After Flirting, She Runs Away, Chasing the White Moonlight to the Ends of the Earth - Chapter 9

The gossip crew exchanged wide-eyed glances, all realizing the high price of their idle chatter.

Back at the office.

The afternoon meeting resumed, with the two proposals once again sparking heated debates.

Ning Nai had clearly lost her patience. Under everyone’s watchful gaze, she decisively selected one of the plans.

The branch staff, who had initially thought their new boss was somewhat hesitant and indecisive, now realized—she had a firm stance all along.

They had underestimated her.

The proposal Ning Nai approved was the one designed by Qing—a concept for the new season’s thematic campaign and a series of related photography projects.

“Only innovative ideas create value. I hope you all remember that,” Ning Nai said slowly, her voice quiet but steady. “Without professional competence, you hold no worth in the eyes of headquarters.”

“The past is behind us. What matters to me is what each of you does starting today.”

“I hope to use the authority I have to fully support everyone.”

Her words left the attendees inwardly stunned. Director Ning was… brutally direct.

It had been a long time since they’d seen a leader speak so bluntly in a meeting.

Either this woman was exceptionally capable at her job, or her connections were rock-solid. Either way, Ning Nai was clearly not someone to be trifled with.

The branch managers silently reevaluated their new CMO.

Well, best to cooperate as much as possible—less friction, fewer conflicts.

They’d have to dig into her ties with the group’s core figures later.

Just as everyone assumed the meeting was over, Ning Nai stood up.

Though slender and graceful in demeanor, her presence radiated an unassailable authority.

“Oh, and regarding the company’s stance against spreading gossip about colleagues—I’d like to hear a few opinions on the matter.”

Then, she publicly named four individuals.

All four had been part of the lunchtime gossip about Lu Jin’an. Not a single one was missed. They exchanged uneasy glances.

Nicole quickly intervened, “Shall we? Let’s move to Director Ning’s office.”

A glance at the clock confirmed it was already past working hours. The fact that Ning insisted on discussing this now was undoubtedly deliberate.

The four groaned internally but had no choice.

They obediently followed to the office for their “appointment.”

Qing Design Headquarters.

Located in the same bustling metropolis, amid towering skyscrapers in the city’s core.

Xu Kun walked in with a grin, pushing open the door to Lu Jin’an’s office.

“Teacher Lu, to ensure we secure the lnvm project flawlessly, Sai Sai’s team will assist yours in the proposal.”

Sai Sai was a leader groomed by Xu Kun himself—effectively a parallel team to Lu Jin’an’s. The implication was clear: this wasn’t assistance, but distrust.

Lu Jin’an smiled faintly. “Director Xu, the project has only just begun. I’m confident we can handle it without additional support for now.”

Xu Kun chuckled. “Precisely because it’s just starting, this is the perfect time for Sai Sai’s team to step in. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to collaborate.”

Xu Kun had long heard of Lu Jin’an’s overseas achievements—a rising star in the design world, dazzling with limitless potential.

Naturally, he wanted his own people to seize the chance to learn from her.

Sai Sai grinned obsequiously. “Teacher Lu, I appreciate your guidance.”

Lu Jin’an’s smile gradually faded.

This is just how things work domestically—there’s always interference, always placing trusted people in teams. That’s precisely why she chose to work overseas for two years after graduation.

Now that she’s back, after careful consideration, she felt Xu Kun aligned most closely with her philosophy, which is why she held him in higher regard. Plus, he had been immersed in the design industry for years and had built up a solid client base.

After several meetings, both sides expressed a willingness to collaborate, and thus, Qing Design was born.

Qing Design was brand new, but Xu Kun’s team consisted of seasoned professionals who naturally adhered to the old-school way of doing things.

Given today’s situation, Lu Jin’an couldn’t help but feel annoyed, but she needed to find the right moment to express it to Xu Kun.

Right now, she was thinking of how to tactfully decline.

Knock, knock, knock—

Her assistant, Rita, tapped on the door, looking apologetic. “Sorry to interrupt, Ms. Lu. Should we reply to LNVM’s email?”

This timely question broke the tension in the room.

Lu Jin’an had been busy preparing the creative proposal, leaving the email unattended.

She quickly refreshed the page and realized she had received an email from LNVM half an hour ago. With a surprised “Ah!”, she clicked it open—only to find that the main concept she had proposed had already been approved.

Rita beamed. “Congratulations, Ms. Lu! First draft approved!”

Those words hit like a thunderclap. Xu Kun and Sai Sai’s expressions were priceless—Xu Kun was both shocked and delighted, his eyes gleaming like a weasel’s.

“First draft approval” was practically unheard of in the design industry. Clients always had the most absurd demands—change this, tweak that.

“Make it pop but keep it subtle,” “I want a deep white,” “If the client wants the moon, you’d better find a way to grab it.”

Especially in an environment like theirs, where creative design wasn’t always respected, Lu Jin’an had no idea what stroke of luck had granted her such an honor.

Xu Kun and Sai Sai exchanged glances, at a loss for how to continue the conversation.

If they insisted on pushing Sai Sai into Lu Jin’an’s team now, it would be pointless—the proposal was already finalized. Sai Sai would only be relegated to grunt work, with no access to the valuable stages.

Lu Jin’an looked at Xu Kun and asked, “Mr. Xu, about Sai Sai joining the team—”

Xu Kun immediately waved his hands. “No need, Ms. Lu! Since the proposal’s approved, I trust your expertise!”

Sai Sai nodded vigorously like a rattle-drum. “Yes, yes, Ms. Lu is more than capable!”

Xu Kun pulled Sai Sai away, gesturing for Rita to step in. “Alright, you two discuss the details. We’ll head out first.”

Rita politely saw them off, her smile unwavering.

She had been hired by Lu Jin’an herself. Though new to the company and still unfamiliar with the environment, the young woman knew exactly who her real boss was.

Her quick thinking had also earned her some extra points in Lu Jin’an’s eyes—she was sharp, knew how to read the room, and had impeccable timing.

Lu Jin’an smiled at Rita, already considering how to promote her within the company’s administrative hierarchy.

The young assistant then thoughtfully closed the glass door before continuing her report:

“Ms. Lu, Nicole also sent over the schedule for the upcoming on-site shoot. Would you like to visit LNVM to finalize the arrangements?”

Lu Jin’an rubbed his forehead, still finding it hard to believe, then nodded. “Alright, make the arrangements quickly. We need to meet with President Ning.”

This good news kept Lu Jin’an in high spirits throughout his workday.

After establishing Qing Design, with Xu Kun bringing along a large number of former colleagues, the company’s power dynamics had become one-sided. At first, Lu Jin’an hadn’t noticed, but as time passed, signs began to emerge.

It seemed he would need to devote some attention to building his own team in the future.