Chapter 68

That's how it is: Bo Ya insists that Cheng Bai stole their design plan, filed for an investigation, and demanded that we change the order, putting Bo Ya last in the demonstration.

Wang Xiao gave a summary.

Xu Yanfeng crossed his long legs, tapping his knee with his fingers: "How did you reply?"

Wang Xiao said: "I promised them I would investigate thoroughly, but I refused their request to swap the order."

Xu Yanfeng's finger paused, and he lifted his eyes to glance at him.

Wang Xiao didn't quite grasp the meaning behind that glance, and cautiously asked: "Does that mean… we shouldn't cooperate with their investigation?"

"You didn't do anything wrong." Xu Yanfeng said softly, "The Xu clan has no need to take risks by cooperating with a company embroiled in copyright issues; investigating thoroughly can help us avoid some trouble in advance…"

Wang Xiao exhaled, straightened his back, but the boss's next sentence took a sudden turn: "The Bo Ya plan was stolen; asking to swap the demonstration order is understandable. For such a small matter, giving them a convenience is fine—it doesn't hinder the other competing design firms, and it can earn the Xu clan a good reputation."

Wang Xiao immediately lowered his head: "Yes, I know what to do."

Hmm.

Xu Yanfeng didn't stay long; after giving his instructions, he got up and left.

Wang Xiao saw him off with the other senior staff; he said "Please stay," then opened the door and left.

After Xu Yanfeng left, Wang Xiao stood by the door, lost in thought. A few seconds later, he asked the people behind him: "Did you just hear what General Manager Xu said?" He answered himself: "He said, 'The Bo Ya plan was stolen,' but the investigation hasn't even started—how can he be so sure?"

Someone replied: "Isn't it obvious? If Bo Ya weren't the victim, how could they come to us so righteously?"

Wang Xiao murmured: "That makes sense."

*Xia Xi and Lu Mingji returned to the previously booked room; the team members were inside waiting for news. As soon as they appeared, one or two rushed forward to ask for the results.

"How is it? Does the person in charge believe that plan is ours?"

Lu Mingji had a dry mouth and throat; he sat down, twisted open a bottle of mineral water, thinking that Xia Xi had just said even more than he had, so he handed the water to her. Xia Xi didn't stand on ceremony, took it and drank a few sips.

"The person in charge promised to investigate this matter, but for now all we can do is wait for news." Xia Xi's voice was almost hoarse from shouting, a bit raspy: "Oh, right—I'll later send the draft and the drawing process to Deputy General Manager Wang's email."

"Then does that mean we can't participate in this afternoon's design competition?"

Xia Xi: "Yes."

"Damn, we've worked so many days for nothing—I feel like killing someone! We don't know when the investigation results will come out. After the voting session ends, if we still can't prove that Cheng Bai stole our design plan, aren't we doomed?"

Xia Xi: "It's not totally over—at least the Xu clan's person in charge has a sense of it; even if this plan ends up winning, they wouldn't dare use it directly. I said Bo Ya would sue Cheng Bai, so they'll certainly weigh the risks carefully. We may suffer, but Cheng Bai won't get off easy either."

"Saying that makes my heart feel a bit balanced, but I'm still angry."

Xia Xi: "Indeed it's frustrating; being angry is justified."

Gao Ge watched Xia Xi, who held a bottle of mineral water, took two sips to answer a question, remaining calm, rational, composed, and peaceful—indeed more like the company's backbone than Boss Lu Mingji.

Gao Ge asked: "You said we should move our demonstration to the last slot—did the Xu clan agree?"

Xia Xi looked at her, shook her head: "I tried to negotiate, but they refused."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Lu Mingji's phone rang; he pulled it out, saw the caller ID, and told those present: "It's Deputy General Manager Wang calling."

Everyone fell silent, no longer chattering around Xia Xi with questions. Lu Mingji answered the call, heard a few sentences from the other side, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he repeatedly said thanks: "Thank you, thank you, for troubling you."

After hanging up, Lu Mingji glanced at the faces before him, smiled faintly, and said: "Deputy General Manager Wang said we can move Bo Ya's demonstration to the last slot." Having said that, he raised his eyebrows at Xia Xi: "I think he must have given it careful thought and been persuaded by you. Xia Xi, who says you lack management ability? I think you're quite suited to be a leader."

Xia Xi didn't respond.

Gao Ge had been harboring a doubt; she asked Xia Xi: "I actually don't understand why you strongly insisted on swapping the order. Tomorrow afternoon, what plan will we present for the demonstration? Is it exactly the same as Cheng Bai's?"

Xia Xi took another sip of water: "Let's keep it secret for now."

Before the matter is settled, she worries about further changes, so she intends to keep things under wraps first.

Gao Ge: "?"

She didn't know what medicine Xia Xi was selling from her gourd, but after this incident she no longer held any prejudice against her; although she still felt uncertain in her heart, thinking a turnaround was impossible, seeing Xia Xi's determined gaze, she felt a spark of hope rise from despair.

Hope that a miracle will happen.

Xia Xi raised her wrist to glance at her watch; it was now 1 p. m., with 28 hours left until tomorrow afternoon's design submission deadline. She decided to take a gamble—perhaps she could turn the tide against the wind.

"I'm going to open another room and stay at the hotel from now on; you go about your business, don't lose heart."

After saying that, Xia Xi grabbed her bag and left, calling Su Jinru on the way to report in, saying there was a problem at work, she wouldn't be returning tonight, but if all went well she'd come back tomorrow for dinner.

Having her mother nearby is reassuring; she can entrust her child to her and devote herself fully to work.

*In the blink of an eye, it was the final day of the design competition. In the meeting room, Zhang Wanli sat with full confidence, his gaze sweeping around—he saw not a single member of Bo Ya, and he was extremely pleased.

The Bo Ya people hadn't shown up since yesterday morning.

That makes sense—since their design drafts are gone, they have nothing to present, so they simply stayed away.

The design companies with later draw numbers finished their presentations one after another, yet Bo Ya's team still hadn't appeared. Wang Xiao glanced now and then at the meeting room door; they had agreed to move Bo Ya to the last slot, but it was almost over—if they didn't come now, it would be tantamount to forfeiting.

The host responsible for maintaining order waited a moment; no design company stepped forward, and the draw numbers showed that the company that had just presented was indeed the last.

"Then I announce that this design competition ends here—thank you for your participation…"

"Wait!"

Before the host could finish his sentence, a clear female voice suddenly came from outside the door, interrupting him.

Everyone followed the sound to the meeting room doors, which were pushed open from outside. Leading the way was a tall woman with striking features, wearing a full suit of mixed-tone oat-beige, revealing the collar of a white wool undershirt; around her neck she wore a string of gold pearls and pearls intertwined, her long curled hair tied up, giving her a neat, capable presence and a strong aura.

The woman strode forward with purpose, her team members behind her matching her pace, actually exuding the momentum of ten thousand troops.

Xia Xi stood before the host, gave a slight nod: "Sorry for being late—I've taken up ten minutes of everyone's time. We are Bo Ya Design Company; we had previously applied to Deputy General Manager Wang for the final demonstration slot."

She could have arrived on time, but she spent an extra ten minutes putting on makeup—after nearly thirty hours of work, her complexion was hardly presentable.

The host looked at Wang Xiao, who nodded; the host then stepped aside, yielding the spot to them.

Guess where Xu Er is? Peeking at his wife from outside the door……_(: з」∠)_(End of chapter)