Ji Huanlan joked, “Whatever amount I want, President Shen can give?”
It was just a teasing remark; she didn’t expect him to answer.
Before Ji Huanlan could speak again, she heard a reply from the other end—
“Give.”
Just one word.
Ji Huanlan froze.
She could no longer focus on the emails in front of her.
She swallowed a few times. “Shen Xi?”
“Hm?” The man’s voice was cool and clear.
Ji Huanlan frowned. “Is this really you?”
Shen Xi: …
Shen Xi: “Is thirty percent enough?”
This time, it was Ji Huanlan’s turn to be dumbfounded.
Thirty percent of the profits, all to her?
Even with a normal investment, the other party wouldn’t give that much.
Ji Huanlan laughed. “President Shen isn’t afraid the Huarong board will protest?”
Shen Xi: “They wouldn’t dare.”
Ji Huanlan: “I noticed you seemed a bit hesitant today. Why is that?”
She guessed it might be because Huarong didn’t have that much liquid capital—after all, when it came to wealth, no company, no matter how big, would dare compete with a venture capital firm.
Because venture capital firms existed to invest; their main business was putting money out.
But Huarong was in the construction industry.
Shen Xi spoke—
“The maximum I can offer today is 22 billion. Huarong’s accounts currently have a total of 25 billion in cash flow.”
Ji Huanlan thought that was normal; at least they had to keep some aside to keep the company running.
But wait—this was company confidential information. He just told her like that?
Unexpectedly, Shen Xi continued—
“For the remaining 4 billion, 1 billion of it is my personal equity stake, and it’s meant to be my bride price for you.”
Ji Huanlan: …
Her bride price?!
1 billion?!
Shen Xi: “So you don’t need to invest 7 billion. Xinggang only needs to invest 5 billion. After the project ends, I’ll still transfer the profit share to Xinggang’s account based on the 7 billion you would have invested.”
In other words, Ji Huanlan just got 1 billion for free with a few words?!
Even for Ji Huanlan, who had never lacked money growing up, she couldn’t help but be stunned.
Shen Xi didn’t hear her answer for a long time.
His brows furrowed. “Is… it not enough?”
Ji Huanlan took a breath.
Shen Xi heard that intake of breath and assumed Ji Huanlan was angry.
Shen Xi pressed his lips together. “Then 1.5 billion?”
Ji Huanlan: …
Late at night.
Guan Qi came to the study and saw his boss smoking nonstop, not saying a word.
“President Shen, is the bride price not enough?”
Shen Xi gazed out the window, the cigarette burning between his fingers, its glow mingling with the moonlight.
All that remained in his mind was Ji Huanlan’s words before she hung up—
“I’ll stay at the company tomorrow. I won’t be coming back.”
He pinched the cigarette filter and asked Guan Qi: “Did I really give too little? Is she angry?”
Actually, that wasn’t it at all!!
Ji Huanlan was just shocked.
She didn’t know how to respond, so she simply said that. Besides, the company really was busy lately—with the 7 billion investment today, who knew how much trouble the shareholders would stir up.
She was too busy, so she couldn’t be bothered with going back and forth. It was best to just stay at the company.
After ending the call, she didn’t ask Shen Xi how late he’d be working. She showered and went to sleep.
Morning.
Shen Xi came downstairs at seven.
“Sir, the missus left without eating breakfast.”
Shen Xi’s thin lips pressed tightly together.
He became increasingly convinced that Ji Huanlan was dissatisfied with the bride price.
In the car.
Shen Xi thought for a moment. “Check how much personal assets I have.”
This was the first time Guan Qi had seen his boss trying to scrape together money. He quickly looked it up.
All told, “President Shen, 3 billion at most. Maybe not even 3 billion. And that’s the total after liquidating all your domestic properties and luxury cars.”
Guan Qi had calculated Shen Xi’s savings and real estate, and that was all there was.
The rest were various shares and stocks that couldn’t be touched for now.
Shen Xi gazed at the scenery outside the window. “Sell half of the overseas villa estates.”
Guan Qi turned back, startled. “President Shen?”
Shen Xi didn’t look at him, simply repeating: “Sell them.”
Had this decision been made a dozen or so days earlier, Shen Xi would never have made it.
He had to admit—if Ji Huanlan didn’t have the ability to stabilize the Ji family, he wouldn’t have considered giving such a substantial bride price.
Just as Ji Huanlan had thought, they weren’t familiar with each other yet.
It was merely a marriage alliance. That being the case, interests came first.
So this bride price—she was worth it.
Xinggang Fengtou.
“Chairman Ji?” Wang Huo entered the office.
Ji Huanlan turned around, coffee in hand. “Have you contacted Huarong about the transfer?”
“We’re in contact now,” Wang Huo said.
Ji Huanlan didn’t actually have much capital—aside from Xinggang Fengtou having plenty of money, they had no power or influence before Huarong.
Huarong had not only money, but connections everywhere.
Her father had said that if Huarong changed its leader and they played their cards right, it would definitely become the most powerful enterprise in the country.
Ji Huanlan set down her coffee cup. “Come here.”
Wang Huo sat down on the sofa.
Ji Huanlan said, “Yesterday Shen Xi said he wanted to give me 1 to 1.5 billion as a bride price. I’m in a difficult spot.”
Wang Huo: “??”
“He’s giving me that much as a bride price—where am I supposed to come up with a dowry of comparable value?” Ji Huanlan frowned. “He throws out over a billion in one go. What is he trying to do? Even if I sold myself, I wouldn’t have that much money.”
Xinggang Fengtou was indeed very wealthy, but not all of it was hers.
Wang Huo: …
The infighting among the rich—how terrifying!
“Knock, knock.”
“Come in.”
The secretary pushed the door open, holding a large bouquet of flowers, beaming. “Chairman Ji, they’re from a Mr. Shen.”
The roses were in full, delicate bloom.
It wasn’t until long after the secretary had left that Ji Huanlan snapped back to her senses. She picked up her phone and found Shen Xi on WeChat.
Ji Huanlan: Did you send the flowers?
Shen Xi: Got them?
Ji Huanlan: ?
She sent the question mark but got no reply for a while. Ji Huanlan didn’t think much of it.
A few minutes later, while she was talking with Wang Huo, a message came through.
“Cough, cough, cough—”
Wang Huo hastily grabbed a tissue and handed it to Ji Huanlan.
Ji Huanlan blinked, looking at the message on the screen once more, making sure three times over that she hadn’t misread it.
Shen Xi: Don’t be upset. I’ll work harder to earn some more bride price money.
So he thought she was upset that the bride price was too little?!?!
In a meeting.
Shen Xi received the woman’s reply.
Ji Huanlan: President Shen, have mercy on me…
If he gave any more, she simply couldn’t afford the dowry to match.
Shen Xi frowned again.
He was even more certain that Ji Huanlan thought it was too little.
Shen Xi was straightforward: How much do you want? Name a number, and I’ll go earn it.
Even while texting, Shen Xi didn’t miss a beat in the meeting—he was exceptionally attentive.
As if part of the reason was his determination to earn the bride price money.
None of the executives dared to let their minds wander; they reported on their work with full seriousness.
On the other end, Ji Huanlan was silent for a long time.
Ji Huanlan: I’m not saying the bride price is too little. And I don’t need that much. Just go through the motions symbolically.
That way, she wouldn’t have to scrape together so much for the dowry!
Wang Huo reminded her, “Chairman Ji, your lipstick came off on your coffee cup.”
Ji Huanlan immediately put down her phone and reached for her makeup bag to touch up.
Wang Huo knew exactly what kind of person his boss was.
She was the type of meticulous woman who, even if a mudslide were to hit the very next second, would still put on a full face of makeup before waiting for death.
Shen Xi had mulled over Ji Huanlan’s meaning for a long time before replying.
Shen Xi: Are you coming home tonight?
She had said yesterday that she wouldn’t be home.
Ji Huanlan was actually curious as to why he was so hung up on whether she came home or not.
They were, after all, a plastic couple—no feelings, no contact. What difference did it make whether they saw each other or not?
Still, looking at the pigeon-egg-sized diamond on her hand, Ji Huanlan ultimately said—
Ji Huanlan: How about we go home and have dinner together?
Later, caught up in work, she didn’t see Shen Xi’s messages until it was almost time to clock out.
Shen Xi: I’ll come pick you up.
Shen Xi: I’m at the entrance of your company. No rush, take your time with work.
The last message had been sent eighteen minutes ago.