"A wager? What kind of wager?" Wang Ling couldn't help but ask.
Ling Feng raised the contract in his hand and said, "This is the initial draft of the contract you negotiated, right? If I remember correctly, this company should have discussed collaboration with us ten days ago, but there was a poisoning incident in between. That issue dragged on until it was resolved yesterday, and only today did they come to finalize the collaboration, right?"
A look of astonishment appeared on Wang Ling's face; she hadn't expected Ling Feng to be so thoroughly informed about the matter.
"So what?" Wang Ling couldn't help but retort, "What exactly are you implying?"
"It's very simple. I only need five minutes to increase the terms on the contract by thirty percent!" Ling Feng said with a smile, "And not only will the other party not be upset, but they will also sign enthusiastically. Do you believe it?"
"How is that possible!" Wang Ling scoffed, "Do you really think everyone else is a fool?"
Ling Feng smiled slightly, "Then let's make a bet, shall we? If I win, then from now on, you must unconditionally follow my commands without any surreptitious disobedience. If I lose, you can become the manager of the International Market Department. How about that?"
A jump went through Wang Ling's heart; the position of manager of the International Market Department was indeed a tempting offer! But would President Yun agree to their wager?
With that thought, Wang Ling turned her gaze toward Yun Hanrui.
Yun Hanrui smiled helplessly, "Well then, since you both agree, I have no objections. Besides, Director Wang is experienced enough to take over the department!"
Ling Feng asked with a smile, "You see, President Yun agrees. Do you dare to wager?"
Wang Ling gritted her teeth, "Fine, I'll take your bet! But let me be clear upfront, I don't think you stand a chance of winning! The business world isn't as simple as you think!"
Ling Feng took out his phone, looking at Wang Ling, "Just you wait and see!"
Saying this, Ling Feng dialed the number on the phone.
However, the phone only rang twice before it was cut off. Ling Feng smiled, "Director Wang, may I borrow your phone for a moment?"
Wang Ling handed her phone to Ling Feng. Using Wang Ling's phone, Ling Feng finally got through to the person.
"Director Wang, is there anything else?" a cheerful male voice came from the other end of the line.
Ling Feng said indifferently, "I apologize, but I am not Wang Ling. I am Wang Ling's supervisor and the manager of the entire International Market Department of Chaoyang Group!"
"Manager, hello!" The voice lost its cheerfulness and was tinged with confusion, "May I ask what the matter is?"
Ling Feng leaned back on the sofa and said, "There's nothing particularly important. I just wanted to tell you that the partnership you established with Wang Ling is now void!"
"Oh, okay... What? Manager, you're not joking, are you? Director Wang and I had just agreed on it! How can it be voided just like that? There must be some misunderstanding. Our company came with the utmost sincerity to collaborate with Chaoyang Group!"
"Do you think I am joking with you?" Ling Feng said indifferently, "As for sincerity, I'm sorry but I haven't seen it! All I have seen in the contract is a greedy face, which certainly doesn't align with our company's interests!"
"Manager, since the contract has already been signed, I think adhering to the contract is the basic business ethics of a company, isn't it?" the voice said neither humbly nor haughtily, "Even if you unilaterally void the contract, you should give us an explanation, right?"
Ling Feng lazily said, "An explanation? That's because the terms of your cooperation were based on what was signed ten days ago, but our terms have changed now, it's just that Director Wang didn't notice these changes."
"The terms have changed? How could they change so quickly?" the voice said indignantly, "Manager, what you're doing is not ethical!"
"Ethical?" Ling Feng laughed coldly, "If you say so, at worst, Chaoyang Group will just compensate you with some penalty fee, and according to the contract, the amount now isn't much, we can afford it! But if it comes to that, your company will be blacklisted by Chaoyang Group, and I think there won't be any chance for cooperation in the future!"
Ling Feng's words were firm, causing the person on the other side to panic instantly, "Manager, what are you doing? Wasn't our previous cooperation good? I'm heading back right now, why don't we talk face-to-face about this?"
Hanging up the phone, less than half an hour later, a man wearing glasses walked in while wiping the sweat on his forehead.
"My surname is Ling, you can call me Manager Ling!" Ling Feng looked at the man in front of him and said cheerfully, "Mr. Chen, you're quite fast!"
Mr. Chen glanced at Wang Ling, but Wang Ling's expression was cold and emotionless. He said cheerfully, "I didn't expect Manager Ling to become so young to be the manager of the marketing department at Chaoyang Group, truly impressive!"
Ling Feng placed a newly printed contract in front of the man, "We don't need to beat around the bush, here's the new contract. If there are no issues, we can sign it right away!" Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novᴇl(ꜰ)ire.ɴet
Mr. Chen hesitated as he noticed the terms on the contract and couldn't help exclaiming, "Manager Ling, this... these conditions are much worse, aren't they? It's thirty percent more than our previous terms!"
Ling Feng waved his hand, cutting him off, "I know your authority doesn't allow you to make decisions, but this is the bottom line for Chaoyang Group. If you agree to the collaboration, we can sign within an hour. If you cannot decide within an hour, we'll have to look for another partner!"
Mr. Chen was dumbstruck, this being his first encounter with such a blunt negotiation, and the other party didn't give him any room for bargaining. What troubled him more was that Wang Ling hadn't spoken throughout, clearly showing that this man had absolute power.
Standing at the entrance to Chaoyang Group, a bitter smile appeared on his face. One hour, one hour wasn't even enough for a round trip!
He took out his mobile phone: "President, there's been a change in the situation..."
"How far do you think things will progress?" Ling Feng asked Wang Ling.
Wang Ling sneered, "I don't think they will accept this partnership; it's already beyond their ability to withstand!"
"Beyond their ability to withstand?" Ling Feng laughed, "Then let me pose a hypothetical question for you. If you've been in the desert for days and nights without water, on the brink of dying of thirst, and suddenly there's a lake in front of you, but the lake water has been poisoned with a slow-acting poison, do you drink it or not?"
"I would have to..." Wang Ling hesitated mid-sentence; not drinking meant immediate death, but drinking meant slow poisoning and eventual death!
Wang Ling took a deep breath, "I would drink it, and then, once I'm out of the desert, I would find a way to detoxify myself!"
Ling Feng smiled slightly, "You see, anyone who isn't a fool knows how to choose, right?"