Chapter 45: Mr. Huang

"Mengting, let's sit in the back. The front row gets too much sun."

"It's okay, I applied sunscreen."

"Alright then."

Gao Mengting opened the passenger door and climbed in.

It had been over a week since she last saw this car, and she found herself missing it quite a bit.

Looking at the clean interior and the natural wood-style stickers, a faint joy flickered in her eyes. She couldn't help but touch and fiddle with everything, clearly enamored with the space.

Even the way she looked at Tang Song softened significantly.

As the vehicle started, listening to the familiar hum of the engine, Gao Mengting closed her eyes and leaned against the seatback, an involuntary, gentle smile spreading across her face.

The Juhui De Hotel was not far from the Baoyun Center; it only took about ten minutes of driving to arrive.

"Thank you, Mr. Tang. Goodbye." Gao Mengting took a deep breath, her expression tightening as she looked toward the restaurant.

Her lease was about to expire. Four months of rent plus the security deposit amounted to nearly 60,000 yuan.

For her current situation, it was a crushing weight.

Tang Song pondered for a moment, then pointed toward the restaurant. "It's exactly lunchtime; I eat at Juhui De every day. Once you've finished your talk, you can come find me directly. We can discuss the partnership and starting a business while we eat. If you have any doubts, you can bring them up in person."

Since he had put it that way, Gao Mengting didn't refuse again. She nodded and said, "Okay."

Standing to the side, Li Yongming's expression instantly collapsed. However, he was merely an ordinary friend of Gao Mengting's and had no reason to intervene; he could only watch with anxious frustration.

Saturday at 12:00 PM was peak hour.

Walking through the entrance of the restaurant, which was filled with traditional Chinese style, the waiting line was visible at a glance.

Gao Mengting said her goodbyes and followed Li Yongming quickly toward the upper floors.

Tang Song took a number and sat down on a rattan chair in the lounge area. After observing the uniquely decorated interior for a while, he pulled out his phone to open Xiaohongshu and reply to comments from his enthusiastic followers.

...

"This Tang Song is intentionally getting close to you. All that talk about entrepreneurship and lunch is just a scam. Once we're done with our business, let's just leave immediately."

"I know a good Hunan restaurant nearby; I've been wanting to take you there."

As the two walked toward the private dining room, Li Yongming complained incessantly.

Gao Mengting frowned deeply, having no interest in responding to him.

Li Yongming wasn't a bad person, but his personality was problematic—he was too petty.

This was why, despite being a fellow graduate with a degree in Marketing Management, while some of their classmates were cruising through large corporations, he had been laid off multiple times and ended up working as a real estate agent at the very bottom of the ladder.

Gao Mengting had tried to advise him tactfully many times, but to no avail.

"We're here! This is it."

The two stood outside a private room named "Moon Shadow."

Li Yongming rubbed his hands nervously and whispered, "Mengting, don't worry. Our company and Yunxi Property have always been strategic partners. I know several of their supervisors; I can talk to them."

Rather than comforting Gao Mengting, these words sounded more like self-encouragement.

As a junior agent who had only been on the job for six months, he had only met a few property managers when taking clients to sign contracts; he was far from being an acquaintance.

"Mm." Gao Mengting gripped her bag, her heart feeling heavy.

Li Yongming tidied his hair, leaned forward, and pressed his ear to the door. After listening to the movement inside, he knocked softly.

*Knock, knock, knock—*

Perhaps the sound was too quiet, as there was no response.

*Knock, knock, knock—* He knocked softly again.

Gao Mengting, however, became even more nervous and restless because of his actions.

Raising her eyebrows, she reached out with her slender fingers and knocked firmly, using the momentum to push the door open just a crack.

Li Yongming was startled and instinctively ducked to the side.

He immediately straightened up, leaned toward the doorway, and said anxiously, "Good afternoon, leaders. I am Xiao Li from Aijia Real Estate (Tengyun Branch)."

"Oh? Aijia Real Estate... Xiao Li, hello. Is there something you need?" A tall, thin man sitting near the door turned around, a look of slight confusion on his face.

Li Yongming recognized him instantly: Wang Dongrui from the Engineering Department of Yunxi Property.

Sitting opposite him was a middle-aged man with a commanding presence, wearing a casual suit.

As the man's gaze swept over them, Li Yongming felt as if he were facing a top executive of the company.

He cautiously leaned half his body into the room and smiled, "Um, Supervisor Wang, I have something I'd like to discuss with you. I'm not sure if it's convenient?"

"We have important guests today. It's not convenient," Supervisor Wang said with a dismissive shake of his head.

Li Yongming's face flushed. He wanted to say something more but feared offending the man, as he was a client of their company.

But with his goddess standing right behind him, he was caught in a dilemma.

Gao Mengting, who had been waiting, could no longer stand by. She pushed the door open fully and stepped into the room.

With a warm and sincere smile, she said, "Hello, Supervisor Wang. I am a merchant at the Baoyun Center. Due to some business difficulties, I would like to terminate my lease early. Regarding the contract and the security deposit, I hope to have a proper discussion with your company."

Supervisor Wang frowned, looking somewhat displeased. "I am only in charge of the Engineering Department. For this matter, you should contact our Investment Development Department or the Legal Department."

Gao Mengting looked around the room but did not see Supervisor Sun from the Investment Development Department.

She asked hesitantly, "I have contacted your staff before, but the terms they offered were quite harsh. I truly..."

Supervisor Wang raised his hand to stop her. "Our company has regulations. A signed contract cannot be changed."

Just then, the middle-aged man in the casual suit spoke up. "Old Wang, don't be so serious. This isn't your office; you're scaring the young lady."

Supervisor Wang froze, then smiled sheepishly. "President Huang is right."

President Huang turned his gaze toward the beautiful and elegant Gao Mengting and smiled. "Hello. I am also a merchant at the Baoyun Center. Old Sun from the Investment Department went out to pick up a friend and will be here shortly. Why don't you sit down and wait a moment?"

"This is Mr. Huang Yangming, the owner of Yunli Hotel, President Huang," Supervisor Wang introduced proactively.

"Then thank you for your kindness, President Huang." Gao Mengting took a deep breath and sat in an empty seat, her chest rising and falling with her breath.

Yunli Hotel was located within the Baoyun Center building, occupying three entire floors; it was a well-known star-rated hotel in Yancheng.

This President Huang was quite a big deal—a true heavyweight.

As a real estate agent in this area, Li Yongming naturally knew what owning such a hotel implied.

He cautiously sat down beside her, his entire body tense, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Looking at Gao Mengting's delicate face, Huang Yangming asked with interest, "You look quite young. What kind of business are you in?"

Gao Mengting maintained a standard professional smile. "I run a small clothing boutique. It's a small-scale operation; I can't compare to someone like you, President Huang."

"Clothing, that's good. Speaking of which, I hold shares in Huachang Apparel. We are somewhat connected then."

"Huachang Apparel?" Gao Mengting clasped her hands together. "That is the leader of the clothing manufacturing industry in Yancheng. Your reputation precedes you!"

Beside them, Li Yongming kept his head lowered, shrinking into the background like a ghost, occasionally letting out a few forced, awkward laughs.

(End of Chapter)