"I'm looking for Manager Xue."
Though faced with an old enemy, Lin Xiao Tian managed to suppress his anger.
"Who the hell are you? What do you want with my woman?" Jiang Li yelled.
"Your woman?" Lin Xiao Tian recalled Xue Ziyan was single and not engaged.
As he was about to ask further, a familiar voice came from the phone.
"Young Master Jiang, barging into someone's office, aren't you being too impolite!"
Xue Ziyan on the phone was clearly furious.
"Haha, Ziyan, why get so angry? What if you hurt yourself?"
"Please leave!"
"Alright, alright, I'm leaving! See you next time!"
Immediately after, Lin Xiao Tian heard a door slam shut heavily.
A moment later, Xue Ziyan's weary voice came from the phone.
"Hello, who is this?"
"It's me, Lin Xiao Tian."
"Oh! Xiao Tian! I'm so sorry! I wasn't in the office just now. Did that person say anything rude? If he did, please don't take it to heart. I had no idea he'd just barge into the office." Xue Ziyan said apologetically.
"I heard about the Jinyuan Hotel incident. Some people from the hotel came to see me today, saying you owe debts."
Other hotels?
Hearing Lin Xiao Tian's words, Xue Ziyan's expression darkened.
It was truly a case of misfortune never coming alone. She hadn't expected her competitors to approach Lin Xiao Tian so quickly.
However, Xue Ziyan didn't intend to blame Lin Xiao Tian.
After all, the Jinyuan Grand Hotel was struggling to even protect itself. It was reasonable for Lin Xiao Tian to seek cooperation with others.
"Xiao Tian, Jinyuan might not make it through this time."
"I'm very grateful for your support of Jinyuan Grand Hotel during this period, and I wish you find a better way out."
Lin Xiao Tian understood Xue Ziyan's meaning perfectly; she was subtly indicating that she wouldn't mind if he found another client.
"Can you tell me specifically what happened?" Lin Xiao Tian asked.
Xue Ziyan sighed. "Actually, when my father was managing Jinyuan Grand Hotel, he borrowed a sum of money from Jiang Group."
"We originally agreed that this debt would be repaid in five years. I never expected that in the second year, Jiang Group would start demanding repayment."
"Jinyuan Hotel had already spent too much money due to poor management in the past few years. Where could we get the money now? Jiang Group proposed using the hotel to offset part of the debt, but I refused. I'm still trying to raise funds."
"How is your fundraising going?" Lin Xiao Tian asked.
"Don't even mention it. No one is willing to lend me money. Instead, there are many who are kicking me while I'm down," Xue Ziyan said helplessly.
"By the way, you mentioned Jiang Group agreed to five years for repayment. Why are they demanding it back in just two years? Isn't that a breach of contract?" Lin Xiao Tian asked again.
"To raise the funds, my father made a verbal agreement with Jiang Group to repay it within five years. Now that Jiang Group wants to go back on their word, I can do nothing about it."
Listening to Xue Ziyan, Lin Xiao Tian finally grasped the full story.
"By the way, was that person just now Jiang Li?"
"Yes!"
"He said you were his woman. What's going on?"
Hearing Lin Xiao Tian's words, Xue Ziyan gritted her teeth in anger.
"That scoundrel!"
"What happened?"
"He threatened me, saying that if I didn't sleep with him, he would demand immediate repayment of the debt. It's because of him that Jiang Group is suddenly asking for the money back!" Xue Ziyan said indignantly.
"Do you know? One of the girls at our hotel was impregnated by Jiang Li. When Jiang Li heard about it, he forced her to have an abortion. Afterward, the girl fell into depression and jumped into the river to commit suicide."
"I will never agree. I would rather die than marry someone who has no respect for women like him!"
On the phone, Xue Ziyan began to curse. This was the most relaxed she had felt in a long time.
However, she soon realized she had lost her composure. How could she be so rude in front of him? Lin Xiao Tian's impression of her would surely worsen.
"By the way, how much do you still owe them?"
"Including what I've managed to raise so far, it's still over a hundred million," Xue Ziyan said with a wry smile.
Lin Xiao Tian pondered.
Over a hundred million.
He seemed to be able to afford it!
However, he certainly wouldn't just give it away.
If it were Qin Yuxiang who needed so much money, Lin Xiao Tian would have done so without hesitation. But his relationship with Xue Ziyan wasn't intimate enough for that.
Thinking this, Lin Xiao Tian continued, "What if I said I could help you repay this debt?"
"What?"
Xue Ziyan on the other end of the line was clearly stunned.
After a long pause, her voice returned, "Xiao Tian, did I hear that wrong?"
"You heard correctly. I said I can help you repay this debt!"
"That's over a hundred million?"
"I heard you clearly just now."
"This..."
The sudden surprise caught Xue Ziyan off guard.
However, she quickly calmed down.
This was over a hundred million.
Would Lin Xiao Tian just casually take it out?
There must be conditions!
What did he want?
Xue Ziyan thought carefully, and a shy answer suddenly popped into her mind.
Could it be he wants me?
Thinking about it, Lin Xiao Tian wasn't bad at all.
In terms of appearance and demeanor, he was among the top men she had ever met. Furthermore, being able to casually produce a hundred million clearly indicated wealth.
Such a high-quality man perfectly fit her criteria for a partner.
With this thought, Xue Ziyan even felt a bit secretly pleased.
"Xiao Tian, you're helping me like this, are there any conditions?" Xue Ziyan asked nervously.
"Of course, there are conditions."
"What do you want?"
"I want shares in your hotel."
"Ah?"
Xue Ziyan suddenly felt like she had been doused with a bucket of cold water.
However, upon closer inspection, she realized she had been too fanciful.
This was over a hundred million.
She wasn't Lin Xiao Tian's woman; why would he spend so much money for no reason?
"Oh!" Xue Ziyan replied with some disappointment.
Lin Xiao Tian was taken aback, thinking she agreed so quickly?
Aren't you going to bargain?
This completely threw him off.
"Well... how many shares are you willing to transfer?"
"Ah? Wait... I haven't agreed yet!"
"Ah, this... Didn't you just agree?"
"No, I didn't!"
Lin Xiao Tian sighed in exasperation. As expected, a woman's heart was like a needle in the sea.
"I'll consider it and give you a reply later."
"Okay!"
Lin Xiao Tian didn't intend to pressure Xue Ziyan too much, as they were, in a sense, still friends.
After ending the call, Lin Xiao Tian continued to tinker with the alchemy furnace.
A few minutes later, Lin Xiao Tian received a message on WeChat.