NFBE Chapter 226 was a gift from my husband. [Corrected]
Chapter 226 was a gift from my husband. [Corrected]
Yan Zhuoyu wasn't in a hurry, and posted the photos she took that night on social media platforms such as Weibo.
"Sister Yan, have some shrimp!"
Suddenly, Fan Wenran, as if presenting a treasure, put the freshly peeled prawns into Yan Zhuoyu's bowl.
Yan Zhuoyu tilted her head in confusion and looked at her: "Why are you being so helpful for no reason? Tell me, what do you want from me?"
"Look at you, the way you put it. Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
Fan Wenran took off his disposable gloves and threw them into the trash can, then ladled himself a bowl of soup.
"I'm thanking you for the whole set of lipsticks you gave me. If I had to buy them myself, I might not have been able to get them."
Yan Zhuoyu propped her head up and looked at her: "You are one of my few friends in the industry, why would I need you to buy it yourself? I'll send it to you as soon as a new color comes out."
"Sister Yan, you're so kind!"
Fan Wenran has fair skin, a sweet smile, and cute dimples on her cheeks. Her bangs also make her look exceptionally obedient.
She pointed to the lipstick that was almost completely eaten off her lips: "This lipstick is simply a godsend for lazy people like us who are afraid of dying. It's made of all-natural materials, so we no longer have to worry about heavy metal poisoning from ingesting it."
Yan Zhuoyu smiled helplessly, took out a pack of wet wipes from her small bag, and handed it to Fan Wenran.
"Even with all-natural ingredients, some preservatives are inevitably added to extend the shelf life. Otherwise, it might mold and spoil within a few days of bringing it home. Especially in a humid and hot climate like Guangzhou, lipsticks are soft and sweet, making them easy for cockroaches to eat during transportation, or they might melt and deform."
As she spoke, she frowned and pondered, "So, I plan to have the technical department research and make the lipstick into the kind of packaging used for disposable iodine swabs, which is both clean and hygienic."
Fan Wenran had already eaten about 80% full. She put down her chopsticks and began discussing things with Yan Zhuoyu.
"Sister Yan, since you're going to turn lipstick into cotton swabs, why don't you consider getting into the feminine hygiene products industry? There's been a lot of talk about it online lately, and no manufacturer has dared to respond. If you go into it, I'll definitely invest and support you!"
Yan Zhuoyu had already intended to do so: "I have already sent people to conduct market research. Once we have collected enough user feedback and intentions, we will begin developing new products."
With sufficient resources and funds, creating her own production chain and factory would not be difficult for her.
Fan Wenran poured two glasses of orange juice with pulp in a gulp, then pushed them in front of Yan Zhuoyu and clinked glasses with her.
“Great! I’m definitely going to invest, and I’ll get my friends to join too. We should tell these unscrupulous factories that there are plenty of people in China, and if you don’t do it, plenty of others will.”
Fan Wenran's agent readily clinked glasses: "That's right, girls' products should be made by girls! Count me in!"
Qiu Tong started dating Yan Zhuoyu not long after graduation. She didn't have a strong professional air about her, but she was quite chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur).
She raised her glass with fervent passion, forcibly lowering her voice as she spoke in a sublime tone: "For everyone, for humanity..."
Qiao Xinyun took a deep breath, her left eyelid twitching: "Is it contagious to get drunk from drinking orange juice with pulp...?"
Yan Zhuoyu gladly accepted their verbal investment: "Then I'd like to thank the shareholders in advance for their generous sponsorship, and wish our business all the best."
The group finished their drinks of orange juice with pulp.
Qiu Tong is already looking forward to it. Even if she doesn't work as an assistant anymore and goes out to find a job, all her bosses and superiors will be women. Then there will be no more of that awful drinking culture at banquets, and everyone will be looking their best!
A large bottle of orange juice with pulp was empty, exceeding the recommended calorie intake, but both agents tacitly remained silent, creating a very harmonious atmosphere.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door of the private room.
"Bang bang—"
The waiter's voice came through the door, sounding somewhat strained: "Ms. Yan, your bouquet has been delivered to our restaurant."
Yan Zhuoyu called out, "Please come in."
The dark wooden door opened, and two waiters carried in a large bouquet of roses, carefully placing them on a shelf inside the private room.
"Ms. Yan, these are your flowers. The delivery person is still waiting outside. Please sign for them on this card."
Yan Zhuoyu's gaze fell on the large bouquet of vibrant red roses.
The 666 red roses clustered together, like a burning flame, fiery and dazzling.
When she noticed the pure gold rose nestled in the center, she almost immediately guessed who had sent it.
This golden rose is exactly the same as the one Pei Weijin gave her before.
Qiu Tong looked at the sea of roses in front of her with envy: "Wow, Sister Yan, who sent these? So many roses, and this little trophy, it's so exquisite, is it a fan?"
Yan Zhuoyu gently picked up the trophy keychain placed in the bouquet with her fingertips.
The custom-made trophy keychain is almost identical to the trophy she won at the Star Awards, only much smaller, and it is engraved with her name.
The postcard tucked inside read:
—A single spark can start a prairie fire.
The inscription reads, "The little flame illuminated by you."
Pei Weijin's penmanship, just like the man himself, is sharp and cold, with each stroke decisive and clean, without the slightest redundancy.
Upon seeing these words, Yan Zhuoyu's lips unconsciously curled up, her eyes full of smiles; she was all too familiar with the handwriting.
Fan Wenran noticed Yan Zhuoyu's gaze on him and waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "Don't look at me, I didn't give it to you."
Yan Zhuoyu knew, of course, that it wasn't a gift from her; she just wanted Fan Wenran to come and see the details, looking forward to Teacher Lie's new work.
Her voice softened slightly: "It was a gift from my husband."
Fan Wenran took the bait immediately, becoming interested and coming closer to take a closer look.
Wow, is the one in the middle pure gold?
"Touch it?"
Yan Zhuoyu generously took out the golden rose and handed it to her.
She couldn't easily take these roses back to the hotel, so she planned to unwrap the bouquet later and give one to each person in the restaurant who needed them.
Yan Zhuoyu sat on the sofa in the private room and sent the photos of the roses she had taken to Pei Weijin.
She typed slowly: "[Who is the kind person who wants to make up for the disappointment of my first trophy being taken back?]"
[Was this a gift from my dear husband? Why didn't he tell me beforehand? It could have increased my affection for him so much! Doesn't he plan to leave his name after doing such a good deed?]
After waiting a while, Pei Weijin replied: [The bouquet was pre-ordered through my assistant. I just got off the plane and saw your message saying you were having dinner with friends. You've had a busy day, and I thought calling would bother you.]
Yan Zhuoyu: [My friend probably wishes she could be bothered.]
After replying to the message, she felt that something was off.
Pei Weijin was on the plane. Even if he had ordered it in advance, it was impossible for the trophy to be delivered so quickly. This wood carving was purely handmade, and it couldn't be completed so quickly.
Could it be...
A thought flashed through Yan Zhuoyu's mind, one that even she found somewhat unbelievable.
She asked, "You wouldn't have guessed that I've been participating in the Star Awards for years, and you've been preparing for it all along, ordering bouquets and trophies every year, would you?"