"Miss Jiang, please accept it!" Steward Wu said hurriedly, "This is all the City Lord's kind intention!"
Jiang Meili looked at Lin Ke and Lu Fan, feeling a bit at a loss. While she was influential in the business world, this was her first time encountering such a situation. The esteemed City Lord of Longdu was personally here to apologize.
"With the City Lord of Longdu personally intervening, he must realize his mistake," Lu Fan said with a smile. "Just accept the gifts! It would be a waste of the City Lord's good intentions!"
"But..." Jiang Meili was hesitant. This was the City Lord of Longdu, someone she couldn't afford to offend, and someone she wanted to curry favor with. She wasn't sure if accepting the Peacock Linglong Painting would have any impact on her future.
"There are no 'buts.' The City Lord has personally come to your doorstep. Do you intend to defy him?" Lu Fan said directly. "If you do, you'll truly be inviting disaster!"
"Mr. Lu is correct!" the City Lord of Longdu nodded.
Jiang Meili was surprised and looked at Lu Fan. How did the City Lord of Longdu know Lu Fan's surname?
"City Lord, I am but a nobody. How do you know me!" Lu Fan looked at the City Lord of Longdu.
The City Lord of Longdu was taken aback for a moment, his expression changing instantly. He had forgotten that he didn't know Lu Fan at all. If he had, wouldn't that have ruined Lu Fan's plan?
"Mr. Lu, please don't misunderstand!" Steward Wu smiled. "We investigated everyone present at the art exhibition that day, and we even know a little about Miss Lin here."
"So that's how it is!" Jiang Meili nodded slightly, her joy growing. With the City Lord personally visiting, she certainly wouldn't refuse.
After accepting the Peacock Linglong Painting, Jiang Meili smiled and said, "You all probably haven't had breakfast yet. Why don't you sit down and join me!"
"No, no, I still have many things to attend to!" the City Lord of Longdu said with a smile. "I won't disturb you any further!"
Jiang Meili was slightly disappointed but didn't say much more. After all, this was the City Lord of Longdu, and she had to consider her words carefully.
After the City Lord of Longdu left, Jiang Meili held the Peacock Linglong Painting in her hand, her eyes filled with surprise.
She had gotten the Peacock Linglong Painting without spending a single cent of the 10 million yuan. This was a great favor to her.
"Heaven truly has eyes, Heaven truly has eyes!" Jiang Meili said repeatedly. "Double happiness overnight!"
"Sister Meili, look how happy you are!" Lin Ke smiled. "I've never seen you this happy before."
"Naturally. My 10 million yuan has been recovered, and I've received a Peacock Linglong Painting. How could I not be happy?"
Jiang Meili said seriously, then looked at Lu Fan. "Mr. Lu, do you really have some special abilities? Everything you say comes true!"
"I can see things, you know," Lu Fan shrugged. "Of course, there won't be any problems!"
Despite his words, Jiang Meili was skeptical. However, since Lu Fan had been correct twice, she was gradually beginning to believe what he said.
"Xiao Fan is very talented in this regard!" Lin Ke smiled. "Would you like him to take a look and see when you'll find your destined one?"
"Really!" Jiang Meili's face lit up with joy. "Please take a look for me!"
"Perhaps not. Miss Jiang is no ordinary person. It's not easy to catch Miss Jiang's eye," Lu Fan shrugged.
"How did you know I'm not an ordinary person?" Jiang Meili asked, puzzled, but she looked at Lu Fan with newfound respect.
"Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed. Miss Jiang will understand," Lu Fan shrugged.
Meanwhile, outside Jiang Jing Longting, the City Lord of Longdu was covered in cold sweat, his expression constantly changing. He had almost let slip a word earlier. If Lu Fan were to hold him accountable, he feared he wouldn't be able to handle the consequences.
"The City Lord was in a precarious situation just now!"
Steward Wu said quickly, "If there had been the slightest mistake, it would have led to endless trouble."
"I know that, of course!" the City Lord of Longdu said directly. "We must be more careful in the future. Lord Lu is in Longdu, and we cannot offend him. Otherwise, we will face dire consequences!"
"City Lord, rest assured, I understand this perfectly!" Steward Wu nodded quickly.
Back at Jiang Jing Longting, Jiang Meili, still excited, took out the Peacock Linglong Painting again and walked up to Lu Fan. "You seem to know a lot about the Peacock Linglong Painting. Can you help me see if it's real or fake?"
"The City Lord of Longdu personally gifted it. How could it be fake!" Lu Fan rolled his eyes. "If even this is fake, then there are no real Peacock Linglong Paintings in this world!"
"So, this painting is real! Absolutely genuine!" Jiang Meili's face beamed with joy.
"Naturally!" Lu Fan nodded slightly.
Having received a satisfactory answer, Jiang Meili didn't say anything more. She put away the Peacock Linglong Painting and then said to Lin Ke, "Xiao Ke, it's about time. Let's go to the company."
"Are we going now?" Lin Ke's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Will we be able to sign the contract as soon as we get to the company?"
"With me personally handling it, there shouldn't be any problems!" Jiang Meili nodded. "After all, I have some say in the company."
"That's good!" Lin Ke nodded solemnly.
Not long after, they arrived at the Zhao Group. The entire Zhao Group held a significant position in Longdu, capable of crushing other major forces in terms of both financial strength and economic influence.
In Longdu, both the Xia family and the Zhao family were considered top-tier existences. To establish a foothold in Longdu and sign a contract with them would ensure success.
Lu Fan accompanied Lin Ke personally this time. Looking at the towering skyscraper, he couldn't help but be amazed by the power of the Zhao Group.
Upon arriving at the conference room, Jiang Meili had already prepared two cups of tea. After Lin Ke signed, she affixed the company's seal.
In fact, her position at the Zhao Group was not low, especially in cooperation matters, which was her specialized responsibility and perfectly aligned with Lin Ke's needs.
Looking at the stamped contract, Lin Ke was overjoyed. With the contract signed, Qingyun Group would now have a place in Longdu and could gradually grow, preventing it from being swallowed by other forces.
"Manager Jiang, this is for you!"
Just then, a man walked in, placing a bouquet of flowers in the conference room before leaving with a smile.
"Is that one of your suitors!" Lin Ke asked in surprise. "I didn't expect this to happen at the company!"
"These flowers aren't from him!" Lin Ke said with a headache. "I've been targeted by the young master of the Zhao family lately. He sends me a bouquet of flowers every day, and I don't know what to do!"
"The young master of the Zhao Group?" Lin Ke smiled. "This is a golden opportunity. Becoming the daughter-in-law of the Zhao Group means you won't have to worry about anything!"
"There are some things you don't know. The Zhao family's descendants have always been dissolute and, frankly, unproductive!" Jiang Meili said directly. "Don't laugh at me!"