Chapter 0391

Even the lobby only had a single reception desk, showing just how many employees it would take to fill an entire building.

Lin Ran followed the directions on the map toward the office and happened to bump into an assistant preparing documents outside. The moment the assistant saw Lin Ran, he was about to call out, but Lin Ran gestured for him to stay quiet with a "shh."

Standing by the door, Lin Ran gently pushed it open just a crack and peeked inside—only four people were there.

Wu Zhishang and Zhang Xinyan, along with two others: one portly and broad-faced, the other slender and alluring.

"President Wu, I’m genuinely looking to hand off this project, and you’re genuinely looking to take it. Why don’t we both compromise? I won’t haggle on the price, and you won’t haggle on the timeline. How does that sound?"

Wu Zhishang didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he took a slow sip of tea before replying.

"Boss Zhang, you were introduced by my father, so I should call you ‘Uncle.’ But business is business—just because you’re the elder doesn’t mean you can push me around, right? A traditional sports stadium in four months? That’s asking too much."

Lin Ran nodded in approval. He had to admit, Wu Zhishang really had the demeanor of a negotiator.

Boss Zhang caught Wu Zhishang’s drift—essentially telling him not to throw his weight around as the older party.

"Fine, then. If that’s the case, let’s adjust the price. How about 80 million? I’ll pay 30% upfront after you break ground, 50% upon delivery, and the remaining 20% within a year of completion."

Wu Zhishang shook his head.

"The payment terms are acceptable, but Boss Zhang, for a stadium this size, 80 million leaves me with almost no profit margin..."

Lin Ran quietly watched the back-and-forth, feeling his head start to ache.

If it were him negotiating, he’d have wrapped this up ages ago.

Either take it or leave it—what’s the point of haggling over a few million?

Guess he really wasn’t cut out for management.

Wu Zhishang, though, had the patience for it.

Lin Ran suddenly remembered the early days of their venture when he’d wanted Wu Zhishang to be a content creator, but Wu Zhishang insisted on going into management.

Back then, Lin Ran had surrendered under Wu Zhishang’s "phone barrage" skills and let him try it out with a "whatever" attitude. Now, seeing this…

Maybe the guy really had a knack for it.

Balancing real estate and media, keeping two money-draining projects profitable—impressive.

"Guess I should be self-aware. Management isn’t for me—I’m better off just managing the money."

Lin Ran stepped away from the door and wandered around the other floors of the company.

After a quick tour, he marveled at how capable his wife was. Left to his own devices, he’d never have owned an entire office building in the capital.

Though it did feel a bit too quiet.

Nuanyao Group actually had plenty of employees, but spread out, they seemed sparse. Back when everyone complained about crowding, now?

Half of them were practically working in isolation.

Lin Ran even spotted a junior clerk with an entire office to herself—absurd.

But what could he do? Too many rooms.

When he returned to the office, the people outside were gone. Just as Lin Ran was about to push the door open, his eyes widened.

"Damn, Old Wu—man’s finally become the thing he used to hate?"

He didn’t push the door open or see anything, but he heard it.

Now, only two voices remained inside—Zhang Xinyan and Wu Zhishang.

Wu Zhishang’s voice reached Lin Ran’s ears first.

"Assistant Zhang, you wouldn’t want to lose this job, would you?"

"President Wu, don’t… please don’t…"

Even a seasoned guy like Lin Ran flushed hearing this outside. He wasn’t sure whether to interrupt.

From a boss’s perspective, his president fooling around with an assistant in the office? Unacceptable.

But from a bro’s perspective? Absolutely mandatory.

Plus, Zhang Xinyan was a knockout—lucky bastard, Old Wu…

Slap Lin Ran smacked himself.

How could he even think about another woman’s figure? Disgraceful. But then again, Zhang Xinyan really was…

Slap! Another smack.

"Lin… Lin Ran, why are you hitting yourself?"

Wu Zhishang opened the door, baffled. He’d heard the slapping sound outside and was annoyed someone dared eavesdrop—only to find Lin Ran smacking himself again.

Lin Ran froze, then leveled Wu Zhishang with a look of suspicion, disdain, pity, and mockery.

"That fast?"

"What do you mean ‘that fast’?" Wu Zhishang was utterly lost.

Then he noticed the stoic, intimidating man standing beside Lin Ran and felt his blood run cold.

The guy seemed simple and honest, but for some reason, Wu Zhishang sensed danger—like he could be crushed with a flick of the man’s finger.

"Nothing, Old Wu. Some things just can’t be hidden. Don’t worry, as your bro, I won’t judge. But we do need to talk about your bonus."

Wu Zhishang realized Lin Ran had misunderstood.

Despite his name (Wu Zhishang = "No Intelligence Business"), he wasn’t actually stupid. As Lin Ran’s longtime best friend, he could read his expressions instantly.

"Lin Ran, someone must’ve fed you lies. I take my work seriously."

Lin Ran nodded.

"Serious? Oh, I believe it. Just finished negotiating a project and immediately ‘discussing work’ with your assistant? Can’t get more serious than that. Though the ‘discussion’ was a bit short." His eyes sparkled with amusement and a hint of teasing.

Wu Zhishang: "..."

"You’ve got it all wrong. I was just talking to Assistant Zhang about overtime—not what you’re thinking. You know me."

Zhang Xinyan caught the subtext too and quickly clarified.

"Chairman Lin, it’s not like that at all. We’re completely professional."

Lin Ran feigned surprise. "Oho! Defending your man already? Old Wu, what’s the saying? ‘Explaining means…’?"

Wu Zhishang knew this conversation needed to end. Fast.

"Lin Ran, I just closed a major deal—the biggest one I’ve handled solo. But our company’s cash flow might be a little tight."

Nuanyao Group’s liquidity was strained, unlike Suran Group’s comfortable reserves.

Lin Ran waved it off.

"No problem, I’ll inject more funds. Money’s not an issue."

"By the way, Lin Ran, who’s this behind you?" Wu Zhishang was sure he’d never seen this man among Lin Ran’s usual bodyguards.

"My wife assigned him as my new guard. Jealous?"

Wu Zhishang’s face darkened. He shouldn’t have asked.

While Lin Ran and Wu Zhishang chatted, tension thickened in Luo Corporation’s conference room.

Everyone present sat on edge. Luo Yao had barely spoken throughout the entire meeting.

But that only made it worse—the less she said, the worse they’d performed.