Becoming a partner of the Zhaoyan Group was something Zhou Hechen had to achieve, and he had prepared for it for a long time.
All the companies, big and small, in Jiangcheng knew he was going to talk business with Quan Zhaoning, who would dare to make a move before him?
Zhou Hechen was still smiling, but his gaze had turned dark and terrifying.
By nature, he was arrogant, and the Zhou Family was undoubtedly the premier family in Jiangcheng; even the other four major wealthy families had to act according to the Zhou Family's wishes. No one had ever bested him.
He had to see which "acquaintance" was so disrespectful.
"Hello—"
"Bang!"
Along with the sound, a can was thrown, whizzing past Zhou Hechen's ear.
"President Zhou!" the secretary cried out in alarm.
If the can had been slightly more off-course, Zhou Hechen's head would have suffered.
"I'm fine." Zhou Hechen raised his hand to stop the secretary, turned around, and swept a fierce glance toward Jiang Xulin, "Who?"
Jiang Xulin smiled coldly, "Do you have any manners at all, any politeness? So sure that the person inside is your acquaintance? In all of Shenzhou with its billion people, they all have to know you?"
Indeed it was an acquaintance, an old one at that.
Jiang Xulin had his own twisted sense of humor; he really wanted to let Zhou Hechen go in and see for himself that the person talking to Quan Zhaoning was Ye Wanlan, a stand-in.
But rules were rules, and without rules, one might as well get lost.
"Sir, it's Jiang Xulin; his identity is somewhat complicated. Young Master Fang knows him and has always given him some leeway," said the secretary in a low voice, "We can't rule out the possibility that he knows President Quan."
Jiang Xulin casually tucked one hand in his pocket, his demeanor was wild and unrestrained, "Why are you staring at me? I know I'm better looking than you; no need to keep looking."
"I was impertinent," Zhou Hechen said slowly, exhaling a breath lightly, "Since President Quan currently has a guest, I'll come back for a visit this afternoon."
He clenched his fist but ultimately chose to back down.
The secretary hurriedly followed him out, also wondering to himself.
Who exactly was trying to snatch the Zhou Corporation's cake?
At this moment, inside the private meeting room.
Quan Zhaoning, dressed in a black suit and sporting gold glasses, looked every inch the elite businesswoman.
Her gaze was sharp, "Ye Wanlan?"
Ye Wanlan's voice was steady, "It's me."
"I know you," Quan Zhaoning folded her hands together, "You are the little lover of the younger master of the Zhou Family, but you've been abandoned since his true love returned to the country a few days ago, and yet you persist in clinging to him."
She had heard some gossip while in Jiangcheng for business.
"What a clichéd novel plot," Quan Zhaoning leaned back, her expression cold, "I know all about your affair with Xiao Lin, and to be honest, there's nothing about you that impresses me; I hate women who act as stand-ins for men the most."
Ye Wanlan smiled faintly, "I know to cooperate, I must bring my capabilities to the table, so I've brought President Quan a gift for our first meeting."
"Oh?" Quan Zhaoning smiled, "You're giving me a gift for our meeting?"
Ye Wanlan didn't respond. With a flick of her wrist, a gun appeared in her hand.
Quan Zhaoning's face turned pale!
The gun was clearly her personal sidearm.
She suddenly stood up and pulled open the drawer of the bookcase.
The drawer was...
Empty!
And before, Ye Wanlan had merely passed by the bookcase; Quan Zhaoning hadn't seen when she had taken the gun!
If the gun had been aimed at her vital points...
Quan Zhaoning turned her head sharply as the sound of a gun firing echoed in the same instant.
"Bang!"
Quan Zhaoning's cup on the table exploded, and water spilled all over the floor.
The special assistant who was standing guard outside and Jiang Xulin, who had not left yet, were both startled.
Both of them naturally recognized that it was the sound of a gunshot.
Jiang Xulin's expression changed dramatically.
Could it be that Ye Wanlan's negotiation with her aunt had broken down, and someone had taken out the other party?!
In a panic, the special assistant disregarded Quan Zhaoning's instructions and opened the door, "President Quan, you—"
The room was a mess, Quan Zhaoning's face ashen, "Get out!"
The special assistant scurried out, tumbling and crawling, and closed the door behind him.
"What did you see?" Jiang Xulin grabbed him, "Who got taken out?"
The special assistant looked at him blankly: "The, the cup was taken out..."
Jiang Xulin: "?"
Who is the cup?
Quan Zhaoning turned her gaze back to Ye Wanlan, her voice cold, "You'd better give me a proper explanation!"
Ye Wanlan said indifferently, "After drinking slow-acting poison for so long, hasn't President Quan noticed?"
"..."
Within less than three minutes, Quan Zhaoning realized she had broken out in a cold sweat.
In front of this girl, who was only eighteen years old, she felt an unprecedented sense of oppression!
"Poisoning, a very plain and unadorned business tactic, lacks intelligence, but it's quick and has a high success rate," Ye Wanlan glanced at the cup and said casually, "No, it's not necessarily a business conflict, it's a civil war."
Quan Zhaoning's expression changed again.
"President Quan is thirty-six this year and took over Zhaoyan Group at the age of twenty-five. Under your leadership, Zhaoyan Group became one of the top fifty enterprises in Shenzhou," Ye Wanlan's voice was cool, "Unfortunately, there are people by your side who think because you're a woman, you don't deserve it."
Quan Zhaoning's fingertips turned white from gripping the armrest tightly: "Continue."
Ye Wanlan suddenly smiled, "The result is that President Quan has been drinking water for five months, and then one day you would suddenly die, and naturally, someone would inherit your company."
Quan Zhaoning took a deep breath, "Can this poison be cured?"
Someone had managed to poison her without her noticing for such a long time; obviously, the drug was colorless, tasteless, and showed no symptoms in the short term.
And moreover, the poisoner must be…
Ye Wanlan said, "Of course, this is my gift of cooperation to President Quan."
Quan Zhaoning looked at her for three seconds, then finally extended her hand, "Miss Ye, I'm very pleased to reach a cooperation with you."
Ye Wanlan shook her hand, "I won't disappoint you."
However, I'm indeed quite curious; since Miss Ye has the ability to secure this deal, why didn't you use it to gain favor with the Young Master of the Zhou Family?" Quan Zhaoning spoke, "As far as I know, the Zhou Family is in great need of this deal."
"They believe women are nothing but appendages and playthings, so I intend to break that rule," Ye Wanlan said dispassionately, "Why would I refuse to become power itself?"
She was born to stand at the summit of the kings' dwellings, overlooking the world.
Quan Zhaoning stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed, "Miss Ye, before we were only business partners, but now, you, my friend, I have made up my mind to keep. Let's go have a meal, my treat."
The special assistant respectfully took the two of them to the Peninsula Restaurant, where Quan Zhaoning ordered the chef's menu.
"Miss Ye, I've sent my assistant to get the company's documents," Quan Zhaoning nodded, "After we eat, we can talk business."
The waiter went to prepare the meal.
Outside the hotel, a white Maybach slowly passed by, with Zhou Hechen on his way to pick up Sheng Yunyi.
Beside him, Xu Li glanced out the car window in surprise, "Brother Hechen, is Ye Wanlan actually dining at the Peninsula? Didn't you block her card?"
Zhou Hechen frowned, not wishing to pay attention.
"Oh my! Isn't that President Quan?" Xu Li suddenly exclaimed, "President Quan doesn't know her, does she? She isn't using the identity of your girlfriend just to get close to President Quan, is she?"