"Li Shengtian, we've had our drinks, it's time to discuss business. Is it amusing for you to suppress the market of my Hongyan Company?" Wang Yuyan, emboldened by the alcohol, asked directly.
Li Shengtian put down his wine glass, a sinister grin creeping onto his lips.
"Miss Wang, what are you implying? Isn't this how business is done? There are ups and downs. When Hongyan Company was first founded, I admit, with your reputation, many of your new cosmetic products did capture a significant market share. But old brands are old brands. Now that the initial hype has passed, customers realize that old brands are still better. The foot traffic has simply returned."
This explanation might fool Tantai Yue, but it wouldn't fool Wang Yuyan.
Many of Hongyan Company's core technologies were actually provided by Wang Yuyan.
Coupled with Wang Yuyan's marketing, both in product effectiveness and after-sales service, the company ranked among the best in the industry.
The market decline was entirely due to Li Shengtian's suppression.
Although the Wang Group was one of the largest groups in Jiangbei, its cosmetics division was slightly inferior to the Li Group.
Li Shengtian's Li Group was primarily a cosmetics enterprise, with its cosmetics industry accounting for eighty percent of the group's business.
Therefore, in the cosmetics sector, the Wang Group was at a slight disadvantage compared to the Li Group.
"Li Shengtian, stop playing dumb. You're just thinking that my grandfather isn't in Jiangbei, right? If you continue to be so ruthless, when my grandfather returns, it will be the day of your Li Group's demise!" Wang Yuyan glared at Li Shengtian.
Li Shengtian was unfazed. While the Wang Group was vast, his Li Group was no small entity either. Even a cornered monkey would bite. Li Shengtian believed that Wang Youhai would not offend his Li Group over a mere Hongyan Company, especially considering the internal dynamics of the Wang Group...
"Miss Wang, threatening me with Old Master Wang is useless. I, Li Shengtian, wasn't scared into existence. My Li Group is not a company that can be easily preyed upon. Do you really think Old Master Wang dares to make a move against my Li Group? Even if he did, it would be a Pyrrhic victory. Old Master Wang is not foolish enough to do that."
Tantai Yue, standing by, fell into deep thought, her face etched with worry. She then tugged at Wang Yuyan's hand and said,
"Yuyan, perhaps we should just let it go. This way, you won't be put in a difficult position, and it might prevent losses for the Wang Group. At worst, I can start all over again."
Tantai Yue knew that her Hongyan Company was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered in the eyes of people like Li Shengtian, ready to be served at any moment.
Tantai Yue had already decided that if she couldn't succeed in Jiangbei, she would take Qin Xuan to another city. After all, she still had several million yuan and was confident she could make a comeback.
Upon hearing this, Wang Yuyan fell silent, deep in thought.
Li Shengtian's words were not entirely unfounded. Although Hongyan Company was not insignificant, compared to the major groups in Jiangbei, it was hardly on the same level.
After all, Hongyan Company was, in the end, just a cosmetics company.
However, Wang Yuyan was unwilling to give up on Hongyan Company, not only because she held shares but for another crucial reason.
"Li Shengtian..."
As Wang Yuyan was about to speak, Li Shengtian waved his hand, interrupting her with a smile.
"Miss Wang, don't worry about others for now. You should worry about yourself. Are you feeling a bit dizzy?"
Wang Yuyan frowned upon hearing this. She suddenly felt something was amiss; her head felt fuzzy, and her vision was blurry.
"Li Shengtian, you drugged my drink!" Wang Yuyan cried out with her last ounce of strength before slumping onto the table.
"Yuyan!" Tantai Yue, beside her, was filled with panic. She stood up, only to feel her legs weaken, her control slip, and she collapsed beside Wang Yuyan.
Seeing that the two women had lost consciousness, Li Shengtian took another sip of the red wine, smacking his lips with satisfaction.
"Tsk tsk tsk, this wine is indeed excellent. A pity it's the last bottle."
As he finished speaking, two figures emerged from behind the curtains not far away – a man and a woman.
It was Jin Shikai and his cold and elegant secretary, Leng Qian.
Jin Shikai walked up to the two women. Gazing at their breathtaking beauty and the legs that could snap any man's waist, he nearly drooled.
"Damn it, if I could have them both for a night, I'd gladly shave ten years off my life!" Jin Shikai said greedily, licking his lips as he looked at their figures.
Li Shengtian stood up and walked to Jin Shikai's side, patting him on the shoulder.
"Don't mess things up. Neither of these women can be touched right now. One is to lure out that brat Qin Xuan, and the other is for me to take down the Li Group. Once these two matters are resolved, you can have your way with them as much as you like."
Jin Shikai struggled to suppress the lust burning within him and turned to Li Shengtian.
"Uncle Li, don't forget your promise after this is done. You'll give me thirty percent of your assets, and the Hongyan Company will go with the two women."
He desired Hongyan Company because Jin Shikai had learned that sixty to seventy percent of Hongyan Company's employees were female, and college students at that!
This was precisely what interested Jin Shikai.
Compared to women who had been around the block, Jin Shikai preferred playing with college students, relishing their shy demeanor.
Li Shengtian smiled and nodded.
"Of course, I, Li Shengtian, keep my word. By then, my Li Group will become the number one group in Jiangbei City, and your Jin Group will also become a first-tier group in Jiangbei!"
"Haha, then thank you in advance, Uncle Li. I'll take this woman with me now. We'll act in unison."
With that, he gave Leng Qian a look.
Leng Qian stepped forward and carried Tantai Yue, following Jin Shikai out of the hotel.
After Jin Shikai left, Li Shengtian looked at the entrance and let out a cold snort.
"Hmph, you dare to dream of sharing with me. Soon, it will be the doom of your Jin family!"
Upon receiving Wang Yuyan's message, Qin Xuan rushed to the Poseidon Palace Hotel.
Arriving at the hotel, he searched around. The hotel was deserted, with hardly any staff. He quickly went to the front desk and asked the receptionist,
"Hello, excuse me, did two elegantly dressed women come here tonight?"
The receptionist nodded. Before Qin Xuan could say anything further, she handed him a small slip of paper and said,
"Those two ladies were taken away by someone. That person said to call this number."
Qin Xuan had a bad premonition; something must have happened. He quickly dialed the number on the slip.
After a few seconds, the call was answered, and a voice that enraged Qin Xuan to his core boomed through the phone.
"Qin Xuan, who would have thought, your beautiful wife has fallen into my hands again. Hahaha..."