Chapter 21: Inappropriate

"Mr. Andy, is everything clear to you now?" Jiang Hui asked. "If the additional conditions can be met, I have no other concerns. I would appreciate it if you could convey this to your company."

"Uh, oh, yes, it’s clear. I have no further questions on my end. I will report your requirements to headquarters exactly as stated, and a project team will prioritize handling them for you."

Jiang Hui nodded, looking slightly weary.

Andy was not oblivious; he noticed that the communication window had been open for quite some time. The young woman had only just been discharged from the hospital, and he had been pestering her with calls ever since. Thinking about it, he suddenly felt his behavior had been quite inconsiderate.

The young man immediately began to apologize for taking up so much of her time, urged her to get some rest, and promised to contact her as soon as there was an update.

However, Jiang Hui cut him off before he could end the call. "Mr. Andy, could you tell me if your group initially prepared a much lower compensation plan?" She shifted her tone slightly, though the man seemed not to notice.

Andy froze, his heart racing. How on earth did she know? Was she capable of some legendary ancient telepathy?

No, wait—the negotiations were finished and everything was settled. Why was she exposing them now? This was incredibly awkward for him. Besides, how could he possibly admit to that?

Andy’s expression was awkward, yet he didn't seem to avoid the question.

"So there really was one." *Wait, you didn't know? You were just guessing?!*

"Would you mind telling me what it was?" The girl, who had remained cool and detached throughout their conversation, now wore an expression of childlike curiosity.

*Hey! So you do have a childish side? Why did you act so sophisticated before? It feels so jarring!*

Andy had intended to deny it—though he knew his previous reaction was practically a confession—but the words died in his throat.

"There was one, indeed. But I didn't mention it because it was truly absurd..." Andy felt as if he were possessed by a demon, or perhaps it was just the long-festering resentment he had harbored that pushed him to jump into this obvious trap.

His reason screamed at his ego: *Are you insane? Should you really be saying this? Is this girl as simple as her age suggests? What if she’s recording this to use against you? What will happen if the group or the board finds out?*

*What could happen?!* He didn't care anymore.

It was just a job at a heartless corporation. If he lost it, so be it. He had wanted to quit for a long time anyway!

In that moment, Andy felt a sudden, heroic sense of liberation and pride in his own boldness. *Heh*, he had been dying to complain about this unscrupulous company and their endless foolish stunts to someone.

In truth, Jiang Hui was merely curious. She hadn't deduced it because she was particularly clever or possessed some deep insight, but simply because she was familiar with the "routine." It was the most common tactic in business back on Blue Star—so ubiquitous that it appeared in countless novels. It was easy for her to follow that line of thinking.

She had only asked out of genuine curiosity once the main business was done. She hadn't expected his face to turn so pale and ghastly upon hearing her question.

Afraid he might pass out from shock, Jiang Hui considered telling him to stop. "Never mind, I’ve put you in a difficult position, Mr. Andy. Don't worry about—"

"No, I was just about to tell you." His expression turned firm, and he immediately disclosed the "absurd" plan.

It was a single lump sum without any other provisions, and it was nearly ten times lower than the amount they had just agreed upon. It was indeed ridiculous; no sane person would have accepted it.

Was the Heloise Group truly stupid, or just exceptionally greedy? Even if they wanted to use tiered negotiation tactics, they should have come up with something more reasonable and less blatantly predatory.

Anyone hearing that initial offer would not only be unwilling to accept but also deeply insulted. Some might even resort to physical retaliation. If someone got hurt, the situation would spiral out of control—she wondered, with a cynical mind, if the people at the Heloise Group had planned for that, too.

She vaguely recalled that the crime of intentional injury in the Interstellar Union carried heavy penalties; the compensation alone could bankrupt a person.

If a peace negotiation turned into mutual harm, the original victim would instantly lose the moral high ground and become the aggressor. The Heloise Group could then stand in the middle, playing the good guy, resolving the conflict, and paying out a pittance to both sides. Wouldn't that be convenient?

Jiang Hui felt she was overthinking, but the company's behavior made it hard not to. *Sigh*, unscrupulous merchants exist in every world.

Andy had expected Jiang Hui to be furious, or at least to offer a cold, mocking laugh. To his surprise, she remained calm, as if she were merely listening to a story about someone else.

*This kid is incredibly composed,* Andy thought, his respect for her growing even more.

"I am truly sorry, Ms. Jiang. Although I am not in a position to speak, I was a knowing party to this deception. I bear you no ill will, please forgive me." That was Andy’s final conclusion.

"It’s fine, I understand," Jiang Hui nodded. "Thank you for telling me, Mr. Andy." *At least now I know exactly how trashy the Heloise Group is and how low they are willing to stoop.*

"I understand, and I won't leak any details of today's conversation. Please put in the effort to ensure my message is conveyed; I'll wait for the higher-ups to respond," she promised the young man.

"Ah? Yes, yes, I will certainly convey it accurately. I'm sorry for bothering you today, and thank you for taking the time to handle this. I won't keep you any longer, then?" Andy paused, a flash of complex, touched emotion crossing his face, though it vanished as quickly as mist.

He hesitated again. "Is there anything else you need? I’ll hang up now?"

"Actually, there is one more thing."

"?"

"Though it may be rude to say, I truly believe a place like the Heloise Group is no place for a talent like you, Mr. Andy." In fact, she thought, he was far too kind and honest for this line of work.

The young man was stunned. He didn't show any signs of anger, frustration, or offense; he simply looked completely taken aback.

Jiang Hui calmly said her goodbyes and was about to disconnect when she heard him speak one last time. She couldn't help but smile before ending the call.

"I think so, too."