Their group's bid price actually didn't beat Zhao Jianhua's reserve price. By the time the entire bidding process concluded, there were few people left in the venue.
It was only then that he called Qin Tianyi. Upon learning that they had lost this bid to Zhao Jianhua, Qin Tianyi flew into a rage over the phone, unable to understand why they had failed this time. He instructed Xiao Anjing to return immediately to see him.
Ai Yifeng, on the other hand, remained calm throughout, showing no extreme emotions.
They left the bidding venue dejectedly and returned to the group, ending up in Qin Tianyi's office.
Xiao Anjing was still indignant. Since the establishment of Aoxiang Group, they had never encountered such a setback in a bid.
"Zhao Jianhua's price was even lower than ours. How could he produce a plan as high-quality as ours?"
Qin Tianyi asked, "What was their exact bid price?"
"Just a little less than ours," Xiao Anjing replied. "There must be some inside story. Zhao Jianhua's bid was only a hundred thousand less than ours."
Qin Tianyi frowned and said, "That's not right. It can't be such a coincidence that the price difference between us and him is so small."
"Xi Xianya hasn't made any moves recently, nor has she entered your office again," Xiao Anjing said, forgetting that Ai Yifeng was also in the office. He looked at the silent Ai Yifeng, worried that he shouldn't be discussing this in front of him.
Qin Tianyi felt it was fine, saying, "It's alright. Yifeng is one of us. It's okay for him to know how complex this bid was."
"What do you mean? What are you talking about?" Ai Yifeng still felt a bit disappointed about not winning the bid, but hearing them mention Xi Xianya made him more nervous. Did they actually know about Xi Xianya's actions?
Qin Tianyi gestured for Anjing to explain to him, stating that it was fine for Yifeng to know the entire story.
After observing Yifeng's work attitude and conduct over the years, he had long since let down his guard and considered him one of his own.
Yifeng was Susu's only brother, thus his family. Naturally, he wouldn't be formal with Yifeng anymore.
He had deliberately not told Yifeng that Zhao Jianhua and Huangfu Group might have had private dealings, and that Xi Xianya was Zhao Jianhua's mole planted in the group. He feared it would undermine Yifeng's confidence and distract him while working on the bid proposal.
He felt it was enough for him and Anjing to handle these messy affairs, allowing Yifeng to focus on his strengths.
Anjing sighed and explained the complex insider details of this bid to Yifeng.
Yifeng listened without interrupting, merely nodding frequently.
After Anjing finished speaking, Tianyi comforted him, "Don't be discouraged or disappointed that we didn't win the bid this time. It has nothing to do with your professional abilities. Huangfu Group has greater selfish motives; they can only use Zhao Jianhua at the cost of this project."
"I understand. I'm fine," Yifeng said. He wasn't interested in these business wars and was more concerned about how they would deal with Xi Xianya.
In fact, he knew that Xi Xianya wanted to obtain the bid's reserve price. That's why he had deliberately created an opportunity for her to see the reserve price in the office a couple of nights ago.
If he had to say, at first, he didn't know that Xi Xianya had actively sought him out to reconcile for the sake of the bid's reserve price. He had thought that although Xi Xianya was threatened by Zhao Jianhua, she still loved him, which was why she came to him to confess everything.
It wasn't until their last vacation at the seaside resort that night that her phone's vibration had actually woken him up.
At that time, with his eyes closed, he could feel Xi Xianya getting out of bed with her phone. After she went to the bathroom, he also got up from the bed and secretly hid by the bathroom door.
He was curious who would call her so late at night. As a result, he heard her talking to Zhao Jianhua about the bid's reserve price.
In fact, he had long understood how dirty wrong emotions could be. It was the same with Yiwei before, and Xi Xianya was also using his feelings.
But he didn't want her to continue to fall into such a state. It was just a bid's reserve price; if she wanted it, he would let her have it.
Seeing his calm reaction, Tianyi asked with some surprise, "Then do you plan to stay at headquarters, or continue to develop the market in other regions? I think the markets in other regions can be managed by others. Why don't you just stay at headquarters..."
"I still want to go to other regions. I'm used to life in other regions and find it difficult to adapt to Lancheng," Yifeng interrupted, stating his thoughts.
Tianyi did not force him, saying, "Alright, you decide that for yourself."
Ai Yifeng looked at Tianyi and couldn't help but ask, "You know there's a commercial spy sent by Zhao Jianhua in the group. How do you plan to deal with her?"
Tianyi didn't know why he suddenly cared about this matter. He smiled and said, "There's no need to deal with her yet. We'll take care of her when we deal with Zhao Jianhua. At that time, she will be the best evidence to prove Zhao Jianhua's commercial fraud."
Ai Yifeng couldn't help but worry about Xi Xianya, saying, "Actually, I've met the girl you're talking about a few times on the top floor. She's just a girl who has just graduated from school. Perhaps give her some opportunities..."
"Yifeng, you haven't fallen for that Xi Xianya, have you?" An Jing teased with a smile.
Ai Yifeng said evasively, "How could that be? I don't know her well. I just don't think she's that kind of person. She's probably being forced."
"Seeing how cold you usually are, like a block of ice, you also know how to cherish a woman," An Jing felt that he was a bit different from before.
Tianyi didn't tease him but said very seriously, "We will consider it. Xi Xianya's nature is not bad. The reason she came to work here is because she helped An Jing before, so we won't be too harsh on her."
Yifeng finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then I have nothing else to do. I want to prepare and return to the company in another region in a few days."
"Don't be so hasty. Before you go to another region, come to my house for dinner again. Susu wants to catch up with you," Tianyi said.
Yifeng stood up and remained as respectful as a subordinate to a superior, saying, "Mr. Qin, there's no need. Please tell Susu for me to take care of herself. You can call me back anytime you need me."
"Okay," Tianyi said, not wanting to say more.
Yifeng then left Tianyi's office obediently.
After he left, Tianyi and Anjing were silent for a moment, and almost simultaneously said, "Could it be that Xi Xianya and Yifeng got together?"
Unexpectedly, they thought of the same thing and fell silent again.
After a while, Tianyi spoke first, "I think Yifeng's state is very abnormal. When preparing for the bid, he cared more about this project than anyone else. But today, losing to Zhao Jianhua, he doesn't seem to care at all, not even reacting as strongly as you."
"Exactly," An Jing said. "At the bidding site, from the very beginning, he seemed to know that they wouldn't win the bid. His calmness was somewhat unsettling."
Tianyi said, "Haven't you been paying attention to Xi Xianya's situation in the group? Haven't you noticed if she and Yifeng got together?"
"No, Xi Xianya has been very normal recently. Besides doing the necessary cleaning, she hardly stays in the office area."