Han Yichen was unaware that Xiao Jingyao was already secretly wary of him. After Zhao Youlin finished her introduction of him, he shook hands politely with Xiao Jingyao and replied with a somewhat cold manner, “Hello, Mr. Xiao.”
After Zhao Youlin introduced them to each other, she immediately shifted her gaze to the teenager standing beside Han Yichen and teasingly asked, “Mr. Han, aren’t you going to introduce us?”
Han Yichen cast an indifferent glance at them and introduced the identities of both parties very concisely. “This is Nie Yunfan, the general manager of Sheng Huang Group. This is Zhao Youlin, the general manager of Zhao Enterprise.”
“Zhao Youlin? Oh, so you are Feng’s ex-wife?”
“Feng?” Zhao Youlin’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “Mu Tingfeng? You know him?”
‘This man actually addressed Mu Tingfeng’s name in such an intimate manner? Is it possible that he is Mu Tingfeng’s close friend?’
“We grew up together, so we’re childhood friends. How could I not know him?” Nie Yunfan chuckled. Yet his gaze on Zhao Youlin became somewhat intriguing. “No wonder Feng still could not get over you after you two got divorced. He even asked for my help to investigate you. You are so enchantingly beautiful, Ms. Zhao. Even a man like me, who has seen a lot of things and countless beautiful women, can barely resist your temptation, let alone that brat.”
Zhao Youlin’s expression darkened at Nie Yunfan’s words. Before she could say anything, Nie Yunfan had already made a move and put his hand on her shoulder.
“Ms. Zhao, Feng is good in every way, but he does not know how to treat a woman tenderly. I’m different. I may not have many good qualities, but I know how to love a woman. What do you say? Why don’t you consider going out with me? I can guarantee that… Ack!”
Before Nie Yunfan could finish speaking, he felt a sudden pain in his waist and abdomen area. The force was so great that it almost made him puke out his internal organs. He covered his suddenly struck stomach and tried to step back.
His hand, which was on top of Zhao Youlin’s shoulder, was grabbed before he knew it. As he tried to take a step back, he was pulled forward violently. He was pulled right back where he was standing.
Nie Yunfan was caught off guard at the moment. He stumbled on the spot because of the pull. When his body was going to lunge forward uncontrollably, the elbow that had just hit his abdomen hard reappeared in front of his eyes, only this time, it was aimed at his face!
Nie Yunfan was shocked and terrified. He instinctively shielded his face with his hands, relying on his hands to block the incredibly powerful force. He bounced back a few steps. It was not difficult to imagine what the consequence would be if this elbow had really hit his face.
Xiao Jingyao and Han Yichen, who were standing beside were both taken aback by this unexpected turn of events. They called out worriedly.
“General Manager!”
“Yunfan!”
Nie Yunfan barely managed to stabilize himself. Ignoring Xiao Jingyao and Han Yichen’s exclamations, he raised his head and glanced at Zhao Youlin. There was an intrigued look on his face. “Ms. Zhao, I didn’t expect that you are not just beautiful, but you are a good fighter too. You’re much more skilled compared to average people.”
“You flatter me, Mr. Nie!” Zhao Youlin smiled a little. “As you said just now, Mr. Nie, my face is considered pretty. The world is not very safe nowadays. If I don’t learn some skills to protect myself, how could I prevent fire and thieves… as well as perverts?”
The smile on Nie Yunfan’s face stiffened slightly as a result of Zhao Youlin’s light-hearted remark. ‘Is this girl implying that I am a “pervert”?’
Zhao Youlin swept a glance at Nie Yunfan’s stiff expression. Her eyes were austere as she coldly said, “Just now, you said that Mu Tingfeng once asked you to investigate me?”
Nie Yunfan’s expression became more and more rigid. The first time he saw Zhao Youlin, he thought she was as shy as a budding lily. He did not expect that after a short conversation, this budding flower would turn into an incredibly ferocious man-eating flower.
He did not believe it when his uncle, who loved to stir up chaos, told him that Mu Tingfeng was having a hard time courting Zhao Youlin. Now it looked like it really was possible!
“Hahahaha! It is nothing. Well, you know what kind of person Feng is. He may look smart, but he is actually an awkward guy. Soon after you and he divorced, he got worried about how well you and your kid were doing. So he asked me to help check up on you guys, that’s all.”
Zhao Youlin stared at Nie Yunfan intently for a while. She had a hunch that this matter was not as simple as Nie Yunfan had said. Mu Tingfeng asked someone to investigate her soon after the divorce. Could it be that he had sensed something at that time?
Nie Yunfan felt a shiver run down his spine under Zhao Youlin’s gaze. He thought to himself that the wife that Mu Tingfeng had gotten for himself was not simple indeed. And it seemed that he had accidentally… brought trouble to his friend.
Han Yichen seemed to have noticed Nie Yunfan’s awkwardness, his eyes flickered slightly, and he changed the subject in a timely manner. He once again brought their attention back to him.
“We are running out of time, so let’s get down to business first.”
Only then did Zhao Youlin move her gaze away from Nie Yunfan. She turned around and walked to sit opposite Han Yichen. She said in a mocking manner, “Before that, shouldn’t you explain to me how you suddenly became the president of Sheng Huang, Mr. Han? After all, the two companies, Sheng Huang and Sheng Shi, cannot be treated the same no matter what.”
Han Yichen seemed to have expected Zhao Youlin to ask about this. He answered in a swift manner, “Sheng Shi just served as a means to distract people. And as for its fall, it was just a small scheme. The company that absorbed it is Sheng Huang.”
He revealed the shocking fact with just a few words. Zhao Youlin’s eyebrows raised slightly. She chuckled softly. “Mr. Han, I am afraid this scheme of yours is not just as simple as wanting to merge Sheng Shi into Sheng Huang, right?”
Han Yi Chen did not answer her. But he admitted to it with his silence.
A hint of understanding crossed Zhao Youlin’s eyes. She had already realized a little when she heard what Han Yichen told her in the shop back then.
The so-called fall of Sheng Shi was just a small game played by the one in power. The pitiful thing was that the person who thought he had won the game did not even know that he was just a pawn to others.
She just did not expect that the fall of Sheng Shi to be staged, even Han Yichen’s identity as the president of Sheng Shi was also fake. This guy was not the president of Sheng Shi at all, but the president of Sheng Huang!
“No wonder you told me at that time that Sheng Shi would further engage with Zhao Enterprise and become Zhao Enterprise’s friendly partner, but it was not yet time for it. Did you already predict this would happen at that time?”
Sheng Shi had been absorbed by Sheng Huang, which meant that Sheng Shi in the past was the Sheng Huang in the present. Han Yichen intended for Sheng Huang to cooperate with Zhao Enterprise, so that was why, at that time…
Han Yichen did not deny it. He met Zhao Youlin’s gaze and said indifferently, “I heard that Zhao Enterprise is recently investing heavily in developing a resort, but… you seem to have a little problem with the funding.”
Zhao Youlin was stunned. With her legs crossed in front of her, she leaned back on the couch and said with a smile, “What? Are you interested in Zhao Enterprise’s resort project too, Mr. Han?”
