Chapter 68

After visiting Tang Ruxin, Tang Jiulin began to fully promote the acquisition of Donghe Refining and Chemical, completing the internal decision-making process in just two days. However, the draft contract from the acquirer has not yet been released, stuck on the amount of liquidated damages.

Neither party would make any concessions. The acquirer insisted on setting the amount of liquidated damages at 30% of the transaction amount, while Donghe Refining insisted on setting it at 30% of the actual loss amount.

Tang Jiulin asked Luo Yi to meet him.

Luo Yi avoided meeting him, refusing three times before reluctantly agreeing, and even pushed the meeting time to after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Tang Jiulin couldn't wait that long, so he went straight to the door of his hotel to block him.

Luo Yi wasn't surprised that Tang Jiulin showed up in the hotel lobby; he was surprised that he'd brought Tang Ruxin with him. It seemed Tang Jiulin was even more anxious than he'd anticipated, desperate enough to resort to any means necessary.

The three of them went to the hotel's rooftop cafe to talk. The sky was bright outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, and the sunlight, neither too strong nor too weak, poured down, enveloping everyone with warmth.

"Mr. Luo, I won't beat around the bush. What exactly do you mean?" Tang Jiulin went straight to the point without any greetings.

"My requirements are within industry standards." Luo Yi said calmly with a professional smile on his face.

"The current agreed acquisition amount is already far lower than the actual valuation, and the penalty is still 30% of the acquisition amount. Isn't that a bit too much?" Tang Jiulin looked grim, but he still maintained his patience.

"Chairman Tang, have you already made plans to breach the contract?" Luo Yi said jokingly.

Tang Jiulin tugged at his tie irritably, picked up the water cup and took a sip, then paused for a moment before continuing:

"Mr. Luo, that's pointless. You can't be unaware of the magnitude of the risk of an accident with a refining facility. Even if I promised not to breach the contract, would you believe me? If you did, why would you insist so much on liquidated damages?"

Seeing Tang Jiulin speak frankly, Luo Yi stopped playing Tai Chi and said directly:

"That's why I'm insisting. The possibility of further accidents at Donghe Refining and Chemical is too high. Now it's under supervision. Will production be halted or even shut down later? If the acquisition really ends up being terminated, what will happen to the manpower and resources I invested in the early stages?"

"Calculate it based on the actual loss. This is what I have always insisted on. I can even not pay the 30% compensation as required by the industry. I will pay you based on your actual loss." Tang Jiulin said immediately.

Luo Yi smiled, clasped his hands together and placed them on the transparent dining table. He said, "A break-even business is acceptable between family members. But between you and me, there's no such relationship."

Tang Ruxin remained silent throughout the whole time, concentrating on eating and drinking. Only after hearing this did she look up and glance at Luo Yi, with a half-smile on her lips, as if she was going to put the pressure on her.

Although Tang Jiulin brought her here to play the emotional card, she was still unhappy about being forced to do so by Luo Yi.

Two months ago, even asking her to drink and smile wouldn't be a problem, let alone a few nice words. It was just work. But now, even though she was suspended from work, she still had to kowtow for Donghe Refining. It was hard to convince herself. If she didn't contribute at all, she would seem unfilial.

"He's right." Tang Ruxin said to Tang Jiulin.

Seeing the corner of Tang Jiulin's mouth twitch, if it weren't for the public place, he would probably raise his crutches again.

Luo Yi's expression was very subtle, and he seemed a little confused.

"As of yesterday, all issues listed for municipal supervision have been rectified. The Emergency Management Bureau and the government will come to inspect and remove the listing next week. We've already arranged an investigation into similar issues. All existing similar issues will be resolved in at most two weeks, and revisions to the relevant emergency response plan are also underway." Tang Ruxin propped her chin up and looked at Luo Yi, smiling. "If Mr. Luo is still concerned, the closing conditions could include a requirement for the number of existing hidden dangers at all levels at the facility. As long as the number isn't too extreme, Donghe Refining will definitely give Mr. Luo a satisfactory answer."

Luo Yi silently observed Tang Ruxin for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the floor-to-ceiling window beside him. Tang Ruxin had changed dramatically, so much so that it took him by surprise. It hadn't been noticeable on New Year's Eve; he'd only thought she was still playful and ungrateful. But today, she had a deep heart, a gaze as serene as a mountain.

She disdains playing the emotional card. Or perhaps, she no longer has any feelings for him, so she can't play it.

The little girl who always followed him around and made trouble, the little girl who vowed to be with him, has now grown up to be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. For the first time in so many years, he began to doubt his previous decision.

"Adding delivery conditions will inevitably extend the acquisition time." Luo Yi said slowly, suddenly losing interest. "I'm not in a hurry. As long as Chairman Tang can wait."

This meant she had agreed. Tang Ruxin thought she had completed her mission and lowered her head to continue eating and drinking. However, Tang Jiulin blurted out the word "no", which stunned Tang Ruxin.

She turned to look at Tang Jiulin, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Are you drunk?"

Tang Jiulin waved his hand and said to Luo Yi, "Let's add a supplementary agreement to the contract annexes, stipulating the date for meeting the required number of hidden dangers. Try not to extend the contract signing date, okay?"

"What's your rush?" Tang Ruxin asked doubtfully. "It'll only take a month at most. It won't be too long. This acquisition is already progressing at a breakneck speed. Which listed company can complete an acquisition in just two months?"

"You don't understand!" Tang Jiulin dismissed her with just three words.

Tang Ruxin wanted to flip the table. This old man only used people from the front and not from the back. If it were someone else, she would have slapped him in the face.

Luo Yi tilted his head and thought for a moment before saying, "The liquidated damages in the supplementary agreement are 30% of the transaction amount. If you agree, I'll have the legal department draft the contract."

Tang Jiulin didn't hesitate for too long and agreed with a stomping of his feet.

After the discussion, Tang Jiulin left without saying a word. However, Tang Ruxin did not follow him, saying that she still wanted to catch up with Luo Yi.

Tang Ruxin held the spoon and stirred the coffee slowly, her eyes wandering wantonly on Luo Yi's face, not hiding her inquiry at all.

"How did you know that Donghe Refining was for sale?" Tang Ruxin looked at him and asked.

"Of course it was Tang Jiulin who said that."

"He contacted you specifically, saying that Donghe Refining was for sale and asked you to buy it?"

Luo Yi paused, didn't answer, and kept a secretive smile on his face. "Why don't you ask Tang Jiulin?"

"Compared to the victims, asking the vested interests is of course more helpful in getting the truth." Tang Ruxin picked up the coffee cup and took a sip. For some reason, she felt that it was not as delicious as Yu Lei's instant coffee.

The smile on Luo Yi's face faded a little, "Do you doubt me?"

"Shouldn't it?" Tang Ruxin clasped her fingers together, supporting her chin. "You know the root cause of Donghe Refining's predicament, and the only one who has benefited from this whole thing so far is you."

"I thought I'd be the beneficiary, but in reality, I'm not." Luo Yi spread his hands, his tone helpless. "Investment is risky. Buying doesn't guarantee profit. At least at this stage, I can't get any substantial returns, right?"

"Then why did you buy it?" Tang Ruxin smiled. "Generally, acquisitions of listed companies require equity transfers to trigger a tender offer. But tender offers take a long time, and Tang Jiulin was anxious to make a move, so he chose a negotiated acquisition, which greatly shortened the time. There are many people willing to acquire Donghe Refining at this price. Is the reason he chose you related to something you know?"

Luo Yi's eyes revealed undisguised admiration. He chuckled and said, "The answers you couldn't get from Tang Jiulin, you can get from me too. If you want, you can still stay out of this. In fact, none of this has anything to do with you in the first place."

"But it has something to do with my brother." Tang Ruxin said.

Luo Yi's smile instantly cracked. He was silent for a long time before he lowered his eyes and said:

"I don't understand what you're saying."

"What are you so nervous about?" Tang Ruxin's smile grew wider. She leaned forward and pressed her elbows on the table. "My brother Yu Zhe, the one lying in the hospital."

Luo Yi was stunned for a moment, with a flash of regret in his eyes. He picked up the coffee and took a sip, suppressing the curse words that were about to come out of his throat.

Ever since he first taught Tang Ruxin and Yu Zhe, she had never called Yu Zhe "Brother." A day without a bloody fight was considered peaceful. If he suddenly called him "Brother," he'd be surprised if he could realize it was Yu Zhe.

I thought I understood her growth well enough, but I didn't expect that I still underestimated her.