Chapter 435 - A misunderstanding

Guo Xingqing laughed so loud that it could be heard from every corner in the office.

Mao Jianyi laughed along, for it was an accepted fact was that Guo Taining would undoubtedly sign the contract with Renhe Medicines. What Mao Jianyi had just done was merely to give Xiao Luo some encouragement, for Shen Qingyan's sake. And, in truth, he had no faith in Xiao Luo securing this contract at all.

"I believe in him!" Shen Qingyan said.

There were firm convictions and determination in Shen Qingyan's eyes, and her words immediately stunned Xiao Luo's disparagers and silenced the office in an instant.

Shen Xingqing smiled condescendingly and said, "Niece, don't be fooled by the likes of him. Uncle will take care of this hooligan, and I'll make sure he goes behind the bar."

"I'm not being fooled by him, and if he cannot secure the contract with the maternity and child health care center, then nobody else in this company can."

Shen Qingyan had a strong faith in Xiao Luo ever since the Wild Wolf Mountain race, where he won the race driving only a Trumpchi. That particular scene of Xiao Luo taking the Trumpchi over the cliff and across the ravine was etched deeply in her memory, and it was something that she could never forget. This man was enigmatic and had some superb skills; he always looked calm and composed, and he was definitely someone who had been through a lot of things.

Ling Fei was slightly stunned and stared enviously at Xiao Luo. She could not understand why president Shen had such high trust and confidence in that man. Was it just because he had secured the business with the princess of Dubai?

The office atmosphere was thick with intrigue and became somewhat tense before it was suddenly broken by Shen Xingqing's mocking laughter. "Niece, I really cannot understand you. Why are you so fond of this little jerk? Could it be that you and he had…Uhm?" he implied.

His last line was very suggestive, and it was actually very obvious to everyone in the room.

They looked at Shen Qingyan for Shen Xingqing's words did indeed made sense. In their minds, Shen Qingyan was always overprotective of Xiao Luo, and it was evident that something was going on between them for her to act this way. It clearly did not take too much for one to arrive at such a conclusion.

Shen Qingyan was enraged and slammed her table hard. "Shen Qingxing, save your dirty-minded tactics and stop insulting my personal relationships with the others, you're in no position to do that!"

"Isn't it pretty obvious that you are having affairs with this little jerk? We don't even need to make a second guess. If you guys don't have an unusual relationship, then why are you siding him?" Shen Xingqing said in slander.

"You…"

Shen Qingyan clenched her teeth and glared at Shen Xingqing, infuriated beyond words. She was trembling with rage all over, but quickly regained her composure and rebutted, "I am siding him because he can secure this contract. Shen Xingqing, since you think that I have something unusual going on with him, I dare you to make a bet with me."

"A bet on what?"

As things stood, they were already openly hostile to each other, and Shen Xingqing could not care less about playing nice. They had been office enemies for years now, and it was already an open secret in the company.

"The bet will be based on this—whether or not Xiao Luo can secure the contract with the maternity and child health care center." Shen Qingyan planned to risk everything on this bet as she had reached her tolerance limit with Shen Xingqing. This battle for power should have been made a long time ago, but she had been postponing it for the sake of their relationship as niece and uncle. The words uttered by Shen Xingqing today had honestly disappointed her.

Shen Xingqing smirked and asked, "So, what are we betting for?"

"If Xiao Luo fails to secure the contract, I'll resign and let you take over my position. But, if Xiao Luo succeeds, I'm sorry… then, you better jolly well get the hell out of this company and go back to your hometown!" Shen Qingyan hissed.

"Then shouldn't you be packing your stuff already?"

Shen Xingqing replied with such confidence as if he had already won the bet. He strolled to Shen Qingyan's table and slowly eased himself into her chair, a reminder that this seat belonged to him initially.

Shen Qingyan was incensed and said, "Cut the crap, are you playing this game, or not?"

"Hah… and, why not!" Shen Xingqing banged the table and stood up assuredly.

They both stared at each other with anger smoldering in their eyes—just like that, the battle had begun. The entire office had now turned into the battlefield.

Xiao Luo appeared calm as if this had nothing to with him. "Bosses, you guys are making a bet based on my performance, and none of you seem to have asked for my opinion. How can this be right?" he said.

"Little jerk, you're in no position to speak, shut the hell up if you don't wish me to send you to the police station!" Shen Xingqing yelled, pointing a shaking finger at him.

Xiao Luo smiled, "You have misunderstood; what I meant was that I will gladly chip in for the bet."

"you want to chip in? Do you think you are qualified?" Shen Xingqing riposted.

"I am a mere sales officer in Huayao Corporation, and I am indeed not qualified to bet with you in terms of the influence we have in Huayao Corporation. However, since we are both humans, doesn't that allow us to bet with our bodies? Since president Shen has placed her position on the line, I will place one of my hands on this bet. If I do secure the contract, I'll take one of your hands, and if not, I'll pay you with one, how about that?" Xiao Luo said.

GASP…!

Everyone took a deep breath, for even though Xiao Luo had said it calmly and casually, but the message in his words came with an ominous portent and sent a chill right down their spines.

Shen Qingyan was clearly shocked by Xiao Luo's proposal, and she muttered to himself: "Giving up a hand for the bet? Is that guy so savage, actually?"

Shen Xingqing was a little shaken, but he kept staring at Xiao Luo.

Xu Le spoke up in defense of his boss. "Xiao Luo, who do you think you are? You are nothing but a nobody who's struggling at the bottom ranks of our society; how can your hand have the same value as our vice-president? The vice-president could make thousands of millions by just snapping his finger, can you do that?" he rebuked.

"What a barbaric man, I was so wrong about your promotion, you should have never been promoted to becoming a group leader."

Mao Jianyi looked very remorseful for promoting Xiao Luo to be the group leader of Group Three, but in actual fact, he had only done so because Xiao Luo was highly regarded by Shen Qingyan. The truth was, he did not know that Xiao Luo had pissed Shen Xingqing off.

"What, do you guys want to participate in the bet too? Are you guys putting your hands on the bet?" While Xiao Luo did not feel too good about this wager, still, it was an excellent opportunity to get rid of all these snakes all at one go.

Mao Jianyi could not be bothered, "I don't argue with barbarians."

"You're just a timid rat, so just shut up if you are afraid," Xiao Luo sneered.

"You…"

Mao Jianyi looked like a fox that had its tail stepped on; his eyes widened, and he looked visibly angry.

Xiao Luo then turned to look at Xu Le. "What about you? Mr. Xu? Are you man enough?" he asked.

"You, little jerk, stop trying to intimidate me with your dirty tricks. It won't work on me… yes, I'm in with my one hand!" Shen Xingqing responded.

Xu Le was backing up Shen Xingqing, and seeing that he had already made a bet, there was no reason for Shen Xingqing to back off. In any case, he was confident that the contract could not be obtained by Xiao Luo. "I am in too, there's no way you can secure the contract with the maternity and child health care center," he said.

"Well, the bet is official now. I have to remind you all that I will not accept any amendments or excuses for this bet," Xiao Luo warned.

"Agreed, whoever turns back on his word shall be damned," Shen Xingqing pledged.

Xu Le was a little more insecure; however, he still stood with Shen Xingqing and said, "That's right, whoever turns back on his words shall be damned."

"Sure!" Xiao Luo responded.

And he then gave them both a confident smile.

Shen Qingyan was intimidated by this man—he resembled the devil who lured people to sign evil contracts in exchange for their desires, enjoying the sight of people selling their souls and bodies with his sinister smile.