Chapter 203 - 201: Ah Xia, I’m Here

Chapter 203: Chapter 201: Ah Xia, I’m Here

The car slowly pulled to a stop in front of the hotel. Li Weiya turned off the engine, got out, and immediately saw Jiang Xia waiting for her by the entrance.

"Why did you come out to greet me yourself?" she said with a smile.

"A student greeting his teacher—it’s only natural."

Li Weiya smiled. "Are they all here?"

"Yeah, I’ve pretty much said everything that needs to be said. Now we’re just waiting for you to start the meal," Jiang Xia said with a nod.

"Oh, you all should have just started eating. Why wait for me?"

"We couldn’t do that."

Chatting and laughing, the two of them made their way to the private room. Jiang Xia led the way, pushed the door open, and walked in. Wang Ming stared at his mother, completely stunned. ’Well, I’ll be. So *this* is the person he was talking about—my own mom? No wonder Jiang Xia was giving me such a meaningful look earlier.’

"Allow me to make a grand introduction. This is Li Weiya, my teacher. She has been in the art industry for over a decade and, starting today, will be the Project Director for Qitian Animation Company. Let’s give her a warm welcome."

After Jiang Xia’s serious introduction, thunderous applause erupted.

Shen Ying blinked. ’A titan of the art industry with over a decade of experience... I can’t believe the boss managed to poach someone like her. It looks like the company has some big moves planned. I’m really looking forward to it.’

’And she’s so beautiful and elegant. She doesn’t look like someone who’s been working for over ten years at all.’

Li Weiya glanced around. Of the four people in the private room, one was her son, one was her student, and another was her student’s wife, whom she had met not long ago. Only the last person was unfamiliar to her.

’But from the looks of it, she must be a classmate, too.’

She recalled Jiang Xia telling her he would assign an operations manager to her. ’He must have been talking about this young woman.’

"Hello, everyone. I’m Li Weiya. I’m very happy to be working with all of you. If I do anything wrong in the future, I hope you’ll all guide me."

She smiled faintly and extended a hand to Shen Ying with a look of goodwill. Though she addressed everyone, her words were really meant for Shen Ying, since she was already very familiar with the others.

Seeing this, Wang Ming’s face twitched. ’So *this* was the surprise waiting for me.’

He suddenly didn’t dare to speak. He didn’t even dare to look at Shen Ying. ’I’m so worried. If Mom finds out that the girl I like is Shen Ying, who knows what she’ll think.’

Shen Ying, not knowing why this big shot was singling her out right from the start, hastily scrambled to her feet to shake her hand.

"Teacher Li—no, no, Director Li, hello! My name is Shen Ying, and I’m currently the company’s operations manager. To be honest, I’m still a rookie in this industry, so I hope you can give me some guidance on the many things I don’t yet understand."

"Let’s learn from each other," Li Weiya said with a smile. "For an animation company, operations is a very important position. And you are doing a very good job."

"Director Li, you know about me?" Shen Ying asked, slightly surprised.

"Ah Xia mentioned you. He said you’re helping manage almost all of the company’s affairs, big and small, and you haven’t made any major mistakes. For a new operations manager, that’s truly commendable," Li Weiya said with a slight nod.

Shen Ying blushed slightly. "I didn’t know anything at first. The boss taught me a lot."

"Those are two different things. The key is that you were serious about learning and worked hard to do it. As it happens, I have some unique insights into operations myself, and I’d be happy to share them with you, as long as you’re willing to learn," Li Weiya said with a laugh.

"Director Li, please teach me! I’ll do anything!" Shen Ying said loudly. With her earnest expression, she looked like she was one step away from kneeling down to formally ask her to be her master.

Seeing this unfold, Jiang Xia winked at his wife. ’This move of mine seems pretty brilliant. I seem to have accidentally orchestrated something here.’

’Come to think of it, Li Weiya will be Shen Ying’s master now. If things work out between Wang Ming and Shen Ying, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I deserve most of the credit, right?’

Wang Ming was speechless. He sneakily pulled out his phone and sent a text to Jiang Xia.

"Old Jiang, what kind of game are you playing?"

"So? Are you excited? Happy? You and Shen Ying will be fellow apprentices under the same master now. As the saying goes, ’the one in a favorable position gets the prize first.’ Bro, this is as far as I can help you." After hitting send, Jiang Xia looked up and gave him a meaningful wink with his right eye.

Wang Ming was numb. He did know that his mom had quit her job. Li Weiya had even jokingly asked him before what he would think if she also joined Qitian Animation Company and they, mother and son, ended up working at the same place.

As for that question, Wang Ming didn’t really mind.

In the end, where she chose to work was her personal business. As her son, he had no right to interfere. As long as she was happy with the job and the pay was good, he would fully support her.

Relatively speaking, Qitian Animation Company was pretty good. While it was a bit tiring, what animator wasn’t tired? Working overtime and pulling all-nighters were standard practice. Most importantly, he was happy that he could see his own work broadcast on TV for countless people across the country to see.

That alone was enough.

But for his mom to join right after quitting her job was something Wang Ming had never expected. And at such an awkward time, too. ’Couldn’t she have waited a few more days until everyone had left for college?’

’So, that guy Jiang Xia is just the worst. Even though this does bring me a little closer to Shen Ying, something about it just feels weird.’

"Ah Ming, we’re colleagues from now on. At work, you have to call me Director Li. If your key frames aren’t up to standard, I won’t let you off the hook. I’ll definitely send them back for a redraw," Li Weiya said, looking at her son with an amused smile.

’Ah Ming?’

Shen Ying froze for a moment. Just now, Li Weiya had called the boss "Ah Xia." Since she was his teacher, that was understandable. But why was she now calling Wang Ming "Ah Ming"? ’Such an affectionate nickname... could he be her student, too?’

’Right, Wang Ming did tell me before that he and Jiang Xia studied art at the same place.’

’It just feels like Director Li’s attitude toward Jiang Xia and Wang Ming is a little different, but I can’t quite put my finger on what’s so strange about it.’

"Yes, Director Li." Wang Ming’s mouth twitched slightly. Not having to call her "Mom" suited him just fine, as it would help avoid a lot of unnecessary awkwardness.

"Yanwan, from now on, I’ll be in your care," Li Weiya said with a faint smile.

"Aunt Li, please don’t say that. I couldn’t be happier that you’re joining us. If Jiang Xia is our backbone, then you are our pillar. Aunt Li, thank you," Lin Yanwan said with great sincerity.

"You’re exaggerating."

Li Weiya shook her head, her gaze then falling upon Jiang Xia. Her most prized student, the true father of Cat and Mouse, had invited her three times, and now she was finally going to start working for him.

The thought filled her with emotion.

"Ah Xia, I’m here."