105: Chapter 105 Persuasion

As he lay on the sofa, a thought spun in Qiao Yichen's mind: should he tell Lin Wei and Su Qing about this opportunity?

Thinking of Lin Wei, that awkward scene in the kitchen yesterday morning suddenly popped up—the red lace underwear, the hand covering his mouth, the fleeing figure... He shook his head, shaking the image away.

Forget it, since their relationship was already like this, there was nothing he couldn't say.

He picked up his phone and sent a message to the two of them: "If you're not in a hurry, how about dinner at Lin Wei's place tonight? I have something to tell you."

Lin Wei replied instantly: "My place??? Dinner???"

Su Qing's message followed immediately: "What is it?"

Qiao Yichen didn't answer Su Qing's question. Lin Wei sent another one: "What are we eating tonight? Cook together or order takeout?"

Qiao Yichen replied: "We'll talk when I get there."

After sending it, he got up and drove to the company.

It was almost time to get off work when he reached the company building. He didn't go up, but asked Li Yong and the other two about today's progress in the group chat. After waiting a few minutes, Liu Yanran came out of the elevator, opened the car door, and sat in the passenger seat.

Qiao Yichen started the car and glanced at her: "I've arranged it with Lin Wei and Su Qing; we're going over for dinner. I'll also tell you why I was in such a hurry to sell the cabinet today."

Liu Yanran was stunned for a moment and looked at him in confusion: "Selling the cabinet... how does that involve the two of them?"

Qiao Yichen didn't answer, just turned on the blinker and merged onto the main road. Seeing him driving, Liu Yanran resisted the urge to press further, but her face was full of questions.

When they arrived at Lin Wei's house, as soon as the door opened, the living room was a mess—delivery boxes were piled up like small mountains, bags of packed clothes were scattered here and there, and several rolls of tape lay on the floor.

Qiao Yichen entered and asked, "Where are your two followers?"

Lin Wei knew he was talking about Zhou Zhou and Xiao Chen: "They're off work." She looked at him and changed the subject, "What are we eating tonight?"

Liu Yanran had already familiarly taken a few bottles of water from the fridge and started helping Lin Wei tidy up the delivery boxes on the floor.

Qiao Yichen leaned back on the sofa and waved his hand: "You order. Whatever you think is good." After a pause, he added, "Call me when Su Qing arrives."

Having said that, he walked straight toward the bedroom and lay down on the bed without ceremony.

Lin Wei shouted at his back: "You really make yourself at home, don't you!"

His lazy voice came from the bedroom: "I heard you." He was already lying down.

Half an hour later, Su Qing finally arrived in a hurry. She took a breath as she entered: "Traffic jam, it's completely blocked."

Liu Yanran took her bag and handed her a bottle of water. The three sat down on the sofa, and Liu Yanran briefly explained today's events: "Qiao Yichen sold that cabinet this afternoon."

Lin Wei's eyes lit up: "Sold? For how much?"

"2.6 million."

Lin Wei gasped. Su Qing nodded beside her, her tone calm: "I helped draft the contract."

Lin Wei turned to look at her: "You knew?"

"Yeah." Su Qing took a sip of water. "He called me this afternoon to get it done."

Lin Wei gave a "tsk" and turned back to Liu Yanran: "So when you said there was something to talk about, it was this?"

Liu Yanran shook her head: "No, he said there's something else, and I couldn't get it out of him either."

The three looked at each other, all showing confused expressions.

Just then, the takeout arrived. Lin Wei got up to open the door and returned carrying two large bags, placing them on the dining table. Meat Crab Pot, side dishes, and drinks filled the table.

After setting the table, Lin Wei shouted toward the bedroom: "Hey, time to eat—are you still lying down?"

There was no movement in the bedroom.

Lin Wei walked in and saw Qiao Yichen lying on his side, breathing evenly; he had actually fallen asleep. She reached out and shook his shoulder: "Wake up, time to eat."

Qiao Yichen opened his eyes groggily and took a moment to realize where he was.

"Is Su Qing here?"

"She's here, just waiting for you." Lin Wei urged him, "Get up, get up."

Qiao Yichen sat up, rubbed his eyes, and followed her out.

The four of them sat around the dining table. Liu Yanran handed him a pair of chopsticks and helped him open the lid of his food box. Qiao Yichen took them and stuffed a piece of crab meat into his mouth.

Watching this, Su Qing couldn't help but speak up: "Qiao Yichen, you're really acting like a lord now."

Lin Wei chimed in from the side, her tone a bit sour: "Why is our Yanran acting like a newlywed daughter-in-law, serving him so thoughtfully?"

Liu Yanran's ears turned slightly red, and she lowered her head to eat without replying.

Qiao Yichen chewed the crab meat and looked up, his expression becoming more serious: "Alright, let's talk business."

He looked at Liu Yanran: "Yanran, weren't you curious why I said to wait and see yesterday, but then was in such a hurry to sell the cabinet today?"

Liu Yanran put down her chopsticks and looked at him. Su Qing and Lin Wei also stopped what they were doing.

Qiao Yichen paused and began:

"The listed company, Huayuan Technology—I received word from a friend that they're going to restructure soon."

Lin Wei looked blank: "What does that have to do with us?"

Su Qing reacted the fastest and asked directly: "Is the news reliable?"

Liu Yanran asked more specifically: "Backdoor listing or asset restructuring?"

Qiao Yichen looked at her: "Asset restructuring. They've acquired a semiconductor company."

Liu Yanran frowned slightly: "Is the information accurate? Could there be a mistake?"

Qiao Yichen said seriously: "Absolutely reliable."

Su Qing pondered for a few seconds and suddenly asked: "So you were in a hurry to sell the cabinet this afternoon just to enter the market?"

Qiao Yichen nodded: "Time is tight. We must get in before the market closes tomorrow; after that, the chance is gone."

Lin Wei was lost in the fog, looking at Su Qing and then at Liu Yanran, getting a bit anxious: "What are you guys talking about? What restructuring? What entering the market? Can you speak like a normal person?"

Liu Yanran and Su Qing exchanged a glance and began to explain to her one after the other.

"It means this company is going to acquire someone else, and after the acquisition, the stock price usually rises," Liu Yanran explained as simply as possible.

"How much it rises isn't certain, but there's definitely an opportunity," Su Qing added. "So he wants to get in early and wait."

Lin Wei only half-understood, but her eyes gradually lit up: "Then... how much can it rise?"

The two looked at Qiao Yichen.

He didn't hide it: "At least double."

Lin Wei gasped and covered her mouth.

Once they finished explaining, Lin Wei realized and stared straight at Qiao Yichen: "So you called us over today just to tell us this?"

Qiao Yichen nodded and put down his chopsticks: "I don't need to mention Yanran, but you two are her best friends, and we're so familiar with each other; I definitely thought of you for such a good thing."

He paused, his tone becoming a bit more serious: "But let me give you a fair warning first—you can know this yourselves, but don't spread it around."

Liu Yanran's gaze toward him changed slightly, and she asked: "You sold the cabinet because you plan to go all-in?"

The question was subtle, but the meaning was clear.

Qiao Yichen nodded: "Yeah. It can at least double this time; there's no reason to miss it."

Liu Yanran stared at him, her tone a bit cold: "Are you that certain?"

Qiao Yichen met her gaze and said word by word: "Yes."

Liu Yanran looked at him and said nothing more. A few seconds later, her hand reached out from under the table and gently took his.

She said nothing, yet she said everything.

Qiao Yichen turned to look at Su Qing and Lin Wei.

Lin Wei asked cautiously: "Can... can it really double?"

Qiao Yichen looked at her nervous yet expectant look and nodded helplessly: "Yes."

Su Qing didn't speak, her gaze moving between Liu Yanran's and Lin Wei's faces—one was already holding his hand, and the other's eyes were shining.

She also put down her chopsticks and gave Qiao Yichen a nod.