While Ichinose Supervisor and Hong Yijia were bickering, Qingye Heshi and Zheng Fan avoided Hong Yijia's gaze and went to a corner for a secret conversation.
"Tell me, what's going on? You should have a clue on your end."
"Oh, I almost forgot about this. I thought I came here to deal with that vicious woman," Zheng Fan said, coming back to his senses.
Qingye Heshi sighed softly, took out a cigarette, and still just held it in his mouth without lighting it.
"Give me one."
"Smoking is harmful to health," Qingye Heshi said, but still took out a pack of cigarettes, opened it, and pulled one out for Zheng Fan. Zheng Fan looked at the cigarette in his hand. Although he didn't know much about the cigarette brands in this world, this handsome guy's choice shouldn't be bad, right?
That's not right...
"Why did you switch packs?"
"This pack is cheaper. You don't look like the type who smokes, just hold one for now," Qingye Heshi said casually.
"Is this how you play the domineering CEO persona?"
"What?"
"Nothing." Zheng Fan ignored the cigarette Qingye Heshi had pulled out and instead snatched the entire pack, making Qingye Heshi's eyelids twitch slightly.
Zheng Fan held a cigarette in his mouth: "And the health of this body is none of my business."
Saying that, he took out a silver lighter, opened the cap, lit the fire, and lit three cigarettes, all in one smooth motion.
Three cigarettes...
The action was indeed smooth and cool, but are you smoking three cigarettes...?
Qingye Heshi closed his eyes, only able to say he couldn't bear to look.
"We took on a commission a while ago, and this incident was discovered within that commission," Zheng Fan said, holding the cigarette.
Hearing this, Qingye Heshi slightly opened his eyes, a hint of coldness flashing within them: "Was it you guys who did it?"
"It was us who did it, but let's be clear first. It's not that we're wronging you, but rather, is it true that someone on your side did something you didn't know about, and we caught hold of it, making it the fuse for this incident?" Zheng Fan leaned against the wall and said leisurely.
At this point, Qingye Heshi understood, but his expression indeed became even uglier: "Those idiots..."
"Magic Woman/Miss said this might be an opportunity and hopes you can seize it. Although she dislikes you greatly, she still trusts your ability, so don't disappoint her."
Qingye Heshi heard this and again glanced at Zheng Fan, about to say something sternly, but then saw that the cigarettes in Zheng Fan's mouth had turned into five.
Are you doing magic tricks and juggling?
He quickly retracted his gaze and closed his eyes again. No, his thoughts were being messed up by this guy again.
Zheng Fan exhaled smoke, which was a bit irritating. To avoid attracting attention and to prevent the ridiculous incident of Banmu Office catching fire due to someone smoking and juggling, Qingye Heshi opened the nearby window and threw Zheng Fan out.
"I prioritize the office's interests above all else. What you've done this time has caused losses to our interests," Qingye Heshi said sternly.
"It might not completely align with your office's current interests, but perhaps it can align with your interests. If you can clear out the opposing factions and gain complete power, then the office will surely flourish under your leadership in the future, right?" Zheng Fan sprawled messily on the windowsill, raising one hand to give a thumbs up.
Qingye Heshi understood this principle, but: "Such a big matter shouldn't have been done without a word. We weren't prepared at all."
"That's not right," Zheng Fan said, holding eight cigarettes between a few fingers. Yes, it had turned into eight cigarettes at some point.
"A qualified ambitious person should always be prepared. And there's an even more important point..."
"An even more important point?" Qingye Heshi frowned, his mind rapidly turning.
"We don't have your contact information."
Qingye Heshi: "..."
It's really true.
"Have your subordinates here contact me!" Qingye Heshi couldn't hold back anymore, he was angry.
"Such confidential matters can't be conveyed face-to-face for fear of leakage. You also know that our studio has only been set up for a few months, so we don't have much foundation..." Zheng Fan said shamelessly with reasonable grounds.
Qingye Heshi knew that he truly couldn't win against Zheng Fan with just words.
Clearly an Illusion, yet so eloquent!
"Ha—" Qingye Heshi exhaled a long breath, picked up his phone, and sent a few messages directly.
"What are you planning to do?"
"First, cooperate with Hong Yijia's investigation, then put all the blame on those people and cut them off. Whether it's through Dadu's official enforcement or the office's internal private execution, directly break up their alliance and then defeat them," Qingye Heshi said concisely.
Zheng Fan nodded. Although he didn't know the specifics of how to operate, he could leave it to Qingye Heshi from now on. However, he remembered another question: "By the way, where are your Banmu leaders? I heard there were two of them."
"My father and a man named Chuanmu. They were brothers who met when they were young and worked together to establish Banmu Office. Ichinose Supervisor joined in the early days of its creation and gained the appreciation of my father and Chuanmu with his abilities."
"Your father is still alive?"
Qingye Heshi glared at Zheng Fan.
"I'm not cursing you. I'm just thinking, since your father is still alive, why isn't the office to your liking? Is it a conflict between your and your father's policies, or...?"
"My father is still alive," Qingye Heshi looked forward and said grimly, "but he's as good as dead."
Zheng Fan: ?
"He lost consciousness after being attacked by an Illusion a few years ago. After that, Chuanmu took control of the office's operational policies and then let the people below act freely, paying no attention to the office himself. Factions and groups proliferated within the office, growing wildly. It took me a long time to consolidate it to this point. But my actions also made the remaining factions feel insecure and choose to band together, becoming the most difficult thorn to remove."
Qingye Heshi clearly narrated his father's unfortunate experience and the resulting general situation of Banmu Office.
"I see. Well then, let's have a pleasant cooperation this time, and I wish you success."
Just as he was speaking, the door to the reception room was pushed open, and Su Hongyuan, heavily made up, walked in casually, though some details showed that she was actually a bit nervous.
"This woman dares to come over..." Qingye Heshi narrowed his eyes, his expression dangerous.
Zheng Fan looked her over with interest, then, with a playful grin, showed his face and gave Su Hongyuan a high middle finger when others couldn't see.
Su Hongyuan visibly flushed for a moment, but quickly suppressed her emotions. Her self-control was actually very strong. Without some ability, one couldn't be the head of a studio; not everyone was Zheng Fan.
"Su Hongyuan? You are..." Ichinose Supervisor looked over and said.
"I heard that people from the Processing Bureau came, so I came to see," Su Hongyuan replied, feigning composure.
Hong Yijia tilted her head and scrutinized her, making Su Hongyuan get goosebumps all over and her scalp tingle.
Ichinose Supervisor narrowed his eyes, showing no expression.
Hong Yijia said: "You are Main Officer Su Hongyuan, right? That's good, let's start with you."
Su Hongyuan was stunned: "Huh?"
No, sister, she's here to stall for time!
Ichinose Supervisor frowned: "Consultant Hong, we are indeed willing to cooperate with the investigation, but please at least give us notice and time to arrange personnel and prepare."
"If I give you time to prepare, wouldn't it defeat the purpose of a surprise inspection? It's her, I don't like her," Hong Yijia's words were unmasked.
Su Hongyuan cursed inwardly, using the dirtiest words possible, but she dared not speak out on this person's face.
"And the one in the corner smoking ten cigarettes, you're next," Hong Yijia said with a smile.
Zheng Fan took the ten cigarettes from his mouth: "Be my guest."
Qingye Heshi looked at the scene, calculating in his mind, and sent another message on his phone: Keep an eye on the people on Su Hongyuan's side.