After a brief rest, the smoke of the second half of the battle rose again. Both watched each other with calm expressions, unwilling to let the other notice anything unusual, much less know that the other side's terms had already met their bottom line.
Neither side gave way. Both knew that although they had reached their initial targets, they still had to fight for better terms and greater benefits.
As time passed, the terms proposed by both sides drew ever closer to the point of overlap.
"Thirty-five years. Thirty-five years at most." Xiao ZhengYi's expression darkened slightly.
"Thirty-seven years." Zhao Min narrowed her eyes and stared directly at Xiao ZhengYi. "Thirty-seven years is my bottom line. You can keep negotiating, but I will not budge."
"President Zhao, we will not concede beyond thirty-five years."
"Then let me say this as well: thirty-seven years. I will not back down either. If you insist, then let us both cool off. We can continue after you have calmed down. I cannot make another concession on this issue. After today, I might change my mind tomorrow and ask for forty years."
Zhao Min rose as if to leave.
Xiao ZhengYi hurriedly stopped her. "Wait, President Zhao. This is the final step. How about each side gives a little? Thirty-six years."
"No." Zhao Min answered without hesitation.
Zhao Min had already noticed that Xiao ZhengYi was no longer as tough as he had been at the beginning. There was a subtle softening in his tone. She knew his bottom line had emerged, so she stood firm.
"Fine, thirty-seven years." Xiao ZhengYi agreed. The higher-ups had given him a maximum limit of forty years, and this was all he could bargain for. Besides, in his view, Nuclear Fusion Technology would not mature so quickly. One or