Inside the private room.
After Meng Yue said Li Qianfan had arrived and walked out, Ma Hongtu's assistant, Xiao Wang, and another companion instinctively stood up, intending to go out to greet Li Qianfan.
After all, their side had come to Sijiu this time to ask for Li Qianfan's help.
Whether he agreed or not, they had to show their respect.
So, when Li Qianfan arrived, going out to meet him was the most basic courtesy!
However.
Ma Hongtu smiled, "Sit down. Just wait for him to enter."
Xiao Wang was stunned and exchanged bewildered glances with his companion, their faces full of confusion.
"You two, don't always be so engrossed in research or detached from worldly affairs."
Ma Hongtu lit a cigarette and said leisurely, "Under normal circumstances, merely based on Li Qianfan's status as the heir of Longxu, we would have to go out to greet him even if we weren't asking for a favor. But now, hehe."
What about now?
Xiao Wang and his companion were still confused but obeyed Ma Hongtu and sat back down.
"He's already a pawn no longer in favor."
Ma Hongtu exhaled a puff of smoke and said, "As far as I know, because he committed a fatal and foolish mistake, even the Gao, Qin, and Chu families, who previously supported him strongly, have begun to distance themselves from him. He must be both panicked and angry now. He dreams of receiving strong support from others to show those who have distanced themselves. And President Chen's status in the Eastern Land, hehe. I don't need to say it, you two know, right?"
Xiao Wang and his companion suddenly understood—
President Chen's status in the Eastern Land was on par with President Zhao of Sijiu, and his influence within the Southern aristocratic circles was even stronger.
If Li Qianfan could gain President Chen's support, it would mean that many prominent families south of the Great River would be drawn to him.
If Li Qianfan truly gained the support of the Southern aristocratic group, the Longxu, which intended to strip him of his heir status, would have to reconsider.
After all, the Northern aristocratic families (Gao, Chu, Ding, Li, and Zhao families are all in the North) controlled resources that, compared to the Southern aristocratic families (mainly in coastal areas like Shanghai), were at a natural disadvantage in terms of economy.
"President Chen sent me here this time to give him an opportunity to gain the support of the Southern aristocratic families."
Ma Hongtu said leisurely again, "If his IQ is over 40, he will seize this opportunity tightly. But while President Chen gives him an opportunity, to prevent him from losing his sense of self in the future, it is necessary for us to subtly put him in his place during our first meeting, so he knows where he stands."
Xiao Wang and his companion were even more enlightened!
If Ma Hongtu hadn't explained, with their status and social experience, they wouldn't have been qualified to know these things and understand the complex relationships involved.
"No wonder, President Ma, you are so confident."
Xiao Wang's companion, Old Wang, immediately offered a compliment.
"Hehe."
Glancing at the door, Ma Hongtu lowered his voice, "Do you two know what the fatal mistake was that the once-promising Li Qianfan made?"
Everyone has a gossipy nature—
Old Wang and Xiao Wang quickly asked, "What was it?"
"He was captivated by his ex-girlfriend's mother!"
Ma Hongtu's voice became even lower, "And this morning, they even walked hand in hand to Sijiu President Zhao's to pay New Year's greetings. This can be considered making an abnormal male-female relationship public. This incident is known in elite circles as the Spring Festival Scandal."
Huh?
Old Wang and Xiao Wang were immediately greatly surprised.
They then showed disdain on their faces!
The private life of a top-tier rich kid being exceptionally promiscuous was too normal.
Many people were extremely envious and jealous of this, but few people criticized it.
However, if this rich kid was involved with his ex-girlfriend's mother, it made people feel sick to their stomachs, and even more contemptible.
Someone who is looked down upon—
What right does he have to earn Ma Boss's respect and be greeted at the door!?
Thus.
Not only did Ma Hongtu remain unmoving like a mountain, but Old Wang and Xiao Wang also crossed their legs, chatting in low voices, waiting for Li Qianfan's arrival.
The door opened.
Three people looked up.
Despite the minus ten-degree Celsius temperature, Li Qianfan, wearing only a blue shirt, opened the door without knocking and walked straight into the private room.
"It seems this is the Li Qianfan we're looking for."
"He's quite handsome, but so impolite!"
"He doesn't even understand the basic etiquette of knocking before entering."
Xiao Wang, who, like Ma Hongtu and Old Wang, had remained seated on the sofa, thought this, his brow clearly furrowed.
While they were appraising Li Qianfan, he was also scanning them.
Li Qianfan's gaze fell on Ma Hongtu's face, who was sitting in the center.
He said directly, "I am Li Qianfan. Who is Ma Hongtu, the representative of President Chen looking for me? Speak quickly, I have other matters to attend to."
Hmm?
You're calling Boss Ma by his full name directly?
And telling Boss Ma to speak quickly, without delaying your other business?
Old Wang was stunned and instinctively said, "Mr. Li, this is our first meeting. Isn't it too impolite for you to call our Boss Ma by his full name?"
"Oh, I'm sorry. It is indeed inappropriate for me to call Ma Hongtu directly."
Li Qianfan, appearing to be amenable, said again, "Which one is surnamed Ma? Spit it out quickly if you have something to say!"
Old Wang and Xiao Wang—
Then looked at Ma Hongtu.
After hearing Li Qianfan's words, they were first astonished, then filled with anger: "Mr. Li, is this how your elders in the Li family taught you to speak to guests?"
Before Li Qianfan could speak—
A woman's cold voice came from outside the door: "What right do you have to criticize how the Li family elders taught Qianfan?"
A woman, wearing a black sable coat and with even whiter skin that made her extremely cold and beautiful, walked in wearing high-heeled boots.
Upon seeing this woman—
Ma Hongtu and his two companions instinctively stiffened.
The woman among the three, Xiao Wang, immediately felt an intense sense of inadequacy.
"You, who are you?"
Overwhelmed by the noble and sexy aura emanating from the woman, which Ma Hongtu had never encountered in his life, he subconsciously stood up.
As he stood up, Old Wang and Xiao Wang also quickly stood.
Su Nanyin ignored him.
Instead, she turned to Meng Yue, who was standing outside the door, and said, "Meng Yue, your introduction task is complete. You are no longer needed here. Go busy yourself with what you need to do."
Su Nanyin asked Meng Yue to leave for her own sake as well.
After all, Meng Yue was under President Chen's jurisdiction, and if things got unpleasant tonight, her job could be affected.
Meng Yue understood.
Her good impression of Su Nanyin rose again—
After a moment of hesitation, she nodded, said "Okay," and quickly turned to leave.
Meng Yue, engrossed in scientific research, truly had no interest in worldly affairs.
It was only because President Chen himself called her that she came. If it were someone of a lesser rank, Meng Yue would definitely not have bothered!
Closing the door.
Su Nanyin sat on the sofa where Meng Yue had been sitting, casually crossed her legs, and looked at Ma Hongtu, "Since you dare to deliberately slight Qianfan, it proves you are an arrogant person with some background. Similarly, you must have heard of the name 'Su Nan Guanyin' before."
"Ah?"
Ma Hongtu was stunned again.
He blurted out, "So, you are the female protagonist of the Spring Festival Scandal!"
So, she was Li Qianfan's ex-girlfriend's mother.
How could she be so young and beautiful?
Especially this noble and sexy aura, which could definitely overshadow all men!
Old Wang and Xiao Wang were also secretly shocked: "No wonder Li Qianfan couldn't control himself. It's estimated that any man would make the same mistake!
"Hehe, it is I."
Hearing Ma Hongtu's directness, Su Nanyin was not angry.
She smiled, raised her hand, patted the seat beside her, and said to Li Qianfan, "Qianfan, sit down. For President Chen's sake, let's spare a little time to listen to what the one surnamed Ma has to say."
Before Li Qianfan entered, he had made it clear.
He asked Su Nanyin and Meng Yue to talk in another private room.
But she insisted on showing her face and helping him talk to the one surnamed Ma.
Becoming more and more unmanageable—
Li Qianfan had no choice but to sit beside her.
Su Nanyin took out her phone, tapped the screen a few times, and then said to Ma Hongtu, "You have five minutes to state your purpose."
What?
Ma Hongtu was taken aback.
Xiao Wang couldn't help but say, "Su Nan, Ms. Su. The matter our Boss Ma wants to discuss with Mr. Li is very important! It's impossible to finish it in just five minutes."
"Then speak faster. If you can't finish, we can schedule another meeting and talk then."
Su Nanyin said nonchalantly, placing her phone on the table, "Now, the countdown begins."