HLnovel Chapter 166 The other party's goal is not money
Chapter 166 The other party's goal is not money
Deng Xiuzhen rushed to the location Zhao Shuliang had mentioned. Zhao Shuliang was already waiting there, and upon seeing Deng Xiuzhen arrive, he quickly went to greet her.
"What's wrong with Wenjing?" Deng Xiuzhen rushed over, sweat beading on her forehead.
"Come sit down and let's talk," Zhao Shuliang said, pulling Deng Xiuzhen to sit down and pouring her a glass of water.
Deng Xiuzhen took the water glass and looked at Zhao Shuliang expectantly.
Zhao Shuliang sighed and said, "Wenjing is studying abroad, right? She's working on a project with her advisor, but some data from that project was leaked. It was Wenjing who leaked it."
"Impossible! I know Wenjing's personality!" Deng Xiuzhen said, her voice trembling with disbelief.
“We sent people to investigate, and it was indeed Wenjing who did it. She didn’t do it intentionally; it was because of Wenxin. Wenjing is excellent in every way, except… sigh!” Zhao Shuliang sighed again.
"Because of Wenxin? How did Wenxin get dragged into Wenjing?" Deng Xiuzhen suddenly stopped, thinking of the things Wenxin had done.
"Wenxin was also taken advantage of. Someone knew about Wenjing's family situation and deliberately set up a competition to get Wenxin's teacher to encourage her to participate."
Then provide her with special guidance, give her opportunities, and guide her to seek advice from Wenjing.
Wenjing, hearing that it was her independent research and that she would be directly admitted to Jinghua University after winning the competition, naturally devoted herself wholeheartedly. And just like that, the data was leaked. Zhao Shuliang shook his head and sighed again.
"How is Wenjing now?" Deng Xiuzhen's anger was simmering; she really wanted to slap Wenxin to death. But what good would slapping Wenxin to death do?
"She's been locked up..."
"Locked up? Where are they locked up?" Deng Xiuzhen jumped up, she hadn't expected things to be so serious.
"Don't worry, there's still a solution!" Zhao Shuliang gestured to Deng Xiuzhen to calm down.
Deng Xiuzhen indeed quieted down, looking at Zhao Shuliang, waiting for him to continue.
"The other party has now made two demands, saying that as long as one of them is met, Wenjing will not be held responsible."
"Where is Wenjing being held? Is she safe? Will she suffer?" Deng Xiuzhen was somewhat distracted.
Zhao Shuliang gave a wry smile and said: Can you please listen to the important points?
Deng Xiuzhen suppressed her worries and nodded.
"The other party said that they either had to help them develop the research project or pay them 30 million US dollars."
"Help them finish the project? That's what they're working on themselves. They haven't even finished it yet. How much could Wenjing have leaked? Could this be a trap?" Deng Xiuzhen suddenly realized something.
"Yes, it's a trap. Their target is the project I'm currently developing. These people have probably been planning this for a long time. Sending Wenjing abroad to study is probably just one step in their plan." Zhao Shuliang sighed again.
"What do we do now?" Deng Xiuzhen asked.
"We'll just have to wait and see."
"But Wenjing, she..."
"We have arranged for people to protect her."
"But……"
“We’ve invested too much manpower and resources in this project, and that’s secondary. The main problem is that if we give this project away, we won’t have a good alternative in the short term, and Mr. Zheng’s company might collapse…” Zhao Shuliang explained softly.
Deng Xiuzhen lowered her head and remained silent.
"What are you researching?" After a long pause, Deng Xiuzhen looked up and asked.
"A smartphone is simply a phone with various functions added on it. It can make calls, play games, install apps..." Zhao Shuliang explained patiently.
"If we can find a better project, could you give up the one you have?" Deng Xiuzhen asked Zhao Shuliang softly.
Zhao Shuliang nodded and said, "Okay. What project? When can you come up with a proposal?"
"Uncle Zhao, please rescue Wenjing as soon as possible. I'll figure out a way to handle the project."
"Okay," Zhao Shuliang replied.
"Thank you, Uncle Zhao!" Deng Xiuzhen said as she ran back.
Zhao Shuliang watched her retreating figure, sighed again, and took out his phone to make a call: "Release Qin Wenjing, and I'll give you the information I have."
……
"Are you willing to give up half your life's work for a granddaughter with no blood relation?"
Just as Zhao Shuliang hung up the phone, he heard voices behind him.
Turning around, I saw a strange man. He was tall and thin, with sharp features and a somewhat ruthless air. However, his pale face and sickly appearance diminished the strength of his sharpness.
Zhao Shuliang sized up the other person but didn't reply.
The man didn't mind and laughed heartily, saying, "Let me introduce myself, I'm Ma Xiaoen, 32 years old. I've long admired Boss Zhao's name and would like to invite you to join my team to develop the internet age together."
"The internet age?" Zhao Shuliang asked.
"Yes, what I lack now is funding and technical personnel. As long as you are willing to join us, your future achievements will definitely be greater and more significant than your current research!" Ma Xiaoen appeared sickly, but his words and actions were very confident.
Zhao Shuliang smiled and said, "You chose a really good time. Did you plan it carefully?"
Ma Xiaoen also laughed: "I've been asking about you for a long time, but I've been hesitant about whether to contact you."
In some ways, you are too powerful. I worry that if I give you the information, you will quickly grasp the essence. If you betray me then, I will not be able to protect myself, let alone my research results.
Today, seeing that you are willing to give up your life's work for someone with whom you have no blood relation, what reason do I have not to believe that you are such a loyal and righteous person?
"Mr. Zhao, believe me, mobile phones are a great project, but they only make communication convenient. My research, however, can propel the world forward!"
Zhao Shuliang stared at Ma Xiaoen for a long time before finally making up his mind: "How about I take you to meet my boss?"
“Okay!” Ma Xiaoenren looked sickly, but he was straightforward.
Zheng Ying was sitting in her office, lost in thought. She had gone to find both Sean's that Deng Xiuzhen had mentioned, and had actually found them.
But none of them were the people she was looking for.
When Zhao Shuliang said he wanted to exchange the research project for Qin Wenjing, she hesitated. After all, the impact this would have on the company would be enormous.
Over the past two years, she has invested a great deal of human, material, and financial resources into this project. Just when it was about to succeed, she decided to give it all up for someone else's child; she wasn't that magnanimous.
However, the core technology was all in Zhao Shuliang's possession, and even if she disagreed, she couldn't stop Zhao Shuliang's decision.
As for the other party's choice of one of two options, the second condition is completely irrelevant.
Because that was just a smokescreen.
The other party's goal isn't the money. Once you agree to give them the money, they'll immediately find some fabricated reasons to change their mind and then make further demands.
"Mr. Zheng, I've found a new project. Do you have time? If so, I'll bring him to see you!" Zhao Shuliang's voice had changed from its previous dejected tone to one filled with barely suppressed excitement.