The night passed without incident.
The next day, the Gaokao continued, but everything remained uneventful, and Xia Xu's exams went very smoothly.
Over at Star Sea Venture Capital, however, Chen Leyao followed Xia Xu's instructions and kicked Griffin Jones straight out of the deal, causing a minor stir.
"Miss Chen, don't you think you're going too far?"
Griffin Jones's furious voice practically carried through the walls of Chen Leyao's general manager's office.
"Mr. Griffin, business is business. We appreciate the information you provided, but since Star Sea Venture Capital can take on this entire project ourselves, there's no need for us to find a partner."
Chen Leyao looked at him calmly. "Besides, we're simply declining to collaborate. We haven't forbidden you from participating, nor do we have the power to do so.
"If you're still interested, Mr. Griffin, you're perfectly welcome to compete fairly. If you can acquire shares in Tonghe Pharmaceuticals, we don't mind you taking a slice of the pie."
Standing in front of her desk, leaning forward with both hands braced against its surface, Griffin Jones lifted a hand and slammed it down, arguing his case. "I was the one who proposed the Tonghe Pharmaceuticals project. I gave you a full analytical report, and now you're cutting me out and going it alone. You call that business?"
"First, I never made any promise that Star Sea Venture Capital would agree to cooperate if you supplied a report. Besides, I don't believe that one document constitutes sufficient leverage to justify a partnership on the entire project.
"If you really put all the important information and inside knowledge into it merely as a means of getting your foot in the door at Star Sea Venture Capital, then I have to question whether you possess the intelligence to participate in