novelraw Chapter 455: Who Wins and Who Loses (Three More Updates)
Chapter 455: Who Wins and Who Loses (Three More Updates)
The next afternoon, Le Tong went out with the advertising department to discuss a cooperation deal. In Ji Rui’s office, Lawyer Fan, looking puzzled, pointed at the clauses on the computer screen to confirm with Ji Rui."Mr. Ji, are you sure this is correct?"
Ji Rui nodded, "That’s right, just do as I say."
Lawyer Fan still looked confused, "Mr. Ji, may I ask why?"
Ji Rui ignored him, focusing intently on reviewing the documents on the desk.
Being ignored, Lawyer Fan hesitated for a moment, but ultimately gathered the courage to voice his doubt.
"Mr. Ji, I can understand you leaving fifty percent of your assets to Baobao in the will, but although Miss Le is Baobao’s biological mother, she currently has no substantial marital relationship with you. Don’t you think it’s risky to transfer thirty percent of your assets to her name all at once?"
Over the years, Lawyer Fan had drafted wills for many wealthy and prominent individuals, but a will like Ji Rui’s, offering no protection for himself, was a first for him.
Even though Baobao, as Ji Rui’s only biological son, would only acquire the fifty percent assets if something happened to Ji Rui, Le Tong, an outsider, would, in addition to acquiring Ji Rui’s fifty percent assets if an accident occurred, also be able to gain thirty percent at present simply by signing an asset transfer document.
In other words, once these two documents were signed by Le Tong, even if Ji Rui didn’t meet an untimely fate, she could easily become one of the top hundred richest people overnight. If by chance Ji Rui did die unexpectedly, she would be wealthier than Baobao, the Crown Prince of the Ji Family.
If Le Tong had silently supported Ji Rui from the shadows while he built his empire, her receiving this wouldn’t be unreasonable. But as it was, she was nothing of that kind.
In Lawyer Fan’s eyes, who had worked closely with Ji Rui for many years, Le Tong was merely Baobao’s biological mother, and who knows what underhanded methods she used to even have Baobao. She hadn’t contributed anything significant to Ji Rui, instead schemed and took advantage without giving back.
To Lawyer Fan, at this moment, Ji Rui must have either been severely threatened by Le Tong with a metaphorical gun to his head, or was so smitten by her that he couldn’t discern direction.
Originally disregarding Lawyer Fan, Ji Rui lifted his head, his probing gaze fixed on Lawyer Fan’s face.
Beads of cold sweat formed on Lawyer Fan’s forehead under Ji Rui’s gaze, and after a moment, Ji Rui closed the file, leaned back, crossing his arms, and with an amused expression asked, "Why do you think it’s risky?"
Lawyer Fan hesitated, weighed his options, and decided that honesty was the best policy; otherwise, his long-time client might be deceived without realizing it.
"Mr. Ji, aren’t you afraid that everything Miss Le is doing is just to covet your wealth?"
Ji Rui didn’t blame him, after all, most people would misunderstand under such circumstances.
"She hasn’t done anything, and to be honest, I’m not even remotely confident about convincing her to sign the asset transfer. The same goes for the will. So I’d like to ask you, is there a way to trick her into signing these two documents?"
Lawyer Fan opened his mouth wide in surprise at Ji Rui, and when he saw the faint glimmer of laughter in Ji Rui’s eyes, he shook his head to confirm he wasn’t seeing things.
"Mr. Ji, are you sure you’re not joking?"
The smile on Ji Rui’s face deepened a bit more. He straightened up and rhythmically tapped his fingertips on the desk, smiling as he spoke.
"I’m not joking, otherwise, how about we place a bet on whether she’ll agree to sign these two documents?"
Though confident he’d win, Lawyer Fan was cautious; after all, he wasn’t like Ji Rui with a fortune he couldn’t spend in several lifetimes.
"Mr. Ji, you’re teasing me. How could someone as poor as I dare gamble with you?"
Ji Rui continued to smile, "When it comes to betting, status and wealth don’t matter, only winning and losing. How about as a wager, a meal at Longxiang?"
Hearing the proposed wager, Lawyer Fan felt a bit more at ease, "Alright, I bet she’ll sign readily, or even if not readily, eventually she’ll sign."
Ji Rui acknowledged with a hum, "I bet she won’t sign, but of course, I’d rather you win and I lose."
The bet was thus set, after which Lawyer Fan seriously reviewed the asset transfer and will multiple times to ensure no errors, then printed them in four identical copies.
When Le Tong returned, it was already close to five. After knocking and hearing Ji Rui say to come in, she pushed the door open and entered.
"Mr. Ji! The contract is finalized, and the price was negotiated down by another two percent..."
As soon as Le Tong entered, she reported the results to Ji Rui. Upon seeing someone seated in the lounge area, she paused briefly, then smiled at the person, "Lawyer Fan, you’re still here."
When she went out for business, Lawyer Fan had just arrived out of the elevator; they briefly crossed paths. Now the afternoon was nearly over, and he was still here. Clearly, it was something quite thorny.
With this thought in mind, Le Tong stood at the doorway, hesitating whether or not to leave and give Ji Rui and Lawyer Fan their space.
"Le Tong, come in. I need to discuss something with you."
Ji Rui seemed to sense her intent to leave and beckoned for her to come over.
Le Tong was still hesitant, looking between Ji Rui and Lawyer Fan, "Should I come back after you’re finished discussing?"
As she spoke, she took a few steps back and reached for the doorknob to leave.
"What I’m discussing with Lawyer Fan also concerns you. Come over, are you afraid I’m going to eat you?"
Not knowing whether to laugh or get upset at Le Tong’s tactfulness, Ji Rui called her attention.
Le Tong scrutinized Ji Rui, assured that he wasn’t joking, released the doorknob, and walked over.
"You’ve got some skill, huh, even Minister Lv couldn’t lower the price after several visits, yet you managed to cut it down by two percent. Tell me, how did you do it?" Ji Rui inquired with a smile as they started discussing the business.
Le Tong blinked and smiled, "Never you mind, it’s my secret weapon."
Ji Rui also smiled in return, "Okay, I won’t mind it, since that two percent drop was thanks to your secret weapon, how about I give you one percent as bonus?"
Accepting what was rightfully hers, Le Tong didn’t refuse, "Thank you, Mr. Ji!"
After finishing their business talk, Ji Rui nodded towards Lawyer Fan in the lounge area. Lawyer Fan understood and brought over the asset transfer and will in four identical copies, opening one of each and placing them in front of Le Tong.
Initially, Le Tong looked astonished, but at Ji Rui’s prompting, she read the words at the top of the document, her previously mild demeanor immediately changed.
"Mr. Ji, what do you mean by this?"
This Le Tong, now with a dark face and chilling voice, was so unfamiliar that it startled Lawyer Fan.