Since he had made things clear, Pei Kexin felt there was no need to hide anything.
After all, some things were obvious.
"I imagine President Yao is aware of the relationship between my grandfather and President Hengda. The bond forged through hardship cannot be broken just like that; it's not something I, as a junior, can decide."
She considered herself honest.
Yao Dongzhuo nodded. "Meaning, you personally have no objections to cooperating with the Yao Corporation?"
Pei Kexin replied truthfully, "From my perspective, as long as the price is right and both parties can reach an agreement on all aspects, I am willing to cooperate with any company."
Yao Dongzhuo said, "Since that's the case, it seems we'll be sitting at the negotiation table soon."
Pei Kexin was taken aback. She hadn't agreed to anything. Had any of her words been misinterpreted, causing the Mr. Yao to misunderstand?
"So, President Yao intends to cooperate with the Pei Corporation soon?"
Yao Dongzhuo looked at her meaningfully.
"It's not that I intend to cooperate with the Pei Corporation; it's that your Young Master Pei intends to cooperate with me."
"I heard you're the one in charge above him, so I'm afraid of misunderstandings and potential mishaps. That's why I'm clarifying things with Vice President Pei beforehand."
Pei Kexin's expression immediately changed.
She glanced at Pei Zongrui, thinking to herself:
Your grandfather isn't even dead yet, who do you think you are? You can't even handle basic technology, and you want to meddle in procurement?
It's understandable that you want to score points, but there's no need to aim for the moon right away.
The Yao Corporation is so large and powerful, and grandfather isn't senile. If there wasn't a reason, why would they have been hesitant to cooperate with them for so long?
"As I said, President Yao, Zongrui is young and doesn't understand many things. His ideas are overly naive, and he speaks whatever comes to mind. Please don't take offense."
"If he has carelessly said anything he shouldn't have to you, I apologize on his behalf. Children speak without malice; please be understanding."
This was a rejection of cooperation.
Yao Dongzhuo shook his head and looked at Pei Zongrui.
"Young Master Pei, is this what you call cooperation? You've truly embarrassed me."
"If you want to cooperate, you cooperate. If you don't, you don't. I pushed aside many things and sat here for an entire morning, only to be dismissed with a mere four words: 'children speak without malice'..."
Upon hearing this, Pei Zongrui shivered in fear.
"Brother Dong, Brother Zhuo, don't, don't say that..."
Pei Kexin knew he must owe someone something behind the scenes. She subtly reached out and squeezed him, telling him to calm down.
"This matter is indeed our fault. The Pei family has failed to raise its child properly. Apologies alone lack sincerity. How about this: we'll cover the bill today."
"Zongrui's ignorance of his own limitations wasted President Yao's time. Please do us the honor of allowing him to treat you."
"My nephew and I will each drink three penalty cups to express our sincere apologies to President Yao. What does President Yao think?"
Yao Dongzhuo lowered his eyelids, toying with his wine glass. After a few seconds, he spoke.
"Drinking is fine."
"You two must finish all of this."
The table was filled with bottles of various types of alcohol, no less than twenty in total.
Twenty bottles of foreign liquor, spirits, and beer – even Li Bai couldn't handle that, right?
As expected, Yao Dongzhuo's notorious reputation was not unfounded.
Pei Kexin was no innocent little lamb to be manipulated.
"President Yao is a businessman. You must understand the principle of maintaining goodwill even if a deal falls through, much better than I do."
"Let alone that Zongrui hasn't signed a contract with you yet. Even if he had, if something happened mid-way that led to the cooperation failing, you wouldn't turn hostile, would you?"
"If everyone in the world thought like you, President Yao, considering every failed cooperation as being played for a fool, then the police would be so busy they'd be exhausted."
Yao Dongzhuo listened to her finish, a frown on his face, and suddenly chuckled softly.
"You don't have to drink today if you don't want to. I'll keep your contact information and save the drinks for you. When you return from your business trip..."
Pei Kexin dared not agree.
Putting aside the fact that she had a husband now, even if she didn't, openly befriending him would have significant repercussions on the cooperation with Hengda, which her grandfather would surely learn about.
"President Yao, I think it's best I don't get involved in the matter between you and Zongrui. In that case, I really can't stay any longer for company matters. Perhaps you two can chat leisurely while I take my leave."
Saying this, she turned to leave for the door, but the sycophantic Brother Dong swiftly caught up.
"You're just going to leave? Is that how Vice President Pei conducts herself? Brother Zhuo never fails to make friends when he wants to. You're ungrateful..."
Pei Kexin detested hearing the words "ungrateful" more than anything. It made her feel like she was being treated like a dog.
Especially when linked to her humble origins, it made her sensitive.
"Pei Zongrui, do you see? You can't just step on dog poop casually. Do you think you're lucky to have stepped on it? Be careful you don't get it all over your shoe, and it might even splatter on your face."
"..." Brother Dong was so angry he turned back to look at Yao Dongzhuo.
"Brother Zhuo, Pei Kexin, that woman, she dared to insult you!"
Zhan Jingchen walked to the door and his hand had just reached the doorknob when he heard this out-of-context remark.
"Pei Kexin, that woman..."
The door was slightly ajar. Hearing Pei Kexin's name, he instinctively glanced through the gap.
It was better not to look, but when he did, he actually saw Pei Kexin.
She had an unpleasant expression and was confronting a man, seemingly arguing about something.
Zhan Jingchen knew Yao Dongzhuo was inside, but he hadn't expected Pei Kexin to be there too.
He had intended to greet Yao Dongzhuo upon entering, but now he dared not enter the private room.
However, curious about what Pei Kexin was doing there, he returned to his previous private room and called Yao Dongzhuo.
"Brother Zhuo, where are you?"
Yao Dongzhuo replied, "Didn't I send you the room number earlier? Why haven't you arrived yet?"
Zhan Jingchen said, "On the way, Kai Zi and the others intercepted me. Unless you have something particularly fun there, I won't come over."
Yao Dongzhuo looked at the woman in front of him and smiled playfully.
"Come over. And I must say, there's a fun game today."
"Oh?" Zhan Jingchen's eyebrows furrowed as he detected Yao Dongzhuo's twisted sense of amusement.
"What's fun?"
"Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü, ever seen a modern-day uncle-niece romance? Come over, I'll let you witness it today."
"..."
So, Pei Zongrui was also in the private room?
After not seeing him for a while, Yao Dongzhuo was becoming more perverse. He actually...
Let alone that Pei Kexin was his nominal wife now, even if she wasn't, Zhan Jingchen absolutely could not tolerate such a thing happening under his nose.
"Wow, where did you find this person? So exciting? Won't it be an assault on the eyes?"
Yao Dongzhuo chuckled wickedly, "Don't you trust my taste? Don't worry, just come. The aunt is top-notch, though the 'Guo' is a bit lacking. But for a performance, it has to be like this to be interesting."
"Call Kai Zi and the others too. We'll start when you all arrive. Don't keep me waiting too long."
After speaking, he hung up the phone.
Pei Kexin turned her head and met Yao Dongzhuo's cold smile. She was truly astonished.
"Yao Dongzhuo, I don't think I've done anything to wrong you, have I? Do you want to restrict my freedom?"