Chapter Twenty-Five: Negotiation

"Be careful how you speak to him, or he might make things difficult for you in the future," Tao Caijie warned. "After all, he is the deputy manager of the mall."

"It's fine, I'm not his driver anyway," Qin Yang replied, utterly unconcerned.

"I'll introduce you to the rest of the colleagues. Even though you're just a driver, you still need to maintain good relationships with everyone," Tao Caijie said, no longer dwelling on the previous incident. She led Qin Yang through the various offices, making the rounds.

Tianfeng Mall covered thirty thousand square meters, designed by renowned French architects, exuding a thoroughly modern style. It housed countless domestic and international brands. The first five floors catered to mid-range consumers, while the sixth to ninth floors were dedicated to high-end clientele, offering a full array of services from dining and entertainment to cinema. The tenth floor was reserved for the mall's management.

Unlike the staff in the various stores, those on the tenth floor worked directly for Tianfeng Mall—or, to be precise, for the Tianfeng Group. Outsiders were strictly prohibited. Since Liu Molan took over, she had introduced a leading international management system, maximizing the effectiveness of the team. Everyone treated their work with utmost caution, knowing that Liu Molan was a woman of her word; when she spoke of dismissals, it was never an idle threat.

Tao Caijie enjoyed excellent relationships with most people. On hearing Qin Yang was her brother, most colleagues put aside their work for a moment to greet him. This showed just how well-liked she was. Qin Yang himself was unassuming, his gentle demeanor making him seem entirely harmless, so he quickly became acquainted with everyone.

Liu Molan did not appear at noon—her assistant simply brought her some food. It wasn’t until after six in the evening that Qin Yang finally received her call. Tao Caijie had already left work to pick up Xiaomei. Seeing Liu Molan and Wang Zhen leaving together, Qin Yang figured he wouldn’t be eating at home either. He called Tao Caijie and Gao Xiaolan to let them know he wouldn’t be home for dinner.

"Take us to the Hailong Hotel," Liu Molan instructed as soon as she got in the car.

Qin Yang narrowed his eyes. If he happened to run into Wang Zhibing, things might get lively. But he doubted it—after all, he'd already stood the old man up once, and Wang Zhibing would likely be home reporting in.

Arriving at the luxurious five-star hotel, Qin Yang couldn’t help smacking his lips, mentally calculating just how wealthy his father really was—despite the family’s claims to fortune. He didn’t dwell on it, though, and followed the two into the room reserved for them, standing off to the side like a bodyguard.

There were just three people in the room—it was a welcome dinner for Wang Zhen. Though Liu Molan, fresh from abroad, disliked such formalities, she accepted them as a matter of custom. Not knowing whom else to invite, she simply left it at that.

"Our business is settled. Now we can finally sit down and talk," Wang Zhen said, clearly a little frustrated. He had rushed here by plane, hoping for some rest, but instead this woman had dragged him into a marathon negotiation session, barely leaving time for a proper lunch, and now wanted to continue business over dinner. At least she was clever enough to take his hints and didn’t invite anyone else, which suited him just fine.

Wang Zhen glanced at Qin Yang, who was standing by the door. "No need for him to stand there, is there?"

Liu Molan frowned slightly. "Qin Yang, you can go out. I’ll call you when I need you."

"Alright." Qin Yang was more than happy to take his leave and slipped out at once.

Outside, he stretched lazily and considered asking Wang Zhibing to have a chef prepare him a good meal. Just then, his phone rang—it was Cao Long.

"Mr. Qin, we need to talk," Cao Long said, his tone cautious. "I’ve already booked a room here at the Hailong Hotel. Shall I come pick you up?"

"I just arrived. Tell me the room number," Qin Yang replied indifferently.

The room was conveniently close to Liu Molan’s, so Qin Yang strode over. Entering, he saw Cao Long sitting stiffly, who quickly stood to greet him and dismissed his two subordinates. He personally offered Qin Yang a cigarette. "Mr. Qin, let me be frank. I invited you here for two reasons. First, to discuss our past grievances. Second, next door, Long Qiuhu is hosting a dinner. He’s gone to great lengths to force Yang Yaxin to comply."

"Oh?" Qin Yang smiled. "You’re telling me this to curry favor, aren’t you?"

Cao Long nodded seriously. "Cooperation requires sincerity. Long Qiuhu spiked the wine for tonight, but I swapped it out. I’ve noticed you and Miss Yang are close, so take this as my way of making amends."

Qin Yang tapped his fingers on the table. "So you’ve agreed to my proposal from before?"

Just then, the food and wine Cao Long had ordered arrived. Pouring a glass for Qin Yang, he said, "To be honest, I do have some dirt on Long Qiuhu. But you must know his background."

"Compared to what you stand to lose, he’s hardly a formidable opponent," Qin Yang interrupted coldly. "Last night I was arrested—Long Qiuhu set me up and nearly ruined me. Even without your help, I could make him regret it. I approached you only to simplify the process. You need to understand your place in all this. Without you, it changes nothing for me; with you, things just get easier. Of course, if you’re out of the picture, well... let’s just say your ending wouldn’t be pre