did you cause some kind of trouble?"

Si Nan rolled her eyes. Couldn't she wish her something positive for a change?

Besides, she hadn't caused any trouble. The one facing impending disaster was Su Mian herself.

"Master, you were missing for over a year, and our studio's prospects completely stagnated. Now that you've returned and made your comeback, quite a few industry heavyweights have called to offer their regards and even pitch invitations. I couldn't make decisions on such matters on your behalf."

With that, Si Nan handed the contact log to Su Mian. "The others are easy enough to handle, but the Qin Group has called repeatedly. I didn't know how to respond, so you should decide how to deal with them."

Su Mian wore a troubled expression. She thought she had already made things completely clear with Qin Yunzheng, but hearing that name again still stirred up lingering emotions she found difficult to shake.

After some thought, she decided it was still not the right time to expose her identity.

Su Mian sighed. "Just turn them all down for me. From now on, you are the person in charge of our studio. If there are any similar invitations in the future, you don't need to ask me—just reject them directly."

Si Nan was slightly taken aback. This hands-off approach of hers was a bit too nonchalant.

Suddenly feeling a bit dizzy, Su Mian sat down in a chair to rest for a moment, then coughed a couple of times and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back first. You should take advantage of these next few days to get some proper rest, because once the studio starts operating, you'll have your hands full."

Si Nan nodded, watching Su Mian leave with a worried look.

After Su Mian left, Si Nan called to decline the invitations one by one. Everyone expressed regret, but they all chose to respect Su Mian's decision.

Qin Yunzheng refused to give up, speaking with a hint of reluctance: "Since Lion has returned to the scene, she will definitely need partners. Our Qin Group's reputation in the industry is absolute top-tier. Please consider it and give us a chance."

This guy was truly annoying. She had already made things perfectly clear; what else was there to keep entangling over?

Si Nan adjusted her tone. "My master is in poor health and needs peace and quiet to recuperate. Please understand, President Qin."

Without waiting for a reply, she hung up the phone directly, unwilling to tangle with him any further.

Hearing this, Qin Yunzheng breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out she was only declining social engagements due to illness. If that was the case, things would be much easier to handle.

The next day, he brought a stack of nutritional supplements and went straight to the studio. "Excuse me, is this Lion's studio?"

Si Nan looked the person up and down. "That's right, but we haven't officially opened yet. Please turn back."

Qin Yunzheng handed his business card to Si Nan. "Young friend, I'm with the Qin Group. This is my card, and we've spoken on the phone before."

"I heard that Lion's health isn't good, so I specially brought some supplements for her. I was wondering if you could take me in to see her."

Si Nan was youthful and vibrant, her skin glowing with health. Combined with her unisex, gender-neutral style of dress, it was no wonder he addressed her that way.

"I'm sorry, my master does not see outsiders during her recovery period. Please take your things and leave."

Qin Yunzheng hadn't expected her to be so uncompromising. With no other choice, he could only pick up his things and leave.

Seeing Qin Yunzheng return empty-handed and dejected, Lin Qingqing asked with curiosity, "President Qin, what's wrong?"

He massaged his temples and spoke with visible exhaustion, "Nothing much. Have you ever heard of the overseas designer Lion?"

Unfamiliar with the name, Lin Qingqing shook her head.

He sighed. "Never mind then. Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand."

Lin Qingqing bit her lip. "Are you trying to collaborate with her? If not, why don't I give it a try?"

She and Lion were both women; interacting with her might prove much easier.

Qin Yunzheng didn't believe that Lin Qingqing could succeed where he had failed, but he agreed offhandedly anyway, never expecting Lin Qingqing to take it seriously.

The next day, Lin Qingqing arrived at the studio. After sitting on a cold bench for a whole day, she finally caught a glimpse of the young person Qin Yunzheng had mentioned.

However, standing right beside that youth at the moment was her old acquaintance, Su Mian. The two of them were walking shoulder-to-shoulder, heading toward the studio.

Resentment flared in her heart as she watched their retreating figures. Why was it that she had to sit outside the studio doors for an entire day just to catch a glimpse of the person she was waiting for, while Su Mian could walk side-by-side with that person so recklessly and intimately?

Deliberately stepping forward, Lin Qingqing greeted her: "Miss Su, you are still bound by an engagement to our President Qin. How can you be so intimate with the company's future partner? Aren't you afraid of bringing negative publicity to the Qin Group?"

Su Mian glanced at Si Nan, whose face had darkened as if smeared with soot, and couldn't help sneering coldly. "Lin Qingqing, are you living in the Qing Dynasty? My engagement with Qin Yunzheng was broken off long ago; we aren't even friends now. What you're talking about has nothing to do with me."

Lin Qingqing turned pale with fury. Just as she was about to retort, she was dragged away by the security guards Si Nan had summoned.

Returning to the company, she made her way tearfully to Qin Yunzheng's office.

Annoyed and distressed by Lin Qingqing's crying, Qin Yunzheng asked, "What is it?"

With eyes red and swollen from weeping, Lin Qingqing sobbed and said, "I went to the studio today to look for the young person you mentioned yesterday, but I saw Miss Su cozying up and interacting intimately with him. I couldn't stand it, so I said a few words to her."

"As a result, Miss Su flew into a rage. Not only did she curse me for lacking shame, but she also instigated him against cooperating with our Qin Group. Otherwise, I would have been able to persuade him today."