Chapter 1165 - 1165: Heartbreak After Heartbreak

"If I tell you why I'm looking for Wang Tingwei, can you guarantee that Qi Guanghe and Pei Dengke won't bother me anymore?"

After a long silence, Tang Mingbo asked.

Xiao Feng didn't rush to agree and pondered, "That depends on your answer, and whether it satisfies me."

"What kind of answer would satisfy you?"

"The truth, without any falsehoods, of course."

"Alright, then I'll give you the truth!"

After speaking, Tang Mingbo picked up the rat tail juice, drank a third, and then began to tremble as if electrified.

This display reminded Xiao Feng of his Thunder Pattern Steel.

Two minutes later, Tang Mingbo shook off his previous lethargy, refreshed, "I'm looking for Wang Tingwei because she took away a lot of important information from my company.

If this information falls into my competitors' hands, it'll be a fatal blow to my company."

"Would she easily give these back to you?"

"Naturally not, so I've prepared myself for her unreasonable demands," Tang Mingbo smiled bitterly, "To put it bluntly, she already has my lifeline in her grip.

As long as I say no, the Tang Family's generations of efforts will be ruined by my hands.

Honestly, this feeling of having a sword hanging over me that could drop anytime, but never does, is really unpleasant; I'd rather she propose her conditions sooner."

Feeling the helplessness in Tang Mingbo's words, Xiao Feng frowned slightly, "Can't you think of any condition Wang Tingwei might propose?"

"I can't," Tang Mingbo sighed, "I've been in business for many years and have seen countless socialites and networkers, but I've never met another who can manipulate hearts like her."

Xiao Feng couldn't help but laugh, "Are you trying to make excuses for falling into her trap?"

This is quite a common psychological phenomenon; not willing to admit one's weakness, one subconsciously exaggerates the opponent's strength to justify one's failure.

"If that's how you see it, then perhaps." Tang Mingbo smiled bitterly again, "In the game of winners and losers, as a loser, I can't be denied the right to find excuses to save face."

Xiao Feng wasn't in the mood to continue hurting him and, after a moment of contemplation, asked, "Do you think Wang Tingwei has genuine feelings for you?"

"..." Tang Mingbo.

Heart strike, bro.

However, Xiao Feng was asking seriously, with no intention of provoking him.

"If she had genuine feelings for me, would we be in this situation?" Tang Mingbo countered.

Xiao Feng continued to probe, "What's the reason Wang Tingwei left you? Is it because you refused to make your marriage public?"

"No." Tang Mingbo shook his head, took another sip of rat tail juice, and said, "She left very abruptly, only telling me she'd taken important intelligence and trade secrets from my company.

Since then, until now, she hasn't contacted me once, and I haven't had a good night's sleep..."

Xiao Feng impatiently said, "Let's skip the emotional talk for now; because you haven't refused to answer my questions, I'll analyze things for you for free.

With the current information, there's a major inconsistency right in front of us.

If you can reason through this inconsistency, you might understand what Wang Tingwei aims to achieve through you."

"What's the inconsistency?" Tang Mingbo asked.

Xiao Feng smiled slightly, "As I see it, your marriage is the biggest inconsistency.

Trade secrets, important information, financial statements - couldn't she get them without marrying you?

You say Wang Tingwei never had true feelings for you; doesn't that mean registering marriage is unnecessary, like taking off your pants just to fart?"

"In that case..." Tang Mingbo mused, "Could it be that Tingwei truly had feelings for me?"

"..." Xiao Feng was tempted to swear.

But he controlled the impulse and responded grumpily, "Yes, yes, she had true feelings for you; she was your lawful wife and at the same time stringing along Pei Dengke, tricking him for food, drink, a house, and a car."

"Uh..." Tang Mingbo was rendered speechless, feeling his heart stabbed once more.

Xiao Feng continued, "Now, think along these lines: what is there that absolutely requires Wang Tingwei to marry you to achieve it."

"Requires marrying me to achieve..." Tang Mingbo muttered, getting up and pacing back and forth in the room.

Xiao Feng didn't rush him but kept staring at the cup of rat tail juice on the table, pondering its potential to be marketed as a "functional drink" alternative to coffee.

However, after weighing the options, he decided to abandon the idea.

Firstly, the raw material is a headache; where to catch that many rats?

Even if rats are abundant, solving the raw material problem poses a risk of competitors exposing the ingredient analysis to the public or reporting to relevant authorities if it sells well.

Imagine, who would willingly drink a beverage made from rat tails?

And the reaction after drinking it is too much like taking drugs, drawing unwanted scrutiny easily.

So, after evaluating, Xiao Feng felt this business isn't worth investing in; the best result is a minor profit, and the worst could land him in trouble.

Just then, Tang Mingbo stopped his steps, his eyes widening, "Oh no! Third Elder!"

"Hmm?" Xiao Feng puzzled, "Is he the Third Elder you said you'd ask to mediate justice?"

Tang Mingbo's expression became unprecedentedly serious, nodding, "Exactly!"

"Who is this Third Elder that can suppress both the Qi Family and Pei Family?" Xiao Feng wondered.

Tang Mingbo opened his mouth, hesitating whether to speak or not, but realizing even if he didn't, Xiao Feng could eventually learn from Pei Dengke and Qi Guanghe, he said:

"I won't enumerate his specific deeds; you can ask the young masters of the Qi Family and Pei Family. I'll just say one thing and you'll understand his capabilities..."

Xiao Feng didn't reply, waiting silently for Tang Mingbo to speak the sentence that illustrates the Third Elder's abilities.

After a moment, Tang Mingbo exhaled deeply, "If the Third Elder is willing, among the few remaining influential figures with connections everywhere, he would have a place."

Xiao Feng frowned slightly and after some time, his eyes suddenly brightened, "I've heard many people before mention how mysterious the Tang Family is.

They've accomplished many things that shouldn't have been possible, yet no one can explain clearly who the Tang Family's patron is.

Now it seems, Mr. Tang's patron is this Third Elder?"

"You can't say patron." Tang Mingbo's expression was conflicted, "If you must define it, the Third Elder is equivalent to the Tang Family's protective talisman, but it's precisely this talisman limiting the Tang Family's growth.

In fact, whoever can establish roots in Kyoto has some connections behind them.

Of course, connections alone aren't enough; you must also have a few cards to play, or else a gust of wind could topple you."