A Turn for the Better

Outside the Hilton Hotel, Song Mingyang opened the car door and got out, greeting the people from Shihong Group with a beaming smile.

Zhang Yang got out as well and took the opportunity to look over the three people from Shihong Group behind him.

The middle-aged man leading them was probably Director Hong, Shihong's marketing director. A young man and woman followed behind him. Neither looked very old. The woman had short black hair that brushed her ears and an air of poise and efficiency.

Zhang Yang couldn't help taking a couple of extra glances.

As if sensing his gaze, the woman across from him looked over, her eyes searching.

Zhang Yang didn't look away. He smiled naturally and nodded, greeting her.

"Old Hong, it's been ages! Today, we drink until neither of us can stand. And tonight, I'll make sure you're well taken care of." Song Mingyang draped an arm familiarly over Director Hong's shoulder, as affectionate as if he were greeting an old friend.

Director Hong's expression remained stiff. "You're too kind, Mr. Song. Let's just have a simple dinner tonight."

Sensing the distance in his tone, Song Mingyang paused for a moment. But he recovered quickly and ushered the group into the hotel as if nothing had happened.

At dusk, dish after dish was brought into the private dining room. The table was laden with an extravagant spread.

Song Mingyang opened a bottle of fine liquor and filled Director Hong's glass, then urged him enthusiastically to drink and eat.

"Old Hong, come on. Let's have another."

"Um... Mr. Song, maybe we should take it easy on the drinks. They can get in the way. Why don't we talk business instead?" Director Hong politely smiled as he covered his glass.

Song Mingyang's expression shifted again.

If they didn't drink to their hearts' content, their chances of landing the deal would be slim. What was going on?!

Throughout the meal, no matter how hard Song Mingyang tried to liven things up, the mood never improved. The other party barely engaged, and whenever they brought up the deal, he changed the subject.

From a distance, Zhang Yang could see that Song Mingyang was starting to sweat.

"Old Hong, after dinner, let's go sing a few songs and unwind." After a few rounds of drinks, as the meal drew to a close, Song Mingyang warmly extended the invitation.

"As for tonight's plans..." Director Hong began, about to say something.

"Director Hong, we don't have anything else planned tonight anyway. It's been ages since we last went singing," the young woman beside him suddenly said.

"Uh... all right, let's go." Director Hong glanced at her, then immediately agreed.

A little after nine, the group found a high-end KTV and booked a private room.

Song Mingyang was a VIP there. As soon as the manager saw him arrive, he rushed to attend to him, bringing over fruit platters and snacks.

Song Mingyang, for his part, was generous, waving a hand and ordering plenty of fine liquor.

The room was dark. Zhang Yang sat to one side, eating fruit and watching Song Mingyang urge their guests to sing.

"Director Hong, why don't you start us off?" Song Mingyang handed him the microphone.

"Uh..." Director Hong looked at the woman beside him and immediately passed the microphone to her instead. "Why don't you..."

Song Mingyang watched the exchange and immediately gave the woman a closer look.

"Then I'll have to apologize in advance for my singing." The woman took the microphone without hesitation or false modesty. She stood up, picked a song with an easy confidence, then sang softly in a corner of the room.

She gave "Scarborough Fair" a distinctly British feel.

When she finished, Director Hong applauded and showered her with praise.

"That was wonderful. You could have been the original singer!"

Song Mingyang blinked, seeming to understand at once. He readily joined in with all kinds of compliments.

Amid everyone's praise, the woman sat beneath the dim lights, her face faintly flushed with excitement.

"Mr. Song, I'm going to the restroom." Seeing a group of grown men fawning over a young woman, Zhang Yang figured she didn't need his two cents' worth of praise. He got up and used the restroom as an excuse to step outside for some fresh air.

As soon as Zhang Yang left the KTV, the refreshing night air washed over him.

It wasn't early, but Magic City's nightlife was only just getting started. While Zhang Yang stood outside, several groups of guests, their faces flushed from drinking, went in.

"Hey, you... why aren't you inside singing?" a voice suddenly came from behind him.

Zhang Yang turned around. It was the woman accompanying the people from Shihong.

"I'm not much of a singer. If I got up there, I really would be making a fool of myself." Zhang Yang shook his head as she walked over.

"Just sing for fun. It's not a competition. By the way, you're a planner at Mingyang Advertising, right? You seemed to have some good ideas at dinner." She stopped beside Zhang Yang and studied him with a smile.

"I worked on the proposal for one of Shihong's earlier projects, Bishui Yuntian," Zhang Yang said, recalling it.

He remembered that proposal vividly. It had taken longer than any other he'd worked on since entering the industry, gone through more revisions, and been subject to more client demands. The hardships involved were too much to sum up in a sentence or two.

"I see." The woman nodded in understanding. "Then tell me, if you were asked to put together a proposal for our new project, what general ideas would you have?"

Zhang Yang was at a loss. If he had the knack for pulling ideas out of thin air, would he still be just a junior planner?

But seeing the expectant look in her eyes, and remembering that Shihong's main project this time was a refined, elegant new-Chinese-style villa community, he gave her a few tried-and-true lines.

"I've seen Shihong's project. I think you brought in experts from the Academy of Fine Arts for the landscaping. The villas draw on traditional Chinese courtyard homes, with an emphasis on the carefree mood of watching clouds gather and disperse, and listening as flowers bloom and fall..."

The ideas were tried and true, but Zhang Yang hadn't pulled them out of thin air. He'd worked on Shihong's projects before and had a good grasp of their style and approach.

Now, as he laid them out, every point was concise and to the point.

As the woman listened, she nodded repeatedly, seeming to approve of Zhang Yang's ideas.

"That's a good fit, and you put it well. By the way, what time is it? Shouldn't we head back up soon? I was thinking of..." She trailed off.

"It's still early. A little after ten." Zhang Yang glanced at his watch.

"Huh?" The woman's gaze shifted to his wrist, and surprise crossed her face. "You wear such a nice watch, but you're working as a junior planner here. Are you trying to experience life or something?"

Zhang Yang was certain the woman's identity was no ordinary one. After all, few people in real life could recognize a valuable watch at a glance.

"Work is work, and life is life. They don't conflict, do they?" Zhang Yang thought for a moment, wondering whether he should introduce himself properly. To his surprise, she reached out first.

"Let's get acquainted. I'm Tang Leyi." She smiled and held out her hand.

"Zhang Yang." He shook her hand, which looked as though it had never done a day of housework. As if in passing, he said, "The chairman of Shihong Real Estate is also surnamed Tang, isn't he?"

Tang Leyi smiled without answering.

They returned to the private room the way they had come. Everyone's gaze turned to them at once—or, more accurately, to Tang Leyi.

"Director Hong, Mingyang Advertising has been a longtime partner of ours. What do you think about awarding them the business for our new project?" Tang Leyi spoke with the authority of someone who could settle the matter with a single sentence.

Director Hong immediately stood and acknowledged her.

Song Mingyang stood up as well, then asked tentatively, "Director Hong, is this young lady...?"

"Mr. Song, this is actually our chairman's daughter, Miss Tang Leyi. She currently has full responsibility for the group's marketing and publicity." Director Hong finally revealed the truth.

"So you're Miss Tang!" Song Mingyang's expression instantly lit up with joy and excitement. "Miss Tang, I'm so sorry we haven't been more attentive!"

Watching his usually impressive boss behave like this, Zhang Yang once again felt how hard it was to be a boss.

The more impressive they looked in public, the more... behind the scenes...

"Not so fast. I have one more condition." Tang Leyi smiled, then suddenly turned to Zhang Yang. "I just spoke with Zhang Yang from your company, and I think he's quite capable. So for this proposal, I'd like him to take the lead."