C14 Evidence

"It's merely a simple bug. You're overthinking it," Jiang Chen said with a hint of irritation.

He had kindly removed the listening device for her, yet in her eyes, it seemed he had committed some lecherous act.

Seeing Lan Lan still on guard, Jiang Chen could only rub his forehead in a gesture of exasperation. Indeed, the old saying that women and scoundrels are the most challenging to deal with was not misleading.

"I doubt you'd have the guts."

Lan Lan dropped her hands in vexation, though her words remained sharp.

She realized that Jiang Chen's actions were meant to help, and yet she had been suspicious. Her cheeks flushed with this acknowledgment, but Jiang Chen's nonchalant demeanor irked her again.

"Hmph."

Lan Lan's response left Jiang Chen somewhat baffled.

"So, what's our next move?" Even though Jiang Chen had secured them another chance to make an offer, Lan Lan still lacked confidence.

"No need to rush. Let's finish our coffee first. Relax, I've said I'll handle it," Jiang Chen replied with ease, his composure starkly contrasting Lan Lan's anxiety.

"You!" Lan Lan was about to lose her temper at Jiang Chen's carefree tone but managed to hold back.

At this point, she had no better strategy for ensuring the afternoon's negotiations were successful. Despite suspecting that Jiang Chen was just feigning confidence, she had no choice but to rely on him now.

Reflecting on Jiang Chen's actions that morning, Lan Lan found herself harboring a quiet sense of anticipation.

Jiang Chen leisurely finished his coffee, seemingly oblivious to Lan Lan's barely contained frustration, and offered her a slight smile.

"Stay here; I'll be back shortly." With that, he rose and left the restaurant.

As Jiang Chen prepared to depart, Lan Lan quickly got up to follow. He turned and held up a finger, signaling her to stop.

"If you want this afternoon's negotiations to be successful, don't follow me. Stay here and wait. I'll come to get you when it's time to talk."

Jiang Chen looked down at her with an authoritative tone, making it clear that his secrets were not for Lan Lan to know.

Upon hearing Jiang Chen's remarks, Lan Lan was so infuriated that she stomped her foot. The afternoon's negotiations were too crucial for her to take any risks, so she reluctantly sat down, fuming.

Jiang Chen strode out of the Western restaurant and pulled out his phone to dial Wai Ziqing's number.

"Mr. Jiang, your call is quite unexpected. May I ask..."

Wai Ziqing spoke with utmost respect upon realizing it was Jiang Chen on the line, though she was clearly taken aback by his sudden call.

"Miss Wai, the Hundred Spirits Company belongs to your Wai family, doesn't it?" Jiang Chen cut to the chase.

"Yes, Mr. Jiang. Hundred Spirits Company is a subsidiary of Wai's Group. What about it?" Wai Ziqing replied after a brief pause, puzzled by Jiang Chen's sudden interest in Hundred Spirits.

"I'm in talks with Hundred Spirits Company on behalf of Dark Blue Group," Jiang Chen continued, pausing for a moment before his voice turned icy. "It seems the individuals involved in this negotiation aren't as straightforward as I had hoped."

Wai Ziqing felt a twinge of anxiety at the tone of Jiang Chen's voice.

She had been briefed by her staff that the tender for the partnership wasn't of significant importance, and given the vast operations of the Wai family, Wai Ziqing hadn't paid it much attention. To her surprise, behind one of the bidding companies, Dark Blue, was Jiang Chen himself!

Wai Ziqing now saw Jiang Chen as the true power behind Dark Blue. Yet, it was perplexing to her why someone of Jiang Chen's stature would personally engage in negotiations for such a small-scale company.

Without dwelling on it further, Wai Ziqing realized that trying to understand the actions of someone like Jiang Chen through conventional wisdom was futile. She quickly inquired about the details of his concerns.

The situation was straightforward, and Wai Ziqing grasped the essence swiftly. Jiang Chen was implying that there was a collusive deal between Director Faang, who was overseeing the project, and Zhou Ling from Yuhua Group.

This put her in a difficult position. While she knew that offending Jiang Chen was not an option, she also couldn't simply take his allegations at face value without evidence.

After a moment's hesitation, she mustered her resolve and asked, "Mr. Jiang, do you have any proof?"

"Hmm?" Wai Ziqing's response caught Jiang Chen off guard, but he quickly realized it was a logical question.

"If there's no evidence, I find it very difficult to make a decision on this matter. Sister Fang has been with the company for many years. To act solely on your word... I fear it would dishearten our employees."

Wai Ziqing gathered her courage to speak these words.

"Evidence?" Jiang Chen said with a faint smile, then hung up the phone.

Jiang Chen wasn't displeased by Wai Ziqing's skepticism. On the contrary, he respected her even more for it.

"Looking for evidence?" Jiang Chen murmured to himself as he gazed at the nearby company building.

Shortly after, Jiang Chen arrived at the base of the company building. Noticing the security guard's gaze, a slight smile played on his lips.

"Time Acceleration, a hundredfold."

Suddenly, the security guard felt as though a man had vanished right before his eyes. Confused, the guard vigorously rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was seeing things.

Inside the office of Hundred Spirits Company, Zhou Ling and Director Wan were sharing a laugh during a brief lull at noon.

Meanwhile, Jiang Chen, now moving under the effect of Time Acceleration, stealthily infiltrated the company and reached the door, eavesdropping on the conversation inside.

"Director Wan, I'm counting on your support in this negotiation," Zhou Ling said, her face beaming with a smile.

"Not at all. Your company clearly shows more sincerity than Dark Blue. We're certainly more inclined to partner with a larger, stronger company," Director Faang replied, his words courteous yet revealing a clear preference.

Zhou Ling's smile broadened upon hearing this. She retrieved an elegant box from her purse and placed it on the table before Director Faang.

Director Faang was no stranger to such business bribes, yet she maintained a facade of professionalism. "Zhou, what is this supposed to mean?" she asked with feigned gravity.

"It's a token of my respect for you, Director Faang, regarding the upcoming negotiation. Don't worry, this will remain between us. I hope you can continue to look out for us in the negotiations," Zhou Ling said, her voice dripping with ingratiation, knowing full well that Director Faang was merely playing her part.

"Why not take a look inside, Director Faang?" Zhou Ling encouraged.

After listening to Zhou Ling, Director Faang dispensed with the formalities and opened the box on the table.

"Ah! This is..." Director Faang gasped softly upon seeing the contents of the box.

Inside was a bracelet nearly identical to the one Director Faang was wearing, but to the trained eye, it was evident that the bracelet in the box was far more exquisite.

Zhou Ling had been aware that Director Faang was wearing a counterfeit high-end bracelet. To ensure the success of the negotiation, she had gone out of her way to procure the genuine article from overseas as a gift for Director Faang.

Despite the hefty price tag, the payoff of a successful partnership would undoubtedly elevate Zhou Ling's status within her company. Seeing Director Faang's look of astonishment, Zhou Ling took pride in her clever maneuver.

"Time Acceleration, one hundredfold."

At the sound from within the room, Jiang Chen recognized it as the evidence he sought. Without a moment's delay, he activated his power. Suddenly, everything around him slowed to a near standstill.

Jiang Chen slipped into the office and snapped a photo of the two in the midst of their transaction. Observing Zhou Ling's smug expression, Jiang Chen let out a derisive chuckle and quickly glanced at the pricing in her proposal.

He then silently exited. For the two women in the room, it was as if nothing had transpired; for them, it was all over in a blink.

Director Faang, looking at the authentic bracelet in the box, felt a tinge of embarrassment but was overjoyed. Knowing the true value of the genuine bracelet, she had once regretted opting for a fake because she couldn't justify the expense.

"Director Faang, about this negotiation..."

"Rest assured, the outcome will certainly favor Yuhua," Director Faang replied, her heart brimming with happiness, foregoing any pretense of modesty.

"Well then, Director Faang, here's to a fruitful collaboration between our two companies," Zhou Ling said, confident that the deal was as good as sealed. After exchanging pleasantries, she left with a triumphant air.

Jiang Chen, looking at the photo on his phone, felt a twinge of revulsion. He had seen his fair share of corporate duplicity in his past life, and despite his military background, such deceit was something he could never abide.

"It's time to put an end to this charade," Jiang Chen said, shaking his head with a chuckle.

At the Western-style restaurant, Lan Lan sat stewing in her anger, unconvinced that Jiang Chen could secure a successful negotiation that afternoon. Yet, deep down, she harbored a faint glimmer of hope for him, as she was out of options.

As Lan Lan brooded, Jiang Chen entered, amused by her furious and preoccupied demeanor.

Catching sight of Jiang Chen, Lan Lan was about to question his plan but was irked by the smile on his face.

"What's so funny? Listen here, Jiang Chen, you'd better have a solution. If this negotiation falls through, Dark Blue might be out of options. And for Jingqiu's sake, I won't let you off the hook!" Lan Lan snapped at him.

"You certainly have a strong sense of loyalty and duty. Enough talk, let's prepare for this afternoon's negotiation at the company," Jiang Chen replied, his smile fading as he listened to her.

"What about the quote? What should we do?" Lan Lan pressed, her voice tinged with urgency.

"Just follow my lead. You'll only need to explain that there was a mistake with the quote and present a new one. Leave the rest to me."

After laying out the plan, Jiang Chen handed Lan Lan a new quote. Without further explanation, he stood up, ready to leave.

Seeing Jiang Chen's assured manner, Lan Lan clenched her teeth and, with a sense of desperation, decided to follow him.

"Wait for me; I need to touch up my makeup..."

They hurried to the entrance of Lily Company's office, where Zhou Ling had been waiting.

"Well, CEO Lan, back from consulting with headquarters? On the brink of bankruptcy, was it worth dragging your feet for so long?" Zhou Ling taunted with a smug sneer upon their return.

Confronted by Zhou Ling, Lan Lan's fury ignited. She had not yet confronted her about the eavesdropping device.

"I used to think you were just promiscuous, but now I see you're also despicable and shameless. Afraid you couldn't outbid us, you resorted to eavesdropping," Lan Lan retorted icily.

Zhou Ling suddenly noticed that Lan Lan's brooch was missing. Her face flushed with embarrassment upon realizing her ploy had been uncovered.

However, she quickly recovered, smirking with self-satisfaction. "Hehe, surely I don't need to school you in the art of deception, CEO Lan? I've already cautioned you against this futile resistance. It's time you and your handsome lover took your leave."

With that, she lifted her chin haughtily, casting a scornful glance at Lan Lan and Jiang Chen.

"You—" Lan Lan began, ready to fire back, but Jiang Chen raised his hand, signaling her to hold off.

"The negotiations haven't even begun. Who's to say what the outcome will be?" Jiang Chen said, smiling at Zhou Ling with a calm and collected demeanor.

To him, Zhou Ling, with her air of triumph, resembled nothing more than a clown bouncing around. Having uttered such unpleasant remarks, he was content to wait and witness her discomfort later on.