"Did he just smile?"
Louis walked over to Xiao Yuanmu's side quickly. The half-eaten chocolate bar he had been secretly snacking on was still in his hand. He draped an arm over Yang Jie's shoulders, a shocked expression on his face. "Did Xiao really smile just now?"
Yang Jie glanced at him. Under Louis's dazzled expression, he nodded calmly.
"OMG!" Louis walked closer towards Xiao Yuanmu, sized up the other's lips, which still held a faint smile, and murmured, "Is Song Xuanhe some kind of god? I have to meet him."
"It'd be best if you didn't." Yang Jie followed after him and commented with an expressionless face.
Louis was puzzled. "Why?"
"No reason." Yang Jie turned around and spoke to Joe, who was currently checking the agenda. "Is Hoffman coming over today?"
Joe responded to his question while mentally organizing the meeting minutes. "Yes. If Mr. Hoffman doesn't get stuck in traffic, he should arrive within ten minutes."
Speak of the devil, and the devil shall come. Just as Joe had finished speaking, a secretary knocked on the door and quietly said, "Mr. Hoffman's car has already arrived downstairs. However, his bodyguards are unwilling to wait downstairs. They insist on coming up here with him.
"He has several people with him.
"Mr. Hoffman has brought seven people in total with him, including his bodyguards."
Joe nodded and walked over to pass on the message to Xiao Yuanmu. When Louis heard this, he said, "As expected from a member of the Hoffman family. What a large squad he's brought with him."
Xiao Yuanmu only nodded slightly and gave the following instructions: "It's fine. Let his subordinates come up with him. Brew Mr. Hoffman a cup of instant coffee as well."
Joe paused. Surprised, he asked, "Excuse me?"
"Do as you were told." Xiao Yuanmu's expression was cool. He had no intention of explaining himself.
Joe headed to Xiao Yuanmu's office and went to prepare the coffee. Louis asked, "Are you planning on teaming up with Hoffman? Won't this instant coffee cause his bodyguards to explode? After all, his bodyguards are likely from his mother's side."
Yang Jie was also worried. However, he had blind faith in Xiao Yuanmu. He thought that the other had his reasons for everything he did. Therefore, he was greatly displeased by Louis's doubt. "Xiao ge must have his reasons."
Reality would prove Yang Jie to be correct. Xiao Yuanmu did indeed have a reason for doing this. When Hoffman drank that cup of coffee, his face turned green.
Xiao Yuanmu's expression was cool. "What are you referring to in particular?"
It was extremely rude to publicly criticize one's host for their refreshments. Naturally, Hoffman, who had always been strict with himself, would not say such a thing out loud. He had no choice but to bear with the shoddy taste in his mouth that seemed like it would linger for days. But, he could hint at his meaning. "Everything."
Xiao Yuanmu remained calm and composed. He acted like he missed the other's implicit message. His lips curled up. "Thanks for the compliment."
Louis whispered to Yang Jie. "I believe that Xiao has his reasons. He hates Hoffman."
It was the first time Yang Jie had seen Xiao Yuanmu treat a guest like this. He cleared his throat and acted like he hadn't heard the conversation between Xiao Yuanmu and Hoffman just now. He chose to remain silent.
"Mr. Xiao, our time is extremely precious. You're Chinese. You Chinese people have an old saying: 'Open the door and see the mountain.' Therefore, I'll get right to it. I would like to obtain a monopoly of RE's new energy source in D Country. Of course, I'll compensate you appropriately. I've come in good faith with sincere intentions of being business partners with you. This is the contract. Have a look."
Hoffman was proficient in many languages. He spoke Chinese as if it was his mother tongue. His cold voice and slightly off intonation made him sound a bit similar to Xiao Yuanmu. However, the more he spoke, the less alike they became. Xiao Yuanmu was aloof and cold to the bone. Hoffman had been born with a noble and unapproachable air. The difference between them was striking.
Joe accepted the contract and brought it over to Xiao Yuanmu.
Xiao Yuanmu waved a hand, a cold expression on his face. "I don't sense any sincerity from the Hoffman Family."
Hoffman's expression also cooled down. "This has nothing to do with my family. I decided on it on my own."
"The Hoffman Family doesn't want to partake in the monopoly of this new energy source in D Country?" Xiao Yuanmu looked up, his long, straight lashes pointing in Hoffman's direction. A streak of ridicule flashed through his pitch-black, chilly eyes. There was a sharp glint to them.
Hoffman met Xiao Yuanmu's gaze. There was an oppressive light in his own eyes. "I had thought that Mr. Xiao's RE had nothing to do with the Xiao Family. But, it seems like I am wrong."
"Mr. Hoffman, you are right." Before Xiao Yuanmu could speak, Yang Jie had already spoken up, no expression on his face. "Mr. Xiao had started this company up from nothing. He has never received any help from the Xiao Family. RE is his and his only. It has nothing to do with the Xiao Family."
A cold light flickered through Hoffman's eyes. He didn't look at Yang Jie. He instead asked Xiao Yuanmu: "Is this how your subordinates act?"
The air grew tense.
Louis laughed. "Hoffman, this is America, not D Country. We aren't too strict with our rules. You've come to America for business before. You should know this."
When Hoffman saw the smile on Louis's face, the cold from Hoffman's face rescinded slightly. However, his tone was still unfriendly. "Why do you think that I am not being sincere? Or rather, why don't you think the Hoffman Family is sincere? I'd like an explanation."
"Mr. Hoffman, is the Hoffman Family involved with the Schroder Family?" Yang Jie asked.
Hoffman finally turned to look at Yang Jie. His gaze was stifling, and his voice was frosty. "Yes."
"Did you know that the Schroder Family had invented a new drug recently?"
Hoffman's expression changed slightly. A cold light flickered through his eyes. "The Schroder Family has said that they had abandoned the Southeast Asian route two months ago. I think there's a misunderstanding here."
'The Southeast Asian route' was another way to describe a drug-smuggling route.
"However, according to what I know, Schroder's new drug has already reached China."
"Impossible." Hoffman was certain. "The Hoffman Family has ceased all involvement in the smuggling business since two years ago. All of our previous routes have been dissolved. While the Schroder Family has dealt drugs behind our back in the past—as Mr. Louis should know, the Hoffman Family had already punished the Schroder Family. I don't think they would have the gall to do such a thing again."
Louis looked at Xiao Yuanmu. Xiao Yuanmu raised his hand, and Yang Jie went to grab something.
Hoffman slowly accepted the box Yang Jie brought over. When he saw the syringe inside, his expression changed, and a cold light appeared. "This is from the Schroder Family's labs."
Louis raised a hand and pointed to the sky. "This is evidence."
Hoffman closed the box back up and handed it over to the person behind him. He examined Xiao Yuanmu thoughtfully. "Indeed, this syringe belongs to the Schroder Family, but I still need to inspect the contents. There's one thing I don't understand, however. Even if the Schroder Family is still manufacturing drugs, what does that have to do with our partnership?"
"There's obviously a connection," Xiao Yuanmu said in a flat voice, "The Schroder Family's actions make me highly suspect of the Hoffman Family's—and in particular, Mr. Hoffman's ability to see the big picture. Although the Schroder Family is a minor group, they are still one of your subsidiaries. Not only will I connect their actions to the Hoffman Family, but other people will also do the same. Moreover, it makes me doubt your sincerity with regards to your intent to partner with RE."
Hoffman's gaze grew frigid. He got up. "Although Mr. Xiao is not telling the truth, I will still give you a satisfactory reply."
Xiao Yuanmu also got up. He shook Hoffman's hand before pulling his hand back quickly.
"Take care."
"I can't say that today's meeting was a pleasant one." Hoffman's expression was grave and stern. "But, I look forward to our next meeting."
After Hoffman's party had left, Yang Jie went to stand next to Xiao Yuanmu, a guilty expression on his face. "Xiao ge, sorry. I shouldn't have interrupted."
Xiao Yuanmu's expression was one of indifference. He was still looking in the direction that Hoffman had gone, a pensive look in his eyes. "It's fine."
Yang Jie furrowed his brows and said, "The Xiao Family banquet is tomorrow. You'll see Mr. Hoffman again there. The other members of the Hoffman Family will also be present. If he were to mention the partnership again, you...."
"He won't."
Yang Jie turned to look at Louis's grinning face. Louis batted his eyes and asked, "Want to bet?"
"No." Yang Jie looked away. Concern appeared in his eyes. "Xiao ge, if Hoffman looks into the drug, he'll discover Mr. Song. He'll probably realize why you refused to cooperate with him. Wouldn't that put Mr. Song in danger?"
"No."
Yang Jie turned to look at Louis again. "Trust me. There's no need to make a bet over this. Jung Hoffman's a smart man. He wouldn't do something that stupid."
"What do you think he'll do then?"
"I'm not him, how would I know?" Louis said, "But, what I do know is that what you're worried about won't happen. The people who should be worried are the Schroder Family, who had transported the drug into China, and the two who had tried to hurt Xiao's boyfriend with it."
Xiao Yuanmu said in a flat voice, "He has a name."
Louis raised a brow. Who knew what he recalled, but his voice took on a teasing tone. "What did Mr. Song say to you earlier? I've never seen you smile like that before.... You looked head-over-heels."
When Yang Jie had heard this, his ears also pricked up. To tell the truth, although he'd seen Xiao Yuanmu smile a few times before, that had only ever been in private. He had never seen the other smile like that in front of so many other people before.
When Xiao Yuanmu recalled what Song Xuanhe had said in a tone that suggested he had pent-up grievances, he smiled again. Light seemed to radiate from his eyes.
"Just what did he say?" Louis was even more curious upon seeing Xiao Yuanmu's expression. "Did he tell you he loves you? No, right? It's normal for lovers to tell each other 'I love you.' That probably wouldn't make your eyes light up like this."
Xiao Yuanmu looked at Louis. There was now a look of confusion in his jet-black eyes. He asked in an uncertain tone, "Is it normal for couples to tell each other 'I love you?'"
"Of course." Louis nodded. When he saw Xiao Yuanmu's expression though, he hesitated for a second before widening his eyes and saying, "Have you guys never said it before?!"
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