A Friend I've Loved for a Long Time - Chapter 11

On Wednesday, Yun Zhi took Xiao Bai to the L&Y headquarters.

The people at L&Y were incredibly sincere. When Yun Zhi and Xiao Bai arrived at the ground floor of the headquarters, a woman in a black professional suit was already waiting at the entrance.

“Hello, Miss Yun Zhi. I am the President’s secretary. I’ll be responsible for your tour today. Please feel free to ask me any questions.”

Yun Zhi nodded with a smile and followed her through the revolving doors.

The lobby was bright and clean. The receptionist, who was on the phone, covered the mouthpiece and nodded with a smile as they passed. Just as they approached the elevators, the doors opened, and a woman with neck-length short hair stepped out.

Yun Zhi heard the secretary address her: “Hello, Director Qu.”

Qu Lan had intended to give a casual nod in response, but she turned her head and spotted a slightly familiar face.

Isn’t this the person who was with Yu Mingxia the other day?

Qu Lan had always been curious about anyone who could elicit such an attitude from Yu Mingxia. Seeing her here at the company, Qu Lan’s first instinct was to assume she was here to see Yu Mingxia.

But as she was about to speak, she realized something was off. If the woman was here for Yu Mingxia, Yu Chuxue’s secretary wouldn’t be the one escorting her.

Yun Zhi felt a bit awkward. The woman in front of her was sizing her up, standing right in the elevator doorway and blocking their path. Yun Zhi shot a glance at the secretary.

“This is our Legal Director, Director Qu,” the secretary explained. “Director Qu, this is the photographer ‘Yun Li Wu Zhi’ who was invited to tour the company, and her assistant.”

With the introduction, Qu Lan understood what was happening. Yu Chuxue had briefed her about a contract recently, though she hadn’t realized “Yun Li Wu Zhi” was the person standing before her.

“Hand this report to President Yu. I’ll take it from here,” Qu Lan said, handing her documents to the secretary before looking at Yun Zhi. “Hello, I’m Qu Lan.”

“Hello, I’m Yun Zhi.”

Yun Zhi hadn’t forgotten the strange way Qu Lan had looked at her—as if she recognized her and was puzzled by something.

The secretary hesitated for a few seconds, but after receiving a pointed look from Qu Lan, she turned to Yun Zhi. “Director Qu is one of the company’s early investors. She knows the company better than I do. Please rest assured, Miss Yun.”

Even though Yun Zhi would have preferred the secretary as her guide, she couldn’t very well object. She simply nodded to show she understood. The secretary then departed.

Qu Lan led Yun Zhi and Xiao Bai into the elevator and pressed the button for the fifth floor. “I’ll show you our designer works exhibition first. You might find it interesting.”

“Mm.”

Because of Qu Lan’s initial scrutinizing gaze, Yun Zhi’s response was a bit cool.

“Are you just here for a simple tour today, Miss Yun?”

Yun Zhi thought Qu Lan was digging to see if she intended to sign the contract immediately. She found the woman’s questioning a bit too direct. Perhaps I should have insisted the secretary stay, she thought.

“That was the original purpose.”

Fortunately, the elevator chimed as they reached the floor.

“Director Qu, we’re here,” Xiao Bai cut in, breaking the tension.

Qu Lan frowned slightly. It seemed Yun Zhi really wasn’t here for Yu Mingxia. Although she was curious, seeing Yun Zhi’s lukewarm attitude, she stopped prying and led them to the exhibition center.

For the rest of the walk, Qu Lan stopped making small talk and focused on introducing the fashion designs, explaining which were niche trends and which were high-end couture. Setting aside the first impression, the Qu Lan who was now professionally explaining the designs was much friendlier.

L&Y was undeniably talented; otherwise, it wouldn’t have carved out such a place in the fashion world in just a few years.

“Let’s go to the next exhibition room,” Qu Lan suggested after ten minutes.

“There’s another one?” Xiao Bai blurted out. The designs in front of them were already stunning enough; she hadn’t expected more. She quickly realized she had overreacted—how could a fashion company this size only have one room?

“Yes. And besides clothing, our company also does jewelry design.” Qu Lan looked at Yun Zhi, catching her eye.

Yun Zhi had beautiful eyes—clean and clear. Her features were that of a classical beauty, making her look very gentle. She’s friends with Yu Mingxia? Qu Lan wondered. Yet, throughout the walk, she hadn’t heard Yun Zhi mention Yu Mingxia once.

“Don’t you want to ask about our company’s designers?” Qu Lan asked.

Yun Zhi didn’t understand what she was getting at.

For some reason, Qu Lan felt that Yun Zhi’s expression wasn’t faked; she was genuinely confused and genuinely uninterested. She probably thought Qu Lan was being bizarre. If Qu Lan hadn’t promised Yu Mingxia not to mention the Yunsan Temple incident, she would have asked directly.

“It’s nothing,” Qu Lan added. “I’ll take you to see the designs of our chief designer.”

Since they were the chief designer, they naturally had an exclusive collection room. Qu Lan led them back into the elevator, heading straight for the thirteenth floor. Instead of going directly to the exhibition room, Qu Lan took a longer route.

As Yun Zhi followed, her favorable impression of L&Y faded slightly. While the designs were great, she valued the work environment. They would be collaborating for over three months; if the people involved didn’t click, the partnership wouldn’t be pleasant.

It was likely Qu Lan’s earlier scrutiny and her strange move to dismiss the secretary that had left Yun Zhi feeling defensive.

As Yun Zhi was thinking this, she glanced up and suddenly froze.

In a nearby lounge, she saw a familiar figure. The woman was leaning over a table, pen in hand, drawing something on paper. Her quiet, focused demeanor was incredibly serious. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and tapped the end of her pen against her lips, seemingly lost in thought.

A cup of steaming coffee sat on the table. She reached out to touch the cup, and at the moment she lifted it, she glanced out the window.

Their eyes met.

Perhaps startled by the sudden sight through the window, several drops of coffee splashed onto the back of the woman’s hand. But she didn’t care about the burn; she set the coffee down and immediately walked out of the lounge.

At that moment, Yun Zhi finally understood: Yu Mingxia was a designer at L&Y.

“Yun Zhi,” Yu Mingxia said, opening the door and calling her name.

Yun Zhi’s gaze traveled from her face to her hand. “Is your hand okay? Did you burn yourself?”

Her voice was soft and gentle, showing no trace of her previous annoyance.

Yu Mingxia shook her head. “I’m fine.”

She really had been startled. The person she was just sketching on paper had suddenly appeared before her eyes in the flesh. But more than shock, she felt a rush of surprise and joy.

Qu Lan frowned. She watched as Yun Zhi’s attitude underwent a total transformation—she had been cold to Qu Lan, yet her voice turned tender the second she saw Yu Mingxia.

If you say they’re close, Yun Zhi didn’t even know Yu Mingxia worked here. If you say they’re strangers, they went to Yunsan Temple together.

But the act had to be maintained. Qu Lan had to pretend she had no idea they had met before.

“You two know each other? I guess I don’t need to do an introduction then,” Qu Lan said.

“We do,” Yun Zhi nodded.

It was such a coincidence. She never expected Yu Mingxia to be a designer for L&Y.