Chapter 708: Opportunity for Cooperation
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Guan Lei calmly gazed at the displeasure on Chen Yu l s face and smiled. “1 have no intention of poking at your scars. I came here today only to offer you an opportunity to cooperate with Xi’s family. There’s no need for us to be at odds.”
“Cooperate?” Chen Yu looked at Guan Lei with confusion. “What kind of cooperation are you talking about?”
Guan Lei tossed a folder into Chen Yu’s hand and said, “The Ninghai Project.”
Chen Yu furrowed his brow. His family, the Chen family, had tried to secure this project before but with no success. As far as he knew, among the four great families, only the Guan family had remained uninvolved. Some other companies from Beijing had also participated.
After reviewing the documents in his hand, Chen Yu said, “We don’t necessarily have to be part of this project.”
Guan Lei nodded and smiled, “True, but I hope you’ll consider it. To avoid suspicion, the Guan family can’t get directly involved, but we can recommend you. You might not know this, but despite appearances, those smaller companies that won the bids are all from the Gu family’s faction.”
Chen Yu was still puzzled. “What’s the significance of that? It’s just business, cooperation for profit. Although Gu Chen might be a bit eccentric, I don’t see any conflicts between his Gu family and the Shen and Lu families. They should be able to cooperate peacefully, right?”
Guan Lei looked at Chen Yu’s naive expression and shook his head with a smile. “Don’t you realize that Gu Chen has feelings for Xi? You’ve been pursuing her for so long, and you didn’t have a clue?”
Chen Yu’s heart skipped a beat, frowning as he asked, “Are you sure about that?”
Guan Lei shrugged. “It’s absolutely true. Four years ago, he played a trick on me. For the sake of one project, the Gu family allowed both the Shen and Lu families to enter but kicked out those not aligned with their faction. Do you think that’s normal? An extreme person like Gu Chen, facing a woman he loves but can’t have, what do you think his motive is?”
If it were not for Gu Chen’s feelings for Shen Xi, Chen Yu would not have found the Gu family’s actions abnormal.
But with that factor in mind, he realized that Gu Chen might be using the family’s business to control Shen Xi, especially since this was a government project, and it was possible that the Shen family might send a few members into it.
“Chen Yu, you’re not my only candidate, but I decided to offer you this opportunity. One, because I believe you won’t harm Shen Xi’s family, and two, I want you to understand that gratitude isn’t love,” Guan Lei said, his lips curled into a confident smile.
Indeed, he was becoming somewhat cocky, relying on Shen Xi’s affection for him, and he also wanted to assert his rights as her boyfriend.
He knew that Shen Xi’s family had always liked Chen Yu, and he did not want Shen Xi’s relationship with her family to turn sour because of whether or not she should be with Chen Yu. So, he came personally to make Chen Yu back off. This way, Shen Xi’s family would not pressure her into being with Chen Yu.
Chen Yu’s eyes widened with anger. He knew that Guan Lei was here to provoke him. “Guan Lei, don’t be so arrogant.”
Guan Lei looked at Chen Yu with indifference. “There’s no need to get so riled up. My business here is done for today. Whether or not you want the Ninghai project, give me your answer before six in the evening. Otherwise, I’ll have to push someone else into it.”
Chen Yu seethed with anger as he watched Guan Lei’s arrogant departure. But in the end, he decided to accept the project Guan Lei had offered.
One reason was that the Chen family had originally wanted to be a part of this project, and the other was that he genuinely feared the Shen and Lu families would be controlled by the Gu family. What if Shen Xi were threatened by Gu Chen for the sake of her family?
Two major conglomerates—this was no small matter.
He could accept that Shen Xi chose not to be with him out of love for someone else, but he could not accept her being forced into a relationship with someone she did not like, especially someone as twisted as Gu Chen..