Qin Hao''s expression was indifferent as he casually took the seat of honor: "Is there something you gentlemen need from me?"


    "Or perhaps you''re planning to offer one hundred and fifty million to acquire my company?"


    His blatant sarcasm made Wu Fuwei feel both embarrassed and angry, but he dared not show it.


    Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    The Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was no longer the newcomer just entering Jianghai.


    They had their own duck farms in Jianghai, capable of supplying the city''s needs, and it was rumored that these farms were still expanding.


    The ambition of Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company was gradually revealing itself: the expansion of the duck farms was nothing less than a declaration to everyone that Jiangshan Roasted Duck intended to continue its frenzied expansion.


    It was precisely because of this that individuals like Lin Helai, Chen Xiaofeng, and Wu Fuwei had joined forces to come here.


    If they allowed Jiangshan Roasted Duck to continue developing, their interests would suffer immense losses.


    They might even face the danger of bankruptcy and closure.


    Lin Helai said with a smile, "Mr. Qin, you must be joking. Some venture capital firms offered fifteen billion valuation not long ago, and you didn''t even bother with them—one hundred and fifty million is indeed a joke."


    Qin Hao couldn''t be bothered with these people. Now that they saw Jiangshan Roasted Duck''s rising prominence and became afraid, what were they doing earlier?


    When they united to blockade us back then, did they ever consider that a day like today might come?


    He went straight to the point and asked, "Gentlemen, please state your purpose. I don''t have much time to play with you."


    Lin Helai continued smiling, "Today, we came to invite Mr. Qin to join us at a banquet this evening. All the owners from Jianghai''s catering and prepared food industry will be present, and we plan to discuss the future development of Jianghai City''s industry."


    Qin Hao was taken aback for a moment as he looked at Lin Helai; this seemed like it could be a setup.


    Nonetheless, Qin Hao agreed readily, "Alright then, I''ll see you in the evening."


    What of a banquet that might be a trap? He was actually curious to see what tricks these people could conjure up.


    After Lin Helai and the others left, Chen Xiaofeng, the CEO of Delicious Duck Company, gave Qin Hao a smile on his way out.


    Wu Fuwei and Lin Helai in the front hadn''t noticed it.


    Qin Hao felt that his smile contained many implications, so he responded with a smile in kind.


    Once these people had left, Feng Xiangyi said to Qin Hao, "Mr. Qin, do you really intend to go tonight?"


    When Qin Hao heard Feng Xiangyi''s voice, he couldn''t help but recall the incident from yesterday, feeling somewhat embarrassed and unable to look at Feng Xiangyi: "Why wouldn''t I go for a free meal?"


    Seeing his reaction, Feng Xiangyi knew he was still embarrassed about yesterday''s events.


    Her cheeks turned slightly red as she started, "Mr. Qin, that Li Jing you asked me to keep an eye on does seem to have a problem."


    In the conference room, Qin Hao and two others watched as Li Jing cried.


    A few minutes later, while still crying, Li Jing said, "Mr. Qin, I''ll tell everything, everything."


    "One night, half a month ago, after work, a girl who was a close university friend invited me out to have fun, and we went to a bar.


    After having a few drinks, I distinctly remember not drinking much, but later I lost consciousness.


    When I woke up again, I found myself naked on a bed in a hotel, and I was raped.


    Standing next to me was Wu Caida; he had videotaped the rape and used it to blackmail me into stealing the secret recipe of Jiangshan Roasted Duck.


    If I didn''t agree, he threatened to send those videos to my university''s forum and to my family''s phones.


    Mr. Qin, it wasn''t intentional, I''m sorry for you and the company, I''m so sorry... sorry... sorry..."


    Li Jing collapsed onto the floor in agony after speaking, not having revealed to anyone the pressure she had been under all these days.


    She had even considered suicide on numerous occasions, but the thought of her parents and her younger brother, who was still in school back home, kept her from having the courage to carry through the act.


    Feng Xiangyi and Nie Si, after listening, felt a tightness in their throat, deeply distressed.


    Feng Xiangyi couldn''t help but curse, "Scum, bastard."


    She and Nie Si helped Li Jing to her feet and seated her on the sofa.


    Qin Hao''s face showed great difficulty; he felt both rage and some guilt.


    His anger was directed at Wu Caida''s vile tactics, doing something so despicable just for the sake of business competition.


    The guilt was for Li Jing; if she hadn''t been working at Jiangshan Roasted Duck Company, none of this would have happened!


    Qin Hao took a deep breath to suppress the anger inside. Looking at Li Jing, he said, "You now have two choices.


    One: Have the courage to face everything, report Wu Caida to the police, and let this scum receive the punishment he deserves.


    Rest assured that even though the Wu Group is powerful, I, Qin Hao, am not a pushover.


    Whoever dares to protect him, I''ll deal with them.


    Two: Continue acting this way, but you won''t be able to get the secret recipe, and maybe you''ll live under his threats for the rest of your life.


    Choose one of these paths!"


    Li Jing''s eyes were red with determination as she said, "Mr. Qin, I choose the first one; even if it ruins my reputation, I want to expose him."


    In the past, she had entertained this thought, but she was alone in Jianghai City.


    The Wu Roasted Duck Group, with its large business and extensive network, made her fear that reporting them would lead to nothing, with no result to her plea.