CHAPTER 438: CHAPTER 438: BLUSHING WITH SHAME

"Alright!" Ye Hua invited her to a meal, and since she had nothing much to do in City Z, taking some time out for a casual meal was fine by her. Thinking of Xu Xiuxiu, she agreed readily and directly.

The two arranged to have their meal in a newly opened star-rated hotel in City Z, which was quite classy. They booked a private room. Xu Xiuxiu, having nothing else to occupy her, arrived at the hotel a bit early, while Ye Hua arrived on time. However, what surprised Xu Xiuxiu was that Ye Hua had also brought a female friend along.

"Mr. Ye, aren’t you going to introduce us?" Xu Xiuxiu arched an eyebrow, slightly surprised as she inquired of Ye Hua. Her eyes contained a knowing smile. Ye Hua was no longer young and had yet to settle down with someone. Suddenly there was a woman in the picture, and although Xu Xiuxiu was surprised, she carried a heart full of blessings.

"This is Su Nuo." Ye Hua’s tone was casual; he simply introduced the woman beside him with a brief mention of her name, without planning to say much else.

But Ye Hua’s perfunctory introduction clearly caused a flash of embarrassment and dissatisfaction on Miss Su Nuo’s face. She had thought that since Ye Hua had agreed to bring her to the meal, he intended to give her an official status. After all, she believed she had merit and was a match for Ye Hua. But it seemed she had overthought it. When she asked him to help facilitate a meeting with Xu Xiuxiu, he indeed only took on the role of setting up the meeting; he paid no mind to anything else. This showed that Ye Hua was much more difficult to handle than she had imagined.

Xiuxiu, being a woman herself, clearly understood why Su Nuo felt aggrieved. After all, Ye Hua’s attitude was also a way to define her status. She originally thought that Ye Hua was fond of Miss Su Nuo, which was why he had brought her along, but for some reason, it seemed that was not the case. Yet, if Ye had no interest in Miss Su Nuo, why bring her along to the meal? Now, Xiuxiu was somewhat puzzled.

"Hello, Miss Su Nuo." Although her mind was swimming with thoughts, she still greeted her warmly with a smile. Meeting someone with a smile has always been effective, both in ancient times and today.

"Hello, Mr. Xu. I’m quite familiar with Mr. Ye, so I often hear him speak of you. I truly admire your capabilities. It’s an honor to meet you today; your charisma is indeed exceptional," said Su Nuo, her words equally dignified and polite with just the right amount of a flattering tone. Despite being about the same age as Xu Xiuxiu, considering Xu Xiuxiu’s accomplishments, Su Nuo’s speech was full of respectful titles.

"You flatter me, Miss Su," Xu Xiuxiu replied in a casual tone, giving Ye Hua a sidelong glance with a raised eyebrow. Clearly, Su Nuo was trying to flatter her, which meant she had some agenda in mind, and Xu Xiuxiu had no choice but to inquire with Ye Hua.

Ye Hua, too, picked up on Xu Xiuxiu’s inquisitive gaze and had no choice but to explain, "Miss Su has some business she’d like to discuss with you. I’m just acting as a mediator and introduced you two. Whether her matter goes through or not, you’ll have to weigh that yourself." Ye Hua straightforwardly passed the responsibility to Xu Xiuxiu.

"Oh! Miss Su, what would you like to discuss?" Xiuxiu asked, with an expression showing she understood.

"Mr. Xu, how about we talk while we eat and drink?" suggested Su Nuo, a woman who clearly had some skills. Although Ye Hua had introduced her to Xu Xiuxiu, he didn’t seem inclined to speak up for her. Natural enough, she didn’t rush to speak business before dinner, as it’s always been easier to discuss matters over a meal, making the conversation more relaxed.

"No problem!" Xu Xiuxiu had experience with these types of situations.

It was clear Su Nuo needed something from her, displaying an attitude of someone with a request. Xu Xiuxiu was in no hurry; things would proceed as they should, and when necessary, she would speak up.

Su Nuo was an intelligent woman. Throughout the meal, whenever Xiuxiu or Ye Hua said something, she occasionally chimed in, never annoying and always within bounds. And she picked the perfect time to reveal her intentions once she saw that Xiuxiu was almost done eating.

"Mr. Xu, the thing is, I’m in the fashion industry, and I currently focus on children’s wear, following a mid to low-range line. I hope to acquire two storefronts in Tangshui City Clothing City’s upscale VIP level—one focusing on children’s wear and the other on adult men’s and women’s clothing." Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—clothing offers enormous potential, but it’s also tough to build a brand. Her franchise outlets had expanded some, and the brand had gained some recognition, yet it still remained niche. Endorsements by celebrities and the like were not as widespread as in later years, but if she wanted to elevate the brand’s status, Tangshui City Resort in City Z was the place with the highest developmental prospects and the largest footfall—a surefire profit.

This was Su Nuo’s intention, but Tangshui City had very stringent requirements for fashion brands looking to set up shop. She had known Ye Hua for some time and was aware that he held shares in Tangshui City, so she turned to him for help. However, Ye Hua informed her that he was not the sole decision-maker in Tangshui City, so her desire to establish a presence there necessitated Xu Xiuxiu’s approval; hence, she was here today, thick-skinned, seeking a meal.

"Miss Su Nuo, since Mr. Ye introduced you to me, I’ll be straightforward and won’t beat around the bush. Tangshui City Clothing City has just been completed, but since you’re interested, I suppose you’ve done your research and know how expensive the storefronts there are," said Xu Xiuxiu. The Clothing City was built behind the luxury brands, designed to cater to high, mid, and low ranges, with the VIP level hosting world-famous fashion brands, none cheaper than the ordinary luxury brands. If Su Nuo had asked for a mid-range brand, Xu Xiuxiu might have agreed grudgingly, but she requested a VIP level storefront—reserved for world-renowned brands that only had one storefront each. Su Nuo’s ambition seemed rather excessive!

"Let’s set aside the cost for now, but the layout of the VIP level is already set with one storefront per brand. Your request for two storefronts puts me in a difficult position. Of course, that’s a secondary issue. The problem is that the VIP level of Tangshui City features internationally renowned brands. You are aware that the current occupants include Chanel, LV, and other top-notch international women’s clothing brands. Even the least among them are well-known domestic brands. Your clothing design and materials are indeed innovative, as I can tell from your own attire, suggesting you have done quite some research on fashion. However, your brand is still relatively small, and, to be frank, I hadn’t even heard of it before now," said Xu Xiuxiu, addressing Su Nuo’s audacious request with sharp clarity, causing Su Nuo to blush with embarrassment.