"Of course... no objections, as the general manager, it’s my bounden duty," Lin Tian said helplessly.
As a man, always being a hands-off manager and pushing everything to her seemed a bit improper. People who didn’t know better might even think Miss was keeping a gigolo. Lin Tian could only sigh internally; his plan to solve his single status by flirting indefinitely had to be postponed.
The next day, at noon after school, the Miss called on time and they agreed to meet at the Xiao Group headquarters. Lin Tian dropped Xiao Manxuan off at the Xiao Mansion and then hurried to the headquarters.
Upon arriving and getting out at the headquarters, Lin Tian saw a beauty dressed in casual clothes and sneakers. On closer inspection, it was the Miss, whose outfit was drastically different from her usual businesswoman attire.
At that moment, the Miss had shed her high-cold CEO demeanor, exuding a youthful vibe. She stood casually at the front door, resembling a happy girl waiting for her boyfriend.
Lin Tian was momentarily stunned, unable to believe that the aloof Miss could also have such a gentle side.
"Idiot, what are you staring at!" Xiao Manxue glared fiercely at Lin Tian and scolded angrily.
Because the Miss had a good figure, the casual clothes couldn’t hide it, and when Lin Tian looked at her, he just studied her a bit more because of her new look, but he was misunderstood.
"Ah, the sun is a bit strong today, let’s hurry up," Lin Tian said, looking up at the sky without explaining. To explain was just a cover-up; then he turned and walked towards the car.
At the moment he turned, Xiao Manxue’s lips curled into a slight smile, amused that it wasn’t easy to make this idiot stunned.
"Hey, Miss, have you decided on the opening day for the new store? I’m really broke now and looking forward to the company making big money," Lin Tian said as he started driving with the Miss also seated.
"You have the nerve to tell me you have no money? Isn’t the bar making money? I heard you even started a bodyguard company; how could you afford that if you’re broke?" the Miss wasn’t falling for his act and said, "Besides, I want you to check the progress precisely because we need to set the opening date."
"It seems like between the bar, the bodyguard company, and now adding a jewelry and a pharmaceutical company, it’s all an illusion; apart from the bar, the other three are still losing money," Lin Tian lamented theatrically.
"You think I’m not losing money? I’m losing even more. So tell me, with a bigger investment in this new drug, how much equity are you planning to ask for?" Xiao Manxue also expressed her dissatisfaction.
Lin Tian had never discussed the profit split with her before, but now that the drug formula issue was practically resolved and production was the next step, they indeed needed to settle the equity split.
"We really need to think about this one. Getting that drug formula wasn’t easy. How about we stick to the previous rule, a 40-60 split?" Lin Tian said with a troubled look, testing the waters.
"Heh, you want 60%?" Xiao Manxue flashed a killer smile, gently said.
But Lin Tian knew that beneath her smile, a lethal strike might be hidden.
"Heh heh, if you can accept that, I don’t mind," Lin Tian chuckled and said.
He was merely joking, however, as the formula was precious, but so were the ingredients provided by the Miss, and the production lines were also from the Xiao Group.
More importantly, besides the Xiao Group, it would be hard to find another company in Huaxia that had these ingredients, which was the Miss’s biggest bargaining chip.
This type of tangible drug production differed from gambling on stones, where one could wager small for a fortune, but pharmaceuticals couldn’t afford any bit of luck, every process was built on money, and chance played no part.
Therefore, Lin Tian wasn’t hoping for a 40-60 split, even 30-70 was unlikely. Even if he got 30 and the Miss got 70, she wouldn’t be foolish to agree, a 20% share would already be good.
But business is business, and Lin Tian couldn’t just soften because the Miss was a beauty and let her dictate the terms.
"10-90 split, you get 10 and I get 90," the Miss said unbothered, calmly.
"Damn, Miss, that’s too harsh, only 10% for me! Forget it, just give me the formula, I’ll find someone else," Lin Tian exclaimed, nearly slamming the accelerator and crashing into a roadside flowerbed.
"Am I as harsh as you? Last time, the jewelry company division, you were even harsher, huh!" the Miss humphed and said. She remembered that incident very clearly; since becoming CEO, she had never been put at such a disadvantage in business negotiations.
Lin Tian glanced at her and indeed, the little girl was fuming. It seemed this proud CEO was still holding on to that matter. But Lin Tian understood the Miss, as after all, last time he kinda cashed in on the opportunity, at least to some extent.
"Alright, final offer, I’ll add another billion and take 30% equity, take it or leave it," Lin Tian laid out his plans.
Last time, Zi Yan mentioned that the bodyguard company didn’t need that much investment. This time, seizing the opportunity, Lin Tian decided to pull one billion into the pharmaceutical company.
"A billion? I did hear from Xuanxuan that you had over two billion in capital. I didn’t expect it to be true. Sometimes I wonder if you’re from some major clan, out here gaining experience on your own," the Miss curiously sized up Lin Tian, speaking in a tone similar to Zi Yan.
A major clan? Lin Tian just smiled and didn’t explain further. Who his parents were or where they were, he had no clue, let alone a clan—he didn’t even have a home!
However, since people always doubted, let them doubt. Lin Tian didn’t mind thinking about it.
"So, do you agree to a 30-70 split?" Lin Tian asked again.
The Miss suddenly smiled and said, "Of course. The Xiao Family’s biggest shortage is liquid funds. Since you have a billion, why wouldn’t I agree? But, I have one condition."
"Crap," Lin Tian said helplessly, "Shoot, what’s the condition?"
"This drug formula, aside from the Xiao Group, you can’t authorize it to any other company unless both of us consult and agree unanimously," Xiao Manxue seemed to regain her CEO poise and confidently smiled as she spoke.
"Crap, you really are early to profit, thinking of such things!" Lin Tian glanced at her, feigned helplessness and said, "Fine, who calls me an honest man? I’m used to being milked by you, I’ll give in then."
Xiao Manxue naturally said, "As the CEO of the Xiao Group, I’m a businesswoman first, and a businesswoman must be early to profit, otherwise the Xiao Family would have collapsed under my watch a long time ago."
She deliberately ignored the latter half of Lin Tian’s statement, getting used to his nonsensical talk over time.
"Hey, Miss, let me make a suggestion," Lin Tian said with a mysterious smile on his face.
"What suggestion?" Xiao Manxue asked inquisitively, wondering what this rascal was planning now.
Lin Tian still smiled, then made a shocking suggestion, "How about you marry me into the Xiao Family? That way, all I have would be yours."
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