Arranged marriage, love blossoms; a fiercely devoted soldier dotes on her alone.

at this time,

Inside the hexagonal pavilion,

After Deng Zhi finished speaking, he smiled and picked up the exquisite purple clay teapot to refill the small teacup in front of Xiao Zhan.

Then he picked up his teacup and said, "Xiao Zhan, it seems like it's been ten years since we last met. I remember you were still in high school then. Later you joined the army. I've heard a little about your deeds. Today, I'll use tea instead of wine to congratulate you on your successful return."

Xiao Zhan raised his teacup and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Brother Xie Zhi! You're right, it's been ten years since we last met."

"I toast you with tea instead of wine."

"when!"

The two small purple clay teacups touched lightly, and the two of them drank it all in one gulp.

Xiao Zhan knew that Deng Zhi was about to unleash his ultimate move...

as predicted,

Then Deng Zhi said, "Xiao Zhan, we've been keeping an eye on Xunda Company, including that woman named Ishida Mako, for a long time, but the time hasn't been right. Besides, we want to play the long game and catch a big fish. To be honest, we saw clearly in secret that Ishida Mako set up a pig-butchering scam against Lin Zijian."

Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow and said, "Then why didn't you inform Lin Zijian or discuss it with my grandfather?"

"You're just letting someone die."

Deng Zhi smiled and said, "Xiao Zhan, you are now gradually taking over the Xiao family's businesses. You should be aware of the delicate relationship between politics and business in the capital."

"I represent a political family in Beijing, and you represent a powerful family in Beijing. There are some things we cannot share, use, or benefit from. In other words, we cannot achieve mutual benefit and win-win results."

"This is both a principle and a bottom line, which neither of us can cross."

Xiao Zhan nodded.

During this time, Xiao Huai'an told him a lot about the relationship between politics and business in the capital.

Deng Zhi continued, "Ishida Mako is a professional corporate spy. While she's eyeing our business intelligence, we're also eyeing the value of her business intelligence. It's a kind of complementary relationship. We originally wanted to lure out the big fish behind her, but Lin Zijian, that useless guy, messed it all up."

"Lin Zijian is dead, Ishida Mako has run away, and all the money, manpower and resources we invested have gone down the drain."

"At this point, we can only try to recoup some of the losses from the assets of Xunda Technology Co., Ltd."

Xiao Zhan finally understood: Deng Zhi was secretly controlling a secret government organization.

At this moment, Deng Zhi poured Xiao Zhan another cup of tea and continued, "Lin Zijian's unexpected death has disrupted all my plans and caused Ishida Mako to flee overnight with a diplomatic passport. You tell me, it's not unreasonable for me to ask for some compensation since I can't catch her, it's a way to comfort my wounded heart."

"Thud!"

Xiao Zhan lit a cigarette, took a drag, held it in his mouth for a few seconds, and then slowly exhaled a string of smoke. In fact, Xiao Zhan was using this time to quickly think about the problem.

Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow and said, "Brother Zhi, since you've put it this way, I'm not a petty person. Let's split it 20/80. You can take 20% for your little favor. Besides, I'm helping the Lin family. You know my uncle and Lin Zhongyun are dead. Lin Zhongtian and Lin Ruoxi are left. One has no management skills, and the other is a woman. I can only reluctantly take over this mess for them. I hope you'll support me in the future."

The scene fell silent instantly…

The only sound was the gentle murmur of flowing water from the nearby artificial hill and waterside pavilion…

Deng Zhi stared intently at Xiao Zhan with his obsidian-like eyes, his thin lips pressed together without uttering a word.

After Xiao Zhan finished speaking, he chose to remain silent.

Sometimes, just making things clear is enough.

No need to say more.

The saying goes, "Too much talk leads to mistakes."

Xiao Zhan knew that.

a long time,

Deng Zhi shifted his wiry frame, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Heh, Xiao Zhan, are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?"

Xiao Zhan sneered, "Brother Zhi, you're making it sound so awful. Even 20% is over a hundred million."

Deng Zhi stretched out his left hand and waved it in the air, saying, "Let's make it fifty-fifty, I'll compromise too."

Xiao Zhan also extended his left hand, shook three fingers, and said, "Thirty percent, that's all I can do. This is my bottom line."

Deng Zhi lowered his left hand, his face darkening slightly, and said, "Xiao Zhan, did you think I called you here to discuss this with you? A 50/50 split is the best solution. Otherwise, you won't get a single penny, and I'll have all of Xunda Company's assets confiscated."

Xiao Zhan grinned and said, "Hahaha, Brother Zhi, are you trying to scare me? If you have the ability to confiscate all of Xunda's assets, I have nothing to say. But in that case, you won't get a single penny. You'll be doing all the work for nothing and offending a lot of people."

"If you were to do something that harms others and doesn't benefit yourself, frankly, it would damage your illustrious image!"

Deng Zhi then discovered that Xiao Zhan was much more difficult to deal with than Xiao Huai'an. You could say he was impervious to reason, but he did listen to a little, increasing the percentage from 20% to 30%. You could say he didn't understand the rules, but he called him "Brother Zhi" very affectionately.

Deng Zhi hadn't encountered a tough nut to crack like Xiao Zhan in many years. Xiao Zhan would agree with whatever Deng Zhi said and never get angry, but he would never satisfy Deng Zhi and would always try to bargain with him.

Deng Zhi's face suddenly darkened, and he said, "Xiao Zhan, if you don't give me a satisfactory answer today, don't bother going back. You can catch up with Xiao Ying here. You two aren't getting any younger, and Xiao Ying has always had feelings for you!"

Xiao Zhan laughed, "Hahaha, Brother Zhi, it seems your information network in the capital isn't very good either!"

Deng Zhi smirked and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Xiao Zhan grinned and said, "The Xiao family and the Lin family held an engagement banquet at Buckingham Palace a few days ago. I already have a fiancée. What kind of relationship do you have with Xiao Ying now?"

"Are you suggesting that Xiaoying become a third party in someone else's marriage?"

Deng Zhi raised an eyebrow and said, "Xiao Zhan, do you really think I'm stupid? Don't you know what your engagement party was for? Besides, Lin Ruoxi is a womanizer; she has tons of negative news."

"Will you marry her?"

"I'm afraid you're already carrying the weight of the entire Inner Mongolian grassland on your head even before you're married."

Xiao Zhan chuckled and said, "Haha, that's still better than an arranged marriage. At worst, she can do her thing, and I can do mine. We won't interfere with each other, and we can each do our own thing. Wouldn't that be great?"

Deng Zhi stared into Xiao Zhan's eyes and said, "Xiao Zhan, I probably know you better than your parents do. You better be more agreeable, and I'll give you a little more. We'll split Xunda Assets 60/40, you get 60% and I get 40%. That's my bottom line. If you still don't agree, you're really not leaving today."

Xiao Zhan laughed and said, "Brother Zhi, are you in a hurry?"

"Why can't I walk?"

"You've positioned a sniper at the 3 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions, and an elite security guard at the 11 o'clock, 12 o'clock, and 1 o'clock positions. There are also two guards at the main gate. Do you think these people can hold me back?"

Upon hearing this, Deng Zhi was immediately alarmed.

The security personnel in the courtyard were all top-notch experts from the Red Wall, and Xiao Zhan discovered them with ease.

It seems that Xiao Zhan was holding back when he tested his strength with him earlier.

In reality, Deng Zhi was just trying to scare Xiao Zhan.

How could he possibly keep Xiao Zhan here?

If he really did that, Xiao Zhan would probably turn his family's yard upside down, and that cunning Xiao Huai'an, even his father would have to give him some face.

"Why!"

Deng Zhi sighed and said, "I really can't do anything with you. I'll let it go since you always call me Brother Zhi. But I have one condition: you have to have a good talk with Deng Ying later. This girl has always had you in her heart."

Xiao Zhan laughed and said, "You get three, I get seven, deal."

Xiao Zhan took the initiative to shake Deng Zhi's hand and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Brother Zhi. It's always been Brother Zhi who cares about me and is so righteous in not making things difficult for me. Tonight, I'll treat Brother Zhi to drinks and karaoke at the Earl's Nightclub."

Deng Zhi said with a wry smile, "I lost more than 100 million yuan in one fell swoop."