Chapter 246 - 184: Groping Hand

Chapter 246: Chapter 184: Groping Hand

Where was Xia Bin supposed to get his hands on the launch editions?!

The launch editions were only for directly-operated stores, at least here in Han River!

But he didn’t dare offer this explanation. For one, it was too humiliating. For another, if he didn’t have the launch editions, all future negotiations with shopping malls for Sa Mo would definitely go to the Yinuo Jiangzhou Branch, not his Four Seasons Clothing!

Without the launch editions, how could he possibly generate buzz and attract customers?

Malls often offered rent concessions to attract flagship brands, precisely because those brands had a certain prestige and could drive foot traffic to the mall!

In this situation, the difference between having launch editions and not having them was huge from the mall’s perspective!

So he could only explain, one by one, that the launch editions had just been released, and he was actively communicating and negotiating with the brand’s headquarters to get them as soon as possible.

He promised that when they arrived, he would coordinate with the malls for a joint promotional event to attract customers.

Hanging up, he angrily threw his phone onto the desk. It was agonizing to watch others feast while he couldn’t even get a sip of the broth!

And now, the most terrifying part was that they might just take the whole pot!

The agency contract between Sa Mo and Four Seasons Clothing was set to expire in six months. When he tried to negotiate a renewal, the brand’s head office replied that he needed to submit an application report to the group.

’An application report, my ass!’ The Yinuo Jiangzhou Branch was already making bold moves. Their intentions were as clear as day!

But Xia Bin wasn’t about to back down. After all, this was a profitable brand—the most famous one in his entire portfolio!

Meanwhile, at Yunfeng Building, it was Zhang Shijie’s first visit.

He marveled at the floor plan and the design of the Aerial Garden. ’President Chen sure knows how to live!’

When Chen Xiao introduced him to Xu Wu, the CEO of Junxiao Investment Group, Zhang Shijie greeted her with a beaming smile, but his mind was racing.

’President Chen seems to have an almost obsessive preference for stunningly beautiful women. President Zhao became a major shareholder in the Yino Group, and now there’s this Junxiao Investment Group! This investment group has been making a name for itself nationwide recently. Its massive investments in the new energy vehicle market have shaken up quite a few people.’

When Zhang Shijie saw the investment group’s name and realized it was based in Jiangzhou, he had started to suspect a connection to President Zhao and President Chen.

’The last character from each of their names. The world isn’t that full of coincidences!’

Of course, this was only because Zhang Shijie was aware of Chen Xiao’s financial power. Otherwise, even if you put the names Chen Xiao and Zhao Xiangjun together, you would never dare to imagine that the Junxiao Group had anything to do with them!

’And today he meets Xu Wu. Good lord! The chairwoman is a stunner, the CEO is a stunner, and I hear the Chairwoman and CEO of Dr. Feng’s Robot is yet another stunner!’

’No wonder a man of President Chen’s status would work as a salesman at that company and even funnel his own business to her!’

Zhang Shijie was extremely polite to Xu Wu. Putting President Chen aside, a CEO controlling a group with tens of billions in capital carried far more weight than he did.

Huang Guangyuan, a man of great renown outside, could only take a backseat here. As for Liu Haoran, he was practically sitting with the serving dishes.

Xu Wu and Zhang Shijie sat on either side of Chen Xiao.

Chen Xiao knew Xu Wu had already moved into Bihu Twin Seals. He leaned in and whispered, "Do you want to have a drink? We can just have them drive us both back tonight."

The private room had been quiet, so everyone else heard Chen Xiao’s words crystal clear.

The old foxes all pretended to lower their heads and drink their water, but inwardly, they were thinking: ’Well, well. President Chen and President Xu are already living together!’

Zhang Shijie was even wondering how President Chen managed President Zhao. ’How does he dare not go home at night?’

Xu Wu didn’t notice their expressions. She said, "You can drink. I won’t. I’ll drive us back in my car tonight."

Chen Xiao didn’t press the issue. He nodded, then told the waiter to open the wine.

The waiters were from Old Jia Restaurant. They were used to this by now. Whenever there was a function here, their own restaurant would close for the day.

Jia knew the boss here was generous, and the pay was far more than he’d make in a day running his own place—plus, it was less work!

Jia felt like he’d hit the jackpot, getting to have this long-term cooperation.

Chen Xiao started with a simple opening. He said, "Tonight is pretty simple, just a regular dinner among family. The few of you here are my closest friends and brothers."

He called these men, some of whom were nearly fifty, his friends and brothers. Far from finding it strange, they felt a warmth in their hearts.

"Since this is a family dinner, everyone should speak freely. Don’t worry about your status. This way, we can use this opportunity to have a good conversation."

"Speaking freely probably requires drinking freely first. Let’s start with a toast!"

Chen Xiao smiled and raised his glass. The others all chimed in, each offering a few words of flattery as they raised their own glasses, but they still couldn’t completely relax.

People like Huang Guangyuan and Liu Haoran were big shots in their own circles. Huang Guangyuan, in particular, was used to being the center of attention wherever he went.

But look at who was here today. Didn’t they see that even Zhang Shijie, the CEO of Yino Group, was a bit on edge?

And that elegant beauty, President Xu, the Sect Leader of a capital group worth tens of billions, was continuously placing food into President Chen’s bowl.

President Xu, who was so cool and commanding on the outside and held the power of life and death over her suppliers, was now acting like a demure little woman.

How could they possibly relax?

Chen Xiao found it amusing. He knew Xu Wu was doing it on purpose; she never served him food like this when it was just the two of them.

He didn’t call her out on it. It was her way of showing kindness.

During the meal, besides giving a brief introduction to the development plan for the new brand, Liu Haoran barely spoke. He couldn’t get a word in edgewise with the topics the big bosses were discussing.