Everyone in the room was silent.

Chen Ying got angry when he saw them like this. He slapped the table, “I’m not afraid of losing, but we don’t even know how we lost! Do you have water in your brains?”

Liu Meifen, the account manager who was directly in charge of negotiating the cooperation, burst into tears.

“Why are you crying? Crying with your bed roll already packed up! I told you, I don’t insist on you doing what you can’t do, but if you fail to do what you should be doing, you ought to at least give me an acceptable reason why. If you can’t even give such a reason, then what do you guys want to happen?”

No one spoke. Chen Ying looked around and finally his gaze fell on Liu Mei Fen. She had her head lowered and was biting her lip, trying to control her tears but failing. Chen Ying was very dissatisfied; she was the one who talked to the client, and she couldn’t explain what the f*ck went wrong in the end. Did she mess up from the beginning? 

Chen Ying narrowed his eyes slightly and then looked at the others. Everyone looked pale, with their heads bowed, they dared not speak out.

“Get out,” Chen Ying commanded. All the participants took their folders and shuffled out quietly. Chen Ying said to his assistant, Kevin, “Replay the proposals from both sides and let me see it.”

Kevin complied. Chen Ying read it again carefully and couldn’t help scolding again. “Damn it, using this kind of garbage to refuse our services?” The other party’s proposal was obviously done in a hurry, and not much time and energy were spent on the details. “You go to those who worked on this and ask again in private. If there is anything they dared not say in the meeting, it’s best to say it before I figure it out, or I won’t be polite.”

Kevin agreed, packed his things and left. Chen Ying sat for a while and thought about it. Raising his wrist to look at his watch: it’s twelve o’clock, and he suddenly remembered that there was a little dog waiting for him to go back to take care of her meal, so he couldn’t help but swear again.

Chen Ying went back to his office, and the secretary, Lu Ya, has already placed the documents that needed to be signed on his desk.

“This isn’t needed today?”

“Not today, no.”

“Then I’ll look at it tomorrow.” Chen Ying picked up his computer bag again. He hasn’t even opened it, and now had to leave again. “Yesterday, you told them they must send the emails today—you urge them again. I won’t be in the company this afternoon.”

Lu Ya agreed. Chen Ying stood by her table and thought about it. Originally, he wanted to ask Yongkai’s boss—Qin Wenyi—to have dinner with him directly, but Qin Wenyi hasn’t returned yet from abroad so he had planned to wait, but now he changed his mind. 

“Yongkai— let me first meet the vice president who was talking about cooperation with us. What’s his name? You can ask Kevin to contact him and make an appointment for dinner the day after tomorrow. Let’s see how he responds. If he is happy and willing to come, then you can call him again half an hour after Kevin hangs up, and tell him that Kevin got the time wrong and I’m not free, so I’ll make an appointment with him when I’m free.” 

“Okay.” Lu Ya wrote it down in her notebook. She didn’t ask Chen Ying why he was being so devious. She and Kevin were both long-time subordinates of Chen Ying. They have followed him for many years and were already familiar with his way of doing things. Although she was a little surprised why he didn’t seem to be in a rush to get the contract signed, she didn’t question the boss’s decision.

When Chen Ying got home, he heard the sound of the TV as soon as he opened the door. It was a character in the Goose Blood series who was reciting lines passionately. Chen Ying’s lips curled. He won’t have to compete with the young miss for the TV in the future, right?

Chen Ying closed the door and walked in, only to find that Mi Xi was not watching TV after all: she has fallen asleep on the sofa. Chen Ying frowned No wonder—the young miss didn’t sleep at all last night, and now she probably couldn’t stand it anymore. He thought about it: the two steamers of dumplings in the morning should last her a little longer, so just let her sleep first.

Chen Ying put the bag back in the study, then he went to Mi Xi’s bedroom, took out the quilt, and covered her with care. When covering her, he made sure to keep a little distance away from her for fear that she would throw a fist at him. But she didn’t wake up. Chen Ying thought she must be very tired. After covering her with the quilt, he drank juice from the refrigerator, walked back into the study, and turned the computer on to read emails. After replying to two emails, he received a call from his secretary, Lu Ya. Kevin and Lu Ya performed the play as he instructed. The vice president of Yongkai—this Wang Bing—said that if Chen Ying was not free the day after tomorrow, would it be okay to meet tomorrow or even today?

“Hmm.” Chen Ying curled his mouth—it seemed that he guessed it right. This Wang Bin had a problem. The contract ultimately needed to be signed by the boss, but Wang Bin wanted to replace Lingyu’s services with a pile of rubbish. Unless Yongkai’s boss, Qin Wenyi, also had water in his brain, how can this trash contract be signed? Chen Ying thought he now understood what the problem was.

“Okay, today then.” After all, when it’s time to give face, you have to give it. “Call Wang Bing back.” And use airs when it’s time to use airs. “Let’s just say that I changed the time and caused him trouble. So I’m sorry. We’ll let him choose the time and place. I can do any time convenient for him. I’ll be the host.”

After explaining a few more words, he hung up the phone, and when he looked up, Mi Xi was standing by the door of the study, not daring to come in—obviously because she remembered Yuelao 2238’s words from yesterday.

“You woke up?”

Chen Ying turned the computer off and walked towards her.

“I’m sorry,” Mi Xi bowed. “I didn’t fall asleep on purpose. It won’t be like this next time.”

“Sleep when you’re sleepy, it’s okay.” Chen Ying looked at her: her ponytail was untied, and her hair was long and straight, shiny black; she still looked sleepy from her nap; and was still wearing the same clothes and slightly bigger shoes. 

Chen Ying frowned; it seemed that he not only has to take her to lunch, but also buy her shoes and clothes, as well as her daily necessities. It wasn’t enough to rely on Cheng Jiangyi and Su Xiaopei to provide what she needs, and also very inconvenient for the little miss. But he couldn’t seem to think of what to prepare for Mi Xi for the moment, so he decided to talk about it when they get to the mall.

With this new resolve, the brand new ‘granny uncle’ led the newly acquired ‘niece’ out.

Chen Ying pretended to be polite and asked Mi Xi what she wanted to eat. Mi Xi thought for a while. “If uncle doesn’t mind, let’s go to that delicious dim sum place again.”

Dim sum place? Chen Ying had black lines on his face. This little miss won’t only want to eat steamed dumplings in the future, will she? Ahh, but she’s obviously looking forward to it and actually took the initiative to ask. He also saw that the hour was late, and so, steamed dumplings it was for lunch.

While eating steamed dumplings in the dim sum restaurant, Chen Ying received a call from the property management office, saying that they have already contacted the housekeeping service, and was checking to see when Chen Ying would be free to interview the housekeeper candidates. Chen Ying calculated the time and asked if it would be okay to do it in half an hour—he happened to be eating nearby. The property manager was efficient and agreed.

After eating the second meal of dumplings today, Chen Ying led Mi Xi to the property management office to see people. But first, he told her something very important: there won’t be a third meal of dumplings today, so she should give up thinking about it. Then he explained that they needed to invite someone who would cook and accompany her during the day, so they’re going to take a look at candidates later, and she could choose the one she likes and that fit well.

“Buy a servant,” Mi Xi nodded, expressing her understanding.

Chen Ying rubbed his face, trying to control his expression.

“No, not an indentured servant.” Democracy and freedom, human rights and equality. Do you understand, miss? “You can’t treat them like an inferior human being. They are here to work. They are here to help us solve our difficulties. When we pay them, we are paying them for their work rendered. The two parties are equal. That’s the relationship.” 

Mi Xi thought for a while, then nodded. “Uncle, don’t worry. When I was in my hometown, I never treated my servants harshly. I didn’t beat or scold my servants. There are no such servants here. I know how to deal with things.” 

Don’t worry too much, she says—she won’t beat or scold, she says. 

Chen Ying wanted to curl his lips. But then he thought of something and had to make something clear, “They are not an indentured servants, but neither are you. You don’t bully them, and you can’t let them bully you. Tell me if they treat you badly, and I will replace them.” 

Mi Xi nodded earnestly, “Thank you, uncle.”

Chen Ying thought about it again; he was really worried. But then, it was his first time to raise someone, how could he not worry?