Seeing Xiao Yufan remained unmoved, Qiao Chuxi struggled to suppress her frustration. If only she had known Xiao Yufan’s true identity earlier, she would never have come here to negotiate. Now, what had seemed like a promising opportunity appeared to be backfiring.
“I came here with genuine sincerity. Qiao Group genuinely hopes to establish a good relationship with your company. I hope personal emotions won’t interfere with this.”
Seeing Xiao Yufan unmoved, Qiao Chuxi struggled to suppress her emotions. Had she known Xiao Yufan’s identity, she would never have come to negotiate. What seemed like a favorable negotiation now appeared to have backfired…
“I came with great sincerity. Qiao Group genuinely wishes to establish a good relationship with your company. I hope personal emotions won’t interfere!”
Thinking of her grandfather’s concerns, Qiao Chuxi straightened her expression and forced a soft smile as she spoke.
“Did I let personal emotions interfere? I don’t think so. Hualong Enterprise is now mine, and as for how to handle the relationship with your Qiao Group, I don’t think I need your guidance, Miss Qiao…”
Xiao Yufan retorted, then shifted to a more comfortable position, his gaze fixed intently on the woman before him. It had to be said, this somewhat aloof woman indeed had her merits.
Feeling unnerved by his stare, Qiao Chuxi cursed Xiao Yufan in her heart. This man was unusually vindictive. She had merely given him a couple of cold looks and said a few words, yet he was being so petty…
“Then tell me, what does Qiao Group need to do for Hualong Enterprise to consider loosening its stance and establishing a cooperative relationship? In my view, this should be entirely beneficial for Hualong Enterprise.”
“That’s just your own opinion. Without Qiao Group, Hualong’s development wouldn’t face any obstacles.”
Without any exaggeration, Xiao Yufan shook his head with a smile. Although Qiao Group was a leading enterprise in Linjiang, in Xiao Yufan’s eyes, it wasn’t as important as Qiao Chuxi imagined. It seemed she was overly confident.
“You…” Qiao Chuxi was indeed furious. This man was truly impervious to both soft and hard tactics. She had already humbled herself, yet he showed no signs of relenting…
“However, if Qiao Group were to acquire Qiao Group, not only would we have a cooperative relationship, but we could also take it a step further. What do you think of that?”
The atmosphere grew awkward. After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Yufan spoke up. It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment idea; after understanding Qiao Group’s background, he had already made this decision.
“You can go die!” First came shock, then that shock turned into displeasure. Qiao Chuxi would rather believe this man had gone mad. Would Qiao Group, with its widespread influence in the north, willingly submit to another?
“Then there’s nothing more to discuss. What a pity!” Xiao Yufan showed no emotion, knowing full well that Qiao Chuxi’s refusal was entirely expected. If she had agreed, that would have been truly bizarre.
“You’re utterly shameless! You know perfectly well this is impossible. Qiao Group has influence in the north. With such a voracious appetite, aren’t you afraid of choking?”
“Choking is unlikely. A single Qiao Group isn’t really in my sights…”
Xiao Yufan’s ambitions were indeed vast. What he sought wasn’t just Beijing, Linjiang, or the north—he aimed to build a commercial empire. But to Qiao Chuxi, all this seemed utterly unrealistic.
“Be careful not to bite your tongue with such big talk!” Qiao Chuxi glared at Xiao Yufan, her beautiful eyes suddenly tinged with a hint of warmth. “If Qiao Group agrees to be acquired, what would we gain? After all, business is all about profit.”
Xiao Yufan was slightly surprised, unsure of what Qiao Chuxi was up to. But hearing her words, his heart skipped a beat. If he could secure Qiao Group, Hualong’s expansion into the north would become much easier.
“If Hualong acquires Qiao Group, we would offer at least ten billion, with future profits split 70-30 in Hualong’s favor…”
Without hesitation, Xiao Yufan laid out all the terms, clearly having prepared in advance.
“A 70-30 split isn’t a bad proposal. But do you really think ten billion could secure 30% of Qiao Group’s profits? Qiao Group’s assets span the north, and just the fixed assets alone are likely worth over ten billion…”
“You might have misunderstood. I meant Hualong would take 70%, and Qiao Group would get 30%…”
“What did you say?” Before Xiao Yufan could finish, Qiao Chuxi’s voice cut in. She looked at him as if he were a fool. Did he not realize how absurd that sounded?
“I’m saying Qiao Group would only get 30%, and I believe even that 30% would far exceed Qiao Group’s current profits.”
Xiao Yufan responded calmly. Qiao Chuxi’s reaction was expected, but allowing Qiao Group to retain 30% was already his bottom line. With a larger base, even 30% could be significantly amplified.
“You must be out of your mind for money! Since you’re so insincere, there’s no need to continue this discussion…”
Qiao Chuxi made as if to leave. After all, Qiao Group was her grandfather’s lifelong work, and she had no intention of letting it be acquired so easily. Even if she could still control Qiao Group, the feeling would be entirely different. Her proposal had merely been a test of Xiao Yufan’s intentions.
But the result of that test left her feeling utterly exasperated. Of course, had she known the true strength of Hualong, she might have reconsidered. But as it stood, she had already made up her mind.
“If I’m not mistaken, Qiao Group is currently facing both internal and external challenges. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here…”
Before she could take a step, Xiao Yufan’s voice reached her. Though seemingly casual, his words struck a nerve. Even if her grandfather intended to pass Qiao Group to her, as a woman, could she bear such a burden? Especially with other forces eyeing Qiao Group.
“You can think it over before deciding. But if Qiao Group needs any help, feel free to ask. For now, we’re not enemies.”
He didn’t say much more. A wise woman would surely investigate Hualong Enterprise, and once she uncovered something, she would likely change her mind. After all, even the mere mention of the Situ family was enough to draw people in.
Pausing, Qiao Chuxi said nothing more. She was trying to decipher Xiao Yufan’s intentions. From her grandfather’s reaction, it was clear that the forces behind Hualong Enterprise were formidable. And in Xiao Yufan, she sensed an overwhelming confidence.
If initially, this man had seemed like a devil in her eyes, he now appeared as a cunning businessman.
“Have I involved personal emotions? I don’t think so. Hualong is now mine, and as for how to handle the relationship with your Qiao Group, I don’t think you need to instruct me on that, Miss Qiao.”
Seeing Xiao Yufan unmoved, Qiao Chuxi struggled to suppress her emotions. Had she known Xiao Yufan’s true identity, she would never have come to negotiate. What seemed like a favorable negotiation now appeared to have backfired.
“I came here with great sincerity. The Qiao Group genuinely wishes to establish a good relationship with your company. I hope personal emotions won’t interfere,” Qiao Chuxi said, forcing a smile as she thought of her grandfather’s concerns.
“Did I let personal emotions interfere? I don’t think so. Hualong Enterprise is now mine, and how to handle our relationship with the Qiao Group is my decision. I don’t need you to teach me,” Xiao Yufan retorted, leaning back comfortably and staring intently at the woman before him. Indeed, this cold and proud woman had her merits.
Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Qiao Chuxi cursed Xiao Yufan inwardly. This man was unusually vindictive. She had merely given him a few cold looks and said a few words, yet he was being so petty.
“Then tell me, what does the Qiao Group need to do for Hualong Enterprise to agree to a partnership? In my view, this would be highly beneficial for Hualong,” she pressed.
“That’s just your opinion. Without the Qiao Group, Hualong’s development wouldn’t face any obstacles,” Xiao Yufan replied with a smile, not exaggerating in the slightest. Although the Qiao Group was a leading enterprise in Linjiang, in Xiao Yufan’s eyes, it wasn’t as crucial as Qiao Chuxi believed. She was perhaps too confident.
“You…” Qiao Chuxi was truly angered now. This man was impervious to both soft and hard approaches. She had humbled herself, yet he showed no signs of relenting.
“However, if the Qiao Group were to be acquired by Hualong, not only would we have a partnership, but we could also take it a step further. What do you think?” Xiao Yufan suggested after a moment of awkward silence. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment idea; after understanding the Qiao Group’s background, he had already made this decision.
“You can go to hell!” Qiao Chuxi was first stunned, then her shock turned to indignation. She would rather believe this man was insane. The Qiao Group, with its extensive presence in the north, would never submit to being under someone else’s control.
“Then there’s nothing more to discuss. What a pity,” Xiao Yufan said without showing any emotion. He knew Qiao Chuxi’s refusal was to be expected. If she had agreed, it would have been truly bizarre.
“You’re utterly shameless! You know perfectly well this is impossible. The Qiao Group has influence in the north. Aren’t you afraid of biting off more than you can chew?”
“Choking isn’t a concern. The Qiao Group really doesn’t impress me,” Xiao Yufan replied calmly. His ambitions were indeed vast. He wasn’t aiming for just Beijing, Linjiang, or the north. He wanted to build a commercial empire, though to Qiao Chuxi, this seemed utterly unrealistic.
“Be careful not to bite your tongue!” Qiao Chuxi glared at him, her eyes flickering with a mix of anger and something else. “If the Qiao Group were to agree to be acquired, what would we gain? In business, it’s all about profit.”
Xiao Yufan was slightly surprised, unsure what Qiao Chuxi was getting at. But her words made his heart race. Acquiring the Qiao Group would make Hualong’s expansion into the north much easier.
“If Hualong acquires the Qiao Group, we would offer at least ten billion, with a 70-30 split on future profits,” Xiao Yufan stated without hesitation, clearly having prepared for this.
“A 70-30 split is an interesting proposal. But do you really think ten billion could buy 30% of the Qiao Group’s profits? The Qiao Group’s assets in the north alone are worth more than ten billion.”
“You misunderstand. I mean Hualong would take 70%, and the Qiao Group would get 30%.”
“What did you say?” Qiao Chuxi interrupted before Xiao Yufan could finish, looking at him as if he were a fool. Did he not realize how absurd that sounded?
“I’m saying the Qiao Group would only get 30%, and I believe even that would far exceed the Qiao Group’s current profits,” Xiao Yufan replied calmly, unfazed by her reaction. Offering the Qiao Group 30% was already his bottom line. Given the scale, even 30% would be substantial.
“You must be out of your mind! If you’re not serious, then there’s no point in continuing this discussion,” Qiao Chuxi said, preparing to leave. The Qiao Group was her grandfather’s life’s work, and she wasn’t about to let it be acquired so easily. Even if she retained control, it wouldn’t feel the same. Her proposal had merely been a test, but the result left her feeling exasperated.
Of course, if she knew the true strength of Hualong, she might reconsider. But for now, she had made up her mind.
“If I’m not mistaken, the Qiao Group is facing internal and external challenges. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here,” Xiao Yufan said just as she was about to leave. His words, though casual, struck a nerve. Even if her grandfather intended to pass the Qiao Group to her, could she, as a woman, handle such a burden? Especially with other forces eyeing the Qiao Group.
“Think it over before deciding. But if the Qiao Group needs any help, feel free to ask. For now, we’re not enemies,” Xiao Yufan added without elaborating. A wise woman would investigate Hualong, and once she discovered its true strength, she might change her mind. After all, even the Si family alone was enough to make people flock to them.
Pausing, Qiao Chuxi didn’t respond immediately. She was trying to decipher Xiao Yufan’s intentions. Her grandfather’s behavior had already hinted at the formidable power behind Hualong, and in Xiao Yufan, she sensed an overwhelming confidence.
If initially, this man had seemed like a devil in her eyes, now he appeared as a cunning businessman.
Feeling uneasy under his gaze, Qiao Chuxi inwardly cursed Xiao Yufan. This man held grudges like no other. Was it because she had merely glared at him a couple of times and said a few words? How petty of him…
“So then, what must Qiao Group do for Hualong to agree to cooperate? In my opinion, this partnership would be beneficial for Hualong with no downsides.”
“That’s merely your opinion. Even without Qiao Group, Hualong’s development won’t face any obstacles!”
Xiao Yufan smiled and shook his head, not exaggerating in the least. Although Qiao Group was a leading enterprise in Linjiang, in Xiao Yufan’s eyes, it wasn’t nearly as significant as Qiao Chuxi imagined. It seemed she was overly confident.
“You…” Qiao Chuxi was genuinely furious now. This man was truly impervious to both softness and firmness. She had already lowered herself so much, yet he still showed no sign of yielding…
“However, if Qiao Group is willing to be acquired by Hualong, we could not only establish a partnership but also deepen our relationship. What do you think about that?”
The atmosphere grew unusually awkward. After a brief hesitation, Xiao Yufan spoke, not on a sudden whim, but rather a decision he had already made after learning about Qiao Group’s background.
“You can just drop dead!” First surprised, then her shock turned into indignation. Qiao Chuxi would rather believe this man had gone mad. Would the Qiao Group, with its vast presence across Northern China, really submit to being acquired?
“Then there’s nothing more to discuss. What a pity!” Xiao Yufan showed no emotion, as he had expected Qiao Chuxi’s refusal. If she had agreed, that would have been the real surprise.
“You’re absolutely despicable! You know perfectly well this is impossible. Qiao Group also holds influence in the North. Don’t you fear being overwhelmed by your own ambition?”
“Overwhelmed? Not quite. I really don’t consider Qiao Group that significant…”
Indeed, Xiao Yufan’s ambitions were enormous. He didn’t seek merely Beijing, Linjiang, or even Northern China—he aimed to build a commercial empire. Yet all this seemed unrealistic to Qiao Chuxi…
“Careful you don’t twist your tongue with all that wind!” Qiao Chuxi snapped at Xiao Yufan, her beautiful eyes suddenly showing a hint of warmth as she continued, “If Qiao Group agreed to be acquired, what would we gain? Remember, business is about interests!”
Xiao Yufan was somewhat surprised, unsure what Qiao Chuxi was plotting. Yet upon hearing this, his heart raced. If he could acquire Qiao Group, it would make Hualong’s expansion into Northern China much easier…
“If Hualong acquires Qiao Group, we will invest at least 10 billion upfront, and future profits will be split seventy-thirty with Qiao Group…”
Without hesitation, Xiao Yufan laid out all the terms, clearly well-prepared.
“A seventy-thirty split is indeed a good offer, but do you really think ten billion can buy Qiao Group’s thirty percent? Remember, Qiao Group’s assets span the entire North. Our fixed assets alone likely exceed ten billion…”
“You might have misunderstood. I meant Hualong would take seventy percent, while Qiao Group would receive thirty.”
“What did you say?” Before Xiao Yufan had even finished, Qiao Chuxi’s voice rang out. She looked at him as if he were an idiot. Didn’t he realize how childish that sounded?
“I said Qiao Group would only get thirty percent, and I believe even that thirty percent would bring more profit than Qiao Group currently makes.”
Xiao Yufan replied calmly. Qiao Chuxi’s reaction was exactly as he had anticipated. Still, offering Qiao Group thirty percent was already his limit. After all, with a large base, even thirty percent could be significantly valuable.
“You must be out of your mind for money. If you’re this insincere, there’s no need to continue this conversation…”
Qiao Chuxi stood up to leave. After all, Qiao Group was her grandfather’s lifelong endeavor. She didn’t want it acquired so easily. Even if she would still control Qiao Group, the feeling would be different. Her intention had merely been to test Xiao Yufan…
But this test left her frustrated. Of course, if she had known Hualong’s true strength, she might have reconsidered. But now, without hesitation, she had already made her decision.
“If I’m not mistaken, Qiao Group is currently facing internal and external crises. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come here…”
Before she could even take a step, Xiao Yufan’s voice reached her ears. Seemingly casual, yet striking at her most sensitive points. Even if her grandfather intended to hand over Qiao Group to her, could she, as a woman, bear such a heavy burden? Not to mention other forces lurking around Qiao Group like hungry tigers.
“You can think it over before deciding. However, if Qiao Group needs any help from me, feel free to ask. After all, we are not enemies—yet.”
Xiao Yufan said no more. A wise woman would certainly investigate Hualong. And once she discovered what Hualong truly was, she would surely change her mind. After all, just the mere presence of the Situ family was enough to attract countless suitors.
Qiao Chuxi said nothing further, pondering Xiao Yufan’s intentions. Judging from her grandfather’s behavior, it had already proven the strength of Hualong. From Xiao Yufan himself, she sensed an overwhelming confidence…
If this man had initially appeared to her as a mere lecherous rogue, he now seemed more like a shrewd and cunning businessman…
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage