C15 Beat Him up

As Jiang Chen looked at her with that smile, Zhou Ling felt a shiver run down her spine. She had more barbs to throw his way, but was interrupted as the office staff emerged.

Ignoring Zhou Ling, Jiang Chen and Lan Lan proceeded into the office. "Oh? Have the two of you finally cleared things up with headquarters?" Director Faang asked with a sneer as they entered.

Jiang Chen remained silent, prompting Lan Lan to step forward and hastily explain. "I apologize, Director Faang. We made an error with our quote this morning. I want to extend our apologies to your company. We've revised our quote over lunch."

Speaking softly, Lan Lan then presented the new quote Jiang Chen had provided earlier. At this point, she had no choice but to trust him.

Jiang Chen, sitting off to the side with his head propped on his hand, watched Director Faang with interest as Lan Lan presented the new quote. He was curious to see how she would react.

Director Faang was taken aback by Dark Blue's new quote. Lan Lan's figure was neither too high nor too low, perfectly undercutting Zhou Ling's bid.

Zhou Ling, standing to the side, was thunderstruck, falling silent with her expression shifting unpredictably, lost in thought.

Director Faang had gone quiet, and just as Director Fong was about to interject, Director Faang stood up, her face twisted in anger, and snapped, "You may leave now!"

Lan Lan was caught off guard, unsure of the situation, and was about to inquire further when Jiang Chen chuckled, "Oh? What might you mean by that, Director Faang?"

Director Faang's irritation grew at the sight of Jiang Chen's amused expression. He had been a thorn in her side repeatedly.

"What do I mean? Ha! I'd like to turn that question around to Dark Blue," Director Faang retorted coldly.

"You leave us hanging with a phone conference, show up to negotiate in person only to cause a scene with our competitors, and then your bids fluctuate wildly. Dark Blue sure puts on airs. Are you playing us all for fools? Huh?!" Director Faang spat out her words furiously.

Lan Lan was nearly petrified with fear. She desperately wanted to say something in her defense, to salvage the situation, but Director Faang seemed unwilling to give her the opportunity to speak.

"I believe your company has no real interest in collaborating with us. Our Hundred Spirits Company will not engage with a company that lacks sincerity and credibility! Once we, Hundred Spirits, refuse to cooperate with a company, other businesses in Jiangzhou will follow suit," Director Faang declared.

Zhou Ling, standing nearby, quickly chimed in, "Director Faang, there's no need to stoop to the level of such an insignificant company. Rest assured, our Yuhua will certainly not partner with them either. We'll make sure that all the other companies in Jiangzhou understand just how deplorable Dark Blue really is!"

Lan Lan's heart sank, and she felt a cold sense of hopelessness. If Director Faang's words were true, Dark Blue would be ostracized in Jiangzhou, with no ground left to stand on. She felt utterly drained and unable to think any further.

Jiang Chen, observing Director Faang's behavior, realized she was looking for an excuse to forcibly eliminate Dark Blue from the running. He frowned in disapproval.

"Is there an issue with our proposal? The terms we discussed this afternoon were agreed upon. It seems to me that the lack of sincerity and reliability is on your part, not ours," Jiang Chen said, locking eyes with Director Faang.

"Don't bother twisting the truth. I have the final say in this matter! Now, I want you out of here immediately!" Director Faang retorted, her voice betraying a hint of insecurity despite her defiant stance.

"And if we refuse to leave?" Jiang Chen asked icily, his patience wearing thin in the face of Director Faang's irrationality.

"You won't leave? Security, throw them out!" Director Faang ordered, taken aback by Jiang Chen's firm stance.

The security team, alerted by Director Faang's fury, was ready to forcibly remove Jiang Chen. But Jiang Chen, with his elite background, was unfazed by the guards, confident in his ability to handle the situation.

In just a short time, a group of security guards who had rushed in were now sprawled haphazardly on the ground. Witnessing Jiang Chen's prowess, Director Faang was taken aback once more. She was about to summon more help when a defiant cry rang out from the entrance:

"I'd like to see who dares lay a hand on Mr. Jiang!"

At the sound of this bold challenge, Director Faang quickly turned toward the door, her face swiftly shifting from anger to a forced smile.

"Director Wai, what brings you here?"

The source of the outcry was none other than Wai Ziqing, the daughter of the Wai family.

Wai Ziqing had been inspecting another company's operations on the Eastern Continent when Jiang Chen abruptly ended their phone call, leaving her feeling quite unsettled. She wrapped up her work in haste and made her way over.

Upon her arrival, she stumbled upon the scene of Director Faang attempting to send Jiang Chen away.

A surge of relief washed over Wai Ziqing. Had she truly provoked Jiang Chen, she could only imagine the severity of the repercussions, given his capabilities.

Lan Lan, witnessing Wai Ziqing's arrival, snapped out of her sense of hopelessness. Here was the daughter of Jiangzhou's wealthiest man, Wai Donglai, a figure beyond her usual reach.

Hearing Wai Ziqing speak, Lan Lan realized she seemed to know Jiang Chen. This revelation quietly astonished her.

She was eager to question Jiang Chen, but clearly, it was not the appropriate moment. Yet, the bleakness in her heart was now tinged with a glimmer of hope.

Jiang Chen, who had just dispatched a slew of security guards, appeared unfazed by Wai Ziqing's presence.

"You've arrived."

"Mr. Jiang, are you unharmed?"

Wai Ziqing quickly approached Jiang Chen to check on him. Seeing that he was unscathed, she turned to face Director Wan, who was plastering on a smile, and inquired icily, "What's going on here?"

"Director Wai, this man claimed he was here to discuss a partnership, but he has repeatedly disrupted proceedings and wasted our time. When we asked them to leave, they refused and even assaulted the security guards."

Director Wan realized that Wai Ziqing recognized Jiang Chen, but she had no choice but to continue her attempts to tarnish his reputation. As a veteran in the company, she was confident that Wai Ziqing wouldn't side with a minor company over her.

Jiang Chen, observing the woman's relentless accusations, couldn't help but find her foolishness amusing. "Are you still trying to twist the truth? Or perhaps you actually believe that no one is aware of your little transaction with Zhou Ling?" he asked, his voice tinged with disdain.

Upon hearing this, Director Faang reacted as if she had been stepped on, jumping up and yelling, "I warn you, stop spreading lies about me! Zhou Ling came to us on behalf of Yuhua Group to discuss a genuine partnership, not to engage in any shady deals! And you, after failing to secure a deal, have the audacity to spout such nonsense!"

Realizing her reaction might have been too strong, Director Faang's face turned a shade of red. She quickly turned to Wai Ziqing, grasping her hand and looking pitifully at her. "Director Wai, please don't believe his wild accusations. You know what kind of person I am. He's clearly trying to defame me."

Zhou Ling, who had been silent since Wai Ziqing's arrival, now spoke up in a rush. "Director Wai, please disregard this man's baseless claims. I am here in good faith to negotiate a partnership with your company. I would never be involved in anything dishonorable."

The two women exchanged a covert glance, their eyes betraying their panic over how Jiang Chen could possibly know about their secret deal.

Despite their convincing tones, Wai Ziqing, who had her doubts about Director Faang's earlier outburst, was at a loss for what to believe.

She turned to Jiang Chen with a look of resignation. "Mr. Jiang, do you have any proof?"

Jiang Chen regarded Director Faang and Zhou Ling with a cold smile. Their obsequious demeanor was almost comical. He pulled out a stack of photographs from his pocket and slapped them down on the table. "Here's your evidence."

Director Wan and Zhou Ling went white as they looked at the photos on the table, which captured the moment Zhou Ling had given Director Wan a bracelet. The evidence was a resounding slap in the face for both of them.

"You... How could you possibly have this..." Zhou Ling collapsed to the ground, her gaze fixed on the photos sprawled across the table, her face etched with disbelief.

Beside her, Director Wan also dropped to his knees, pleading frantically with Wai Ziqing, "Director Wai, please let me explain."

With the evidence laid bare, Wai Ziqing's expression turned icy as she retorted sharply, "At this point, what is there left to say?"

"Director Faang, I trusted you completely before. There's no need for explanations. Just pack your things and leave. Our Wai family's company has no room for traitors like you!"

Wai Ziqing fired Director Faang without a second thought.

"And you. A mere public relations officer from Yuhua Group, daring to pull such stunts in my company. I never want to see you here again."

Her words plunged Zhou Ling into utter despair.

The two were unceremoniously ousted from the company, stumbling out with faces marred by bitterness. All of their misfortune, they believed, was thanks to a man named Jiang Chen. Silently, they vowed to make him pay.

"Mr. Jiang, I apologize for doubting you earlier. The issues within the company were my oversight. Are you satisfied with how I've handled things?" After addressing the situation, Wai Ziqing turned to Jiang Chen for his reaction.

"There's no need for an apology," Jiang Chen responded coolly. Truth be told, he was quite impressed with Wai Ziqing's initial skepticism and subsequent decisiveness. His opinion of her had significantly improved.

Relieved that Jiang Chen bore no grudge, Wai Ziqing breathed easier.

"So, Mr. Jiang, about our collaboration?" she inquired, still eager to proceed with caution.

"As for the collaboration, you don't need to discuss it with me. Talk to her directly," Jiang Chen said, indicating that the matter was already settled. He gestured towards Lan Lan, who had been quietly observing from the sidelines.

"Ah? Me? Oh, yes, of course," Lan Lan stammered, suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Despite her usual confidence and competence, she found herself momentarily overwhelmed in the presence of someone as influential as Wai Ziqing.

"Miss Lan, there's no need to be nervous. Just stick to your plan," Wai Ziqing said with a reassuring smile upon noticing Lan Lan's anxiety.

"Furthermore, to express our apologies for the internal issues at our company, we will reduce the original quote by thirty points. Additionally, Dark Blue Group will become our long-term business partner."

The terms Wai Ziqing offered were beyond Lan Lan's wildest dreams. She eagerly accepted them without hesitation.

Observing the situation, Jiang Chen gave Wai Ziqing a slight nod of approval.

The outcome of the negotiation had Lan Lan feeling as if she had ascended from hell to heaven in an instant. Today's events seemed surreal to her.

Then it dawned on her that Wai Ziqing had addressed Jiang Chen with a respectful "Your," which was highly deferential.

Goodness gracious! Could this really be Lin Jingqiu's so-called good-for-nothing husband? Lan Lan found it impossible to reconcile the competent man before her with the loser her best friend had described.

Reflecting on Jiang Chen's behavior throughout the day, Lan Lan was struck by a sense of enigma that now seemed to envelop him.