Chapter 58: The Meeting

She had intended to glean some information from the driver, but had not expected such an answer—in fact, the reply only deepened the doubts swirling in Pei Susu’s mind. If Haihe Company truly dominated the local market in Wanjiang, the residents’ attitude should hardly be so indifferent.

“But miss, if I’m not mistaken, the hotel where you got into the car earlier is owned by Haihe Company,” the driver added.

Pei Susu was taken aback. She hadn’t booked the hotel herself, and Haihe Company wasn’t known for running hotels. How could it be such a coincidence that she ended up staying there? Recalling the unease that had gnawed at her since her arrival, Pei Susu felt a sudden chill creep through her heart. Could it be… that Haihe Company had arranged everything in advance?

She remembered the discomfort in her hotel room that afternoon—the prickling sensation on her back, as if she were being watched. The more she thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. Perhaps there were hidden cameras.

“Miss, are you all right? You don’t look well—are you feeling unwell?” the driver asked, noticing her pallor.

Pei Susu shook her head, belatedly collecting herself. Suddenly, she said, “Sir, do you know anywhere in town that sells metal detectors?”

The driver hesitated. “At this hour, even if there is a place, it’s probably closed already.”

Indeed, it was quite late. Wanjiang wasn’t like the bigger cities; by now, most shops had shut their doors for the night.

“In that case, could you take me to Haihe Company?” she asked.

She had originally planned to visit the night market to ask around, but with so many doubts gnawing at her, she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep unless she put her suspicions to rest.

“Of course, I’ll take you there now,” the driver agreed readily, his enthusiasm unflagging. In just over ten minutes, they arrived.

Stepping out of the car, Pei Susu stood before the gates of Haihe Company. The building was modest, utterly at odds with the dazzling numbers on its financial reports. The white walls, aged and grimy, bore little resemblance to the headquarters of an industry leader. Only the guardhouse was still lit.

“Excuse me, miss, do you have an appointment?” the security guard asked, noticing her lingering at the gate. His uniform hung loosely on his shoulders, and he looked drowsy.

“No appointment,” Pei Susu replied politely, nodding at him. “I just wanted to take a look. I’ve heard the company’s performance is impressive. I’m job-hunting at the moment, so I wanted to learn more.”

“Impressive performance?” The guard scratched his head, his weary eyes narrowing in thought. Just as he was about to say more, a middle-aged man emerged from near the main entrance.

He called out to Pei Susu from afar. “Isn’t this Director Pei? We had no idea you were coming to Wanjiang! You should have told us sooner—it’s an honor to have you here!”

The man’s face was unfamiliar. The guard, hearing this, looked at her in confusion.

“I’m just here for a field visit, and to give my team a short break,” Pei Susu replied smoothly. “We only arrived in Wanjiang today, so I haven’t yet had the chance to contact your company.”

She was curious about what the guard had been about to say before being interrupted, but knew this was not the moment to press. Instead, she courteously extended her hand to the newcomer. “Hello, I’m Pei Susu from the Fu Group.”

The man shook her hand. “I’m Zhao Haihe, the president of Haihe Company. It’s a great honor to meet you, Director Pei. Shall we continue this conversation inside?”

The company interior was dark, and Pei Susu was here alone. She shook her head. “It’s already quite late. I wouldn’t want to keep you after hours. We’ll be in town for the next week, so there will be plenty of opportunities for us to meet.”

Zhao Haihe nodded eagerly. “Then, may I treat you to dinner? You’ve just arrived, I presume, and haven’t yet tried Wanjiang’s specialties.”

Pei Susu hesitated. “If it’s just the two of us, that seems a bit too informal. Vice President Zhou is here with me as well—I’ll call and have her join us.”

“Excellent! Director Pei, you make the arrangements. Let’s go to the restaurant now!”

She messaged Zhou Haoyue, briefly explaining the situation. Zhou responded quickly, understanding the urgency.

Zhou Haoyue: Send me the address. I’ll come right away.

Putting away her phone, Pei Susu saw Zhao Haihe smiling at her. “You’re even more striking in person than in the news, Director Pei. It’s truly our honor to have the chance to work with the Fu Group!”

“The selection process for our partner companies is still ongoing,” Pei Susu replied calmly. “Your company has indeed stood out among the candidates. Our visit to Wanjiang is a clear sign of our confidence in Haihe.”

She deftly sidestepped the subject of partnership. “Shops in Wanjiang close pretty early, don’t they? Life here has a slower pace than we’re used to. It really is a pleasant city to live in.”

Zhao Haihe could only offer a few polite remarks in response, and before long, they arrived at the restaurant.

“Director Pei, would you like to go up first? I’ll order the local specialties and join you in a moment,” Zhao Haihe suggested.

Pei Susu nodded and followed the waiter upstairs.

“This way, miss. Your private room is just here,” the waiter said with a smile.

“May I ask you something?” Pei Susu inquired. “Do you know Haihe Company?”

“Of course!” the waiter replied eagerly. “Haihe is an excellent company—everyone knows about it!”

Pei Susu regarded her with a faint, ambiguous smile. “Is that so? It seems Haihe’s reputation is towering here in Wanjiang.”

The waiter’s eyes gleamed with longing. “Who wouldn’t want to work for Haihe, if given the chance? Everyone here dreams of getting in. It’s famous for its high pay and great benefits. That’s no exaggeration!”

Had she not already asked the taxi driver on the way, Pei Susu might have believed her. Clearly, this waiter had been primed in advance—Zhao Haihe must have guessed she would ask about the company when she came upstairs.

Ordinary people might not care about the world of tycoons. Even a leading enterprise like Fu Group might not be a household name. So if Haihe Company wasn’t particularly well-known, it was hardly surprising. But Zhao Haihe’s deliberate fabrication only hinted at deeper issues.

Lost in thought, she barely noticed Zhao Haihe entering the private room, rubbing his hands together nervously.

“Director Pei, perhaps we could… discuss business now?”

“Not at this hour,” Pei Susu replied, her smile gentle yet firm. “Forgive me, it’s just a personal habit of mine. But Mr. Zhao, you might try it too—keeping work and life separate is good for both oneself and one’s family.”

Zhao Haihe looked a little embarrassed, but could only respond with a forced smile.