Chapter 487: Your approach is outdated now

The office still echoed with the hurried footsteps of subordinates who had just left. Meng Xiao xing leaned against the redwood desk, her gaze following that retreating figure through the glass door at the end of the corridor until it vanished completely, then she slowly withdrew her gaze and turned toward Cheng Jianjun opposite.

She said nothing, just quietly watching him, her eyelids slightly lowered, a faint smile playing at the corner of her mouth, her eyes holding a hint of scrutiny mixed with an indescribable amusement.

That gaze was too intense, making Cheng Jianjun feel uneasy; he instinctively straightened his back, the smugness on his face fading a bit as he stared back at her blankly, wondering what medicine she was selling from her gourd.

Six or seven seconds passed, the air filled with a subtle quiet, then Meng Xiao xing suddenly moved.

She picked up the pen clenched in her hand, turned the cap on her fingertip, then lifted it and lightly pointed it toward Cheng Jianjun; that smile instantly widened, excitement flashing in her eyes, she deliberately lowered her voice, her tone full of awe:

So amazing!

I repeated exactly what you said, not changing a single word, just as you told me to.

She leaned forward, her voice dropping even lower with the excitement of sharing a secret: 'Guess what? He spilled the beans right then and there, fell for the trap immediately! Your brain, I'm truly impressed.'

Cheng Jianjun's hanging heart dropped at once, that earlier unease vanishing instantly; a look of confident triumph spread across his face, he raised his eyebrows and deliberately drew out his tone as he asked:

How about that? Am I not impressive? I'm saying this couldn't be done without me.

Hearing that, Meng Xiao xing without hesitation gave him a thumbs-up, her praise genuine, she exclaimed crisply:

Impressive! Really impressive!

Cheng Jianjun grinned from ear to ear at the praise, rubbing his hands together, the smugness on his face slowly fading, replaced by a barely perceptible hesitation; he cleared his throat and softened his tone:

Um, I want to discuss something with you—could I get some money first…

'No.' Before he could finish, Meng Xiao xing's smile vanished instantly, her brows knitting sharply, her tone crisp and final, leaving no room for negotiation as she cut him off.

Cheng Jianjun's smile froze instantly, as if a bucket of cold water had been splashed on him, his face darkening sharply, all his earlier bravado gone, his eyes flashing with incredulous anger as he stared at Meng Xiao xing.

What did you say?

Seeing him angry, Meng Xiao xing quickly put on an apologetic smile, her tone easing as she explained helplessly:

Look at you, why the rush? Just a couple days ago you told me your dad was buying a house for your brother in the city, you were short on cash and took a big sum from me—only a few days have passed.

Cheng Jianjun's face eased a little, but he still looked sullen, he frowned and defended himself:

That's different; what I took was my own share of the profits, not a loan from you.

Oh dear, Director Cheng. She drew out her words with a tone of helpless amusement, 'Every time you make money, you take your full share without leaving a penny; now the company's working capital is all coming out of my own pocket—purchasing, channel expansion, paying staff wages—none of it is free.'

She spread her hands, her eyes flashing with sharp awareness, 'I won't be foolish enough to hand over all the working capital and end up with empty hands.'