Qingnuan Technology took the initiative to contact Ling Nuan.
They expressed their desire to meet again.
Ling Nuan readily agreed.
When Ling Nuan saw Shen Shaoqing appear in the private room, she was surprised yet not entirely shocked.
"Secretary Ling," Shen Shaoqing stood in front of her, with a proper smile on his face. He reached out his hand first, looking all businesslike.
Ling Nuan naturally wasn't going to back down.
"Mr. Shen," she said, reaching out to shake hands with Shen Shaoqing.
The touch was brief, with no hint of reluctance.
After Ling Nuan withdrew her hand, she walked straight into the private room. For a moment, a look of disappointment flashed across Shen Shaoqing's face, but he quickly put on a smile and followed in her footsteps.
After they were seated, Shen Shaoqing apologized first. "The incident last time was due to the rudeness of our company's staff. They offended Secretary Ling. Our company has always attached great importance to the cooperation with your company. This time, I'm here in person to talk to Secretary Ling. I hope Secretary Ling can feel our company's sincerity."
Ling Nuan forced a smile. "You're being too polite, Mr. Shen."
Seeing Ling Nuan's unresponsive attitude, Shen Shaoqing felt as if his heart was being stabbed, but he still managed to maintain his smile.
"Let me toast you, Secretary Ling," he said, picking up a glass of wine and downing it in one gulp.
Yang Cheng was there to apologize to Ling Nuan, but Shen Shaoqing's act of drinking seemed more like self - indulgence.
However, Ling Nuan didn't care.
Apart from Ling Nuan, there were other staff from the Huo Corporation. She couldn't embarrass Shen Shaoqing in public.
Since Shen Shaoqing had given her a way out, Ling Nuan had to play along.
"I can feel your sincerity, Mr. Shen. We can proceed with the cooperation, but the terms need to be revised. Our company wants the controlling stake in your company."
Shen Shaoqing didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stared intently at Ling Nuan.
Shen Shaoqing had hoped to establish a connection with the Huo family through Huo Xiao. But at the same time, this approach had limited his options.
The Huo Corporation had become his best choice.
Suddenly, Shen Shaoqing smiled. "Okay, I agree."
As soon as he said this, not only Ling Nuan but everyone in the private room was shocked.
Who in the world would finalize a cooperation deal, especially one involving such an important matter as the controlling stake, with just a few words?
But it was obvious that Shen Shaoqing wasn't joking. He took out the contract he had prepared and handed it to Ling Nuan. "Secretary Ling, do you find these terms satisfactory?"
In Qingnuan Technology, the early employees who had followed Shen Shaoqing held a total of 9% of the shares, while the remaining 91% was in Shen Shaoqing's hands.
Of course, Ling Nuan also had a share in this 91%.
This time, Shen Shaoqing kept 51% for himself and divided 40% directly to the Huo Corporation. It was a bold move and showed his determination.
"I'll convey your intention to Mr. Huo," Ling Nuan said non - committally.
Hearing this, Shen Shaoqing let out an ambiguous laugh.
He didn't say anything more. Instead, he picked up the wine and proposed a toast. "Come on, let's all toast Secretary Ling."
Then he started to drink heavily again.
Ling Nuan didn't touch a drop of wine, while Shen Shaoqing got himself drunk. The people from Qingnuan Technology knew something about the situation, but the staff from the Huo Corporation were completely in the dark.
Ling Nuan ignored him and only talked to the employees from the Huo Corporation beside her.
During this time, she received a text message from Huo Linsheng checking on her.
"How's the negotiation going?"
Ling Nuan typed a reply. "It's going surprisingly smoothly."
Before she could say more, Huo Linsheng sent back a name.
"Shen Shaoqing?"
Ling Nuan almost thought that Huo Linsheng had some supernatural power.
Before she could reply, Huo Linsheng called. Ling Nuan explained to the people around her and then quickly took her phone and left the private room.
She found a quiet corner and answered the call.
"What are your instructions, Mr. Huo?" As soon as she answered the phone, Ling Nuan's tone softened instinctively, with a smile on her face.
"I'm just exercising my rights as a boyfriend to check on you," Huo Linsheng joked.
Hearing this, Ling Nuan laughed. "Are you, such a powerful man, afraid that someone will steal your girlfriend?"
"My girlfriend is too popular," Huo Linsheng replied.
After the joke, he asked about the business. "Did Shen Shaoqing go there in person?"
"Yes, and he agreed to cede 40% of the shares," Ling Nuan said briefly.
Huo Linsheng gave a soft snort. "He's compensating you."
Ling Nuan found it funny. "What kind of compensation is this? The shares won't end up in my hands. Huo Linsheng, from a man's perspective, isn't his behavior just plain stupid?"
Huo Linsheng refused to answer this question. "Although we're both men, our ways of thinking are different. Please don't lump me in with him."
Hearing this, Ling Nuan couldn't help but laugh.
Her laughter traveled through the distance and reached Huo Linsheng's ears, making him also smile.
He was sitting in the car, looking out of the window at the traffic. "How much longer will it take to finish? I'll come pick you up."
"I can leave now," Ling Nuan replied.
She had no interest in staying with Shen Shaoqing, even with others around.
Just being in the same space as Shen Shaoqing made her feel nauseous.
"Come to the entrance," Huo Linsheng said.
Ling Nuan was surprised. She didn't expect Huo Linsheng to be there. Realizing this, even after hanging up the phone, there was an undeniable smile on her lips.
This smile was extremely glaring in Shen Shaoqing's eyes as he followed her.
Especially when Ling Nuan turned around and saw him, her smile faded, replaced by coldness and annoyance.
Ling Nuan simply ignored him and walked quickly forward.
When she passed by Shen Shaoqing, he tried to grab her, but Ling Nuan was on guard. She slightly turned her body and avoided his hand.
"Mr. Shen, behave yourself," Ling Nuan reminded coldly, with undisguised mockery in her tone.
These simple four words seemed to cut open Shen Shaoqing's heart, making him feel a pain so intense that he could hardly breathe.
But he still forced a smile at Ling Nuan. "Nuan Nuan, stop getting involved with Huo Linsheng. You've fallen once. Do you want to fall again?"
Ling Nuan was really annoyed.
The more she had loved Shen Shaoqing in the past, the more annoyed she was with him now.
"Huo Linsheng is not you. The relationship between him and me will never be the same as between you and me. Shen Shaoqing, you really disgust me now."
After saying that, Ling Nuan looked back.
Then she saw Huo Linsheng standing not far away, looking at her calmly.
When their eyes met, Huo Linsheng said, "Come here."
Although he knew it was impossible, Shen Shaoqing still couldn't help but plead with her. "Nuan Nuan, don't go."
Ling Nuan didn't hesitate for a moment. She ran towards Huo Linsheng with a smile, leaving Shen Shaoqing far behind.
It was like a timeline.
Shen Shaoqing was only left in Ling Nuan's past, while now, she was running towards her future.
That future was with Huo Linsheng.
Shen Shaoqing watched this scene clearly. He saw Ling Nuan throw herself into Huo Linsheng's arms, saw Huo Linsheng lower his head, gently smooth Ling Nuan's flying hair, and then embrace her and leave.
Their intimate posture stabbed Shen Shaoqing's eyes.
Clearly... he was the one who had once been treated like this by Ling Nuan.
But why had things come to this between them?