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nThe next day, I was called outside the VIP building by Xiao Qin’s uncle, Ren HongDe, the chairman of the Qing Zi Education Group, who told me about his video call with Ai ShuQiao.

nIn order to eliminate Auntie Ren’s potential future worries, Ren HongDe, as the older brother, intended to use a certain percentage of the shares of Qing Zi Education Group in exchange for the freedom of me and Ai Mi.

nRen HongDe’s plan was worthy of respect, but I was not particularly optimistic about his plan.

nOn one hand, for Ai ShuQiao, “interest is the key”. If she still has a high interest in Ai Mi and me, then she may not even exchange our freedom for shares of the education group.

nOn the other hand, even Ren HongDe himself reckons that Ai ShuQiao will not let go of Ai Mi straight away and will keep squeezing her daughter for all that she’s worth until she passes her prime.

nIf it was just shares in exchange for my personal freedom, but Ai Mi will still be controlled by that old hag, then what would be the point.

nAs expected, Ren HongDe told me that although Ai ShuQiao showed some interest in the shares of Qing Zi Education Group, she had absolutely no intention of letting go of Ai Mi at first.

n“What a joke, although I’m putting a foot in the pharmaceutical industry, but my main business is still an entertainment agency. How can I let my popular artists just terminate their contracts.”

nShe did not put herself in the position of a mother, but spoke as if Ai Mi was simply an ordinary contracted artist.

n“However, we can talk about Ye Lin.” According to Ren HongDe’s recollection, Ai ShuQiao smiled, without hiding her queenly attitude of looking at her subjects with disdain, and said this to him through the screen.

n“Recently, I feel like this son of mine may not be as useful as I thought. As long as Mr. Ren proposes the right amount of shares, I may let go.”

nAlthough I knew that Ai ShuQiao was always so ruthless, I was still a little saddened to hear her say that.

nIt must be because she heard from Dr. Yu that I was in a potentially life-threatening state because I ate the butterfly, so even if I surrendered to her, I wouldn’t be able to be put to any use. Unlike Ai Mi, my value with her is currently approaching zero.

nWhy wouldn’t she exchange a sickly and disobedient child for shares of a large conglomerate?

nI’m not surprised that Ai ShuQiao did this to me, but I don’t want to see the day when she does the same to Ai Mi.

nEven if I was defective goods in Ai ShuQiao’s eyes, she still wanted to sell me for a good price and asked Ren HongDe for 10% of the group’s shares.

n“Madam Ai ShuQiao, now you’re the one who’s joking.” Ren HongDe said sternly, “I personally only hold a total of 60% of the group’s shares. If I give you 10%, I will have less than 51% of the shares and no absolute decision-making power over the group.”

n“Also, if I sell more than 5% of the shares, according to the rules I have to convene with the rest of the board of directors.”

n“That’s not my problem.” Ai ShuQiao said coldly, “And I never joke around.”

nRen HongDe was also experienced in business negotiations, since he was an experienced old man. He began to argue with Ai ShuQiao, on one hand, suggesting that Ai ShuQiao should not be greedy, on the other hand, said: if you want 10% of the shares, Ye Lin and Ai Mi must be sold as a combo and it’s not worth it if they are split apart.

nWhat the hell, when did we become a part of KFC’s combo meal?

nBut I have to say that Ren HongDe was right. If I was the only one who got free, it would be nearly pointless. Ren HongDe must have understood my feelings as we were both siscon, so he expressed this to Ai ShuQiao.

n“Mr. Ren, you’re not sincere in the slightest.” Ai ShuQiao accused Ren HongDe, “You actually want to buy two children from a mother with only 10% of your shares…”

nAi ShuQiao’s attitude made Ren HongDe unable to keep calm.

n“It’s because you don’t deserve to be a mother, so I’m going to let those two children go free. The person who’s putting their children up for sale is you.”

n“Everyone has a value.” Ai ShuQiao’s face did not change in the slightest, “Some are worth more, some are worth less. If a mother’s children are worth a lot of money, she should feel proud.”

n“Mr. Ren, currently, I’m filled with pride and I want to increase the value of my two children.”

nOver the years, Ren HongDe has seen a lot of backstabbing and immoral businessman, but it’s unprecedented to see someone like Ai ShuQiao who treats her children like objects. After all, the Chinese have the tradition which says “even wild beasts look after their children”. At least from a subjective point of view, there are many more who treat their parents poorly compared to those who treat their children poorly.

nRen HongDe could hardly understand how Ai ShuQiao could say those words without even blushing and can have such a heartfelt smile with a clear conscience.

n“So, Mr. Ren, you should appreciate the good intentions of a mother, and then give me a sincere offer, how about 40%?”

n“You…” Ren HongDe was almost unable to tolerate Ai ShuQiao’s shamelessness, “Why don’t you just ask me hand over the chairman position to you?”

n“The education sector?” Ai ShuQiao laughed to himself, “I’m actually quite interested in being the chairman. I used to be a university teacher, now that I look back on it, it feels like a lifetime ago…”

nIt’s true, at first my dad and Ai ShuQiao both attended the same school, then after graduation they both stayed behind to teach. They were also considered to be a perfect couple and envied. It was the reason why my dad suffered a huge shock when Ai ShuQiao seduced the foreign teacher, John, and then eloped with him to the United States.

n“Here’s the deal.” Ai ShuQiao did not remove the smile on her face, then requested Ren HongDe: “I suddenly feel a bit of regret that I was only a teacher back then and did not become a principal… how about you give me the position of the principal of Dong Shan city’s Qing Zi Academy?”

n“What did you say?”

nRen HongDe frowned slightly. Although for the Qing Zi Education Group, which has branches in 26 cities across the country, the branch in Dong Shan city was no longer the most important asset, but it was still the birthplace of the group. Ren HongDe was particularly attached to this place, which was why he acted as both the chairman of the board and the principal.

n“Why, Mr. Ren, did you not hear clearly? I guess it’s that your body doesn’t work well once you are old. Do you want to try the anti-aging drugs developed by one of my research departments?”

n“Madam Ai, please show some respect, I can hear you very clearly.” Ren HongDe said with a grunt of exasperation, “Why do you want to be the principal of Qing Zi Academy?”

nAi ShuQiao replied with an attitude of righteousness, “Because you refused to give me 40% of the shares and won’t let me be the chairman, so I had to settle for second best and become the principal for fun.”

n“Being a principal is not a game.”

n“Wrong.” Ai ShuQiao relaxed against the back of her chair and crossed her fingers, “Life is a game.”

n“You’re in America, so are you going to come back to China to be the principal.”

n“Impossible, I’ll fly over for a visit every six months at most.”

n“Wouldn’t that be a principal in name only, what use would it have for you?”

n“Who says it’s in name?” Ai ShuQiao an eyebrow, “I will assign a trusted aide to help me manage the school’s affairs, and the accounts and expenditures will be reported to me.”

n“So, you want to be a principal with actual power?” Ren HongDe could not guess Ai ShuQiao’s thoughts, “Do you want to split the Academy from my group and use it as a pedestal to get your hands on the education industry in China.”

n“No, no, no, that would be too much trouble.” Ai ShuQiao laughed, “If Qing Zi Education Group is already shielding me, why would I not take advantage of it and split off? I just want to have a better understanding of the Qing Zi Education Group.”

n“Mr. Ren, although I have worked with you, and my daughter also attends your school, I still want to know in more detail how much money-making potential the school has, and whether there is still room for improvement…”

n“I’ll use Qing Zi Academy and figure out how the school operates, so I may be more confident about the group’s future, and by then, I may accept your offer, Mr. Ren.”

n“The offer isn’t valid if Ye Lin is the only one who is free.” Ren HongDe reminded her.

n“I’m a businessman, of course I will remember the other party’s conditions. I’m talking about giving freedom to both Ye Lin and Ai Mi.”

n“29% of the shares, plus the right to operate three schools independently.” Ai ShuQiao did not even pause for a second and immediately stated her own conditions.

n“I’ll leave you with 31% of the shares, and according to my information, you’ll still be the person with the largest shareholding on the board of directors, and it won’t affect your position as chairman.”

n“But that would make you the second largest shareholder.” Ren HongDe had a flat tone of voice.

n“My power is in the United States, while you and several other shareholders are long-time friends.” Ai ShuQiao brought this to Ren HongDe’s attention, “Are you still worried that I will usurp your power among the board of directors.”

nRen HongDe did not answer Ai ShuQiao’s question, but asked, “How much freedom will you give them?”

n“I’ll pretend I never had those two children.” Ai ShuQiao said lightly, “I don’t care if they live or die.”

n“How can you ensure that?”

n“Benefits, the most important benefits for businessmen.” Ai ShuQiao replied, “As long as I can receive more benefits from you than Ai Mi, it’s not necessary for me to keep her… you have to know, it’s quite costly to control this little thing…

nAi ShuQiao already treated me as something worth zero and sold me for free along with Ai Mi.

n“29% is too much, I can only give you 25% of the shares at most.” Ren HongDe’s face was like steel.

n“25% is 25%, but as for the schools that are independently operated, including Qing Zi Academy, has to become four schools.”

n“I can’t give you the school in Shanghai, but the others are negotiable.”

n“Then… the deal is done.” Ai ShuQiao extended out her hand to Ren HongDe in the video chat.

n“You have to first announce that you are letting your daughter quit the entertainment industry.” Ren HongDe was not a fool, it was impossible to trust Ai ShuQiao with empty words and give out a quarter of the group’s shares.

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