It wasn't hard to imagine that even though Class Leader's Dad had terminated his cooperation with Mr. Hei, he would actively seek out Mr. Hei again, obviously to try and salvage the deal.
The failure of this business deal had a significant impact on Class Leader's Dad's company.
Mr. Hei's sudden breach of contract was either because Xue's Father could offer him greater benefits, or because Xue's Father had some leverage over him.
This wasn't difficult to guess.
Class Leader's Dad was a rather laid-back boss, willing to work regular hours and rarely staying late.
After work, he would have dinner with his wife and children.
The Class Leader knew his father didn't discuss business at home to avoid worrying his mother.
He deliberately didn't bring up the matter at the dinner table, only visiting his father's study afterward.
When the Class Leader entered, his father was in the middle of a video conference with the company's legal head.
The Class Leader sat down quietly opposite his father, waiting for the two to finish their meeting.
The video conference lasted for over an hour, but the Class Leader didn't find it boring or drowsy listening to their conversation.
Class Leader's Dad closed his laptop and removed the ill-fitting gold-rimmed glasses from his face. "Did you come here for something?"
The Class Leader smiled meekly like a lamb. "Life is short and unpredictable. I'm here to check on you."
Class Leader's Dad: ...... This brat's words made it sound like he was on his deathbed.
However, it seemed that such verbal expressions of concern were rare between father and son, and hearing it felt somewhat cringeworthy.
Class Leader's Dad was no exception. This rare show of concern from his son made him think the boy was up to no good, like a weasel paying New Year's respects to a chicken.
"Out with it. What mischief are you planning now?"
"I really just wanted to check on you. I heard you lost a big deal. Will it have a significant impact on the company?"
Men, you see, all care about their image. No matter what difficulties they face outside, they won't come home and tell their wives and children, making them worry and fret.
If the Class Leader hadn't heard Shi Li's inner thoughts, he wouldn't have known about this lost deal.
Class Leader's Dad's expression wasn't great, embarrassed that his son knew about the predicament he was facing.
"With the New Year approaching, there will be some impact."
"Don't worry too much. As long as you're still here, there's always a chance to turn things around and make a comeback. If a person's gone, then everything's gone."
Class Leader's Dad felt comforted by the first part of the reassurance, thinking his child had really grown up and become considerate.
But upon hearing the second part, he felt like an old man struggling with a smartphone on the subway. This brat still needed a good spanking. What nonsense was he spouting?
Did his son think he was the type to contemplate something drastic when facing difficulties?
This reassurance felt more like an insult to him.
The "as long as you're still here" in the Class Leader's mouth had a completely different meaning from what Class Leader's Dad understood.
The Class Leader knew that Xue Xuejia's plan was to send her own father to his doom, which is what he meant by "if a person's gone, then everything's gone."
Class Leader's Dad grabbed a book from beside him and threw it at his son. "Get out, get out! If you're too free, go read a book. Don't waste my time when I need to review contracts."
"I have something to consult you about."
Seeing his son's serious expression, Class Leader's Dad said, "Go on."
"It's like this. I wanted to ask if you were planning to go to Mr. Hei of Purple Legend to try and salvage the cooperation."
Class Leader's Dad's expression became very unnatural for a moment. He didn't want his son to know that he had to bow and scrape to others outside, as it would affect his image as a strong and imposing father figure.
"I did have that plan originally." The nearly six-foot-tall burly man, who could scare away a group of thugs just with his face when he went out, now looked like a young wife caught doing something wrong.
He continued, "I think you're right. Mr. Hei is untrustworthy and disloyal. Cooperating with him might benefit us in the short term, but it could harm our interests in the long run. This is a warning sign from heaven for our family."
"Son, remember this: What heaven doesn't give, you shouldn't take, or you'll suffer the consequences. When the time isn't right to act, you'll face disaster if you do."
"Based on my many years of business experience, if you encounter numerous obstacles while trying to do something, it means heaven is blocking your way. It's better not to pursue it."
The Class Leader secretly rolled his eyes. It was me who persuaded you, and now you've turned it into a lesson for me.
Class Leader's Dad had indeed thought about going to Mr. Hei to try and salvage the deal, but his son's words made him think for a long time.
Of course, what made him firmly decide was consulting a master, who also advised him to go with the flow and not force things.
Businessmen are the most superstitious.
He immediately changed his mind and decided to find other ways to overcome this crisis.
"So you're not planning to try again?" The Class Leader nodded. "Can you use your own thought process to consider, if you hadn't changed your mind, when and where would you have planned to meet Mr. Hei to discuss cooperation?"
"I've already given up on that idea."
"I know, but please think about the question and give me an answer."
His son's expression was very serious, so Class Leader's Dad didn't dare to be careless. He picked up the calendar and thought about his schedule for the next few days. If he hadn't planned to give up on Mr. Hei, when would he go to find him?
Finally, based on Class Leader's Dad's own schedule, he wrote down three dates on the paper.
Class Leader's Dad picked up the phone on the desk, dialed a number, and after a brief conversation with the person on the other end, he hung up. He then circled the middle date and wrote down an address below it.
"Here, what you wanted. Don't do anything illegal; your old man can't cover for you."
Class Leader's Dad didn't ask his son why he wanted this information. After all, he was a grown man now, and it was normal to have secrets.
The Class Leader glanced at the circled time and address, memorized the content, and then casually put it into a nearby paper shredder.
Class Leader's Dad raised an eyebrow as he watched his son's series of actions.
He didn't know what this boy was up to, acting all mysterious.
The Class Leader walked to the study door and turned his head to say to the man at the desk, "You absolutely must not do anything to betray my mom. Being good to your wife is the key to turning misfortune into good fortune and smooth sailing."
Your faithfulness has saved your life. Someone else's promiscuity will soon cost them their life.
The book that had just hit the Class Leader now hit the heavy door. The Class Leader had dodged it quickly.
Class Leader's Dad stared at the firmly closed door. That brat.
After returning to his room, the Class Leader dialed the most recent number in his call log.
The phone rang twice before being answered. The class monitor didn't exchange pleasantries with Xue Xuejia, instead rattling off a string of times and place names. These were exactly the details that had been circled on the white paper by the Class Monitor's Father.
Xue Xuejia hadn't expected the class monitor to act so efficiently.
"Alright, I've got it. Thank you for this. I owe you one," she said.
"No need to thank me. We're classmates; we should help each other out," he replied.
Looking at the practice questions spread out before him, the class monitor's lips curled into a slight smile. His willingness to help Xue Xuejia wasn't born out of kindness or a desire to be helpful.
Xue's Father had snatched a deal from his own father, and now he had a chance to help his dad get even by eliminating a sworn enemy.
How could he not be eager to do this?
He wasn't the type to return kindness for injury.
His father had been wronged, and if he didn't step in now, he'd be failing in his duty as a son.
