Chapter 84: That, That, That

The three women were startled by Xue Tian’ai’s utterly spiritless appearance and the heavy air of resentment that seemed to fill the entire office. What had happened? After returning from Tianming Group, how had he ended up like this? They had all imagined how Xue Tian’ai might look upon failure, but at most they had expected him to brush it off with some careless excuse. Who would have thought he’d come back like this?

Qin Mengxue’s greatest worry was that Ye Hairuo had been too ruthless during the negotiations and given Xue Tian’ai no face at all. Although Xue Tian’ai usually didn’t display the arrogant, headstrong airs of a typical “third-generation rich kid,” he was, after all, the eldest son of the Xue family, one of the country’s most prestigious clans. As the eldest daughter of the Qin family, Qin Mengxue was well aware of how much pride these young heirs placed on their reputation. She wondered if perhaps Ye Hairuo had gone too far, crushing Xue Tian’ai’s pride—if so, things might be heading for trouble.

Gan Bingning, too, felt uncomfortable seeing Xue Tian’ai in this state. Through her interactions with him, and given her own role as the head of the Foreign Affairs Department, she had discerned that he was a proud and confident man. He must have gone into the negotiations with Ye Hairuo full of certainty, but now it seemed his confidence had been seriously shaken. Seeing the one she liked looking so dejected, Gan Bingning couldn’t help but feel uneasy herself.

Su Jiaqi, the one least familiar with Xue Tian’ai, had always thought of him as a shameless flirt, someone who wouldn’t take his work seriously. But why was he so downcast after failing? Did he actually care about these negotiations? Would it be too much to tease him at a time like this?

“Xue Tian’ai, what’s wrong?” In the end, Qin Mengxue voiced the question. She felt that, whether as his legal wife or as a company leader, she was obliged to ask.

Hearing her voice, Xue Tian’ai lazily turned his head and looked at her. “Ah, oh, it’s President Qin, President Gan, and President Su. Good afternoon, everyone.”

“It’s nothing, really. When I came back at noon, I discovered the cafeteria was already closed, so I didn’t get to eat. I’m just too hungry, that’s all.” He propped himself up, waved his hand weakly, and spoke with a lackluster air.

The three women were stunned by his answer, then their faces darkened. So all this drama, all that aura of despair, was just because he missed lunch? Wasn’t it supposed to be because he’d failed to negotiate with Ye Hairuo?

“Then, about the negotiations with Tianming Group…” Qin Mengxue hesitated before asking.

“Oh, the negotiations. Right, here’s the revised contract from Tianming Group. President Qin, have a look. If there’s no issue, you can just sign it.” Xue Tian’ai picked up the document from the coffee table, handed it to Qin Mengxue, and then collapsed back onto the sofa.

“Contract?” Qin Mengxue took the document in a daze, dumbfounded. Not only her, but Gan Bingning and Su Jiaqi were equally stunned.

Exchanging glances, Qin Mengxue nodded and sat opposite Xue Tian’ai. Su Jiaqi and Gan Bingning sat down on either side of her.

“Ah, dear presidents, can we discuss something? Could we maybe turn the cafeteria into an all-day buffet, or at least extend the meal hours? It’s really sad not being able to eat on time, my stomach keeps growling, and I feel awful.

“You know, people need food to function. Without a meal, you feel weak. Only when you’re full do you have the energy to work and come up with great ideas.”

“I’m sure I’m not the only one in DreamStar Group who feels this way. Food is a priority for the people. With good meals, our staff will be in better spirits, more efficient, and…”

It was as if Xue Tian’ai, having found his topic, couldn’t stop talking. He gesticulated enthusiastically, turning the small area by the sofa into his personal stage.

While he spoke animatedly, the three women sitting opposite him didn’t hear a single word. They were all staring fixedly at the contract in Qin Mengxue’s hands, expressions of utter shock and disbelief. None of them could believe that Ye Hairuo had actually agreed to such a substantial price reduction for the entire batch of building materials.

Yet the elegant signature and the bold, anti-forgery seal of Tianming Group on the contract spoke for themselves: Xue Tian’ai had truly succeeded. He had managed to bargain down the infamous Ye Hairuo, the CEO known for her stinginess—how on earth had he done it?

“President Qin, President Gan, President Su, what do you think of my suggestion? Doesn’t it make perfect sense?” Xue Tian’ai seemed to have finished his speech.

“How did you do it?” Qin Mengxue paid no attention to his question. She only wanted to know how he had managed to negotiate the price down.

“How did I do what?” Xue Tian’ai was caught off guard.

“How did you get Ye Hairuo to lower the price?” Qin Mengxue didn’t waste words and got straight to the point.

Gan Bingning and Su Jiaqi both stared at Xue Tian’ai with intense curiosity. Especially Su Jiaqi—she could hardly believe it. That frivolous, shameless Xue Tian’ai had actually managed to outmaneuver the ice queen herself? Her worldview was being upended, and there was a new, appraising look in her eyes as she gazed at him.

“Well, I went to Tianming Group this morning, met with their CEO, and then, um, well, after that, you know, eventually, things just worked out and the price came down…” Xue Tian’ai scratched his head and gave a thoroughly perfunctory answer. How was he supposed to explain the negotiation process?

His answer was so vague, the women were exasperated. He’d basically said nothing at all—just a string of “um’s” and “you know’s.” The crucial details were entirely missing.

Almost every word in his explanation was filler, with the sole exception of a punctuation mark!

“Xue Tian’ai, can’t you answer properly? President Qin is asking you formally!” Su Jiaqi finally couldn’t hold back, standing up and glaring at him.

“Yes, Xue Tian’ai, I hope you’ll answer seriously,” Qin Mengxue agreed, crossing her arms and fixing him with a serious look.

With two women pressing him, Xue Tian’ai began to sweat and cast a pleading glance at Gan Bingning, who had been silent until then.

Sensing his gaze, Gan Bingning smiled and nodded, as if she understood.

Xue Tian’ai’s heart leapt—there was hope! Perhaps Gan Bingning would say something to distract Qin Mengxue and Su Jiaqi, letting him off the hook.

“I, too, would like to know how Assistant Xue managed to negotiate such a deal,” Gan Bingning said with a gentle smile, also turning her gaze on him.

Xue Tian’ai’s face immediately fell. What was this? Wasn’t Gan Bingning supposed to help him? Why was she pressing him as well?

“Well, it was actually quite simple. I earnestly analyzed the mutual interests of DreamStar Group and Tianming Group with their CEO, explained the advantages of lowering the price and partnering with us, and then she agreed,” he blurted out, making things up as he went along. Whether they believed him or not was up to them.

“That simple?” Qin Mengxue asked, puzzled.

“Yes, just that simple!” Xue Tian’ai nodded fiercely, putting on his most sincere demeanor.

“How could that be? If it were that easy, why couldn’t we negotiate the price down before?” Su Jiaqi refused to believe it. They had tried explaining things to Ye Hairuo before, but it had never worked—she became instantly hostile at any mention of bargaining. How could Xue Tian’ai succeed with the same approach?

“Maybe because I’m the one who went this time…” Xue Tian’ai grumbled inwardly—he must have slept with Su Jiaqi eight hundred times in a past life, otherwise why wouldn’t she let him off?

Wait a minute—Su Jiaqi?

A mischievous grin suddenly spread across Xue Tian’ai’s face.

“You…” Seeing that sly smile, Su Jiaqi’s anger flared, and she ground her teeth.

“Oh, right, President Su—do you remember our little wager?” Xue Tian’ai’s smile turned cunning as he looked at her.

At his words, Su Jiaqi’s expression shifted dramatically.