Chu Yifeng and David, who had flown in overnight, were already sitting in Hengyu Group’s conference room. Their negotiations were scheduled to begin somewhat later than Zhou Group’s.
Things went badly from the beginning. Chu Yifeng attended as a representative of the subsidiary. Hengyu Group did not know Aimer stood behind it, let alone that the man sitting before them was the real boss. The two Hengyu executives, a man and a woman, opened aggressively and proved to be skilled speakers.
Anyone else might have been talked into silence, but their opponent was Chu Yifeng. No matter what they said, he calmly leafed through the documents Hengyu had given them.
The two representatives talked until their mouths were dry before realizing the person Oubang had sent was no ordinary negotiator. After so long, he remained completely unmoved. His young assistant, on the other hand, kept wiping his face and looking down as though intimidated.
David was actually trying not to laugh.
Unable to make progress, the woman finally found an excuse to leave. When she returned, she carried additional papers. After sitting down, she gave the man a discreet nod.
“Mr. Wang, the forty percent we’re offering is already the most Hengyu can concede. If we give up any more, we’ll lose money. We sincerely hope to cooperate with you and ask for your understanding,” the man resumed. Then he pushed the new documents toward Chu Yifeng with a smile. “If you can’t make the decision yourself, you can read these before deciding. We’re very patient.”
Chu Yifeng glanced at the papers.
David immediately reached for them.
The man called out to stop him. When both looked his way, he smiled suggestively at Chu Yifeng. “Mr. Wang, the fewer people who see those documents, the better.”
Chu Yifeng ignored him.
The man’s face darkened slightly.
David quickly flipped through the pages. His eyes widened as he read, and at last he silently passed the papers to his boss.
Chu Yifeng read faster than David. The contents had nothing to do with their proposed project. They were not negotiating materials at all, but a threat. Exactly as Wang Cheng had warned the night before, Hengyu was no respectable organization; it would use any means necessary to get its way.
The file detailed disgraceful conduct by Li Jun, Oubang’s regional head in Hua Country. It contained copied photographs of Li Jun having a threesome with a man and a woman in a private room, along with evidence of his misuse of company funds, acceptance of kickbacks, and other offenses.
Li Jun had originally been in charge of the project and had sent staff to contact Hengyu. He had even visited once himself. Later, Charlie discovered irregularities within Oubang, including suspicious accounts, and instructed several reliable executives there to send the relevant information to headquarters. Charlie then forwarded it to Chu Yifeng.
Chu Yifeng had moved up the meeting with Hengyu to today. The changed schedule did not interfere with Hengyu’s plan, but they did not know that Li Jun had already been bypassed. They assumed Chu Yifeng and David were his subordinates. Unable to pressure the two men directly, they brought out the documents prepared in advance. They wanted the visitors to tell Li Jun that Hengyu possessed evidence capable of destroying him, thus forcing him to give way.
But the plan was doomed to fail.
The man and woman stared at their guests, eager to see their expressions change.
David’s expression certainly changed, but Chu Yifeng, who had been giving them nothing, simply closed the file, stood, and walked out.
David hurriedly gathered their things and followed.
The two Hengyu executives mistook this for panic. They believed the visitors were rushing to show Li Jun the evidence. Soon, they imagined, he would call, the contract would be signed, and the mission would be accomplished.
Instead, when news finally reached them, Li Jun had been dismissed and handed over to the police. Aimer headquarters appointed a new person to oversee Oubang, and that executive tore up the proposed cooperation agreement with Hengyu. Only then did Hengyu discover that Oubang was an Aimer subsidiary. An even harsher blow awaited them afterward.
When Wang Cheng called, Chu Yifeng had just walked out of an office building.
David had been about to speak to his boss, but when the phone rang, he discreetly fell silent.
“Boss Chu, are you free?”
Hearing Wang Cheng’s sly tone, Chu Yifeng’s stern expression immediately softened. “The meeting just ended. Perfect timing. Have you told your grandfather?”
“I’m a lucky man, after all,” Wang Cheng said, praising himself. “I told him, but he won’t rest easy until he meets you in person. By the way, how did the talks with Hengyu go?”
Chu Yifeng narrowed his eyes. “Very interesting. We obtained some useful material.”
“Did you sign a deal?” Wang Cheng sensed that he was hinting at something.
“You’ll find out later.” Chu Yifeng remained mysterious and changed the subject. “When does your grandfather want to meet?”
“As soon as possible, of course. Do you have time right now?”
“If Grandpa wants to meet his grandson-in-law, I’ll make time even if I have none.”
Wang Cheng laughed. “We’ve barely begun talking about that! You’re awfully eager. Should I introduce you to Grandpa as my lover on the side?”
“If you dare say it.”
Chu Yifeng sent David back by taxi with the documents and drove to Zhou Group himself. It would take less than ten minutes. After ending the call, Wang Cheng went downstairs to wait. He had nothing else to do, and Chu Yifeng had said ten minutes would be enough.
It was working hours, so not many people were outside. As they went upstairs together, Chu Yifeng drew repeated looks because he was accompanying Wang Cheng. Everyone was guessing his identity.
Wang Cheng took him straight to the chairman’s office.
Zhou Shichang and Feng Yifan were already waiting. They had heard of Chu Yifeng’s identity, and though he was young, nobody dared underestimate the president of Aimer Group. As far as Zhou Shichang knew, the eldest grandson of the Chu family’s third generation had taken over Aimer years ago.
Wang Cheng went to his grandfather’s side and made the introduction. “Boss Chu, this is my grandfather, chairman of Zhou Group.”
“Chairman Zhou, pleased to meet you. My grandfather often speaks of you.” Chu Yifeng shook Zhou Shichang’s hand.
Zhou Shichang nodded approvingly. “A remarkable young man.”
Without waiting for Wang Cheng to introduce him, Feng Yifan stepped forward and extended his hand. “President Chu, I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Feng Yifan, president of Zhou Group. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Chu Yifeng shook his hand. “Wang Cheng has mentioned you.”
Feng Yifan was surprised but did not show it. He went quickly to the purpose of the meeting. “We’re honored. Young Master Zhou has told us what happened. Have you come today as Aimer’s representative?”
“I’ve heard about Zhou Group’s difficulties. Charlie normally oversees this area, but for Wang Cheng’s sake I’m willing to consider cooperation. Naturally, everything will be handled on business terms.”
The immediate answer surprised them, but what truly astonished Zhou Shichang and Feng Yifan was that Chu Yifeng openly said he was acting for Wang Cheng’s sake.
Even Wang Cheng was startled. Was he really saying it so openly? Fortunately, the reference to business terms made the situation sound reasonable again. Otherwise their relationship would become suspicious. Even close friends would not normally make a decision of this scale so casually.
Charlie, meanwhile, had no idea that his frequently absent boss had just found him another major job.
Such matters were easy to announce but difficult to carry through. Still, as vice president, Charlie mainly had to issue instructions; there were plenty of competent employees to carry out the work.
This important decision had been made without Charlie’s knowledge. Zhou Shichang was delighted to be rid of several days’ worries and invited Chu Yifeng to lunch at the restaurant downstairs. Butler Zhou, who had already prepared the midday meal, was told he need not deliver it.
Chu Yifeng took the opportunity to make a very good impression on Zhou Shichang.
Although Chu Yifeng was not his own grandson, Zhou Shichang admired talented, hardworking, ambitious young people. Someone capable of managing a company bigger than Zhou Group at such a young age was exactly the type of person he praised.
Wang Cheng could barely join the conversation. He felt Chu Yifeng was even more universally beloved than himself, a man whom women, men, children, and elders alike seemed to adore. Little ones clung to him, old people liked him, and who was left? It was enough to make Wang Cheng jealous. Fortunately, this popular fellow belonged to him.
Meanwhile, AG Group, still expecting Zhou Group to beg for its favor, received a decidedly unfriendly phone call from Xie Wenzhi.
Xie told them that because of their discourteous conduct at Zhou Group that morning, the company had decided not to proceed with the proposed partnership.
Reid thought he had misheard, but Xie Wenzhi had already hung up. Just a few days earlier, AG Group had been the party entitled to issue such ultimatums. Now the tables had turned, and the visitors still could not believe it.
AG Group had investigated Zhou Group before the first approach and concluded that Zhou Group had no real alternative. Headquarters had already begun preparations and treated the deal as won. If Zhou Group could now cancel it with a single sentence, all that work would have been wasted.