After Bankruptcy, the Billionaire Asked Me to Marry Him!
Chapter 381: No Work, Only Love!

Chapter 381: Chapter 381: No Work, Only Love!

"First, quit smoking and drinking."

"Second, 9 to 6, you need to clock in and out."

"Third, bring in 3, no, 5, you have to bring 5 apprentices over."

As Ye Li listed each point, Wan Mingyi’s eyes widened a little more with each one.

By the time Ye Li finished, Wan Mingyi was too stunned to say a word.

On one hand, she thought Lizi was testing Xie Chenlu, given that his appearance seemed far too removed from that of a jewelry designer.

Not to mention, quitting drinking alone might just be a death sentence for him.

Let alone bringing along 5 apprentices.

On the other hand, she felt that Lizi was being so hypocritical.

No demands on her, yet a full list for Xie Chenlu.

"Lizi, I love you!"

Ye Li raised her eyes to meet the exuberant gaze of Wan Mingyi’s admiration, and she suppressed a smile as she turned to Xie Chenlu, "So, can you manage it?"

"23 are doable, but as for 1..."

Xie Chenlu gritted his teeth, "If you expect me to do it overnight, you wouldn’t believe it even if I said so, right? Give me some time, I promise, in a month, no, in half a month, I will quit smoking and drinking and show up revitalized, okay?"

"Deal!"

Ye Li nodded, "So, come over to report tomorrow?"

Xie Chenlu nodded, "Okay."

Then awkwardly stood up, "Ye Li, thank you!"

That big fire five years ago severed the myriad connections between him and Dane, and also extinguished all hope he had in this industry.

After that, he tried to get back on his feet by applying to other studios.

Some people would discreetly ask about the mistakes he made at Dane, only to express regret and apologetically reject him.

Others were blunter, outright stating that they couldn’t hire an arsonist to work in their studio.

Initially, he just used alcohol to drown his sorrows.

Later, it turned into chronic drinking.

He had been in a slump for five years while Dane’s reputation in the industry remained as strong as ever.

Fortunately, first there was Star, then Ye Li’s Studio emerged like a dark horse, making it impossible for Dane to maintain his high place.

But he felt like he was dying.

The thought of leaving this world with endless humiliation and a tarnished record filled Xie Chenlu with anger.

It was finally long-time friend Luo Changchuan who couldn’t bear to see him like that and offered him a way out.

Even though Ye Li was Mrs. Fu, Xie Chenlu never thought she could help him get revenge.

But he wasn’t willing to give up just yet.

With a faint glimmer of hope, he imagined that if Ye Li showed even a hint of doubt or disdain, he would give up completely.

Unexpectedly, Ye Li not only knew about White Pear Blossom but also about Fate.

The sketch for Fate was drawn by him, but before he had the chance to complete it, those events occurred.

First, he set that fire.

Then he fell out with Dane and terminated his contract.

When he left, he only took his computer, abandoning everything else to the trash.

Unexpectedly, Dane didn’t even spare the sketch in his trash bin.

Heh...

Thinking of the distorted and grotesque designs he saw in the news.

And then realizing that Ye Li saw a trace of his work in those garbage designs.

Looking up at the blotchy lights speckling the dark night sky over Jingyue Building, Xie Chenlu suddenly felt that those lights were like his hope that had never been extinguished in his heart.

Maybe this is destiny?

Swaying forward, for the first time ever, Xie Chenlu was heading home without a bottle in hand.

The phone rang several times before connecting, and he heard a chaotic clamor on the other end, "Mr. Luo, isn’t it inappropriate for you to be so righteous towards me?" Ye Li said with a slight annoyance.

"I think it’s very appropriate!"

Luo Changchuan stepped outside and found a quiet place to speak, "If he was willing to come, he would have been at Star three years ago, but he preferred drowning in dissipation and refused to come, what does that mean? It means fate had not yet arrived! Look, I only mentioned Ye Li’s Studio twice, and he showed up. It means fate has arrived."

"Ye Li, sending you a blind box that’s bound to reveal a gem. You don’t say thank you, and instead, you call me to hold me accountable, isn’t that inappropriate?"

Ye Li: ...

She glanced at Wan Mingyi, who was seemingly focused on her design but was keenly listening to her conversation with Luo Changchuan.

Then, thinking about Luo Changchuan’s unusually eager tone on the other end of the phone.

Ye Li paused for a moment, feeling a sudden spark of warmth.

"So, it seems I really should thank you!"

Ye Li said earnestly, "I’ll ask President Wan from our studio to take over and treat you to a meal. I’ll send her your WeChat contact in a moment; you can arrange the specifics yourselves?"

"Sure!"

The other end replied swiftly.

Ye Li locked eyes with the abrupt gaze from Wan Mingyi, who raised her head, and decisively hung up the call.

Whoosh.

The WeChat card was sent successfully.

Ding.

Wan Mingyi lowered her head, seeing the lit phone screen showing a friend request popping up in WeChat.

Raising her eyes again, Ye Li already had her bag in hand, heading out, "Sister Mingyi, it’s late; I’m heading back to school first!"

The sound of footsteps receded swiftly.

Wan Mingyi picked up her phone and confirmed the request.

[President Wan, your Mr. Ye wants you to treat me to a meal!]

[Of course! Mr. Luo, when are you free?]

[I’m free anytime!]

Wan Mingyi: ...

Her heart pounded wildly, and after a moment of hesitation, Wan Mingyi replied.

[Then... tomorrow? Just as Mr. Xie is reporting to the studio, if there’s anything inconvenient to ask him, I could ask you.]

[Sorry, I don’t discuss work in my free time.]

Before Wan Mingyi could calm her nerves to respond.

The WeChat notification dinged again.

[Only matters of the heart. Feel like coming?]

I don’t discuss work in my free time, only matters of the heart. Feel like coming?

Only matters of the heart.

Matters of the heart.

A few short words, quickly read.

Yet, it felt like Wan Mingyi couldn’t recognize the words, as she stared blankly at the screen for quite some time.

At their first meeting, she thought he was just a lucky ride-hailing driver.

And soon, they met again.

Before knowing his name, he casually called her "baby," throwing a harsh blow to Chen Jiayuan’s face.

Then she found out he was Mr. Luo of Star Studio, famous in the industry.

For the third time, the fourth time...

She learned his college major was a fashion model and had seen his eight-pack abs in advertisements.

She’d met him several times at the "Shining with You" competition and even helped him block his ex-girlfriend at the following banquet.

Once the competition ended, work and life returned to normal, and Wan Mingyi thought her interactions with Luo Changchuan would cease.

Unexpectedly, with just those words "only matters of the heart," her heart was instantly in chaos.

Before Wan Mingyi could figure out how to reply, her phone started ringing.

On the screen, "Mr. Luo" was clearly visible.

After much hesitation, she finally answered, her voice cheerful, trying to create an appearance that she was busy after sending a message and hadn’t seen his new replies yet.

"Hello, Mr. Luo, how are you..."

"I’m by the roadside, how much longer will you be?"

Startled, Wan Mingyi stood up and moved to the window.

In the dense night, a black car by the roadside had its hazard lights flashing.

Even without seeing the car’s logo, she knew it was Luo Changchuan.

Her heart raced as if it would leap right out of her chest, and Wan Mingyi forced herself to stay calm, "Weren’t we arranged to have dinner tomorrow? What brings you here, Mr. Luo?"

"Tomorrow is your plan. But today, it’s me inviting you!"

On the other end, Luo Changchuan’s voice was as gentle as a summer night’s breeze, "Wan Mingyi, ten minutes... if you don’t come down by then, I’ll have to go up to find you! If I get a ticket, it’s on you, is that okay?"