Luo Qi told her mother some of her ideas about the display area.

After that was done, she started making coffee. She brewed two cups and gave one to Chi Xin.

Chi Xin loved to eat fruits and brought different fruits to the company every day. Today, she gave Luo Qi half a box of blueberries.

Luo Qi idled away some time eating blueberries until it was finally time for He Xu to come pick her up.

He Xu was rebellious by nature. Ever since he was a child, when his family told him to go west, he turned east.

Today, for the first time, his rebellious feathers remained unruffled. His uncle, He Wancheng, asked him to pick someone up, and he really did as he was told.

Luo Qi smiled at him when she came out, recognizing him. She had seen He Xu greet Jiang Shenghe at business meetings and financial summits before.

He Xu was leaning against the car door. He had been smoking a cigarette, and he had just stubbed it out right before Luo Qi came out of the office building.

He Xu didn’t like the whole fake politeness routine, especially since she was Luo Yu’s cousin. He directly opened the car door for Luo Qi. 

At this time, He Xu wondered how he was a complete gentleman to everyone of the opposite sex, but he can’t help but pick on Luo Yu every time he saw her.

“Why didn’t Ruipu move to Yuanwei Building?” he asked.

“The floor where we are working now is owned by Ruipu. It’s troublesome to move everyone.” Luo Qi added, “But the main reason is that, here, the sky is high and the emperor is far away.”

Their every little action didn’t need to be scrutinized by Yuanwei Group’s senior management.

He Xu understood. Wasn’t that just like him?

He stayed away from Suzhou City just so he could be beyond anyone’s control.

… …

The restaurant where they booked lunch was not far from Ruipu; only about ten minutes’ drive.

Luo Qi was not familiar with He Xu and was still thinking of something to talk about when Luo Yu solved this problem for her.

Luo Yu’s call came like timely rain.

“Older sister, have you eaten?

“When will you come back from your business trip?

“By the way, I don’t need the oil painting anymore at the moment.”

She had already made an appointment for a more simple sketch and paid the artist an extra fee to rush it. She had just received the line drawing—it completely encapsulated the sense of domineering and forceful taking she wanted.

Now that the fun was over, she would dump it directly at He Xu’s head. She had had enough of his silly WeChat avatar.

Luo Qi said, “Then what New Year gift do you want?”

“I don’t want anything. I hope to have a brother-in-law soon.”

“… Soon.”

Luo Yu wanted to gossip a little more, but her colleague called her, wanting to discuss which bridesmaid dress she wanted to choose.

Her colleague was getting married at the end of the year, and Luo Yu was one of the bridesmaids. Her colleague’s family was rich, and even the bridesmaid dresses she would buy for them were of the same brand as her wedding dress. Luo Yu planned to go to the bridal shop this week to order her bridesmaid dress.

“Older sister, I have something to do here. Let’s talk when you come back from your business trip.”

Luo Qi’s ‘business trip’ was a bit long this time.

Jiang Shenghe didn’t want her to go back.

And, well, she also didn’t want to go back.

… …

He Xu, who was driving, glanced at Luo Qi with his peripheral vision. Just now, he vaguely heard Luo Yu’s chirping.

She had time to call her cousin but no time to reply to his message.

While waiting at the red light, he sent Luo Yu another message: [Go to my place tonight.]

No reply.

He Xu threw the phone at the console, making an obvious ‘bang’.

Luo Qi looked over, and he had no choice but to explain, “I… got angry at my girlfriend.”

“It would be nice if you could coax her more.”

He Xu smiled and said nothing.

… … advance chapters available @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

It was just the three of them having lunch today. He Wancheng didn’t call any other friends over. They communicated in Suzhou dialect throughout the whole process, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

Luo Qi expressed sincerity in this proposal for cooperation: the newly opened market would be divided into 40% – 60% profit sharing.

She had no personal connections to offer to He Wancheng, so she could only exchange monetary benefits.

But He Wancheng had no intention of taking a share of the financial pie. Compared with this benefit, he cared more about long-term cooperation with Jiang Shenghe. 

If he helped Luo Qi in this matter, this would make Jiang Shenghe more grateful to him than if he helped Jiang Shenghe himself.

“I already received all the resources that Chief Jiang promised me back then. Ruipu is also Chief Jiang’s company, so there’s no need to be polite.” 

Of course, He Wancheng also had concerns, “But I don’t want to offend Yuanwei’s senior management.”

Luo Qi understood that point. After all, Yuanwei originally intended to suppress Ruipu; now she planned to develop Ruipu, which was going against the intention of the Group’s top management. 

“Don’t worry, Director He, I will coordinate it well.”

He Wancheng explained again, “I personally handled the southern market for Yuanwei Medical at that time. It’s not good for me to come forward again this time to connect clients for Ruipu. He Xu is also familiar with my network resources. When the time comes, I will ask He Xu to take you to meet the people in charge of the other party.”

“Thank you, Director He, for taking your time.”

… …

As for how to convince Yuanwei’s senior management, Luo Qi had already prepared for this. She made an appointment with Li Rui and went to Yuanwei Group that afternoon.

“I plan to focus on the mid-to-low-end market without affecting the high-end market share of Yuanwei Medical. In a few years, competitors will spring up like mushrooms after a rain. 

“Yuanwei cannot monopolize the entire market by itself, so it’s better to let Ruipu take over the mid-to-low-end market. For the high-end, we have Yuanwei, and for the mid-range and low-end, we have Ruipu. This will make the Group more competitive.”

Li Rui reminded her, “Yuanwei Medical also has mid-to-low-end products.”

Luo Qi replied, “Then let Yuanwei Medical give that up and focus solely on the high-end market to create strong branding effects.”

Li Rui couldn’t help but be startled—this tone sounded too similar to Jiang Shenghe’s.

Luo Qi went on to analyze the future of the market, “Let’s say Yuanwei Medical retains every segment of the market. If, in the end, they can’t do it well, the high-end products would be dragged down by their own mid- and low-end products. 

“The mid- and low-end products rely on volume, and the high-end products rely on quality. If the quality is low, then the ones that would make a lot of money would only be the mid-to-low end.”

Ruipu’s choice to focus on mid- to low-end products was a desperate move; otherwise there would really be no way to survive.

Li Rui could not reply to her immediately. It was not a trivial matter for Yuanwei Medical to adjust its strategic direction. This would have to be discussed at a high-level meeting.

“I’ll try my best to help you fight for it.”

“Thank you, Ms. Li.”

Luo Qi was no longer qualified to participate in the Group’s high-level meetings. She took out the plan she prepared from her bag and said, “Ms. Li, please help Ruipu show this plan at the meeting.”

She had prepared the plan over the holidays. It was unfortunate that she could not personally present it herself.

Seventh Year of My Secret Love for You translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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A list of all advance chapters is HERE.
Chapter 48.4 — Trying on Wedding Dresses