"Aunt Cai, Chu Lingtian doesn't understand manners. How about I have him apologize to you?"
"Chu Lingtian, quickly apologize to Aunt Cai Hong! Hurry!"
Liu Bingxue looked at Chu Lingtian, her eyes urging him to apologize to Cai Hong, thinking it might offer a chance for the endorsement deal.
In truth, neither Chu Lingtian nor Liu Bingxue were at fault in their dealings with Cai Hong; they simply stood on different ground.
Liu Bingxue was focused on the company's development. After so much hard work from all employees, they had finally secured an endorsement deal with Su Feifei to promote the company's newly developed, all-around skin care lubricant.
Cai Hong, on the other hand, was Su Feifei's mother and managed all aspects of Su Feifei's work. Offending Cai Hong would surely jeopardize the cooperation with Su Feifei.
Therefore, Cai Hong was someone not to be offended, unless the offense would not impact the company's endorsement deal with Su Feifei.
As for Chu Lingtian, he was even more blameless. How could a mother like Cai Hong, who was greedy for profit and looked down on the poor, insult her daughter's friends in front of her?
Everyone else, intimidated by Cai Hong's status as the mother of the popular celebrity Su Feifei, dared not offend her, offering her only flattery and adulation. But Chu Lingtian, with his character, would never tolerate someone like Cai Hong. Besides, in front of him, the strongest soldier in the Dragon Country, who was Cai Hong to him?
"Apologize? Humph, it's too late! Don't even mention apologizing, I wouldn't forgive this 'Chu' fellow even if he knelt down and kowtowed," Cai Hong said with utter contempt, casting a disdainful glance at Chu Lingtian. She then turned back to Liu Bingxue, speaking forcefully, "President Liu, I'll give you three more seconds to consider. Will you fire Chu Lingtian and seize this precious opportunity to cooperate with my daughter, or will you keep him and disregard the interests of everyone in your company? Choose!"
Liu Bingxue glanced at Chu Lingtian, giving the stubborn fellow a fierce glare, then smiled at Cai Hong and said, "Aunt Cai, as I told you earlier, even as company president, I cannot arbitrarily fire an employee without due cause. That would be a serious violation of company regulations."
"What do you mean 'without due cause'? This 'Chu' fellow has now offended your company's most important partner. Isn't that a grave mistake? Is that not reason enough to expel him from the company?" Cai Hong questioned Liu Bingxue coldly.
"Aunt Cai, it's truly impossible to fire Chu Lingtian. I ask for your understanding." Liu Bingxue's beautiful face remained wreathed in a smile.
Chu Lingtian was surprised that Liu Bingxue would publicly refuse Cai Hong's demand for his sake. He knew that by refusing Cai Hong, the endorsement deal with Su Feifei, which Bao Xue Company had fought so hard to secure, would likely be lost, a significant blow to the entire company.
Liu Bingxue had always been a work-focused woman, diligent and ambitious, always prioritizing the company's interests. Her willingness to disregard company interests for Chu Lingtian's sake at this moment truly surprised him.
"Fine! Fine! Fine!" Cai Hong trembled with rage, laughing bitterly. "Liu Bingxue, it seems I was right from the start. Preventing Feifei from discussing cooperation with your company was a wise move. How can someone like you, who can't even discern priorities, possibly grow a company? If my daughter partnered with someone like you, it would certainly not end well!"
Before arriving at Bao Xue Company, Cai Hong was brimming with confidence. She believed that this small company's opportunity to cooperate with her daughter Su Feifei was a blessing that everyone in the company had desperately sought, and they would undoubtedly treat her and her daughter like deities. She assumed that as soon as she ordered Liu Bingxue to fire Chu Lingtian, Liu Bingxue would comply without hesitation. After all, when faced with the choice between firing an insignificant employee and losing significant benefits, any moderately intelligent person would know what to choose. However, Liu Bingxue's decision was far beyond Cai Hong's expectations.
"Mom, one thing is one thing, they can't be mixed. You disliking Chu Lingtian is your business, and my endorsement deal with Bao Xue Company is mine..." Su Feifei attempted to speak up for Chu Lingtian and Liu Bingxue, but her words were forcefully and imperiously interrupted by her mother, Cai Hong.
"What do you mean 'your business'? You are my daughter, born of me. Your business is my business. If I say you are not allowed to cooperate with Bao Xue Company anymore, then you are not allowed. Come with me!" After speaking, Cai Hong, with a fierce expression, grabbed Su Feifei's hand and forcefully dragged her towards the office door.
"Mom..." Su Feifei stood rooted, calling out to Cai Hong with a tone of anger and helplessness.
Cai Hong turned to look at Su Feifei and snarled, "Su Feifei, have your wings grown hard now? Do you not want to acknowledge me as your mother anymore? If you still want to acknowledge me as your mother, then come with me!"
Su Feifei had grown up relying solely on her mother, Cai Hong. She knew how difficult it had been for her mother to raise her single-handedly, so she had always obeyed her mother and did not wish to see her upset. After casting a glance at Chu Lingtian, Su Feifei's incredibly beautiful face was filled with an expression of utter helplessness. She was forcibly pulled by Cai Hong out of Liu Bingxue's president's office.
Watching Su Feifei and Cai Hong leave, Liu Bingxue frowned and chased after them. Cai Hong was unreasonable and overbearing, but Liu Bingxue still hoped to persuade Su Feifei to sign the endorsement contract. After all, having Su Feifei, the most popular and beautiful star, endorse the product would undoubtedly yield the best results. Liu Bingxue did not want to fire Chu Lingtian as Cai Hong demanded, yet she also did not want to easily abandon this endorsement opportunity. Her only recourse was to try and convince Su Feifei.
Seeing Liu Bingxue quicken her pace to catch up with Cai Hong and Su Feifei, Chu Lingtian took out a cigarette, lit it, and put it in his mouth before also walking out of the office.
"Why aren't you following President Liu? You're her personal secretary, aren't you?" Chu Lingtian asked Qin Li, who was seated at her secretary's desk outside the door.
Qin Li glared angrily at Chu Lingtian, gritting her white teeth in pain. "You scoundrel, it's all because you suddenly dodged my kick just now. I didn't dare to kick Goddess Su, so I stopped abruptly, injuring my foot."
Chu Lingtian froze for a moment. He stepped forward and, without warning, grabbed Qin Li's right leg with his left hand. Then, he lifted her hip skirt with his right hand, immediately revealing her black lace-trimmed underwear.
"Ah! You pervert, what are you doing?" Qin Li shrieked.