Deliberately Approaching
Chapter 47: Lost the Wife and the Soldiers

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Lost the Wife and the Soldiers

These past few days, all the major brand stores at Yishen Shopping had been busy renewing their contracts for the next year.

Similar domestic matters had always been handled by Chen Xin, who did the negotiating, while Li Zishen was responsible for making the final decision and rarely got directly involved.

Yishen Group, located in the middle section of Jinhai Road, was a comprehensive office building with 36 floors above ground and 3 below. Except for the top 36th floor and the middle 18th floor, each level represented one or more of the group’s subsidiaries, covering a very wide range of domains, both domestic and overseas.

The moment Chen Xin’s car came to a stop, two middle-aged men approached him.

Both were dressed in neatly pressed suits and meticulously tied ties.

They were here to renew their contracts, one for gold jewelry and the other for high-end silk women’s clothing, both significant domestic brands.

"Manager Chen, sorry to disturb you," the Gold Boss said with a smiling face, taking the lead in speaking.

The leaner one did not want to fall behind and quickly put on a smiling face, "Manager Chen, our brand image has been revamped as required, can we discuss the contract..."

Chen Xin, carrying a briefcase, glanced at each man, "Hmm, let’s go, we’ll talk upstairs."

Upon hearing there was a chance, the two middle-aged men immediately nodded in unison, "Yes, yes, yes."

It was almost as if they had spoken in chorus!

The three men proceeded inside the office building one after the other, passing staff who greeted Chen Xin and heads of relevant departments along the way.

It was the first time for the two big bosses to come here.

Normally, contract renewals were handled at the shopping center. But recently, with Chen Xin being so busy and hard to meet, they had chased him here.

After all, it was all about signing the contract, and it didn’t matter where that happened.

They were well aware that once they got past Chen Xin, it was basically a done deal, and then handing it over to Li Zishen would mean everything was settled.

Just as they reached the office door, Chen Xin’s phone started ringing nonstop.

[Is Brother Shen going to the group today?]

[What are you busy with, why aren’t you replying to my messages?]

[I have something urgent and need to see Brother Shen, I heard Leng Lingxiao is in Jin City, is that true?]

[That man is too cunning, make sure to remind Brother Shen, it’s not that we can’t cooperate with him, but we need to establish the primary and secondary relationship first, so we don’t leak our formulas.]

[And Li Wanshan, that old fox!]

Opening the messages, he saw they were all from Lin Ping.

Chen Xin frowned slightly, [Busy, do not disturb!]

His frown worried the two big bosses, thinking that something urgent had come up, and they entered the office with cold sweat.

"Have a seat first and have some tea."

After saying this, Chen Xin turned and left.

It wasn’t long before a young woman came in with tea and snacks, smiling.

"Miss, what is Manager Chen..."

The Silk Boss was getting impatient.

He had heard from internal sources that a women’s fashion brand was interested in his store’s location and was making efforts to speak with Li Zishen.

"Manager Chen has gone to a brief meeting, he’ll be back in 15 minutes, please have some tea."

"Oh, thank you, miss."

The Silk Boss felt relieved all of a sudden, realizing they weren’t left there on purpose.

He cleared his throat and picked up the tea.

Seeing this, the Gold Boss relaxed as well, sitting down slowly to review his own materials.

...

At six in the evening, at Wuyou Pavilion.

Li Wanshan was enjoying a drink with his wife, Second Aunt Lai, gossiping about Li Zishen, saying he was young and could not resist the temptation of beauty, and would likely succumb to pressure within a few days.

The dining table was laden with delicacies, all wild game.

It was all originally prepared for Leng Lingxiao, but he did not care for these formalities and left after only a brief ten-minute chat at what was supposed to be a temporary stopover—which, in fact, was a villa.

Only a place Leng Lingxiao rarely visited throughout the year, he ironically called it a foothold.

Second Sister-in-law Lai clinked glasses with her husband and asked thoughtfully, "That Mr. Leng, who’s neither kin nor kith, why would he help us? Do you think there might be some... conspiracy?"

Upon hearing this, Li Wanshan burst into laughter.

His gaze seemed to mock his wife for being brainless.

"It’s not help, it’s mutual benefit. Zishen that kid is shortsighted, neglecting international markets for collaboration. Do you really think Leng Lingxiao would let that slide without teaching him a lesson?"

"Will those small shareholders actually cause trouble?" Second Sister-in-law Lai couldn’t believe it.

"They have no choice but to go when someone has them by the neck."

"You should also be careful from now on. People like him are capable of anything, and I don’t want us to get dragged into it as well. No matter what, Zishen is still our own flesh and blood, but that Mr. Leng is hard to say."

"Mhm, my wife speaks the truth."

"Our roast duck shop, let’s not rush to transfer it. If you really can’t manage, we might as well leave it to my brother for now. It’s not much money, but it’s still an income."

"You’re too late, I’ve already signed the contract."

"But that’s not a small sum at all! A whole 1.5 million, did the buyer pay in one go?"

Li Wanshan nodded, took another swig of baijiu, and was about to check his phone for updates when his secretary’s call came through just in time.

The news he heard left him utterly shocked!

An hour ago, those three small shareholders did go to the group’s building. However, Chen Xin didn’t take them seriously at all, outright saying he’d buy as many shares as they had, all at market value.

In the end, the three small shareholders couldn’t even make a fuss at Li Zishen; they didn’t even get to see Chen Xin, as the director in charge of share transfers was the one who met them.

The paperwork was completed just two minutes before the call.

After hanging up, Li Wanshan was so furious he started smashing the liquor bottles one by one.

This time, it was indeed a loss both personally and financially!

...

Li Garden, the backyard.

Five workers were building a sunroom.

It covered roughly 100 square meters with a three-meter-high all-wood structure that had just been coated with a protective varnish, full of tactile appeal.

Tang Xiaowan had been spectating since after dinner.

She rested her chin on her hands, biting her lip, utterly confused and puzzled.

Behind her, Li Zishen’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

He had just received news that Wuyou Pavilion was especially bustling at the moment, with several families crowding in the living room demanding a reasonable explanation.

Whatever Li Wanshan did, Li Zishen neither cared nor intended to participate, but the shares his grandmother gave him were not going to be taken back.

"Xiao Wan, how do you like it?"

"Is this the vegetable greenhouse you prepared for me?"

"Yes, don’t you like it?"

Tang Xiaowan stood up and touched her nose.

"I do like it, but doesn’t it seem a bit too extravagant?"

She paused for a few seconds, as if she’d realized something, "Oh, I get it, you plan to turn it into..."

"Right, exactly, haha."

Li Zishen laughed heartily.

Tang Xiaowan rarely saw him this joyful; she suspected he must be in a particularly good mood that day.

Thus, the topic of her returning to Mei Garden came up again.

"Remember, Saturday... don’t forget, okay?"

"I won’t, don’t worry."

Li Zishen might or might not have understood her implications, but he simply nodded spiritedly, and with hands behind his back, walked away slowly.

Tang Xiaowan was about to call after him when she saw Bai Long striding toward her.