The Fuse

5:50 a. m.

The alarm clock rang softly in the clean, cramped bedroom.

Yao Lingling slowly opened her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and then she suddenly sat up.

Ten minutes before sunrise, the sky outside the window was already tinged with a hazy dawn light, while the room remained dim.

I turned on the bedside lamp, stared blankly for a while, and gradually my thoughts cleared.

Yao Lingling picked up her Mobile Phone from beside her pillow, glanced at today's weather forecast, and just opened WeChat.

An unread message came into view.

Tang Song: "Keep it up, Designer Ling Ling!"

The message was sent at 5:30 AM.

Yao Lingling's fingertips paused slightly, a bright smile appeared on her face, and she became energetic.

According to her understanding, at this time, her senior had just gotten up.

In other words, the first thing he did after waking up was to send himself WeChat.

Tap the chat box, and your fingertips fly across the screen.

Ling Ling: "(≥V≤)/Thank you for your encouragement, senior!"

[Ling Ling: "O·0 Today is September 13th, sunny, clear autumn weather, here are some outfit suggestions—"]

After sending the message, she put her Mobile Phone aside, stepped barefoot onto the cool floor, and gently drew back the curtains.

Taking a deep breath and feeling the unique crispness of autumn, I felt as if I had been given an "Excitement Buff".

The Yan Province International Clothing Fair officially opened today.

It's worth noting that those who were present were all industry experts, media personalities, and government leaders.

Next, it will be time for Designer Ling Ling to shine!

Yao Lingling picked up the hand-drawn "Tang Song Sketch" on the table, gave it a light kiss, and swayed her hips and hummed a song as she walked towards the bathroom.

After using the restroom, washing up, putting on makeup, and changing into a smart and stylish business suit, Yao Lingling arrived at the Second Bedroom.

"Bang, bang, bang Yi Yi!" Ping Yi knocked loudly on the door and called out, "Minmin, are you done getting ready?"

"Wait a little longer!"

The door opened, and Li Shumin, wearing a face mask, walked out. Looking at the radiant Yao Lingling, she smiled and gave her a thumbs up, "So ironic, beautiful!"

"Hehe, you're so good with words." Yao Lingling patted her shoulder with satisfaction. "Hurry up and pack your things."

We need to check out the exhibition hall first, and then I'll go attend the opening ceremony.

"I'm so envious," Li Shumin pouted. "I want to participate too. I heard there are a few big Internet Celebrity with tens of millions of followers. I really want to join in the fun."

Yao Lingling shrugged. "I really can't help with that. I'll take a few more photos for you later."

Only six designers from Shangya Fashion Design were able to participate in the opening ceremony.

She was qualified mainly because her work was to participate in a fashion show.

At 8 a. m., the entrance to the Yancheng International Convention and Exhibition Center was already bustling with people, mostly staff from clothing companies.

After showing their temporary work badges, the two were able to enter the exhibition venue without any problems.

The air was filled with a light fragrance of perfume and the fresh scent of flowers, creating a stylish and vibrant atmosphere throughout the venue.

The huge central hall was neatly divided into booths.

Each booth was meticulously designed, with unique lighting, decorations, and displays.

The sounds of high heels, walkie-talkies, and occasional shouts blended together, creating a tense atmosphere.

Good morning, Sister Xuan!

Good morning, Ling Ling.

"Brother Wang! Good morning!"

After passing through the bustling crowd, the two greeted each other and entered the clothing display area of the booth.

As a well-known local clothing design company, Shangya has a very good location, situated in the core area.

Looking at the set of modern Chinese-style women's clothing she designed herself hanging on the rack, Yao Lingling's eyes were full of joy.

Li Shumin, holding her best friend's arm, exclaimed, "It's so beautiful! I can't wait to see models wearing it on the runway!"

"We'll see it this afternoon, hehe."

Li Shumin nodded vigorously, "Next, let's wait for our great designer Ling Ling to come up on stage to receive her award."

Yao Lingling smiled playfully, about to say something, when a slightly cold voice suddenly sounded in her ear, "Yao Lingling, Li Shumin!"

Yao Lingling and Li Shumin turned around and saw Liang Jiani with a serious expression and her arms crossed.

"Sister Liang." "Sister Liang."

Liang Jiani raised an eyebrow and raised her voice eight octaves. "Go help tidy up, don't waste your time here."

"Okay, Sister Liang." Yao Lingling was still smiling, as if she hadn't noticed the barb in her words. She casually tugged at Li Shumin's sleeve and walked towards the negotiation area.

Looking at the clothes on the display rack, and then at Yao Lingling's back, a hint of mockery and anticipation flashed in Liang Jiani's eyes.

Once they were a little further away, Li Shumin bit her lip and complained in a low voice, "That Old Hag is just jealous of you! She's deliberately causing trouble for us."

"It's alright, we'll just stay away from here," Yao Lingling comforted her softly before getting busy.

Yao Lingling knew Liang Jiani's temperament all too well.

After all, she had been Liang Jiani's assistant since she joined the company, helping her with everything, doing all sorts of dirty and tiring work, and often taking the blame and being scolded.

Later, her assistant suddenly "soared to great heights" and became the chief designer on par with her.

Liang Jiani harbored resentment and often made sarcastic remarks, looking for opportunities to put her down.

In particular, at this international fashion exhibition, Yao Lingling's designs will represent the "Beautiful Dream Brand" in a runway show.

She herself will attend the opening ceremony as a representative of the designers.

However, Liang Jiani lost to her colleagues in the internal competition and only qualified to participate in the exhibition.

Her mental state was absolutely shattered.

Yao Lingling didn't want to provoke her, so she could only go around her.

The Porsche 911, like a silver lightning bolt, gracefully drove out of the Underground Parking Lot.

The car body gleamed softly in the morning sun, as if it were coated with a faint layer of gold.

Lin Mu Xue tapped her fingers lightly on the steering wheel and casually said, "When we get to the venue, you absolutely mustn't say anything out of line."

"Yes, I know!" Xu Ning nodded vigorously and straightened the collar of her suit.

This was the first time she had ever worn a formal suit, and she felt very uncomfortable.

Lin Mu Xue turned around and glanced at her, saying with some helplessness, "If there weren't any suitable candidates, I really wouldn't want to bring you along. You make no sense of presence at all. Fine, just stay quietly behind me and do whatever I tell you to do."

Xu Ning smiled a little shyly, "Okay, General Lin!"

Upon hearing her address, Lin Mu Xue couldn't help but smile slightly.

She attended the event as a senior executive of Rongliu Capital, accompanying Jiang Yanbin as a representative of the organizer, and was responsible for receiving government officials, celebrities, and entrepreneurs.

Naturally, one would need a secretary by their side to carry their bag and collect their business cards.

There are people in Rongliu Capital's administrative office who can be dispatched, but this time she's out "doing personal work."

She even went so far as to arrogantly suppress Wen Qiuyue, so naturally she didn't want other colleagues to know about this, lest it reach Tang Song's ears.

If there's an opportunity in the future, I might mention it to Tang Song: let's hire another secretary under her to assist her in her work.

Thinking of this, Lin Mu Xue couldn't help but start indulging in wild fantasies.

Hehe, that Shen Yuyan is not bad.

She's been asking about my job responsibilities, so having her as my secretary would be perfect.

Although she harbored some resentment towards Shen Yuyan, Lin Mu Xue had to admit that this woman was exceptionally intelligent and of high character.

He orders her to do chores for him every day, and occasionally takes her out in a grand manner.

Soon, the car entered the parking lot of Yancheng International Convention and Exhibition Center.

The two got out of the car. Xu Ning helped Lin Mu Xue carry her Hermès Birkin bag. Looking at the magnificent building in front of her, a hint of affection flashed in her eyes.

Xiao Xue told me that today's event is very large, and provincial leaders will be attending.

Looking at Xu Ning beside her, Lin Mu Xue suddenly said, "Xu Ning, you've been staying here for almost two months now, haven't you?"

"Ah!" Xu Ning's face paled, and she said nervously, "Yes, yes, it'll be soon. Xiao Xue, are you trying to send me away?"

She hasn't earned a single penny yet.

Lin Mu Xue gave her a little over a thousand yuan for living expenses, but there wasn't much left.

With a mountain of debt on top of that, it's really impossible to afford rent.

Of course, she was also very reluctant to Lanfeng International Apartment.

"Hehe." Lin Mu Xue rolled her eyes at her, annoyed. "In a couple of days, I'll use the company's connections to rent you a new one-bedroom apartment in Lanfeng International Apartment. You can move in there, and I'll pay for it for now. My boyfriend is too embarrassed to come over to sleep here all the time.

The Lanfeng International Hotel and apartments were originally assets of Yunxi Building, and the executives of both parties were very familiar with each other.

With her current status and position, she could easily get a house by simply telling the hotel, and the rent would be negligible.

Although she dared not use her position for personal gain, renting a 40-square-meter apartment for a friend was nothing to her.

Xu Ning breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Oh, it's here again. That's great. I'll definitely pay you back when I make money in the future. Thank you, Xiao Xue."

"Come on, just focus on running Xue Tang Culture for me."

As they talked, the two arrived at a small side door of the convention center.

"General Lin!" "General Lin!"

Several respectful shouts suddenly rang out.

Xu Ning's heart tightened as she saw four staff members in uniforms and name tags quickly approaching.

"General Lin, this is Zhou Chi from Meigou. Chairman Jiang asked me to wait for you here."

"Oh, hello Secretary Zhou, Chairman Jiang already spoke to me." Lin Mu Xue nodded slightly and said in a relaxed tone, "

Let's go inside.

Soon, surrounded by several people, Lin Mu Xue strode into the convention center.

Due to the large number of participating companies and the diverse range of attendees, the opening ceremony was held in the internal Conference Center.

After walking for a few minutes, the group went straight to the luxuriously decorated VIP waiting area.

Since there was still a long time before the event started, there weren't many people in the VIP area, only some senior executives from the organizers and co-organizers.

Just then, a middle-aged man of about 40 years old quickly came over and said loudly in Mandarin with a slight accent, "Good morning, General Lin."

He was accompanied by a number of well-dressed men and women with powerful presences.

Lin Mu Xue greeted him with a polite smile and a light tone, "Good morning, Chairman Jiang."

Jiang Yanbin enthusiastically introduced, "This is Lin Mu Xue, the General Assistant of Confluent Capital."

"General Lin, this is Director Sun Yun of the Yancheng Bureau of Commerce, and this is Mr. Zhang Wenshuo, the president of the Yan Province Textile and Garment Industry Association."

"Hello, Director Sun."

"Hello, Madam Lin."

Looking at Xiao Xue's tall and "imposing" back, Xu Ning's throat went dry and her eyelids trembled.

Although she had heard that the specifications were high, she did not expect them to be this high.

Moreover, these High-ranking official all seemed to treat Xiao Xue with exceptional politeness.

After a warm greeting...

Lin Mu Xue sat down on the sofa in the Rest Area with her "secretary" Xu Ning.

Soon, the staff brought over steaming hot tea.

Lin Mu Xue lowered her head to sip her tea while glancing at the time.

A hopeful smile appeared on his face.

Wen Qiuyue, you filthy bitch!

It's time for you to get to know me again!

Hahaha!

On-site at the clothing exhibition hall.

A colleague with whom she had a good relationship patted Yao Lingling on the shoulder. "Ling Ling, stop busy. Aren't you supposed to be attending the opening ceremony? You should go and get ready to sign in and enter."

"Okay, okay." Yao Lingling quickly put down her work, picked up her bag, said goodbye to Li Shumin, and walked out quickly.

After walking a few steps, she saw Liang Jiani also come out, not too far from her.

Yao Lingling pretended not to see it, lowered her head and went to the east side of the exhibition hall, taking the elevator directly to the second floor.

After passing through a gate, a magnificent red carpet appeared on the ground.

On the LED screens on both sides, the notices for participating in the event and the introduction of the exhibition were played in a loop.

The registration area is at the end of the red carpet.

Although there is still a long time before the event starts, a number of people have already gathered.

Yao Lingling straightened her hair and collar and walked over quickly.

I waited in line for a while.

When it was almost her turn, Yao Lingling took out the temporary work permit issued by the authorities.

The QR code on it represents their personal information and also serves as their invitation to attend the opening ceremony.

After waiting in line for a while, it was finally her turn.

After scanning the QR code, a red message popped up.

You do not have entry permission for this event. Please contact the organizer to verify.

The staff at the registration desk politely reminded them, "Sorry, you are not on the invitation list for this opening ceremony."

"This..." Yao Lingling said anxiously, "I'm one of the designers participating in this exhibition, how come I'm not here? Has something happened?"

As she spoke, she placed the QR code on it again.

It still shows "Permission denied".

Feeling the strange looks around her, her face instantly turned red and hot, and she hurriedly muttered to herself, "This—this shouldn't be happening. Our leader said before that my information had already been entered."

The staff member politely extended their hand and said, "Please wait to the side. We will verify your information again shortly."

"Okay, thank you." Yao Lingling quickly moved to the side, her forehead beaded with sweat.

In order to gain the approval of his colleagues, he was afraid that others would have too many opinions.

She arrived at the exhibition early to help out.

The other qualified designers had already entered the venue together; there were still 40 minutes until the opening ceremony began.

If such a big problem suddenly arises and cannot be resolved, it will be a real problem.

Just then, I was suddenly bumped on the shoulder.

Yao Lingling turned her head and saw Liang Jiani walk straight past her.

Upon arriving at the registration area, show your QR code and proceed through the turnstile.

Noticing her surprised look, Liang Jiani gave a cold smile. "Yao Lingling, you'd better check with your supervisor to see if there have been any changes that haven't been communicated to you."

Upon hearing this, Yao Lingling's heart skipped a beat.

Each company has a limited number of slots for the opening ceremony, and Liang Jiani, who was not originally on the list, was able to attend.

This means that one person has been replaced.

She wasn't stupid; she immediately thought of herself.

But how is that possible?

She received no news at all, and her boss, Xiao Mingxuan, never mentioned it.

Yao Lingling pursed her lips tightly and asked urgently, "Sister Liang, do you know what happened?"

Liang Jiani just looked at her mockingly and didn't say anything.

Yao Lingling sighed, took out her Mobile Phone, found Xiao Mingxuan's number, and dialed it directly.

The phone Dudu for a long time, but no one answered.

Yao Lingling stood at the entrance of the passage, watching the increasing flow of people, her face turning pale.

She didn't know what had happened, but she felt uneasy.

"Ling Ling?" A gentle yet strange voice suddenly sounded from behind.

Along with that came the sound of approaching footsteps.

Liang Jiani raised her eyebrows, looked up in the direction the sound came from, and paused slightly.

The woman walking this way is very sexy.

She was tall and voluptuous, with confident and bright eyes. She wore a dark blue suit and her makeup and styling were very exquisite and fashionable.

Behind her were two people dressed as assistants, a man and a woman.

She exudes a powerful aura, showcasing elegance and composure.

Yao Lingling was taken aback for a moment, then quickly greeted, "Sister Wen Ruan."

"Hmm." Wen Ruan looked at the expression on her face and asked with concern, "Are you alright? Are you feeling unwell?"

"It's nothing." Yao Lingling bit her lip and lowered her head to hide her panic.

Wen Ruan raised her eyebrows slightly and affectionately took her hand. "What's wrong? Tell your sister."

1

With her emotional intelligence and IQ, Yao Lingling, a young girl fresh out of school, couldn't possibly hide anything from her.

Feeling the warmth of her older sister, Yao Lingling remained silent for a moment before whispering, "Our company is an exhibitor at this clothing exhibition. I was originally invited to attend the opening ceremony, but when I scanned the QR code, it said I didn't have permission. It's okay, Wen Ruan- jie, I'll call my boss and see if we can resolve this."

"Oh? Is there a problem with the invitation?" Wen Ruan smiled and patted her head. "It's okay, I'll fix it for you."

Yao Lingling was taken aback for a moment, then quickly said, "Sister Wen Ruan, isn't this too much trouble?"

"It's no trouble at all, it's very simple." Wen Ruan chuckled and winked at her. "If you feel bad about it,

"Treat me to a meal later."

Upon hearing her words, Liang Jiani across from her curled her lip in disdain.

You say it so casually.

Who do you think you are? The organizer?

Yao Lingling bit her lip and said sincerely, "Thank you, Sister Wen Ruan."

She just wants to go inside first, and then ask the company leaders what's going on.

Wen Ruan turned to the girl next to her and said, "Dandan, call the person in charge and explain the situation."

"Okay, General Wen!" Wang Dandan replied, picked up her Mobile Phone, dialed a number, and whispered a few words.

After a moment, she put down her Mobile Phone and whispered, "I'll be there soon."

"Mm." Wen Ruan nodded Wen Ruan, took Yao Lingling's hand and said, "I was feeling bored today, but having you here is a pleasant surprise. Let's go inside and chat."

Yao Lingling took a deep breath and said gratefully, "Thank you, Sister Wen Ruan! You've gone to so much trouble."

She knew that Wen Ruan was no ordinary person; after all, she had run into her and Director Yang of Quan Jing Law Firm at the Lanfeng International Hotel before.

But I never expected it to have such great power.

"Alright, why are you being so polite with me?"

Just then, a man in his fifties walked over quickly.

He first looked at Wang Dandan, then came to Wen Ruan with a smile and said, "Hello, General Wen, I am Li Wenzhi, the manager of the reception department."

"Hello, Manager Li." Wen Ruan nodded and tugged at Yao Lingling's arm, saying, "This is my friend."

Thank you for your help.

"You're too kind." Li Wenzhi went straight to the turnstile, took out a card from his pocket, and opened the turnstile.

He warmly gestured, "Please come in, everyone."

Wen Ruan thanked her and pulled the still-dazed Yao Lingling inside.

The mocking smile on Liang Jiani's face gradually froze, as if she were dreaming.

Are you kidding me? One phone call and the reception manager comes running to open the door?

Even their chairman, Xiao Liguo, doesn't have that kind of face.

Who is she? How could Yao Lingling possibly know someone like that?

Seeing Wen Ruan pass by, Liang Jiani quickly lowered her head, her body trembling slightly.

After they disappeared from sight.

Liang Jiani quickly took out her Mobile Phone and told Wen Qiuyue about Yao Lingling's arrest.

After passing through a long corridor, the view suddenly opened up.

The Conference Center, spanning nearly 2,000 square meters, is spacious and grand.

A magnificent and solemn stage, rows of neat tables and chairs, flowing red ribbons, and a dazzling LED screen.

Brilliant lights

At first glance, it has a strong visual impact and atmosphere.

The two walked inside for a while, and Wen Ruan patted Yao Lingling's back Wen Ruan. "Ling Ling, do you want to sit with me?"

"No need, Sister Wen Ruan," Yao Lingling shook her head and said, "I'll go find a company leader and ask about the invitation."

Seeing that Yao Lingling was distracted, Wen Ruan didn't say much, but nodded gently and said, "Go."

"Thank you, Sister Wen Ruan." Yao Lingling bowed slightly, her gaze sweeping across the venue, searching for her colleagues.

Xiao Mingxuan was quickly spotted, but he was standing next to Chairman Xiao Liguo, chatting with a group of people.

Those people were obviously important figures; she even spotted Wen Zhenhua, the chairman of Jia Xin Group, who was also Wen Qiuyue's father.

Yao Lingling bit her lip, ultimately not daring to approach them, after all, they were all High-ranking official.

Next, she saw Peng Xinlei, the company's design director, with several of her colleagues beside her.

Yao Lingling let out a long sigh and quickly walked towards Peng Xinlei.

Just then, my Mobile Phone in my pocket suddenly vibrated.

Yao Lingling took out her Mobile Phone and looked at it.

Li Shumin

Upon answering the phone, Yao Lingling said softly, "Hello, Minmin, what's wrong?"

Immediately after, Li Shumin's panicked voice came through the receiver. "Ling Ling, HR just called me and said I've been laid off."

"What?" Yao Lingling stopped abruptly, her voice filled with disbelief. "Why? Wasn't our business unit just established? We're still recruiting. How can we suddenly be laying off people?"

"I don't know, my mind is completely blank right now." Li Shumin's voice trembled slightly, with a hint of sobbing.

Yao Lingling gritted her teeth and whispered to comfort her, "Don't worry, I'll ask President Xiao later to see what's going on."

"Then could you ask him for me? President Xiao said a few days ago that he would give me a raise—" Li Shumin's voice was full of grievance.

"Okay, wait for my news." Yao Lingling hung up the phone, but her heart felt heavy.

Based on her understanding of Xiao Mingxuan, he should be unaware of this matter, which means that it was a decision made directly by the company's leadership.

Although Beautiful Dream is nominally a business unit, it is still in its early stages and many things are not yet independent.

For example, human resources and finance are still part of the Shangya system.

Those who could bypass Xiao Mingxuan's layoffs were at least vice president level High-ranking official.

Thinking back to her suddenly invalidated invitation, Yao Lingling had a bad feeling.

Just then, the Mobile Phone rang again.

[HR Director - Sun Rong]

Yao Lingling's hand clenched suddenly. She answered the phone and whispered, "Hello? President Sun?"

"Hey, Ling Ling, there's something I need to tell you." Sun Rong's voice was calm and serious.

"Please speak," Yao Lingling, taking a deep breath.

"You've been a lead designer for almost three months now. Based on the company's overall evaluation, I'm sorry to say you haven't passed your probation period. Your position will be reverted to assistant designer. The management's intention is to reassign you to the design department."

Yao Lingling's mind went blank for a moment, and her face turned pale instantly.

The only person Sun Rong would address as "leader" is probably Chairman and President Xiao Liguo.

"But don't be discouraged, keep trying, there will be many more opportunities in the future."

Sun Rong's voice continued through the receiver.

Suddenly, a pair of sparkling red high heels appeared before her eyes.

Yao Lingling slowly raised her head and saw Wen Qiuyue wearing a fashionable dress.

Their eyes met, and a contemptuous smile appeared on her face.