Return of the Antagonistic Lady Boss

Chapter 233 - 224: Revealing the Secrets of Heaven

"You little girl, you’re here to accompany us old folks just to get close to the eldest, aren’t you?" Mr. Yu said half-jokingly.

Mrs. Yu glared at him. The words were already out, and there was no taking them back. He spoke too bluntly, and she wondered if Qian might overthink it.

"Uncle, I’m getting close to the whole family. Auntie’s cooking is too delicious; I can’t resist the urge to freeload, and your chess games really... inspire people’s confidence in life. Getting close to my big brother is necessary too; it’s important to keep the resources within the family. My free labor can’t be given to other capitalists; service should be for our own people."

Qian replied with a cheeky smile, skillfully turning the tables.

Mr. Yu chuckled, "So you think I’m getting a great deal?"

"How about we discuss it and see?" Qian winked.

"Let’s talk in my car, and I’ll give you a ride." Mr. Yu also wanted to understand Qian’s intentions.

Honestly, yesterday’s incident left Yu Mingli a bit upset, but he couldn’t refuse to save face for his younger brother.

It’s not that Qian is bad; on the contrary, she’s too outstanding, and she has his brother wrapped around her finger. Mr. Yu could see that Chen Xiaoqian’s influence on Minglang was as significant as a hundred Wang Xiaohongs’ influence on Mingyi, with a Himalayas-sized barrier in between. If this escalated, it would greatly affect the youngest.

Businessmen dislike it when someone not officially part of the family holds a weak spot of theirs.

Yet, he couldn’t find this little girl’s weak spot, which always left the shrewd Mr. Yu uneasy. He was very curious about what Qian wanted to say to him by approaching him.

Mr. Yu was still driving that Cadillac, considered a pretty good car in 2000. Given his status, it was already quite low-key.

Yu Mingli had a driver but rarely used him, as he preferred driving himself most of the time.

He looked the least like a Yu Family member, perhaps because he enjoyed smiling more. Compared to the father and two sons of the Yu Family, he seemed more amiable, but those who knew him understood that Mr. Yu’s amiability was only on the surface, and it depended on who he was dealing with.

Qian judged from his driving and behavior details that Mr. Yu still possessed the unique decisiveness of Yu Family men, and the upbringing he received in his youth significantly impacted his life.

"You didn’t come just to see me drive, did you? There’s an agenda behind this, so speak up." Yu Mingli got straight to the point.

"I’ve thought about yesterday’s matter. I’ve decided to accept the cooperation invitation from you, and I’ll discuss the follow-up with my mother." Qian didn’t beat around the bush.

Yu Mingli placed his hand on the steering wheel, absentmindedly tapping it while looking ahead.

"I thought you’d be hiding under my brother’s glory, cultivating your poverty-driven integrity."

This remark stung a bit.

Qian didn’t get angry at all; she just laughed.

Mr. Yu’s ever-smiling face remained inscrutable. If he said such things, it proved he wasn’t very angry. If he really resented Qian, he wouldn’t be so straightforward. It was a test of her attitude.

"Integrity is a given, but it depends on who. There’s no need to pretend with you, big brother. Money is a good thing; if I said I don’t like it, that would be hypocritical."

"These words don’t sound like they came from you." Yu Mingli found it hard to understand Qian’s thoughts.

If Qian was in it for the money, there was no need for the drama yesterday. But today, her demeanor seemed quite strange.

Contradictory behavior—could it be that Qian was someone who fawned on those in power? Was yesterday all an act?

"I’m just telling the truth. Big brother, I understand what you mean. Minglang’s career is just starting, and I don’t want these external matters troubling him. The future between Minglang and me is about where our fate takes us. You value me, and I can’t be ungrateful, but I also don’t like owing people."

"You’re saying something between the lines here."

"Yes, I’d like my mom to take over managing the land in our area. Big brother, in your current business dealings, I’ll help you secure that deal. Minglang is your own brother, and I don’t like using the term ’binding’ to describe our relationship. I think mutual benefit is more suitable for us."

This was Qian’s true intention.

"You’ll help me secure it?" Yu Mingli considered many responses from Qian, but he didn’t expect this one.

"Yes, big brother, aren’t you currently competing for that project in the west of the city?"

Yu Mingli’s signature smile froze on his lips. He turned and, for the first time since getting into the car, looked seriously at Qian.

"How do you know? Did my brother tell you?"

He kept his business affairs separate from his brothers. How did Chen Xiaoqian know about it? These were confidential matters.

The project was conducted via a bidding process, and Yu Mingli had spent a lot of effort on it. If he secured it, it would mean almost eight-figure profits.

But the current progress wasn’t going well. He had tried every way to contact the client but always seemed to fall short. As the bidding day approached, Yu Mingli had little confidence.

Qian’s mention of the project heightened Yu Mingli’s vigilance.

Qian smiled gently.

"The chairman of the client company, Teng Daye, is among the top five in the Forbes Mainland rankings, with immense strength. Your success rate for this bid is only 30%. Although your bid proposal is flawless, they might ultimately choose De Yi Company."

"What? How is that possible? That’s just a small company established two years ago." Yu Mingli exclaimed, surprised at how a student like Qian knew so much.

The reason Qian knew was that in her previous life, she had been acquainted with the client chairman’s daughter, who was her patient. She had impressions of this crucial project determining who’s the real estate industry leader in Q City.

In the end, the company she mentioned won the bid, and Yu Mingli’s company did not. That small company thrived because of this opportunity, and in time could almost rival Yu Mingli’s years of groundwork, for reasons that can’t be detailed here.

"Qian, how do you know all this?" Yu Mingli was still speculating whether Qian’s words were true or false.

"Big brother, I’m a student at BD Normal University, and Professor Liu Linlin is quite close with me."

"I know this, but what’s the connection with the bid?"

"I often get asked by the professor to organize case files, and I inadvertently come across certain information. I can’t go into details, as it would breach my medical ethics, but you can guess what’s going on, right?"

Qian deliberately spoke ambiguously.

With a bit of thought, Yu Mingli understood.

"Qian, do you have any solution?"

"Yes, big brother, arrange a dinner tomorrow and invite Chairman Teng."

Yu Mingli shook his head, "I’ve tried, but he always declines."

The chairman of the client company, Teng Daye, was a traditional businessman from Shanxi, known for being rigid and hard to approach. Yu Mingli had attempted several times to get close but had been rejected in various ways.

"This time, he will definitely come. Do it this way." Qian leaned closer to Mr. Yu’s ear, whispering a few sentences.

Mr. Yu was half-convinced.

"Will this really get him to come?"