Volume One, Chapter 125: Lou Ye, That Madman!

*Clap!*

*Clap, clap...*

"Engineer Sang, you're incredible!"

"There is always a higher heaven and a greater talent. Today, I've truly seen it!"

Thunderous applause erupted, causing employees passing by the conference room to turn their heads, as if the meeting inside were not a design evaluation for the project department, but the company's year-end awards ceremony.

Sang Wan looked up to see everyone clapping. In Design Department One, where she belonged, her colleagues were applauding with particular enthusiasm.

Before Sang Wan began her presentation, no one knew what she had done, not even the members of her own Sixth Group. Yet, from Project One to Project Six, on every single drawing she had completed independently, the designer she credited was not herself.

Instead, it was "Design Department One."

Those words encompassed every member of the department.

Even though the project hadn't been secured yet and this was merely a preliminary screening evaluation, Sang Wan's work ethic, her immense workload, and the outstanding design capability she demonstrated conquered everyone at that moment.

Including the senior executives, everyone finally understood why Cheng Jingran had recommended Sang Wan to the Lou Corporation without any hesitation. And why, despite being Sang Wan's superior, she always addressed her as "Senior Sister Sang" both in meetings and in private.

They had to admire her!

"Alright, now for the Q&A session..." As if she had anticipated all of this, Cheng Jingran looked around. "From Project One to Project Five, combining your original designs, do the other five groups have any differing opinions on these new ideas?"

"None!" members of the first group chimed in. "We only thought of the technology park, but she even thought of the exhibition area, which would also boost Licheng's GDP. We are completely won over!"

"Senior Sister Sang, for the chain brand in Project Two, are you referring to the Chimelong Forest Ecological Park? As far as I know, Chimelong has very strict standards for its brand. With Yucheng's current conditions, it probably won't meet their requirements!"

"Senior Sister Sang..."

Outside the door, people were bustling about, and the corridor gradually grew noisy. An assistant knocked and came in to ask if they wanted food delivered. Even though Sang Wan was an employee of the Lou Corporation and a member of the project design department, the crowd scrambled to ask questions as if they would never get an answer from her once they left the room.

"Yucheng's current conditions might not meet them, but what about the future? We can negotiate with Chimelong first, and then take their feedback to discuss with Yucheng's leadership. This is a win-win project, and I believe both parties will do their utmost to facilitate the cooperation..." Sang Wan answered one by one. "Furthermore, if the Lou Corporation can secure this project, we might even obtain the most favorable concession model from the Yucheng leadership. After all, it's not just a matter of project construction; it also concerns Yucheng's future development and city image."

Sang Wan explained in detail. The group nodded repeatedly.

A meeting originally scheduled for two hours did not end until two o'clock in the afternoon.

"So now, everyone's ideas should be very clear," Cheng Jingran said, making the final summary. "At this same time next Friday, we will hold the second review meeting. Everyone can refine the plans for your respective groups' designs. The next meeting won't just be within our project design department; we will be joined by finance, risk control, and other departments to decide our focus for the fourth quarter."

"Meeting adjourned!"

With those words, everyone suddenly realized how starving they were. Going to the cafeteria at this hour meant dining off-peak. They could leisurely enjoy a combined lunch and afternoon tea.

The crowd filed out in groups of twos and threes. Some were still eager, wanting to invite Sang Wan along so they could continue discussing the design concepts they hadn't finished exploring during the meeting.

"Sang Wan..."

When the cool, aloof voice sounded from the head of the table, Sang Wan froze mid-rise.

She looked at Lou Ye with disbelieving, startled eyes. "President Lou..."

Lou Ye narrowed his eyes slightly and asked softly, "Can I go home now?"

???

Some who had already stepped out of the conference room instinctively paused upon hearing the big boss's voice. Others inside, busy packing up their laptops and water bottles or pulling back chairs to leave, froze.

With Lou Ye's single question, a brief silence fell over the room.

A soft buzz rang in Sang Wan's head. It felt as if her soul had been catapulted thirty thousand nautical miles away.

"President Lou..." Her voice was soft and gentle, but the look she shot Lou Ye was laced with sharp daggers.

Lou Ye, entirely unfazed, asked, "I'd like sweet and sour pork ribs for dinner. Is that okay?"

!!!

*President Lou, have you lost your mind?*

Cheng Jingran glanced at Sang Wan, who stood frozen in place, clearly dazed. Then she looked at Lou Ye, who sat in his leather chair with an innocent expression, as if he had just asked a casual question.

In a flash of realization, many dots connected in her mind.

Why, on the day Sang Wan came for her interview, he had looked displeased yet still handed out double bonuses to everyone in the project department, while she received five times the amount.

Why the team-building activity she proposed had been dismissed as not upscale enough, only to be changed to a hot spring resort.

Why he hadn't even shown his face on the day of the team-building, yet had conveniently taken Sang Wan with him when he left.

She wanted to leave. After all, this was not something she should be hearing or knowing. But the gossip was so massive that her mind went blank, and she didn't even know how to react appropriately.

After a brief silence, Cheng Jingran snatched up her laptop and, with lightning speed, pulled open the conference room door and slipped out.

The others finally seemed to snap out of it, nudging and pushing one another. In the blink of an eye, the conference room emptied completely. Even the corridor outside fell silent.

"Lou..." Finally finding her voice, Sang Wan was at a loss for what to call him.

Call him Lou Ye? This was the office.

Call him President Lou? But weren't Lou Ye's last two sentences precisely his punishment for her addressing him as "President Lou"?

The wheels of his chair rolled back, and Sang Wan watched as Lou Ye stood up and walked toward her. She felt a sudden urge to bolt for the door.

But Lou Ye was a madman! He had dared to speak like that with so many people in the room. If she ran, would he chase her all the way to the project design department? If that happened, it wouldn't just be the few dozen people in the conference room who knew.

Her mind was a tangled mess. When her hand was grabbed, she instinctively tried to shake it off. Looking up, she met Lou Ye's eyes, which were filled with amusement.

"Sang Wan..." Leaning casually against the desk, Lou Ye caught her arm and pulled her into his embrace. "Whatever you're thinking now, it's too late."

Clarify with her colleagues and say there was nothing between them? Too late.

The moment Lou Ye said "go home," she should have channeled an Oscar-worthy performance, feigning innocence to shut him down: *What are you talking about, President Lou? I don't understand.* And then she should have bolted.

If she had put on that act, even if people had massive doubts, they would only dare to speculate in private.

But she had frozen. She hadn't reacted in time. She hadn't acted. And so she had given Lou Ye the chance to put on a second act.

Now, she would never be able to clear her name. Not that there was anything to clear in the first place.

The familiar scent of fir drifted from his collar and cuffs. Remembering the message he had sent through Xu Yiyi, her panic of the past night completely vanished.

Sang Wan let out a soft sigh and looked up at Lou Ye. "Lou Ye, thank you for yesterday. I'll thank you however you want. But as for you and me..."

The scent drew closer. Lou Ye leaned in and kissed her, cutting off the words she was about to speak.