After working on the tender for a month and a half, Li Qin Yao and her group were ready to submit their bid.
Earlier that morning, Zhang Yu Han came to pick her up as usual before the two of them headed to the next destination to the bidding meeting. When they arrived, Liang Sheng and Xiao Lian Yi were already waiting for Li Qin Yao in the lobby. Seeing that she walked in with Zhang Yu Han, Liang Sheng immediately walked over to greet them both.
"Miss Li, Director Zhang, good morning."
Li Qin Yao looked at her Liang Sheng and noticed that an elderly man stood quietly behind him. Once his gaze met with Li Qin Yao, the man smiled politely and Li Qin Yao could not help but think that she had seen this man before.
"Miss Li, this is Mister Yu," Liang Sheng took the opportunity to introduce them both. "Chairman Li sent him here to oversee the procedure."
Li Qin Yao glanced at the man and returned his smile. It was then that she recalled seeing the elderly man with his grandfather in the past. He was her grandfather's lawyer and a trusted friend. Li Qin Yao's heart warmed knowing that her grandfather had sent someone to assist with anything.
"Mister Yu, thank you for coming." After exchanging short pleasantries with the elderly man, Li Qin Yao turned to Liang Sheng anxiously. "How's everything?"
Last night, she was not able to sleep as she was worried that her hard work for the last few months was not good enough and that they might lose the site to another company.
For Li Qin Yao, this was the first time that she will be handling such a big project, and the first time she would handle a project after that incident two years ago. Of course, Li Qin Yao wanted everything to go smoothly. If she won, then it would mean that she would get another chance to return to the industry. Perhaps later, she can clear her name and prove that she had nothing to do with that rumor two years ago.
For the project in B City, this time, the Chairman and President of QL Group had challenged her with limited budgets and therefore, she needed to look for investors on her own. Despite the scandal from her past, the investors and others who worked with her had chosen to believe in her. Seeing their trust in her, Li Qin Yao did not want to let them down.
She wanted to win this project!
Liang Sheng nodded to answer his boss's question. "I have rechecked everything twice. We have everything we need here." he lifted the brown envelope in his hands.
Li Qin Yao heaved a sigh in relief. She had worked with Liang Sheng for a few months and trusted the way he does his work. They have done all their best, now they only have to rely on their fate to get this project.
"This time, other than QL Group, there are ten other companies that will take part in this bidding meeting with KM Property and BH Company as the two biggest companies joining," Liang Sheng said as he led them both inside a hall.
As soon as they entered, the people inside turned around to look at them. There were a few groups of people gathered.
Of course, Li Qin Yao had recognized a few of their faces.
Seeing the five newcomers entered the room, the representatives from KM Property walked over to greet Li Qin Yao and her group. However, once they came closer and recognized that Zhang Yu Han the representatives were all surprised. But seeing the way Zhang Yu Han acted as if he did not see them, the others were hesitant to talk to him.
"Miss Li, I did not expect to see you here. QL Group project mostly focused on Capital City. Miss Li, don't tell me that this time, QL Group is planning to expand to B City?" the person who greeted Li Qin Yao was the project manager from KM Property. Though KM Property was not as big as QL Group, they were the leading real estate company in B City.
"QL Group cannot stay in the same place if we want to grow," Li Qin Yao said. "When we heard about the Tourism City, naturally we wanted to try and take part in this project."
The group continued to have small talk while silently scrutinizing each other. Not long after, a group of officials entered the hall. The others started to dispersed and seat in their groups while waiting for the officials to set up.
They were called one-by-one to hand in their tender. Li Qin Yao went last. Once she handed over the documents, she walked over to the others and took a seat next to Zhang Yu Han.
The officials announced that they were going to take a while to inspect the documents before they make their decision.
As the officials gathered on the podium to discuss, Li Qin Yao took a deep breath and clenched her hands into fists. Her heart was beating furiously in anticipation. Li Qin Yao closed her eyes to calm down and started to pray for her luck.
"It will be alright."
When she heard that familiar deep voice, Li Qin Yao turned to the voice and saw that Zhang Yu Han was watching her. Her heart which had started to calm down, once again beat furiously as their gaze met. The two of them sat next to each other, and Zhang Yu Han's voice sounded deeper when he lowered his voice.
"You have worked hard for the past few months, I'm sure everything will be alright," Zhang Yu Han said. "Li Qin Yao, I believe in you."
Li Qin Yao smiled. Hearing Zhang Yu Han voicing out his support made her heart assured. Furthermore, as someone who was attracted to his voice, Li Qin Yao was naturally distracted from worrying too much about the submitted documents.
"Zhang Yu Han, even if we did not win this project, will it still be alright?"
"Of course," he did not hesitate to answer.
Li Qin Yao adjusted her position so that she was facing Zhang Yu Han properly. "But you spent a month going back and forth from Y City," her lips curved into a playful smile. "If we did not win this project, then, wouldn't everything you do will be for nothing?"
"I would not say it was for nothing," Zhang Yu Han said.
Li Qin Yao waited for him to continue, but Zhang Yu Han remained silent for a long time. Facing Zhang Yu Han's gaze, Li Qin Yao felt her ears started to heat up.
Fortunately, at this time Liang Sheng called her to discuss something. Li Qin Yao heaved a sigh in relief as turned to Liang Sheng and Xiao Lian Yi.
It did not take the officials too long to discuss. The host walked up on the podium to announce the result. The host read the name of the companies and their data.
As the host then announced their judging system, Li Qin Yao tightened her grip on her jacket anxiously. Soon, the host began to announce the result from the highest score to the lowest.
"In the first place is the QL Property Group with an overall score of 97.2 marks. In the second place…"
Li Qin Yao no longer heard the next result. She was staring at the host in disbelief. It was until Xiao Lian Yi held her hands to congratulate her that Li Qin Yao snapped out of her trance. She received congratulatory wishes from the others before she turned to Zhang Yu Han who was standing beside her silently.
"Zhang Yu Han we won!"
When he saw the smile on her face and how happy she looked at that moment, Zhang Yu Han too was affected by her smile. "Li Qin Yao, congratulations."