In the dead of winter, a rare cold wave hit the cold city of Ningshi, and heavy snow fell for two days.

The conference room of Haotian headquarters building.

A group of senior executives gathered around the cherry wood conference table in silence, listening with trepidation to the work plan for next year.

The leading man was dressed in a black formal suit, and there was nothing unusual about his usually calm face.

"The current budget has exceeded the limit," Financial Director Lin Yuanping said. "We have carefully calculated and can only choose one of the two newly established companies to reduce the external publicity quota. As for which one to choose, you still need to decide which one to choose."

Zuo Qinglan remained silent. He had been in the upper position for many years, and his whole body could not help but exude a strong sense of coercion.

Lin Yuan had followed him for many years and knew that he was most impatient with others showing off, so he cleared his throat and turned his attention to the two women opposite.

"My suggestion," Lin Yuan said, "is to reduce Yunfan's external publicity quota."

Yunfan is a newly established company under the group. Its main business is the production and sales of Hanfu.

Currently Shan Tao is in charge.

As if it was no surprise, Shan Tao smiled and said softly: "Everyone has seen Yunfan's financial report. I think it is worth every penny of the group's investment in it."

"That's right," Lin Yuan said, "but the customer group Yunfan faces are high-quality, experienced Hanfu enthusiasts and collectors, which means it cannot be mass-produced, and the investment in Hanfu is too high.

, it’s just a piece of clothing, even historical experts have to be hired for many years..."

"Director Lin," Shan Tao raised her eyelashes, neither humble nor overbearing, "Please be careful with your words. As a top student who returned from overseas in the 1970s, even if you don't want to understand Chinese history and culture, you should know not to bring personal emotions when talking about business."

"..."

The whole place was silent.

Lin Yuan's face turned red as she was choked, and her tone became harder: "I and several department managers agreed that this budget should be allocated to Haitesco."

Hailego is also a newly established company, mainly engaged in cross-border e-commerce business.

Currently, Dong Bingshuang, the daughter of one of the group’s original shareholders, Dong Darui, is in charge.

Dong Bingshuang and Zuo Qinglan are about the same age, and they had a romantic relationship when they were 18 or 19 years old.

It's just that the past has long been over, and the two parties involved in the upper class will not care about this insignificant matter.

But in the eyes of others, it means something else.

The current and ex-presidents inevitably have some strange things to talk about.

A war without smoke emerged in the conference room.

Everyone's eyes fell on the man at the head, as if waiting for his decision.

Zuo Qinglan's emotionless eyes passed over the information. He had received various rigorous education and training as the heir to the group since he was a child. His character was never sloppy, and any order he issued was executed vigorously and resolutely.

However, at this moment, facing the earnest gazes of the senior executives, he remained silent for a few seconds in a rare moment.

In just a few seconds, he raised his long eyes slightly and said in a calm voice: "I vote for Haitesco."

His vote was particularly important, as it was equivalent to a direct decision.

Lin Yuan breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Shan Tao opposite with a victorious look.

Shan Tao paused for two seconds: "We don't need the quota for external publicity, but I ask that 50% of Yunfan's profits be taken out of each quarter, and Yunfan can allocate it freely."

The group has reduced its investment in Yunfan, so Yunfan's various expenses should be reserved from the income.

"Fifty percent?" Lin Yuan exclaimed, "Yunfan is only the smallest and newest company under the group, so it's a bit loud."

"I want the horse to run away," Shan Tao quipped, "but I don't want to let the horse eat grass. If Director Lin has such objections, why not persuade everyone to simply cancel this business line."

"Mr. Shan," Lin Yuan retorted, "Please also pay attention to your personal emotions."

The war between women comes fast and furious.

Thinking of the employees under her, Shan Tao tried hard to suppress her anger and turned her eyes to the leading man.

She said calmly: "Then it's up to the president to decide."

Zuo Qinglan's dark eyes met hers, and he was unhappy: "Mr. Shan, don't be emotional."

Shan Tao: "..."

Knowing that he disagreed with her request, Shan Tao pursed her lips tightly, and an inexplicable sourness hit her eyes.

She stood up and said as calmly as possible: "It's the end of the year, and my employees have stayed up all night. I hope the bosses can approve their year-end bonuses."

This statement contains great irony. A small matter like year-end bonus is not worthy of being brought up on such a stage.

But Shan Tao mentioned it.

She seemed to be mocking everyone present at the meeting, mocking them for exerting their capitalist blood-sucking instincts. While she was eating meat, she was not even allowing others to drink the soup.

After saying that, she picked up the documents and said expressionlessly: "We Yunfan should not be worthy of knowing about the next major event, so we will leave now."

There was silence in the conference room, no one dared to speak at this time.

A seat suddenly became vacant in the originally full conference room, and a faint fragrance lingered in the stirred air.

Zuo Qinglan closed her eyelashes and remained silent for a few seconds. When she raised her eyes again, her expression remained the same: "Continue."

Everyone looked at each other and other departments reported their respective work one by one.

After it was over, the lights outside the huge floor-to-ceiling window came on, and someone shouted, "It's snowing again." Several directors stopped in front of the window to watch with interest.

Lin Yuan held Dong Bingshuang's hand and said warmly: "President, let's have a drink together?"

"No need," Zuo Qinglan took the coat from the secretary, "It's my father-in-law's birthday."

As a senior veteran, Lin Yuan is always a little more familiar with the boss she has grown up with than others.

"That's fine," she said with a smile, "I was a bit harsh on Mr. Shan at the meeting. I wonder if Mr. Shan will hold a grudge."

Zuo Qinglan glanced at her, almost indifferent: "Do you have any objections to her?"

"..." Seeing him respond for the first time, Lin Yuan was stunned, a little unclear as to what he meant, "No, no, Mr. Shan is young and always a bit competitive..."

Before she finished speaking, Zuo Qinglan stared at her: "Mr. Lin, I always put official affairs first, and my decision to support you is from the perspective of the group's interests. In private, Mr. Shan is my wife and your boss's wife. This kind of

Don’t let me hear you attack her a second time.”

Lin Yuan: "..."

Dong Bingshuang, who was next to her, was also stunned. She was in the middle of the two of them and was extremely embarrassed.

It wasn't until Zuo Qinglan strode away that Lin Yuan stammered: "Did the president just favor Shan Tao?"

"..." Dong Bingshuang pursed her lips, "Sister Lin, they are a couple after all. It's not good for you to say so."

"No," Lin Yuan said, "President, he... falls in love with his wife?"

Dong Bingshuang: "You just found out today?"

She sighed softly: "Qinglan has been calm since he was a child. He never shows his emotions in front of outsiders. When you criticized Mr. Shan just now, I clearly saw him frown several times."

That was because he was dissatisfied with Lin Yuan's attitude towards Shan Tao.

"..." Lin Yuan's heart skipped a beat, "The president had so many close friends before, I thought they were just getting married..."

"How long has this been going on?" Dong Bingshuang was helpless. "You can count on your fingers. How many years has it been since he saw another woman appear next to him?"

Lin Yuan: "..."

-

The heavy snow was like torn cotton wool, and the dark sky was so heavy that it seemed to press to the horizon.

Zuo Qinglan had a black business coat draped over her shoulders and her steps were brisk: "Where's Madam?"

"..." Secretary Xiao Zhang was speechless for a second, "Madam said she will go back first."

Zuo Qinglan suddenly stopped in his steps: "Didn't I say that we would go to my father-in-law's house together?"

"Yes, the message was passed to Madam," Xiao Zhang swallowed, "Madam said it doesn't matter, it's just a small birthday, she can just go by herself."

"..."

silence.

For a moment, Zuo Qinglan's face turned cold: "What was her expression like when she came out of the conference room?"

"..." Xiao Zhang paused and thought carefully, "It's a very normal expression, and he still smiled at me."

Nothing unusual at all.

Zuo Qinglan lowered his eyes, his eyelashes covering all his emotions. After a second's pause, he ordered calmly: "Get the car ready and go to Shan's house."

"yes!"

The black extended Lincoln was driving on a snowy street. The orange lights emitted by the streetlights were partially covered by the thick snow, and the dull light was refracted into the glass windows.

Zuo Qinglan was leaning on the backrest, looking a little tired, but staring unblinkingly at the white snow flying outside the window.

The sound of snow rustling.

Xiao Zhang glanced at him from the rearview mirror and said respectfully: "The red plum and green bamboo cloak you prepared for Madam has been handed over to Madam. This kind of weather is most suitable for wearing a cloak."

"..." Zuo Qinglan calmly looked away, "What's Madam's reaction?"

Xiao Zhang: "Madam took it and said thank you."

Under the dim light in the car, Zuo Qinglan's slender fingers grasped her knees, and her voice was dry: "Didn't she open it and take a look?"

"..." Xiao Zhang said dumbly.

That beautifully packaged cloak...

Shan Tao didn't even look at it, and handed it directly to the assistant behind her.

[Author's digression]: Big Brother and Sister-in-law is a story about chasing his wife in the crematorium. I don't know if I can catch up with him. I will write about the ending. Those who are still chasing after him can just read it~
Chapter completed!