Return to the Day When My Pregnant Wife Jumped Off the Building-Chapter 272 Cat Plays with Mouse_1

"Boss Xiao!"

At a distance of seven or eight meters, Hao Jianwen bowed and extended his hands, eyes squeezed together in a smile.

"Boss Xiao honors us with your presence, we failed to greet you from afar, so sorry for that!"

Xiao Ming took his hand, also with a beaming smile, "Boss Hao is too polite! It’s my fault for visiting unannounced."

"Not at all! Please, Boss Xiao, come in."

Leading the way with enthusiasm, Hao Jianwen’s demeanor was completely opposite to the haughty one he had sported over a month ago at Jingcheng Restaurant.

Once in the office, Hao Jianwen sent his secretary out and invited Xiao Ming and Gu Tinglan to sit on the sofa, then started to boil water, obviously preparing to serve Gongfu tea.

People from Lingnan love their tea; nine out of ten bosses have a full set of Gongfu tea utensils in their office.

"I hadn’t realized, Boss Hao is quite the connoisseur," Xiao Ming commented politely.

"You’re joking, I’m just dabbling," Hao Jianwen modestly replied. "Business folks around here enjoy it, so I got a set too. It gives us something to talk about during chats and business discussions!"

"Right, that makes sense. Sadly, I’m too unsophisticated to learn or master this meticulous skill. It’s a pity!"

"You’re too modest, Boss Xiao. Nowadays, in the Lingnan business world, who doesn’t know of your great reputation? In my opinion, your decisive approach to business is a real lesson for all of us."

Today, Hao Jianwen had shed the listless and decadent air he once had; he was completely revitalized, full of life and wit, and the conversation between the two started off on a very harmonious note.

Soon enough, the tea was ready, and he personally arranged the tea cups in front of Xiao Ming and Gu Tinglan.

"Please, have a taste and let me know what you think."

Xiao Ming picked up a tea cup and gulped it down in one go, swirling it in his mouth like wine before swallowing.

"Hmm, delicious! Except it’s a bit hot, no issues."

Nonsense! It’s made with boiling water, it would be strange if it weren’t hot.

Hao Jianwen’s forehead twitched and he forced a laugh: "Boss Xiao, you’re really humorous."

Gu Tinglan, on the other hand, first observed the color of the tea, brought the cup to her nose for a sniff, and then drunk it all in one sip.

She was, after all, a lady from Donghai in the South, her demeanor gentle and refined. Her actions were measured and graceful, effortlessly natural.

Watching her, an idea popped into Xiao Ming’s head: Should he have Gu Tinglan wear a cheongsam to work? It seemed only fitting.

After putting down her tea cup, Gu Tinglan noticed the boss staring intently at her and couldn’t help asking with curiosity, "Chairman, is there something wrong?"

Xiao Ming shook his head, asking, "Do you also know about tea ceremonies?"

"I’ve studied them before. But that falls more under the category of tea art, with a stronger emphasis on performance. It’s quite different from the Gongfu tea here in Lingnan."

"I’ve decided," Xiao Ming declared, "we’ll also get a set of tea utensils for the office. You can play around with it when you’re free; it doesn’t matter if you drink the tea or not, I’ll be pleased just watching."

Gu Tinglan’s face flushed slightly, "That’s great, Hanqing just mentioned wanting to learn the other day. I’ll teach her sincerely."

"Er..."

Xiao Ming could clearly hear the implication in Gu Tinglan’s words, his expression turning a bit awkward.

If Hao Jianwen wasn’t there, he would definitely have asked: Was that just considered flirting?

"Well... Everyone around Boss Xiao is so talented, it’s something I can hardly even envy," Hao Jianwen added another compliment.

Xiao Ming chuckled, "Speaking of people close by, I heard Boss Hao was once married?"

Hao Jianwen paused, unsure of the intent behind this change in topic, and hedged, "Yes, that’s right! Unfortunately, it ended in failure."

"Is that so? What a pity. Could you tell me why?"

A glint flashed in Hao Jianwen’s eyes and his expression grew slightly indignant.

"It was a difference in beliefs, I suppose! My ex-wife thought the moon shone brighter overseas and insisted on immigrating to Fusang.

How could I agree to that? Fusang and our Han Nation have a deep-seated enmity; I absolutely objected but couldn’t stop her, and in the end, we had to divorce."

Ha-ha! Knowing what Han Nation People like to hear is indeed smart.

Xiao Ming nodded in agreement with a look of assent on his face, "That’s indeed excessive. However, each person has their own aspirations, and as long as no laws are broken, nobody can interfere.

It’s just a pity for Boss Hao, you and your wife must have ended on very unpleasant terms, huh?"

"Isn’t it?" Hao Jianwen immediately chimed in, "I even resorted to hitting her, and to this day, we are dead to each other."

A smirk played upon Xiao Ming’s lips, and his eyes shone with a cat-playing-with-a-mouse expression.

"That’s odd, since you two have become enemies, why didn’t your ex-wife take back the demolition compensation she gave you for starting your business when you divorced?

To my knowledge, Boss Hao comes from an average family background, and that money was from the demolition of your ex-wife’s family home, not part of the marital property."

Hao Jianwen’s face froze, and his eyes fluttered rapidly without stopping.

Xiao Ming, in no hurry, lit a cigarette and crossed his legs, clearly interested in watching him.

"This... My wife and I were once very much in love, our separation was due to differing ideals, not a lack of love.

Perhaps she didn’t take the money back as a way to put an end to our past relationship."

"What a rare good woman indeed! Alas, to have such affection for Fusang, it’s like casting pearls before swine, truly lamentable." Xiao Ming sighed dramatically.

"Yes, indeed!"

Hao Jianwen’s forehead began to show a fine sweat, clearly having thought of something.

"I personally find Boss Hao’s past very interesting." Xiao Ming spoke again, "So I specially sent someone to Fusang to persuade your ex-wife to come back, hoping to reunite this once loving couple.

But strangely, the person I sent could not find a Lingnan immigrant fitting your ex-wife’s description in the local population records.

Eventually, we found a local by the name of Kobayashi Manami."

As he said this, Xiao Ming lifted a finger and Gu Tinglan took out a document from the briefcase and placed it in front of Hao Jianwen.

"Take a look, Boss Hao, is this your ex-wife?"

Hao Jianwen stared at the photo on the document, with beads of sweat on his forehead now large as beans, trembling and sliding down as his body shook.

Suddenly, a droplet of sweat rolled down his brow bone and into his eye, stinging him so that he had to raise his hand to wipe it away.

"Xiao... Boss Xiao," he swallowed hard, "your visit today..."

Xiao Ming lifted his finger again, and Gu Tinglan took out another document from the briefcase and placed it on top of the information about Hao Jianwen’s ex-wife, revealing a Share Transfer Agreement.

"Sign here, and whether your wife is from Mars, it’s none of my business."

Hao Jianwen picked up the agreement and unsurprisingly saw the figure 64%, exactly the share of Baiguang Optics he owned.

When he saw the price, his pupils shrank to pinpoints, and he counted it carefully three times over.

Six million, not a zero more.

Exactly the same as the investment over two years ago.

"Boss Xiao, this... this..."

"This is the best dignity I can offer you."

Xiao Ming uncrossed his legs and leaned forward, his expression frosty and his voice low, "Hao Jianwen, how many disgusting things have you done that betray your heritage, what’s your relationship with the little sundays, I have no interest in knowing.

I’m a businessman, I just want to make money, do you understand?"

"I can... I do."

Hao Jianwen wore a mournful expression as he picked up the pen, which seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and signed his name on the agreement.

Gu Tinglan checked the document to make sure everything was in order and placed one copy into the bag.

"The money will be transferred soon. Pack up quickly, I’ll have Tianyou and Qingbai come to take over."

Xiao Ming stood up to leave. In the instant the office door closed, the grievance and sadness on Hao Jianwen’s face swept away, replaced by a look of ominous darkness.