Chu Luo sat at the dining table and took out her phone. As she waited for Wang Mingtao to order, she quickly browsed the Internet and listened to the gossip.

“I think the people who came to participate in the competition this time are all those who had secured rankings for various painting competitions. Among them is the girl from W Province’s Academy of Fine Arts. I heard that she even went overseas with her teacher to participate in an art exhibition. She must have incredible skills.”

“I think that Song Ci is still the best. He comes from a family of painters. I heard that he’s participated in many painting competitions since he was young.”

“And that girl from the H Province’s Academy of Fine Arts. I realized that their team leader was especially polite to her. Could that person be their secret ace?”

“The others aren’t bad either. In any case, these people are strong competitors for our Imperial University students.”

“Our senior sister from the College of Arts who’s participating is also very amazing. She even won an international painting award.”

…

When Chu Luo heard this, she quickly checked their resumes.

As she read, her gaze finally landed on their medals. She couldn’t help but mutter, “A little tempting.”

At this moment, the sound of a bowl shattering came from the ordering window.

Then, there was a cry of surprise.

“Ah…”

“Sorry, sorry. Are you okay, classmate?”

Chu Luo looked over and saw the lunch tray in Yu Tong’s hand drop to the ground. Many dishes were splashed on Wu Siyi.

When she saw Wu Siyi, Chu Luo subconsciously frowned.

Wu Siyi was wearing a light-colored dress today. The two dishes that Yu Tong had ordered were both dark-colored. The moment they fell on her, her dress was dyed here and there. She looked extremely pitiful.

Wu Siyi looked at the stain on her dress in a daze. Then, tears flowed down her face.

Startled, Yu Tong quickly said, “Classmate, don’t cry. Why don’t I accompany you to change your clothes? There are so many oil stains on it, you definitely won’t be able to wash it clean.”

When Wu Siyi heard this, she hurriedly shook her head. “No, this is my mother’s birthday present to me. I can’t throw it away.”

Yu Tong felt a little guilty. “Then… go change immediately. I’ll help you send it to the dry cleaner to have it cleaned.”

Wang Mingtao, who was standing beside her, frowned. He asked, “Wu Siyi, why did you come over to cut the queue?”

“I didn’t cut the queue.” When Wu Siyi heard Wang Mingtao say that, her tears flowed even more fiercely.

Wang Mingtao frowned even more. “If you weren’t cutting the queue, why did you come to the front?”

“I… I just wanted to see what dishes are available today,” Wu Siyi muttered. She looked like a bullied daughter-in-law.

Wang Mingtao was about to say something when Yu Tong quickly stopped him. She continued to speak to Wu Siyi apologetically.

“I’m really sorry. Look, I didn’t bump into you on purpose. How about this? Go back and change out of this dress. I’ll help you send it to get dry-cleaned. If the stains really can’t be removed and you don’t want me to compensate you with a new dress, I’ll compensate you according to the original price of this dress, okay?”

Wu Siyi continued, “I don’t want you to compensate me. This dress was bought by my mother for my birthday. It’s unique and can’t be measured with money.”

Wang Mingtao, who was standing at the side, was about to flare up.

Yu Tong suppressed the anger in her heart and asked, “Then what do you want me to do?”

The crowd standing at the side couldn’t stand it anymore. Someone couldn’t help but persuade:

“Wu Siyi, Minister Yu is already being very sincere. Why don’t you just change out of it and let Minister Yu send it for dry cleaning? I think the oil stain definitely can be washed off.”

Wang Mingtao: “That’s right. You were the one who came over yourself. Everyone walks over here after they’re done ordering their dishes, okay?”

Wu Siyi suddenly looked up at Wang Mingtao. The tears in her eyes gathered again.

Wang Mingtao was baffled by her gaze and closed his mouth.

Yu Tong looked at Wang Mingtao and said, “Mingtao, why don’t you bring the dishes over first?”

Wang Mingtao glanced at Chu Luo and then at her. “Can you resolve it?”

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

He left.

Yu Tong took a step closer to Wu Siyi and whispered, “You were just trying to attract Mingtao’s attention, weren’t you?”

“What nonsense are you spouting?” Wu Siyi quickly took a step back, but she didn’t expect to step on an eggplant. She staggered and almost fell backward. Luckily, she stabilized herself.

She quickly walked back and raised her voice. “You don’t have to send it for dry cleaning. I’ll wash it myself. This is the last birthday present my mother gave me while she was alive. How can I let someone else wash it?”

With that, she turned around and ran.

Yu Tong looked at the fleeing figure and frowned.

Someone whispered at the side:

“So Wu Siyi’s mother is no longer around. No wonder she reacted so strongly.”

“Looks like she’s a little pitiful now. I heard that she’s working while studying. She must be worried that she can’t afford the food in the restaurant, that’s why she wanted to take a look before deciding whether to buy it or not.”

“If her dress is ruined, I think Minister Yu should compensate her for that dress.”

…

When Yu Tong heard this, she felt stifled. She was no longer in the mood to order anything else and went straight to Chu Luo’s side.

Chu Luo glanced at Yu Tong and asked her, “Why didn’t you re-order the dishes?”

“I’m not in the mood.” Yu Tong felt a little stifled in her heart.

Chu Luo shook her head in her heart and continued eating.

Wang Mingtao was a little puzzled. “Yu Tong, are you so guilty that you can’t eat?

“Previously, Wu Siyi first bumped into Sister Chu’s bike, then my bike. Today, she even came here for no reason. Don’t normal people queue up first? I think she did it on purpose.”

Yu Tong glanced at Wang Mingtao and propped her forehead with her hand. “Wu Siyi said that her deceased mother bought that dress for her.”

Wang Mingtao stopped talking.

Chu Luo said, “Then you should compensate according to the price. If that doesn’t work, compensate twice the amount. This was an accident to begin with and you’ve already apologized. Unless her intention isn’t for you to compensate.”

“Then what is it?” Yu Tong asked, as if she suddenly understood something. “Could it be that she really did it on purpose?”

“You can test if it’s intentional.”

Yu Tong was silent for a few seconds before nodding. “Okay, I’ll compensate her after this.”

After they finished eating, Chu Luo said to the two of them, “Continue in the afternoon. Call me if anything happens. I’m going to the Education Bureau.”

“Okay.”

When Chu Luo went to the school gate, Nangong Yi was already waiting there.

He had changed into a white casual outfit. This, coupled with his elegant demeanor and the smile on his face, made him give off a refreshing feeling.

At this moment, many girls were already screaming at him.

When Chu Luo walked up to him, Nangong Yi asked gentlemanly, “Junior, have you eaten?”

Chu Luo felt that he was just trying to make small talk. She didn’t answer him and walked out of the gate.

Nangong Yi followed.

…

While Chu Luo was at the Education Bureau.

In one of the large conference rooms of an international business empire, the final negotiations for a hundred-billion-yuan project were underway.

On one side was the elite team of the Blazing Glory Corporation led by Li Yan, and on the other was the team brought by the sheik of AL Country.

At this moment, the two teams were negotiating the contract that they had drawn up.

“Li, my country and I are very interested in this big project and your Blazing Glory Corporation. Why aren’t you willing to relent on the energy extraction project?”

The sheik of AL Country was a middle-aged man with brown hair and a big beard. He was wearing a white robe and all the accessories on him were top-grade.

While the two teams were negotiating, he showed extreme enthusiasm about working with Blazing Glory. “If we can cooperate with the Blazing Glory Corporation on this big project, I believe that both our companies will receive rich returns in the near future. As long as you relent, we can sign the contract immediately.”

Other than coldness, there was no other emotion on Li Yan’s face. He said, “Energy extraction requires powerful technology to support it. Blazing Glory can’t relent on the profits.”

“Li, you’re making things difficult for me.”

“Other than the fact that it’s impossible for us to give up profits on the energy export, you won’t lose anything else. Cooperating with Blazing Glory will also allow you to maximize your benefits. If you feel that you’ll suffer a loss, you can choose not to cooperate.”

The sheik was shocked. Disbelief and anger flashed across his face. “CEO Li, how dare you say such things! We’ve prepared for so long. If we don’t cooperate, both sides will suffer heavy losses.”

Li Yan’s expression was still cold. “Wrong. It’s your AL Country that will be suffering serious losses.”

“…”

The sheik stared at Li Yan and wished he could beat him up, but he couldn’t. Li Yan was right. Only Blazing Glory could bring him the greatest benefits.

After a while, he had no choice but to give in and extend his hand to Li Yan. “CEO Li, once we enter this formal partnership, you’re welcome to come to AL as a guest. Not only does our country have oil, but we also have beautiful scenery and gorgeous men and women.”

Li Yan reached out to shake his hand elegantly and tilted his head to ask Secretary Tan, “Are you done?”

Secretary Tan handed the contract to him. “CEO, it’s done. No problem.”

Seeing that Li Yan had no intention of chatting, the sheik of AL asked the team he brought the same thing.

His team was also done revising the contract.

The two of them picked up their pens and prepared to sign.

At this moment, the door to the meeting room was pushed open heavily.

A group of guards instantly surged in and quickly separated the bodyguards on both sides, then surrounded the entire conference room.