Chapter 1055

When Xi Xiaye boldly admitted what she did, Qi Lei looked at her meaningfully and chuckled. "I thought you'd tell me you're only doing this for business' sake and there'd be no personal feelings involved."

"You're a smart man, so I should admit to my crime before you expose me." Xi Xiaye sighed before she said coldly, "I'm sure you know about the conflict between Gu Lingsha and me, and these conflicts exist because of the past, including the incident during my wedding with Mu Yuchen, Su Nan's incident, and Ruan Heng still being unconscious at the moment...even my child, he almost...Let's just say I have plenty of reasons to hate her.

"I've been holding myself back from telling you about all these due to your relationship with her. As a friend, I don't want you to feel awkward between us. However, I'm not surprised that she asked you to talk to me about this. I just wanted to prove something," Xi Xiaye said.

Qi Lei smiled bitterly. "And it's proven that I only have this much value. Actually, I already knew that even without you doing this, everything has changed over the years for both of us."

Xi Xiaye returned his smile and said kindly, "I'm sure that a lot of things will change. After all, different environments nurture different abilities which then affect one's personality. I've mentioned before that I feel extremely relatable towards you because we share similar experiences. That's why I kind of understand how you feel.

"However, it'll get better once you let go of it. Those who are truly strong possess the courage to face their past and bid their farewell. There's no need for you to hesitate anymore. I suppose I should stop here since you probably know what I mean. Let's talk about the materials."

Xi Xiaye paused when she noticed Qi Lei's expression freeze. She flipped through the document he brought her again. "Gu Lingsha is right. Our storage does indeed have these materials stocked up, but there's a shortage of it in the market at the moment. Regardless of that, we have plans to keep them and they are not meant for sale."

Qi Lei was impressed with Xi Xiaye's straightforwardness. He closed the document and smiled. "Sure! Tell me your terms and I'll pass on the message. Of course, I'll be sure to tell them how much effort I put in to convince you."

"I'll consider it if Qi Kai offers 20% more than the price that was offered to Hua Heng. There are a lot of these materials and they need to be prepared in batches. If you're able to convince them, the 20% belongs to you. What do you think?" Xi Xiaye grinned as she glanced at him.

Qi Lei's eyes widened in surprise. "I get all of that extra 20%? You're not earning anything then, are you?"

"Why not? They are very focused on South River Project No. 2 right now, and you're having some issues with funds now too, aren't you?" She smiled back at him.

Qi Lei paused, seeming confused. "How do you know that I'm having some financial difficulties?"

"It's not really a secret. Just take this chance and grab the money since it belongs to Qi Kai anyway. I'm just giving them back to you. That's all I have to say. I guess it won't be difficult to convince them. They understand the value of South River Project No. 2 once it's been completed, so they won't let go of this chance," Xi Xiaye said confidently.

Qi Lei went quiet for a moment before asking, "Why are you helping me like this? I can find ways on my own too."

Xi Xiaye paused before she let out a giggle and shook her head. "It's not just to help you. I'm helping myself too."

She took a sip from the cup of tea before she continued, "I told you that I want to take revenge. Coincidentally, this could make them panic a little and lose focus, drawing their attention towards us, so that you'll have more space to work with. You're my friend, and I promised CEO Wang to look after you."

In a daze, Qi Lei stared at the woman who was smiling before him while he felt a warmth inside his heart as if he was being embraced by an encompassing light. At that moment, he sighed. "Sometimes I really wish I could've met you guys earlier. Then, I wouldn't have had to waste my time before. It was really a dark period."

"It's never too late. You should go back and discuss with them now. It's up to you whether you can convince them or not, I have no other questions."

"To be frank, I can't possibly just take all that benefit alone."

"Think about it again after you've successfully convinced them. By the way, Qi Feng and Gu Lingsha's wedding is happening soon. Take some time off and go back so that they don't give you so much attention."

"Understood. Alright, I'll head back for now. I'll probably be able to give you a reply, the latest by tomorrow afternoon," Qi Lei said as he stood up.

"Okay. Speaking of which, I have a question for you." Xi Xiaye suddenly remembered something she wanted to ask.

Qi Lei raised his eyebrows. "What is it?"

"I heard that Gu Lingsha got into a fight with her mother, Doris. Do you...?" Xi Xiaye lowered her voice, trying to get something out of him.

"Doris?" Qi Lei laughed. "I must have forgotten to tell you if you hadn't mentioned it. Doris actually isn't very supportive of their marriage. She's an extremist and her relationship with Gu Lingsha has been pretty rough ever since she ignored her advice and gave birth to Qi Weier. They never asked for Doris's opinion on their marriage as well. Just wait and see. We're in for a good show."

He then packed his things and left.