Mr. Li smiled. He did not look surprised when Zhao Youlin asked him this question. He had already prepared to answer her. “It didn’t happen out of the blue. I have a daughter who is about to attend primary school, and her school is located very far away from here. As such, it’s very inconvenient for my wife and me to pick her up from school after our work. Therefore, we plan to rent this outlet out to others and find somewhere nearer to my daughter’s school.”


  When Zhao Youlin heard Mr. Li’s explanation, she discreetly sized up his hand, which he placed on the table. Her eyes flashed, and she said quietly with a smile, “Oh, that’s how it is. Mr. Li, you’re a very thoughtful man.”


  Mr. Li gave a gentle smile. Apparently, he was pleased with Zhao Youlin’s compliments.

  Zhao Youlin lamented before she returned to the main topic. “If there’s nothing else, we shall proceed to the rental payment. Mr. Li, what is the rental payment for your outlet?”


  Mr. Li smiled before he answered honestly, “I still have one year to go before the lease expires. However, I’m in a hurry to move over to the outlet near my daughter’s school. Providing convenience to others means that I’m also making things easier for myself. Ms. Zhao, since you already have an outlet in this area, I suppose you also know the estimated rental payment for this outlet, right?”


  Mr. Li then drew in a deep breath. He frowned and said, “How about this? I am still short of one year to the expiry of the rent and one month’s deposit paid in advance. Ms. Zhao, you look like a negotiable person. Therefore, I also don’t want to offer sky-high prices to you. If you truly want to rent my outlet… You only have to pay me the one-year lease payment. I won’t demand a one-month deposit from you. As you know, I’m going to move my outlet to another area, so I’m also in need of money. If you don’t want to feel like you’re taking advantage of me, you could pay me the one-year rent in one shot if you are able to. How does this sound?”


  “Judging from this, at the end of the day, I’m still the one who has taken advantage of you, Mr. Li.”


  Mr. Li gave a smile and did not say anything. He took out a contract from his folder.

  “This is the contract when I first rented this outlet. This is another contract which stated my transfer of the rent of this outlet to you. Ms. Zhao, please have a look. If there’s nothing else, you may sign here.”


  Zhao Youlin received the contract and briefly read through it. After she was assured that there was no big issue identified in the contract, she took her pen and was about to sign. However, one second before she signed, Zhao Youlin abruptly came to a halt.

  “Are there any issues?” When Mr. Li saw this, his eyelid unknowingly twitched.

  Zhao Youlin put down her pen and stared at the person in front of her teasingly. She said faintly, “In fact, this outlet doesn’t belong to you, am I right, Mr. Li?”


  A trace of guilt flashed across Mr. Li’s eyes. However, he soon kept his cool and said, “Ms. Zhao, don’t tease me. Of course, I’m not the owner of this outlet. I am not so rich to the extent of buying an outlet in this area. I rented the outlet. However, the rental period has not expired…”


  “You know that I’m not asking about this.” Zhao Youlin interrupted Mr. Li. She stared at his eyes and said aggressively, “I’m asking about the actual owner of this outlet who has requested you to sign the contract with me.”


  The smile on Mr. Li’s face turned stiff. However, he was still reluctant to give in to her. “Ms. Zhao, I don’t understand your question. I…”


  “Fine.” Zhao Youlin sucked in a deep breath and stood up. “Mr. Li, since you don’t want to tell me, I also don’t mean to force you. However, as a collaborator in this contract, if you lack basic integrity value, I also dare not sign the contract with you. I regret to say that you have to look for another tenant, Mr. Li.”


  When Zhao Youlin was saying this, she turned around and was about to leave. Just then, Mr. Li got worked up. He called Zhao Youlin in a flurry of motion, “Wait, Ms. Zhao! Please hold on!”


  Zhao Youlin paused mid-stride. She turned her head around and smiled at Mr. Li. “Mr. Li, have you found a good reason to give me?”


  “I…” Mr. Li moved his gaze away. He looked hesitant.

  Zhao Youlin’s smile faded. She turned around, preparing to leave.

  Mr. Li hurriedly said, “I’ll tell you now… I’ll tell you now…”


  The corners of Zhao Youlin’s lips curled upward. She turned around and quickly returned to her seat. She then said with a smile, “Tell me.”


  Meanwhile, Mr. Li thought to himself. ‘Ms. Zhao, you’re torturing me to death!’


  She looked up and narrowed her eyes when she was greeted by the sight of Mr. Li’s hesitant look. “Mr. Li, don’t try my patience.” Zhao Youlin spoke without hesitation when she did not hear him speaking a word after some time.

  Mr. Li’s entire body shuddered. He dared not contemplate over the issue anymore and said hesitantly, “I… In truth, I’m not the owner of this outlet. The owner of this outlet is my boss.”


  “Your boss? Then ask your boss to come and negotiate with me.”


  “I…”


  Zhao Youlin cocked one of her eyebrows and asked, “Why? Aren’t you willing? Or, is it because you dare not do so? Do I know your boss?”


  “No… No…”


  “If not, then ask him to come over.”


  Mr. Li did not know whether he should laugh or cry. He almost cried under Zhao Youlin’s pressure. It took him some time before he said, “My boss is busy at this moment. You might have to wait for a long time for him to come.”


  “I have a lot of time today, so I don’t mind waiting for him. However, after today, I won’t come anymore even if your boss wants to see me. It’s all up to you if you want to ask him to come now.”


  Zhao Youlin could see that Mr. Li did not plan to let her go. To be precise, he dared not let her go. She vaguely had some speculations in her heart. However, she remained quiet. She pressurized Mr. Li in silence while focusing on him, waiting for the decision of the person in front of her.

  This time, Mr. Li could no longer force a smile. Under Zhao Youlin’s hostile stare, he gave in to her and muffled, “Got it. Ms. Zhao, please wait for a moment.”


  “Okay. I won’t leave so long as your boss hasn’t arrived. Go ahead.”


  Right after Zhao Youlin spoke, Mr. Li felt like the empress had finally shown him her mercy. He took his mobile phone and went out.

  At the same time, the Mighty Secretary Xia who was working overtime at the Mu Feng Group with his superior, abruptly received a call. His tone naturally did not sound friendly.

  “Hi, what’s wrong?”


  The person on the other end of the line fell silent for a moment. Apparently, he was shocked by Xia Zhetao’s fierce tone.

  Xia Zhetao grew impatient and was about to hang up. It was only then that the person blurted out timidly, “It’s… me.”


  Originally, Xia Zhetao was depressed after being interrupted by a call. He immediately became energized as soon as he heard the person’s voice and asked quietly, “Why are you calling me? Speaking of which, aren’t you going to sign the outlet contract with Mrs. President? You give me a call now, so does this mean… she has signed the contract?”


  Upon hearing this, the person on the other end of the line nearly burst out in tears. “I also wish it was like that…”


  When a certain one heard his words, his heart clenched. A sense of bad vibes sprouted in his heart…… ‘Did something go wrong?’