Chapter 175 The Contest Between Two Men Officially Begins

restroom.

Both of them took off their hair clips, put them in the basket next to them, and tidied up their stray hairs.

Xiao Xia was much gentler this time, and didn't pull out a single hair from her own head.

"Before we announce the official cooperation between our two companies, why don't you go and demonstrate our new product?" Ji Ying said to Xiao Xia.

“That won’t do. You should show everyone your research findings,” Xiao Xia said.

Ji Ying smiled gently, "The company belongs to us, and you are the head. Having you demonstrate will increase your exposure, which is also good for the company's brand enhancement."

Xiao Xia understood her intention and then agreed.

At this moment, Shen Aizhu walked in from outside.

She glanced at the basket placed between the two of them on the sink.

She walked over and stepped between the two of them.

Xiao Xia frowned and glanced at her, but she looked at Ji Ying instead.

"Miss Ji, what a coincidence! I never expected to run into you here," she said with a smile.

Ji Ying's smile was faint. "It is indeed a coincidence that we deliberately came to the restroom to meet. 90% of the time, it's because we have something bad in our stomachs and need to poop."

Shen Aizhu was speechless. Her smile vanished instantly. She turned to leave, but her hand "accidentally" knocked over the bamboo basket on the sink.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

She crouched down to pick it up, and quickly removed the hair from the hair clip as she did so.

She could remember both hair clips: Xiao Xia's was diamond, and Ji Ying's was pearl.

The removed hair was placed separately in the inner and outer layers of the handbag.

There's definitely no mistake.

She moved quickly; to Ji Ying and Xiao Xia, she simply picked up the things on the ground.

"The hair clips inside weren't broken, sorry."

After saying that, she put the bamboo basket back on the sink and left.

Ji Ying remained silent, not even glancing at her, and took her hair clip and put it back.

However, Xiao Xia discovered a problem: the hair on the hair clip had been removed.

She glanced in the direction Shen Aizhu had left, wondering about something but unsure, so she didn't tell Ji Ying.

After touching up their makeup, the two returned to the event venue.

The emcee then began to preside over the official announcement ceremony.

"First, let's invite Mr. Xia from QingSui Power to the stage to demonstrate one of their company's latest R&D products."

Xiao Xia confidently stepped onto the stage and presented a "high energy density solid-state battery pack".

"The solid-state battery developed by our company can provide instantaneous high-power support for large data centers, high-performance computing and AI training, and its performance is more stable and safer."

She had barely finished speaking when someone in the audience interrupted her.

"This level of instantaneous power is currently only theoretical. How do you plan to prove it?"

Xiao Xia raised an eyebrow slightly. "If we use it on airborne directed energy weapons, its energy output will be just as sufficient. Are you satisfied with this answer?"

The other person stopped talking.

If the QingSui product is indeed true, it will solidify QingSui Power's leading technological position in the industry.

The demonstration then ended amidst applause and exclamations of admiration from the crowd.

Immediately afterwards, President Tang came up on stage.

"It is an honor for Xueqiong Titanium Energy to reach a strategic cooperation with Qingsui Power. Next, please allow me to invite our group's founder and chairman, who is also the most important driving force behind this cooperation, to the stage to witness this moment with Mr. Xia."

Just as Xiao Xia and Ji Ying were surprised that Xue Qiong, the chairman of Titanium Energy, would personally come to the scene, the door next to them slowly opened.

Gu Yanchen walked in from outside the door, dressed in a high-end suit.

He was completely different from his previous disheveled appearance.

Not only Ji Ying and Xiao Xia, but everyone present was surprised.

The giant ship Chen Xi sank, and the entire Gu family lost power. But Gu Yanchen appeared here under a different identity.

Xueqiong Titanium Energy couldn't have grown so large overseas overnight; in other words, Gu Yanchen's plan to extricate himself from the Gu family's quagmire began several years ago.

His wife at the time, Ji Ying, was completely unaware of this.

After taking the stage, Gu Yanchen gave Ji Ying a meaningful look before confidently and calmly speaking: "Hello everyone, Xueqiong Titanium Energy's development focus has been overseas in the past, but this collaboration with Qingsui Power is a landmark step in our strategic shift to the domestic market. Director Ji, our relationship is far from over."

Ji Ying's face was pale, and her hands trembled slightly as they hung down.

Xiao Xia gritted her teeth in anger.

I never imagined that preventing him from extending his reach into the company would lead to this pitfall.

However, at that moment, Xue Qin walked out from the crowd below the stage.

To everyone's surprise, Liang Yizhi's secretary was also there, so they automatically made way for Xue Qin to walk onto the stage.

Xue Qin took out an agreement and handed it to Ji Ying.

"Mr. Liang is very optimistic about the future of your company's battery technology. Welcome to the Fuxi Energy Association."

Ji Ying looked down and saw a "Membership Agreement".

Its terms are generous, especially the clause "ensuring unlimited support for research and development funds," which makes this agreement not only substantial but also dazzling, making it the envy of its peers.

Before Ji Ying could speak, Xiao Xia snatched the agreement away. "Sign it, sign it now. I have the company seal with me."

Xue Qin smiled and nodded.

Ji Ying subconsciously scanned the entire room but did not see Liang Yizhi.

He must still be in Beijing and unable to leave, which is why he sent Xue Qin on this trip.

Gu Yanchen naturally understood Liang Yizhi's move.

The real contest between the two men was just beginning.

"Congratulations to QingSui Power."

A faint smile appeared on Gu Yanchen's face as he spoke with utmost politeness.

Next was time for free conversation.

Liang Jian and Shen Aizhu left early, while Ji Ying and Xiao Xia were surrounded by the crowd.

Before long, Ji Ying had a thick stack of business cards in her hand.

Others who wanted to add her on WeChat were turned away by Xiao Xia.

Xiao Xia handled the crowd with ease. Seeing that Ji Ying's forehead was covered with a fine layer of sweat, she took the initiative to draw all the attention, allowing Ji Ying to quietly slip away from everyone's sight.

Ji Ying went to the restroom to wash her face. When she came out, she ran into Gu Yanchen, who was standing against the wall.

She instinctively took two steps back.

Seeing her wary look, Gu Yanchen sneered, "Even with Liang Yizhi's interference, I will not give up on you. Yingying, I want you to know one thing: I didn't marry you for profit; I truly love you."

Ji Ying looked at him with disdain, as if she had heard something absurd.

"You knew perfectly well that the Gu family was rotten to the core and that your chances of turning things around were slim, so you paved your way out long ago, so you could extricate yourself safely regardless of success or failure. But as for me, you just watched me struggle in the quagmire, leaving me to fend for myself, never considering me for a second. Now, where did you get the nerve to say you like me?"

Gu Yanchen was not embarrassed by her accusations, but stubbornly said, "Whether you choose me or Liang Yizhi, you have to learn how to be a qualified 'wealthy wife'. If you put feelings first, you won't survive. I'm teaching you the rules of survival, but you only think I'm heartless."

Ji Ying gave a cold laugh. "If following your rules leads to ending up like you, all alone? You're truly a living advertisement for that theory. Keep this good stuff for yourself!"

After saying that, she turned and walked away.

Gu Yanchen stood behind her and said slowly, "One day, you will realize that I am the only one who is truly good to you."

Ji Ying walked very fast with a tense expression, as if she couldn't bear to stay even a moment longer.

Just as she passed a closed door, a large hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and quickly pulled her into the room next to her.