193: Chapter 193 Taking Advantage of Someone's Kindness

“Tell them Chen Ling raised the price, the increase is two hundred million.”

Two hundred million?

It seemed Chen Ling was truly provoked by him and decided to spare no expense.

Shen Yan thought to himself, then calmly replied, “Fine, I know. Since she wants this Research Team that badly, let her have it.”

Chen Guangke deeply agreed.

He released the hand covering his phone's earpiece and said to Cheng He on the other end of the line, “It seems we won't be cooperating this time. I hope you have a pleasant collaboration with the other company.”

Cheng He replied with a smile, “Very well. I also wish your company success in finding a suitable team to collaborate with soon.”

After exchanging pleasantries, both parties hung up the phone.

As soon as the call ended, Chen Guangke blurted out, “Is Chen Ling crazy?”

Wu Ya replied from the side, “I don't think she’s crazy, she just wants this Research Team too much.”

Chen Guangke shook his head, shocked, “But that’s not twenty million, that’s two hundred million! No matter how you look at it, this Research Team isn't worth that much, is it?”

Wu Ya pursed her lips and said nothing; she also felt that Chen Ling offering two hundred million was a bit too exaggerated.

Seeing Wu Ya remain silent, Chen Guangke walked over to Shen Yan, who was already looking at documents again, and asked him, “I’m talking to you, answer me quickly, is Chen Ling crazy?”

Shen Yan looked up with a wry smile and retorted, “Shouldn't you be considering where to find another Research Team right now?”

Chen Guangke made an impatient 'tsk' sound.

“I know, I know, I’ve already started looking. Can you stop rushing me? The more you rush me, the worse I do things.”

Shen Yan nodded and continued looking down at his documents.

Seeing that Shen Yan was unwilling to answer, Chen Guangke narrowed his eyes and started making bold guesses on his own.

“Old Shen, I think something is very off with you...”

Shen Yan asked while flipping through the documents, “What’s off about me?”

Chen Guangke rested his hand on his chin and replied, “Hmm... You don't seem surprised at all that Chen Ling would offer two hundred million to hire a Research Team. Wu Ya and I were stunned when we heard it, only you were exceptionally calm.”

Shen Yan chuckled softly without replying.

Then, Chen Guangke continued pondering, “And there’s another thing I can’t figure out: where did Chen Ling get so much money?”

“Could it be her future husband is supporting her?”

Just as he was speculating wildly, Shen Yan finally answered his previous question.

“It’s not that I knew she would use two hundred million to hire a Research Team; it’s that I knew she definitely wouldn't want to lose to me.”

“Just like you said before, this Research Team isn't worth us paying a high price to hire. The reason I kept bidding against Chen Ling was just to drive up the price of this Research Team.”

Hearing this, Chen Guangke’s eyes widened, and he slapped Shen Yan hard on the back.

“I knew you weren't that muddle-headed!”

“Cough, cough, cough!” Shen Yan coughed while forcefully shaking off Chen Guangke’s hand, complaining, “Don’t you know how strong your hands are? You almost gave me internal injuries!”

Chen Guangke chuckled and then sat down on a nearby chair, asking Shen Yan, “So what do we do now? Continue looking for established Research Teams on the market?”

Shen Yan shook his head.

“No. Those so-called established Research Teams on the market now are only half-baked. If we hire them, we’ll just be wasting money.”

“I’ve already made up my mind. Help me check which local laboratories specialize in the artificial intelligence project, and then help me screen them. I want to select a Research Team from these university laboratories for cultivation.”

Chen Guangke said seriously, “No problem, I’ll get this done for you in the next two days!”

Seeing that Chen Guangke had been assigned a task, Wu Ya quickly raised her hand and asked, “What about me? What should I do?”

Shen Yan thought for a moment and replied, “Help me find a hotel that can accommodate several dozen people. The standard can't be too low, and you need to take good care of the food and drink. For the budget... give you fifty thousand.”

Wu Ya nodded while recording the requirements, asking, “Brother Shen, are you treating some relatives to a meal?”

Shen Yan denied it, “No, I plan to organize a company team-building event for the remaining Employees of our company. Let’s set it for Friday evening. Try to get this sorted out in the next two days.”

Wu Ya readily agreed.

On the other side.

Chen Ling received the news from Cheng He via her secretary.

“Are you sure he really said that?”

The secretary nodded affirmatively.

“If Mr. Chen wasn't lying, then Shen Yan really did say that.”

Hearing this, Chen Ling burst into triumphant laughter.

“Hahahaha! Shen Yan, Shen Yan, so what if you make a comeback and establish another company? The one who defeats you will still be me!”

With that, she took out her phone and called Shen Yan.

Shen Yan didn't expect Chen Ling to call him; he hesitated for a moment before answering.

“What is it?”

Chen Ling tilted her head back and asked Shen Yan in a voice sickeningly sweet, “How does it feel to lose? Unpleasant, isn't it?”

As soon as Shen Yan heard this, he immediately understood she was talking about the Research Team matter. He curved his lips and replied to Chen Ling, “Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?”

“Spending two hundred million to buy a mediocre Research Team, how does that feel?”

Chen Ling’s expression stiffened, and her fingertips began to tremble slightly.

“You did it on purpose! You deliberately drove up the price against me, trying to make me lock down this Research Team at double the price!”

Shen Yan spoke slowly, “Hey! Don’t wrongly accuse me. I never said that. You haven’t signed the contract with that Research Team yet, have you? If you feel I was deliberately driving up the price against you, then just give up and let me negotiate with them...”

Before he finished speaking, Chen Ling angrily retorted, “Nonsense! How could I possibly give up voluntarily! I’m telling you, no matter what you think, I’m taking this Research Team!”

This was exactly what Shen Yan wanted.

He had a smile on his face but spoke in an annoyed tone, “Since you can’t give up voluntarily, then why did you call me? There’s nothing for me and you to talk about!”

Chen Ling was easily fooled by the annoyance in his tone. She turned her anger into a smile and brought up the purpose of her call.

“Alright, alright, let’s not talk about these business matters anymore.”

“Shen Yan, we were married for a few years after all. I’m getting remarried next month, and I hope you can come to my and Yang Jin’s wedding banquet.”

Shen Yan let out a cold laugh and asked Chen Ling from the bottom of his heart, “Chen Ling, do you have any shame?”

Chen Ling made a 'tsk' sound, “Shen Yan, I’m speaking from the heart. We spent several years together after all. Regardless of any unpleasantness we had before, I hope you can grace my second wedding with your presence.”