Xiao Yawen drove the BMW to the headquarters of Zhengtian Group. Arriving ten minutes early, she waited in the car before heading up to President Han Chufeng's office at the scheduled time of 4:30 PM.
She hadn't specified the purpose of her visit when arranging the meeting. In fact, she was there to return the BMW on behalf of Ding Yuanying. To ensure the car was in perfect condition, she had it serviced at a reputable auto repair shop the day before and spent five hours at a car detailing shop this morning. The car's interior was spotless, and the exterior gleamed like crystal. She also filled the gas tank to the brim.
Secretary Zhou, who had met Xiao Yawen once before, smiled and nodded, saying, "President Han is expecting you."
Yawen knocked lightly on the door and entered after hearing Han Chufeng's "Come in." Han was just standing up from the sofa, and the room, though now quiet, bore signs of recent activity: smoke hung in the air, and several chairs around the sofa, along with three ashtrays filled with cigarette butts, suggested a lively meeting had just ended.
Han greeted her warmly, "Please, have a seat."
Yawen sat down and placed all the BMW documents and keys on the coffee table. "President Han, Brother Yuanying asked me to return the car to you. Xiao Dan has a car, and the company just bought a new one, so this one is no longer needed."
Han was momentarily surprised. "You mentioned both Brother and the company in that tone—there's something there."
Yawen smiled politely. "I've been around President Ding for a few years and got promoted just as an opportunity arose. I managed to get into the company." She briefly explained the recent events.
Han laughed. "It's been over a year, and now you're the head of Greystone. Good, very good. But I lost that car to Yuanying, so I can't take it back."
Yawen said, "Brother said it's been over two years, and the gesture is complete. Xiao Dan has a car, and he really doesn't need it anymore."
Han waved his hand dismissively. "Fine, let it be."
At that moment, Yawen's phone rang. She glanced apologetically at Han before answering.
It was Liu Bing. "President Xiao, someone from the Beijing office of Shanghai Marquis Electronics brought a letter of intent offering 6.5 million yuan to acquire Greystone. They said the news would be published tomorrow. I wanted to inform you. Also, there's a woman here insisting on buying that demo unit. No matter how much I explain, she won't budge and wants to talk to you directly. Should you come back?"
Yawen said, "That demo unit has already been bought by Ouyang, so it can't be sold. I'll head back soon."
The office was quiet, and Han Chufeng, with his keen hearing, caught the entire conversation. He remembered Ding Yuanying mentioning Marquis back when they visited Mount Wutai. Now, that name had resurfaced with a well-timed move. As Yawen hung up, Han smiled. "Yawen, you seem so composed; I can't picture you in court."
Yawen, slightly embarrassed, paused before saying, "President Han, there's a company matter I'd like your advice on. Please forgive me if it's inappropriate."
Han said, "Advice isn't a decision. Go ahead."
Yawen explained, "The lease for the warehouse in Zhengtian Building's basement expires at the end of October. We rented extra time in case the speakers didn't sell. Now the warehouse is unused. If someone else wants to rent it, I'd like to end the lease early to save over 40,000 yuan in rent. I wanted to ask if it's appropriate to discuss this with Zhengtian. Would they refund four months' rent? If not, I won't pursue it."
Han said, "There's no loss in that. The warehouse can be rented out anytime. You can talk to General Manager Ma." He paused, "Ma and his team just left. Go downstairs and wait by the entrance. I'll call him, and you can meet in the plaza. Just the two of you, then follow the proper procedures."
Yawen thanked him and left. She waited by the entrance, seeking shade under a bicycle parking shelter near the parking lot.
Soon, a black Audi A6 pulled up, and General Manager Ma from Zhengtian Commercial Building stepped out, signaling her.
Yawen walked over, shook his hand, and said, "Sorry to trouble you."
Ma smiled. "I understand. Where are you headed next?"
Yawen said, "I'm going back to the audio store after this."
Ma opened the car door. "Get in. I'll give you a ride, and we can talk."
Once the car was moving, Yawen asked, "Is it difficult to resolve this matter?"
Ma said, "I'll refund four months' rent and give you an extra month's rent as compensation. Wait at the store; someone will come to you in a few days to finalize it."
Yawen protested, "You're compensating me for breaking the lease? That's not right. We can't operate this way."
Ma smiled. "Someone has to be in breach. Either you or I. The place is in high demand, and I need to breach the lease to rent it to someone else. This way, I'm doing you a favor, and it has value. If you don't accept, it makes me look bad."
Yawen understood. "I've learned something new today. It's quite cunning."
Ma laughed heartily. "It's not that we want to be cunning. It's just necessary. As Yuanying would say, if the world wasn't upside down, it wouldn't be the world; it would be heaven."
...
They chatted until they arrived at Greystone Audio. Yawen got out, and Ma drove off. She noticed a Porsche luxury sports car parked next to the van and entered the store.
Xiao Yang was wiping sweat with a towel, looking like he had just come in.
Liu Bing was assisting a young couple selecting audio cabinets. Seeing the general manager, he said to the woman, "This is our chairman and general manager. You can speak directly with her." He handed Yawen the Marquis acquisition letter. "President Xiao, this is the letter from Marquis."
Yawen glanced at the letter and put it in her bag, asking the woman, "Miss, are you the one interested in the audio system?"
The woman eyed Yawen suspiciously. "Are you in charge here?"
Yawen said, "Yes. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Let me explain. This system is not only a demo unit but also sold. The buyer is another woman. I apologize, but we can't sell it to you."
The woman asked, "Are you the one causing all this commotion in the audio world?"
Yawen replied, "I don't have that much influence and can't answer that."
The woman said, "I'm singer Chu Jie. I love audio, and my friends call me '39 Lady' because I'm crazy about it. I wasn't interested in domestic audio, but during a recent trip to France, I found this setup with two preamps and four power amps. It blew me away, and I found out it's made in China. I came back to find it, but it's unavailable."
She removed her sunglasses, revealing herself as the famous rock singer Chu Jie.
Yawen said, "Miss Chu, I'm a fan of your music. Nice to meet you!"
Chu Jie said, "A good sword should be with a good swordsman. Good audio should be with someone who appreciates it. I've waited all day and won't leave without it. You didn't label it as sold or not for sale, so I assume it's available."
Yawen was in a bind. "Miss Chu, this system was bought by Miss Ouyang, a friend and company shareholder. It's the earliest version, and she wants to keep it original. As a shareholder, we didn't remove it, so it's still on display."
Chu Jie said, "That makes me want it even more. I want the first edition."
Yawen thought for a moment. "I'm touched by your passion, but I'm truly in a difficult position. How about I call Ouyang, and you talk to her? If she agrees, you can take it. If not, please understand."
Chu Jie agreed. "Alright, call her."
Yawen called Ouyang Xue, explained the situation, and handed the phone to Chu Jie.
Ouyang Xue said, "Miss Chu, I love your music. Thank you for liking Greystone speakers. I agree to transfer the demo unit to you. Thank you for supporting our company."
Chu Jie was ecstatic. "Thank you, Miss Ouyang!"
Yawen instructed Xiao Yang, "Pack it up and load it."
Liu Bing said, "Xiao Yang, you deliver the cabinets and stands first. I'll handle this. It'll take time to pack all these components, and I'll probably still be here when you return."
Xiao Yang left to deliver the goods to the young couple.
Liu Bing, Yawen, Chu Jie, and her driver worked together to dismantle and pack the audio system.