Cartoons are truly enjoyable for all ages. Not only did Xu Yunzheng understand them, but Shen Yin also found them novel and fascinating, like a shadow puppet show, with little characters moving around on the screen, making her feel engrossed.
As a child, Xu Xiuhe was too busy with his studies to have any exposure to cartoons. Now that he watched them, he found them quite interesting too.
In any case, Xu Xiuhe was quite proud of himself, as he was so wise.
In the evening, they booked a private room at an upscale restaurant. When Xu Xiuhe arrived, the private room was empty.
After the server led the family of three into the room, they left.
"Mom, why is there no one here?" Xu Yunzheng asked, puzzled since he knew from the beginning that his father was going to meet someone, but no one else was there.
"It's because the clients haven't arrived yet. We want to cooperate with them, so we must show sincerity by not making them wait. That's why we come early, which is more polite," Xu Xiuhe explained.
The little one nodded.
"What kind of cooperation is it?" Shen Yin asked.
"To extend our business to Yang City, but since we don't have a foothold there, we need to cooperate with other companies."
"I see," Shen Yin understood roughly.
"This cooperation was almost settled, and we were about to sign the contract. But suddenly, a competitor emerged. I suspect that the people coming soon are not only the Lin Group that Heyuan Group wants to cooperate with."
As Xu Xiuhe finished speaking, a man walked into the private room.
"What a coincidence, big brother is here too," the man said.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yin looked up at the man.
Their eyes met, and the man was smiling, but his eyes were as cold as a poisonous snake, showing ill intent despite the smile.
"Big brother," Shen Yin immediately realized who this man was and understood who the competitor Xu Xiuhe mentioned earlier.
Shen Yin lowered her head, then glanced at Xu Xiuhe again. Xu Xiuhe did not react at all, as if an irrelevant person had just walked in.
The man didn't seem to mind either and sat down casually.
"Big brother, you're here to discuss cooperation too, right? Mr. Lin hasn't arrived yet."
Xu Xiuhe acted as if he didn't hear him.
The man then looked at Shen Yin and Xu Yunzheng and asked, "So these are my sister-in-law and nephew. Big brother, you didn't even introduce them to me."
"Who are you?" Xu Yunzheng asked, looking at Xu Zhengyang.
"Nephew, didn't your father tell you? I'm your uncle."
Then, Xu Zhengyang turned to Xu Xiuhe and said, "Big brother, you really didn't introduce his uncle to your son. Look, he's so grown up now and doesn't even recognize his own uncle. It would be so awkward if he ran into me somewhere and couldn't recognize me."
Xu Xiuhe took a sip of water and ignored Xu Zhengyang.
Xu Zhengyang didn't find it awkward and kept talking to himself.
"What's your name?" Xu Zhengyang asked Xu Yunzheng.
The smart kid, seeing that his parents didn't engage with this person, didn't respond either.
"Uncle is asking you, what's your name?"
"Mom and Dad said I can't talk to strangers," Xu Yunzheng played with the chopsticks and bowl in his hands.
"You're all here. Sorry to keep you waiting." The door to the private room opened again.
A young man walked in.
"Mr. Lin is here. We just arrived, so you didn't wait long," Xu Zhengyang stood up eagerly.
Lin Zhe sat down.
He picked up the menu, flipping through it and ordering dishes.
However, his eyes kept glancing at Shen Yin from time to time.
Xu Xiuhe was a bit displeased, wondering if this young Mr. Lin had ill intentions toward Shen Yin.
Xu Xiuhe had a sour expression the whole time, which Lin Zhe naturally noticed.
"How coincidental that you two gentlemen share the same surname, Xu. Could you be from the same family?" Lin Zhe asked pointedly.
"Lin Zhe is so smart. This is my big brother. He left home to make a name for himself at a young age and hasn't been back for a long time. Now his company is one of the top ones in Rong City," Xu Zhengyang said.
"I see," Lin Zhe roughly understood their relationship. As a businessman, he knew that if a young man abandoned his family business, either he was indifferent to worldly affairs or had a falling out with his brothers from different fathers but the same mother.
Clearly, from their demeanor, they belonged to the latter case. This made things more interesting.
"So since you're brothers, it doesn't matter who you cooperate with, as you're still family. Let's eat first," Lin Zhe said deliberately.
Throughout this, Lin Zhe kept glancing at Shen Yin with an inquisitive gaze. Shen Yin was also perplexed, as this was their first meeting, yet Mr. Lin kept looking at her.
Xu Xiuhe was also observing Lin Zhe closely and even considered leaving the private room with Shen Yin and Xu Yunzheng, forgetting about the cooperation.
"Who is this?" Lin Zhe asked, looking at Shen Yin.
"Mr. Lin, this is my love, and this is my son," Xu Xiuhe replied.
"So Mr. Xu had a son at such a young age," Lin Zhe remarked.
Xu Zhengyang's expression changed instantly.
"Excuse me for asking, but has Madam Xu ever been to Yang City before?" Lin Zhe asked Shen Yin again.
"Yes, I've been there twice before for work."
"I thought you looked familiar," Lin Zhe said.
"Really? But I don't find you familiar, Mr. Lin."
"Hahaha, well, let's talk business then. Our company has limited capabilities, so we can only cooperate with one company. I've reviewed the terms you both offered, and for my own benefit, I think choosing the Xu Group would be slightly better."
Xu Zhengyang smiled, "Rest assured, Mr. Lin. Cooperation is a win-win situation, and choosing the Xu Group will definitely not disappoint the Lin Group."
Xu Zhengyang deliberately glanced at Xu Xiuhe, as if boasting.
Xu Xiuhe smiled back.
"Mr. Lin, I think my company's development is no worse than the Xu Group's. Why don't you consider us, Mr. Lin?" Xu Xiuhe tapped his fingers on the table lightly.
"Mr. Xu, the Heyuan Group has indeed developed well in recent years, surpassing many companies. But it was established too recently, so we can't choose it carelessly. For the long-term, since the Lin Group itself is an old-established company, we naturally prefer to choose the equally old-established Xu Group."
Xu Xiuhe was about to say something else.
The door to the private room opened again.
Three people walked in, two adults carrying a very small child.
"Let me introduce you, this is my lover, and my child," Lin Zhe said, his eyes looking towards the slightly younger woman.
