Limited-Time Attachment - Chapter 44

The office fell into an unbearable silence.

No one spoke.

Song Ming sat facing forward, her gaze fixed straight ahead on the low coffee table, where sunlight danced across the hidden patterns of the tabletop.

…Maybe things have been a bit too reckless lately, Song Ming thought.

It was likely because she had a hold over Chen Shengrong, giving her the chance to invisibly influence Zhong Zhengcheng’s decisions and manipulate the rhythm of Zhou Jibai’s life. She had probably become a bit carried away by her own success.

Song Ming looked up at Zhou Jibai: “I…”

“No need to say it,” Zhou Jibai’s gaze met hers for only a fleeting second before shifting away. “I know. You’re just used to acting this way, it doesn’t mean anything special.”

Song Ming froze, her expression one of astonishment. She opened her mouth as if to argue, but no words came out.

After a long pause, Song Ming tossed the folder in her hand onto the table and let out a short laugh. “Right. That’s just how I am.”

Zhou Jibai had a clear understanding of her, which was, frankly, for the best.

In the office area of the Jiaxin Building, employees carrying documents and materials walked briskly. Zhou Jibai’s secretary stepped out of the elevator and headed straight toward the CEO’s office.

Passing employees stopped and greeted her with a smile: “Secretary Lin.”

The secretary nodded back with a smile but didn’t stop her pace until she rounded two corners and reached the door of the CEO’s office.

She knocked: “President Zhou?”

The office remained quiet for a moment before Zhou Jibai’s voice finally came from within: “Come in.”

The secretary pushed the door open uncertainly. The moment she stepped inside, she was struck by the heavy atmosphere. For some reason, both bosses looked to be in a foul mood.

They were quite harmonious just a while ago, what happened?

Zhou Jibai glanced toward the door, her expression cold and devoid of warmth: “What is it?”

The secretary hesitated: “The conference room is ready. The documents are ready to be signed.”

“Fine.”

Song Ming, who had been sitting on the sofa with her face turned away looking cold, stood up. She picked up the folder from the table with a casual air. Her expression looked rather difficult to provoke, the secretary hesitated and looked at Zhou Jibai.

Zhou Jibai sat behind the desk and capped her fountain pen. “Which room?”

“B-132,” the secretary replied immediately.

As she spoke, Song Ming had already reached the door. Without even looking at the secretary, she brushed past her with the folder and walked straight out of the office.

This meeting was convened specifically to finalize the cooperation between Jiaxin and Boshen. Basically all the executives from Boshen were present; only their boss was late.

The executives sat in the conference room waiting quietly, facing the mid to high-level management of Jiaxin, feeling a bit anxious.

In contrast, Wu Chen, the lead designer who had recently returned to the company, looked perfectly composed and indifferent.

The executives exchanged glances, unsure of how to proceed.

The conference room door suddenly swung open. Song Ming, whose name had been mentally invoked countless times by the executives, appeared at the door. Her black trench coat emphasized her tall stature. Her brow was slightly furrowed, and her grey-green eyes were cold, making her look quite unapproachable.

Most of the Jiaxin executives were familiar with Song Ming’s style from years ago. Seeing her expression, they immediately felt a surge of tension.

“President Song,” one executive stood up first. “Long time no see.”

Song Ming remembered this man, he was the Vice President of Development at Jiaxin, a core creative output leader, and one of the reasons Zhou Jibai could still firmly hold onto Jiaxin after being away for two years, this man was a supporter of Zhou Jibai.

“Long time no see.” Song Ming reached out and shook his hand.

The door opened again, and Zhou Jibai entered with her secretary. Everyone’s attention swarmed toward her as they all stood up.

Song Ming was the only one who didn’t turn around.

Her grey-green eyes lowered slightly as she placed the folder on the table.

In this partnership, Boshen was technically the “guest” party, so Song Ming should have been the one to elaborate on Boshen’s future development plans and prospects. Unfortunately, Song Ming was in a terrible mood today.

“You,” Song Ming glanced at Wu Chen.

Wu Chen was the lead designer of Boshen, there was nothing wrong with having him present the plans. But Wu Chen was a blockhead. Receiving Song Ming’s look, he didn’t understand at all, staring back with lifeless eyes: “Huh?”

A Boshen executive quickly stepped in to save the day. “It is a great honor to finalize our cooperation with everyone from Jiaxin today. I’m sure you all have an understanding of Boshen’s current situation. Regarding this matter…”

Song Ming silently glanced at the oblivious Wu Chen. Lazy to deal with him, she looked away.

The executives from Boshen and the high-level management of Jiaxin went back and forth, discussing specific implementation details. Song Ming sat near the presentation screen, aimlessly twirling the fountain pen in her hand as the serious, dull voices gradually faded from her ears.

Even though Zhou Jibai was right beside her, Song Ming refused to look at her once.

Neither of them looked at the other.

“So, if that’s the case, what do you think, President Zhou?”

As the discussion neared its end and the conclusions seemed solid, a Jiaxin executive looked toward Zhou Jibai, waiting for her decision.

Zhou Jibai, who had also remained silent throughout the meeting, flipped through the documents with a calm expression. “Boshen’s future direction has great potential. I am very happy to cooperate with Boshen and look forward to witnessing Boshen reach new heights in the days to come.”

The Boshen executives, who had lived through several bankruptcy scares, immediately broke into smiles, unable to hide their joy. In contrast, Wu Chen, the man who founded Boshen and should have been more excited than anyone, remained indifferent, only glancing between Song Ming and Zhou Jibai.

It was time to sign. Song Ming and Zhou Jibai finally met each other’s eyes.

Their gazes locked, both appearing calm and rippleless. Song Ming stared into Zhou Jibai’s peaceful eyes and pushed the folder over. “President Zhou, it’s a pleasure doing business with you.”

Zhou Jibai was quiet for a few seconds and didn’t move.

The brief silence stretched long enough for everyone to realize something was wrong. Finally, Zhou Jibai took the folder and was the first to look away.

Song Ming’s gaze swept across Zhou Jibai’s profile. She lowered her head and, along with Zhou Jibai, signed her name on the documents.

“Then the partnership is officially established,” a Boshen executive said happily. “I hope we can achieve a win-win future with Jiaxin.”

“Indeed,” Song Ming picked up the folder, naturally cutting off her subordinate’s words and bluntly pushing the process to an end. “We are partners from now on.”

Song Ming shifted the folder to her other hand and turned toward the door first.

“I look forward to our cooperation, please take care of us,” Song Ming leaned one hand on the table, turning halfway to look at Zhou Jibai, emphasizing her title. “President Zhou.”

Zhou Jibai simply looked up at her without any reaction.

Song Ming lowered her eyes, gave a cold laugh devoid of emotion, turned, and left.

The conference room door swung open. The Boshen executives looked left and right, awkwardly following after Song Ming, maintaining stiff smiles as they bid farewell to the Jiaxin executives while heading for the door.

Wu Chen, however, didn’t move.

As the crowd dispersed, only Wu Chen and Zhou Jibai remained in the room.

“Is there something else?” Zhou Jibai looked at Wu Chen.

“You two,” Wu Chen said in his usual flat, expressionless tone. “Weren’t you just flirting a moment ago? Why are you fighting again now?”

Zhou Jibai fell silent for a moment, then naturally put away the documents. “We weren’t flirting.”

Music roared, the drumbeats thumping against the chest. The flashing colored lights swept over dancing bodies, and the sequins on young girls’ dresses shimmered. The air was thick with the scent of various liquors and fruit.

Song Ming tilted her head back and downed the drink in her glass. The two mint leaves floating near the rim gave off a crisp, cold scent that cleared the mind.

Feeling needlessly sobered, Song Ming frowned and set the glass down unhappily.

The thick base of the glass clinked sharply against the edge of the table.

“Who mixed this?” Song Ming asked with a scowl.

A girl sitting not far from Song Ming froze, looking at her with a bit of trepidation.

On the other side, Jing Lie heard the commotion and waved the girl away. She leaned against Song Ming’s shoulder. “What’s wrong? Is it not to President Song’s taste? I specifically sought out Wen Wen, her mixology skills are top-tier.”

Song Ming turned to look at the girl who was sitting stiffly and looking a bit lost. She raised a hand to rub her temples, barely suppressing her irritation. “It’s fine. The drink is good.”

“What’s up with you?” Jing Lie laughed, pulling back slightly to size Song Ming up.

Recently, Jing Lie had changed her style again, short hair cut straight and permed into small curls, paired with a sexy, cool black camisole. She looked quite alluring, clearly having spent a lot of effort to pick up pretty girls.

Song Ming lowered her eyes wearily, pulled out a slender cigarette, lit it, and parted her lips slightly.

The mist-like smoke swirled past her pearly teeth and slowly escaped from her red lips.

“I’m out to have fun. Why the questions?” Song Ming answered lazily.

“Oh, please,” Jing Lie laughed. “Who comes out to play like you, just drinking by yourself? I haven’t seen you in ages; what have you been busy with?”

“Cooperation,” Song Ming said casually, holding the cigarette and pulling another drink closer. “With Zhou Jibai. Hasn’t that spread through the circles yet?”

Jing Lie: “…Then I also heard you moved into Zhou Jibai’s house. Is that true too?”

Holding the cigarette between her teeth, Song Ming lazily poured some base liquor into her glass and replied offhandedly: “It’s true.”

Jing Lie hesitated for a moment. “You… you’re living with Zhou Jibai, and you’re still out drinking?”

Song Ming’s movements stopped. She turned her head slightly, her grey-green eyes looking out from the sharp corners of her lids to glare at Jing Lie.

“This is just my nature,” Song Ming said, her face partially turned, her gaze icy. “What am I supposed to be pretending for?”