Chapter 125: An Open Declaration of War, A Slip of the Tongue

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“President Wen! Please calm down!”

Hongye hurriedly wrapped her arms around Wen Wan, while Molan in the front seat quickly pressed the child-lock button.

“Let go! How am I supposed to calm down? That shameless woman, Yelina, was making advances at Chen Luo right in front of me!”

“No, President Wen! It was only verbal teasing! She didn’t actually do anything! Please calm down!”

Hongye held Wen Wan tightly around the waist and hastily tried to persuade her. If President Wen charged in today, all their painstaking preparations would be ruined!

“President Wen, you have to trust Chen Luo! He’ll definitely remain pure and keep himself above temptation.”

At that, Hongye quickly shifted her attention and pointed nervously at the earphones.

“President Wen, keep monitoring them! What if Yelina tries something else?”

“Ah! Right!”

Wen Wan hurriedly picked up the earphones and put them back over her ears, listening intently to the voices coming through.

Inside Yelina’s office, Yelina seemed to realize that she had misspoken, and her cheeks flushed at once.

What was I saying?

It wasn’t as though I had never seen an ascetic-looking handsome man before! Why was I acting so disgracefully?

But Chen Luo looked so irresistible today. I wanted him to pin me against the wall—or press me down onto the sofa and do all sorts of things to me.

Countless forbidden fantasies flashed through her mind, and Yelina felt a restless heat stirring inside her.

Fortunately, she had excellent composure. She quickly suppressed her fluster and hurriedly changed the subject.

“Come, come, let me make some tea for you. I’m telling you, this is my father’s favorite tea, brought all the way from the Wuyi Mountains.”

As she spoke, she took an unlabeled metal tin from a cabinet nearby and poured some tea leaves into the teapot.

The moment the leaves spilled out, an intense fragrance filled the room, fresh and soothing to the heart.

“The aroma is already so rich before the leaves have even unfurled. It must be an extraordinary tea.”

Looking at the leaves, Chen Luo knew that teas without labels were generally special supplies reserved for a select few. Very few people throughout the country had the chance to drink them.

From this alone, it was clear how highly Yelina regarded him—and how seriously she took today’s meeting.

After several rounds of tea, Yelina set down her cup. Rather than immediately discussing business in depth with Chen Luo, she turned to Zhou Mei and placed one hand over the back of hers.

“Zhou Mei, we haven’t seen each other in so many days. You said you’d come over for tea, but you never did.”

At those words, Zhou Mei glanced at Chen Luo. He gave the slightest nod.

“I wanted to, but recently I’ve been busy helping our President Chen operate and maintain the company’s online education platform. I haven’t been able to spare the time.”

Yelina had not expected Zhou Mei to bring up online education so directly. She had been worrying about how to broach the subject herself.

That was precisely why Wen Wan had sent Zhou Mei. The two women were close friends, and words spoken by a friend could be taken as casual conversation rather than a calculated probe. It was the perfect opening, without arousing Yelina’s suspicions.

“Oh? You’ve been that busy? Then I suppose President Chen has been occupied with the same matters lately?”

Yelina turned her gaze toward Chen Luo. Her tone remained relaxed, but the conversation had finally reached the real subject.

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“Yes, things have indeed been rather busy lately.”

Chen Luo set down his teacup, the smile on his face unchanged.

“If I didn’t prepare carefully, I’m afraid it would be difficult to gain even the slightest advantage against Chairman Ye.”

His tone was calm, but his words carried an unmistakable declaration of war.

“Oh? So President Chen is feeling quite confident?”

Yelina had not expected Chen Luo to be so direct, leaving not the slightest room for circumlocution. Her eyes fixed intently on his face.

“I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m confident. But today’s visit is also a formal greeting before our two families engage in open competition. Launching a surprise attack isn’t my style.”

Chen Luo showed not the slightest sign of unease. He lifted his head and met Yelina’s gaze directly. As their eyes locked, the air filled with the scent of battle.

“Very good, President Chen—no, Chen Luo.”

Yelina deliberately changed the way she addressed him, admiration appearing in her eyes.

“It’s been a long time since anyone declared war on me so openly. I accept your challenge, and I promise that from this point onward, I will give you my very best in every exchange. May the stronger prevail; may the loser honor the wager.”

“Agreed. May the stronger prevail, and may the loser honor the wager. Chairman Ye truly deserves to be called one of the Capital’s Twin Pillars alongside my Wan’er. Your courage is extraordinary.”

“Since that’s the case, why don’t we add a wager?”

“A wager? What would you like to bet?”

At the mention of a wager, Yelina’s heart stirred faintly.

“If I win, I ask that Chairman Ye share a portion of the education market’s vast potential, allowing our two companies to coexist peacefully.”

“And what if you lose?”

“If I lose, I will hand over the online education project in its entirety. I will also grant you one personal favor.”

At the words “personal favor,” Yelina’s thoughts began to churn.

If I asked him to break up with his girlfriend and become my boyfriend, would that count?

And then I could have him wear those clothes and whisper that he loved me in that restrained, seductive voice. Just imagining it was thrilling!

The thought flashed through her mind, and her competitive spirit was instantly ignited.

“Fine! I accept!”

Chen Luo smiled and extended his hand. Yelina took it.

“Then it’s a deal!”

“However, Chairman Ye, I come from humble beginnings. I may resort to some methods that are less than respectable. I hope you won’t take offense.”

Yelina met his eyes and seemed to detect a deeper meaning in them.

“We each serve our own side and rely on our own methods. Nothing more than that. But I’m curious—what will your first move be? Would President Chen care to enlighten me?”

She had only asked as a joke. Yelina knew perfectly well that no one would reveal such information willingly.

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Unexpectedly, Chen Luo released her hand at once, raised a finger to his lips, and revealed a smile that was only skin-deep.

That gesture had been designed by Wen Wan specifically to tug at Yelina’s heartstrings. Chen Luo had practiced it for a long time.

Damn it! This man was a male fox spirit. Why did every little movement of his strike straight at my heart?

If he weren’t Wen Wan’s man, I would have dragged him home today and kept him for myself!

Yelina hurriedly suppressed the impulse rising within her. By now, even her hand was itching to make a move.

“For instance, I might begin by targeting several of the large training institutions under Chairman Ye’s company, just to make a strong opening statement.”

“Haha, I’m only joking. Just joking. Don’t take it seriously, Chairman Ye.”

As he spoke, Chen Luo tossed out the remark casually and rose to his feet.

“All right, Chairman Ye. We’ve discussed more or less everything that needed to be discussed today, so I’ll take my leave.”

“I’m very much looking forward to our direct confrontation.”

With that, Chen Luo left the office, and Yelina accompanied him downstairs.

Only after Chen Luo got into his car and drove away did Yelina’s expression become complicated.

“Chairman Ye, what did Chen Luo say to you?”

Seeing that Yelina’s expression was clearly unusual, one of her assistants asked hesitantly.

“Pass on my orders. Have several vice presidents from our education companies personally take charge at the major training institutions throughout Hangzhou. We must guard against any move he might make.”

“Yes!”

Yelina watched in the direction Chen Luo had left, the corners of her lips curling upward.

“Once I defeat you, will you grant me my request?”

…

Hangzhou, the villas in the southern part of the city.

“Now, I will convey the young master’s orders.”

Tang Xiwei looked at the assistants gathered before her. Every one of them regarded her with respect and solemn attention.

She greatly enjoyed being surrounded and admired. To have so many elite professionals gathered around her now was deeply gratifying.

“Tonight, begin targeting all major educational institutions under the Ye family throughout Hangzhou. Your methods may include, but are not limited to, poaching personnel and applying financial pressure.”

“Yes! We’ll get it done immediately!”