Transmigrated as a White Lotus Heroine, but I’m Pursuing the Cold Villain - Chapter 11

The British value their reputation above all else. If Robert were to renege on his agreement with Rao Jinqing, his company’s reputation within the industry would be severely tarnished.

After that, other domestic companies would think twice before dealing with them.

That’s why Robert’s expression turned so sour for a moment.

He quickly recovered, forcing a smile. “President Rao, please don’t misunderstand. Our company is genuinely looking forward to collaborating with yours. However, we still need to discuss the specifics. Xunjun and Dianming each have their own strengths. As businessmen, we must prioritize profits over sentimentality. Of course, if Dianming finds a better alternative, we would have no objections.”

Xunjun was the Chi Family’s company, while Dianming was the Rao Family’s. Robert’s words were essentially a blatant act of bad faith.

He made no mention of the two years Dianming had invested in preparing for this collaboration, nor did he acknowledge that his company had already monopolized the technology in question.

Instead, he repackaged his message—albeit carelessly—and delivered it to Rao Jinqing:

I’m breaking our agreement. If you want to find someone else, be my guest. He would say the same to the media.

The problem was, there was no one else.

This Brit was playing with impunity.

The secretary beside him wore a look of displeasure, her fingers gripping the documents tightly, but she dared not speak, as the big boss hadn’t given his word yet.

A smile curved the corners of Rao Jinqing’s crimson lips.

She remained as composed as ever, seemingly unaffected by the situation.

This earned her a grudging respect from Robert. To be honest, if he had his way, he would have chosen Dianming. Their CEO was truly intriguing, but he was, after all, a businessman.

Rao Jinqing: “I’m curious.”

The genuine curiosity in her eyes couldn’t be faked.

“Exactly how much did Xunjun offer you? As far as I know, Xunjun’s factories don’t even have the necessary equipment for this technology. These machines aren’t commercially available; they need to be custom-made. By the time they arrive, your company’s original timeline will be completely disrupted, won’t it?”

She was right. This was Robert’s biggest concern, which was why he was still sitting here.

He had initially assumed that Rao Jinqing, being a woman, would panic upon hearing this news. If she panicked, the price negotiations would be a different matter entirely. But to his surprise, she seemed to have anticipated this all along.

Was there a mole within their company?

Dianming remained their top choice, but their pricing was far from satisfactory.

Xunjun was cheaper, but their timeline clashed with the company’s planned launch. Missing this winter would mean waiting until next year, and time was money.

Robert: “President Rao, I believe you’re well aware of my concerns. Since your two companies are at an impasse, I propose that Robert Corporation handle the investment solicitation ourselves. What do you think?”

He wouldn’t give an inch.

What choice did Rao Jinqing have?

This collaboration marked a pivotal turning point for Dianming’s future direction. To secure it, she had first used small-scale technology projects as a “pledge of loyalty” to silence the shareholders.

She had also prepared precision instruments and established constant communication channels with Robert Corporation, a monumental effort that Robert was now exploiting.

Moreover, this technology was exclusive to Robert Corporation, and only their personnel could guide its implementation.

Rao Jinqing smiled. “If Mr. Robert is willing to offer this opportunity, Dianming would be honored to accept.”

The moment Robert left, Rao Jinqing’s expression turned icy.

Her secretary fumed, “President Rao, this is outrageous!”

Rao Jinqing calmly gazed at the office door. Through the floor-to-ceiling glass, she could still clearly see Robert’s retreating figure.

“They believe the company will eventually fall back into Rao Songning’s hands,” she said evenly. “It’s only natural they look down on me.”

Her demeanor now was unlike her usual flamboyant or stern self—it was a detached, almost indifferent calm.

It was as if the words coming from her mouth referred to a stranger, not herself.

The secretary looked at her, suddenly feeling a pang of sympathy.

Ever since President Rao had taken office, there had been persistent rumors of the company’s impending decline.

As Qian Ming had just said, Rao Jinqing was merely a temporary placeholder, thrust into the role after the sudden tragedy that befell the previous CEO and his wife. Once Rao Songning graduated from university, she would be forced to step down and cede her position.

At that point, she would likely end up like other heiresses, used as a pawn in the family’s strategic alliances through marriage.

Though many in the company didn’t voice it openly, they secretly looked down on her.

The secretary spoke, her voice a little strained, “President Rao…”

Rao Jinqing suddenly smiled. “Is someone here to see me?”

The secretary had been about to say, “Don’t be sad,” but the words caught in her throat, as if a fresh, dewy leaf had lodged on her tongue.

“Huh?”

Rao Jinqing glanced at her watch.

It was already 11:30 AM. The company’s lunch break started at noon, so it was nearly time.

Just as the secretary was still trying to process this, the intercom buzzed.

The secretary clicked her heels as she hurried to answer the call.

The receptionist reported that a young woman in her early twenties, without an appointment, was requesting to see President Rao. The receptionist was hesitant, impressed by the woman’s refined demeanor.

“Book a private chef restaurant specializing in Huaiyang cuisine,” Rao Jinqing said. “You can leave work after that.”

The secretary understood, but…

Is President Rao seeing someone?

Rao Jinqing’s sexual orientation had always been one of Dianming’s three great mysteries.

While she never rejected the advances of either men or women in public, the secretary had never seen her show genuine warmth toward anyone.

Even with her nominal fiancé, she merely smiled politely and moved on.

But!

Rao Jinqing had given Xiao Huang in the park the same polite smile!

Xiao Huang was a small yellow dog in the city park, whose name belied his robust, well-fed physique.

The secretary spoke into the phone, “Tell her to come up. Use the executive elevator.”

She added, trying to sound casual, “It’s almost closing time. We want to avoid the crowds.”

Rao Jinqing continued reviewing documents without comment.

Less than two minutes later, the executive elevator chimed.

The secretary hurried to greet the visitor, only to find herself face-to-face with the receptionist, who had come up out of curiosity.

The receptionist awkwardly stepped aside, revealing a figure emerging from behind her.

The receptionist stood by, her eyes wide with curiosity as the person stepped forward.