Tang Chuan: ...
He was going insane. Did this woman have a screw loose?
"President Ye, this is for you," Tang Chuan explained helplessly.
"Huh?" Ye Zhi's displeasure grew. "President Tang, even if you gave me this, I still can't consider cooperating with your Shuguang Technology. Your proposal has too many issues..."
"I'm giving this to you not to bribe you," Tang Chuan said, exasperated. "I want to pursue you!"
Ye Zhi was slightly taken aback. Her brow furrowed even tighter. What was this, like a romance scam? Was she taking advantage of the fact that there wasn't an anti-fraud app in this world yet? She’d discuss it with the relevant authorities and help them create one!
She spoke coldly, "President Tang, this is our first time meeting, isn't it? You give such an expensive gift to someone you're meeting for the first time, and you say you want to pursue me. Don't you find it absurd?"
"President Ye, it's not like that," Tang Chuan explained eagerly. "When I was abroad, I heard great things about Taoxun. After returning to China, my uncle mentioned you. Although I hadn't met you yet, I've admired you for a long time!
Of course, I know I'm still a stranger to you. I have no other intentions in giving you this gift. I just hope you can give me a chance to get to know each other better. xxs1
We are well-matched, both single, and both have lived abroad. Don't you think we're a good fit?"
Tang Chuan spoke with emotion, opening the box again and pushing the necklace towards Ye Zhi. But Ye Zhi remained unmoved.
She finally understood why Tang Chuan felt so odd to her. It turned out he wasn't here to discuss cooperation; his target had been her from the start.
Thinking back carefully, Tang Chuan had been like a peacock displaying its feathers from beginning to end, exuding an aura of courtship.
Unfortunately, she didn't feel they were a good match in any way. She even found the man a bit annoying.
Setting aside how his words made her uncomfortable, giving her five million dollars worth of jewelry on their first meeting clearly meant he had an ulterior motive! Who would believe him when he said it was just out of admiration!
Although she didn't know what Tang Chuan's true intentions were, she could tell that even if she rejected him outright, someone like Tang Chuan would definitely stick to her like glue, impossible to shake off.
It seemed she needed to find a more drastic way to make Tang Chuan give up completely, so he wouldn't pester her in the future.
"Instead of discussing cooperation, we're talking about personal matters," Ye Zhi leaned back and said with a half-smile. "Then I really can't accept this necklace."
"Why?" Tang Chuan asked, unwilling to accept it. "Don't you like it?"
"No, I don't," Ye Zhi replied crisply.
Tang Chuan: ...So blunt?
He forced a smile. "Are you saying it's too cheap, or too small?"
"Both," Ye Zhi said, picking up the necklace and dangling it. "You say it looks like a star, but it's not a real star. If you really want to give me a chance, give me a real star!"
With that, Ye Zhi put the necklace back in the box and pushed it back towards him without a second thought.
Tang Chuan's expression froze. Give her a star? But stars were in the sky, and couldn't be taken down. How could he give her one?
After thinking for a moment, he asked somewhat confusedly, "President Ye, do you mean... giving you a meteorite?"
"A meteorite is just a rock, what's so special about it? It might even have radiation," Ye Zhi said speechlessly. She stated her meaning directly. "I'm talking about a satellite! And not a small commercial satellite, but a navigation satellite for Nandu!"
"What?!" Tang Chuan was so shocked he almost jumped up!
"What? Is it difficult?" Ye Zhi asked with a half-smile.
Tang Chuan gasped for air. Was it a question of difficulty? Launching a satellite for Nandu cost between five hundred million and one billion yuan! His dignity wasn't worth that much!
"President Ye, are you joking?" Tang Chuan's smile was starting to falter.
"I don't joke, and I never joke," Ye Zhi raised her eyebrows. "No matter who wants to pursue me, they first have to launch a satellite for Nandu, make enough contributions to the country, and then we can talk!"
Tang Chuan was stunned. He had never expected someone to reject a pursuit using the country's name as a shield. And the worst part was, he couldn't refute her!
Seeing that pursuing Ye Zhi was completely hopeless, Tang Chuan said absentmindedly, "... I, I'll consider it, President Ye. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
With that, Tang Chuan got up and left.
"President Tang, wait," Ye Zhi called out to him.
Tang Chuan's heart rekindled with a sliver of hope. He asked expectantly, "President Ye..."
"Since you invited me, don't forget to pay the bill!" Ye Zhi reminded him.
Tang Chuan hurriedly paid the bill and fled.
Ye Zhi found it somewhat amusing. After this meal, Tang Chuan would likely never appear before her again. No, to be precise, no more suitors like him would bother her.
This was for the best. Taoxun was entering a critical phase of development, and she didn't want to spare any energy dealing with these inexplicable pursuers.
In the evening, Ye Zhi received a call from Zhan Ruoqing.
"Ye Zhi! I heard that to pursue you, one must first help Nandu launch a satellite. Is that true?!" Zhan Ruoqing exclaimed, both shocked and excited.
Ye Zhi: ...
It seemed the Tang Chuan publicity stunt was quite effective.
"... Sort of," Ye Zhi replied. From now on, she'd screen suitors with this standard. She was confident that the rejection rate would be a hundred percent.
"As expected of you..." Zhan Ruoqing sighed. "Do you know? The whole of Kyoto is buzzing about it! My dad originally wanted my brother to pursue you, but after hearing your requirement, he was speechless for a long time before finally saying their family doesn't need a satellite. Hahaha, it's hilarious..."
Ye Zhi was surprised. Was that true?
It was a good thing Zhan Ruofeng had no interest in her, otherwise, she would feel awkward discussing future collaborations with him.
Zhan Ruoqing continued to ask, "Ye Zhi, is this standard of yours for real, or just to reject that surname Tang... what's his name..."
"Of course it's real," Ye Zhi said. "It's the same for everyone."
"Isn't this giving some people an advantage..." Zhan Ruoqing grumbled softly.
Her voice was too low for Ye Zhi to hear clearly. She asked doubtfully, "What?"
"Hahaha, nothing. I meant you did a great job, keep it up!" Zhan Ruoqing said with a laugh and quickly hung up.
Ye Zhi didn't pay much attention to this call. However, not long after, Ye Yongxian also called.
Ye Zhi pressed the answer button. Ye Yongxian spoke in a roundabout way for a long time, before finally asking cautiously, "Xiao Zhi, I heard from others that to pursue you, one must first help Nandu launch a satellite? Is this true?"