Chapter 253: Modern Merchant Ships

Zheng Qian refused.

He had no good feelings toward Jiang Yanran; why would someone suddenly fawn over him for no reason?

Let alone someone like Jiang Yanran, the cold, aloof, and arrogant beauty CEO.

He wouldn't believe for a second that Jiang Yanran was waiting here simply to send him back to his hotel.

Beside them, Secretary Du Bingbing gasped.

This was a treatment that countless people could only dream of.

Zheng Qian actually... refused her outright?

Hearing this, a fire of rage instantly flared up in Jiang Yanran's heart.

"I give you a bit of face, and you really think you're on top of the world!"

When had she ever been rejected?

Even Chairman Wang of the Dawan Group had personally opened the car door for her.

She didn't expect Zheng Qian to put on such airs!

A crowd gradually began to gather and murmur around them.

A scene of one handsome man and three beautiful women was something anyone would want to steal a few extra glances at.

But they didn't expect the turn of events to completely defy the onlookers' expectations.

Someone actually rejected Jiang Yanran?!

Who among the locals in Jiangnan didn't know of Jiang Yanran's reputation?

Her suitors could line up all the way from Jiangnan to Jiangbei.

This gorgeous woman with a sweet voice, immense talent, extraordinary ability, and a strong wrist had become the helm of Asia Shipping at a young age, dominating the region.

She was also known as Jiangnan's number one ice-queen female CEO.

Some people in the crowd had already started secretly pulling out their phones to record videos.

If this were posted online, it would absolutely blow up the short-video platforms!

Caught in the camera lenses, Jiang Yanran's face flushed slightly.

But Zheng Qian was simply too difficult to get in touch with.

If she let him go this time, who knew when she would see him again.

"Actually, I really do have something I'd like to discuss with you. Do you have some time?"

"I can even go to the hotel where you're staying."

Jiang Yanran had completely pocketed her pride.

She had already made it clear to Zheng Qian that she was willing to come to him to discuss business.

This was the first time since she entered the business world that she had shown someone such great sincerity.

"No, I have other things to do tonight."

"Let's talk another day!"

After saying that, Zheng Qian hailed a taxi and left with Song Yaxian.

Leaving Jiang Yanran standing alone, utterly bewildered in the wind.

She was actually... left hanging here?

For a moment, Jiang Yanran couldn't even process what had happened.

This was the greatest insult to her!

It was like someone had stomped ruthlessly on her pride.

"Holy crap, who is that guy?!"

"He actually left a great beauty like Jiang Yanran hanging?"

"The woman with him didn't even seem to have as good a temperament as Jiang Yanran, did she?"

"That guy is way too bold!"

"This is going to top the Jiangnan headlines in minutes!"

"You guys don't know who that man is? He's the super-rich tycoon who just ordered the Heavenly King to sing with his girlfriend at the concert!"

"A tall, rich, and handsome guy? Even so, he shouldn't be so cold to a beauty like Jiang Yanran!"

"Yeah, to make someone like Jiang Yanran throw herself at him, just how powerful must his background be!"

The surrounding crowd burst into a flurry of discussion, speculating about Zheng Qian's identity.

Camera flashes clicked rapidly right in front of Jiang Yanran's face, almost pressing against her forehead.

Standing in the cold wind, her ears filled with words like "rejected" and "throwing herself at him," Jiang Yanran got into the back seat of her Maybach with great reluctance.

Secretary Du Bingbing blocked her face with one hand, trying to disperse the nosy onlookers.

"Stop filming! Everyone, stop filming!"

...

Zheng Qian brought Song Yaxian to the hotel, and they entered the same room with tacit understanding.

But on the way there, neither of them had said a single word.

It was already like this in the fire escape earlier, and now that they were in the hotel room, it felt even more awkward.

Song Yaxian was a bit shy, her face already flushed bright red.

Say something!

Are you really going to make a girl speak first?!

"So, did you have fun today? You looked a bit restrained on stage, but you sang really well!"

"It was alright."

It was Song Yaxian's first time singing on stage, and doing a duet with the Heavenly King in front of so many fans made it inevitable that she would be nervous.

While on stage, she had observed carefully; countless fans below were casting envious looks at her.

Even Yin Yanyan, who had been highly praised just moments ago, was dancing as her backup.

For the first time, Song Yaxian realized how wonderful it was to have money.

Money really could buy happiness!

"Jiang Yanran is the helm of Asia Shipping. Will your attitude toward her affect any future business cooperation?" Song Yaxian asked considerately.

Zheng Qian shook his head.

In the eyes of outsiders, what he did might have seemed a bit excessive.

Humiliating Jiang Yanran in front of everyone.

But who knew that Jiang Yanran calling him to the hotel in the middle of the night just to deliver a bag was purely her messing with him?

If Song Yaxian knew the full story, she probably wouldn't have asked.

"By the way, I also received some news from the auction house."

"What news?"

"Yuese Company has put their modern large merchant ship back up for auction."

"This time, they are no longer using sealed-bid auctions, but open-bid auctions. The highest bidder wins."

Before coming, Zheng Qian had done his homework on Yuese Company.

Under Yuese Company, they actually operated two modern large cargo ships as well.

If those three cruise ships were compared to small desserts, then this modern large cargo ship was the real big cake!

"News from the auction house? Is it reliable?"

"It's reliable."

"But it shouldn't be top-secret news."

Zheng Qian nodded; he could understand that.

Yuese Cruise Line's bankruptcy restructuring had even abandoned the sealed-bid auction method in favor of direct open-bid bidding.

Those big shots who traveled thousands of miles to Jiangnan to attend the bankruptcy liquidation and restructuring auction were basically all involved in shipping.

Everyone would surely want a piece of such a big cake.

Unlike ordinary cargo ships, a modern large cargo ship could carry tens of thousands of containers at once, with a draft larger than that of an aircraft carrier!

"I think Yuese Company and the auction house have notified several other powerful bosses with significant backgrounds besides us. They want these people to compete and drive the price up."

Hearing this, Zheng Qian understood.

He knew it; Jiang Yanran wouldn't offer to send him back to his hotel for no reason.

Such attentiveness meant there had to be an ulterior motive!

It was likely related to this news.

Since he had received the news, then as the leader of the Five Shipping Alliance and the big boss of the shipping industry in the Jiangnan region, Jiang Yanran must have received it too.

"Oh, and one more thing..."

"Do you... really like me?"

As Song Yaxian spoke, she lowered her head shyly.

Zheng Qian: ???

He hadn't expected the topic to shift so suddenly.

Zheng Qian didn't intend to answer the question.

He prepared to throw the question back.

"Do you think I really like you?"

Zheng Qian felt that this was the best answer when questioned by a beautiful woman.

What was the use of just saying it?

The key was to look at what you did.

Once the actions were in place, these things became self-evident.

Fawning over her, transferring money, and sending red packets.

Others would send luxury goods at most, but Zheng Qian was different; he directly gifted a cruise ship worth hundreds of millions.

Others would at most take a girl to a concert.

Zheng Qian was different; he directly ordered the Heavenly King to sing along.

Vanity and anticipation were completely maxed out for her.

Would you say that wasn't real liking?

If it were just for fun, would he invest such a huge cost?

Just the money Zheng Qian spent on Song Yaxian, if he hired a few professional financial experts and lawyers, would be enough to chop up and acquire the Asia Shipping that Jiang Yanran was so proud of!

Zheng Qian had indeed put her in check.

Song Yaxian was completely at a loss.

Zheng Qian slowly leaned in.

Nose to nose, the two of them...