"I'm really sorry to have kept you waiting for so long."
Shen Ximan walked in with a professional fake smile and sat down opposite.
"Xiao Qi, quickly refill President Su's tea."
"Okay, I'll do it right away."
Xue Xiaoqi understood her intention to negotiate alone. She picked up the teacup on the table and quickly backed out of the meeting room.
"I came here without telling you in advance. It's me who should say sorry." Su Minghan awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.
"We're old friends. Don't be so formal."
He was stunned. "You... You know?"
Shen Ximan still pretended to be confused. "Know what?"
Apart from her close ones, only Bo Jingyu knew her real identity. He must have told Su Minghan about it.
They were talking in circles.
"Jingyu told me everything. You're Shen..."
"She's already dead." Shen Ximan's smile grew stronger.
But the look in her eyes was like a gloomy cave, exuding a chill.
"She died long ago in that dark detention center, didn't she?"
Su Minghan understood what she meant. He forced a laugh and kept silent.
They should just keep such a sensitive topic to themselves.
Bringing it up openly would only hurt their feelings.
"Okay, let's not talk about the past. It's all over."
He was the first to break the ice. "I'm here today to discuss something very important with you. It won't take you much time."
Shen Ximan naturally exuded a unique aura of dominance.
A single look or a slight movement could demonstrate her current significance and leadership charm.
"Go ahead."
"We all know about Juan Yi. I'm also responsible for the current situation. I'm really sorry."
Su Minghan hung his head, full of remorse.
"Don't beat around the bush. You want to talk about Tian Danni, right?"
Shen Ximan cut straight to the chase.
He paused for a moment and nodded silently.
"I can understand your concern for your employees, but that can't be an excuse to delay our company's progress. The popularity of the double endorsement is declining day by day. Who will compensate for Ahaire's daily losses?"
"I've already made the biggest concession. There's no room for negotiation on this."
It was the first time Su Minghan felt so nervous in front of her.
He had never felt such a suffocating pressure when they were together before.
But now it was there, subtly.
He swallowed hard and met her sharp eyes.
"Tian Danni can't even walk normally now. Asking her to show up at this time will completely ruin her career!"
Shen Ximan smiled faintly. "How could it ruin her career?"
"Maybe she'll become an instant hit."
Su Minghan stared at her in disbelief, even forgetting to blink.
"Ximan... You've really changed."
Her gaze instantly turned sharp. "I've already said that person is dead. Don't mention that name again."
"I'm the president of Ahaire now, not the second miss of the Shen family."
He was so overwhelmed by her that he couldn't refute.
"Okay, President Wen. I hope you'll reconsider your decision just now. I really cherish our cooperation, but I don't want this to make both companies unhappy."
Shen Ximan raised an eyebrow provocatively. "What?
"Are you saying... You want to terminate the contract with me?"
She burst out laughing, full of mockery.
"Sure, it's your freedom to terminate the contract. But the high liquidated damages will probably cost you half of your company, right?"
"If I'm not wrong, Chairman Su should be back in the country today. What will he think if he knows you've messed up his painstakingly - built company because of an artist?"
Su Minghan suddenly stood up, his back covered in cold sweat.
"You've been investigating me?!"
Shen Ximan gave him a casual look. "For the sake of our past friendship, I advise you not to take such a big risk.
"Do as I say. It'll be good for both of us."
He looked at the woman in front of him, who was as beautiful as a painting in a scroll. She seemed both strange and unapproachable, even creepy.
Her shrewdness and scheming had been pre - planned.
He never thought that after Bo Jingyu pushed her into the limelight and she made a magnificent comeback, she would become so cold - hearted. There was even a sense of distance that made it impossible to get close to her.
"President Wen, about this matter..."
Before Su Minghan could finish his sentence, there was a knock on the door of the meeting room.
"Come in." Shen Ximan replied coldly.
Xue Xiaoqi came in. She first placed the teacup in front of him, then reported with a smile, "President Wen, Tian Danni's assistant, Susan, just called and said she'll attend the makeup press conference as normal."
"What?"
Su Minghan was so shocked that he almost knocked over the teacup in front of him.
This rash girl!
She always did things on her own initiative without considering the consequences!
Shen Ximan nodded. "Got it. You can go out first."
Then she turned her gaze back to him. "It seems your artist is more sensible than you. Let's settle this matter like this."
She took a few steps and then turned around. "Thank you for coming in such a hurry, President Su. I'll ask my people to drive you back."
Su Minghan stared blankly at her back, unable to say a word.
He was angry, helpless, and frustrated.
He really didn't know what to do.
"President Su, the car is ready." Xue Xiaoqi came in to urge him.
"Thank you."
He replied listlessly and slowly left.
Sitting in the car, he felt mixed emotions.
He didn't know whether he should vent his anger or scold Tian Danni for her stupidity.
His father was right. Female artists would only disrupt his mind and interrupt his well - planned path, entangling him in it.
One was Xiao Shujing, and the other was Tian Danni.
They had almost crushed his ability to make self - judgments.
After struggling with these thoughts for more than ten minutes, the car stopped.
"President Su, we're here."
Su Minghan nodded blankly. He got out of the car and stood downstairs of his own company.
He raised his head and looked up at the towering building.
If he hadn't taken over the company at that time, would there have been so many troublesome and helpless things?
"P - President Su, good..."
Susan timidly shrank her neck and greeted him without even daring to raise her head.
"Are you just coming back or about to go out?"
After saying this, Su Minghan thought he was really stupid.
He laughed at himself and shook his head, muttering, "Look at my mind. Just after learning that Tian Danni agreed to attend the event on her own initiative, I actually asked you such an obvious question."
"Who told you to go and tell her?"
Susan was so frightened that she shivered and stammered.
"I... I was worried about Danni, so... So..."
Su Minghan gave her a cold sideways look. "So you told her this news behind my back? Let her take such a big risk?"
"Danni has the right to know!" Susan was determined to rebel.