Cao Qinglin said, "Alright, since that's the case, you can go ahead, there's nothing else to do anyway."

Ling Zhenfei then took a taxi to the restaurant he and Si Mayang had agreed on last time.

As soon as he entered the restaurant, someone greeted him and said, "Hello sir, someone is waiting for you upstairs, please proceed upstairs."

Ling Zhenfei hurriedly followed the person upstairs, and when he arrived at a small private room on the top floor, he was stunned as soon as he walked in.

Because in the room, besides Si Mayang, there was also another person — Ma Long.

Ling Zhenfei was taken aback, not knowing why Ma Long was there.

Ma Long waved at Ling Zhenfei and said, "Didn't expect this, did you, Mr. Ling? Didn't expect to see me here, right?"

Ling Zhenfei glanced at Si Mayang and said, "Brother Sima, what does this mean?"

Si Mayang also had a not-so-good expression on his face and said to Ling Zhenfei, "Brother Ling, Mr. Ma wanted to talk to you about something. He said there was some misunderstanding with you before, so he asked me to give you a call."

Ling Zhenfei knew that Si Mayang and Ma Long must have some agendas, so he didn't say anything and simply sat down opposite them.

"Since I'm here, why don't you tell me what's going on?"

Ma Long smiled and said, "Mr. Ling, we are old friends. We've met several times, talked many times, and even had tea together."

"That's correct, we have indeed met many times. If it's about making friends, that's fine, but I don't think I can do business with Mr. Ma, because Mr. Ma is quite adept at negotiating."

Ma Long laughed: "Striving for the best interests for oneself is quite normal, right? Isn't Mr. Ling also striving for the best interests for himself?"

Ling Zhenfei laughed: "You're right. What you said is entirely correct, but it seems that Mr. Ma and I don't travel the same path."

Actually, when Ling Zhenfei thought of Ma Ling, he also thought of the mysterious person he encountered outside his room that night.

According to Ling Zhenfei's deduction back then, it must have been someone sent by Ma Long, but now that Ma Long suddenly appeared there, he really didn't know what it meant.

Ma Long smiled and said, "Mr. Ling, I still admire you very much because I think we are the same kind of people."

Ling Zhenfei laughed: "How are we the same kind of people? You and I are a bit different."

Ma Long said, "Mr. Ling, don't speak so definitively. You know, we should cooperate, that way, it's a win-win situation."

Ling Zhenfei said, "Then tell me, how is it a win-win?"

Ma Long said, "It's actually very simple. You have great projects in need of investment, and I have good stores in major cities across the country. Don't you think this is perfect for a collaboration between us?"

Ling Zhenfei said, "Young Master Ma, since it's cooperation, it must be a win-win. You've mentioned that we are very similar, both seeking maximum benefits for ourselves. Doesn't that make us a bit contradictory?"

Ma Long said, "It's not contradictory, it's just that we haven't found the common interest point for mutual cooperation."

Ling Zhenfei said, "Finding that point is really not easy. I think we shouldn't look for it. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

After saying this, Ling Zhenfei stood up to leave, but Ma Long stopped him and said, "Mr. Ling, today Mr. Sima asked you to come. Aren't you going to ask Mr. Sima what he wants to discuss with you?"

Ling Zhenfei looked towards Si Mayang, whose expression was very calm, obviously feigning composure.

After Ling Zhenfei finished speaking, Si Mayang coughed twice and said, "Mr. Ling, today I came to talk to you about something very important."

Although Ling Zhenfei didn't know what Si Mayang wanted to say, he felt that it was not a simple matter.

Si Mayang said, "Mr. Ling, here's the thing. I previously heard from Mr. Ma that you should have been in contact with Cao Qinglin recently, right?"

Ling Zhenfei nodded and said, "That's right, I have been in contact with Cao Qinglin. I'm currently assisting Ms. Xu Yuyu, Cao Qinglin's wife, with her health."

Si Mayang sneered and said, "Mr. Ling, I think it's not as simple as just helping Miss Xu with her health. Haven't you considered collaborating together?"

Ling Zhenfei was taken aback, realizing there was more to Si Mayang's words, and said, "Brother Sima, we haven't known each other just for a day or two, so if you have something to say, just say it quickly."

Si Mayang said, "Alright, since that's the case, I'll just say it. I personally have no fondness for Cao Qinglin, and it's not just me; many people in the Capital City circle have no fondness for Cao Qinglin."

Ling Zhenfei was taken aback and said, "Why is that?"

Si Mayang said, "Actually, it's nothing much. Cao Qinglin is notoriously cunning, and trying to gain benefits from him is really not easy."

Ma Long added, "If we haven't guessed wrong, Cao Qinglin should have invited you to co-open a restaurant, right? And if I haven't miscalculated, the place Cao Qinglin picked should be the building opposite International Plaza, right?"

Ling Zhenfei nodded, "That's right, it's the building opposite International Plaza. We've already agreed on the cooperation terms, just waiting to open after the renovation."

Si Mayang laughed, "Mr. Ling, we advise you not to trust Cao Qinglin. He's all show with something else going on behind the scenes."

"What do you mean?" Regarding Cao Qinglin's involvement with Xu Yuyu, Ling Zhenfei did feel that Cao Qinglin was somewhat two-faced.

Ma Long said, "Do you know why Cao Qinglin's family business has gotten bigger and bigger? In the beginning, Cao Qinglin made his first fortune by betraying his own brothers. That's how Cao Qinglin got addicted to it and has done many things like betraying partners over the years."

Ling Zhenfei was surprised. Although she had seen that Cao Qinglin wasn't entirely sincere, she didn't expect he'd actually done such things.

Si Mayang said, "Now that Cao Qinglin chose to cooperate with you, the terms must be very attractive, making it hard for you to refuse, but he has an agenda."

"His goal is to leverage my Xi Shan Restaurant to draw in crowds, competing with the traffic of International Plaza," Ling Zhenfei said.

Ma Long chuckled and said, "That proposal does sound quite tempting and hard to resist, but I can bet once the traffic there reaches the level of International Villa, that's when he'll turn against you."

Ling Zhenfei laughed, "Do you take me for a three-year-old child? Before any cooperation, I will definitely sign a proper contract. As soon as there's a breach, I'll know right away."

With this, Ma Long and Si Mayang both laughed.

"Indeed, Mr. Ling's intelligence is not like that of a three-year-old child, but with matters like these, Cao Qinglin is very adept. By the time it happens, you won't even know how you were deceived."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.