"So…,"
Zhan Ruoqing helplessly held her forehead. She couldn't help but think, *This is so like Ye Zhi!* She didn't know whether Ye Zhi had disappointed her again, or truly lived up to her expectations.
"Taoxun recently secured a pretty good partnership," Ye Zhi said gleefully. "So, today, you must let me treat you all. Go all out with your orders, consider it a celebration for me!"
"So…"
That reason was indeed hard to refuse.
"Ye Zhi, what kind of partnership did you secure that has you this happy?" Zhan Ruoqing asked curiously.
Ye Zhi replied happily, "Taoxun is forming a film company in a joint venture with the Su family! From now on, you'll be able to see movies filmed by Taoxun in cinemas!"
All three were quite surprised. Ye Zhi had managed to secure a deal with the Su family too?
"What kind of films do you plan to make?" Qi Xuan asked.
"We'll start with some low-budget films to test the waters. Taoxun can afford that kind of risk," Ye Zhi replied.
Meaning, she wasn't short on money?
Qi Xuan's eyes flickered. He agreed, saying, "The film and television industry has been developing well these past few years; it's indeed very profitable. I've also considered investing to test the waters. However, I don't know much about the industry, and investing rashly is too risky. How about this, I'll invest with you. You can help me make money."
"Sure," Ye Zhi readily agreed with a slight smile. "We're practically family!"
Zhan Ruoqing was stunned!
She was truly gaining a new perspective. *As expected of Qi Xuan! Even if Ye Zhi wasn't short on money, he always found a way to put money into her hands!*
Zhan Ruofeng asked with some uncertainty, "Was this matter approved by Chairman Su?"
"Mhm," Ye Zhi nodded. "Otherwise, the cooperation between the two families wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
Zhan Ruofeng couldn't help but gasp, "So, the three biggest investors in Qianbai all have some form of cooperative relationship with you, more or less?"
Ye Zhi paused, then thought about it carefully. It was indeed true!
The Su family had partnered with her to start a film company. The Zhan family had partnered with her to open the courier stations. Although the Jin family didn't have direct dealings with her, the intelligent cabinets ordered by Fengyun Courier Station were produced by the Jin family. She was the client, and the Jin family was the vendor. If the Jin family truly angered her, she, as the client, could easily find another vendor.
"It seems so," Ye Zhi said with a slight smile.
"Amazing, amazing!" Zhan Ruoqing looked at her with great admiration. "Ye Zhi, will you be able to acquire Qianbai in the future?"
"Why would I acquire it?" Ye Zhi shook her head, refusing. "Qianbai and Taoxun have too much business overlap. The only thing I find valuable is their proprietary logistics, but it's not yet perfected. All their warehouses are rented, and they rent wherever Taoxun rents. They genuinely have no acquisition value!"
Zhan Ruoqing: "…"
If Ou Minghan heard that, he'd probably be furious!
"Alright, we're here to eat, not to discuss business," Ye Zhi said with a laugh. "Hurry up and order. Don't hold back on my account!"
"So…"
Coming from Ye Zhi, that statement sounded strangely out of place.
However, they didn't stand on ceremony and began ordering.
After they had eaten their fill, Ye Zhi and Zhan Ruoqing went to the restroom together.
But as Ye Zhi was about to return to the private room, Zhan Ruoqing stopped her.
"Ye Zhi, let's wait a bit before going back," Zhan Ruoqing said mysteriously.
"Why?" Ye Zhi asked, confused.
Of course, it was because only Qi Xuan and Zhan Ruofeng were left in the private room. If they were given more time together, they might end up fighting!
While she knew they wouldn't actually fight, she wanted to see it! Of course, she couldn't say that out loud.
"I ate a bit too much and want to stroll around outside to digest. Keep me company!" Zhan Ruoqing said coquettishly.
"Alright," Ye Zhi agreed with a nod.
Suddenly, a crisp sound of a falling plate echoed from the lobby. Ye Zhi and Zhan Ruoqing looked in the direction of the sound.
At the table where the sound originated, a portly man in a suit was seated, and opposite him stood a woman with a plain appearance but a delicate face.
The woman was now glaring at the man in front of her with utter fury.
"Ruan Rou, don't push your luck!" the man said angrily, banging his fist on the table. "If you didn't have some looks, would I even have agreed to have this meal with you? Do you really think treating me to a meal will make me invest in your so-called documentary? Let me tell you, me taking a liking to you is your honor! Don't be ungrateful!"
The woman, Ruan Rou, looked even more displeased. The next moment, she picked up her wine glass and poured it unhesitatingly onto the man's face.
"Your money, I don't want it. I find it dirty!" Ruan Rou gritted out.
"You…!"
The man stood up in a huff. He walked towards Ruan Rou in anger, but the manager approached and blocked his path.
"Sir, we've received a complaint from guests in the VIP room. You are causing a disturbance, affecting our guests' dining experience, and disrupting the order of our restaurant. Please leave." The manager said with a smile.
"Who are the guests in your VIP room?" the man asked impatiently. "Do they know who I am?"
"Sir, please believe me, you will be very grateful that they do not remember who caused the commotion tonight," the manager continued with a strained smile.
The man's drunkenness subsided somewhat, and he began to understand. It was likely that the guests in the VIP room were people he couldn't afford to offend, so the restaurant manager was giving him a subtle warning with a hint of threat.
"Ruan Rou, you're lucky today! I'm telling you, as long as I'm around, your documentary will never be made!" the man glared at Ruan Rou resentfully before turning to leave.
Ruan Rou looked at the table with its mostly untouched dishes. The next moment, she sat down silently and began to eat without a word.
Not far away, having witnessed everything that had just happened, Zhan Ruoqing asked with some surprise, "She still has the mood to eat?"
"Didn't you hear what they were saying? The meal was paid for by the woman, to secure investment," Ye Zhi said. "If it were me, I'd eat it all too before leaving. The money shouldn't be wasted!"
Zhan Ruoqing: "…"
*Truly, you.*
Seeing Ye Zhi turn to leave, Zhan Ruoqing quickly stopped her. "Ye Zhi, you just saved her. Aren't you going to let her know?"
The reason the restaurant manager had arrived so quickly was precisely because Ye Zhi had called him. The owner of this restaurant was a good friend of Zhan Ruoqing, and naturally knew who was seated in their private room. Therefore, the restaurant owner had instructed the manager from the beginning to personally serve them and ensure that they felt at home.
Hence, as soon as Ye Zhi gave the instruction, the manager personally intervened and resolved Ruan Rou's trouble.
"I helped her as a favor. I'm not seeking anything from her, so why should I let her know?" Ye Zhi linked her arm with Zhan Ruoqing's. "Let's go, we should head back quickly."