Chapter 761: First Clash

One week later.

Jingcheng, National Conference Center.

The project tender evaluation meeting for the Smart Energy Demonstration Base is being held here.

Inside the venue, company representatives gathered in small groups, whispering; the air was filled with an invisible tension.

Lin Dongfan wore a dark gray suit, sitting alone in the corner of the lounge, holding a project brief, appearing to read attentively, but his peripheral vision took in the entire hall.

Yu Youwei, in a professional outfit, walked over with two cups of coffee and sat down beside Lin Dongfan.

"Zhao Tianyu has arrived."

Yu Youwei pushed a cup of coffee toward Lin Dongfan, her gaze indicating the entrance.

Lin Dongfan looked up.

Zhao Tianyu was being escorted in by five or six people.

At thirty-two, he kept a good figure, wearing a well-tailored Italian handmade suit, his watch flashing a cold light under the lamps.

His hair was neatly combed, and he wore a seemingly affable smile at the corner of his mouth.

But when his eyes swept across the venue, they bore an undisguised air of arrogance.

Like a beast patrolling its territory.

"Really damn flashy."

Lin Dongfan gave a faint smile.

Yu Youwei also chuckled: "He came to the meeting today in a newly acquired limited-edition Rolls-Royce, license plate five eights, showing off all the way. Being so ostentatious before the evaluation meeting, either he's fully confident or he doesn't take the evaluators seriously…"

The two were chatting when Zhao Tianyu seemed to notice the gaze from this side, turning his head over.

His eyes met Lin Dongfan's.

Zhao Tianyu's eyes narrowed, then he broke into a more obvious smile and walked straight over.

"Director Lin."

Before he even got close, his voice rang out, loud enough for half the lounge to hear: "I've long admired your name; today I finally get to meet you, this true Buddha."

Out of courtesy, Lin Dongfan stood and shook hands: "General Manager Zhao, pleasure to meet you."

"Thank you, Director Lin, for giving me face."

Zhao Tianyu's grip was strong, deliberately oppressive.

Lin Dongfan's expression didn't change; he matched the force, and the two completed a silent contest in what appeared to be a friendly handshake.

A few seconds later.

Zhao Tianyu let go first and burst out laughing: "Haha, I've long heard Director Lin likes to practice martial arts in his spare time—indeed, the reputation is deserved! I enjoy dealing with strong people like you."

"General Manager, you flatter me."

Lin Dongfan withdrew his hand, his tone calm, already having scored Zhao Tianyu's strength in his mind—a weakling strong on the outside but hollow within, easily knocked out with one punch.

Zhao Tianyu's eyes gleamed with amusement: "I heard Director Lin just returned from Wuzhou? What a coincidence—our Zhao Group also has a few projects in Wuzhou. Next time you go, I'll host and treat you well."

"The tender meeting is about to start; we'll talk about other matters later."

Seeing that several judges had already taken their seats, Lin Dongfan timely put an end to Zhao Tianyu's small talk.

Ten minutes later.

The evaluation meeting for the National-Level Smart Energy Demonstration Base project officially commenced.

On either side of the oval conference table sat the expert panel, the tendering party's representatives, and the representatives of the several companies that had reached the final bidding stage.

Lin Dongfan, serving as Deputy Director of the Evaluation Committee, sat to the left of the chief seat.

When the proceedings reached the Q&A session,

Lin Dongfan bluntly turned his gaze to the smug Zhao Tianyu: "Zhao Group, your proposal mentions adopting a "fully autonomous controllable smart energy storage system" at the demonstration base. Please explain in detail the core technology's source, patent ownership, and actual implementation cases."

The named Zhao Tianyu rose to his feet, his face bearing a confidence verging on arrogance.

"Director Lin asks a good question."

Zhao Tianyu's voice was loud, deliberately showing generosity: "Our system was jointly developed with Germany's EnerTech Company, and we have complete intellectual property rights. The patents, of course, are in Zhao Group's hands. As for cases…"

He paused, scanning the room: "We've already built a medium-sized demonstration station on the Gobi beach in the west, and its operational data is very stable."

Speaking, his assistant handed out a beautifully bound report to each evaluator.

Lin Dongfan took the report, flipped only two pages, then gently closed it.

"The German EnerTech Company." Lin Dongfan stared at Zhao Tianyu: "If I recall correctly, this company was blacklisted by the EU three years ago for technical fraud and financial deceit, and went into formal bankruptcy liquidation last year. Is the unit you're partnering with perhaps a ghost company that exists in name only?"

The meeting room fell silent instantly.

Several experts exchanged glances, someone already beginning to quickly scan the materials at hand.

Zhao Tianyu's smile also froze in an instant.

But he quickly regained composure: "That's old news; our partner is the core R&D team of EnerTech Company, which after resigning set up a new company…"

"What's the new company called? Where is it registered? Can you provide the current patent list?"

Lin Dongfan's questions came one after another.

His speech was steady.

Yet each word was like a knife: "Also, regarding the western demonstration station you mentioned—specific coordinates, grid-connection time, operational data, third‑party test reports—why aren't these materials in the tender documents?"

Faced with this series of probing questions, Zhao Tianyu's complexion finally could not hold.

He stared at Lin Dongfan, a flicker of malice flashing in his eyes before being covered by a smile: "Director Lin, you're truly meticulous; we certainly have these detailed materials, but the tender document's length is limited…"

"Limited length, so you only put nice slogans, not the actual data?"

Lin Dongfan leaned back slightly.

He tapped lightly on the tabletop with a finger: "General Manager Zhao, this is a national‑level demonstration project, not your real‑estate sales office. We need technology that can withstand verification, not just concepts on a PowerPoint."

These words carried weight.

Several bidding representatives had already furrowed their brows, whispering among themselves.

Zhao Tianyu forcibly suppressed his anger, squeezing out a stubborn smile: "Director Lin's criticism is correct; our work wasn't meticulous enough. Like this, after the meeting we will immediately supplement all materials and send them to your office…"

Send them to my office?

What the hell are you coming to my office for?

You want to settle this privately?

Damn!

Lin Dongfan, stern and solemn, corrected his wording: "According to bidding procedure, you should submit the supplementary materials to the project team, for collective review by the evaluation committee."

One sentence shut down any possible private contact completely.

Zhao Tianyu stood where he was, the smile on his face gradually fading.

He stared at Lin Dongfan for two seconds, then suddenly broke into a grin, showing his white teeth: "Fine, we'll follow procedure. Our Zhao Group has always abided by the rules."

When he said the three words 'abide by the rules,' Zhao Tianyu added special emphasis, full of implication.

The evaluation meeting continued.

But everyone could feel that Zhao Tianyu's arrogant aura had been doused by Lin Dongfan with a bucket of cold water, leaving him chilled to the bone.

This Zhao also stopped interrupting, merely leaning back in his chair, unconsciously twirling an expensive pen, his gaze occasionally drifting toward Lin Dongfan.

By the time the meeting ended, it was already evening.

Lin Dongfan left the meeting room with his secretary, only to be intercepted by Zhao Tianyu in the hallway.

"Director Lin, please wait." Zhao Tianyu put on that roguish smile again, offering a cigar: "Cuban, care to try?"