Chapter 112: Private Discussion
Qi Yu saw Song Puxin hesitate for a couple of seconds before he turned around with a frosty look on his face and went back to sit beside Si Ze. It wasn’t until he picked up the cigar scissors somewhat awkwardly that Si Ze’s expression returned to normal.
“Would you like one too? This is a Cuban cigar given by a friend of mine a while ago. The smoke is very pure.” Si Ze asked Qi Yu.
“I don’t even smoke ordinary cigarettes let alone cigars…” Qi Yu smiled lightly and continued on with his topic just now, “Blooming Lotus’ price negotiation, I think it’s about right. Chief Ye has complained to me about it already, saying he’s been grinding down the price with President Yu since the New Year. If we’re not able to secure the deal, he won’t have any face to explain it to me.”
“You still feel bad for him?” Si Ze laughed, “I think President Yu must have nibbled away at his willpower. This Ye Qinru must have fallen for a honey trap by those girl. Tell him to grow a backbone and get that price down.”
Qi Yu: “…”
After Song Puxin finished cutting the cigar, Si Ze tilted his head to take it with his mouth. He placed one arm on the other’s shoulder. Song Puxin’s eyelashes trembled slightly, but his expression remained indifferent.
Si Ze stared at him and waited for him to light a cigarette for him. He took a deep puff and suddenly spit out smoke right in the other’s face. Song Puxin’s breathed in sharply and was choked by that puff of smoke; he couldn’t help but cough lightly.
Seeing him finally put on a different expression, Si Ze chuckled as if he had succeeded in a prank. While continuing to smoke the cigar, he repeatedly twisted the other person’s shoulder with his fingertips.
He just did this in front of Qi Yu as though there were no one else around. No matter how good Qi Yu’s self-restraint was, he found this somewhat unbearable to look at.
This would be another matter if Qi Yu didn’t know Song Puxin’s background and origin and just thought him a male companion that Si Ze had bought casually with money. But now, not only did he know that Song Puxin was a talented person with extraordinary abilities, he also knew that the other party may be an undercover agent sent by the government just like Fu Yansheng.
Seeing the other party being treated like this by Si Ze, Qi Yu couldn’t help but feel a sense of compassion for the other.
But considering the matter once again, he had to give up. Right now, he was in no position to be disciplining Si Ze. If he continued to sit here, maybe it would only make Song Puxin feel more embarrassed.
Realizing this, Qi Yu immediately ended the topic. “Then let’s take a gamble today.”
Si Ze said indifferently, “You haven’t experienced a lot of these things yet and you’ve never ever lacked money, so you think nothing of a few million. But you don’t conduct business the same way you treat your friends. You can’t let others take any advantage of you. Just relax, I don’t think there’s going to be a problem.”
Qi Yu got up and said, “Alright. Then, I’ll head out first. See you later.”
Si Ze waved at him. “I’ll go down to find you after I finish smoking this cigar.”
Qi Yu walked through the door. Before he could close it, he vaguely heard Si Ze whisper to Song Puxin, “What did I do to you? You’re sulking…”
He didn’t hear anything after that.
Qi Yu took a deep breath and went to the banquet restaurant on the sixth floor of the hotel. Blooming Lotus’ people were already there. They had arranged for two tables to treat them to lunch first.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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Ye Qinru: “…”
Qi Yu has talked to Su Jing; he’s talked to Xu Jing and he even went through countless private drills with Fu Yansheng; but only when facing Si Ze was he completely helpless.
It was not that Si Ze was extremely capable but rather it was because this person respected no one. He wouldn’t allow him to suffer even a single bit of loss. He would never listen to other people’s suggestions.
Ye Qinru frowned slightly, not looking quite so relaxed. “Sigh, let’s figure it out later.”
Fu Yansheng next to him asked, “What was Si Ze doing in his room?”
Qi Yu: “Making Assistant Song cut a cigar for him.”
Fu Yansheng: “…”
After a while, Yu Lian came in, glowing with enthusiasm. “Chief Qi has arrived? Where’s Chief Si?”
Qi Yu thought that a cigar shouldn’t take too long and said, “He said he’ll be coming down immediately.”
Yu Lian nodded and said, “Then let’s go next door first.”
Ye Qinru raised his hand. “Please.”
When they got to the dinner table, everyone had a good chat first. Since Si Ze hadn’t arrived yet, no one dared to start eating. For a while, they only talked about things that had been happening in the industry. However, even after waiting for half an hour, Si Ze still didn’t show up.
Qi Yu frowned and asked Wu Shuang to step out and call Huang Junwen. Wu Shuang came back shortly after and said to them, “Chief Si said he has something to attend to so he’s asking us to eat first. We don’t have to wait for him.”
The expressions of the people around the table turned ugly. And even Qi Yu felt a little annoyed for a moment. When he came down, he clearly heard that Si Ze whispering ‘sweet nothings’ to Song Puxin in the room. Can’t that guy be bothered to attend to serious business!?
He raised his head and turned to Yu Lian, saying directly, “President Yu, it’s rare for everyone to be able to get together like this. If we wait for too long, it will bring down everyone’s mood. Since Si Ze has something to do, then let’s have lunch first.”
Since Qi Yu, the deputy director has already spoken, everyone picked up their wine glasses. But Si Ze, as the director of the Technology Development Department, not showing up on such occasions inevitably sent people thinking.
There was no shortage of active people at the table and soon everyone became lively again.
Qi Yu didn’t have to join in himself. On the surface he listened to them talking about various anecdotes with a smile on his face. But inwardly, he kept thinking about the strategy for the upcoming negotiation.
Sure enough, the happy atmosphere was just a façade. After the meal, Yu Lian said to Ye Qinru, “Chief Ye, can you step out to have a talk?”
Seeing this, Qi Yu immediately said: “President Yu, wait a moment. Let me have a word with Chief Ye first.”
Ye Qinru followed Qi Yu to the side and asked in a low voice, “What’s the matter?”
Qi Yu: “Is there any place here that’s very private?”
Ye Qinru: “There’s the Sea Horse business bar on the fifth floor. It’s very quiet.”
Qi Yu: “President Yu is looking for you. My guess is that she’s going to raise some very difficult questions. Si Ze didn’t show up for this meal so they’ll be feeling very stressed. If she asks you about the price we’re going to offer, you can just follow what Si Ze said and tell her it’s 140 million. See if she can accept it, if not, ask her to go to that bar to find me. Tell her I want to have a chat with her. I’ll message you the table number later.”
Ye Qinru was stunned for a moment, then quickly replied, “Okay.”
After Qi Yu left, Yu Lian called Ye Qinru to the next door conference room alone. She said with a heavy expression, “Chief Ye, it’s been almost four months since we met and everyone has already gathered together more than once. I personally feel that it’s been a pleasure to make your acquaintance but after all, we didn’t come here just for the purpose of making friends. We came here to talk about business. Today we’ve gathered again, please tell it to me plain. Is the Si Yuan Group dealing with us sincerely or not? If you are sincere, you can directly tell me your bottom line price now. Playing all these psychological tactics is getting tiring.”
Ye Qinru secretly admired Qi Yu’s accuracy in predicting the situation. He gritted his teeth and said the number that was revealed to him. “Chief Si said that the maximum amount of Si Yuan is willing to offer is only 140 million.”
Yu Lian’s eyes widened, and she suddenly became agitated. “What’s the difference between your 140 million now and the 125 million yuan you quoted at the beginning? Did I wait two months for this 15 million yuan?”
“President Yu, I didn’t mean to lead you on. I also wanted to give you a higher price within a reasonable range, but…” Ye Qinru sighed inwardly, pointed to the top of his head, and did a slashing motion across his own neck said, “The ‘Master’ above has pressed the bottom line here.”
Yu Lian smiled self-deprecatingly. She raised her hand and said, “Forget it, Chief Ye, at first, when you calculated the valuation with me and analyzed the reality with me, I thought our quoted price really was too high. I discussed it with Yan Xiu every day for the past two months to the point that I lost all dignity. After hearing your price today, I realized that you’ve just been making fun of me. A person needs face as a tree needs bark. If you’re only going to pay such a small amount, then I would rather Blooming Lotus’ shares die in my own hands than sell them cheaply.”
After Ye Qinru listened to her carefully, he looked at her earnestly. “President Yu, I admire your backbone. Frankly speaking, our Chief Qi also thinks that Chief Si’s attitude is a bit inappropriate. He’s willing to build on this base price and give you a price that he thinks is sincere. But after all, he is only the second-in-command in the Technology Development Department. There are some things regarding which he cannot bypass Chief Si on and it is not good for him to go against his intentions. But look, we’re all here today. How about you try talking to Chief Qi alone?”
Yu Lian was startled. “What do you mean?”
Ye Qinru: “Exactly what I said. Chief Qi is waiting for you at the business bar on the fifth floor. Seat A27. I hope you can meet with him alone.”
Yu Lian: “…”
***
The Sea Horse business bar.
Qi Yu and Fu Yansheng had been waiting here for half an hour. Fu Yansheng glanced at his watch: “It’s almost time.”
Just as he was speaking, Qi Yu’s cell phone rang. He answered the call, and after hearing Ye Qinru briefly explain the situation, he replied, “Okay, I see.”
After hanging up, he said to Fu Yansheng, “The 140 million offer really offended Yu Lian. She’s probably coming down to find me right away.”
Fu Yansheng: “Are you sure you want to talk to her alone?”
Qi Yu: “I’ll give it a try.”
Fu Yansheng: “Don’t you want to tell me your strategy first?”
Qi Yu saw Yu Lian approaching from a distance, and said, “There’s no time.”
Fu Yansheng looked at him. He couldn’t tell whether the look in his eyes was admiration or disappointment. He sighed lightly, got up and said, “Then I’ll go up and find Chief Ye.”
Qi Yu raised his eyes and said, “If Si Ze comes looking, remember to cover for me.”
Fu Yansheng: “I know.”
He walked over to Yu Lian, the two nodded as they passed by each other.
Yu Lian turned a little corner and finally saw the young man sitting in A27, wearing a custom tailored suit befitting his status with hands in his pockets, waiting there calmly.
Although the other party was undoubtedly handsome, at this moment, it was the deep, astute and scholarly air exuding from his expression that attracted Yu Lian even more to proceed.
Heart moved, she quickly walked towards the other party. “Chief Qi, I heard that you wanted to chat with me?”
————
【Little Theater】
Fu Yansheng: Today, I was but a passerby buying soy sauce by my wife’s side. So disappointed.
Song Puxin (clumsily picks up the cigar cutter): Be content with your lot.
Fu Yansheng (putting his hands up in surrender): A’Xin, let’s put down the knife. We can talk this through…
Yasssss King Qi 👑
Poor Song Puxin, treat him better 😭😭
AHAHAHAHA I do not doubt that, if murder was legal and Ah Xin doesn’t have any ‘mission’ to complete besides Si Ze, he’d be (clumsily) swinging that cigar cutter on the bastard’s neck any time of the day XD
thanks for the chapter!
I only have one concern…i don’t want Song puxin to truly because a couple with a sh*tty person like Si Zi, hope that author didn’t pull such stunt and give him another person with whome he could have a healthy relationship
get song puxin out of there!!
Is it just me or is our main cp relationship is a bit…estranged?
typos pls cancel out the third is
Anybody pwlease help Xinxin ;—;