Chapter 78:
Sometimes she gets so busy that she forgets mealtime, but the servant will definitely come to remind her and urge her to eat on time.
These past few days her period came, so Meng Shuyou’s appetite was average and she didn’t eat much.
The servant ladled a bowl of soup for her, “You’ve eaten too little. At least drink the squab soup. Mister said your body is too weak and you need to supplement more nutrition.”
“Alright.” Meng Shuyou still obediently drank the soup.
This month she had eaten quite a few medicinal soups to nourish her body, and she could feel that this period wasn’t as painful as before.
After finishing dinner, she returned to her room to continue rushing her manuscript.
She had just opened the tablet when WeChat popped up with a message.
Zheng Huaijin: “Yaoyao, can you paint illustrations for product promotion advertisements?”
Meng Shuyou replied: “Simple ones yes, complex ones no. What’s up, do you need my help?”
Zheng Huaijin: “Our company has a batch of strollers to export to America for sale, and now we’re at the promotion stage. We haven’t found a suitable artist yet, so I thought of you.”
Meng Shuyou: “But I’m not professionally trained in design, so I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
Zheng Huaijin: “I’ve seen the illustration designs in your Moments, they feel very warm and full of spiritual energy, very fitting for our product positioning. I think maybe you could give it a try.”
Zheng Huaijin: “If you have time, you could meet our product manager to chat. If you think it’s suitable, then take it on, and consider it as doing me a favor.”
Meng Shuyou: “Are you in America too?”
Zheng Huaijin: “Yeah, just arrived in New York yesterday, and we’ll be staying here for a while.”
Meng Shuyou thought that she indeed owed him a big favor, so she agreed, “Then let’s set a time.”
Zheng Huaijin: “Are you free tomorrow afternoon at three?”
Meng Shuyou: “Yes.”
Zheng Huaijin: “Good, do you want me to pick you up?”
Meng Shuyou: “No need, send me the location, I can take a taxi myself.”
Zheng Huaijin: “Okay.”
–
The meeting place was set at a coffee shop.
Meng Shuyou took a nap during lunch break, changed clothes, and prepared to go out.
The servant saw her coming downstairs and asked, “Miss, are you going out?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll call the driver to take you.”
Meng Shuyou politely declined, “No need, it’s more convenient for me to take a taxi myself.”
The driver was Mister Pei’s man, and if Mister Pei found out she was meeting Zheng Huaijin, he would definitely get angry again.
Although she hadn’t done anything to wrong Mister Pei, it was still better to avoid trouble.
The servant asked one more thing, “Will you come back for dinner tonight?”
“Probably, if not, I’ll call you.”
“Okay.”
Meng Shuyou slung her tote bag over her shoulder and walked out, left the residential area, and hailed a taxi at the roadside.
Arrived at the coffee shop twenty minutes early.
Zheng Huaijin had arrived even earlier than her, “Yaoyao, over here.”
Meng Shuyou walked over.
Zheng Huaijin stood up and introduced the middle-aged woman beside him, “This is our product manager, Qiao Yun, President Qiao.”
Meng Shuyou greeted politely, “Hello President Qiao, I’m Meng Shuyou.”
“Hello, sit down and let’s chat. Order whatever you want to drink.” Qiao Yun raised her hand to signal the server over.
Meng Shuyou pulled out a chair and sat down, and when the server came, she ordered a latte.
Qiao Yun sized up the girl across from her, a standard beauty with outstanding looks and temperament, no wonder she was so likable, “I heard you’re studying fine arts, and your illustrations are very pretty.”
Meng Shuyou told the truth: “I mainly studied oil painting, illustration was an elective, so I’m just average at it.”
Qiao Yun smiled, “Being modest, huh? Anyone recommended by Xiao Zheng is definitely good.”
Meng Shuyou got straight to the point, “What are your requirements for the illustration content? Let me see if I can handle it.”
Qiao Yun took a sip of coffee, “Mainly the style should be warm and cute, amplifying the advantages of our product.”
Zheng Huaijin took out materials from his briefcase and handed them to Meng Shuyou, “This is the detailed product introduction images, you can take a look.”
Meng Shuyou browsed through them carefully.
The stroller functions were quite complete, with upgrades besides basic performance: antibacterial fabric lining, six-layer composite shock absorption, waterproof and sunproof canopy.
She thought for a moment, “Then I’ll draw a line draft first, and if you think it’s okay, I’ll refine it.”
“That couldn’t be better.” Qiao Yun suggested, “As for the manuscript fee, five thousand per illustration, can you accept that?”
“I have no problem.” This price was much higher than Meng Shuyou had expected; she actually had no requirements for the fee, and if there wasn’t one, she could consider it as repaying a favor.
They then discussed product details and illustration design elements.
Toward the end of the talk, Meng Shuyou’s mobile phone suddenly rang.
She glanced down, her eyes darkening slightly.
A telephone call from Mister Pei.
Her thoughts hesitated for a moment; it wasn’t good to answer the phone abruptly during a business talk, but if she didn’t, she didn’t know how to explain it to Mister Pei.
Zheng Huaijin probably saw her difficulty and spoke up to help, “I think I’ll go to the restroom, and we can take a break before continuing.”
Qiao Yun nodded, “Okay.”
Meng Shuyou took the opportunity, “President Qiao, sorry, I’ll step out to take a call.”
Qiao Yun smiled faintly, “Please do.”
Meng Shuyou picked up her mobile phone and walked toward the doorway.
The call connected, and the man’s low, rich voice came through, “What are you doing?”
Meng Shuyou stood under the parasol to avoid the sun, “I’m out having coffee, what’s up?”
“Alone?” he asked.
Meng Shuyou paused, then softly said “Mm.”
“Tina said you’ve had poor appetite lately.”
“These few days are because of my period, my stomach hurts and I don’t feel like eating.”
“Drinking coffee on your period?”
“Just a little.”
Pei Yuzhou instructed, “Head back early, don’t linger outside alone.”
“Got it.”
The call ended, and Meng Shuyou breathed a slight sigh of relief.
She wasn’t good at lying.
–
Around four o’clock, the matters were discussed.
Zheng Huaijin walked Meng Shuyou to the roadside, “Yaoyao, you can communicate with me if you have any questions.”
“Okay.” Meng Shuyou brought it up proactively, “For what happened last time, I still need to thank you in person.”
“Don’t be so polite.” Zheng Huaijin thought of the past, “Back in high school, you helped me a lot too. If not for you teaching me spoken English, my grades wouldn’t have improved, let alone taking IELTS.”
“That was your own effort, not my merit.”
“We’re all friends, you don’t need to keep thanking me.”
“Mm.” A taxi came, and Meng Shuyou waved, “I’m heading off, see you.”
“Okay, bye.”
Zheng Huaijin watched her get in the car and leave, standing there for a while.
“She’s gone and you’re still looking.” Qiao Yun patted his shoulder from behind.
Zheng Huaijin turned around, “Sister Qiao Yun.”
She could see his feelings clearly, “Does she have a boyfriend? If not, go after her.”
Zheng Huaijin suppressed the emptiness in his heart and smiled casually, “Too late.”
Qiao Yun advised him, “Then let it go.”
Zheng Huaijin wanted to let go too, but feelings weren’t controlled by reason.
He thought, maybe wait a bit longer, he might still have a chance.
–
