After venting her frustrations to Little Mushroom, Que Tang frowned, looking troubled. She hadn't expected things to spiral out of her control so quickly. At the very least, she hadn't anticipated the "female supporting character" to be so proactive.
After a moment’s thought, she decided to stick to her original plan and reject the offer.
"Mrs. Song—" She stopped herself under the other woman’s hawk-like gaze and corrected herself. "Miss Yu. I believe that for both my personal career path and the company’s planning, it is truly inappropriate for me to continue leading this project. Furthermore..." She paused for a few seconds, her expression turning complex. "I am advising you now in a personal capacity: given Yu Xia’s current situation, you have already made the maximum possible concessions. If you offer even more favorable terms, your company will be working for nothing on this collaboration. It would be entirely thankless labor."
"That is not a problem," Yu Luoyan countered swiftly, eager to reclaim the initiative.
Que Tang gave a helpless, slightly exasperated smile, looking like an elder watching a willful child. "Miss Yu. I don’t know how you convinced Mr. Song Aotian to transfer this project into your hands. But as you said, if your goal is to best me, then first and foremost, you must understand and remember to prioritize the company’s interests at all times. The business world is not a place for you to throw tantrums or indulge in your whims as a pampered heiress." Realizing her tone had become too sharp, she rubbed her temples with a wry smile.
"I understand. I will coordinate with the head office to stay on as the supervisor and person in charge of this project. However, once the project is complete and handed over to my subordinates, I will return to the United States." Unlike her previous conversational tone, Que Tang now spoke with the authority of a high-level executive, her gaze gentle yet firm.
Yu Luoyan was momentarily stunned. Just a moment ago, she was certain Que Tang would refuse to stay. "Why?" She narrowed her eyes, trying to see through the woman. "Why would you agree to such an unreasonable demand? Why are you being so good to me?"
"Consider it my way of making amends," Que Tang said, averting her eyes. The branded fountain pen in her right hand spun back and forth between her fingers.
Yu Luoyan caught a flicker of regret in her expression. *Making amends...* she silently chewed on those words.
As if to put those words into practice, once the formal discussion of the collaboration began, Que Tang became almost harshly relentless in critiquing Yu Xia’s proposal.
First, she pointed out several ambiguous gray areas in the contract terms. Then, she pulled out Yu Xia’s financial statements from the previous year.
"Your company’s overall revenue last year grew by barely 1% compared to the year before, yet the budget you’ve proposed for this collaboration is quite irrational. Is your finance department asleep at the wheel?" Que Tang circled the numbers on the budget sheet one by one for her to see. "You approached us as a premier Asian corporation, yet you’ve given us a budget sheet fit for a second-rate firm. If any of my colleagues had been here, they would have rejected this collaboration outright."
Yu Luoyan bit her lip, her face pale as she silently took notes.
"Additionally, I’ve reviewed your market research. It’s fundamentally unreliable. Most of the SPSS analysis methods chosen were biased in your company’s favor, and some were even a bit of a stretch." Que Tang closed the report and pushed it back toward her. "In truth, I don’t think Yu Xia values this collaboration at all. Perhaps it’s because the expected profits aren't as massive as your initial estimates, or perhaps it’s because my company is particularly demanding. Either way, your intent to formally cooperate seems to be dwindling. That was one of the reasons I requested to return to the States."
Que Tang’s gaze swept across her laptop screen, noticing an email from Song Aotian. She raised an eyebrow and clicked it open. It read:
*Tang, Yu Luoyan actually used the Board of Directors to snatch the Yu Xia collaboration away from you. It’s all my fault for not protecting you properly. But don't worry, I’m already filing for divorce. As soon as she signs, I’ll marry you immediately.*
*If she gives you any trouble... just make things difficult for her. She’s just a spoiled heiress who knows how to spend money but knows nothing about business. She’ll get discouraged and give up soon enough.*
*By the way, it’s been a long time since we’ve eaten together. Shall I wait for you downstairs at your office tonight?*
Que Tang replied rapidly: *Sorry, I have plans tonight. No time.*
Song Aotian replied just as quickly: *It’s fine, I know you’re busy. We’ll have plenty of time together soon.*
She closed the browser immediately, not wanting to see another word from him. No one had ever made her feel this disgusted. No one.
"General Manager Que? Are there any other issues?" Yu Luoyan asked, puzzled by the look of revulsion that had unconsciously crossed Que Tang’s face.
"Hmm?" Que Tang snapped back to reality and checked the time. "I think we’ll call it a day. I didn't realize it was already six o'clock. Time to get off work." She looked through the glass partition; most of the staff were already packing up.
Yu Luoyan followed her gaze and was surprised to see everyone preparing to leave on time. "Does your company not require employees to work overtime?"
"Rest is a part of life," Que Tang said with a slight smile. "Besides, if there’s nothing to do, one should go home early. As long as the work is finished by the deadline, it’s fine. Is your driver coming to pick you up?"
Yu Luoyan’s previous vulnerability vanished, replaced by a mysterious smile.
***
When Que Tang arrived home, she discovered that someone had moved into the long-vacant apartment across from hers. She raised an eyebrow and entered her own home. "Little Mushroom? Little Mushroom?" She realized she hadn't heard the cat’s voice all day. After searching every corner of the house, she finally found the fat cat sprawled out on her bed.
"You’re eating dried fish on my bed!" A vein popped on Que Tang’s forehead. "Little Mushroom!"
"Meow... ugh..." Little Mushroom rolled over on the bed.
"Lit-tle... Mush-room!" She reached out, grabbed the cat, marched to the balcony, tossed it into the washing machine, and hit the spin cycle. A series of thumping sounds followed, succeeded by the cat’s pathetic wails.
"Meow... Host is so mean!" Little Mushroom accused her with teary eyes after being let out ten minutes later, having run like a hamster on a wheel inside.
"I was giving you the chance to learn the ultimate martial art: the Invincible Wind and Fire Wheels," Que Tang said with a cold smirk. "And... what kind of bizarre product is red wine-flavored dried fish? Is that even edible?" She picked up the packaging. "The point is, you stupid cat who can't handle liquor actually got drunk and slept all day off the tiny amount of alcohol in these..."
She suddenly realized something was wrong. "Wait, I never bought this. Where did you get it?"
"A few days ago, Host forgot to turn off the computer, so I used your Taobao to buy it. Meow~ I ordered a whole crate. It arrived this morning just as you were leaving. The neighbor who moved in next door this morning was nice enough to sign for it. Then I snuck in and took a bag out," Little Mushroom said proudly. "But your human consumption systems are still too primitive. On our planet, every cat household has a paw-print scanner. You press it, and your previous purchases appear automatically. You just select and confirm. The scanner links directly to your Meow-Currency account for the deduction. Meow~"
"You’re saying you used my Taobao account to buy a crate of bizarrely flavored dried fish?" Out of that long explanation, Que Tang only caught the most important point.
Little Mushroom finally sensed the shift in the atmosphere. Just as it was about to retreat, Que Tang’s hand shot out and snatched it. "I think I’ll let you run for 365 laps instead."
"Meow! No! Host! You’re so cruel!"
Just as Que Tang was about to toss it back into the washing machine, the doorbell rang.
Little Mushroom thought it was saved and breathed a sigh of relief, but Que Tang opened the machine door anyway and tossed it in. "Meow!" Little Mushroom decided not to tell Que Tang that the female supporting character’s favorability toward her had already reached forty.
After dealing with the shameless cat, Que Tang washed her hands and opened the door. Her smile faltered in surprise at the person standing there. "Miss Yu?" What was going on? Occupying her office all day wasn't enough; now she was at her front door at night?
Que Tang suddenly remembered Yu Luoyan’s strange smile from the afternoon. No wonder!
"I moved in across from you today. I’m your new neighbor." She gestured to the open door behind her. "Also, I signed for a crate of... dried fish snacks for you this morning. I didn't realize you liked that sort of thing..." Yu Luoyan gave a half-smile.
The pristine image Que Tang held in her heart had crumbled slightly because of that crate of dried fish.
"No, don't misunderstand... my cat likes them..." she explained with utmost sincerity and helplessness. She opened the outer door, walked behind Yu Luoyan, and picked up the five-kilogram cardboard box. "Thank you for the trouble. I didn't expect the fish to arrive so early..."
"It’s nothing. Since we’re neighbors now, we should look out for each other."
Que Tang gave an awkward laugh. "Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll—"
"Wait. I have some questions about the collaboration from this afternoon," Yu Luoyan finally revealed her intent.
"Hmm?"
"I’m asking as a private individual." Yu Luoyan bit her lip, finally showing a hint of vulnerability. "I’ve been away from company affairs for too long. There are many areas where I can’t bridge the gap or even identify the problems. And right now, the company is full of Song Aotian’s people; I can’t trust them at all. It’s ridiculous, I know... but after thinking it over, you’re the only person I have left to turn to..." She laughed self-deprecatingly. "No, forget I said anything. Please ignore it." She turned to leave.
"Wait. Miss Yu." Que Tang grit her teeth at her own soft-heartedness. "Since today is your moving day, if you don't mind..." She lifted the box in her hands. "I’ll make some tea and we can have some dried fish."
***
It didn't take long for Que Tang to deeply regret her soft-heartedness. The female supporting character made herself right at home without the slightest hesitation. She saw her at work, followed her home after work, and even joined her for jogs. They were so inseparable that Que Tang began to wonder if the woman was trying to "woo" her instead.
"Little Mushroom, you haven't given me a favorability update in a long time," Que Tang demanded, grabbing the fat cat as soon as she got home from her run.
"Meow!" Little Mushroom turned its head away, ignoring her.
"...So the cat is playing hard to get now? Fine. I was just thinking yesterday that your imported cat biscuits were almost gone. Since you don't seem to like them much, I’ll just go ahead and cancel the order." Que Tang chuckled.
"Meow! No! Is it really okay for a Host to be so petty with a cat? Are you even human? If you keep bullying me, I’m calling the Animal Protection Association!" Little Mushroom cried.
"And I want to report you! You’re an irresponsible guide who gets hangovers and refuses to give updates when you’re in a bad mood!" she shot back.
"Meow! Female supporting character’s favorability toward the protagonist: 70. Male lead’s favorability toward the female supporting character: negative 60. Biscuits!"
"Truly, humans die for wealth, and cats die for biscuits..." Que Tang finally understood that foodies of any species were equally unreliable. Then, she reached out and shook Little Mushroom vigorously in mid-air. "Why didn't you say something so important sooner? The male lead’s favorability toward her is already that low? How am I supposed to fix that?"
"Ugh... just let them get divorced... meow... haven't you heard of finding life in a death trap? Meow. People only learn to treasure things... after they’ve lost them." Little Mushroom’s words were slurred.
"That actually makes a lot of sense." Que Tang stopped shaking the cat and raised an eyebrow thoughtfully.
Little Mushroom slumped onto the floor, dizzy.
***
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Transmigrated as the Mary Sue: The Villainess's Revenge System | Chapter 58 | Redemption and New Neighbors | Novela.app | Novela.app
