Chapter 132: Increase movement speed by 30%

Hearing this, Xia Xixi wanted nothing more than to stop Zheng Qian on the spot.

She knew Zheng Qian was rich, but no matter how much money he had, he couldn't just throw it away like this.

He had only just taken the helm of Zhengxin Shipyard, and he was already starting to act so recklessly?

Why was he always doing things she couldn't understand!

"You've got to be joking. One million for one cargo ship—twenty-five cargo ships would be twenty-five million."

Huo Muyan's face was filled with disdain; this kid really knew how to brag.

Was he planning to just give her money?

Wasn't a paint job simple? There was absolutely no technical skill involved.

He didn't need to hire her at all, let alone offer a high price of one million.

"If you offered ten thousand yuan, any slightly famous design studio in the country would scramble to take the job, okay?"

"I'm not joking with you."

"If Miss Huo isn't interested, then forget it."

Zheng Qian's expression was very serious, and Huo Muyan hesitated for a moment.

Although Huo Muyan's design studio had signed with Burberry and Louis Vuitton, and had been featured on magazine covers several times—making quite a bit of money over the past few years...

...its international recognition was still not high enough.

They always had to work behind the scenes. As soon as a good creative concept or design came out, it was taken by Burberry and Louis Vuitton.

Every design was like a designer's child, created through painstaking effort and by racking their brains.

Huo Muyan was only somewhat famous within the design industry itself. She also knew that without these two companies, the fashion she designed would be hard for the general public to accept.

For example, if a T-shirt was branded as a luxury item, it would be considered amazing.

But if it was a T-shirt from an obscure, newly established brand, it would be treated as trash.

Secular prejudices were just too strong.

The fame went to the two companies. Many designs received rave reviews from consumers, but the praise wasn't for her; it was for those two luxury brands.

The profits also went to those two companies, and what was distributed to Huo Muyan was merely pocket change.

As for royalties, what she could actually get her hands on was a pittance.

How could a giant company like LV give you detailed sales figures? Whether they sold a lot or a little was entirely up to them.

If she wanted to make a name for herself internationally, she had to start by increasing her brand recognition.

The business deal Zheng Qian proposed was actually somewhat interesting.

"President Zheng, if you agree to add our studio's logo to the paint job, I can consider designing the livery for your company's cargo ships."

"Sure, whether we include the logo or not is a small matter. The main thing is that your design has to satisfy me."

Huo Muyan knew Zheng Qian was rich and would spend lavishly on women, but she didn't expect his way of spending money... to be so unique.

Huo Muyan didn't understand it, but she wasn't stupid. Twenty-five million was enough to buy several more cargo ships, wasn't it?

Xia Xixi had a dumbfounded expression the entire time.

She actually agreed?

But then again, the price Zheng Qian offered was literally just giving away money!

Only a fool would refuse.

This money was enough to buy several more cargo ships!

They say good steel should be used on the blade, but Zheng Qian did the exact opposite—he was spending all his money on the hilt.

"Also, President Zheng, I must remind you of one thing. Don't think about using this business deal to try and bribe my father through me. He is completely incorruptible and won't listen to me."

"If you want to back out now, I'll pretend you never said anything."

Huo Muyan laid down the harsh truth upfront.

"How could I? I know Director Huo's character very well—he is completely upright and incorruptible. I simply want to add some color to Zhengxin. All those old-fashioned paint jobs look so lifeless."

"I only have one requirement: it must look badass. It should make people mistake them for destroyers or cruisers at first glance."

Zheng Qian quickly explained, showing that he had no intentions of bribery.

Only then did Huo Muyan nod, willing to do business with Zheng Qian.

Favorability +20.

Huo Muyan's Favorability toward Zheng Qian instantly reached 30 points.

"By the way, Miss Huo, I didn't quite understand this document. If we want to apply for a land reclamation permit, what qualifications do we need, or what conditions must we meet?"

In college, Huo Muyan had been forced by her father to attend the Maritime Academy, but her heart was set on the design industry.

After working at the Maritime Management Bureau for a year and a half, she defied her family's objections, resigned, and became a designer.

She had some understanding of land reclamation permits.

"First of all, there is an issue with you as the applicant. The applicant must be a single entity; it cannot be a partnership of two or more companies."

"Although I don't know what you're trying to do, if you really want a land reclamation permit, you have to buy the dock, improve the facilities, clean up the environment, and then submit your company's qualifications and pay a certain deposit to the Maritime Management Bureau. That way, you can get approval."

Huo Muyan told Zheng Qian the correct process.

Zheng Qian nodded, suddenly seeing the light.

Hmm... this money wasn't spent in vain.

At least he had learned something useful.

"Don't find it too troublesome either; this is the only way," Huo Muyan reminded him.

After they finished eating, Huo Muyan left the restaurant and began preparing for the cargo ship paint design.

"President Zheng, as your secretary, it is my duty to remind you that this is a complete waste of money."

"Wouldn't it be better to use this money to buy a few more cargo ships and improve Zhengxin's transport capacity?"

"Why must you insist on these superficial paint jobs? Do you think this is a game? Does buying a skin give you a 30% movement speed boost?"

Seeing that Huo Muyan had left, Xia Xixi finally couldn't help but voice her opinion to Zheng Qian.

Regardless of whether Zheng Qian would give her a cold shoulder again, she had to say these words.

"Why so angry? Could it be that my beautiful secretary is feeling a bit unbalanced?" Zheng Qian teased with a grin.

"What are you talking about? Why would I feel unbalanced?" Xia Xixi talked tough, but her face flushed a deep red from embarrassment.

Zheng Qian was clearly just giving money to Huo Muyan, but Xia Xixi really didn't feel unbalanced; it was just Zheng Qian's teasing that made her blush.

"If you're feeling balanced, why is your face so red?"

"??? I'm flushed from eating the spicy chicken!" Xia Xixi was almost shouting.

"Fine, fine, let's just say it's because of the spicy food, okay?"

"What do you mean 'let's just say'?" Xia Xixi couldn't win against Zheng Qian's silver tongue, so she simply ignored him.

After returning to the company, Zheng Qian told Chen Weiqiang about the situation.

Chen Weiqiang said that the dock actually wasn't that expensive, only a bit over a hundred million.

Zheng Qian immediately made the decision; they could buy it.

After discussing it, the two decided to visit the boss of Shuangluo Shipping to see if they could buy the dock.

The boss of Shuangluo Shipping was named Boss Pang, and the ownership of both the Yenan and Yebai docks belonged entirely to him.

Upon arriving at Shuangluo Shipping, the two met Boss Pang in his office.

"Yo, yo, yo, if it isn't President Chen! What wind blew you in today?"