Urban Soldier Young Master

Chapter 886 - 885: Mu Xiaoting Joins the Company

Tong Yaqi initially noticed the handbag because Xu Zhen was surprisingly helping the woman beside him carry it. But her gaze stayed on the handbag for only two seconds before she realized that this seemingly ordinary women's bag was perhaps not so simple.Although Tong Yaqi was quite interested in the handbag, facing the woman who was likely her target, she couldn't just stare at her bag upon first meeting; that would be too undignified. So, she shifted her attention to the woman herself.

Upon closer inspection, Tong Yaqi noticed some noteworthy details. Although the woman's clothing was clearly not high-end, there was something unique about how she wore them, giving off an aura of elegance and poise.

More noteworthy were the woman's single eyelids. Tong Yaqi had to admit they were the most beautiful single eyelids she had ever seen and that this woman was the most beautiful single-lidded girl she had ever encountered.

Besides the superficial aspects, there was a unique light in those eyes, a combination of calmness and liveliness, showcased with a confident grace intermingled with a subtle intensity.

While Tong Yaqi was sizing up Mu Xiaoting, Mu Xiaoting was also appraising Tong Yaqi, continuously comparing and analyzing herself in terms of stature, temperament, and appearance.

The crossing of the two women's gazes was their first confrontation.

"Manager Xu, do you need something?"

Tong Yaqi stopped at the door of the general manager's office, her voice as calm as water, her expression as cold as ice.

Most of the time, this was how she presented herself in the company. As a leader, especially as a female leader, she felt it necessary to maintain enough authority. Of course, it was also to give the woman in front of her a bit of a scare.

Seeing Tong Yaqi was like a mouse seeing a cat for Xu Zhen. Even in his state of great excitement, when Tong Yaqi stood opposite him and asked that question so casually, he immediately felt the temperature drop around him and his body instinctively tensed.

Aside from Chu Ge, not every man was fortunate enough to see Tong Yaqi smile, let alone witness her most charming, feminine side.

Xu Zhen stood respectfully to the side, saying, "President Tong, I have something to report to you."

Tong Yaqi nodded expressionlessly, then pushed open the office door. "Come in."

Sitting in the chair behind the large desk, Tong Yaqi placed her interlaced fingers on the tabletop, looking at Xu Zhen with a scrutinizing gaze that maintained a strong sense of distance, as well as at Mu Xiaoting who stood at the door without entering, having taken back the handbag.

This woman, she knows how to respect boundaries.

Tong Yaqi added another evaluation of Mu Xiaoting. She had assumed Mu Xiaoting would follow Xu Zhen in, allowing her to reprimand Mu Xiaoting for her audacity based on the fact she hadn't invited her in.

However, Tong Yaqi wasn't in a hurry; there was plenty of time in the future, and she wasn't eager to resolve this immediately.

"President Tong, should I close the door?"

"No need, just speak here. You have two minutes."

"Understood," Xu Zhen promptly replied, "President Tong, it's like this. Regarding the task you previously assigned to me, I think I've found the right candidate, the girl who came with me."

"I don't recall seeing her before. Is she new?"

"Yes, she just came for an interview."

"A newcomer who's just arrived, and you say she can become a key member of the R&D department?" Tong Yaqi's gaze turned cold. "Xu Zhen, are you being too hasty and arbitrary? Or, are you joking with me?"

"President Tong, I'm definitely not joking. If I didn't have complete confidence in her capabilities, I wouldn't have come to you now. With her talent, I believe I must retain her for Tianqing; she's simply a genius."

Xu Zhen paused, then added with some difficulty, "It's just that I'm hesitant to make any rash salary promises. I'm afraid if I offer too little, she'll leave us, but I don't have the authority to offer more. So, I hope you can make an exception and meet her."

Hearing Xu Zhen say this made Tong Yaqi slightly intrigued. She hadn't expected Xu Zhen to hold this new employee in such high regard. It seemed that this girl was indeed very capable.

Earlier, when Tong Yaqi saw Xu Zhen helping the girl with her bag, she was quite disdainful. But now it seemed clear that Xu Zhen wasn't acting because of the girl's temperament and appearance; it stemmed from an inner excitement to keep this talent at Tianqing, even putting aside his pride to do so.

Tianqing Company was in need of talent to produce outstanding works, so having exceptional talent was crucial. If this girl was truly that capable, would it be too wasteful to drive her away?

Tong Yaqi felt a twinge of hesitation and lightly tapped her slender fingers on the desk a few times. "Briefly tell me about this girl."

"Her name is Mu Xiaoting. She graduated from the Paris Academy of Fine Arts with dual master's degrees in fashion design and visual communication design. Manager Chu and I have reviewed her credentials. She's also independently developed and designed several games, stored on the portable hard drive she brought. I tried one out earlier, and I must say, many aspects of it are quite ingenious with a high playability factor."

Hearing Xu Zhen say this, Tong Yaqi started taking Mu Xiaoting more seriously. She drummed her fingers on the table a few more times, suddenly thinking of Mu Xiaoting's bag.

No wonder she found the bag so special; wasn't it a Chloe handbag? Hadn't she seen it in a fashion magazine issue?

Even though the Chloe brand isn't as prominent as Dior or Louis Vuitton, it is indeed one of the globally renowned brands, though many may not have heard of it.

Unlike other international brands, Chloe's handbags have always had a fluctuating design style since joining the brand, with romanticism being the only constant theme throughout its varying designs.

Moreover, it's noteworthy that the Chloe brand originates from Paris, France, which corresponds with where Mu Xiaoting studied abroad.

Graduating from such a world-class art institution, possessing the creativity and design ability, and carrying a handbag in the five-digit price range, she exuded strong confidence. Chu Ge also specifically mentioned that this woman had some background...

Considering all this, Tong Yaqi increasingly felt that this girl named Mu Xiaoting was not simple. She also began to be curious about the relationship between this woman and Chu Ge and her real purpose for coming to Tianqing Company.

"Let her in, I'll talk to her."

"Okay."

Xu Zhen responded and exited Tong Yaqi's office. Following that, Mu Xiaoting walked in with a poised smile, casually closing the door behind her.

The conversation between the two didn't last long; the atmosphere was neither pleasant nor unpleasant.

Although Tong Yaqi did not give Mu Xiaoting any special treatment, offering a salary on par with the trial period standard for ordinary new hires, which was only fifteen hundred, Mu Xiaoting raised no objection. She wasn't there for the money, after all, she wasn't lacking that bit of money.

When Mu Xiaoting walked out of the general manager's office, she still wore a smile. However, within that smile, there was a subtle hint of playfulness and cunning.

Next, Mu Xiaoting followed Xu Zhen, who had been waiting at the door, back to the HR department to complete some related onboarding procedures. Tomorrow, she could officially start working as an employee in the R&D department of Tianqing Company.

Leaving Tianqing Company, Mu Xiaoting got into a taxi driven by her bodyguard. Not far before and behind this taxi were two more cars, with her father's assigned bodyguards inside.

Watching the building fade away through the rearview mirror, the smile on Mu Xiaoting's face gradually disappeared, replaced by a somewhat complex expression.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Mu Xiaoting leaned back in the car seat and took her phone out of her bag, dialing her father's number.

"Dad, I've entered Chu Ge's company and start work tomorrow."

"Alright, I know. Stay safe in Lido, and call me every day."

"Mm, don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

After hanging up, Mu Xiaoting chuckled bitterly to herself. She knew what she was doing? That was nothing but self-deception.

But this was fine too. Since childhood, every action she'd taken had been meticulously planned. This time, to hell with planning.

Meanwhile, in his CEO office, Chu Ge was dialing Mu Lingshan's number. Though the phone rang for a long time, Mu Lingshan didn't answer. After about ten minutes, she called back.

"Didn't hear it earlier, need anything?"

"Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"What? You're calling me to ask if I have anything to tell you, are you out of your mind?"

Mu Lingshan's tone was completely baffled. She paused slightly before continuing, "Oh right, are you asking about Li Zheming? Aside from what we've already learned, he hasn't confessed to anything new yet."

Given Chu Ge's understanding of Mu Lingshan, her earlier surprise didn't seem fake, leaving him puzzled that Mu Xiaoting had come to Lido without even informing Mu Lingshan.

Puzzlement aside, Chu Ge didn't bother dwelling on it. With a helpless chuckle, he said, "We'll talk about Li Zheming later. That granny of yours is in Lido again and even came for an interview at Tianqing Company today. You seriously didn't know a thing?"

"What? She, she's going to work at Tianqing Company? Are you kidding?"

Mu Lingshan sounded even more astonished, and Chu Ge rubbed his forehead. "I wish I was kidding."