"Master, someone is visiting!" the intelligent AI's voice echoed through the air.

At the same time, a view of the villa's entrance appeared on the TV screen.

Chen Zheng glanced over, a hint of helplessness on his face. "This is a real headache! Even Zhuge Xiyu is here?"

"Let her be. Open the door and let them in!"

"As you command, Master!"

The door opened automatically.

Pan Ziying walked into the villa with Zhu Tuyuan.

"Wait here. I'll be back soon." Zhuge Xiyu instructed her bodyguards, then stepped lightly into the villa.

A moment later, the three of them gathered in the bright living room. Their gazes all fell upon Chen Zheng, who was sitting on the sofa.

"Mr. Chen, I apologize for the intrusion. I hope you don't mind," Zhu Tuyuan said. Pan Ziying, however, kept her eyes firmly locked on Chen Zheng.

"Master Chen, sorry to disturb you," Zhuge Xiyu said, attempting to conceal the joy in her eyes as she bowed her head slightly.

"Feel free," Chen Zheng replied calmly.

Zhuge Xiyu then quietly sat down on the edge of the sofa, while Zhu Tuyuan and Pan Ziying remained standing.

"Mr. Chen, I think you already understand our purpose, so I'll get straight to the point," Pan Ziying said bluntly. "Yesterday, after communicating with headquarters, their decision remains unchanged. We hope you will accept this partnership."

"The decision remains unchanged? And you still came?" Chen Zheng was puzzled.

Pan Ziying's voice carried through the air, melodic and clear. "Mr. Chen, as you know, headquarters has made its decision. If you agree to the collaboration, we will not pursue the matter of you using your shares to take action against Yan Shuiyu.

"However, if you do not agree to this collaboration, the board may take more aggressive measures, namely, to forcefully reclaim your shares. So, Mr. Chen, you need to think this over carefully."

The mention of taking action against Yan Shuiyu caused a slight change in Zhuge Xiyu's expression.

"Forcefully reclaim them?" Chen Zheng was shocked again, gaining a deeper understanding of the tough stance of Lanluozi's upper management.

Then, his anger began to rise.

This was an outright threat!

DING! Congratulations to the host for successfully triggering a choice mission.

[Choice one: Refuse the cooperation for the Beautifying Cream. Reward: Forced liquidation of your Lanluozi stock.]

[Choice two: Agree to the cooperation for the Beautifying Cream. Reward: A 20% increase in Lanluozi's market value.]

Hearing this, Chen Zheng chose option one without hesitation.

His voice was as cold and distant as a frozen spring. "I have considered this carefully. If Lanluozi has no intention of cooperating in good faith, then why force it? Please convey to your top management that the value of the Beautifying Cream is far beyond what a small company like Lanluozi can estimate."

Pan Ziying was dumbfounded, looking at Chen Zheng in disbelief.

Has he gone mad? That's a forced liquidation of his shares! It might bring him a fortune, but compared to his vast wealth, this money is merely a drop in the ocean.

However, Pan Ziying quickly regained her composure. She stared at Chen Zheng, her voice grave. "Mr. Chen, have you really thought this through?"

"I believe I've made myself quite clear," Chen Zheng replied calmly.

His gaze met Pan Ziying's, and an invisible pressure instantly descended upon her. Pan Ziying's complexion changed, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead. She stared into Chen Zheng's eyes as if looking into an unfathomable black hole, feeling as though she were about to be devoured.

In the end, Pan Ziying was defeated. She lowered her head, her face as pale as a sheet.

"I understand."

Fear and helplessness filled her voice.

DING! Congratulations to the host for making a successful choice. Reward: 40% of your Lanluozi shares are being liquidated. Estimated time to completion: twenty minutes.

Zhuge Xiyu quietly watched Chen Zheng, a subtle gleam flickering in her eyes.

"Master Chen, I've also come for the Beautifying Cream." Her voice was like a spring breeze over a lake, gentle yet firm.

"Do you think I would give it to you easily?" Chen Zheng's gaze was cold. He had no particular fondness for Zhuge Xiyu.

Zhuge Xiyu gently shook her head, her heart full of anticipation and determination. "I'm not sure, but I'm willing to try."

She already understood the miraculous nature of the Beautifying Cream and knew it had the potential to change everything. Once, the backing of Lanluozi had made Yan Shuiyu prominent. But now Lanluozi was gone, leaving Yan Shuiyu to struggle alone in the abyss.

For Zhuge Xiyu, the Beautifying Cream was both a new dawn and a new world. It could overturn the entire cosmetics market and create an invincible business empire. She harbored lofty ambitions. She coveted the formula for the Beautifying Cream and was willing to go through fire and water to get it. Her gaze, fixed on Chen Zheng, showed unprecedented determination.

"You can try to convince me," Chen Zheng finally said, offering her an opportunity.

A hint of joy flashed across Zhuge Xiyu's face, but she quickly concealed it. Suppressing her excitement, she stood up and said, "Thank you for the opportunity, Master Chen!

"If you partner with us, Yan Shuiyu will handle all operations and offer you seventy percent of the shares. Alternatively, if you choose to develop the market yourself, Yan Shuiyu will act as your capable assistant, fully supporting your expansion in exchange for a percentage of the sales."

Her words left both Pan Ziying and Zhu Tuyuan deep in thought.

Seventy percent of the shares... what did that even mean? It meant handing over the entire company. It was no different from just giving it away! Although Yan Shuiyu had lost its former glory, it was still a powerful company at its core. Given a chance to be reborn, it could surely rise again.

Even a business prodigy like Pan Ziying was shocked that she would relinquish seventy percent of the shares so easily.

A trace of surprise flickered in Chen Zheng's eyes. He couldn't help but respect Zhuge Xiyu's decisiveness and courage. Of course, Chen Zheng knew the Beautifying Cream was worth far more than that.

DING! Congratulations to the host for successfully triggering a choice mission.

[Choice One: Agree to cooperate with Yan Shuiyu. Reward: Zhuge Xiyu's absolute loyalty.]

[Choice Two: Develop the cosmetics market alone. Reward: A perfect plan.]

Chen Zheng did not respond immediately to Zhuge Xiyu's proposal. Instead, he calmed his thoughts and began to think deeply. He faced two choices. One was to accept Zhuge Xiyu's generous offer, making her his capable assistant. The company she managed, Yan Shuiyu, would nominally be his. He would own seventy percent of the shares, while Zhuge Xiyu would control the rest. This would undoubtedly become his private domain.

The other option was to develop the market himself. Although he had the system's meticulous plan for support, he didn't want to invest too much time in management. He preferred to spend that time with his parents and his three future partners.

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