After a wealthy woman went bankrupt, her live-in husband became her sugar daddy.

Chapter 285 Industry Benchmarks

In the interview room, soft lighting shone on my face. I adjusted my posture to make sure I looked energetic on camera. Xu Sisi stood behind the camera and gave me an "OK" sign.

"Ms. Gu, first of all, congratulations on your studio's victory in the recent business battle," the reporter said with a smile. "Could you share with us how you surpassed the Jin Group in such a short period of time?"

I pursed my lips slightly and looked directly into the camera: "Actually, it's not about surpassing. We've just adhered to a very basic principle—integrity. Kim's Enterprises tampered with product ingredients for short-term profits, which is deceiving consumers. Our studio, on the other hand, has established a rule from the very beginning that we will never compromise on product quality."

The reporter nodded and continued, "So what are your plans for the future? After all, the studio has now become an industry benchmark."

“I wouldn’t presume to be a benchmark,” I smiled, “but we do have some new plans. First, we will continue to expand our R&D team and strive to launch new products every quarter. Second, we are collaborating with ‘Star Technology’ to develop a brand-new product traceability system.”

When "Starry Sky Technology" was mentioned, I noticed the reporter's eyes light up. That's his company, which has recently been making waves in the field of smart technology.

Could you elaborate on this traceability system?

“Of course,” I sat up straight, “through this system, consumers can scan the QR code on the product to see the entire process from raw material procurement to production. We hope that in this way, consumers can buy with confidence and use with peace of mind.”

The interview went smoothly, and the reporter asked several more questions about the industry's prospects. I answered them all, neither exaggerating nor feigning modesty. Finally, the reporter asked a personal question: "Ms. Gu, what do you think has supported you to get to where you are today?"

I was silent for a moment, and countless nights of working overtime flashed before my eyes, as well as the days he stayed with me through them.

“It’s the original intention,” I said softly. “I always remember why I started this studio. It’s not to defeat anyone, but to make truly good products. As long as I remember that, I won’t lose my way.”

After the interview, Xu Sisi ran over excitedly: "That was amazing! The number of viewers in the live stream just broke the record!" She waved her phone, "Look, everyone in the comments section is praising you."

I took the phone and saw a screen full of comments:

"This is a real live stream to expose fake news!"

"Support conscientious businesses!"

"The collaboration with Star Technology is so exciting!"

I smiled and handed the phone back to Xu Sisi: "Notify the technology department to prepare for a meeting. Since we made such a bold promise in the interview, we need to get the traceability system up and running as soon as possible."

"Understood!" Xu Sisi ran off to make the arrangements with great enthusiasm.

I walked to the window, took out my phone, and sent him a message: "The interview went well."

His reply came quickly: "Celebrating tonight? I've booked your favorite French restaurant."

It's time for the meeting. "Technology Department, the anti-counterfeiting website we developed last time might be going to be a collaboration with Xingchen..."

Everyone listened attentively, and soon it was over.

That evening, I arrived at the agreed-upon restaurant. As soon as I opened the door, a waiter greeted me: "Miss Gu, this way please."

The restaurant was dimly lit, and the sound of a violin filled the air. My husband, who was sitting by the window, saw me and his eyes lit up; he immediately stood up.

"Wife!" He walked over quickly and naturally put his arm around my waist. "Why are you so late? I've been waiting for you for ages."

I smiled helplessly: "Didn't we say there was a meeting after the interview?"

“I know,” he pouted, looking aggrieved, “but I missed you.” With that, he gave me a light kiss on the cheek.

The waiter pulled out chairs for us, but he insisted on sitting on the same side as me: "The view from there isn't good; I want to sit next to my wife."

Looking at his childlike demeanor warmed my heart. Even after three years of marriage, he's still so clingy.

"You look especially beautiful today," he whispered in my ear. "Is this dress new?"

"I bought it last week," I teased him deliberately. "You didn't even notice."

“How could that be!” he retorted immediately. “I see what you wear every day. It’s just… you’ve been working overtime these past few days, so I haven’t had a chance to really appreciate it.”

The waiter brought over an aperitif, and he raised his glass: "To my wife's wonderful interview today."

"For our joint efforts." I clinked glasses with him, the champagne bubbles dancing merrily in the glass.

During the meal, he insisted on feeding me steak: "Ah—open your mouth."

"I can do it myself." I was both amused and exasperated.

“No,” he said stubbornly, holding up his fork. “You’ve been working too hard lately. I need to take good care of you.”

I had no choice but to give in, and seeing his smug look, I felt a sweet warmth in my heart.

“During the interview,” he suddenly said, “when you talked about your original aspirations, I was reminded of when we first started our business.”

I put down my fork and looked at him.

“Back then, you were just a college student…” he said with a smile in his eyes.

“So…” I raised an eyebrow.

“Of course,” he said matter-of-factly, “otherwise how would I have tricked you into it?”

I couldn't help but laugh out loud. He took the opportunity to lean in and steal a kiss on my lips.

“Hey,” I gently nudged him, “we’re at the restaurant.”

“What’s there to be afraid of?” he said nonchalantly. “We are a legally married couple.”

The violin music started at just the right moment; it was "A Love Song." He took my hand, our fingers intertwined: "Honey, we haven't gone on a date in ages."

“Yes,” I leaned on his shoulder, “I’ve been too busy lately.”

“Then let’s get some rest outside tonight,” he said, a sly glint in his eyes. “How about we don’t go home? I’ve booked a room upstairs.”

I looked up at him and noticed that the tips of his ears were red. This man, who was a powerful figure in the business world, was like a young man experiencing his first love in front of me.

"Okay." I agreed softly.

He immediately beamed, like a child who had just received candy.

Outside the window, the city lights flicker, but our story remains as sweet as ever.

The next day, as I was organizing the resumes on my desk, Xu Sisi knocked on the door and came in: "The interviews are all arranged. The first candidate will be here in five minutes."

“Okay,” I nodded, “let me see Lin Xiaoxia’s information.”

Xu Sisi handed over the folder, hesitating to speak: "Um... Lin Xiaxia is here today too."

I looked up: "Isn't she already..."

“She said the last interview was too rushed and she wanted a formal one,” Xu Sisi explained. “I saw that she was sincere, so I arranged it.”

When I looked through Lin Xiaoxia's resume, I found that she had added a lot of details, including the specific projects she worked on during her internship at Starlight Media.

“Let her come last,” I said.

The first candidate was a seasoned planner with excellent communication skills, but his salary demands were too high. The second was a recent graduate who, while enthusiastic, lacked experience.

When Lin Xiaxia pushed the door open and came in, I noticed that she was wearing a light blue shirt today, which made her look capable and energetic.