Returning to her room, Shen Wan took a shower and watered her cactus.
Afterward, she settled onto the edge of the bed and retrieved the cellphone and bank card that Shen Qian had asked Zhou Qingfu to deliver.
After a moment of contemplation, she dialed a number...
Tian Shui Real Estate, CEO's office.
Knock knock —
"Come in."
"Mr. Shen, there's been a situation in Beihai."
Without pausing his action of flipping through documents, the man continued to read without looking up. "Tell me about it."
"Following Vice President Lin's visit and the subsequent dinner with local partners, all the connections appeared secure. There should have been no problems, but when it came to the land bidding, another real estate company intervened and outbid us by a mere two million from our price."
Two million might sound like a lot, but in the realm of land prices that often reached billions, it was hardly worth mentioning.
In the competitive bidding conducted by prominent real estate firms, each submitted proposal would include a base price. Following the principle of awarding the contract to the highest bidder, the disparity between bid amounts could range from millions to tens of millions.
A discrepancy of a few million could signify either an extraordinary stroke of luck for the other party or the possibility that they had somehow become aware of our minimum price. Given the present circumstances, the latter scenario appeared more plausible.
Shen Qian replied, "Have Lin Sen come back immediately."
The secretary was taken aback. "What about the project in Beihai?" Everything was prepared and ready; abandoning it at this point would render all previous efforts in vain.
"I'll handle it personally."
In close proximity to the company, Shen Qian owned an apartment that was a part of their real estate portfolio. He would sometimes lodge there when social engagements extended late into the night, and returning to his old residence seemed impractical. The apartment was fully equipped with everything he required.
He quickly packed his things and drove to the airport.
The secretary called, informing him of the flight number and departure time. With two hours left, he headed to the VIP lounge.
Just as he had taken a seat and barely spent five minutes, his phone rang once more.
"Hello."
"Brother, it's Shen Wan."
"What's the matter?"
There was a brief silence from the other end, followed by a cautious voice, "Are you... in a bad mood?"
"No," the man's tone eased slightly. "I had Steward Zhou pick you up from the hospital. Are you home now?"
"Yes."
Meanwhile, Lin Sen sent the information he had about the rival company to Shen Qian's email. With his phone in one hand and eyes fixed on the computer screen, he kept scrolling through the pages.
The result of multitasking was a somewhat absentminded tone.
Shen Wan picked up on it and didn't waste time on pleasantries. "About the phone and bank card..."
"I gave them to you," the man interrupted.
"Isn't that a bit inappropriate?"
"Do you plan on returning them?" Shen Qian closed his computer, leaned back, and relaxed against the soft sofa.
There was a clear pause on the other end, and the man on the line waited for her response with evident amusement.
After a while, she replied with a somewhat complaining yet playful tone, "Is there any reason to take back something that's been given away?" Even though it was a grumble, it carried a hint of coquettishness.
Shen Qian arched an eyebrow. Had the little white rabbit grown a bit bolder?
He found this discovery quite delightful.
It was similar to raising a pet. In an unfamiliar environment, the little one was naturally cautious. But as familiarity grew, occasionally they would show their claws, giving their owner a scratch.
It was rather amusing, wasn't it?
Shen Qian asked, "So, do you want them or not?"
Shen Wan replied, "I want them!"
A deep chuckle resonated from him, akin to the rich tones of a cello's low notes.
"I won't bother you further!" She disconnected the call promptly.
A broader smile formed on Shen Qian's face as he imagined the sight of a girl transitioning from irritation to bashfulness, exuding a sweet and coy charm.
In reality, however, Shen Wan's countenance remained impassive throughout the entire conversation. Despite the vivid emotions evident in her voice, her eyes resembled unfathomable, profound pools.
In the afternoon, she found an excuse to go out and flagged down a taxi by the roadside. "To Qingtong Street."