An Li finally managed to escape thanks to a phone call. Once outside, she texted Fang Lian saying she needed to leave due to an urgent matter, and soon after Fang Lian followed suit.
"Leaving before the gathering ends doesn’t leave a great impression." That’s what he said.
An Li was imdiately infuriated, "That has nothing to do with ."
Fang Lian, however, held onto her hand and pleaded with her, "Just treat it as helping out, okay? It wasn’t easy to get into this event today; I’ve worked so hard to build these connections. If things go well today and the partnership is secured, my life will be much easier, and I’ll have more ti with you."
Looking at Fang Lian, An Li felt utterly disappointed, "They’ve been forcing to drink, can’t you see I’m at my limit?"
Fang Lian assud she was like him; in this business, you need a good tolerance for alcohol to stand a better chance.
That’s how these dinners worked — if people drank happily, everything could be negotiated.
An Li was also in a line of work that often required attending such gatherings where drinking is inevitable. She must have a decent tolerance for alcohol given the way she held her drink earlier.
"I’ll shield you from drinking later, just hang in there a bit longer." Fang Lian pleaded almost desperately.
He had no choice; he lacked a notable background and had no outstanding credentials. Everything depended on his own efforts, and Mr. Tan had said earlier that if An Li could make his girlfriend famous, he would agree to a collaboration.
This ready collaboration, how could he let it go?
An Li chuckled in anger, "You go ahead and persist yourself, I’m done here."
Fang Lian continued soothingly, "Li, Li, I know this makes you uncomfortable, but I swear it’s just this once, there won’t be another ti."
"I rember during our first eting, I told you my bottom line and principles, you probably forgot all about it." After An Li finished, she turned around and left.
Fang Lian’s smile froze.
Bowing for five bushels of rice was sothing Fang Lian often did; why not? As long as one was willing to set aside dignity, what couldn’t be achieved? Is so-called pride that important? Money and power are most crucial. To live a better life, you need to climb upwards, only then can you afford to talk about pride and dignity.
Unfortunately, An Li’s background made her unable to comprehend; she could be considered a wealthy second generation now, though incomparable to the truly wealthy families, she was far better off than most. Her current pursuits are more about fa and influence rather than re wealth. Bowing for five bushels of rice is sothing she wouldn’t do, nor need to do. At worst, she loses a deal and doesn’t earn that money.
An Li broke up with the man from a matchmaking date, and when her friend asked the reason, she explained. Her friend laughed.
"Honestly, I guessed you’d break up from the start."
"Why?"
"You went through it; why ask why?" Her friend found it amusing, "The era of male dominance and female subordination seems over, but the environnt still leans towards n. This makes male self-esteem strong; they think n should do great things while won should focus on the family, almost like it’s ingrained. Like won can be full-ti mothers, but n can’t because they’d see it as an insult to their dignity. The disparity between you and Fang Lian is right there; you want him to submit to you, but Fang Lian seems ambitious, wanting to rise up despite his poor background, destined to work harder than others. For success, he’ll sotis stop at nothing."
Before today, An Li only saw that man’s drive but couldn’t see his ambition.
"Being equally matched doesn’t guarantee a good outco, but finding soone inferior ans you’ll have to care for their self-esteem, otherwise life won’t go smoothly."
With An Li’s personality, she always needs others to revolve around her; how could she possibly care for soone else’s dignity?
It was An Li’s first ti hearing such a profound theory; before today she might have dismissed it, but after today’s experiences, she had to admit her friend was right.
"So, there are no good n in the world?" An Li felt despair.
"There are! Isn’t President Pei a good man?" Talking about this, her friend got excited.
An Li was a bit slow to react, "Who do you an?"
"President Pei, I refuse to believe you don’t know him. His national recognition is so high, even if you don’t follow closely, you should know a little."
Thus An Li understood, and coldly laughed, "What makes him a good man? How did you conclude he’s a good man?"
Could a good man even have mistresses outside?
She didn’t say this out loud, not to spare President Pei’s face, but to counter her friend’s praise.
Among friends, who doesn’t know whom?
If An Li was the type to be full of herself, then her friend was just soone who followed popular opinions. Whatever others say, she believes.
Probably she heard others praising President Pei and took it as true.
"Don’t disbelieve; wealthy, handso and devoted n exist, and that man is indeed President Pei. He’s especially good to his current girlfriend, and before now, he truly had no girlfriend."
"How would one know soone doesn’t have others? For instance, if he keeps a mistress outside, such private matters wouldn’t be known unless confessed."
An Li even assud President Pei’s girlfriend to be Zhang Rongnuan.
Her friend just chuckled aningfully, "You’re underestimating people; with his status, what kind of woman couldn’t he have? Why would he need to keep an unspeakable mistress outside?"
An Li was indifferent; who said soone with high status wouldn’t keep lovers? Instead, these people, for face, tend to do bad deeds secretly.
Seeing An Li’s stubbornness, her friend decided to drop the topic; whether An Li believes it or not is up to her, as long as she knows it is true.
...
Qu Fulan learned of a more suitable team at last night’s dinner, not from people in the private room, but through an interdiary. Everything was actually thanks to Pei Ji’an’s connections.
Qu Fulan happily accepted; when connections are present, why not use them? Why wait till they’re gone to struggle desperately?
Got the business card, added WeChat, and arranged to et today.
Once eting the folks, Qu Fulan found out what kind of team was willing to collaborate with her.
It was a team that beca overnight sensations from filming culinary shows, though after the food program exploded, they hadn’t followed up. She wondered why they didn’t continue; the videos were hot and fun to watch. Later, she found out disagreents among collaborators hindered further production.
Many sought collaboration with the team creators afterward, but heard they went abroad for further studies, preventing contact.
Now they returned ho, willing to work with Qu Fulan, which was indeed ecstatic.
The team was led by a short-haired woman around thirty-five, exuding an aura of competence.
The two conversed delightfully, which seed inconceivable to An Li.
In the industry, who doesn’t know i? Knowing soone is to understand her prowess.
Such a person has discerning eyes; previously An Li tried inviting her to collaborate but couldn’t.
Aside from discerning taste, i was adamant about not working with those holding improper views. An Li’s so-called conviction and principles were actually modeled after i.
Perhaps being newly back, i was unaware of situations, An Li assured herself.
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