He Zizhou asked Lu Ming, "How did you do it? A 1 billion investment with no profit margin, why would Hongfeng Bank dare to invest? Are they crazy? Lu Ming, did you drug them?"
Lu Ming smiled, "What, Old He, you're so curious how I did it?"
He Zizhou nodded repeatedly.
Lu Ming beckoned him closer, "Lean your ear in."
He Zizhou brought his ear closer, and Lu Ming whispered six words into it: "The Buddha said, it cannot be spoken."
With that, Lu Ming chuckled and strode away.
He Zizhou stomped his feet in anger, "Lu Ming, stop! I'm this old, and you're still playing tricks on me. Do you have any manners? Do you understand respecting the elderly and cherishing the young? Stop, you stop right there!"
Xunrong Conference Room.
Everyone was seated.
Before Jiang Lan could speak, Lin Yue'er said proactively, "Mr. Lu has explained everything about Project Fierce Fire to me clearly, no need to elaborate. I am here at Xunrong for only one purpose—to pay."
Uh...
Her words made Jiang Lan a bit embarrassed.
Lin Yue'er continued, "So, please call all of Xunrong's finance department here. I will coordinate with them."
"Uh, alright." Jiang Lan called the finance department over for coordination.
At the same time.
Lin Yue'er also gave Jiang Lan a surprise: "The profit distribution remains 4:6, with Xunrong taking 6 and Hongfeng taking 4."
Huh?
Jiang Lan was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor.
Not only did Hongfeng invest 1 billion, but they also willingly gave up 20% of the profit. What kind of magnanimity was this?
Jiang Lan tugged at Lu Ming's sleeve and whispered, "How did you manage this? From Lin Yue'er's expression, she doesn't seem drugged. Could you have kidnapped her family?"
Lu Ming smiled, "Just put your heart at ease. I haven't done anything wrong, nor have I resorted to kidnapping or threats."
"Then... it's too bizarre." Jiang Lan suddenly thought of something and asked in surprise, "Lu Ming, could it be that you sacrificed yourself?"
Lu Ming was bewildered, "Huh? Sacrifice? What do you mean?"
Jiang Lan whispered, "You know... you... paid with your body, used a honey trap?"
Lu Ming rolled his eyes, utterly speechless.
He had no idea where Jiang Lan learned these nonsensical things, even coming up with a honey trap.
He tapped Jiang Lan's forehead, "Clear those dirty thoughts from your head. Really, you look so pure, yet you're full of promiscuity."
Jiang Lan's face flushed slightly, and she pouted, muttering to herself, "Who's promiscuous? Hmph."
Lin Yue'er, sitting opposite them, witnessed their interaction.
It was warm and sweet.
Lin Yue'er teased, "Manager Jiang, Mr. Lu, you two are truly a match made in heaven. I wish you lovers a happy union."
Ah?
Jiang Lan's face turned beet red at her words.
She waved her hands repeatedly, "Vice President Lin, please don't speak nonsense. Lu Ming, he... he is my brother-in-law!"
Lin Yue'er smiled, "I know. But you're only engaged, not married yet."
She coughed, deliberately saying, "So Mr. Lu isn't entirely President Jiang Mengxin's man yet. Anyone willing to put in the effort still has a chance. A man as excellent as Mr. Lu, Manager Jiang, if you're not planning to claim him, I won't be polite."
Jiang Lan was completely flustered, not knowing what to say.
After signing the papers.
Lin Yue'er smiled and said, "The 1 billion project has been signed. Manager Jiang, I wish us a pleasant cooperation."
She extended her hand to Jiang Lan.
Jiang Lan shook her hand.
During the handshake, Lin Yue'er raised an eyebrow slightly and whispered, "When flowers bloom, seize the moment to pluck them; do not wait until there are no flowers and you're left to pluck empty branches. Manager Jiang, cherish the person before you."
The person before her?
Lu Ming?
Jiang Lan glanced at Lu Ming intentionally or unintentionally, then quickly turned her head away, her heart in turmoil.
...
Jiang Family Headquarters, CEO's Office.
Jiang Mengxin was handling various miscellaneous matters when her secretary, Xiao Yao, burst in, saying immediately, "President Jiang, something big has happened!"
This kind of situation had occurred too many times. Jiang Mengxin was unfazed.
She said without looking up, "What big thing is it this time? An earthquake, a volcano, or a tornado?"
"None of those!" Xiao Yao leaned in and said, "It's Xunrong! I don't know what methods Lu Ming used, but he somehow convinced Hongfeng Bank to finance Xunrong with 1 billion to complete Project Fierce Fire! Even more outrageous is that Hongfeng willingly gave up two-tenths of the profits!"
"What?!" Jiang Mengxin shot up from her seat.
Her brows knitted together, twisted like a rope.
Such bizarre and extraordinary events were indeed hard to comprehend, sounding fake just by hearing them.
Jiang Mengxin asked, "Doesn't Hongfeng know Project Fierce Fire has no profit margin?"
Xiao Yao replied, "No, Hongfeng understands Project Fierce Fire very thoroughly. They know it's a purely public welfare project with absolutely no profit margin."
"Then they're still investing? And a whole billion at once? Are they crazy?" Jiang Mengxin truly couldn't understand.
Even less did she understand why Hongfeng would willingly give up two-tenths of the profit.
"Is the president of Hongfeng Bank an idiot?" Jiang Mengxin couldn't figure it out at all.
However...
Jiang Mengxin thought for a moment and smiled, "What does it matter? Hongfeng is digging its own grave, what has it got to do with us? They'll throw in 1 billion, and when it can't create any ripples, they'll just wait to die. As for Xunrong, it's merely a dying struggle, just prolonging its life for a bit."
As long as there was no profit margin, there was nothing to worry about.
However much money they threw in, they would lose that much.
Hongfeng was bound to die.
As for Xunrong, after Hongfeng dies, could it survive alone? It would surely die too! It was just that Hongfeng helped it prolong its life a little, nothing to be feared.
There was just one point that gave Jiang Mengxin pause.
She asked, "You just said it was Lu Ming who secured the financing, not Jiang Lan?"
Xiao Yao nodded affirmatively, "I'm sure!"
"That's strange," Jiang Mengxin said. "Lu Ming is just a lowly graveyard keeper. Why would he be able to persuade Hongfeng Bank to invest?"
In fact, this wasn't the first time Lu Ming had created a miracle.
When Lu Ming was still by Jiang Mengxin's side, he had created miracles time and again. Although there were various reasons each time, in the end, Lu Ming had solved the problem.
"Lu Ming, how exactly did you do it?" Jiang Mengxin was perplexed.
Xiao Yao said, "Well... President Jiang, please don't be angry if I say this, but I might know how Lu Ming did it."
"Oh?" Jiang Mengxin said, "I won't be angry, just tell me."
Xiao Yao said softly, "I heard that Hongfeng Bank's Vice President, Lin Yue'er, is very satisfied with Lu Ming! It's highly possible that Lu Ming made some self-sacrifice to obtain the 1 billion financing!"