Chapter Twenty-Five: The Lion’s Exorbitant Demand

“What did you just say?” The harmonious, friendly smile on Chu Qingzhu’s face vanished at once. Once money had been pocketed, there was no reason to spit it back out, especially when Luo Yuan was making such an outrageous demand—wanting to split everything down the middle.

“Luo Yuan, do you still not understand your situation? If I hadn’t brought you back, you’d still be living among vagrants and garbage! And if I hadn’t shown you the project, you wouldn’t have gotten a single cent.”

Luo Yuan calmly rotated the laptop to face her. “With my proposal, I can guarantee you’ll win this project—not just this one, but many more. You’ll find future deals as easy as plucking fruit.”

“You’ve only been back from overseas a few months. Do you have any business connections here? Do you even understand the complexities of cooperation in this market?”

Even with her limited expertise, Chu Qingzhu could see at a glance that Luo Yuan’s proposal was on a completely different level from her own. Hesitation flickered across her features.

“But I’ve heard that Fu Zhichen is targeting Xingye. Even if I use your proposal, what company would dare collaborate with us?”

Luo Yuan scoffed. “The tallest tree attracts the wind—Fu Corporation is a thorn in the side of many in the capital. As long as you show your allegiance to those people, partnerships will come to you naturally, one after another.”

A glint of hope lit up Chu Qingzhu’s eyes. “You mean Xingye still has a chance to regain its former glory?”

Luo Yuan couldn’t help but roll her eyes. “Attacking Pei Susu was a moment of rashness—I let anger cloud my judgment.” She handed Chu Qingzhu a list of dozens of companies and contact information for numerous managers.

“I’ll pave the way for you. Set up meetings with these companies. Make your dissatisfaction and resentment toward the Fu family clear. On the business front, concede a little on profits—not too much, just a few percentage points.”

Chu Qingzhu swallowed as she read through the list of conglomerates. “If they agree to hand over projects worth tens of millions, I’ll give you half the money I receive.”

Suddenly, she eyed Luo Yuan with suspicion. “But I won’t let you take what doesn’t belong to you. If Wenru finds out, he won’t let me off.”

Luo Yuan waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry, I know the rules.”

Elated, Chu Qingzhu hurried off with the laptop, eager to rush to Xingye and present Luo Yuan’s proposal to Liang Wenru.

Standing at the balcony, Luo Yuan watched with a greedy smile as Chu Qingzhu’s car sped away from the complex.

What she wanted was not just a meager share of the project’s profits. She wanted all of Xingye.

—

Xingye Group.

Chu Qingzhu strode along in five-centimeter black heels, her hips swaying in small, determined steps. In one hand she held the freshly printed proposal, in the other a steaming cup of coffee, as she made her way toward Liang Wenru’s office.

Xingye was in dire straits, and the major project she held was Liang Wenru’s last lifeline. This was her chance to propose marriage to him.

The position of the young mistress of the Liang family was almost within reach.

“Wenru, I’ve finished the project proposal! Please, have a look.”

Liang Wenru had just ended a call with Old Master Liang. Though the old man had scolded him harshly, in the end he agreed to come out of retirement and help Xingye negotiate.

He opened the file. He held little hope for her abilities—her proposals always took too much time and effort, and the results were always mediocre.

But this time, as he read through the comprehensive, brilliant proposal, his eyes lit up. “Qingzhu, you did an excellent job. This is on par with what Pei Susu used to produce.”

Pei Susu. The warmth in Chu Qingzhu’s heart abruptly froze. He always compared her to Pei Susu.

Suppressing the seething hatred inside, she feigned delight. “Wenru, do you really mean it? Is my proposal finally close to Susu’s?”

“I’ve always wanted to be like Sister Su, to help you grow Xingye, to make it better and better.”

The more Liang Wenru read, the more satisfied he became. His gaze toward Chu Qingzhu grew soft and affectionate.

“Qingzhu, I misjudged you before. I didn’t appreciate your capabilities. From now on, I’ll hand over my projects for you to manage as well.”

Soon, he thought, he’d be restored to his previous carefree days as the young master of the Liang family—no longer wracked with anxiety over Xingye’s stocks and affairs.

Seeing Liang Wenru in good spirits, Chu Qingzhu pressed her advantage. “I’ve been in contact with Lin Corporation, Jian Bank, and Senmu Group. They’re interested in working with us.”

She handed him the files for the other three projects. “Since it’s our first cooperation, I decided to concede a bit on the profits.”

Seeing three projects, each worth seventy million, Liang Wenru’s gloom of many days vanished, his entire demeanor regaining its former luster.

“Qingzhu, you’ve truly saved me. With these projects, most of Xingye’s problems are solved. And with Old Master Liang willing to reach out to his old friends, within half a month Xingye will be thriving again.”

Delighted by his praise, Chu Qingzhu seized the opportunity to propose what she’d been planning for years.

“Wenru, you’ve been divorced from Pei Susu for three months now. When will you marry me? I want to have a family with you. A home.”

The smile on Liang Wenru’s handsome face slowly faded. Looking at Chu Qingzhu’s hopeful expression, he found that the passion and excitement he once felt for her were gone.

The word “marriage” inevitably brought his ex-wife, Pei Susu, to mind.

Pei Susu was beautiful and capable; when they dated in university, she’d turned many heads. After they married, people envied him for having not only a virtuous wife but also a powerful partner.

And it was true—after Pei Susu joined Xingye, the company soared.

“Qingzhu, with Xingye in its current predicament, I really can’t think about marriage right now. Let’s talk about it after we get through this crisis.”

Chu Qingzhu’s grip on the documents tightened, wrinkling the paper, but she dared not retort. She could only pretend to be understanding. “You’re right, Wenru—career before love. I was too impatient.”

But Liang Wenru’s mind was filled with images of Pei Susu. The thought of her keeping a young lover during their marriage irritated him. “Go on with your work, I have things to do.”

—

Downstairs at Mo Group, Pei Susu and Zhou Haoyue had just secured a long-term project from the general manager and were about to take their team out for a celebratory feast.

Pei Susu pulled out her phone to book a restaurant but was caught off guard by a sudden sneeze.

Zhou Haoyue teased, “Who could be missing our President Pei right now?”