Chapter 223 Not Good News
Meng Anran put down her chopsticks, picked up her teacup and took a sip. "Business is like a battlefield, it all depends on your ability. If my dad couldn't even withstand this little storm, there's no way he could succeed in starting a business."
She spoke calmly, as if she was talking about today's weather.
Qin Mu suddenly spoke up, "Dingfeng is coming with such force this time, I'm afraid this matter won't be easily resolved. An Ran, you'd better get the details from your uncle so that you can prepare for any emergency."
Meng Anran rested her elbows on the table, her fingertips tracing the rim of the cup, and nodded thoughtfully, "Yeah, I know."
As dinner was coming to an end, Meng Anran's phone suddenly vibrated.
She glanced at the caller ID, frowned slightly, stood up and said, "Sorry, I have to take a call."
She walked outside the hot pot restaurant and to the corner of the fire escape next to it.
"Miss An, I have some news that might interest you." Situ Huajian's voice, as elegant and mellow as the low hum of a cello, came from the phone: "It's about your father's company."
Meng Anran leaned lazily against the wall and said, "Tell me about it."
"Dingfeng Group's Zhao Zhide contacted your father for dinner. Did you know about this?"
"Um."
"Hot Wheels was on the news within half an hour of the accident, and Zhao Zhide contacted your father as soon as he received the news."
Meng Anran's pupils froze, and a cold light flashed in his eyes, "You mean... Zhao Zhide is not the mastermind?"
"Zhao Zhide is just taking advantage of the situation. There's someone else behind the scenes." Situ Huajian paused and lowered his voice, "I heard that Hengyi Group has also recently entered the automotive parts industry."
Meng Anran raised her eyebrows slightly. With that said... she would have to suspect Lu Heng.
It can not only bankrupt Mengrong, but also give Hengyi Group an opportunity to take advantage of it, killing two birds with one stone.
"You are well-informed." She chuckled and seemed to be interested.
"People in the same industry always have some ways of knowing things that the outside world doesn't know." Situ Huajian said slowly, "Of course, these are just superficial clues. To determine whether it is the work of Hengyi Group, you need to dig up the definitive evidence yourself."
"Thanks. I owe you a favor."
After hanging up the phone, Meng Anran turned around and went back to the hot pot restaurant.
Qin Mu was looking down at his phone. When he saw her come back, he looked up and smiled slightly: "What's wrong? Is it good news?"
Meng Anran sat back in her seat, picked up the teacup and took a sip, then said lightly: "Not really, it's just a small matter."
…
High-end private club, top-level private rooms.
The crystal chandelier reflected a cold light, which was reflected on Zhao Zhide's half-smile face.
He slowly and methodically cut the steak on the plate, the tip of the knife making a slight scratching sound as it scraped across the porcelain plate.
Meng Rong sat opposite him, his face calm, his knuckles tapping lightly on the table, the rhythm neither fast nor slow, like a silent countdown.
"Brother Meng," Zhao Zhide suddenly spoke in a low voice, with a hint of persuasion, "The Hot Wheels incident has caused quite a stir."
Meng Rong didn't even raise his eyelids. He picked up the teacup and took a sip, saying lightly: "The ups and downs of the business world are normal."
Zhao Zhide smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. He put down his knife and fork, leaning forward slightly, the watch on his cuff gleaming coldly in the light.
"If Hot Wheels is willing to cooperate with us and use Dingfeng's raw materials..." He tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, "costs will be reduced by 30%, profits will double, and we can also help you deal with public opinion."
Meng Rong finally raised her eyes to look at him, her gaze as sharp as a knife, "Mr. Zhao, did you plan this all along?"
Zhao Zhide was not in a hurry, but smiled more gently, but his eyes were filled with the coldness of a venomous snake.
"You misunderstood me." He leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed. "I just feel sorry for you."
"Oh?" Meng Rong raised his eyebrows slightly and stared at the other person warily.
Zhao Zhide sighed and shook his head, saying, "Ms. An Ran is truly amazing. At such a young age, she's already a powerful figure in the business world. Even a seasoned veteran like me has to avoid her."
He paused, his eyes piercing Meng Rong, his tone suddenly sharp -
"But Brother Meng, are you willing?"
Meng Rong paused with his knuckles, his eyes slightly gloomy.
Zhao Zhide pressed on, his voice low and alluring: "When people outside mention you, the first thing they think of is Meng Anran's father.
"At least you once belonged to a wealthy family. If you go bankrupt and fall into poverty, no one will remember your name even if you make a comeback."
"They will just think that you are only able to run a small business by relying on your daughter."
As soon as the words fell, there was dead silence in the box.
Mengrong slowly put down the teacup, and the bottom of the cup touched the table, making a slight sound.
His eyes remained calm, but his knuckles were turning slightly white.
Zhao Zhide observed his reaction, a triumphant smile appeared on his lips, and he continued to add fuel to the fire: "Brother Meng, as a father, you also want to be famous and have the ability to protect your daughter, instead of hiding under her umbrella, right?
"As long as Hot Wheels and Dingfeng cooperate, I guarantee that within six months, you'll be mentioned in the business world as someone who can stand on equal footing with the heads of several major groups. No one will say you're just riding on your daughter's coattails anymore."
The box was silent, with only the slight sound of the air conditioner running.
Meng Rong slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sharp: "Director Zhao, provoking me won't work on me."
Zhao Zhide chuckled nonchalantly, "Whether it's a provocation or not, you know it yourself."
He stood up and straightened his suit. "You should reconsider the cooperation. But... time waits for no one, not even Hot Wheels can wait."
He smiled meaningfully, left a cooperation plan, pushed it in front of Mengrong, and turned to leave.
Mengrong sat alone in the box, staring at the plan in front of him with deep eyes.
After a while, his rough fingers finally turned to the first page of the plan.
Little did they know that their conversation had already been overheard by the people outside the door, and the content of the conversation had gone around and around and finally fell into Meng Anran's ears.
After the hot pot dinner, Qin Mu drove Meng Anran back home. She sat in the passenger seat and looked at the WeChat message sent by Situ Huajian, her eyes becoming increasingly gloomy.
"An Xiaoran, you don't look well." Qin Mu glanced at her. He could always easily detect her emotional changes.
Meng Anran put away her phone, her voice cold: "I'm not going back to Lihuayuan, take me home."
"Is there any news from my uncle?" Qin Mu asked, turning the steering wheel half a circle and controlling the car to turn around and drive in another direction.
Meng Anran pinched his brow bone and sighed: "It's not good news."
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