The crowd below blushed, as they hadn't actually paid close attention to the content presented. They had naively assumed that the Dragon Warlord was purely after valuable gifts.
Thus, they made sure the gifts they selected were expensive.
The result was counterproductive. Only Xun Rong's Jiang Lan had diligently 'read the question' and provided an 'answer' that satisfied the Warlord. In this regard, everyone admired Jiang Lan.
In truth, they should have admired Lu Ming.
At this moment, He Zhizhou was the most miserable. He stared blankly at the stage, unable to believe his Arabian horse had lost to a stray dog!
If it had lost to a sports car or a villa, it would have been one thing. But to lose to a stray dog – how could he accept that?
Most crucially, He Zhizhou had specifically resigned from Xun Rong and joined a rival company to humiliate Lu Ming and Jiang Lan. His goal was to return and utterly shame them!
But the outcome was too embarrassing. He hadn't managed to shame them; instead, he watched helplessly as Lu Ming and Jiang Lan pulled off a brilliant display.
How could he bear this?
Currently, He Zhizhou wished he could dig a hole and bury himself.
His face was filled with shame, and he felt utterly disgraced.
The more he had mocked Lu Ming before, the more embarrassed he was now.
What's more, Meng Guangyu pointed at his nose and cursed, "Useless trash, I listened to you and poured all my efforts into getting that Arabian horse, only for it to be useless, not even as good as a stray dog! You useless piece of trash, you old geezer, you dog-like scumbag! I get it now, you're a spy sent by Xun Rong, aren't you?!"
Meng Guangyu's manners were extremely poor, spewing all sorts of insults without any regard for He Zhizhou's feelings.
It truly embodied the saying, "When the birds are gone, the bow is put away; when the rabbits are dead, the hounds are cooked."
Even more so, He Zhizhou hadn't achieved the desired effect.
He Zhizhou could not refute, simply sitting there and accepting the scolding.
When Meng Guangyu got tired of cursing, he kicked He Zhizhou in the stomach. Pity the 60-something He Zhizhou, kicked publicly and thrown heavily to the ground.
Meng Guangyu roared, "You dog, you're fired, get lost and go muck out the stables!"
No one sympathized with him.
After all, their feelings towards a 'traitor' were unanimous.
However...
Unexpectedly, Lu Ming quietly walked to He Zhizhou's side and offered him a helping hand, saying softly, "Elder He, I know you acted out of momentary anger and made mistakes. You have been an employee of Xun Rong for over twenty years. Xun Rong welcomes you back."
Lu Ming was actually inviting him back!
What magnanimity and spirit! Even Jiang Lan didn't possess such courage.
In fact, Lu Ming had a clear grasp of human nature.
At times like these, one should never kick someone when they are down; it makes you look petty, like a petty thug. Conversely, if you open your arms to someone who has betrayed you, it showcases your broadmindedness.
It's like buying a thousand-mile horse for the bone of a single leg.
If you can forgive and welcome back even those who betray you, then others from other companies will look at Xun Rong with admiration.
This undoubtedly enhanced Xun Rong's reputation.
He Zhizhou was so moved that tears streamed down his face. He looked at Lu Ming dazedly, "I betrayed Xun Rong, I made a terrible mistake, and Xun Rong is still willing to take me back?"
Lu Ming smiled and replied, "Of course. No one is perfect; everyone makes mistakes. As long as one can recognize and correct their errors, it is a great virtue."
Jiang Lan also saw Lu Ming's intention and walked over, saying, "Elder He, if you agree, I welcome you back."
He Zhizhou was overwhelmed with emotion, sobbing.
He raised his hand and slapped himself, "I am worse than a pig or a dog! To leave such a good company and go work with that scoundrel Meng Guangyu, I deserve to die, I deserve to die! Manager Jiang, Mr. Lu, I... I am willing to return!"
Meng Guangyu was displeased.
He cursed, "Hey, old geezer, who are you calling a scoundrel? I'll kick you to death!"
Saying that, Meng Guangyu was about to kick He Zhizhou again.
But.
This time, Lu Ming kicked Meng Guangyu in the stomach first, sending him flying seven or eight meters away!
Lu Ming said, "Elder He was your employee before, and I couldn't interfere; but now, Elder He is one of us at Xun Rong. If you dare to lay a hand on Elder He again, I will beat you to death!"
Meng Guangyu glared at Lu Ming, angry but not daring to make another move.
After two confrontations, Meng Guangyu clearly knew he was no match for Lu Ming. If he attacked now, he would only be beaten up worse.
Meng Guangyu spat, "Heh, you just wait!"
After making his threat, Meng Guangyu brushed off his clothes and left the venue huffily.
After the farce concluded.
Everyone calmed down, and then Jiang Lan accepted the project contract from the Dragon Warlord and signed it in front of everyone.
Applause erupted from below, filled with envy and jealousy.
Especially Jiang Mengxin.
Just now, she had thought Jiang Lan was foolish, but now, she was consumed by bitterness.
With the signing of such a major project with the Dragon Warlord, Xun Rong was about to soar.
Jiang Mengxin was filled with hatred.
Earlier, she had driven Lu Ming and Jiang Lan away, fearing they would seize her power within the Jiang family. She had deliberately ostracized them to weaken their influence.
She had thought they would be ruined.
But reality had slapped Jiang Mengxin hard in the face!
Not only had Lu Ming and Jiang Lan not been ruined, but they were also becoming more successful and outstanding; first acquiring a 300-million-dollar building, and now signing a project contract with the Warlord.
Xun Rong was likely to surpass the main Jiang family!
A branch surpassing the main family – how ironic.
Jiang Mengxin could no longer maintain her composure and, unable to bear staying at the venue, quickly got up and slipped away, not wanting to stay a moment longer.
The conference concluded.
Lu Ming said to Jiang Lan, "I need to see an old friend. Xiao Lan, you go back to Xun Rong first."
Jiang Lan nodded, "Okay."
They parted ways.
Lu Ming didn't go to see any old friends. Instead, he used a special passage to reach the top floor of the convention center, to his private office – the Warlord's Office.
The reason Lu Ming came here instead of returning with Jiang Lan was for one thing – to eliminate Meng Guangyu!
Meng Guangyu's unrestrained words, his repeated insults to Jiang Lan, and the extreme actions he had taken against her in the past – such a person, disregarding laws and order, must be eliminated.
Meng Guangyu had touched Lu Ming's bottom line, and he had decided that Meng Guangyu would not live.
Shura asked, "Warlord, how should we proceed? Should I directly eliminate Meng Guangyu?"
Lu Ming chuckled coldly, "Wouldn't that be assassination? No, I want to eliminate him openly and legally!"
Shura frowned slightly; this was quite difficult.
To eliminate Meng Guangyu legally and openly? Unless he did something that guaranteed his death.
Shura asked, "Please, Warlord, enlighten me."
Lu Ming said, "Spread the word that this entire conference was fake, a staged performance. That there is no such thing as a Dragon Warlord or a Five-Star General."
Shura's eyes lit up; he understood Lu Ming's intention. "Your subordinate will attend to it immediately."
"Wait," Lu Ming continued. "Also, bring me my battle armor."