C14 It Was too Difficult

"Manager Xiong, please continue," Gu Yi prompted.

Xiong Miao snapped back to the present with a start.

She had been so engrossed in trying to decipher Zhan Yeling's thoughts that she had zoned out, causing an awkward silence.

"I've chosen olive green to symbolize the vibrancy of youth, accentuated with traditional Chinese elements, capturing both freshness and sophistication..." Xiong Miao recited from the PowerPoint presentation.

After about twenty minutes of explanation, she concluded her presentation.

Now, it was Zhan Yeling's turn to speak.

He scrutinized her without uttering a word.

Xiong Miao's nerves were on edge; she couldn't gauge whether he was pleased with her design, the result of a week's worth of sleepless nights.

Her lack of rest and poor eating habits had taken their toll; she had nearly passed out from low blood sugar earlier.

Thankfully, it was only a slight bout of dizziness that hadn't interfered with her work.

"Director Zhan, I think Manager Xiong's design is a bit too simplistic," Chen whispered, attempting to undermine Xiong Miao. She couldn't allow Xiong Miao to have a smooth ride.

But before Chen could finish her critique, Zhan Yeling's icy stare silenced her, and she didn't dare to say another word.

"Xiong Miao, stay behind. Everyone else, you're dismissed," Gu Yi declared, seemingly having anticipated his boss's wishes. He shut down his computer and headed out first.

The conference room emptied, leaving only Xiong Miao and Zhan Yeling.

She stood while he remained seated.

His innate, commanding presence made her feel incredibly small.

Gu Yi had closed the door behind him as he left.

In the confined space, Xiong Miao felt overwhelmed by the oppressive atmosphere, struggling to breathe.

As her anxiety mounted, the formidable figure before her rose and approached her.

His large shadow loomed, enveloping her petite frame.

Instinctively, Xiong Miao stepped back. His pace quickened, and her retreat became more frantic until her back hit the wall with nowhere left to go.

The man stretched out his arm, his hand bracing against the wall, effectively trapping Xiong Miao's slender body before him.

The man's presence was as piercing as a winter gale, hitting Xiong Miao full in the face. Her entire body tensed, and she nearly suffocated. "Director Zhan, what are you trying to do...?"

"Isn't this the outcome you were hoping for?" The man raised an eyebrow, his magnetic voice forming a question that was both pleasant and mocking, enough to infuriate anyone.

Even Xiong Miao, as naive as she might be, understood his insinuation. Did he really think she had intentionally fallen onto him to catch his attention, to start something with him? How ludicrous.

Feeling her dignity being trampled upon, Xiong Miao shed her fear and met his gaze with an icy smile. "Director Zhan, I was hoping to quickly get past the design drafts. I wasn't seeking your oppression."

"Is that so?" Zhan Yeling's lips curled into a slight, arrogant smirk as he tightened his grip on her waist, pulling her closer to him.

His grip was so strong that it hurt Xiong Miao. "Ah! What are you doing!"

Embarrassment flushed her face and neck a deep red.

Her shame made her want to flee, but she was held too tightly by the man to escape.

"This is what oppression feels like, understand?" Zhan Yeling's deep, handsome face was a mix of coldness and wicked charm, tinged with annoyance.

Xiong Miao held her breath, too afraid to even let out a sigh. "Director Zhan, I'm just a junior designer. Please, show me some respect."

"Why didn't you say that four years ago? You seemed to enjoy it in bed," he whispered hotly in her ear.

Xiong Miao felt her blood turn to ice.

He knew she was the woman from four years ago.

Would he investigate her, discover she had given birth to six children?

What if his next move was to take her children away?

At that thought, Xiong Miao experienced a fear like never before.

Four years ago, she had nothing and wasn't as scared to go abroad as she was now.

"A woman like you, who stoops to such disgraceful tactics, is nothing but repulsive! From now on, keep your wits about you and stop playing games in front of me!" Zhan Yeling's stern words were a commanding warning.

The man turned and walked away.

With the oppressive presence gone, Xiong Miao finally caught her breath, gasping for air.

She watched his tall figure stride out of the meeting room.

Xiong Miao's legs gave out, and she slid down the wall, crumpling to the floor.

What did he mean by what he said?

He hated her? That would be ideal. If he hated her, he wouldn't pry into her life. He wouldn't discover her child.

She could then safely keep her children hidden, away from his knowledge.

Once she had saved enough money, she would leave this place and never return.

Because Xiong Jingxi had made a scene at her home, he probably thought she was a promiscuous woman.

Let him think what he wants.

With this thought, Xiong Miao felt considerably lighter.

After the meeting, Zhan Yeling and Gu Yi headed back to headquarters.

The Design Department buzzed with gossip about Xiong Miao.

"She even tries to seduce Director Zhan during a meeting? How shameless!"

"Exactly. I've never seen such a sly fox."

"Director Zhan must have put her in her place just now. You saw how pale she was when she left the meeting room."

"What kind of man is Director Zhan? He would never fall for someone so vulgar."

"Her designs aren't impressive either. Probably got rejected by Director Zhan."

Led by Chen, a group of colleagues huddled together, whispering and sneering behind her back.

Xiong Miao overheard their words as she passed by.

She knew she shouldn't care about others' opinions, but the harsh words still stung.

Gripping her cup tightly, she returned to her office, closed the door, and called Gu Yi.

"Special Assistant Gu, I'd like to know Director Zhan's opinion of my design." Zhan Yeling hadn't shared any feedback during the meeting.

She was left feeling anxious, unsure whether to proceed or take a different approach.

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure what Director Zhan's intentions are," Gu Yi said, likely busy, before hanging up.

Xiong Miao set down her phone, leaned back in her chair, and sighed deeply: Life is just too hard.

Being human is incredibly challenging.

This job is just too tough.

For her, a single mother raising six little ones, the task is monumental.

Since the feasibility of the current design is uncertain, she's at a loss about how to proceed with the subsequent work.

Perhaps it's best to set it aside for the time being.

Tonight, she has a part-time gig that pays a thousand yuan.

She'll earn enough for two cans of baby formula first.

After clocking out, Xiong Miao headed home, changed clothes, and made her way to the midnight event Su Mumu had mentioned.

Working there as a tea server, she could make more money if the guests left tips.

Upon arrival, she donned her work attire and began her shift.

"Xiong Miao, VIP Room 7088 needs two bottles of red wine delivered. Could you take care of that?" The supervisor, unable to locate the regular server for Room 7088, asked Xiong Miao to step in.

He wanted to avoid making the guests wait too long and risk offending them.

It's important to remember that the room was filled with wealthy young heirs who expect impeccable service at the club.

"Sure, I'm on it," Xiong Miao responded, picking up the two bottles of red wine and heading to the private room.