_1Qiao Yuanding's lips trembled for a long while before he stood up and bent over Xiao Ming at an angle greater than ninety degrees.
"Mr. Xiao, today was a rude intrusion on our part. We only ask that you take into account our chairman's profound respect for you and that Mr. Zhou was also deceived, to extend your gracious hand and forgive us just this once."
"Qiao Yuanding, have you lost your mind?"
Zhou Fangjing slammed the floor and yelled, "I got hit, and you're actually apologizing to him? Do you believe I'll cripple you once I get back?"
Qiao Yuanding coldly turned back: "Mr. Zhou, the chairman said that if you don't apologize to Mr. Xiao, you'll be sent back to the countryside to tend to the ancestral temple for the rest of your life."
Zhou Fangjing was so angry he nearly choked to death, his eyes bulging out like a bewildered child's.
"Why... why?"
I want to know why as well.
Qiao Yuanding inwardly chuckled bitterly, helping him up and whispering, "You should ask the chairman about this matter when you get home. Right now, obtaining Xiao Ming's forgiveness is what's most important.
You know the chairman always means what he says. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life in the countryside?"
Zhou Fangjing had spent over a decade living in poverty in the village, and those childhood and adolescent memories were what he least wanted to recall and most wanted to escape from. If he had to go back to the countryside, it would be worse than being killed.
In comparison, what was a little bit of face worth?
Grinding his teeth, he bent over to Xiao Ming with Qiao Yuanding's help.
"Xiao... Mr. Xiao, today it was my... my loose lips, please don't stoop to my level."
Xiao Ming sat back on the sofa, dusting off his trousers.
"Who is the dog?"
The tone was flat, even flippant, but it made Zhou Fangjing's body instantly tense up, the humiliation from his childhood surging into his heart, blood rushing to his eyes.
Yet, only for a moment, it was the same humiliation from childhood that made him lower his head even further.
"I... I am the dog."
Xiao Ming sneered with disdain, shifting his gaze to Qiao Yuanding.
"Planning for one's future is human nature, nothing to blame, but Mr. Qiao, as a well-known manager in the business world, should have kept his eyes open.
Canghai Group is Sir Zhou's life's work, and it won't and can't fall into the hands of someone unworthy.
Be wise about it!"
Qiao Yuanding felt a jolt in his heart, reflecting on the past two years of his subservience to Zhou Fangjing, feeling somewhat ashamed.
As a professional manager, he relied on talent; when did he start hoping to get by with flattery?
"Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Xiao, Qiao will keep it in mind."
At the gesture from Yun Shi Yu, Lan woke up Zhou Fangjing's bodyguards.
Carrying or supporting Feng Haoyu and Zhou Xialan, with Qiao Yuanding assisting Zhou Fangjing, they all left the sales office together.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
As soon as the car hit the road, Zhou Fangjing began to roar madly, his eyes red with the desire to devour someone.
"Xiao Ming, I'm going to kill you! I will definitely kill you!"
Qiao Yuanding, sitting in the passenger seat, didn't even turn his head, just contemptuously thought: Idiot! Unless the chairman suddenly succumbs to dementia, he'll never hand Canghai over to you.
Even if he does, you're no match for Xiao Ming, and in the end, you will be the only one to die.
For crying out loud, I must have been blind, I'd better stay far away from you in the future, lest I dare not go out even when it rains.
In the sales office, watched by her envious colleagues, the saleswoman nervously presented the contract.
Xiao Ming didn't make it hard for her; after carefully reviewing the contract and finding no issues, he inquired about matters such as when the property certificate could be processed. Then he signed his name and paid the entire amount of 9.5 million with his card.
When leaving, Lan took over the driving while Yun Shi Yu pulled Xiao Ming to sit in the back with her.
"Be honest, what's your relationship with Zhou Jicang? Why is he better to you than to his own son?"
"Hey! Can you not speak with so much ambiguity? What do you mean by treating me better than your own son? Young Master here is on equal terms with Sir Zhou, if Zhou Fang Jing dares to disrespect his elder, of course, he needs to be taught a lesson."
"Look at you, all smug! Although Zhou Jicang is just a businessman, in terms of both power and connections, he's as good as our family. Even my grandfather has to show him some courtesy, what gives you the right to treat him as an equal?"
"It's because my future height will certainly be higher than his. He has an eye for talent, do you think everyone is like you, lacking discernment?"
"You... Xiao, I'm going to fight you!"
While driving, Lan watched Miss thrashing Xiao Ming in the rearview mirror, and felt a mix of shock and happiness for her.
Since the old master's death, how long had it been since Miss had been so unrestrainedly happy?
After a while, Yun Shi Yu, tired from hitting, accepted a tissue Xiao Ming offered, and asked, "Are you done being angry?"
"No!" Yun Shi Yu bared her teeth at him, "Madame needs a rest, then we can continue."
Xiao Ming shook his head, "I was asking if that inexplicable rage of yours has subsided after the prank at the sales office?"
Yun Shi Yu hesitated, then unnaturally turned her face away, "Who, who's raging? Nonsense."
"Good if you're not. Otherwise, I really need to reconsider whether or not to continue doing business with you."
Yun Shi Yu turned back abruptly, "What do you mean by that?"
Xiao Ming smiled, "Don't worry, I won't go back on my word."
"However, if you really can't control your emotions and it might affect company decisions, then I will start something new under Ruiye, operating independently and solely funded by me.
As one of the major shareholders of Ruiye, you just relax and wait for your dividends.
It's almost like I'm working for you."
Yun Shi Yu fell silent, and didn't speak again until Xiao Ming had gotten out of the car.𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
On the way back to her residence, she suddenly asked Lan, "Was my mood particularly unstable today?"
Lan thought for a moment and said, "Not particularly, but it certainly wasn't like the composed you of the past."
Yun Shi Yu rested her chin in her hand and silently gazed out the window for a long time, then sighed softly, "Lan, I think... I might have fallen for him."
Lan was shocked, "Miss, he has a wife."
"I know."
Yun Shi Yu gave a bitter smile, "And I'm very clear that he loves Jiang Xue deeply and would never let her be hurt.
I... stand no chance at all."
Lan thought the Miss in the rearview mirror looked quite pitiable, but not knowing how to comfort her, could only sigh along.
The next day, Shen Siqi was suddenly taken from his office by the police. Although he came back in the afternoon, the rumors that he may have been involved with drugs spread quickly.
Because of this, as soon as the stock market opened, the Qianshan Group's stock price fell by 2% from the previous day, closing with a loss of nearly 5%.
As one of the major shareholders, the representative of Yun Group, Yun Shi Yu, immediately called a board meeting.
At the meeting, she sternly requested Shen Siqi to apologize to all the shareholders for the losses incurred, and to provide a detailed explanation. She also proposed to remove him from his position as the head of procurement and general manager of Qianshan Hotel, which garnered support from many shareholders.
Shen Anhe was very angry, but faced with the intense sentiments of the shareholders, he had no choice but to put his old face on the line to vouch for his son, just barely managing to keep Shen Siqi's position as head of procurement.
It's worth mentioning that Shen Siyi didn't say a word throughout the meeting, and was the first to leave when it ended, as if he couldn't care less about everything.
But Yun Shi Yu knew, he had utterly lost hope in his father, Shen Anhe.
On the other hand, Yang Hanqing's "house-buying operation" was going very well. In just three days, Maohe's assets had increased by nearly a hundred property certificates, at a cost of less than seven million.
She happily called Xiao Ming to report her triumph, but got nagged instead, saying he gave her ten million, and she had only spent just over half in three days, she didn't even know how to spend money, what else could she do?
She was so infuriated that she felt like turning into a she-wolf and biting that jerk to death.
Nevertheless, ready or not, the day of the land auction arrived.
That day, Xiao Ming, decked out with Yun Shi Yu, Yang Hanqing, and Shen Siyi, arrived at the venue. As they walked through the entrance, they overheard an odd voice nearby.
"Well, well, what a small world indeed!"