Chapter 94: How Much to Sell Chu Xiaoran?
Fang Mo’s face instantly turned pale.
His mouth moved as he reached out to pull on Yun Ziling’s sleeve. “No, President Yun, that’s not what I meant…”
Unfortunately, Yun Ziling wasn’t buying it. This CEO of Yunling didn’t have the same background as Lin Huaizhi. While he paled in comparison to Huo Chen, his family status in Longcheng was still significant.
In short, Yun Ziling didn’t have parents like Huo Chengzhang and Li Meiqing; he had been pampered since childhood.
Fang Mo was asking for a favor, yet he couldn’t say anything nice. He insisted on praising Chu Xiaoran in front of him—especially comparing him to Chu Xiaoran and praising the latter.
If this wasn’t dancing on his “minefield,” what was?
“Then what do you mean? Calling him ‘Brother Chu’ one moment after another… you sound quite intimate,” Yun Ziling sneered. “Fang Mo, if you’re asking for a favor, you need to have the attitude of someone asking for a favor.”
“When I talk business with Lin Huaizhi, I brought out wine worth nearly $200,000 that isn’t even available on the market. That is my attitude.”
“Your attitude for asking me to bail out Chu Xiaoran is praising him to my face and intimately calling him ‘Brother Chu’?”
As Fang Mo’s face grew whiter, Yun Ziling lit a cigarette. He even had time to nod to Lin Huaizhi, silently asking if he wanted one.
After Lin Huaizhi shook his head, Yun Ziling took a puff and continued, “Fang Mo, you really aren’t worth this price. It’s just that I happen to be interested in you right now. Otherwise, what sucker would agree to your request? So you need to have some self-awareness, understand?”
Yun Ziling’s words successfully drained all the color from Fang Mo’s face.
In the end, he could only lower his head and respond in a small voice, “Understood.”
Yun Ziling was clearly good at disciplining people and knew how to trample on others’ dignity. Even though he could see Fang Mo’s embarrassment at a glance, he wouldn’t let it go.
“Louder.”
“Your voice is so small—did I not let you eat?”
Fang Mo suppressed his humiliation, his voice almost a shout. “I understand, President Yun!!”
Yun Ziling was finally satisfied. He reached out and patted Fang Mo’s face, his movements casual yet filled with contempt. “Remember what you said, or I don’t mind reminding you every day.”
Lin Huaizhi had done this on purpose. By saying those things, he knew Fang Mo, who was hostile toward him, would argue back to defend Chu Xiaoran.
As long as Fang Mo defended Chu Xiaoran, Yun Ziling would inevitably be displeased. A conflict was unavoidable.
What could he do? He wasn’t a saint. Since others were firing off rounds at him, he naturally had to return the favor.
Speaking of which, Fang Mo was quite good at picking. Of all people, he picked Yun Ziling. This man was naturally promiscuous, having played with countless starlets. His romantic debts were too numerous to count, and rumors said his “tricks” in bed were quite fierce.
But he also respected it. After all, in a place like the entertainment industry, there were too few people who weren’t swallowed by capital. Offering oneself for resources was also for the sake of one’s future; one couldn’t judge a person’s character solely by that.
If Fang Mo could climb to the top using such means, that was also his own ability. Lin Huaizhi would even look up to him.
Of course, that was provided Fang Mo actually succeeded.
Ultimately, in Lin Huaizhi’s eyes, Fang Mo was more worthy of respect than Chu Xiaoran. At least Fang Mo didn’t expect a free lunch; no matter the means, he was willing to pay the price.
Chu Xiaoran, on the other hand, only knew how to be a “soft-rice hard-eater” (a man supported by a woman/partner who still acts arrogant).
What touched Lin Huaizhi most was that Fang Mo was actually willing to go this far for Chu Xiaoran. But was this because of “true love,” or was it behavior driven by the plot?
Lin Huaizhi didn’t know. Nor was he interested in digging deeper. Whether it was the plot or not, it was a fact that Fang Mo and Chu Xiaoran had conspired to harm him.
And he wasn’t magnanimous enough to be kind to someone who tried to kill him.
“President Lin, I assume you already know what this dinner is for. Name your price.”
Yun Ziling turned to look at Lin Huaizhi.
Lin Huaizhi, who had been watching the show, didn’t look flustered when his name was called. He just smiled and said, “I figured as much. I just didn’t expect you to do such a losing deal.”
Yun Ziling stared at Lin Huaizhi, his gaze so blatant it was as if Lin were naked. “I’d like to do a profitable deal, too. Unfortunately, President Lin isn’t willing to do it with me. Since I can’t get the best, I’ll just have to find some ‘seconds’ to fill the void for now.”
The smile didn’t reach Lin Huaizhi’s eyes. “Count me out. I’m from the backwaters, I’m not good-looking, and I have a bad temper. President Yun is so dashing; I really can’t aim that high.”
He truly disliked Yun Ziling. This man’s head was completely ruled by his lower half, and he was full of schemes. Back then, he had hinted more than once about sleeping with Lin—hints that turned into blatant demands.
At that time, Huaimeng was already growing and was on par with Yunling. Lin Huaizhi ignored him. After Yun Ziling’s persistent harassment became unbearable, Lin lost his temper and gave him a beating.
Since then, Yun Ziling had disliked him and tried to sabotage him both openly and secretly, though he never caused any major damage.
But the relationship between the two was tense, and Yun Ziling found Lin Huaizhi unpleasant in every way.
Now that the topic had come up again, Lin Huaizhi, maintaining an attitude of peace, only gave a verbal rejection. If Yun Ziling didn’t restrain himself, he wouldn’t mind tearing his face off again.
Yun Ziling looked at Lin Huaizhi’s eyes and clearly remembered that unpleasant beating. Although he was a bit unsatisfied at not sleeping with him, he really didn’t want to get himself into trouble.
“Let’s not say more. Let’s be straightforward. How much money do you want to sell Chu Xiaoran to me?”
Lin Huaizhi didn’t answer directly. Instead, he swirled his glass.
“Truly, expensive wine has its reasons. I once had the honor of tasting this once before, and I didn’t expect to taste it again with President Yun.”
“Thank you, President Yun, for your generosity.”
Everyone there was an expert. They all knew why he was talking around the subject.
“Since President Lin likes it, drink more. If you haven’t had enough, you can take the whole bottle with you,” Yun Ziling said, gritting his teeth as he parted with the wine. He lifted his hand again and gestured to Fang Mo. “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pour more wine for President Lin!”
Fang Mo said nothing and obediently refilled Lin Huaizhi’s glass.
As they say, one would be a fool not to take advantage of a good thing. Since Yun Ziling brought such good wine, Lin Huaizhi wouldn’t let it go easily.
The young man took a sip of the fine vintage, then spoke slowly. “Since President Yun is so sincere, I won’t act polite with you. A flat price: 50 million.”
If Chu Xiaoran and Fang Mo’s story was an inspirational tale of redemption, then Yun Ziling and Fang Mo’s was a tragedy. If Lin Huaizhi wanted to turn the former into a tragedy as well, he had to create a greater conflict between them.
Fang Mo was willing to submit to Yun Ziling for Chu Xiaoran’s sake—a huge sacrifice. This sacrifice would not only be a bargaining chip for Fang Mo to hold power in that relationship but also the primary cause of their fallout.
Whenever they had a conflict in the future, if Chu Xiaoran showed even a hint of dissatisfaction with Fang Mo’s story of “offering himself,” it would become a permanent thorn in their hearts.
A thorn that could never be removed.
And Lin Huaizhi was looking forward to seeing if this “true love” could survive such a hardship.
Lin Huaizhi smiled and repeated himself. “Just 50 million.”
“For 50 million, I will give Chu Xiaoran’s contract to President Yun immediately.”
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