Yun Qian Meng had doomed him. She had torn down the credibility of her company, asked to buy it from him, and then completely desecrated the price he set. With her reputation, the price she set would act as a precedent to what other investors would be willing to pay. Moreover, now that the people in the room knew, they wouldn't want to touch his company with a ten-foot pole.
As promised, he was close to tears.
"What is your final offer?"
"One hundred and twenty-three thousand dollars for the hundred percent shares of the company and IP rights." Her face remained stoic. Opposing his earlier expectation, she had offered more. He looked up, surprised, and overjoyed.
Treating people poorly for long enough makes them expect very little from the other person. When you surprise them with something minutely good, they jump at the offer and think you are the best person possible.
Yun Qian Meng had easily grasped that this man was motivated by fast money. To hurt his pride over and over again until it wasn't the most important thing he thought about. When given a small benefit, he would jump and take it.
"Deal. When do we sign the contract?"
"Someone from my acquisition team will call you and forward the contract. You can speak to them directly." She nodded and smiled. "It was a pleasure doing business with you."
The older generation of investors gaped, thinking about what they saw and wondered what the endgame was. Pointing out everything bad about the company and then buying it. Did that mean that she could transform the company on her own? Now, that would be worth waiting and watching.
"Thank you," Jiang Da muttered, giving her a bow. When he left the small stage, Mo Qingchen finally spoke.
"Indeed, you are a shark. I was sure you were going to make him sign the company over for free."
"I'll take that as a compliment. When I smell blood, I follow. And when I bite, I don't let go. That's my strategy."
He was impressed, to say the least. "Four more hours of this. Don't try to rope me into any more of your plans," he warned.
"I don't have any more of those," she said, stretching. "Make your move and don't complain about the price at which I bought. Your watch is worth more than what you invested in it."
He shrugged. "How did you know?"
"I could see it on your face." She wanted to complain. "Anyone you are interested in today?" she asked.
"There are two I am looking forward to. It won't be in the industries you usually invest in but consider it advice from a senior. They'll do well in the future." He kept his eyes on the presentation.
"I'll think about it," she deadpanned.
"Excuse me?" someone said from behind them. The two turned and saw a woman in her forties talking to them. One of the investors, from the look of it. "Do you mind keeping it down?"
Qian Meng forced a smile on her face and stiffly turned away. Mo Qingchen was eerily silent.
Why did it feel like she had been caught talking in class and pulled up in front of everyone? Maybe it was how the woman looked. Exactly like those strict teachers in high school. She had never been at the receiving end of a teacher's scolding, so this was a new feeling for her.
A thrill went through her.
'Am I actually turning into a wild child?' she thought excitedly. After exhausting her excitement, she settled down and stared at the screen blankly. Notes after notes were taken. Not another word was said.
- - - - -
It was one and a half hours until dinner and Yun Qian Meng felt her headache get worse. As much as she wanted to go to her room and just sleep, she had to call Li Jun and make him write up a contract. Rarely did such opportunities come and Qian Meng was not one to delay business deals.
She walked out of the conference room and pulled her phone to her ear. The phone rang twice before Li Jun picked up.
"Sorry for calling you this early," she said quickly.
"Don't worry about it. I never went home. I was working all night. Send me the details of the company and I will be sending over the tentative contract. You can fight it out after that." There was no trace of anger or frustration in his voice. Yun Qian Meng rarely called people outside working hours, but this guy, Li Jun was a breed of his own. He never really went to sleep and worked all week so that he could spend the weekends to himself.
"I need to explain everything to you first," she said. Explaining the whole situation, she stopped.
"I'll draft the contract for the acquisition and co-owner agreement tentatively. We'll need all three stakeholders in the same room. Make sure the co-founder for the dating company gives his explicit agreement and signs over his rights as well."
"Understood. I'll send you all the background information and figures that need to be present in the contract. Write up a beautiful one for me." She smirked.
"When have I ever disappointed you?" Li Jun scoffed.
"Oh, please. I'm your benefactor. You've made tons of money since I signed you with my company." She deserved a little praise for that.
"And I work like a slave for you because of that," Li Jun commented dispassionately.
"And I pay you handsomely for it."
"Then our side of the deal is met. We owe each other nothing." True. This was called a harmonious business relationship.
"I sent your sister on a vacation. Take time off for yourself. I heard you were working on quite a few pro bono cases," she murmured.
"Yeah. You taught me how to elevate my company image. Don't want to be seen as a corporate troubleshooter." Qian Meng laughed.
And there you have it. The nicknames were born.
Yun Qian Meng: Shark
Mo Qingchen: Scoundrel
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