Usually, Assistant Bo was the one who directly handled the subsidiaries under the Bosi Group. Only the top executives could meet the chairman himself.
Shi Nian had been walking behind the group when she noticed they had stopped at the doorway, their expressions oddly stunned.
Before she could ask what was going on, the representative leader called everyone to attention.
Shi Nian dismissed it as simple awe at his timely arrival.
But as soon as she stepped through the door, she sensed a change in the conference room.
Although the meeting had been somewhat tense earlier, it hadn't been nearly as solemn as it was now.
Her gaze swept over the RainCloud representatives. They sat stiffly in their seats, their composure shaken—like startled chicks with their feathers sticking out.
Unable to make sense of it, Shi Nian turned toward the podium. Seeing only the representative leader there, she averted her gaze and quietly took her seat.
"Begin."
The voice startled her. She turned toward the sound, and her eyes widened as they met his.
The man's heart gave an involuntary leap when their eyes met. But seeing the look in her eyes, he frowned and turned away coldly.
Shi Nian quickly covered her reaction, but the sorrow in her eyes couldn't be concealed.
For lifetimes, those eyes had looked at her with nothing but passion.
Now, they were cold and distant.
With a quiet breath, Shi Nian forced her attention back to the meeting. Yet her gaze kept drifting toward him.
The man on a wheelchair at the other end of the table could feel it—the steady, unwavering stare.
He recalled what Assistant Jiang had said: "She's just another woman who admires you."
But somehow, this felt different. There was something in her eyes in couldn't understand. She stared at him as though she were looking at someone else through him—someone else entirely.
He could feel his chest tighten at the thought.
Although aware her stare was obvious Shi Nian's gaze lingered over his long lashes, his phoenix-shaped eyes, the sharp line of his nose, and the thin curve of his lips. The longer she looked, the harder it became to pull away.
Her eyes drifted lower—to his hands, the strong knuckles tightening slightly, then to his legs. Her heart sank deeper. How did he become disabled…?
"Miss Shi."
The calm voice broke through her thoughts.
"Team Leader," Shi Nian replied immediately, standing up. Though her mind had wandered, she hadn't missed the flow of the discussion.
Each company representative had already presented their proposals.
Without hesitation, Shi Nian began her introduction. "BaiYue has a long-standing presence in the skincare industry," she began, before elaborating on the company's plans.
When she reached the topic of BaiYue's upcoming product, she handed the confidential documents to the RainCloud representatives—exactly the number she had prepared.
She noticed the leader passing two extra copies to Assistant Bo, who then handed one to the man beside him.
So… Si Yehan holds a noteworthy position here.
A faint spark lit her eyes. Then meeting him again might not be so difficult after all.
She continued calmly, explaining BaiYue's investment plan and projected profit margins.
When she finished, the RainCloud representatives began their questioning.
Among the six finalists, there was another skincare company—BaiYue's fiercest rival, PearlSkincare Limited.
Their representative hadn't looked kindly at Shi Nian since hearing her introduction. The mockery on his face was evident—he clearly didn't believe BaiYue stood a chance.
The skincare industry had long heard that the Shi consortium's young mistress had been sent to revive BaiYue. Seeing her now, he quickly connected the dots.
What puzzled him, though, was why she hadn't sought investment from the Shi consortium.
It didn't take long before one of the RainCloud representatives voiced that same thought.
"Why didn't BaiYue receive investment from its parent company? Was the proposal rejected?"
Shi Nian didn't flinch. "Indeed," she answered truthfully. "BaiYue's proposal was considered too risky. But our decision to approach RainCloud stems from the alignment between our product's needs and your company's capabilities—something our parent company couldn't provide."
It was a tricky question—one that could have stumped anyone else.
Though BaiYue's reputation was shaky, Shi Nian's confidence never wavered.
Expressionless, the RainCloud leader led his team into an adjoining room to deliberate.
Thirty minutes passed before they returned.
From their expressions alone, the result seemed clear—BaiYue had likely failed to make the cut.
One representative even gave the PearlSkincare team a knowing look, as if to assure them their victory was certain.
The PearlSkincare representative straightened in triumph, already smug with expectation.
Then came the announcement.
"The investment slots are awarded to Nian Group, Sky Group, Wang Group, Shu Group, and the last—"
He paused as Assistant Bo stepped forward and whispered something to him.
The representative blinked, cleared his throat, and corrected himself.
"…And BaiYue Skincare."
The room fell silent.
The RainCloud team exchanged uncertain glances.
The PearlSkincare representative lost his composure. "How is this possible? BaiYue isn't worth a shot!" he shouted.
Inwardly, the representative leader agreed—but he kept his expression neutral. "BaiYue's proposal meets RainCloud's requirements and standards," he replied evenly.
"You'll regret this!" the PearlSkincare representative snapped before storming out with his team. He knew nothing he said could change the decision now.
Shi Nian herself was stunned. She had already assumed BaiYue had lost and was considering other means of securing the investment.
The final answer she had given had been based on confidence, not data. It was a risky decision.
Hearing BaiYue's name announced left her momentarily speechless.
Then she noticed Assistant Bo, who had quietly approached the team leader earlier.
Her gaze shifted to the man who had remained silent throughout.
Why is he helping me? she wondered. Does he have memories …?
Instantly, she dismissed the thought. His eyes held no recognition.
The man didn't even glance at her.
Shi Nian sighed softly then looked away.
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