Beside the long table, Li Ai watched Fang Ruonan and Gu Qichen from afar, and leaned closer to Qin He, "Miss Qin, Fang Ruonan seems very interested in Mr. Gu."
Qin He's expression soured, and she let out a low hum.
"It has nothing to do with us, don't mind them."
She had initially been thinking about Gu Qichen's health, but after seeing Fang Ruonan approach, they had been chatting ever since.
Gu Qichen had even smiled.
Hmph, men.
She was being nosy too; she and Gu Qichen had no relationship, so why bother with his health.
Qin He popped a small piece of cake into her mouth, her cheeks bulging.
Not far away, Gu Qichen's gaze swept over. Seeing Qin He's displeased expression, the corners of his lips curved upwards.
Fang Ruonan thought Gu Qichen understood her intentions, a smile on her face.
"Mr. Gu?"
"Gu's is planning to establish a fragrance brand, and the director has already been chosen."
"Already chosen?!" So fast!
Fang Ruonan gritted her teeth. "I can compete fairly with the person you've chosen."
"You can't compare to her." Gu Qichen's expression was cold as he didn't take the champagne.
Fang Ruonan felt as if she had been slapped, her face burning.
But this was the easiest opportunity to approach Gu Qichen at the moment!
"Then I can be the deputy director, or if not, I don't mind being a perfumer. After all, only by starting from the bottom can I gain Mr. Gu's trust in my abilities!" Fang Ruonan said.
Many people around heard her words, some with jealousy, others purely out of gossip.
But everyone pricked up their ears, listening to the developments here.
"Gu's fragrance brand recruits personnel, and the director will decide who to recruit; I won't interfere."
"Who is the director?"
Gu Qichen's lips curved upwards, and he walked towards Qin He.
Fang Ruonan immediately followed, feeling a hint of confusion. Had the brand director also come this time?
When Gu Qichen brought her in front of Qin He, Fang Ruonan vaguely sensed something was wrong.
She remembered her father's reprimand, saying Gu Qichen was interested in Qin He.
Could it be... her?!
"Director Qin." Gu Qichen's voice was deep and mellow, devoid of the coldness he showed to others. "Miss Fang wants to join your brand, what do you think?"
Qin He glared at Gu Qichen with a cold little face.
Was Gu Qichen intentionally sticking up for her? Seeing Fang Ruonan's embarrassed expression, Qin He indeed felt much better.
"We're not hiring," Qin He said coldly.
Fang Ruonan immediately became angry. "Qin He, why aren't you hiring me? Are you planning to bring your personal grudges into work? With your character, you are simply not worthy of being Gu's brand director!"
Qin He raised an eyebrow, smiling provocatively.
"Miss Fang, if you don't mind, please go online and check your reputation and netizens' comments. My brand's first criterion for hiring is not perfumery skills, but character, values, and conduct. Unfortunately, you possess none of these three. You only have arrogance, unreasonableness, and moral coercion."
Qin He's words were impolite, and she rarely spoke to people like this.
Fang Ruonan was so angry she wished she could slap Qin He right then and there.
Who did Qin He think she was, someone who had just entered the industry and, with some luck, reached the top fifty in the competition. Did she really think she was hot stuff!
The onlookers, who had initially been hoping to hear gossip between Fang Ruonan and Gu Qichen, were now hearing such explosive news!
Gu's was indeed planning to invest in a perfume brand, and the director had already been decided – it was Qin He!
"Qin He is the director? The competition isn't even over yet, is Gu's that bold?"
"When I saw the list of investors this time, I was thinking that if I placed well in the competition, I could go to Gu's. I didn't expect Qin He to be the director!"
"But that's not certain, is it? What if Qin He is eliminated before even making it to the top twenty? Gu's would lose so much face. If the new director is a novice, this project of establishing a perfume brand will probably fail."
Everyone's emotions were complex. Those who had wanted to join Gu's after the competition now understood their future leader.
They also worried that if Qin He were to stop at the top twenty, they would also be embarrassed.
For those who didn't want to join Gu's, they looked at Qin He with envy.
To establish a brand right after "debuting," with the backing of Gu's immense influence, was simply too enviable.
Amidst the gazes of everyone, Fang Ruonan felt like a clown.
She bit her lower lip, wanting to retort to Qin He, but remembering Gu Qichen was still there, Fang Ruonan forced herself to hold back.
She looked at the man beside her with a hint of grievance and pity.
Gu Qichen didn't even spare Fang Ruonan a glance. He walked to Qin He's side. "You seemed a little unhappy just now."
Qin He felt a little guilty and replied testily, "I'm always in a good mood, you're mistaken."
Fang Ruonan was now in a predicament, neither able to leave nor stay, feeling as if her skin had been stripped bare in public, with everyone laughing at her.
From the crowd, Zhang Caiyu slowly walked out.
She approached Fang Ruonan, smiling politely and elegantly, "Miss Fang, I understand your passion for perfume. If you don't mind, you could come to my brand as director. Would you consider it?"
Qin He cast a cold glance at Zhang Caiyu. So she was here to offer an escape route again.
Fang Ruonan was still staring at Gu Qichen's profile. Now, she could only take the offered step down.
"I'll consider it." Zhang Caiyu's luxury brand, whose reputation had already been tarnished, was hardly a place for her to work.
But regardless, with an escape route, Fang Ruonan's expression improved slightly.
Zhang Caiyu then naturally turned to Gu Qichen beside them, "Mr. Gu, long time no see."
Gu Qichen turned his head, his expression calm. "We've met?"
"When Gu's established its branch in the capital, I had the honor of being invited and saw Mr. Gu's presence," Zhang Caiyu said.
Establishing a branch usually invited many people, so it wasn't strange that Zhang Caiyu was present.
Although Gu Qichen showed no outward reaction, Qin He keenly sensed his impatience.
"Mr. Gu, would you do me the honor of a drink?" Zhang Caiyu offered a wine glass.
Gu Qichen looked at the glass extended towards him. Just as he was about to refuse, a fair, delicate hand reached out.
Qin He directly took the wine glass from Zhang Caiyu.
"He's injured today and cannot drink. I'll have this on Mr. Gu's behalf."
Zhang Caiyu's expression changed slightly, but she said nothing.
However, Fang Ruonan, beside them, spoke out resentfully, "Qin He, what's your status? How dare you drink Zhang Caiyu's wine on Mr. Gu's behalf?"
Holding the wine glass, Qin He let out a cold laugh. As a brand director, wasn't it normal for her to shield her boss from drinks?
"She is the woman I am pursuing. Miss Fang, do you have an opinion?" Gu Qichen looked at Fang Ruonan. "Miss Fang has repeatedly been impolite to Qin He. It seems the Fang family believes Gu's is easy to bully."