"Xiao Luo, it's now time to pay for your reckless action!"
Xu Le glared at Xiao Luo, seething with flames of anger in his eyes, and, given half a chance, he would skin Xiao Luo alive if he could. As he had the backing of Shen Xingqing, he felt reassured when meeting Shen Qingyan to report the incident. "President Shen, I had a disagreement with Xiao Luo in the office earlier, and he suddenly assaulted me using his martial arts training. He even broke a pot of cactus over my head and caused me to bleed non-stop. I seek president Shen's judgment for appropriate action to be taken against him!"
This was nothing but a show as he already had Shen Xingqing's support. However, the person-in-charge of Huayao Corporation was Shen Qingyan, so Xu Le still had to go through the process of formally explaining to her.
Shen Qingyan looked at Xiao Luo with grave concern as no company could tolerate such abusive conduct and behavior, going so far as to even harm fellow employees within the office premises. But, what was actually on Shen Qingyan's mind was that she could not understand why Xiao Luo had such a savage streak, and what made him so ferocious? He wasn't a hooligan; in fact, he looked like a decent, gentlemanly sort of person. Could Yang Hongzhi's case be really related to him?
"Xiao Luo, did you assault him?"
Mao Jianyi questioned Xiao Luo with an accusing tone.
"I did, but..."
"You're an utter disappointment, no matter what reason you come up with, assaulting your colleague in the office is definitely wrong!"
Mao Jianyi interrupted him and chose to side with Xu Le without hesitation, he pleaded to Shen Qingyan, "President Shen. Mr. vice-president is right about Xiao Luo being a complete hooligan. If we don't enforce severe punishment for such behavior, it would surely harm the company's bonding and working environment!"
Such a drastic change in stance caught Xiao Luo off guard. However, after he saw Mao Jianyi, Xu Le, and Shen Xingqing making dubious eye contact, he realized that these people were birds of the same feathers, which gave him a better idea of what to do about it.
Shen Qingyan was at a loss and could not arrive at a suitable resolution, so she asked, "Xiao Luo, what do you have to say in your defense?"
"Whatever this little jerk says does not matter! Niece, let me handle this matter entirely—I shall order the HR department to fire him, then file a police report and send him behind bars for a good month."
There was a look of complete satisfaction in the way Shen Xingqing smiled mirthlessly. He then stared coldly at Xiao Luo and said, "Don't ever think that you can walk out of Huayao Corporations unharmed after causing such a mess. Hah, you have clearly overestimated your capabilities!"
"Shen Xingqing, how dare you take such action without clearing with my office! Does my opinion not matter, or do you wish for me to call for a board meeting and force you to step down?" Shen Qingyan screamed. She clenched her jaw in fury as it was evident that Shen Xingqing was aiming to annoy her through this incident. Although outwardly, it seemed like he was messing with Xiao Luo, Shen Xingqing was actually targeting her, which was the only thing he was good at.
Shen Xingqing shrugged, returning her the authority to handle this matter. He then sat down and crossed his legs to wait for Shen Qingyan's decision.
"Xiao Luo, go on," Shen Qingyan said.
"I don't have much to say. Yes, I did assault Xu Le, and should the same thing happen again, I would still do it," Xiao Luo replied, smiling.
Shen Qingyan did not press him further and turned to Xu Le, "Mr. Xu, why did Xiao Luo assault you?"
"It was due to some difference in our opinions," Xu Le answered.
"What kind of difference in opinions? Be specific, recount every single detail of what happened in the office earlier—clearly and completely!" Shen Qingyan ordered.
Shen Qingyan had climbed to the position of president Huayao Corporation through sheer tenacity and her very own unique capabilities. So, when she took on a serious demeanor, she would exude an overpowering dominance over others. Xu Le shivered where he stood and felt that his career was at stake.
"Your turn!"
Shen Qingyan looked over to Xu Le's best friend.
That man may have been close to Xu Le, but he did not side with Shen Xingqing, so he was relatively neutral. He did not dare to lie in front of Huayao Corporation's president, so he recounted every single detail of the incident in the office.
After listening to him, Shen Qingyan smiled wryly and glared at Xu Le. "That was not a case of difference in opinion, but rather, you purposely taunted him. You insulted him first, and he reacted aggressively, so what's your problem?" she asked.
"I..."
Xu Le was stunned, and he could not understand how this had all suddenly turned against him.
"You are also a group leader yourself, but instead of working with your colleagues, you went around insulting and mocking them on purpose. Do you have so much free time on your hands, Mr. Xu? Did the company not assign you any task at all?" Shen Qingyan chastised Xu Le, and every point she made hit home.
Xu Le broke into a cold swear and turned to Shen Xingqing and Mao Jianyi for help.
"Cough... Niece, your words are too strong. Mr. Xu has been a diligent employee of the company and worked tirelessly for a long time. He once was even hospitalized due to alcohol poisoning from drinking with a potential customer to secure a business deal. Mr. Mao was the witness, right?" Shen Xingqing said.
"Yes...yes..."
Mao Jianyi answered in a somewhat unnatural tone as even though he was on Shen Xingqing's side, he was also very fearful of Shen Qingyan. It did not feel comfortable sitting on the fence and get pulled apart by two forces.
"Mr. Xu is an exemplary employee of our company and the one that others should emulate for his spirit of service. Also, the company ought to hire more talents like Mr. Xu, as this would allow him to take a break from time to time, am I right?" Shen Xingqing spoke very highly of Xu Le, and he had almost described Xu Le as the perfect employee.
Xu Le felt a little insecure about the appraisal and wondered if he was really that good.
"Hahaha..."
Xiao Luo could not help but burst out in laughter, and when he realized everyone was looking over, he tried to contain himself and waved his hand in apology. "I'm sorry, so sorry... this is just hilarious. Usually, I would not laugh inappropriately, but this is too much. I really can't control myself," he said.
Xu Le's face blushed a livid red as he stared at Xiao Luo with his jaw clenched. The more perfect Shen Xingqing had described him, the more embarrassed he felt when Xiao Luo laughed. Xiao Luo had practically dragged him down from heaven to hell in a matter of seconds.
Shen Xingqing was infuriated and yelled, "You little jerk, you're too much! Get him to the police station now!"
"Vice-president Shen, aren't you afraid of being asked to step down?" Xiao Luo sneered.
Shen Xingqing was caught off guard as Xiao Luo sounded very confident, so he immediately stopped his security guards from apprehending Xiao Luo. He walked up and questioned Xiao Luo, "What do you mean by that?"
Xiao Luo did not care to address him and turned to face Shen Qingyan instead. "President Shen, I'll take care of the contract with the maternity and child health care center, but you have to keep your promise. If I can secure this contract, I would draw a ten percent commission," he said.
"How confident are you?" she asked.
"About seventy to eighty percent," he responded.
Mao Jianyi stared coldly and said, "What an arrogant fellow, you're going to pay for your arrogance."
"Well, I am not going to pay for anything, but I am sure that some people are paying for their wrongdoings," Xiao Luo retorted.
He was more than happy to prove these people wrong and, at the same time, earn an extra commission of seventeen million.
"Little jerk, you're just trying to play the fool, go tell that to the police!" Shen Xingqing signaled the security guards, and they moved toward Xiao Luo.
"I finally understand why the Shen family only appointed you as the vice-president. It is because you are essentially... stupid. I am sure the entire board of directors would not be too happy to hear about losing the maternity and child health care center deal. And when they learn that you were the main reason for losing this deal, do you actually think that they will let you go unscathed?" Xiao Luo questioned.
Shen Xingqing was so angry that he started laughing, "Little jerk, you think too highly of yourself. Do you actually think that you can take the meat right out of Renhe Medicines' mouth and secure that deal? Don't be absurd!"
...
Guo Xingqing laughed so loud that it could be heard from every corner in the office.
Mao Jianyi laughed along, for it was an accepted fact was that Guo Taining would undoubtedly sign the contract with Renhe Medicines. What Mao Jianyi had just done was merely to give Xiao Luo some encouragement, for Shen Qingyan's sake. And, in truth, he had no faith in Xiao Luo securing this contract at all.
"I believe in him!" Shen Qingyan said.
There were firm convictions and determination in Shen Qingyan's eyes, and her words immediately stunned Xiao Luo's disparagers and silenced the office in an instant.
Shen Xingqing smiled condescendingly and said, "Niece, don't be fooled by the likes of him. Uncle will take care of this hooligan, and I'll make sure he goes behind the bar."
"I'm not being fooled by him, and if he cannot secure the contract with the maternity and child health care center, then nobody else in this company can."
Shen Qingyan had a strong faith in Xiao Luo ever since the Wild Wolf Mountain race, where he won the race driving only a Trumpchi. That particular scene of Xiao Luo taking the Trumpchi over the cliff and across the ravine was etched deeply in her memory, and it was something that she could never forget. This man was enigmatic and had some superb skills; he always looked calm and composed, and he was definitely someone who had been through a lot of things.
Ling Fei was slightly stunned and stared enviously at Xiao Luo. She could not understand why president Shen had such high trust and confidence in that man. Was it just because he had secured the business with the princess of Dubai?
The office atmosphere was thick with intrigue and became somewhat tense before it was suddenly broken by Shen Xingqing's mocking laughter. "Niece, I really cannot understand you. Why are you so fond of this little jerk? Could it be that you and he had...Uhm?" he implied.
His last line was very suggestive, and it was actually very obvious to everyone in the room.
They looked at Shen Qingyan for Shen Xingqing's words did indeed made sense. In their minds, Shen Qingyan was always overprotective of Xiao Luo, and it was evident that something was going on between them for her to act this way. It clearly did not take too much for one to arrive at such a conclusion.
Shen Qingyan was enraged and slammed her table hard. "Shen Qingxing, save your dirty-minded tactics and stop insulting my personal relationships with the others, you're in no position to do that!"
"Isn't it pretty obvious that you are having affairs with this little jerk? We don't even need to make a second guess. If you guys don't have an unusual relationship, then why are you siding him?" Shen Xingqing said in slander.
"You..."
Shen Qingyan clenched her teeth and glared at Shen Xingqing, infuriated beyond words. She was trembling with rage all over, but quickly regained her composure and rebutted, "I am siding him because he can secure this contract. Shen Xingqing, since you think that I have something unusual going on with him, I dare you to make a bet with me."
"A bet on what?"
As things stood, they were already openly hostile to each other, and Shen Xingqing could not care less about playing nice. They had been office enemies for years now, and it was already an open secret in the company.
"The bet will be based on this—whether or not Xiao Luo can secure the contract with the maternity and child health care center." Shen Qingyan planned to risk everything on this bet as she had reached her tolerance limit with Shen Xingqing. This battle for power should have been made a long time ago, but she had been postponing it for the sake of their relationship as niece and uncle. The words uttered by Shen Xingqing today had honestly disappointed her.
Shen Xingqing smirked and asked, "So, what are we betting for?"
"If Xiao Luo fails to secure the contract, I'll resign and let you take over my position. But, if Xiao Luo succeeds, I'm sorry... then, you better jolly well get the hell out of this company and go back to your hometown!" Shen Qingyan hissed.
"Then shouldn't you be packing your stuff already?"
Shen Xingqing replied with such confidence as if he had already won the bet. He strolled to Shen Qingyan's table and slowly eased himself into her chair, a reminder that this seat belonged to him initially.
Shen Qingyan was incensed and said, "Cut the crap, are you playing this game, or not?"
"Hah... and, why not!" Shen Xingqing banged the table and stood up assuredly.
They both stared at each other with anger smoldering in their eyes—just like that, the battle had begun. The entire office had now turned into the battlefield.
Xiao Luo appeared calm as if this had nothing to with him. "Bosses, you guys are making a bet based on my performance, and none of you seem to have asked for my opinion. How can this be right?" he said.
"Little jerk, you're in no position to speak, shut the hell up if you don't wish me to send you to the police station!" Shen Xingqing yelled, pointing a shaking finger at him.
Xiao Luo smiled, "You have misunderstood; what I meant was that I will gladly chip in for the bet."
"you want to chip in? Do you think you are qualified?" Shen Xingqing riposted.
"I am a mere sales officer in Huayao Corporation, and I am indeed not qualified to bet with you in terms of the influence we have in Huayao Corporation. However, since we are both humans, doesn't that allow us to bet with our bodies? Since president Shen has placed her position on the line, I will place one of my hands on this bet. If I do secure the contract, I'll take one of your hands, and if not, I'll pay you with one, how about that?" Xiao Luo said.
GASP...!
Everyone took a deep breath, for even though Xiao Luo had said it calmly and casually, but the message in his words came with an ominous portent and sent a chill right down their spines.
Shen Qingyan was clearly shocked by Xiao Luo's proposal, and she muttered to himself: "Giving up a hand for the bet? Is that guy so savage, actually?"
Shen Xingqing was a little shaken, but he kept staring at Xiao Luo.
Xu Le spoke up in defense of his boss. "Xiao Luo, who do you think you are? You are nothing but a nobody who's struggling at the bottom ranks of our society; how can your hand have the same value as our vice-president? The vice-president could make thousands of millions by just snapping his finger, can you do that?" he rebuked.
"What a barbaric man, I was so wrong about your promotion, you should have never been promoted to becoming a group leader."
Mao Jianyi looked very remorseful for promoting Xiao Luo to be the group leader of Group Three, but in actual fact, he had only done so because Xiao Luo was highly regarded by Shen Qingyan. The truth was, he did not know that Xiao Luo had pissed Shen Xingqing off.
"What, do you guys want to participate in the bet too? Are you guys putting your hands on the bet?" While Xiao Luo did not feel too good about this wager, still, it was an excellent opportunity to get rid of all these snakes all at one go.
Mao Jianyi could not be bothered, "I don't argue with barbarians."
"You're just a timid rat, so just shut up if you are afraid," Xiao Luo sneered.
"You..."
Mao Jianyi looked like a fox that had its tail stepped on; his eyes widened, and he looked visibly angry.
Xiao Luo then turned to look at Xu Le. "What about you? Mr. Xu? Are you man enough?" he asked.
"You, little jerk, stop trying to intimidate me with your dirty tricks. It won't work on me... yes, I'm in with my one hand!" Shen Xingqing responded.
Xu Le was backing up Shen Xingqing, and seeing that he had already made a bet, there was no reason for Shen Xingqing to back off. In any case, he was confident that the contract could not be obtained by Xiao Luo. "I am in too, there's no way you can secure the contract with the maternity and child health care center," he said.
"Well, the bet is official now. I have to remind you all that I will not accept any amendments or excuses for this bet," Xiao Luo warned.
"Agreed, whoever turns back on his word shall be damned," Shen Xingqing pledged.
Xu Le was a little more insecure; however, he still stood with Shen Xingqing and said, "That's right, whoever turns back on his words shall be damned."
"Sure!" Xiao Luo responded.
And he then gave them both a confident smile.
Shen Qingyan was intimidated by this man—he resembled the devil who lured people to sign evil contracts in exchange for their desires, enjoying the sight of people selling their souls and bodies with his sinister smile.