Everyone Likes Pretty Things

He looked longingly at his laptop. He had so much work to finish before he went to the Investment Conference. He sighed deeply, a sliver of indignation gripping him.

He propped the phone against the laptop as she said, keeping him and the coins in view. Yun Qian Meng waited with bated breath as he picked up coin after coin and began stacking them.

Her eyes flitted between her laptop screen and phone, her attention split between the two.

The hateful Mo Qingchen kept messing up his count. Sometimes the coins fell over, others he would forget the count. At first, Yun Qian Meng chuckled and watched him struggle. Then she realized that this man was hellbent on wasting her time. It had been thirty minutes and he was recounting again.

"So much for a genius," she scoffed, wanting to offend him into making a fast decision. It didn't work.

"I took advanced math classes. And I don't count all the money in my bank one coin at a time, sorry."

Her eyes narrowed. His eyes gleamed with mischief.

'So, you want to play this game?' Challenge accepted.

She could multitask well. She started screen recording and went to read her files in peace. Exacting his revenge would take time and energy. He wouldn't be able to work in the meantime.

About fifteen minutes later, Yun Qian Meng heard Mo Qingchen's office door open and someone come in. It was an employee who wanted to talk about a project. He was about to speak when he noticed the video call on and stopped.

Mo Qingchen continued to count. "Don't mind her," he told her.

Qian Meng's eyes widened. His face was nonchalant like he hadn't just said that he was okay with her listening to his companies projects.

"She doesn't understand these things." Well, what did she expect from him? Scoundrel.

The conversation was one-sided with the employee hesitantly speaking about some new cybersecurity software they were working on. It seemed that Mo Qingchen's company had a breakthrough after two years of working on it.

He remained silent but listened carefully. When she concentrated on his profile, she saw him pause between counting and twirl a coin between his fingers. He was talking about some changes in codes and the overall look he wanted.

When the room grew silent, Yun Qian Meng interjected. "Don't use the black and grey you usually use for your software. It doesn't pop out to anyone. Use something like aurora blue or mint green. They are popular colors that really attract the eye."

The other side of the call became very silent.

"We're a technology company," Mo Qingchen countered. "People want advancement in tech and software. It's not about fashion."

Yun Qian gave him a meaningful gaze. "Your product is brought by the same people who like to wear pretty clothes. Everyone likes pretty things. If the cover is nice, no matter how shitty the book or movie is, people get it." She stopped and put it in other words. "Why do you have an eye-catching logo? It sets you apart from your competitors. Similarly, your interface... the first thing people see about your new product should be appealing to the eye."

The employee had something to say.

"People buy phones for their daily tasks," Mo Qingchen thought the process through. "But they also like brands and models that look appealing."

"Exactly." Yun Qian Meng smiled. "You got the gist of it. Now, where is my consultation fee?"

Of course, she wouldn't take any but teasing him would definitely brighten her day. He put the coin down.

"Unsolicited advice is always free. Moreover, I will forgive you for sending one yuan and two fen less than what you own."

She had spoken out of turn. He had effectively wriggled out of the maneuver she had trapped him in. It was time to admit defeat.

"Well, I'll take that offer," she compromised without another thought. She had wasted enough of his time. Doing more would hurt her conscience. In the end, she knew how much CEO's needed to work on a daily basis.

She couldn't, in good conscience, waste more of his time.

"If that's all. I'll hang up." She didn't wait for his reply.

Mo Qingchen stared at the screen long enough that the light dimmed.

"Take her words into consideration. She has made some good points." Peng Huo, the project manager, nodded. His eyes zeroed in on the cellphone and he wondered. He hadn't taken a good look at the woman, but she seemed very familiar.

Where had he seen her?

He scratched his head as he came out. "Gu Rong, who sent Boss those coins?" he asked. That was the second question he wanted to know.

"Miss Yun from Venus. They're in a war."

Peng Huo looked back and it clicked into place. "So evil," he laughed. "She made him count the coins in front of her. I don't understand their enmity and I don't think I want to."

Gu Rong shrugged. "Go work. Mr. Mo hates it when people gossip. He'll fire you and not even pay you for this month if he catches you," she warned.

Peng Huo ran faster than Gu Rong thought was possible.

Inside the office, Mo Qingchen started going through the project with renewed vigor. He picked up the phone after half an hour, calling Peng Huo.

"Share your progress with me. I want to configure some codes and make minute changes." He hung up immediately.

Peng Huo lowered his head to his desk and cried.

'Boss, the new software is already close to perfect. What monster are you trying to create?'

The employees surrounding him clucked their tongues, pitying the man.

"Brother Peng, did the boss scold you?"

"Worse," he groaned.

"Boss wants to code. He'll start breathing fire for every little mistake."

As expected from the fire-spitting dragon. The people surrounding him quaked with fear.