Li Zhaoming's forehead glistened with sweat, and his voice was laced with palpable anxiety. "Chairman Liu, I totally lost my marbles before. I'm truly, deeply sorry!" As he spoke, he dropped to his knees with a thud, and his words tumbled out in a rush. "All our previous deals are back on track. From now on, we'll clear any payments owed to your company in a flash. No more delays, I swear!"
Liu Hongxia and Zhou Ruobing exchanged startled glances, their eyes wide with disbelief. For a long moment, they were left speechless.
Finally regaining her composure, Zhou Ruobing couldn't contain her curiosity. "Li Zhaoming, what on earth made you do a complete 180?"
Misinterpreting Zhou Ruobing's question as a veiled insult, Li Zhaoming slapped himself hard across the face. The sharp sound echoed through the showroom. "President Zhou, Chairman Liu, I was being a total jerk earlier. I'm really sorry for shooting my mouth off like that..."
Liu Hongxia and Zhou Ruobing still couldn't wrap their heads around the scene. After all, Li Zhaoming was the head of a major company, known far and wide for being a tough - nut - to - crack and a ruthless operator. And yet, here he was, kneeling at their feet, slapping himself silly.
Liu Hongxia took a deep breath and said, "Mr. Li, since you seem to have seen the error of your ways, I'm willing to let it go. But I can't accept the extra ten million."
Li Zhaoming's eyes widened in panic. "Chairman Liu, that extra ten million is just interest. You've got to take it. If you don't, I'll know you haven't really forgiven me!" he pleaded, his eyes fixed on Liu Hongxia. Liu Hongxia then turned to Zhou Ruobing.
Zhou Ruobing thought for a moment before asking, "Mr. Li, what about the future projects of your company?"
Before she could finish her sentence, Li Zhaoming cut in. "President Zhou, all future projects are yours. I'll bring my team over this afternoon to finalize the contracts."
Wu Yunhong's warning was still ringing in Li Zhaoming's ears. He knew he was lucky to have gotten off with just a slap. If he didn't handle this right, the other guy might seriously hurt him or even harm his family. Li Zhaoming wasn't willing to take that risk.
Li Zhaoming added, "If you think this afternoon is too late, I can call my guys right away."
Liu Hongxia quickly waved him off. "This afternoon is fine. Now, if there's nothing else, you can go."
"Thanks a ton, Chairman Liu!" Li Zhaoming heaved a huge sigh of relief. He scrambled to his feet and scurried away.
The bodyguards and receptionists nearby were dumbstruck. Just yesterday, Wu Yunhong had come crawling to apologize to Liu Hongxia and Zhou Ruobing. And now, here was Li Zhaoming doing the exact same thing.
The news spread like wildfire throughout the company. In no time, everyone from the low - level employees to the high - ranking executives was singing the praises of Liu Hongxia and Zhou Ruobing.
On the top floor of the company, in the luxurious chairman's office, Liu Hongxia and Zhou Ruobing were still in a state of shock.
Liu Hongxia furrowed her brows and said, "Bingbing, who the heck is Ye Long's friend? First, he made Wu Yunhong grovel, and now he's got Li Zhaoming slapping himself silly. This is crazy!"
Zhou Ruobing thought back to Ye Long's earlier statements, which had seemed so out - of - place at the time. Now, it seemed he had known exactly what he was doing. Zhou Ruobing shook her head. "I've got no clue. I'll give him a call."
Just as she was about to dial, she noticed Liu Hongxia massaging her temples with a pained expression.
Zhou Ruobing rushed to her side. "Mom, what's wrong?"
Liu Hongxia slumped onto the sofa, closed her eyes, and let out a long sigh. "It's all because of your little sister! That girl is driving me nuts."
Liu Hongxia lived with her younger daughter, Zhou Jiajia. Last night, it was well past midnight, and Zhou Jiajia still hadn't come home. When Liu Hongxia called to check on her, Zhou Jiajia got fed up and hung up on her. When she tried again, Zhou Jiajia had turned off her phone. Liu Hongxia was so furious that she couldn't sleep all night. She woke up with a splitting headache this morning.
"Now, she won't listen to anyone. Two days ago, I tried to talk some sense into her, and she just hung up on me. Since then, she's been ignoring all my calls..."
Zhou Ruobing was equally frustrated. Ever since their father passed away five years ago, her younger sister had changed beyond recognition. She had become increasingly rebellious. Now, she thought she was invincible and refused to listen to anyone.
Liu Hongxia groaned. "I really wish there was someone who could rein her in!"
Zhou Ruobing couldn't agree more. If things continued like this, her sister was headed for disaster. In the past, Zhou Ruobing had hired a string of tutors and trainers to help her sister straighten up, but her sister had driven them all away.
Zhou Ruobing sighed. "Mom, let's put Jiajia's problem on the back - burner for now. I need to find out who Ye Long's friend really is."
Liu Hongxia nodded in agreement.
Zhou Ruobing took out her phone and dialed Ye Long's number.
After leaving the company, Ye Long told Lao Qi to sort out the Li Zhaoming situation and then headed to an appliance store.
"Sir, this way, please. The checkout counter is over here." The saleswoman smiled sweetly and led Ye Long to the cashier.
Just as Ye Long was about to pay via his phone, it rang. It was Zhou Ruobing calling.
"What's up?" Ye Long answered.
"Send me your location. I need to see you, like, right now." Zhou Ruobing's tone was urgent.
"Okay." Ye Long hung up and sent his location.
After paying for the washing machine, Ye Long waited outside the store for Zhou Ruobing.
Even though Zhou Ruobing had kicked him out of the company, Ye Long didn't hold it against her. After all, it was his actions that had caused Li Zhaoming to lash out and almost end their business relationship. Zhou Ruobing scolding him was actually pretty mild. Still, he would have preferred it if she had been a bit more polite.
Moments later, a sleek BMW screeched to a halt in front of the store. Zhou Ruobing stepped out, looking as elegant as ever.
Zhou Ruobing eyed Ye Long with a strange expression. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "Ye Long, I was way out of line earlier. I'm really sorry." As she spoke, she gave a brief bow.
Ye Long was taken aback. This woman, who was usually so haughty, was actually apologizing to him.
Zhou Ruobing quickly straightened up and regained her icy composure.
Ye Long asked, "Has Li Zhaoming sorted things out with your company?"
Zhou Ruobing nodded. "He showed up at the company to apologize to me and my mom. He's agreed to resume our business."
"That's great." Ye Long hadn't expected Lao Qi to be so effective. He felt a sense of relief wash over him.
Zhou Ruobing then asked, "What's your friend's name?"
"Lu Hu." Ye Long didn't hesitate to answer.
Zhou Ruobing racked her brain, but she couldn't think of anyone named Lu Hu in Jiangcheng. And there was no Lu family among the city's top ten families. A flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes. She turned around, grabbed a black bag from the car, and walked back to Ye Long.
Zhou Ruobing handed the bag to Ye Long. "There's two hundred thousand dollars in here. Consider it a thank - you for you and your friend." She had withdrawn the cash from the bank before coming.
Ye Long looked at the stacks of money in the bag and shook his head. "Miss Zhou, Lu Hu and I are like brothers. If we start talking about money, it'll ruin our friendship. He won't take it. And remember, we had a deal. I help you, and you help me out with my family. You promised to have a meal with my mom and brother."
A strange look flashed across Zhou Ruobing's eyes. On the way over, she had thought about this very thing. But the idea of meeting Ye Long's family as his wife made her feel uneasy.
Just then, Zhou Ruobing's phone rang. She took it out and saw that it was her sister, Zhou Jiajia, calling.
Zhou Ruobing was both surprised and a little worried. Her sister rarely called her on her own. Zhou Ruobing stepped aside and answered the phone. "Jiajia, what's going on?" She knew her sister wouldn't call unless something was up.
"Sis, I'm done with school. I'm dropping out." With that, Zhou Jiajia hung up.
Zhou Jiajia was seven years younger than Zhou Ruobing and was in her junior year of college.
Zhou Ruobing was stunned. Her sister was going to drop out?
Noticing Zhou Ruobing's shocked expression, Ye Long asked, "Miss Zhou, what's wrong?"