Chapter 152: Is that our dad?

Over the past few days, Huo Muyan had been trying to contact Zheng Qian, but she couldn't get in touch with him no matter what.

After asking around, Huo Muyan found out that Zheng Qian would be holding a victory banquet here today.

She had rushed over in a hurry, intending to corner him.

To her surprise, she actually managed to corner Zheng Qian.

The argument at the entrance of Wangyue Pavilion immediately attracted a crowd of onlookers.

What was the deal with this girl?

Just moments ago, Zheng Qian walking arm-in-arm with Xu Shuyun to have lunch together had already stunned everyone.

Now, why was there another pure-looking girl dressed simply, with a face full of discontent?

President Zheng is really something!

The women around him kept coming one after another. He had just sent off Xu Shuyun, and now another little stunner had arrived.

Looking at her, she was probably angry with President Zheng over something.

The two of them looked exactly like a young couple, with a striking resemblance to each other.

"Eh? Isn't that Director Huo's youngest daughter? I've seen her before."

Boss Han recognized Huo Muyan's identity at a single glance.

"What's going on, Qian? Is she your girlfriend?"

"Who's his girlfriend? Don't talk nonsense!" Huo Muyan put her hands on her hips.

She looked around. In just two short minutes, quite a crowd of onlookers had gathered, seemingly guests attending Zheng Qian's victory banquet today.

Huo Muyan didn't want to make a scene and embarrass herself in front of so many people, so she dragged Zheng Qian to a quiet spot to talk to him privately.

"I've already done the work for you. The design, the proposal, and even the painting were all done by the professionals we hired."

"It's time for you to pay!"

Huo Muyan had actually planned to come in a few days, but her subordinates at the studio were worried she was being scammed, so they urged her to ask Zheng Qian.

But when she tried to ask, things went south—she couldn't contact him at all!

Huo Muyan thought Zheng Qian had run off, which was why today's scene happened.

"Pay? Pay for what?" Zheng Qian began playing dumb.

Zheng Qian glanced at Huo Muyan's Favorability toward him; it had already dropped to 10 points.

Huo Muyan pouted. "Are you trying to back out on the payment?"

"Twenty-five million! For the design and proposal fees!"

When Zheng Qian had commissioned her before, it was only verbal, without any formal contract signed.

If Zheng Qian really wanted to back out on this money, it would indeed be a bit tricky.

"It's not that I'm not paying, but you haven't finished the job yet!" Zheng Qian explained.

"Hmph!"

"All the ships in your company have been painted uniformly according to the proposal. What other work is there for us to do?"

Huo Muyan could see it now—Zheng Qian was definitely trying to stiff her!

"Here's the thing. Our Group just acquired another shipyard enterprise. We now have 47 ships in total. Subtracting the ones you've already painted, there are still 22 left."

"You have to finish the rest for me before I can pay you."

Huo Muyan was stunned as she listened.

"Stop trying to fool me!"

She used to work at the Maritime Management Bureau, so she knew that there were only two capable shipyard companies in Yezhou: Zhengxin Shipyard and Yamei Group.

Did Zheng Qian mean to say that he had acquired Yamei Group?

That might work on a child, but it wouldn't work on her!

Acquiring Yamei Group would take at least 300 million yuan. With Zhengxin Shipyard's strength, it was impossible to swallow the entire Yamei Group.

"You can check Yamei Group's shareholding structure right now. Why would I lie to you?"

"I didn't ignore your calls on purpose before; I've just been too busy lately and couldn't get to them."

Zheng Qian explained.

Huo Muyan actually took out her phone and checked Yamei Group's current shareholding structure.

Zheng Qian held a 95% stake.

Hu Yuebin held a 5% stake.

He... he really acquired Yamei Group?

That was the most powerful shipping enterprise in Yezhou!

"I wasn't lying, was I?"

Zheng Qian said with a grin.

"The remaining ships will still be one million each. Just let me know when you're done."

"Let me calculate... 47 ships, one million each, that's 47 million in total, right? It's pocket change. Just go ahead and do it!"

Huo Muyan frowned slightly.

Looking at Zheng Qian's attitude, he didn't seem like someone short on money.

For a small Zhengxin Shipyard to swallow the entire Yamei Group, there was clearly massive financial backing behind it.

It was highly likely that Zheng Qian himself was the source of this funding.

Huo Muyan fell into a dilemma.

Since Zheng Qian offered her such a high price, she felt too embarrassed to ask him to sign a retroactive contract. That would seem too insincere, and if there were similar orders in the future, he might not look for her again.

Huo Muyan had still learned a bit of experience in dealing with people from her father.

After careful consideration, Huo Muyan decided to let it go. She chose to trust Zheng Qian and advance the money herself first. After all, the design industry didn't consume much cash flow.

It was fine if he paid a bit late.

"Is there anything else? I'm going to be busy this afternoon. We can just keep in touch by phone. I'll take my leave first."

"Hey, hey, hey..."

Before Huo Muyan could finish her sentence, Zheng Qian quickly left the scene.

Why did she feel like she had been hoodwinked?

The guests at Wangyue Pavilion had been secretly paying attention to her conversation with Zheng Qian.

"See? I told you it would be fine."

"President Zheng is truly capable! He coaxed the young girl into a good mood with just a few words."

"What did you expect? If President Zheng didn't have what it takes, would he dare to play around like this?"

"If I had President Zheng's wealth, I'd play even wilder than him."

"Oh, give me a break!"

As Huo Muyan was leaving Wangyue Island, she saw some people whispering. They were all looking at her with peculiar eyes, strange smiles on their faces, and she had no idea what they were thinking.

...

Derun Building.

Zheng Qian had already met up with Jin Lu.

Time really flew; two months had passed in the blink of an eye.

"Shuangshuang, you drive. I'm a bit nervous." After picking up Jin Lu, Zheng Qian shrank into the passenger seat.

Jin Lu let out a chuckle. "What are you nervous about? We're going to pick up my dad, not sending you to prison."

"Sigh, isn't this meeting the parents? I'm just inexplicably nervous."

"Does he know that you have a boyfriend like me?"

Zheng Qian couldn't help but ask.

"He knows. I told him the last time I visited him in prison."

"My dad said he really wants to meet you, which is why I called you over."

Jin Lu started the car and drove toward Yebai First Prison.

The prison was located near a small hill on the westernmost edge of Yebai. There wasn't even a village around, making it extremely remote.

"What time is our dad coming out?"

"Soon."

"Don't be nervous. It's fine, my dad is very approachable."

"I'm not nervous."

"If you're not nervous, why are your legs shaking constantly?"

Zheng Qian glanced at his legs and found that they were completely out of his control, shaking nonstop.

"Oh, I have this habit of shaking my legs. I can't shake it." Zheng Qian tried his best to cover it up.

"How come I've never seen your legs shake before?"

Zheng Qian didn't want to continue this topic; it was too embarrassing.

Seeing the prison gates slowly open, Zheng Qian pointed and shouted, "Look, is that our dad?"