Gong Ming smiled faintly: "Are you so serious about everything?"
"After dinner, we'll be even, right? Otherwise, if Young Master Gong brings his men to my company again to demand an explanation, this matter will be unbearable."
Gong Ming leaned back in his chair and laughed out loud: "I won't do that again. After all, I have your contact information. Unless, I can't find you."
Lu Anning curled his lips: "Mr. Gong, between us..."
"I just returned home, don't you want to make friends with me? I heard that you were looking for someone to find out about me."
Lu An Ning was stunned. She had only asked Zhong Ling to find out, but she hadn't expected him to find out. At this moment, Lu An Ning felt like she had been caught doing something secretly.
Now that the truth has been revealed, Lu An Ning is too lazy to continue pretending.
"Why did I ask someone to inquire about Master Gong's situation? You should know better than anyone else!"
If there were no news, she wouldn't have the time to check on other men.
"So, here I am. If you want to know something, you might as well ask me in person instead of relying on hearsay, which is not accurate."
Lu Anning stared at him and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Are you sure you'll tell the truth no matter what I ask?"
Gong Ming shrugged: "Everyone is here, you can ask whatever you want. I have nothing to hide!"
Lu An Ning considered the truthfulness of Gong Ming's words and asked tentatively, "Why did you expose Professor An's past to the media reporters and prevent him from opening a Chinese medicine clinic?"
"This involves official business. The atmosphere is so good today, I think it's not appropriate to discuss official business. As for the other purpose, I have achieved it."
"What?"
"To get your attention!"
Lu Anning frowned even tighter, not believing this ridiculous reason at all.
So, it was related to official business. To put it bluntly, it was because opening a clinic affected their profits.
"Since we have different standpoints, why is Master Gong sitting here with me for dinner? Shouldn't it be said that if we have different ideologies, we cannot work together?"
"No one is an enemy forever! Even if we have different ideals, we can still negotiate. We're all businessmen, and it all comes down to profit. What do you think? When I first met Mr. Lu, I thought he was an interesting and lovely person. I actually wanted to make friends with him."
"Us? I'm afraid we're not suitable to be friends."
She looked at the hot tea that Gong Ming pushed over to her and didn't move.
"I'm a person who keeps public and private matters separate. Business matters aside, what about personal relationships? You haven't even gotten to know me, so how do you know we're not suitable to be friends? Professor An and my father got along very well when they were still in Kyoto. Later, they met again abroad. If this isn't fate, what else could it be? I think the connection between Mr. Lu and me is more than just this."
As the two chatted, the waiters brought the dishes in one after another. When Lu Anning saw the food on the table clearly, the look he gave Gong Ming became more complicated.
They had only just met, but Gong Ming had already chosen a table full of her favorite dishes for her, and even the flowers he had just given her were based on her preferences. It was obvious that Gong Ming had made sufficient preparations before coming to see her.
"Have you investigated me?"
"I should say, I do. I know a little bit about Mr. Lu's experiences, and it's only after hearing Mr. Lu's stories that I've become even more curious about you and have a certain admiration for you. I was originally worried about how to find an opportunity to meet Mr. Lu so that you would remember me. I didn't expect that we would meet by chance under such a special circumstances. Isn't this fate?"
"Gong Ming, what on earth do you want to do?"
"A businessman's goal is, of course, to make money. If Mr. Lu is willing, we can win together."
"The premise is, give up the idea of opening a clinic?"
Gong Ming waved his hand: "You can open a clinic, but it won't be like Professor An said, treating illnesses. I didn't accept disciples for nothing, and this illness can't be treated by just anyone. Otherwise, how can we highlight Professor An's status?"
It all comes down to money!
"I'm afraid Professor An and my brother wouldn't agree to what you're saying. This goes against the original intention of opening a clinic. Doctors should prioritize healing and saving lives. If they were just looking to make money, they wouldn't have opened a clinic and recruited apprentices."
When Gong Ming heard Lu An Ning's words, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Mr. Lu is such a joke! These days, there are still people who don't work for money. Who would complain about having too much money? The rules are like this, and you mean Professor An is going to break the market rules single-handedly? We are all smart people, but I still think it's better not to do something that you know is impossible. Mr. Lu, go back and persuade them more. Wouldn't it be great if we could all make money together?"
"What if I don't?"
Gong Ming's hand that was picking up the food paused for a moment. A cool breeze blew from somewhere, and Lu An Ning felt a chill all over his back.
He curled his lips and continued what he was doing.
"Don't rush to answer me! Perhaps, by then, Professor An will figure it out naturally. Many things cannot be easily changed just because you want to."
The conversation ended there, and Lu Anning had a rough idea of Gong Ming's stance. He was about to speak openly, realizing that they were most likely enemies. No wonder his mother had mentioned that she and Mr. Gong had previously disagreed on academic matters and positions, and that they had parted ways.
When we met today, it turned out that we were not of the same mind.
Lu Anning was also very clear that what his mother wanted to do was not something that could be accomplished overnight. She just wanted to try it out based on her own thoughts. And the person in front of him was standing on the opposite side of them.
Despite the exquisite dishes on the table, Lu Anning wasn't enjoying the meal. She just wanted the dinner to end quickly so she could avoid any more one-on-one contact with Gong Ming. She had a vague feeling that Gong Ming's eyes occasionally shone with danger, but when she tried to confirm it, she couldn't even detect the slightest trace.
Lu Anning was in a hurry to leave, but Gong Ming seemed to be stalling for time. Until Lu Anning's phone rang again and again. It was Tang Jingyuan, who was worried and asked when she would finish and come to pick her up.
Lu An Ning sent the location out casually. After a while, Gong Ming finally put down his chopsticks, but there was a hint of dissatisfaction between his brows.
"Your husband is watching you so closely, Mr. Lu, don't you usually have any free time at all?"
"He cares about me."
"Is it concern or distrust? Mr. Lu works so hard every day. As your husband, shouldn't he be more understanding? Besides, Mr. Tang San is also a businessman! He should understand the difficulties businessmen face."
Lu Anning listened with some displeasure and stood up immediately.
"That's enough! Master Gong, this is my personal matter, so I won't bother you with it. I'll transfer the price of this meal to you. We're even now!"
"Mr. Lu, you want to talk to me about money? This is my own place, and I have to reciprocate. Counting today's meal, Mr. Lu should owe me three. I'll remember that."
Gong Ming looked at Lu An Ning with a half-smile, showing no intention of distancing himself from the relationship. Only then did Lu An Ning realize that he seemed to be stuck.
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