When Hearts Collide: From Ashes to Love

Stepping out of the 23rd-floor elevator, Liang found Marian in the middle of an argument with Mao Quan'an.

"Mr. Mao, this request isn't within our project scope, so we can't accommodate it," Marian explained firmly.

Mao Quan'an scowled. "Your product manager said it could be done, and it's already included in the requirement plan. How can you suddenly back out?"

Marian, momentarily at a loss, saw Liang Meiqi walking over and immediately called her over. "Meiqi, come here. Was it you who said this request could be done?"

Liang, still stewing over her missed chance to present to Aaron, was in a sour mood. Hearing Marian's questioning tone only made her angrier.

Snatching the document from Marian's hand, Liang glanced at it. The request had indeed been added by her—originally to impress Aaron during a report. But now that Aaron had refused to let her present, she was fuming.

Why?

Why should her efforts benefit Marian instead? She felt it was unfair. Out of spite, she blurted, "Marian, you agreed to this request before. That's why I added it to the document."

Marian was stunned. When did I ever agree to this? She had no memory of it.

Still, mindful of their company's reputation, she refrained from arguing with Liang in front of the client. Instead, she made an excuse to Mao Quan'an. "Let's resolve this internally first and get back to you shortly."

Pulling Liang aside, Marian asked calmly, "Meiqi, can you explain what's going on with this request?"

Marian, known for her composure, rarely lost her temper. She was adept at handling crises with a steady hand and polite communication.

But Liang wasn't having any of it. Feeling increasingly indignant, she shook off Marian's hand and sneered, "Marian, you verbally approved this request before, which is why I included it."

Marian's expression turned cold. "I never said that. Don't accuse me without evidence. If you can produce written proof or chat records, then we can discuss further."

Liang faltered. "I… I don't have evidence. Maybe I was too naive to think your verbal agreement counted."

Though a trace of guilt flickered across Liang's face, she quickly convinced herself: as long as she stuck to her claim, no one could prove she was lying. After all, she was confident in her social standing within the team.

Unlike Marian, who was seen as management's representative, Liang knew she was perceived as one of the group. Behind Marian's back, colleagues often vented about her in a private chat group—one they hadn't included Marian in.

Marian's sharp gaze cut through Liang's bravado, making her step back instinctively. Desperately, Liang glanced at the technical lead, Zhang Gong, for help.

Zhang sighed and stood up. "Let's not argue. Let's hold a meeting and figure out a solution."

"I agree," Liang quickly chimed in, volunteering to book a meeting room. She seized the opportunity to present herself as reasonable and composed, casting Marian as petty in comparison.

In the meeting room, Liang took the lead. "This request is minor and won't take much work. I think we should do it to show goodwill to the client."

Zhang Gong nodded in agreement. The team had been enjoying their time at the client site, finding it more comfortable than their usual office. Extending their stay didn't bother him or the others.

But Marian didn't immediately agree. "Adding more hours means increasing costs. The company might not approve. I'll need to check with our management first."

As the project manager, Marian was responsible for controlling costs, a key performance metric. Failing to meet it could jeopardize her year-end bonus.

Moreover, Marian was naturally cautious and preferred to get Julian Xu's approval for such decisions.

Liang, however, saw Marian's approach as overly bureaucratic. "Why do we even need you as a project manager if you can't make such small decisions yourself? Are you just a messenger?" she thought, glaring at Marian.

Marian, unfazed, glanced at her briefly but chose not to respond.

The meeting ended on a sour note. Exhausted, Marian headed to the café on the first floor and called Julian.

Julian, who was at the hospital caring for his father, answered quickly. Marian summarized the issue and asked for his advice.

"What do you think is the best way to handle it?" Julian asked, preferring to hear her perspective before deciding.

On the way down to the café, Marian had already drafted several potential solutions in her mind. She outlined them succinctly.

After a moment of silence, Julian said, "I think Option 1 is feasible. However, I'm tied up here at the hospital. Can you discuss this with Aaron on my behalf?"

Marian hesitated. "I'm not sure if it's appropriate for me to approach Mr. Fu directly. He might think I'm overstepping."

In truth, she simply didn't want to meet Aaron one-on-one. Their recent interactions had been fraught with awkward moments, and the thought of another encounter made her uneasy.

Julian reassured her, "Don't worry. Aaron isn't like that. Besides, you're his former classmate. That connection might even make it easier for you to handle this."

Marian fell silent, resisting the idea. Julian added, "I've already messaged him. He said he's free now, so you can go meet him directly."

Defeated, Marian sighed inwardly. There's no avoiding it now.

Meanwhile, in the hospital, Julian's father, Mr. Xu Sr., noticed his son's expression and asked what was going on.

"Nothing important. Marian can handle it," Julian replied with a smile.

"Marian? Isn't she classmates with Yutou's Mr. Fu? Why didn't I hear about this before?" Mr. Xu Sr. asked curiously.

"She's low-key. I only found out recently," Julian said.

The elder Xu nodded approvingly. "Marian seems like a great girl. You should value her. She won't let you down."

Julian agree Over months of working together, he had come to trust Marian completely. She not only anticipated potential issues but also proposed effective solutions before problems escalated.

"By the way," Mr. Xu Sr. added thoughtfully, "I heard Marian is still single. Why don't you look into it? If she is, you should consider pursuing her. Having her as your partner would give your mother and me peace of mind."

Knowing his son lacked ambition and had limited skills, Mr. Xu Sr. believed Julian needed a capable partner to ensure the family business thrived.

Julian, however, found the suggestion absurd. "Dad, you're being ridiculous!"

"What's ridiculous about it?" Mr. Xu Sr. retorted. "Do you think Marian isn't attractive enough? Stop judging people by looks and focus on character and ability. Those are what truly matter!"

Julian sighed. "I'm not saying she isn't attractive. She's pretty, actually. Not a head-turner, but definitely charming."

"Then what's your excuse? Her family background?"

"Of course not!" Julian protested.

"Good. Then go pursue her."

Julian was at a loss for words.

At that moment, his mother walked in with a tray of freshly washed fruit. Seizing the opportunity, Julian deflected. "Mom, I haven't even met the woman you set me up with last time. Let's not rush things."

His mother beamed. "Well, look who's showing interest in meeting someone! I'll arrange it tomorrow."

Julian: …Great. That backfired.