Chapter 298 Frustration
Liu Ran stared at the number on her corsage, startled. She hadn't expected to be the lucky one, but it was indeed a bit thrilling.
She didn't particularly like the hairpin as a gift. Crystal hairpins were too valuable, and losing one would be a hassle.
More importantly, a hairpin was something a husband should give. Wearing a crystal hairpin now, however expensive, was an item previously worn by a deceased queen of England, and moreover, someone else's possession. Liu Ran genuinely had no interest.
Chen Yang subconsciously glanced at the corsage on Liu Ran's chest, then frowned slightly. He had a vague feeling that all of this was related to Qin Minghuang.
Whether it was Qin Minghuang sending people to acquire Liu Ran's company earlier, or Liu Xin and Yu Gang suddenly appearing at the banquet to mock him, and now his wife being the lucky recipient, it all felt connected.
Liu Ran quickly took off her corsage and said to Chen Yang, "Chen Yang, I don't really want that crystal hairpin. How about we give it to someone else?"
Chen Yang nodded with a slight smile and said, "Of course. I'll give you a better one in a few days."
Chen Yang was telling the truth. He'd rather give Liu Ran a hairpin he made himself from precious medicinal herbs than have his wife wear one that someone deceased had worn.
Liu Ran didn't take Chen Yang's words seriously. She smiled and nodded, "Okay, then I'll wait for your gift. As for this opportunity... I'll give it to General Manager Xu."
Afterward, Liu Ran gently placed her corsage into Xu Min's palm. Liu Ran said, "General Manager Xu, do you like that crystal hairpin? If you do, take this corsage and claim the prize. If you don't like it, give it to someone else."
Xu Min was stunned. She had just looked at the number on her own corsage, 95118, and was lamenting her lack of luck in obtaining the crystal hairpin.
Now, Liu Ran had suddenly placed the winning corsage into her palm. This meant the emerald green crystal agate hairpin on the stage would be hers.
Xu Min quickly turned to look at Liu Ran incredulously and asked, "General Manager Liu, are you willing to give up such a valuable hairpin for me? Are you being sincere?"
Liu Ran shrugged and said, "I don't want it anyway. Since General Manager Xu likes it, go ahead and claim it."
Hearing this, Xu Min was extremely grateful. She quickly said, "Alright, thank you, General Manager Liu. I will definitely visit your company when I have time."
At this moment, Qin Minghuang on the stage wore a confident smile. His desire for Liu Ran was genuine, and this step of presenting a crystal hairpin worth two billion yuan was a crucial part of his plan.
After all, it would not only demonstrate his financial strength to impress the woman, as which woman didn't love wealth? Liu Ran surely couldn't be an exception.
Furthermore, with the crystal hairpin as a bridge, he would have a reason to interact with Liu Ran more, and when it came time to "cook the raw rice into cooked rice," he would have a reason to invite Liu Ran for dinner.
In short, although Qin Minghuang felt a pang of pain for the hairpin, for the two billion yuan, to win over Liu Ran, and to complete the task for the Black Dragon Pavilion within Yangyangyang Company, all the sacrifices were necessary and worthwhile.
Qin Minghuang stood on the stage, waiting for Liu Ran to come up and claim her prize.
Just then, from the crowd below, a chubby hand suddenly reached up, and a woman in her thirties excitedly waved her arm, saying, "Me, I'm 1325. Thank you, Mr. Qin, for your generous gift."
Xu Min said, waving the corsage in her hand, and walked towards the stage.
Qin Minghuang's face instantly changed when he saw that it was a stout woman coming up. The prize was supposed to go to Liu Ran, so why had it suddenly become someone else?
Qin Minghuang instinctively looked at where Liu Ran was standing. Liu Ran was simply lowering her head, as if in thought.
Qin Minghuang gritted his teeth. He hadn't expected things to turn out this way. He had used all his schemes and generously given away the incredibly precious hairpin, but now a plump woman was coming up to claim the prize. This caused Qin Minghuang's smile to freeze on his face.
Two billion yuan, just like that, given away for nothing. It hadn't had any effect, and it was given to another woman. If she were beautiful, it might have been alright, but she was a stout woman in her thirties.
Qin Minghuang felt a suffocating pressure in his chest!
Xu Min walked up to the stage with a smile, and she said to Qin Minghuang with immense gratitude, "Thank you, Mr. Qin, thank you so much, Mr. Qin. Mr. Qin is truly too generous, too good to our Qingzhou City."
"If you come to Qingzhou City to retire in the future, all of us entrepreneurs will welcome you."
Hearing this, Qin Minghuang's hatred intensified. He was already older than Liu Ran, which was his biggest disadvantage, yet Xu Min, in front of so many people, was saying he was coming to Qingzhou to retire, which was clearly implying he was old!
But in front of so many people, he couldn't refute or go back on his word. Qin Minghuang could only swallow his pride and endure.
He put on a forced smile and said to Xu Min, "Congratulations to the lucky lady. Ms. Xu, please take good care of this crystal hairpin."
Xu Min immediately nodded and eagerly took the crystal hairpin from the waiter's hand into her palm.
She raised her hand and excitedly said to the people around, "Look, this crystal hairpin is indeed dazzling. Just as Mr. Qin said, from its origin to its materials and craftsmanship, this hairpin is a world-class masterpiece, a rare treasure."
"Thank you, Mr. Qin. Mr. Qin's care is like that of a father, bringing a spring breeze, making me feel incredibly close."
Hearing these words, Qin Minghuang wished he could drag Xu Min to a slaughterhouse and sell her meat.
Yet Xu Min continued to flatter him.
Finally, Xu Min, holding the crystal hairpin, happily walked off the stage.
Qin Minghuang's face had already turned ashen. After a few perfunctory words, he immediately turned and left the stage. He couldn't bear it any longer.
At this moment.
Qin Minghuang's heart was filled with rage. Moreover, since the hairpin hadn't reached Liu Ran, he no longer had a reason to invite Liu Ran for dinner privately.
After thinking for a moment, Qin Minghuang picked up his phone and said, "Prepare yourselves. The prey will leave soon. Get ready to make your move."
Putting down the phone, Qin Minghuang gritted his teeth and muttered to himself, "Liu Ran, you truly surprised me. You'd give away such a valuable crystal hairpin to someone else."
"Heh, you're increasingly piquing my curiosity. If I don't get you, then I, Qin Minghuang, am unworthy of being the head of the Qin family, unworthy of being a man."
A hint of calculation flickered in Qin Minghuang's eyes. At this moment, he was absolutely certain that no matter the cost, he would have Liu Ran in his embrace.