☆, Chapter Forty-Five: Si Jiliang?

After leaving the hospital, Si Zuochen went straight to the tea restaurant. After learning that Jiang Ran was in a private room, he tried to get closer.

But as soon as I got to the door, I saw two bodyguards standing guard outside.

Seeing him approach, she immediately reached out to stop him from getting any closer.

Si Zuochen nodded, then looked puzzled as he left. He remembered that the woman had left alone, and it would be redundant for someone like Lu Ziyi to hire a bodyguard.

Thinking of this, he looked up at the private room, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes.

At the same time, as Jiang Ran entered the private room, she saw a man in a black suit leaning lazily against his seat.

The man slowly raised his head, and what came into view was a handsome and refined face. His dark eyes held a hint of disdain and doubt, and a wicked smile played on his lips, as if he were mocking something.

Jiang Ran stared at his face, slightly lost in thought. She had assumed that someone who could be a shareholder in the Si Group would be a greasy middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, but she hadn't expected him to be a handsome young man.

Seeing Jiang Ran in a daze, a hint of displeasure flashed across the man's face, and he said in a cold voice, "Mrs. Si, please sit down."

Jiang Ran snapped out of her daze and smiled slightly, then sat down opposite him.

Looking at the teacup in front of her, Jiang Ran remembered that she was in a weaker position, so she quickly picked up the tea and skillfully brewed it.

Si Jiliang watched her movements, raised an eyebrow slightly, and remained silent, just watching her make tea.

Jiang Ran wasn't in a hurry, and waited until she handed him the first cup of tea, saying, "Please."

Si Jiliang nodded slightly, and then saw Jiang Ran also pick up a cup of tea, but instead of drinking it directly, she held the teacup under her nose to savor the aroma of the tea.

Seeing this, Si Jiliang raised an eyebrow. She actually knew how to appreciate tea?

Wasn't she rumored to be arrogant, domineering, and incredibly rude?

But when he saw her today, he felt that she was different from the rumors. From the moment she entered the room, she was very tactful and did not get straight to the point and state the purpose of the meeting.

The tea-brewing and tea-tasting actions just now seemed very skillful, unlike those of a beginner.

Noticing the scrutiny in Si Jiliang's gaze, Jiang Ran smiled slightly, looked directly at him, and asked softly, "Still don't know how to address you?"

"My surname is Si, and my given name is Ji Liang."

His surname is Si?

A hint of doubt flashed across Jiang Ran's face. The surname Si was not common, and he was a shareholder. What was his relationship with the Si family?

Thinking of this, he pinched his fingers and calculated under the table, then frowned.

He actually was a member of the Si family, and his identity was extraordinary; he was also an illegitimate child.

But why have I never heard anyone mention it?

A hint of confusion flashed in Jiang Ran's eyes, and her gaze toward Si Jiliang became more inquisitive.

However, he showed no sign of it on his face, and looked at Si Jiliang, calling out directly, "Mr. Si."

Si Jiliang raised an eyebrow and asked, "Since you've already sold it, why are you going back on your word and want to buy it back?"

Jiang Ran was slightly taken aback, then realized that he was asking about the shares.

She lowered her eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, and replied, "I was just being impulsive before, but now I regret it and want to take it back."

Hearing her words, Si Jiliang scoffed, "So you think this is something you can just regret as you please?"

Sensing the hostility in his tone, Jiang Ran tilted her head and looked at him seriously: "That's why I wanted to discuss this with you."

"What if I don't want to?"

"We haven't even started talking yet, how can you draw such a conclusion?" Jiang Ran smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.

Upon hearing this, Si Jiliang became slightly interested, leaned back, crossed his arms, and asked, "Oh? Then tell me your conditions."

Jiang Ran lowered her eyes and remained silent for a moment before speaking, "I'm willing to add 10% to your original offer."

"Oh?" Si Jiliang raised his voice slightly at the end: "But considering the long-term interests of the Si Group, your 10% is nothing."

Jiang Ran frowned slightly as she listened to his words. Of course, she knew that the market price of stocks was rising rapidly.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but hate the original owner's stupidity again.

“Then I can raise it by another 5%.” Jiang Ran looked up at him.

Si Jiliang spread his hands and said bluntly, "Last time someone offered much more than you, but I didn't sell."

Hearing him say that, a look of understanding flashed in Jiang Ran's eyes.

"In that case, it seems that what you need is not money, but something else."

Hearing Jiang Ran guess his unspoken meaning, Si Jiliang looked at her with a hint of surprise.

She doesn't seem to be that stupid after all.

"Then guess what I need?" Si Jiliang asked with a slight smile.

Jiang Ran looked at him, raising an eyebrow slightly: "I can't guess, and I shouldn't guess."

"Can't we guess?" Si Jiliang asked with a hint of doubt. "Why do you say that?"

Jiang Ran pursed her lips and replied softly, "Everyone knows what you want, so the shares are no longer in your hands."

"But since you still hold the shares, it means that what you want is not something you can get easily. In exchange, it will naturally be no less valuable than the shares."

"What if I guessed correctly and got myself into trouble?"

Listening to Jiang Ran's reasoning, Si Jiliang's eyes lit up, and he began to look at her with new respect.

"But I'd like to know why you want to take back your shares?"

"Didn't I already answer?" Jiang Ran fiddled with her teacup, then replied, "I regret it."

Si Jiliang was not satisfied with this answer and continued, "Regret?"

"Is it regret that the stock price has risen? Or is it that you are worried that the matter of selling the Si family's stock without permission will be exposed and you will be condemned?"

"But as far as I know, you have never cared about what the Si family thinks of you. Since you dared to sell it back then, you naturally didn't worry about what would happen afterward."

Jiang Ran disliked nothing more than others analyzing her. Upon hearing this, she frowned and looked at Si Jiliang with displeasure.

"Sorry, neither is true," Jiang Ran said coldly.

"Isn't that right?" Si Jiliang's lips curled slightly, revealing a hint of disdain, and then he said sarcastically, "Then let me guess again, it's because Old Master Si gave you more shares."

He said he was going to guess, but what he said was a statement.

Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow. He actually knew?

Logically speaking, the number of people who should know that Mr. Si has decided to give him more shares is probably less than one hand.

And it wasn't announced to the public, so how could his news spread so quickly?

Thinking of his identity, Jiang Ran couldn't help but feel a little confused. Was it Old Master Si who told him personally, or did he have someone at the old mansion?

No wonder he agreed to meet her. I wonder if it was to mock her greed, or if she had something that could help him?

Seeing that Jiang Ran did not answer for a long time, Si Jiliangfu spoke again: "Well? Did I guess right this time?"