My Alleged Husband

Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Reckoning_1

Li Haixiao was truly infuriated, ”Look around the entire city, no one has dared to use my daughter for their gain, and this Old Zhang thinks he can be so bold as to manipulate my daughter to achieve his ends, huh!”

”Xiao Cheng, go and arrange a meeting with Elder Zhang for me. Tell him I’d like to talk about the partnership project for that piece of Nanxi land!” Xiao Cheng was Li Haixiao’s right-hand man, his most capable and trusted assistant, and among the four assistants, he had the highest annual salary.

The next day, after Li Haixiao went to the office, he had his secretary arrange a meeting with Elder Zhang. Ostensibly, it was about a partnership, but in reality, it was to settle accounts. How could anyone be allowed to use his precious daughter, whom Li Haixiao cherished more than anything?

”President Zhang, hello, I am the secretary of the President of Li Corporation. Just call me Xiao Cheng. Our president would like to discuss the commercial land project in Nanxi with you. Do you have time to meet?” Xiao Cheng courteously inquired about Elder Zhang’s availability.

Xiao Cheng, following Li Haixiao’s orders, arranged the meeting with Elder Zhang, who thought that it was because Li Jiayuan had convinced her father to cooperate with him on the project. However, the reality harshly slapped Elder Zhang’s face.

”Sure, I’m available at any time, but I wonder when President Li will be available?” Elder Zhang asked Xiao Cheng, eyeing him like a starving wolf drooling over fresh food, scared that the juicy piece might slip away.

Looking at the way Elder Zhang was watching him, Xiao Cheng inwardly sighed for him, ”Ah, if Elder Zhang knew that the president was not inviting him to discuss partnership but to settle scores, I wonder how green his face would turn. But then, Elder Zhang brought this upon himself. Whose daughter did he have to use? Why choose the president’s daughter? Everyone knows Miss Jiayuan is the apple of President Li’s eye, she shouldn’t be somebody’s tool, alas!”

”Well then, President Zhang, once our president is available, I will contact you. Would that be okay with you?”

Elder Zhang couldn’t ask for more; he was eager to cooperate with Li Haixiao as soon as possible. So, he eagerly stood up and said to Xiao Cheng, ”Okay, that’s settled then. As soon as President Li is available, contact me. I’ll definitely be there.” Elder Zhang’s impatient demeanor only made Xiao Cheng feel more sorry for him.

After returning, Xiao Cheng relayed the conversation with Elder Zhang to Li Haixiao in full detail. Li Haixiao couldn’t help but mock Elder Zhang, ”Hmph, with what right does that old fool think he can partner with me? What makes him think his worthless son is worthy of my daughter? Zhang Mo doesn’t have that much influence. Xiao Cheng, go tell Zhang Mo to meet in three days at the coffee shop next to our company building, at twelve noon, no waiting if he’s late. Go.” After speaking, Li Haixiao gestured for Xiao Cheng to leave.

Xiao Cheng bowed to Li Haixiao and said, ”Okay, President, got it. I’ll take care of it right now.”

After finishing, Xiao Cheng left. Only Li Haixiao remained in the office.

”Hello, I’m the assistant to the President of Li Corporation. I’m looking for President Zhang. Is President Zhang there?”

Elder Zhang’s secretary said, ”I’m sorry. President Zhang is not here. May I know what it is regarding? You can tell me, and I will pass on the message.”

Xiao Cheng said, ”Certainly, please inform President Zhang that our President mentioned he will wait for President Zhang at the café next to our company building at twelve noon three days from now to discuss the contract; past that time, he won’t wait any longer.” Xiao Cheng hung up the phone after finishing his sentence.

At dusk, when Old Master Zhang returned to the company, his secretary told him that Li Haixiao had arranged a meeting to discuss a partnership at the café next to the Li Corporation building three days later. Old Master Zhang was thrilled: ”A meeting at last, finally a chance to seal the partnership for that Nanxi plot! Heaven helps those who help themselves. I really owe it all to Li Haixiao’s precious daughter, Li Jiayuan. Without her convincing her obstinate father, how could I have so easily secured the Nanxi partnership? Hahaha, I wonder if Li Haixiao knew I took advantage of his darling daughter, would he die of rage?” Old Master Zhang believed that Li Haixiao had arranged the meeting, that this partnership would indeed be sealed, and that it was all thanks to Li Jiayuan’s assistance in persuading her father. He also believed that she had done him a great favor. However, little did he know that after meeting Li Haixiao, not only would he fail to secure the contract, but he would almost bankrupt his own company, facing immediate closure. Of course, this would come later.

Three days later, at the café beneath the Li Corporation building.

To spite him, it wasn’t until two in the afternoon that Li Haixiao decided to go to the café to see Old Master Zhang. Old Master Zhang’s secretary could hardly bear it anymore, but Elder Zhang was still sitting steadily in his chair: ”President, shall we go back? President Li probably won’t come. Waiting here is pointless. Let’s go back first and then contact President Li again. What do you think?”

The secretary had tried to persuade Elder Zhang more than once over the past few hours to stop waiting, but Elder Zhang stubbornly stayed put, knowing Li Haixiao would return.

”No need to go back. I believe Li Haixiao will return. Since he asked to meet, he will surely come back,” Elder Zhang said, then continued to sit and look outside, waiting for Li Haixiao to appear. Finally, the wait paid off.

Li Haixiao entered the café without a word and sat straight down. Old Master Zhang, trying to ingratiate himself, ordered a coffee for Li Haixiao, but what he did not expect was for Li Haixiao to immediately ask: ”President Zhang, as an elder, do you think it’s appropriate to take advantage of a junior just for the cooperation on that Nanxi plot?” Li Haixiao’s smile had a knife’s edge as he looked at Old Master Zhang, who felt chilled to the bone under that gaze, as if it could kill.

Elder Zhang had come for the contract, and seeing Li Haixiao’s demeanor, he had no choice but to lower his head: ”Yes, what President Li says is true.” Despite the humiliation, Elder Zhang still brazenly inquired about the partnership. Poor Elder Zhang had no idea that the purpose of today’s meeting was not to discuss partnership, but to settle the score for taking advantage of Li’s daughter.

”So, President Li, about the Nanxi partnership, do you think we could possibly...”

Li Haixiao looked at Old Master Zhang with contempt: ”Oh? Partnership? What partnership? I’m unaware of any cooperation. You dare to exploit my daughter and still have the nerve to discuss partnership with me?”

Old Master Zhang asked, ”Wasn’t it your secretary who made the appointment with me to discuss the cooperation for the Nanxi project? How come you don’t know about this?” Old Master Zhang asked, perplexed as he looked at Li Haixiao.

”Oh, you’re speaking of that matter? I know about that, but I’m sorry, our meeting today might be under the guise of discussing cooperation, but in reality, it’s about settling accounts. Just wait for my revenge!” Li Haixiao said and then left.

To secure the partnership for the Nanxi plot smoothly, Old Master Zhang had attended a meeting at his company early and rushed straight to the café afterward. Old Master Zhang arrived at the café at just nine in the morning. After hearing Li Haixiao’s words, Old Master Zhang sat down, numb, and even Old Master Zhang’s secretary couldn’t help but feel a silent sigh for him: ”Alas, President, your determination for this Nanxi partnership is truly fierce. Ever since President Li’s secretary made the appointment, you’ve hardly rested at all, constantly worried whether the contract could be secured, and whether there might be unforeseen circumstances during the negotiations. These past few days have felt like years. Finally, the day has come, and you’ve arrived so early to wait, but who knew that President Li wasn’t here to talk about cooperation, but to settle the account for you taking advantage of his precious daughter!”