The Agreement

After finishing all that, Su Rui didn't waste any time. Instead, he chose to return to the hotel to continue the unfinished dinner with Li Ruobing.

"How did your talk with Lin Jiatao go?" Li Ruobing asked at the dinner table.

Su Rui took a sip of red wine, gently swirling the glass, and chuckled, "How else could it go? As soon as I mentioned your Li Family's name, Lin Jiatao practically wanted to kneel down on the spot..."

Li Ruobing scoffed.

Of course, she couldn't believe Su Rui's words.

She knew very well what kind of person Lin Jiatao was.

Such a figure, who straddled the line between the underworld and the legitimate world, might be wary of the Li Family, but he would absolutely not be intimidated to that extent.

"You need to be careful. This Lin Jiatao is not a simple-minded person," Li Ruobing hesitated for a moment before reminding him, "Don't underestimate him."

Su Rui looked at Li Ruobing with interest, narrowing his eyes. With a faint, mischievous smile, he leaned closer to her face, sniffing the subtle fragrance on her, and whispered, "Are you... concerned about me?"

Li Ruobing shifted back slightly, feeling a bit uncomfortable. Frowning, she said, "I just don't want a shareholder of my company to die violently on the street."

Yes.

The two hundred million Su Rui brought to Mingzhu today was considered investment capital by Li Ruobing.

She didn't like owing favors.

Because it was hard to calculate.

She preferred relationships with clear prices, straightforward and distinct.

Su Rui shrugged indifferently. He knew very well that it was impossible for Li Ruobing to completely open up and fully rely on him in such a short time.

He had time and patience.

Anyway, he would be in contact with Li Ruobing for a long time; he could take it slow.

One day, I'll make you unable to leave me...

"For your two hundred million investment, I will value it at market price and allocate a portion of equity to you, but it can only be ten percent; the extra money will be considered additional investment, and I will give you dividends proportionally!" Li Ruobing stated clearly, "I will arrange a position for you within the company. You can choose it yourself."

"I'll operate the Qiantang New Store," Su Rui didn't refuse. This was one of his plans, "Within a year, I'll double the market value of your company!"

Only by being close could he maintain long-term contact with Li Ruobing; only by having his own career could he gain a firm foothold in front of the Li Family.

Moreover, what Su Rui said about doubling Mingzhu's market value within a year was not boasting.

Operating a company... for an old monster who had lived for countless lifetimes, it was too simple.

The business empires he had built before were cross-border behemoths!

Li Ruobing was silent for a moment. The Qiantang New Store was Mingzhu's key project this year. It could be said that Li Ruobing had invested almost all of her net worth into this project.

It had to succeed; it couldn't fail.

Su Rui had indeed given her many surprises, but did he really have the ability to manage and operate a company?

"Okay!" Unexpectedly, Li Ruobing agreed immediately, "I will issue an appointment letter. Starting tomorrow, you will be the President of the Qiantang New Store."

"Aren't you afraid I'll bankrupt your company?"

"Heh... The Qiantang New Store also has your two hundred million," Li Ruobing replied coolly, "If you don't care... go ahead!"

Was Li Ruobing not worried about the Qiantang New Store going bankrupt?

In fact, she cared about the profitability of the Qiantang New Store more than anyone, because it was related to whether Mingzhu could reach a new level in Tongzhou City.

If this step was taken correctly, from then on in Tongzhou City, when others introduced her, it would no longer be "This is the eldest daughter of the Li Family, Miss Li Ruobing, the young lady of the Li Group!", but "This is the founder of the Mingzhu Group, the youngest business magnate, President Li Ruobing!"

But if it failed, the consequences would also be severe. Mingzhu could very likely go bankrupt as a result, and she would be forced to return to the family, becoming obscure.

At an appropriate time, she would marry into a political family, dedicating her last bit of light and heat to the Li Family.

This was a qualitative difference.

But even considering the consequences, Li Ruobing still agreed to Su Rui's request, because she had a faint premonition that this man might truly bring her surprises.

This was a desperate gamble.

Li Ruobing resolutely placed her bet on Su Rui.

Who had such courage?

"Two or three hundred million... I really don't care about that," Su Rui smiled freely, "It's just that if you withdraw sadly, it will make me very heartbroken."

Li Ruobing paused in her movements.

Then, she said very flatly, "Has anyone ever told you that your sweet talk is very corny?"

Su Rui burst into laughter.

Having been reborn billions of times, his life experience had long since made it unnecessary for him to please anyone, including the women he favored. If he wanted to approach someone, he would create opportunities based on her preferences, and this kind of mushy sweet talk, Su Rui had long forgotten how to say.

"If you don't like it, I can start learning again tomorrow. What style do you like to hear? Overbearing CEO type? Or understanding Uncle type?" Su Rui's smile didn't diminish, showing a tendency to get to the bottom of things.

Li Ruobing rubbed her temples without showing any emotion, feeling a bit of a headache.

She had always been cold and arrogant, keeping people at a distance. Even if a man wanted to approach her, he would be pressured by this invisible aura; but this cold demeanor, which she was proud of, seemed to have no effect on Su Rui at all.

His attitude towards her was completely like treating an ordinary high school student in love.

He treated her exactly like an ordinary high school student in love, without changing his attitude in the slightest because of her identity!

"If you really want to flirt with me, you should first get the Qiantang New Store on the right track..." Li Ruobing brushed her hair back, tucking her beautiful locks behind her ears. It was an extremely alluring gesture. She slowly exhaled a fragrant breath tinged with alcohol, "My standard for choosing a husband is very high."

Her words were direct and blunt.

"But your standard for choosing a partner doesn't align with the Li Family's!" Su Rui said with a smile on his face, yet it wasn't quite a smile. "The husband your father chose for you is the Yan Capital Ye Family's Eldest Young Master. With the Ye Family's political assistance, the Li Family can advance further, and at the very least, ensure its prosperity for a hundred years."

Su Rui had long since understood everything about the Li Family. Li Guodong had always wanted to latch onto the sturdy political tree of the Yan Capital Ye Family, hoping to establish a connection through marriage, but he could never convince the strong-willed and stubborn Li Ruobing.

Several negotiations ended with Li Ruobing flipping the table and leaving on bad terms.

In his desperation, coupled with his current wife fanning the flames, Li Guodong forcefully made an agreement with Li Ruobing.

"Didn't you even make an agreement for this?"

Giving Li Ruobing a chance to prove herself, if her company didn't achieve anything within five years, she would have to obediently follow the family's arrangements and go to Yan Capital to marry the Ye Family young master!

Li Ruobing didn't refuse.

Because she knew very well that being born into a wealthy family meant there were some things she couldn't escape. If you enjoyed the privileged life of a wealthy family, you had to pay a price for it.

More importantly, at that time, she believed in herself and that she could fulfill the conditions of the agreement.

This was also why Li Ruobing founded Mingzhu Company without using any resources from her family.

But after this "Forcing the Palace" incident, Li Ruobing realized that it might be difficult for her to win the agreement alone.

It wasn't because she lacked capability, but because someone in the family had been playing dirty tricks, trying to bring her down!

"You even know about the Li Family's agreement..." Li Ruobing's eyes were extremely complex. She felt a genuine sense of fear. In front of this man, she had almost no secrets.

She disliked this feeling, this feeling of being seen through, of being "suppressed" everywhere!

"There are still three years until the agreement is complete. How about this... within three years, I will help you win the agreement," Su Rui said directly. "Furthermore, I will make it so that when anyone mentions the Tongzhou Li Family again, the first person they think of is you, Li Ruobing, not Li Guodong! By then, no one will be able to control your choices!"

"You want to marry me?" Li Ruobing asked abruptly.

"My biggest wish is to marry into a wealthy family and openly live off a woman..." Su Rui's eyes flickered with a cold, dangerous light as he chuckled softly, "I'm determined to live off you! Whether it's your dad or some damn Yan Capital Ye Family, they can all stand aside!"

"Anyone who dares to stop me will be flattened on the spot!"

His voice was like a great bell, his presence imposing!

If the content of this sentence weren't a bit awkward, it might truly be called heroic.

Li Ruobing was somewhat speechless.

Perhaps only Su Rui could speak of wanting to live off a woman with such imposing presence and openness.

"Heh..." Li Ruobing's red lips curved slightly, revealing a charming and profound smile. She quietly leaned close to Su Rui's ear, "If you can really help me achieve this, in three years, I'll support you..."