Help! The Frosty Noble's Son Is in Love With Me!-Chapter 488 - 42: The Boss and the Secretary
Qu Fulan thought Pei Ji’an wouldn’t be able to tolerate this kind of occasion and would quickly excuse himself.
However, after breakfast was served, despite looking visibly uncomfortable, he calmly finished eating.
Qu Fulan couldn’t figure out why he was putting himself through this difficulty.
Not only was it hard on him, but it was hard on her too.
It made having breakfast awkward, as two people with such contrasting lifestyles dining together was always uncomfortable.
Finally finishing breakfast with difficulty, Qu Fulan was relieved to be able to bid farewell to him.
Pei Ji’an didn’t say much; he simply dropped her off at the designated place and left.
Qu Fulan didn’t take the incident to heart and went with her friend to explore the market.
Yet, when discussing collaboration, she encountered Pei Ji’an again.
Qu Fulan found it quite surprising; she thought that after eating something unfamiliar, he’d be like the male lead in a novel and wouldn’t handle it well, requiring hospitalization or medication. Yet, he seemed no different from usual.
These days, social media is very popular, and if done well, it can earn as much as third or fourth-tier celebrities, so Qu Fulan and her friend wanted to start such a studio.
Using their team to create internet celebrities, once they have traffic, they have everything, but this venture needed investment, otherwise, it would be difficult to sustain.
Due to many internet celebrities ditching their patron after becoming popular, if Qu Fulan intended to groom someone, she would use the studio’s account rather than setting up an account for them. That way, even if they became famous and turned on her, they couldn’t take the fan account, and leaving the team’s packaging would mean they couldn’t go far alone.
These days, who can go without a team?
During her time as a secretary, she came across such matters, so she relied on past connections and relationships to discuss business.
She had prepared the business plan and chosen her target, a relatively famous internet personality, but one who hasn’t progressed due to lack of a team, just waiting for investment.
Once they successfully make one person popular, attracting newcomers would become easier, and the studio’s benefits would naturally be evident.
Unexpectedly, this seemingly insignificant little business caught the attention of President Pei.
He invested.
This investment offered on a silver platter... there’s no reason to turn it away, but President Pei’s involvement made the partnership appear more grand.
After all cooperation matters were settled, and the contract was signed, unexpectedly the relatively famous internet personality backed out, claiming that with Pei Group’s involvement, her terms needed to be raised to match her level.
Indeed, this internet celebrity looked down on Qu Fulan’s newly founded studio and started acting like a diva.
Qu Fulan found it quite amusing; when she was a secretary, even A-list celebrities would serve her tea courteously for a partnership, yet a little internet celebrity dared to act high and mighty before her.
She suddenly understood why this internet celebrity couldn’t become popular. If she had any foresight, she would wait until she was very famous before negotiating terms, rather than acting up as soon as the partnership started.
People without foresight naturally don’t go far.
Qu Fulan wasn’t interested in mentoring an ingrate, so she tore up the contract in front of everyone, advising that any issues be directed to her lawyer.
The internet celebrity’s face turned red and green with embarrassment, with nobody standing up for her; even on President Pei’s side, a better candidate was suggested, a big-time internet celebrity. A single call from an assistant, and they were very willing to cooperate with Qu Fulan’s new studio.
The little internet celebrity, thoroughly embarrassed, fled the scene.
Having received such significant help from Pei Ji’an, not offering a meal in return would be inappropriate, but going for another meal right after leaving the dining table was not suitable, so they agreed to meet another day.
"What... exactly is going on with you and him?"
Finally, when there was no one around, her friend, who had been dying of curiosity, couldn’t help but ask.
Qu Fulan replied, "What you see is what it is."
She had already considered that in business, you never know who you might end up collaborating with.
Her friend asked, "Have you two gotten back together?"
Qu Fulan: "... How did you reach that conclusion?"
Her friend responded, "Do I even need to sum it up? Isn’t it obvious? If you aren’t back together, why would President Pei bother with such a small project?"
Before Qu Fulan could respond, she continued, "If you’re not back together, then maybe he wants to pursue you again?"
Qu Fulan was at a loss for words, as her friend’s speculation... was also her own.
It wasn’t that she was overthinking; his actions naturally led to misunderstandings.
After they had eaten breakfast together at that place for several days, the owner assumed he was her boyfriend.
"Little Qu, how come your boyfriend didn’t come with you today?"
Qu Fulan replied, "... He’s not my boyfriend."
The owner was surprised for a moment and then laughed, "Oh, then he must be courting you. He seems like a good guy. It’s just that he lacks a bit of persistence, cooling off after just a few days."
Qu Fulan felt a bit embarrassed, blurting out an absurd reason, "No, he’s my... cousin."
Now not only was the owner surprised, even the owner’s wife was surprised, "Oh, he’s your cousin? You cousins seem to get along well. Your cousin is quite handsome; is he married?"
Qu Fulan didn’t expect that her makeshift excuse would wash away the suspicion of her being pursued, but the ensuing gossip questions were troubling.
"I haven’t asked much," she laughed it off, feeling it inappropriate to discuss someone else’s affairs.
The owner’s wife didn’t press further and continued with her work.
The next day, as Qu Fulan overslept until ten, someone knocked on her door. She crawled to the peephole and was surprised to see Pei Ji’an!
After opening the door and seeing Pei Ji’an holding breakfast, Qu Fulan hesitated internally but let him in.
The breakfast was from the shop she frequently visited; she recognized the taste immediately.
"Thank you," Qu Fulan said dryly while eating the breakfast he’d brought.
"What’s this cousin business?" he suddenly asked.
Qu Fulan was taken aback for a moment, then realized something and choked, coughing uncontrollably before taking a sip of water to ease herself, awkwardly explaining, "I just casually joked with the owners..."
Pei Ji’an gave a simple response, then explained some things, leaving Qu Fulan feeling like she shot herself in the foot.
She had been in a relationship with her boss in the past, and he stayed at her place for a while. Quite a few people in her community knew about it.
And when he accompanied her to breakfast, a lady in the community saw them and casually remarked, "Buying breakfast for Little Qu? Such a thoughtful boyfriend. Little Qu is truly blessed."
To which the shop owner responded, "Isn’t he Little Qu’s cousin?"
The lady from the community exclaimed, "What cousin? The couple has been living together for a while now. I even saw them making out in the car..."
Qu Fulan covered her face, feeling embarrassed about ever going back to that eatery.
Blaming the man in front of her for this mess, she wondered at his intentions.
No matter what he intended, she didn’t want to go along with it.
"President Pei, I feel like we..."
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