Realizing that everyone was looking at her, Risa scrunched her eyebrows and looked annoyed, "I was just guessing that maybe she can"t eat spicy food. So ask her first, before you place anything for her." Risa looked down at her bowl and started to eat like nothing had happened.
Motoki, just stood there dumbfounded. His one hand was still holding the dish spoon. He turned his head to Shao Yan, and before he spoke any word, Shao Yan quickly said, "Thank you so much. But, I can"t eat spicy food, so you can have it for yourself." She flashed him an amicable smile, but deep down inside, she was thinking, was it really coincidental that Risa know about that? Motoki gingerly sat down, and placed the food on to his own plate; and then he started to eat quietly.
After lunch, Risa had scheduled a training session with Shao Yan and her team. All of them were in the room and started to discuss the plan for the year.
It was Risa who requested to go through the whole schedules together, and specifically asked Shao Yan to prepare the presentation. Shao Yan stood in front of the meeting room and started to speak.
"The goal for the end of year plan is to invite more new writers that we have not exposed to. My idea is to hold an exhibition of our best selling author, and at the same time, we will invite artists as the anchor*," she paused and then scanned her eyes around the room, "I"ll stop here to take any questions."
Risa was reading through her presentation material in her hand, and then she slowly shook her head from side to side. She lifted her head and stared at Shao Yan.
"Hm, I don"t see any budget calculation to invite these artists. Who do you have in mind?"
Shao Yan nodded, and confidently answered her, "It is because the situation is dynamic right now. And I am thinking of Eli Günther, who is currently a rising pop singer.."
"Pfft.." suddenly a soft snort was heard in the room. And all eyes were searching for the source of the sound, and then they landed back on Risa again.
"Ah," Risa paused for a while to chuckle, and then she slowly leaned back to her chair, "Let me think on how to say this politely," she paused again, but she quickly continued, "But I can"t," she shrugged.
"Miss Shao, are you an amateur? What is wrong with this plan? Why are you presenting a half-baked plan? This is garbage." She slapped the stack of papers on the desk.
Her own team members were looking at her; embarra.s.sed. Their team lead had been straightforward and opinionated, but she was never rude. She was a good mentor and senior in this field, but this was the first time they saw a fierce side of her.
Risa leaned back on her chair and crossed her arms in front of her, "First of all, the budget was not consistent. You could argue that this is a dynamic situation. Fine. But what about this -" Risa flipped the papers until she found the section that she was looking for. "Outdoor concert?? In a freaking November weather?"
Risa looked up at Shao Yan, her face was cold and stern, "Are you trying to get everyone sick?"
Silence shrouded the room. Shao Yan was dumbfounded; no one had ever been so straightforward as this to her. She was about to explain more, but Risa cut her off, "You know what? Don"t bother explaining this to me. Let"s not waste everybody"s time with this unsatisfactory deck."
Once she finished saying that, Risa swiftly stood up and threw the stack pf papers on the table, "Correct this. We will meet again next Monday to review. And on that day, I am expecting a stellar presentation, Project Manager Shao."
Risa looked at Shao Yan with a cold, stern face before she turned her body around and started to leave the room. Shao Yan clenched her fist and her forehead slowly frowned. Her eyes squinted and she tilted her head to the side. She was trying to remember the points that Risa brought up as issues.
"If only she gave me the chance to explain," Shao Yan sighed inwardly.
And all of a sudden, she snapped her head back up, and started to sprint to the door.
Shao Yan just reached the meeting room door, and managed to catch up with Risa. She briskly walk to her side while calling her, "Miss Yamaguchi, please hold on." Risa paused her steps and slowly turned around. She did not look pleased. Shao Yan could not care less, but she needed to explain herself, or she would be forever be misunderstood.
Shao Yan stood in front of Risa and slowly controlled her irregular breathing due to the sudden sprint.
"First of all, please know that it is not a half-baked plan. My team worked on it for weeks, and we did proper reviews on all the places listed on this presentation." Shao Yan was holding on to her presentation papers and waved them in between them. "We visited each places and scouted the whole area one by one personally."
Shao Yan brought her hand down and continued, "You are a foreigner in this country, what do you know about the stage that we have selected? Allow me to tell you more."
Shao Yan knew if she continued, she would offend this superior of hers, but she had to. This was her team hardwork, she would not back down easily.
So, she gathered her courage and looked at Risa in the eyes, "That place is a semi covered theater. They do have outdoor section, but they are famous to host many Jazz concert during winter."
Shao Yan paused to let Risa digested her words; she also scanned the people around them. She slowly brought her eye contact back to Risa and continued, "And that is precisely the reason why, my team and I highly recommended that concert stage. I don"t know what kind of music do you listen to. But Jazz require a special set of arrangement and not all concert hall can support that."
Shao Yan slowly straightened up her posture, and then she slowly enunciated, "Now, are you ready to listen more?"