21: Talking about feelings costs money!

Lin Chao "struggled" for a long while before finally appearing to make up his mind, speaking with great caution.

"CEO Lan, it's just... based on my intuition from the last time I saw Zheng Guangzhi..."

"I feel like the relationship between those two spouses doesn't seem very good."

"Yes, it's that kind of feeling. There's a deep conflict between them; they don't seem like a married couple at all."

He scratched his head, looking like he was trying hard to organize his words.

"So I thought, maybe... I'm saying just in case... we could start from there?"

That one sentence was like a bolt of lightning, clearing the fog in Lan Yanran's mind!

Her body jolted, and she stared deathly at Lin Chao!

Marital discord?

Exploiting internal conflicts?

This... was indeed a path she had never considered!

Zheng Guangzhi's messy private life was no secret in their circles. Could it be that he and his wife had truly reached a point of being like fire and water?

If that were true... then this plan was highly feasible!

Lan Yanran's breathing became somewhat rapid.

She looked at Lin Chao, her gaze full of scrutiny and an unprecedented sharpness.

"How certain are you of this information?"

Lin Chao feigned difficulty: "I... I'm just guessing blindly..."

Lan Yanran interrupted him!

"I don't care if you're guessing or if you heard it!"

She said decisively, "Lin Chao, you're going to handle this!"

"Go contact Xie Mengya and find a way to persuade her to do everything she can to restrain Zheng Guangzhi from within Hongzhi Group!"

"As long as you can pull this off!"

Lan Yanran held up one finger, her eyes flashing with a startling light.

"I will personally give you another million in bonus!"

Boom!

It was as if fireworks had exploded inside Lin Chao's head!

One... one million?!

Holy shit!

She wanted him to be a corporate spy?

But this... wasn't this exactly what Xie Mengya had already asked him to do?!

Once he went back and reported to Xie Mengya that Lan Yanran was willing to join forces, wouldn't Xie Mengya agree on the spot and cooperate immediately?

This was basically free money!

One million from Xie Mengya's side!

Another million from Lan Yanran's side!

That's two million in total!

Adding in what he had earned before, he would soon be worth several million?!

He hit the jackpot!

This time, he really hit the jackpot!

Seeing Lin Chao's dazed expression, the frozen frost on Lan Yanran's face finally melted away completely.

She let out a 'pfft' and couldn't help but laugh.

That smile was like a flaming rose suddenly blooming on a frozen tundra—bright, moving, and possessing a lethal attraction.

"What?" She propped her chin on one hand, observing Lin Chao with great interest, her eyes flickering with a hint of mischievous amusement. "Dumbstruck?"

Lin Chao snapped back to his senses!

He subconsciously swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

"CEO... CEO Lan..."

His voice was a bit stuttery, and his eyes darted around in panic. "But... but this kind of thing isn't easy to handle!"

"I... I'm just someone who sells massagers. Why would President Xie... why would she listen to me?"

The smile at the corners of Lan Yanran's mouth grew even deeper.

She watched Lin Chao at her leisure, like an elegant cat toying with a panicked mouse under its paw.

"Didn't you get to know President Xie first?"

"Since President Xie was willing to personally take you to a place like 'Phantom Dream,' it shows she quite likes you."

A glimmer of insight that saw through everything flashed in Lan Yanran's eyes.

"After all, she has never brought any man to our club before."

Lin Chao's eyes narrowed slightly, but he quickly masked his emotions.

Seeing that Lin Chao still looked lost, Lan Yanran struck while the iron was hot, leading him on with gentle persuasion.

"Besides, you aren't part of our Lantu Group. It's most appropriate for you to be the one to contact her."

"You met her first, and you were the one who told me that the conflict between her and Zheng Guangzhi is deep."

"So I think Xie Mengya might actually agree to your proposal."

She picked up her teacup, gently blowing on the steam, but her gaze never left Lin Chao's face.

"Although you know nothing about company operations..."

"Your eloquence is very good, and you're a good judge of character."

"You truly are our company's Gold Medal Salesperson."

"I believe you can definitely persuade Xie Mengya."

Lin Chao's mind raced. After a moment's hesitation, he finally seemed to think of something and looked up with a face full of innocence.

"Then..."

"Then why don't you talk to President Xie yourself, CEO Lan?"

He looked at Lan Yanran, his eyes full of sincere 'confusion.' "That way, you could even save a million!"

Hearing this, Lan Yanran laughed even more happily, her body trembling. "Oh? You want to save me money that much?"

She teased him, but then her smile slowly faded. The calmness and sharpness belonging to a queen of the business world reappeared in those beautiful eyes.

She sat up straight, her expression becoming incredibly serious.

"Because I want to maintain the initiative."

Seeing that Lin Chao still looked puzzled, the corners of Lan Yanran's mouth curled into a meaningful arc as she explained patiently.

"Listen well."

"If I take the initiative to seek cooperation with Xie Mengya, then I am the one asking something of her; I am 'begging' for her help."

"In that case, Xie Mengya can set conditions for me, and the initiative will be in her hands."

"But..."

She paused slightly, her eyes flashing with the confident light of someone in control of the situation.

"If you mediate and make it so Xie Mengya takes the initiative to come to me for cooperation..."

"Then the situation is completely reversed."

"At that time, I will be the one holding the initiative, and I'll be able to get more of the benefits Lantu Group wants from Xie Mengya!"

Lan Yanran extended a slender finger and tapped lightly on the table. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried weight.

"And those benefits are worth far more than a million."

Lin Chao sucked in a sharp breath in his heart!

He felt a tingling sensation down his spine!

Damn!

As expected, none of the women who can control a massive entity like Lantu Group are pushovers!

This calculation, these methods—she was practically a she-devil!

But on his face, he maintained that simple, honest, and naive persona.

He blinked as if he hadn't fully understood the complexities involved and threw out one last question.

"But..."

"But CEO Lan, aren't you and President Xie... friends?"

Lan Yanran smiled upon hearing this.

That smile lacked the previous brightness and the recent calculation; it held only a matter-of-fact calmness.

She picked up her teacup and took an elegant sip.

"We are friends."

"But being friends doesn't stop me from striving for more benefits for myself and the company."

After listening, Lin Chao felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck his crown, and he was instantly enlightened!

He looked at Lan Yanran, and the simple, honest expression on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a heartfelt realization.

"I get it!"

Lan Yanran arched an eyebrow, looking at him with interest, seemingly waiting for his next words.

Lin Chao looked serious and summarized decisively.

"Talking feelings costs money!"