73: Sales exploded

Lin Chao's lip twitched as he answered the phone.

From the other end of the line, Lan Qingyu's smug voice immediately rang out, sounding as if her tail were sticking straight up in the air.

"How about it, Supervisor Lin?"

"Am I amazing or what!"

Her tone was just like a child who had scored full marks and was waiting for a parent's praise.

Lin Chao was amused by her. Leaning back in his chair, he praised her sincerely, "Amazing, truly amazing!"

"My dear Miss Lan, you are simply my God of Wealth!"

"Be honest, you didn't actually go through your student groups and pitch to them one by one, did you?"

Lan Qingyu gave a soft hmph on the other end, sounding a bit prideful.

"Of course not!"

"Uncle Zhou's big order came from a friend of my mother's who reached out after I posted on my moments."

"The seventy-odd thousand after that is my own personal record!"

She specifically emphasized the word "own."

Lin Chao couldn't help but laugh, "Alright, alright, you're amazing!"

"By the way, Supervisor Lin," Lan Qingyu changed the subject, "don't forget my three percent commission."

Hearing this, Lin Chao didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He couldn't help but tease, "I say, Miss Lan, you're the sole heir to the Lantu Group with a net worth of billions. Do you really care about this pocket change?"

At those words, Lan Qingyu on the other end immediately became unhappy, her voice rising an octave.

"That's different!"

"The money my mom gives me is an allowance!"

"What I earn myself is called skill!"

"How can they be the same?!"

Lin Chao froze for a moment, then clicked his tongue. "Fine, fine, fine. It's different, completely different."

He followed her lead and said, "I get it, this is proof of your ability."

"Don't worry, as soon as I get my salary next month, I'll transfer it to you immediately. Not a penny less."

"Really?!" Lan Qingyu's voice was instantly filled with uncontrollable surprise. "You said it! No backing out!"

"Once the money is paid, I'll treat you to dinner! Consider it... a celebration of our successful collaboration!"

Lin Chao could almost imagine her clenching her small fists over there, looking excited and determined.

He smiled helplessly, "Alright, it's a deal."

"Beep—"

The call was hung up decisively.

Lin Chao pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at the name on the screen, feeling both annoyed and amused.

What a fiery, impulsive personality.

He shook his head, tossed the phone back onto the table, and let out a long sigh of relief.

Regardless, today's sales had completely skyrocketed.

"Grumble..."

An untimely sound came from his abdomen.

Lin Chao looked down at his belly, only then realizing belatedly.

After all that commotion, it was almost dark.

He hadn't eaten dinner yet.

Rubbing his empty stomach, he picked up his phone again and habitually opened a food delivery app.

After swiping a few times on the screen, Lin Chao's brow gradually furrowed.

Aside from Michelin-starred restaurants and private kitchens that cost four figures per person—and were even too noble to offer delivery—the only things available nearby were national fast-food chains selling fried chicken and burgers.

He couldn't afford the former and didn't want the latter.

Lin Chao sighed and closed the app.

Forget it, he'd go out and find something to eat himself.

He took his jacket off the hanger, put it on, slipped into a pair of casual shoes, and walked out the door.

"Click."

The door was gently closed.

Lin Chao stood by the elevator and pressed the down button.

The red number in the elevator hall displayed [24].

The numbers began to tick down steadily.

[19]

The elevator stopped.

Lin Chao's heart skipped a beat.

An extremely bad premonition instantly surged in his heart.

No way. Please don't let it be her!

However, reality often loves to play jokes on you.

"Ding—"

After a crisp chime, the elevator doors slowly slid open.

Inside the brightly lit car stood a familiar figure.

Shen Zhixia.

Lin Chao's lip twitched uncontrollably.

This damn fate!

Shen Zhixia clearly hadn't expected to run into him here either; a flash of obvious surprise crossed her beautiful eyes.

Her gaze swept over Lin Chao before she quickly regained her composure.

"Didn't you say you were going to see a client?" Her voice was cool and indifferent, devoid of any discernible emotion. "Are you... finished?"

"Cough," Lin Chao cleared his throat, forcing his expression to look natural. "Yeah, finished seeing the client. I realized it was getting late, so I came straight back."

To make his story more credible, he specifically added, "I also took the client for a tour of our company to look at the products."

"Oh?" Shen Zhixia raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this.

She moved slightly to the side, making room for Lin Chao.

Lin Chao steeled himself and walked in.

The elevator doors slowly closed.

In the cramped space, the atmosphere instantly became subtly awkward.

Shen Zhixia looked at the reflection of the two figures on the elevator wall and asked seemingly casually, "So... did you sign the contract?"

Here it comes!

Alarm bells rang in Lin Chao's head.

He knew she would ask that!

"I did," he replied with feigned ease. "But the client was quite cautious, so they mostly signed for the basic models."

Hearing the words "I did," Shen Zhixia couldn't help but nod slightly, and a smile that could even be called gentle appeared on her face.

"As long as you signed it," she turned to look at Lin Chao, her tone sincere. "Basic models are still sales performance."

Lin Chao opened his mouth, about to say something polite like "Don't worry, Director Shen."

But Shen Zhixia had already looked away, her gaze returning to the changing red numbers on the elevator door.

She asked as if in passing, "Where are you going now?"

"Huh?" Lin Chao blanked for a second before realizing she was asking him. "Oh, well... it's dinner time."

He rubbed his nose sheepishly, a hint of imperceptible awkwardness in his smile. "Going out to find something to eat."

As soon as he spoke, a thought uncontrollably popped into Lin Chao's mind.

Since she's asking... could she be planning to treat me to dinner?

After all, he had just secured such a large amount of sales for the company today.

As a leader, it seemed reasonable for her to show some appreciation.

In his head, Lin Chao was already rapidly calculating whether to have Japanese or French cuisine.

However, Shen Zhixia said nothing.

She just stood there quietly, as if the previous question really had been just a casual inquiry.

Lin Chao: "..."

The air instantly froze.

Inside the elevator car, only the faint humming of the machinery remained.

On the metal walls, the motionless figures of the two were clearly reflected, like two awkward statues.

Lin Chao could even feel the smile on his face stiffening and crumbling inch by inch.