Upon reaching Li Guoqiang's office, he invited Chen Xiao and Ma Jing to sit while he went to retrieve the financial statements. He needed to show Chen Xiao the company's financial situation to give him confidence in their ability to make repayments.
Li Guoqiang had just stepped out. Before they'd even finished a sip of water, there was a knock and someone came in.
"Huh? You again? I told you yesterday there was no chance for a partnership. Are you back today to beg President Li?"
The person who entered was none other than Vice President Yang Ming!
Chen Xiao simply smiled at him. 'Today I'm here as the landlord,' he thought. 'The tables have turned!'
'Should I put on an act? Maybe it's time to lay my cards on the table...'
"Let me tell you, it's useless no matter who you talk to. When I say we're not interested in a partnership, I mean it. Stop wasting time here."
The memory of Chen Xiao eating with Xu Wu, and their deliberate intimacy at the company, made his blood boil. He'd been after Xu Wu for ages, but he hadn't even managed to have a single meal with her.
'And this punk? First, he's eating with her, then they're walking around together. I have to teach him a lesson. From now on, for any business Zhongjian takes on, Dr. Feng's Robot is not welcome!'
"It sounds like you're trying to get rid of someone, President Yang," Chen Xiao said with a knowing smile.
"Just get out of here. Let's not waste each other's time."
"Alright! Ma Jing, we're leaving."
Seeing Chen Xiao walk out without a hint of hesitation, Yang Ming cursed under his breath, "Good, you know your place."
A moment later, Li Guoqiang returned with a stack of financial reports to find Chen Xiao gone. Yang Ming was sitting in the chair across from his desk, waiting for him.
"Where's President Chen?" he asked.
'President Chen?' Yang Ming didn't register it at first. When it clicked, he said, "Boss, are you talking about that dumbass salesperson from Dr. Feng's Robot?"
"Never mind Dr. Whoever. I'm talking about President Chen Xiao!"
'Damn, he's really good at puffing himself up,' was Yang Ming's first thought. 'Chen Xiao must have lied about his position. Of course. Why else would he be qualified to meet the general manager? No wonder he brought an assistant today—it was all for show.'
'I have to expose him,' he thought. Yang Ming sneered, "President Chen Xiao, my ass. He's just a dumbass salesperson!"
Li Guoqiang frowned as he listened to the explanation. Yang Ming then gave an embellished account of how Chen Xiao had come the day before to discuss business on behalf of Dr. Feng's Robot.
After hearing the full story, Li Guoqiang had a pretty good idea of what had happened. First, it was undeniable that Chen Xiao was the landlord. He was just also moonlighting as a salesperson for Dr. Feng's Robot.
'The world is a strange and wonderful place,' he thought. 'A man that rich working as a salesperson... some people really do go out of their way to "experience life."'
"Where is President Chen now?"
Yang Ming wondered why his boss was still calling him President Chen. He replied, "I kicked that dumbass out!"
What? The words struck Li Guoqiang like a bolt of lightning. His face instantly flushed crimson.
"You... drove... him... away?" he asked, each word heavy as lead.
Not understanding why his boss was so agitated, Yang Ming nodded.
"Yang Ming, you're a fucking moron! Go get President Chen back here right now! If you can't get him back, don't bother coming back at all! Just go write your resignation letter!"
Of course, Yang Ming couldn't get him back; Chen Xiao had left ten minutes ago. Li Guoqiang didn't have time to explain the situation, and Yang Ming was left completely baffled, unable to comprehend why his boss placed so much importance on Chen Xiao.
"This is your last chance. Immediately set up a meeting with Dr. Feng's Robot. We're going to their office to apologize in person! Bring every single business order we have that could possibly be related to them. You absolutely must get them to forgive us, or else you can pack your bags and get the hell out!"
Why contact Dr. Feng's Robot? Because Li Guoqiang hadn't had a chance to exchange contact information with Chen Xiao, and Yang Ming had thrown his business card in the trash yesterday.
"Understood, Boss. I have other things to report to you as well!"
"Get out! Until this is resolved, drop everything else! Dammit, you useless oaf!"
Face burning with humiliation, Yang Ming returned to his office. He scrambled to prepare a list of potential orders and immediately made a call to schedule an in-person visit.
"Brother Chen Xiao, what was all that about?" Ma Jing asked from the passenger seat.
"Don't worry about it. They'll be in touch."
'Even if they don't, it's fine,' he thought. 'They can just hurry up and pay the rent. What's not to like about over two million in rent money?'
「That afternoon, at Dr. Feng's Robot Co., Ltd.」
Chen Xiao was in a corner playing LoL, while Ma Jing studied company materials, glancing over at him from time to time.
She hadn't expected Chen Xiao to be so focused when he "worked."
Yuan Kai took a phone call, and when he returned, he was like a new man.
He hurried excitedly to Feng Feifei's office.
"President Feng, I've landed a deal! It's an order worth an estimated six million, and their president is coming in person tomorrow to finalize the details of our partnership!"
Feng Feifei was taken aback. 'Has business gotten this easy lately?' she wondered. But she didn't doubt him; after all, Yuan Kai was a veteran salesperson with years of experience.
"Which company? If their general manager is coming over, we need to make the proper arrangements to receive them!"
"Zhongjian Equipment Co., Ltd. They're one of the bigger general contractors here in Jiangzhou!"
She knew of the company. They'd been in contact for business before but had never managed to secure a partnership. She was surprised Yuan Kai had managed to close the deal this time.
Chen Xiao had just landed a six-million-yuan deal, and now here was another six million. It was a double blessing in just a few days!
Feng Feifei was thrilled. "Manager Yuan, you'll be in charge of all the preparations for their visit. I'll provide any support you need!"
In the time that followed, every department in the company sprang into action under Yuan Kai's direction.
"Reception, come here. When the guests arrive tomorrow, I want you to greet them like this..."
"Admin, book lunch for tomorrow. Show me the menu selection first..."
"HR, we're short-staffed for the reception tomorrow. I need you to assign some people to help out!"
"IT, you need to make sure there are no issues with the conference room equipment tomorrow..."
"Ma Jing..."
"Chen Xiao... on second thought, just stay out of sight tomorrow. Go work on your own deals."
He had originally intended to order Chen Xiao around, but then he thought it best not to let him get near such an important client.
No one in the company knew exactly what was happening, but they all understood that they were receiving a very important guest tomorrow.
Later, Yuan Kai "accidentally" let it slip that he had landed a huge deal. Wow. He was the man of the hour.
"I mean, look at Chen Xiao. He brought in a multi-million deal, and now President Feng praises him to the skies. All his flaws have turned into strengths—even his freckles are 'sunspots' now."
"This is incredible! The company's about to take off. We've landed over ten million in orders in just a few days. I heard that's more than we did in all of last year!"
"It's like the calm after the storm! With sales elites like Manager Yuan and Chen Xiao, promotions and raises are right around the corner for us!"
"I heard Manager Yuan's deal is also for six million, and their president is personally coming to our office to finalize it. That's a level of prestige Chen Xiao can't compare to!"
"That just goes to show you why Manager Yuan is a leader and Chen Xiao is just a salesperson. There's a clear difference in their abilities!"
Yuan Kai spent the whole afternoon making the rounds, visiting every department in the office. And, of course, he soaked up a great deal of praise.
"Manager Yuan, you're amazing! The company's growth depends on you!"
"Manager Yuan, I bet you'll be promoted to director soon after making such a huge contribution to the company!"
Receiving so much praise for the first time, he felt like he was walking on air.