<h4>Chapter 389: 387</h4>


    The time trickled by, and the bidding meeting unfolded without suspense. When everyone saw Bai Zhiqing and Lin Yafei walk into the conference room side by side, chatting andughing, every face in the room soured as if they had swallowed flies, turning exceedingly ugly. Their worst fears had finally materialized.


    Lin Group was the leading conglomerate in Jin City, especially after recently dering their intent to pull out of China entirely, a move that reverberated through the entire Chinese businessmunity. Everyone became aware of the boldness of Lin Yafei, as well as the close friendship between Bai Zhiqing and Lin Yafei.


    Now, with Lin Yafei appearing beside Bai Zhiqing, chatting andughing, anyone with half a brain could understand what this scene meant. Either Lin Group wanted a piece of the project, or they had formed an alliance with Bai’s Group.


    Neither situation was what they wanted to see. If Lin Group decided to participate, it meant a formidablepetitor had emerged. But the idea of Lin Yafei partnering with Bai Zhiqing was even less ptable. If the twopanies coborated, it meant the project would have nothing to do with them; they might as well wash up and go to bed. A partnership between the two corporate titans could crush thepetition with theirbinedworks and financial power.


    After all, the Modu City Government had dangled Tianhe Resort as tempting bait, not only to boost its performance but also to make money.


    They might have connections, but whichpany present didn’t? The government wouldn’t halt the Tianhe Resort project bidding just because they had connections.


    Everyone exchanged knowing looks, seeing the bitterness on each other’s faces—they were afraid they’d just been ying the courtier, attending to the Crown Prince for appearance’s sake.


    Zhang Tianfeng, who had been sitting in the conference room with a confident smile, turned ashen when he saw this scene. Hisposure vanished entirely, and he looked on incredulously as Bai Zhiqing and Lin Yafei slowly made their way towards him.


    "Mr. Bai, may I ask who this is...?" Zhang Tianfeng stood up, looking at Bai Zhiqing with a glimmer of hope in his question.


    "Lin Yafei, Bai’s Group’s partner, will be working together with Bai’s Group to secure the Tianhe Resort project," Bai Zhiqing said indifferently to Zhang Tianfeng.


    "Mr. Bai, didn’t you say that our twopanies would cooperate? Why would you choose Lin Group?" Zhang Tianfeng asked urgently, his face turning exceedingly grim. If Bai Zhiqing partnered with Lin Group, having knowledge of Bai’s Group’s bottom line would do him no good.


    Thinking about the consequences of failing his mission, Zhang Tianfeng’s face turned as pale as if it had been bleached, and he felt a chill in his hands and feet.


    "Mr. Zhang, it seems that who I partner with has nothing to do with Zhang Group, right?"


    "Mr. Zhang," Bai Zhiqing said coolly, "It seems we only agreed that whicheverpany won the project would share twenty percent of the profits with the other, right? If so, why does it matter to you whom I partner with, as long as the twenty percent profit share to Zhang Group remains unchanged? It doesn’t seem to be any of your concern, does it, Mr. Zhang? Why such a big reaction?"


    "No... It’s not like that. Zhiqing, don’t misunderstand me. I’m worried that if a thirdpany gets involved, it could affect the uing bidding. What if the otherpanies band together against us?" Zhang Tianfeng managed a forced smile.


    He had long known from Lin Yao about all of Bai’s Group’s arrangements for the Tianhe Resort project, arming him with sufficient information to tackle Bai’s Group. Now, with Lin Group suddenly stepping in, all his ns fell through. He feared neither Bai’s Group nor Lin Group individually, but if the two joined forces, they’d be like an aircraft carrier, crushing any and all resistance.


    "Mr. Zhang, there’s no need for you to worry about that. It’s their business if they form an alliance. Bai’s Group has weathered many storms over the years, and we’re not afraid of this one. If ites to it, everyone can justpete and see whose financial resources are more substantial."


    Bai Zhiqing nced at Zhang Tianfeng and said indifferently, "Mr. Zhang, you look quite unwell. What’s the matter? Do you need to rest a bit?"


    "No need, Mr. Bai, then I wish you sess," Zhang Tianfeng replied.


    Taking a deep breath, Zhang Tianfeng looked deeply at Bai Zhiqing and said nothing more. He didn’t even participate in the bidding, just turned and left.


    Zhang Tianfeng knew very well that he had lost this time, and it was a thorough defeat with no room to fight back. Even if Bai Zhiqing honored her initial promise and gave Zhang Group a twenty percent profit share of Tianhe Resort, what of it? His goal had been to take over the entire Tianhe Resort, to drive Bai’s Group into a corner, to have Bai Zhiqing begging him, not the situation as it stood now.


    "Mr. Bai, you really y hardball, knocking out apetitor just like that," Lu Tianxing remarked with astonishment as he watched Zhang Tianfeng’s crestfallen departure.


    "Harsh, is it?"


    Bai Zhiqing, watching Zhang Tianfeng’s retreating figure, said coldly, "I never promised him anything; he was deluding himself. When we initially cooperated, the agreement between us was that whicheverpany secured the Tianhe Resort project, the otherpany would solely receive eighty percent, with the remaining twenty percent going to the otherpany for joint development."


    "This time, I didn’t kick Zhang Group out, which is already more than fair. Does he think I don’t know that over this period, Zhang Group has been secretly trying to poach staff from Bai’s Group and discover our bidding limit for this tender? If they, Zhang Group, had secured the Tianhe Resort project, the oue wouldn’t have been much better than today. In that case, why should I be polite to him?"


    Lu Tianxing did not say anything more but looked at Zhang Tianfeng with pity. Who calctes against a clever woman and only finds difort for themselves?


    With Zhang Group out of the picture, the auction naturallycked any suspense. Even if Lin Yao had disclosed Bai’s Group’s bidding bottom line to Zhang Tianfeng, it remained without a doubt. When Bai’s Group and Lin Group joined forces, they became a behemoth, crushing anyone in their path.


    Although the room was packed, when the government representative announced the start of the bidding for the Tianhe Resort project, very few dared to bid. They knew well that even if they took part, they would merely be extras, escorting Bai’s Group like schoolmates to the Crown Prince. It served no practical purpose.


    By the time the bidding conference concluded, surprisingly less than tenpanies actually participated. After an intense round of bidding, it ended with the victory of Bai’s Group. With Lin Group’s support, Bai’s Group was fearless against allers, especially with Zhang Group out of thepetition.


    After handing over her nning proposal to the staff, Bai Zhiqing finally breathed a sigh of relief. This matter was finally over. Although the government had not announced on the spot that Bai’s Group had won the tender and said they would study the proposal for Tianhe Resort, everyone understood that it was just a formality.


    The lucrative Tianhe Resort was now entirely under the control of Bai’s Group.


    PS: The next Chapter has been blocked; I’m working hard on editing it. I hope you all can be understanding!!!