18: Do you have some misunderstanding about me?

"Click."

The hidden door behind him was gently closed from the outside by Lan Yanran.

Lin Chao let out a long sigh of relief.

He felt as if he were on the verge of collapse, his back leaning against the cold wall as he slowly slid down to sit on the carpet.

His heart was still thumping wildly!

That was too close!

Just a little more!

Just a little bit more, and he would have run straight into that bastard Zheng Guangzhi!

A fine layer of cold sweat broke out on Lin Chao's forehead.

The lingering fear in his heart was gradually replaced by a deep sense of worry.

The plan was completely messed up!

According to his original idea, he should have had at least a week to slowly and inconspicuously discredit Zheng Guangzhi in front of Lan Yanran.

But who could have guessed that this old fellow, Zheng Guangzhi, would be so impatient as to suddenly move the cooperation negotiations forward!

This move had caught him completely off guard!

However... Lan Yanran's cold and disgusted gaze from earlier reappeared in Lin Chao's mind.

The corner of his mouth couldn't help but curl into a slight arc.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Although Zheng Guangzhi's impatience had disrupted his rhythm, it had also inadvertently planted a thorn in Lan Yanran's heart ahead of schedule!

Coupled with the fuel he had added with his talk of 'Physiognomy'... Lin Chao was certain that Lan Yanran's aversion to Zheng Guangzhi must be reaching its breaking point right now!

This cooperation probably wouldn't go as smoothly as Zheng Guangzhi imagined.

Excellent!

As long as this first negotiation fell through, and as long as it could be delayed, he would have plenty of time and opportunities later to completely ruin this partnership!

Lin Chao stood up and brushed the dust off his trousers.

Lan Yanran had told him to stay here for half an hour before leaving.

But after thinking it over, he still felt uneasy.

What if... what if Lan Yanran couldn't withstand the pressure and was fooled by that old fox Zheng Guangzhi?

No!

He couldn't leave!

Today, he had to wait here for a result!

Having made up his mind, Lin Chao simply walked back to the soft, large bed and sat down.

This wait lasted for a full three hours... Meanwhile, on the other side.

Lan Yanran straightened her suit jacket, regaining her persona as the Ice Queen CEO.

She took a deep breath and reached out to pull open the heavy office door.

Outside the door stood a line of men in suits.

At their head was a middle-aged man around fifty years old, sporting a modest beer belly and hair combed to a greasy shine.

This was the chairman of Hongzhi Group, Zheng Guangzhi!

As soon as he saw Lan Yanran, a smile that crinkled his face like a blooming chrysanthemum immediately appeared.

"Ah, CEO Lan! I've finally managed to see you!"

However, in the next second, when his gaze landed on Lan Yanran's face, that smile faltered slightly.

He looked Lan Yanran up and down with an unscrupulous gaze.

His eyes were filled with unconcealed shock and suspicion.

This wasn't right!

Didn't the intel say that today was the first day of Lan Yanran's period, the time when her body would be at its weakest and her state at its worst?

But the woman before him... her complexion was rosy, her eyes were clear, she was full of energy, and her aura was even stronger than usual!

How did this look like someone who was feeling unwell?!

Zheng Guangzhi's aggressive gaze was instantly caught by Lan Yanran.

In her mind, the words Lin Chao had just spoken suddenly roared like thunder!

"Triangular eyes, thin lips..."

"A shallow philtrum, eyes with a peach blossom cast..."

"A lecherous man with a wicked mind who is addicted to wine and women!"

Lan Yanran's face instantly darkened, becoming so cold it seemed as if a layer of frost could be scraped off it!

Damn it!

This old bastard, surely he hasn't really set his sights on me!

Her husband had been passed away for ten whole years.

In these ten years, countless unwanted admirers had tried their best to get close to her.

After all, she held the reins of the Lantu Group, one of the top companies in Linhai City!

Who wouldn't want to reach the top in one step and save themselves decades of struggle?

So over the years, Lan Yanran had been harassed by all kinds of men.

Among them, hypocrites like Zheng Guangzhi, who held high positions and acted all dignified, were too many to count!

Originally, she felt that Zheng Guangzhi was an out-and-out despicable person for using her 'menstrual cycle' as a dirty tactic to force a negotiation.

Now, that aversion had soared straight to its peak!

Zheng Guangzhi didn't notice the change in Lan Yanran's mood and was still offering hypocritical pleasantries.

"CEO Lan, you look truly radiant today!"

He took a step forward with a smile, his greasy demeanor making Lan Yanran's stomach churn.

"I had also heard that CEO Lan was unwell today and intended to postpone the meeting. I didn't expect you to be in such good spirits; it seems the rumors were incorrect!"

These words were concern on the surface, but a probe in secret!

Lan Yanran sneered in her heart.

She didn't even bother with formalities and spoke coldly: "My physical condition is not something CEO Zheng needs to worry about."

Her voice was like tempered ice, without a single trace of warmth.

The smile on Zheng Guangzhi's face instantly froze!

He hadn't expected Lan Yanran to give him no face at all, shutting down the conversation so bluntly!

But he was a veteran of the business world, after all, with skin as thick as a city wall.

"Haha, CEO Lan is right, quite right..."

He gave a couple of dry laughs, wanting to say something more to ease the atmosphere.

But Lan Yanran didn't give him the chance!

Her gaze, like two sharp ice blades, pierced straight into Zheng Guangzhi's eyes.

"As for you, CEO Zheng."

"You had better keep your eyes respectful."

Boom!

These words were like a resounding slap, striking Zheng Guangzhi hard across the face!

The subordinates behind him all gasped in shock!

Zheng Guangzhi's face instantly turned the color of pig liver!

He never dreamed that Lan Yanran would humiliate him so directly in front of so many people!

"CEO Lan... you... what do you mean by this?" His voice even stuttered slightly. "I was just... just admiring CEO Lan's elegance..."

"Admiring?"

Lan Yanran suddenly laughed.

That smile was filled with bone-chilling sarcasm and unconcealed disgust.

She parted her red lips and slowly uttered five words: "I only find it disgusting!"

In that instant, the air completely froze!

The executives behind Zheng Guangzhi were all as quiet as cicadas in winter, not even daring to breathe.

When had they ever seen their own chairman, Zheng Guangzhi's face turn from the color of pig liver to dark green, and then from dark green to a deathly pale!

His fists were clenched tightly at his sides, veins bulging on the backs of his hands!

Rage!

A towering rage almost erupted from the top of his head!

But he couldn't lash out!

This was the territory of the Lantu Group!

The woman before him was the absolute controller of the Lantu Group!

More importantly, whether Hongzhi Group's current project could be brought back to life depended entirely on this investment from the Lantu Group!

He would endure!

Zheng Guangzhi took a deep, deep breath and forced a smile from between his teeth that looked worse than crying.

"CEO Lan... is there some misunderstanding between us?"