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Jiang Chengyu had the legal department send over the relevant patent usage fee contract. The terms were complex, and with the attachments, the contract was a thick stack.
He started reading from the beginning.
Xie Yuncheng and Jiang Chengyu divided their work. Xie Yuncheng had someone thoroughly investigate the subsidiary that the CEO had sold.
This subsidiary, which owned the patent rights, was acquired by an offshore company, and the controlling shareholder was Xiao Donghan.
With the mantis stalking the cicada, Xie Yuncheng was no longer 100% sure whether the final victor would be Jiang Chengyu or Xiao Donghan.
“Just as you thought, the controlling shareholder is Xiao Donghan.” Xie Yuncheng forwarded the investigation materials he received to Jiang Chengyu via email.
Jiang Chengyu was fully focused on reading the contract. “We might have to sign a supplementary agreement with Xiao Donghan before the end of the month.”
Xie Yuncheng looked up. “What do you mean?”
Jiang Chengyu explained the specific contract terms: “The patent usage fee for the following year will be ±10% to 15% based on the previous year’s market rate.”
It seemed reasonable, but the initiative was entirely in Xiao Donghan’s hands. He could arbitrarily raise prices by just saying so. If he increased it by 15%, it would add a significant expense.
However, not paying the patent usage fee was not an option; the company would face a shutdown.
How much kickback did the CEO receive from Xiao Donghan to dare to put the target company in such a bind?
Even if he didn’t proactively contact Xiao Donghan, by the end of this month, Xiao Donghan would actively seek him out to sign the agreement.
Xie Yuncheng finished listening. “No need to think, the patent usage fee will definitely increase by 15% next year. Xiao Donghan’s goal is to make you work for nothing, letting the company’s hard-earned money flow into his pocket.”
How could Xiao Donghan miss this opportunity to raise prices?
His eyelids were drooping from sleepiness, so he got up and made another cup of coffee.
“Do you want a cup?” Xie Yuncheng asked Jiang Chengyu.
Jiang Chengyu had finished reading the contract. “Yes, I’ll have one.”
Xie Yuncheng added a few ice cubes to the coffee to cool it down and perk himself up, omitting milk and sugar.
Jiang Chengyu never added ice cubes to hot coffee, as it affected the taste. He truly couldn’t understand Xie Yuncheng’s odd habit of adding ice cubes to not only coffee but also red wine.
It was a waste of good things.
“I’m going to Shanghai tomorrow. I’ll leave things here to you.”
“Alright, no problem.” Xie Yuncheng wasn’t sure if his business trip was for the target company or for his own Jingxu Group, so he didn’t ask further.
Jiang Chengyu drank the coffee whose taste had been ruined. It was bland. “Once the obvious mess in the company is mostly cleaned up, I’ll hand everything over to you.”
Xie Yuncheng had envisioned a life of carefree wandering, but now he was trapped by busy work. “If the company is handed over to me, what about you?”
Jiang Chengyu: “I have other matters to attend to, and the company’s operations cannot stop.”
Given the gravity of the situation, Xie Yuncheng had no choice but to agree.
Xiao Donghan, this opponent, was not to be underestimated. What other pitfalls lay ahead for the target company was unpredictable, and Jiang Chengyu was probably busy dealing with Xiao Donghan.
________________________________________
At 9:15, Shen Tang arrived at the variety show’s recording studio.
The directing team was filming the audience seats. She went backstage to find Chu Ran, with Yuanyuan trailing beside her, never leaving her side.
Shen Tang joked, “Why don’t you go find him?”
“Him” referred to the bodyguard.
“Sister Tang!” Yuanyuan was embarrassed. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to talk to the bodyguard; it was just that the bodyguard was a man of few words. She would ask something, and he would answer, never saying an extra word.
Now that the studio didn’t have much work for the bodyguard, she was extremely anxious, not knowing what excuse to use to spend time alone with him.
A few days ago, the bodyguard accompanied Shen Tang to London, and she felt like her soul had left her body.
“I don’t know what to say to him,” Yuanyuan sighed, full of melancholy.
Shen Tang offered a suggestion, “You can learn a foreign language, either English or Spanish. When you’re free at the studio, you can ask him to practice speaking with you.”
Yuanyuan’s eyes widened. She had known the bodyguard for several years and had no idea he spoke two foreign languages. “He... how is he so capable?”
“He’s proficient in both of these. He probably knows a bit of the others too,” Shen Tang said. “He used to be Jiang Chengyu’s most capable bodyguard. Jiang Chengyu travels all over the world, so it’s basic for his personal bodyguards to master a few foreign languages.”
At this point, she also paused, struck by a realization.
Jiang Chengyu had given her the best of everything.
“Spanish is out of the question, I have no foundation at all. I’ll learn English then; at least I remember the twenty-six letters in English.”
“...”
Shen Tang took out her phone, opened a file, and handed the matching earphones to Yuanyuan. “Listen to this.”
“What is it?”
“See if you can understand what it means.”
Yuanyuan was utterly confused. She could only understand two or three words in a sentence, and couldn’t guess what the two people in the recording were saying.
Suddenly, she frowned slightly. The pleasant voice inside belonged to the bodyguard.
So, he spoke English so authentically.
“Is he good enough to be your English teacher?”
“Oh, absolutely!” Yuanyuan’s lips almost split into a wide grin. Feeling a bit too infatuated, she covered her face with both hands. “By the way, Sister Tang, what is this recording? Can you send me a copy?”
Shen Tang turned off the recording. “This has another use. I’ll have him record a document for me another day, specifically to send to you as a lullaby.”
Yuanyuan’s face flushed and her heart raced, her hands still covering her face.
Shen Tang exited the recording file. This was a recording Jiang Chengyu had given her, a conversation between the bodyguard and a reporter in Manhattan.
That reporter had originally been bribed by Fan Yu to expose her engagement to Xie Yuncheng.
“Boss Shen!” Qin Xing stood at the door of Chu Ran’s lounge, greeting Shen Tang from afar.
He had arrived early, still impeccably dressed in a suit and tie, his playboy aura gradually fading.
The film and television company’s business hadn’t yet been formalized, so he didn’t have much to oversee, currently only supervising Chu Ran’s physical training. Other minor tasks were handled by his secretary, requiring no further concern from him.
Shen Tang approached him. “You actually came?”
Qin Xing pointed to the long scratch on his jawline. “I came for the anti-inflammatory medicine.”
The lounge door was ajar. Chu Ran was doing her makeup. The official recording was scheduled to start at 10 AM.
“Boss Shen, come here for a moment.” Chu Ran called her over.
Shen Tang thought she was stressed. “It’s okay even if you’re last, it’s just the first episode.”
Chu Ran wasn’t worried about her ranking. At worst, she would be second.
Only Chen Yinuo, she wasn’t sure she could beat her yet.
She wanted to say: “My... second aunt came to watch the show recording today. I gave her the entry pass. I’m very sorry I didn’t inform you in advance.”
Chu Ran watched Shen Tang’s reaction in the mirror. No matter how furious Shen Tang got, as long as it wasn’t like that snowy day in the parking lot when she pulled her hair, she could endure it.
The makeup artist also curiously glanced at Shen Tang, but Shen Tang’s expression was calm. When she heard that Xiao Zhen was present, there wasn’t a ripple in her eyes.
Shen Tang said lightly, “You don’t need to consult me about who from your family comes to support you.”
Chu Ran kept looking at Shen Tang in the mirror. “You know perfectly well who my second aunt came to see. After the show finishes, don’t give me a hard time.”
“...” Shen Tang was speechless.
The makeup artist chuckled.
Qin Xing also entered the lounge. He raised his chin. “Where’s my medicine?”
Chu Ran rolled her eyes in the mirror, so perfectly that her black pupils were not visible.
She took out a tube of ointment from her purse and tossed it to Qin Xing.
Qin Xing looked at the medicine box, erythromycin ointment, the cheapest kind.
He couldn’t stand it. “Chu Ran, you just gave me this?”
Chu Ran placed her handbag on the dressing table. “It’s over one yuan, is it unworthy of your face?”
“Chu Ran, you...”
Qin Xing’s half-spoken words were interrupted by Shen Tang. “You two, stop bickering.”
“...”
Shen Tang found them too noisy. “I’m going to the recording hall.”
Passing by Chen Yinuo’s lounge next door, Shen Tang paused slightly. The bodyguard at the door looked familiar. It was the same bodyguard who had blocked her when Xiao Zhen visited the set during the filming of “ShengXiaoZhiYuanQian” in Hengdian.
She didn’t stop and walked past the door.
Inside Chen Yinuo’s lounge, the air pressure was so low it affected breathing.
Xiao Zhen leaned back in the sofa, her gaze assertive, despite being on Fan Yu’s territory.
Fan Yu leaned against the dressing table. Chen Yinuo had already finished her makeup. Originally, the mother and daughter were discussing what to pay attention to during the show’s recording, but an uninvited guest arrived.
Chen Yinuo’s relationship with her mother had only slightly improved these past two days because of the show’s recording. Topics related to Chen Nanjin had become taboo for them; bringing him up would surely lead to an argument.
Afraid of affecting the show’s recording, both silently avoided mentioning him.
Xiao Zhen’s intrusion instantly united the mother and daughter.
“Ms. Xiao, did you come to the wrong place?” Fan Yu was expressionless. The show was about to start recording, and she wasn’t in the mood to argue with Xiao Zhen.
Xiao Zhen warned, “I came specifically for you, Fan Yu. Just focus on recording the show and don’t harbor any ill intentions towards Tangtang or Chu Ran.”
“You’re quite interesting,” Fan Yu mocked her, her only retort. “Shen Tang doesn’t even acknowledge you, and you’re still eagerly trying to cling to her.”
This touched a raw nerve for Xiao Zhen. She smiled impassively, “Even if she doesn’t acknowledge me, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m her mother. However, something stolen might not be permanent.”
She was implying again that Fan Yu was a third party.
Chen Yinuo raised her hand and squeezed her mother’s, telling her not to get angry.
Xiao Zhen stood up. “From now on, if you target Tangtang, you’re targeting me. Don’t blame me for being impolite; I’ll deal with your daughter as well.”
She left with a flourish.
“Mom!” Chen Yinuo pulled her mother’s hand, preventing her from chasing after Xiao Zhen.
Fan Yu was furious, shaking off Chen Yinuo’s hand.
“Did your dad...” brainwash you. The latter half of the scolding words were swallowed, afraid of affecting her performance on stage.
Half an hour later, the recording began.
Shen Tang sat in the front row of the audience. The director had communicated with her in advance about cutting a few shots of her during the broadcast, and she agreed after consideration.
There was an empty seat next to her. The recording was about to begin, but this person hadn’t arrived yet.
As the recording countdown began, someone sat down next to her.
An oppressive aura descended. Shen Tang turned her head. The person sitting next to her was Xiao Zhen.
Xiao Zhen’s fingers were clasped together on her lap, her knuckles white and aching.
She didn’t dare to look at Shen Tang. This was the closest she had been to her daughter.
Nervousness and fear alternated in a chaotic swirl.
For the first half hour of the opening, Xiao Zhen couldn’t focus on anything.
Six celebrities on stage, dressed in similar outfits, she couldn’t immediately tell which group Chu Ran was in.
The six were divided into three groups. This segment involved drawing topics on the spot and performing improvisational acts.
Taking advantage of the break while the stage was being prepared, Xiao Zhen took out a memory card from her bag and handed it to Shen Tang. Afraid that people in the back rows would hear her speaking, she typed on her phone for Shen Tang to see: [This contains all videos and photos from your first year.]
Shen Tang put it in her bag.
Xiao Zhen’s suspended heart finally settled, and she could finally properly watch the show on stage.
They recorded for two and a half hours straight before taking a break, continuing in the afternoon.
Shen Tang went backstage to find Chu Ran. “You performed well.”
She repeated her words: “Today is just the first episode, so it’s okay even if you’re last. I have something to do this afternoon, Qin Xing is here.”
Chu Ran understood; Shen Tang didn’t want to face Xiao Zhen.
Shen Tang encountered Xiao Zhen in the corridor outside the lounge. “Ms. Xiao, here’s something for you.”
Xiao Zhen feigned composure, smiling, her voice unusually gentle, “What good thing are you giving Mama?” As she spoke, she reached out her hand.
Two small pieces fell into her palm.
The memory card she had given Shen Tang was broken in half.
Xiao Zhen’s hand trembled uncontrollably, as Shen Tang walked past her with long strides.
Shen Tang didn’t let the driver follow, arranging him to drive Yuanyuan instead. She drove off by herself.
[Rich and handsome Mr. Jiang, are you busy?]
Jiang Chengyu smiled when he saw the message. [Is it halftime break over there?]
Shen Tang: [Mm, I don’t need to be at the recording site this afternoon. There’s nothing much to do back at the company either. I thought I’d come to your heart and see how much money you have.]
Jiang Chengyu: [Come on over.]
Fifteen minutes later, Shen Tang arrived at his office.
Jiang Chengyu was preparing documents for his business trip to Shanghai tomorrow. He had prepared warm water and a fruit plate for her. “I might not have time to accompany you.”
“I’ll accompany you.” Shen Tang asked him, “Will it affect your work if I hug you?”
“No, it won’t affect it. I can prepare documents standing up just fine.”
Jiang Chengyu stood up, pushed the interfering swivel chair aside, and the table was covered with various documents. Shen Tang didn’t understand them. She hugged Jiang Chengyu from behind, resting her cheek on his back.
“I’m going to Shanghai tomorrow. I might stay there for two days.”
“Then we’ll video call each other.”
“Okay.” Jiang Chengyu put a stack of documents into a folder, marking it with a few words.
“Jiang Chengyu, I have a question for you.”
“Don’t ask me anything I can’t answer.”
“I can definitely answer it.” Shen Tang rested her other cheek on his back. “If you could go back to childhood, what would you most want to do?”
Jiang Chengyu was looking at another stack of documents, occasionally marking important clauses with a red pen. After a moment, he replied, “I finally grew up and don’t have to do homework anymore, why would I go back to childhood?”
“...”
“Besides, I didn’t know you when I was little, so there’s nothing good to go back to.” Jiang Chengyu looked at the documents, put down his pen, and stroked her back with his hand. “Why are you suddenly asking this?”
Shen Tang: “This morning during the show recording, one group of guests drew an impromptu performance topic that I thought was fun, so I just casually asked.”
Jiang Chengyu categorized the documents one by one. Shen Tang quietly hugged him like that. He couldn’t see her and didn’t know what she was thinking.
He asked her, “Do you want to visit the place where I grew up?”
“Your old family home?”
“Mm.”
Shen Tang shook her head. “I feel pressured going to your house. Give me some more time.”
After everything was neatly arranged, Jiang Chengyu capped his pen. “We’ll just walk around the big courtyard, not go inside my house.”
“Then... alright.”
Shen Tang had been hugging Jiang Chengyu for almost two hours. She let go of him, pushed the swivel chair to the table. “You sit and rest for a bit.”
Jiang Chengyu sat down, raised his arm around her waist, and pulled her to sit on his lap.
Shen Tang turned her head to look at him. “I used to wonder what it would be like, with me sitting in your lap while you worked.”
She couldn’t imagine it, feeling that he would probably never be so indulgent of his own ‘neglect of proper duties’ in this lifetime.
Jiang Chengyu: “What else have you thought about? I’ll help you achieve it.”
“It’s already achieved.” What she often thought about before was whether the second young master of the Jiang family would fall in love with her and cherish her deeply.
Shen Tang turned around and opened the document he needed to see. “I’m your thoughtful little assistant.”
It was a German contract, which she couldn’t understand.
“Going to Shanghai for the target company’s business?”
Jiang Chengyu began to look at the contract. “I have an appointment with Chairman Chu Yue Li.”
“Oh.” Shen Tang told him, “Xiao Zhen went to the recording site today and sat next to me.”
There was a moment of silence.
“Never mind, let’s not talk about unpleasant things.”
She placed her hand in Jiang Chengyu’s palm. She couldn’t understand the contract’s content, yet she still looked at it seriously and earnestly.
As it grew late, Jiang Chengyu took Shen Tang back to the compound.
His usual car’s license plate was too conspicuous, so he first went to Yan Heyu’s company and exchanged cars before returning.
Shen Tang leaned against the window, looking at every plant and tree in the residential area.
After a long walk around the compound, Jiang Chengyu pointed out the places he used to play as a child. Passing by his house, he stopped by the road in front of it.
“Are you hungry?”
Shen Tang nodded. “Then let’s go back.”
“Wait here, I’ll sneak something for you to eat from home.” He pushed open the car door and got out.
Shen Tang smiled, watching his back disappear into the villa’s courtyard.
It made it seem like they were in a puppy love, and he was secretly bringing her treats from home.
Less than ten minutes later, Jiang Chengyu came out with a fresh-keeping box.
“What did you bring?” Shen Tang couldn’t wait to see.
It was semi-baked cheese.
She had just eaten a few bites when a car came around the corner, flashing its lights a few times.
“Is that your family’s car coming back?” she asked Jiang Chengyu.
“No, it’s Yan Heyu’s father’s car.” Jiang Chengyu half-opened the car window.
Normally, they might not run into each other even once in half a year, but today, he happened to be driving Yan Heyu’s car and ran into him.
When their cars met, the other car slowly stopped. Yan’s father saw Jiang Chengyu in the car and was so angry that smoke almost came out of his head. “Did that scoundrel of his drive your car again to block Wen Di? He’s completely disgraced our entire family!”
Jiang Chengyu explained, “Uncle Yan, you’ve misunderstood. I exchanged cars with him.”
Yan’s father waved his hand. “You don’t need to speak well of him. I know what kind of person he is.”
“...”
Yan’s father had other business, so he closed the car window, and the exhaust fumes from his car seemed to carry his anger.
Shen Tang nearly choked from laughter. Yan Heyu’s reputation preceded him; no one believed him.
Jiang Chengyu started the car and drove off after leaving the compound, following the traffic.
Shen Tang gave him the last bite of her food. Her phone vibrated. Qin Xing texted her: [For today’s episode scores, Chu Ran is third, Chen Yinuo is first.]
Shen Tang: [Continue training tomorrow.]
There was a news push on her screen about the target company, revealing that it would have to pay billions in patent usage fees.
She asked concernedly, “How will you resolve the patent usage fees?”
Jiang Chengyu: “By the end of the month.”
He didn’t say how exactly he would resolve it, and although the words were on her lips, she didn’t ask.
The anxiety continued until the end of June. Shen Tang constantly monitored news updates related to the target company.
That Friday, Jiang Chengyu received a call from Xiao Donghan, saying there was a contract that needed a supplementary agreement signed.
Knowing what it was about, Jiang Chengyu didn’t beat around the bush. “Alright.”
They arranged to sign the agreement in the target company’s conference room.
At 3 PM, both parties arrived as scheduled.
Both brought their legal advisors.
Jiang Chengyu and Xie Yuncheng entered the conference room together. Xiao Donghan had already had half a cup of coffee.
Today was a direct confrontation between the two parties, and the atmosphere was tense.
Xiao Donghan’s secretary handed them the supplementary agreement they had drafted. “The important clause is Article 5; the others are basically unchanged.”
Xie Yuncheng glanced at it. As he expected, the patent usage fee had increased by 15%, which meant an additional payment of nearly 200 million next year.
Paying nearly 1.4 billion in patent usage fees annually meant the target company would have virtually no profit.
Xiao Donghan had meticulously calculated the increase ratio, ensuring the target company wouldn’t incur losses.
“Mr. Jiang, do you have any objections?” Xiao Donghan slowly sipped his coffee. “I won’t accept any bargaining on my end. What’s on the agreement is my true intention.”
Jiang Chengyu: “No objections whatsoever.”
After the lawyers confirmed that the other clauses were fine, he signed directly.
Xiao Donghan’s eyes narrowed slightly. Seeing Jiang Chengyu sign so readily, he felt uneasy instead.
Both parties finished signing.
Jiang Chengyu put down his pen. “This is the last patent usage fee you’ll get from me. And thank you, you’ve helped me overcome the long-standing bottleneck of Huirui Industry.”
Xiao Donghan gripped his coffee cup. For a moment, he couldn’t quite grasp what bottleneck Jiang Chengyu was referring to. “Forgive my ignorance, but I don’t understand what Mr. Jiang means. Please enlighten me.”
Jiang Chengyu: “I’ve always wanted to upgrade the existing technology and equipment, but the cost of replacement was too high, and the shareholders weren’t too keen. When it would break even was unknown, and the risk was high. The shareholders didn’t consider whether the technology would keep up ten years from now; they just wanted to get their annual dividends. Now, I have to pay you billions in patent usage fees every year, and all that money goes to you, so the shareholders won’t earn much. After a meeting, they agreed for me to replace the existing technology. Oh, and the new core module is a collaboration with your uncle, Chairman Chu. From now on, all my new products can bypass your patents. Those few patents you spent so much money on, without me as a major client, might not even break even.”
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