Chapter 63: with translation of chapter title

The next day, the news that Xu Clan Group's Jingyu Yuan project had opened for public bidding was announced, causing a huge stir.

Bo Ya Design Company successfully obtained the entry ticket.

Lu Mingji didn't linger a moment, immediately set up a design team, appointed Xia Xi as team leader, with other members assigned as she saw fit. Of course, before making this decision, Lu Mingji asked Xia Xi for her opinion.

If she was unwilling, he would never force her, expressing respect for all her decisions.

Xia Xi had no objection.

For the sake of work, personal emotions can be set aside.

Other designers in the company, hearing that Bo Ya had obtained the qualification to participate, were all eager to join in; after all, this was a collaboration with Xu Clan Group, and even just being nominally involved would bring prestige when spoken of.

Never mind whether we could ultimately win; but if you didn't join, you'd have no hope at all. So everyone eagerly went to Xia Xi to sign up, volunteering themselves like they did during the initial job interview.

Although Gao Ge harbored dissatisfaction with Lu Mingji's decision to appoint Xia Xi as team leader, she dared not openly express it.

Yu Xiaoxiao was her assistant, on the same team, and she spoke the thoughts Gao Ge had kept to herself: "In terms of seniority, you are far more capable than Xia Xi; President Lu is either blind or blind-hearted to have chosen Xia Xi as team leader. Not to mention you, who in the company isn't more suitable than her? I think President Lu is just playing favorites, not for the first time."

Gao Ge was already irritable, and her adding fuel to the fire made the suppressed anger rush straight to her head, leaving her unable to catch her breath.

But she hadn't yet lost her rationality; such an opportunity was too rare, she also felt tempted, not wanting to miss it, so she could only choose to bow to reality: "Don't say any more."

Yu Xiaoxiao pressed her lips together and said no more.

Gao Ge took a moment to compose her emotions, then went to find Xia Xi and explained that she wanted to join.

Xia Xi didn't say anything else, just added her name.

After screening, Xia Xi announced the team roster, making eight people including herself; for the colleagues who weren't selected, she expressed her apology, hoping everyone could understand.

In the afternoon, Xia Xi summoned the other seven for a small meeting; the front projection screen displayed the external appearance and internal structure of Jingyu Yuan, surrounded by greenery, with five buildings scattered about, said to have been designed by retired Professor Li Zongyu of the Architecture Department of Nancheng University.

Xia Xi took the seat of honor and spoke first: "Xu Clan's requirements are only eight words: unified style, each with its own characteristics. As the name suggests, they demand that the decoration style of the entire holiday park be consistent, yet each hotel have its own distinctive features. Anyone with good ideas can speak up; we will pool our wisdom and strength."

Gao Ge crossed her arms and said nothing.

She wanted to see whether the young Xia Xi had the ability to lead everyone in producing a perfect plan; if she could only spout superficial pleasantries, it would be better to step aside early and let someone more capable take the seat.

The office fell silent for a moment; Xia Xi held a ballpoint pen, pressing its tip against the desk, making a "pa-da, pa-da" sound as she swept her gaze around the meeting table: "Nobody has any ideas?"

A male designer raised his hand slightly; everyone looked at him, he felt a bit embarrassed, his voice lacking confidence: "I heard Xu Clan intends to go upscale, so we might as well lean toward a grandiose style—just that luxurious look, after all Xu Clan isn't short of money."

"But they also asked for each to have its own characteristics; your suggestion of just a luxurious style would be too monotonous—where would the characteristics lie?"

"Besides, Xu Clan Group already has luxury-style holiday hotels; there's no need for them to duplicate."

"Speaking of characteristics, I actually have an idea: why not design more styles—Japanese, Southeast Asian, Mediterranean, postmodern—so that when customers come to the holiday park, they can book rooms of whatever style they like." Xia Xi had not yet expressed her stance when this idea was rejected by others: "The characteristics would indeed be diverse, but I have a question: where would the unity be reflected?"

The person who proposed the idea countered: "How couldn't it be unified? These styles can all be designed as high-end lines. High-end is their consistent theme."

Xia Xi rubbed her forehead; they were so focused on staying on topic that they had almost forgotten the design principles, starting to talk nonsense—what kind of theme is "high-end"?

Seeing Xia Xi's headache, Gao Ge curled her lips, thinking, "Is being team leader really that easy?" Once the floodgates opened, everyone's discussion grew more heated, and eventually the topic drifted off; Xia Xi clapped her hands and reminded: "Everyone, our time is not sufficient. Today is the 20th; after the New Year holiday ends we must submit the draft, and we need to reserve at least a week for drafting in between. Subtracting the three-day holiday, that leaves us only three or four days to finalize the plan. Time is tight, the task is heavy, everyone must take it seriously—don't let the topic wander."

After Xia Xi laid out the time calculation for everyone, the atmosphere instantly became tense.

"Good grief, we really can't idle chatter—it feels like our backsides are about to catch fire."

"If I hadn't done the math, I would still have thought we had plenty of time."

"What should I do? My mind is now a blank slate, with nothing at all; this won't do—I have to rack my brains to come up with a good idea!"

Xia Xi knew that without some pressure, they would feel the bidding was far away; that's why before the college entrance exam, they put up countdown signs in conspicuous places in the classroom.

Gao Ge chuckled and said the first thing upon entering the meeting room: "Having you is enough. You were the first to know the news of the open bidding; Xu Clan only announced it later, so you must be able to get inside information about the design style they want, right?"

She directed this remark at Xia Xi.

Everyone fell silent, alternating glances between Gao Ge and Xia Xi.

Xia Xi furrowed her brows; her repeated tolerance of Gao Ge wasn't out of fear, but because she didn't want to waste energy on someone insignificant, and also because the previous overt and veiled mockery hadn't bothered her.

This time Gao Ge had gone too far; Xia Xi tossed her pen onto the table, unwilling to spare her face: "Is this the basic competence of a lead designer? Lacking ability, you only want to rely on scheming? I used to think you were just strong-willed, so I didn't bother to argue with you, but now I see you lack quality and are narrow-minded. Let me repeat: the rule for the open bidding is that Xu Clan's senior management votes, and the design company with the most votes wins. You mean I should bribe Xu Clan's senior officials to cast their votes for us Bo Ya? Fine—if you're willing to put up that money, I have no objection; I can try to negotiate and see whether they'd be bribed."

Everyone lowered their heads, not daring to breathe—was this the start of a showdown? Gao Ge was left speechless, her face flushing red, then after a moment turning deathly pale.

The others also didn't speak up for Gao Ge; anyone could see that Gao Ge had repeatedly targeted Xia Xi intentionally, which was truly unnecessary—now we are a team with a common goal, and personal biases, no matter how strong, must be set aside for the sake of the bigger picture.

Having finished rebuking the person, Xia Xi wore a calm expression, as if the one who had just spoken harshly wasn't her: "We at least need to discuss a few feasible plans in today's meeting, then select from them…"

Having just been told she lacked ability, the proud Gao Ge couldn't swallow that insult; she resolved to demonstrate her professional level and speak with strength: "Let's do a business style. As Xiao Pei mentioned earlier, Xu Clan this time wants to go upscale, and business style is the best fit. Xu Clan's hotels each have their own styles, and they currently lack a business one. As for how to create distinctiveness, I don't yet have more detailed ideas, but we can first settle on a general direction."

Xia Xi, not displeased by the interruption, stopped and looked at her: "Do you think it's feasible?"

Gao Ge frowned, wondering what Xia Xi meant—was it because she disagreed with her and didn't want to adopt her idea?

"What I mean is, if you think it's feasible, then you take charge of this bidding, and the others will assist and supplement." Xia Xi said.

Gao Ge's expression was stunned; she had prepared to argue her point with Xia Xi, yet never expected Xia Xi would so readily accept her suggestion. Weren't they just arguing a moment ago?

(End of chapter)