At 8:50 AM the next morning, Ye Xiaoming and Ouyang Xue arrived at the headquarters of Le Sheng Company. Led by the PR manager, they entered the meeting room, only to be taken aback. The room was filled not just with Le Sheng's negotiation representatives but also with numerous media reporters, their numbers far exceeding those of the negotiators. After the dizzying flashes of magnesium lights, Ye Xiaoming and Ouyang Xue took their seats at the negotiation table.
Le Sheng's representatives were Chairman Lin Yufeng and General Manager Zhao Qing, mirroring the positions and numbers of the Ge Lü Shi representatives, which exuded a sense of sincerity and humility. This arrangement demonstrated Le Sheng's respect for a smaller company, despite being the host and the more dominant party. Lin Yufeng and Zhao Qing, seasoned in the business world, were unphased by the cameras, flashlights, and microphones, maintaining a composed and dignified demeanor.
Ye Xiaoming and Ouyang Xue, on the other hand, were unaccustomed to such a spectacle. Faced with the media's scrutiny, they felt the weight of the situation even before the negotiations began. The difference in expectations and attention levels made Ye Xiaoming appear more anxious, while Ouyang Xue, though equally tense, felt a surge of regret and anger.
Suppressing her emotions, Ouyang Xue asked, "Mr. Zhao, why are there so many reporters here?"
Zhao Qing calmly explained, "This lawsuit is the first anti-unfair competition case in China's audio industry, garnering widespread attention from the public and media, especially from industry insiders and audio enthusiasts. This is quite normal."
Lin Yufeng, without any airs of a prominent figure in the audio industry, politely said, "Ms. Ouyang, Mr. Ye, welcome to our company. Shall we begin?"
Ye Xiaoming did not expect Lin Yufeng to attend the negotiation. Lin Yufeng was a legendary figure, an unreachable height, and now, as an opponent, they sat as equals at the same table. Regardless of the outcome, this moment was a significant milestone for Ye Xiaoming.
Nervously and sincerely, Ye Xiaoming delivered his prepared opening remarks, "Mr. Lin, as an ordinary enthusiast and former agent of the Le Sheng brand, I have great respect for you and your company. First, I want to thank Le Sheng for the past support to Ya Feng Audio and Ge Lü Shi. Despite the reasons, our companies have had frictions, and I feel uneasy about our company's faults. I apologize and am willing to make appropriate compensation."
Zhao Qing said, "Mr. Ye, we cannot accept such high praise. I noticed you used the words 'I', 'faults', and 'compensation'. We are negotiating with Ge Lü Shi, not you personally. If your company does not believe its actions constitute unfair competition, there is no need for apologies and compensation. If your company admits to unfair competition, then it's a matter of damages, not compensation. We can accept apologies and compensation, but not vague ones."
Ye Xiaoming regretted his slip, as he intended to use "we" instead of "I". Trying to explain might make things worse, so he decided to let it pass. More troubling was the opponent's tactic of pushing the issue to an extreme, leaving no room for maneuver.
Ye Xiaoming chose silence.
Zhao Qing continued calmly, "Alright, let's set aside our differences and move on. Assuming the meaning of 'compensation' is unclear, how does your company plan to quantify it?"
Ye Xiaoming replied, "100,000 yuan is our limit."
Zhao Qing smiled faintly, "Mr. Ye, I understand your position, and we also hope for a resolution. However, we cannot ignore the disparity in our stances. The gap is too wide to make meaningful negotiations. Therefore, some differences will need legal correction."
Zhao Qing's words effectively announced the breakdown of negotiations.
Ye Xiaoming thought to himself, "This is a farce. I prepared for creating a positive tone, reading body language, avoiding deadlock… yet it's all futile."
Ouyang Xue felt like a fool. Realizing her mistake in agreeing to the "settlement," she reflected on why her brother chose her for a titular role, emphasizing control over decision-making and veto rights. Her brother must have foreseen the lawsuit. Given his preparations for the audio exhibition, he had his reasons. If they were doomed, why die in humiliation? At least uphold some dignity.
Fixing her gaze on Lin Yufeng, Ouyang Xue said firmly, "Mr. Lin, you seem confident about winning this case. But what if you lose? This negotiation would then have value for you."
"Lose?" Lin Yufeng mused. He calmly stood, walked to the window, and pointed outside, saying in a gentlemanly yet blunt manner, "If justice is gone, I'll jump from here."
Immediately, the reporters' cameras, lights, and microphones followed him. Lin Yufeng's statement, referencing the 9th floor of Babylon Tower, locked the negotiations into a dramatic showcase.