"Mr. Shen, how about we stop staying in Yancheng?"
Xue Xiaoqi looked worried. "With the current strength of our company, it's more than enough to open a branch in another city."
"Right now, not only the Bo and Shen families are looking for you, but the Su and Li families have also gotten involved. You've been on the hot search list for at least four or five days a week. You're the center of attention!"
Shen Ximan forced a bitter smile. "So in a way, I'm quite popular. How about riding this wave and reaching an even higher peak?"
"What do you mean?" Xue Xiaoqi looked at her in confusion.
"Do you think I've been moping around in the room?" She carried out the laptop from the bedroom and turned the screen towards her. "Did your company ever cooperate with this person named Li Xiaoru?"
"Yes. For the men's suit series of Juanyi Design, they used the defective cufflinks from our Ahairei brand. It was a kind of joint promotion."
"Defective?"
Xue Xiaoqi showed her the design draft on her phone. "The quality of the raw materials for this batch was problematic from the start. We've already terminated the cooperation with that factory. But we'd already invested money in producing these cufflinks, so we couldn't afford to make a loss. That's why we cooperated with Juanyi to make some money back."
"Those rich businessmen can tell the quality at a glance. They know very well whether it's for promotion or just to get their money back. There's never been..." Shen Ximan stopped abruptly.
She scolded herself several times in her mind after she said that.
Why did everything she did or said make her think of that man!
"Mr. Shen, do you mean to start with Juanyi?"
Xue Xiaoqi keenly brought the topic back, preventing her from falling into that restless and self - torturing mood again.
"No, it's about luring them."
Buzz... Buzz...
Bo Jingyu's head was splitting with pain. He groped around on the bed to find the source of the sound.
Snap. The phone was knocked off the bed onto the carpet.
The sound stopped suddenly, and he was too drowsy to care.
Not long after, it rang again.
"Who is it?"
Hearing his hoarse voice, Li Xiaoru couldn't help but feel concerned. "Are you okay? You sound unwell."
"Just get to the point." Bo Jingyu sat up, his head hanging low.
"I've got some good news. Dad just called me and said that Ahairei has agreed to cooperate with us!"
His blood - shot eyes suddenly opened wide. "They agreed?"
"Yes! It's such good news! As long as we can cooperate with them, I'm sure the company's capital chain will be restored soon, and then..." Li Xiaoru was excitedly talking when she was interrupted.
"Don't sign the contract for now."
"Why?"
Bo Jingyu put the call on speakerphone and quickly started getting dressed.
"What are the requirements they've put forward?"
"They want us to promote their company's cufflinks. We've cooperated once before, and this time they want to use our clothing for another round of promotion. Logically speaking, there's no problem."
Li Xiaoru held the contract in her hand naively, full of doubts.
"Don't be in a hurry to sign. Arrange a face - to - face meeting with their representative."
"Okay. When should I arrange it?"
"Tonight."
At Qiuming Hotel.
A Kun got out of the car and uncomfortably loosened his tie.
"Mr. Shen, you asked me to come out for this cooperation negotiation. What if I mess it up? I'm just a rough guy. I'm not fit for such an important occasion."
Shen Ximan got out of the passenger seat and said seriously, "Didn't we practice several times on the way here?"
"But I'm afraid I'll say the wrong thing when I'm nervous."
"I'm your assistant. You just need to nod or shake your head at critical moments. Leave the rest to me."
With that, she walked into the hotel on her high heels.
Li Xiaoru actually arranged to meet them on the Bo family's territory. There was a 90% chance that that man would also be there.
Just thinking about it made Shen Ximan's heart ache.
Bo Jingyu had already gotten involved with his so - called fiancée so quickly. It was as if their past was just a bubble that burst and disappeared.
When she entered the restaurant, there he was.
"It's really an honor for Juanyi to meet you two again!"
Li Xiaoru behaved very gracefully. After shaking hands with them one by one, she also handed over the initiative.
They didn't talk about cooperation but only about food and drinks.
"Do you two have anything you'd like to eat? Order whatever you want."
Bo Jingyu's eyes were on Li Xiaoru from beginning to end. Occasionally, when their eyes met, he would respond gently.
On the other hand, Shen Ximan, sitting opposite him, just watched coldly.
But no matter how stubborn she was, her fluctuating heart couldn't lie.
She was extremely jealous right now. This was the woman he really liked.
She had good looks, a great figure, a high education, and a decent family background.
She was perfect, without a single flaw. Compared to her, Shen Ximan was like the complete opposite.
"Miss Wen? Miss Wen?"
A Kun nudged her with his elbow and gave her a look.
"Sorry, what did you just say?" She quickly adjusted her state and asked politely.
"What kind of wine would you like?" Li Xiaoru asked with a smile.
"I'm not feeling well today, so I won't drink."
"Did I do something inappropriate?" She looked at Bo Jingyu with a pleading look in her eyes, afraid that she had made a mistake.
"Miss Wen can just speak your mind. We're all businessmen. There's no need to beat around the bush." He understood her meaning and finally looked at Shen Ximan.
Looking at his cold face, knowing that his heart was completely on that woman, and that just one look from her could make him so obedient.
If Shen Ximan hadn't been pinching her thigh to hold back, she would have let out a cold laugh right after he said those words full of care.
"Second Young Master, my assistant is really not feeling well today."
A Kun couldn't stand it anymore and came out to help explain.
"Since your representative is pleading for you, I'll assume you're not feeling well." Bo Jingyu said and then shifted his gaze away.
His words made it seem as if Shen Ximan was doing it on purpose.
If she wasn't afraid of exposing the scar on her face and didn't dare to take off her mask, she would have slapped the table and called the waiter to serve the food immediately. She wouldn't have had to bear his anger!
"That's really a pity. I hope Miss Wen will get better soon."
Li Xiaoru followed Bo Jingyu's words and said politely.
These words sounded very unpleasant to Shen Ximan.
"What are you pretending for?"
The other three people present immediately tensed up. They stared directly at her and didn't dare to say a word.
"What's in that ice bucket..." She had a sudden inspiration and pointed at the wine bucket in the menu picture, asking awkwardly.
"Um... Does Miss Wen want to order some red wine?"
"Yes, yes. Our representative likes to drink it. Please."
A Kun had a black look on his face. Why did she shift the blame to him!
Shen Ximan let out a sigh of relief in her heart. Why couldn't she hold back and say what was on her mind just now!
It was simply a large - scale embarrassing situation.
"Okay, no problem." Li Xiaoru told the waiter and then gracefully picked up her handbag. "I'll go to the restroom. Excuse me for a moment."