Yang Fan sneered. "Captain Lin, what do you mean by that? Do you think my proposal wasn't good enough? Or do you simply have a problem with me?"

Su Qingning also eyed Lin Xiao with suspicion. She didn't think Lin Xiao was deliberately trying to be contrary, though. She was just curious why he would say such a thing. Even Shen Jingzhe's eyes held a hint of confusion.

Lin Xiao, however, just smiled. "Manager Yang, please don't misunderstand. I think your proposal is excellent. In fact, if I planned to run the bar long-term, I would certainly adopt the strategy you just mentioned."

Upon hearing this, Yang Fan stared at Lin Xiao, utterly bewildered, but Su Qingning instantly understood his meaning.

To be honest, she didn't think Lin Xiao was wrong. Although Yang Fan's idea was excellent, it seemed unsuitable for the bar's current situation. It was true that she wanted to make money; after all, only by earning more could she reclaim the Su Corporation. But the problem was that the competition would be over in only five months. She was already far behind Su Qingkun's trading company. If she adopted Yang Fan's strategy, she was afraid she'd fall even further behind. His strategy required time to be validated, and there was no guarantee of success. Moreover, it required a huge initial investment. At best, Su Qingning only had forty million right now. That was her entire fortune. If his strategy succeeded, that would be one thing, but if it failed, her own failure would be certain. Yes, she couldn't afford to lose.

"Captain Lin, what exactly do you mean by that?" Yang Fan asked in a deep voice.

"Oh, nothing much. It's just that my wife's bar will be closing in five months at most, maybe even sooner."

Yang Fan looked at Su Qingning suspiciously. "President Su, you don't plan to run the bar long-term?"

Su Qingning nodded. "My husband is right. This bar will indeed close in about five more months."

Su Qingning disliked running a bar. She hated having to constantly put on a fake smile for people and despised places like this, rife with decadence and crawling with disreputable characters. She preferred navigating the ebbs and flows of the business world from the comfort of an office.

Having been married for so long, Lin Xiao naturally understood her personality and knew her preferences well. He knew she disliked places like bars and that even if she lost the competition against Su Qingkun, she would never continue to operate one. Besides, there was no way Lin Xiao would let her continue working in a place like this. That was why he had rejected Yang Fan's proposal.

Yang Fan smiled. "I see. In that case, I was being presumptuous. However, President Su, I was only thinking of what's best for the bar. I hope you don't mind."

"I don't. I know you want what's best for the bar."

Yang Fan nodded. "President Su, may I be so bold as to ask why you're closing the bar in five months?"

"There's no harm in telling you. I'm only running this bar out of necessity. Strictly speaking, it's part of a wager."

Su Qingning didn't go into further detail. In her eyes, Yang Fan was just a manager she hired for fifty thousand a month. He wasn't Lin Xiao; he wasn't family. Therefore, there were some things she couldn't tell him.

Yang Fan smiled. "I understand. So, we just need to manage it well for these five months, is that right?"

"Correct."

"Understood, President Su. I will do everything in my power to assist you during this time and strive to earn you more money!"

"Thank you," Su Qingning said sincerely.

"You're too kind, President Su. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Su Qingning nodded. Yang Fan smiled at Lin Xiao, then turned and left the office.

After watching him leave, Su Qingning said seriously, "Honey, thank you for the reminder. Otherwise, I might have really gone ahead with his suggestion. You know I'm desperate to make money!"

Lin Xiao smiled. "I know. What Yang Fan said wasn't wrong, but the initial investment is too large, and the return period would likely be very long. You don't have that much time to wait."

"I know. The results will be in five months, and I'm already so far behind Su Qingkun. Even though I feel like I'm going to lose, I don't want the loss to be too humiliating."

"I understand, but honey, you shouldn't be so pessimistic. Su Qingkun's company is going to go bankrupt in the next day or two!"

"How is that possible?" Su Qingning retorted instantly.

Of course, Su Qingning thought it was impossible for Su Qingkun's company to go bankrupt. With the Su Corporation backing him, how could it just collapse out of the blue?

Lin Xiao laughed. "Anything's possible. Maybe Su Qingkun offended someone he shouldn't have, and that person decided to crush his company in a fit of rage."

"Yes, I know such a thing is possible, but the probability is incredibly slim. It's practically impossible!"

Seeing that Su Qingning didn't believe him, Lin Xiao chuckled. "Honey, since you don't believe me, how about we make a bet?"

"No!" Su Qingning refused flatly.

She'd lost a few kisses to this guy the last time they'd made a bet. It was from that moment on that he had started kissing her so brazenly. If she kept betting with him, who knows what else she'd lose? Although Su Qingning knew that everything she had would be his sooner or later, she just didn't want to make another bet.

"Fine, honey. If you don't want to bet, we'll forget it. But just you wait. By tomorrow at the latest, Su Qingkun's company will be bankrupt."

"Alright, alright, you're right. Su Qingkun's company will go bankrupt tomorrow. I believe you, okay? Can we go get something to eat now?" Su Qingning said, exasperated.

Lin Xiao could tell she still didn't believe him, so he didn't bother wasting any more words. He knew she would find out soon enough whether he was bluffing.

He left the bar with Shen Jingzhe. Even though it wasn't official opening hours yet, a steady stream of luxury cars was already pulling up to the large entrance.

The three of them got into the car together.

Lin Xiao smiled. "Honey, there was another reason I rejected Yang Fan's proposal."

"What reason?"

"I think your face is far more captivating than any handsome or beautiful new servers could ever be."

Su Qingning's cheeks flushed. "You're impossible!" she grumbled playfully.

Lin Xiao was about to speak when Shen Jingzhe, from the back seat, suddenly said in her cold voice, "Excuse me, could you two stop torturing the single people present?"

PFFT.

Lin Xiao and Su Qingning both burst out laughing. Who would have thought that the ice-cold Shen Jingzhe had a sense of humor? Seeing Lin Xiao laughing so freely, she shot him a fierce glare.

Just then, Lin Xiao's phone rang. It was Shao Mei'er. Instinct told him that this call had to be her report on Su Qingkun's company.

Lin Xiao answered. "Stinky Daddy, it's done. So, how are you going to thank me?" Shao Mei'er's alluring voice came through the phone.

"It's done?"

"Yep, all done!"

"Great. Why don't you tell my wife," Lin Xiao said, switching to speakerphone.

"Madam, I have some bad news for you," Shao Mei'er said with a sigh from the other end.

Su Qingning's expression darkened. "What is it?"

"Su Qingkun's company has gone bankrupt!"

Su Qingning was stunned.

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