Chapter 9 - An Invitation

Li Mu Bai stared at his cousin with a scrutinizing gaze.

Two years ago, both of them were still competing for the position of the president of QL Group Property. However, Li Qin Yao decided to resign after a scandal where she was accused of giving using cheap materials in construction. The result, people died.

Back then, although their relationship was not bad in the past, Li Mu Bai noticed that Li Qin Yao has been trying to keep a distance from him.

When Li Qin Yao was implicated in that scandal, she tried to convince the others that she was not guilty. Li Qin Yao had asked for three days to investigate the matter, and she was confident about it.

However, on the day that she was supposed to clear up her name, Li Qin Yao suddenly said that she would resign.

At that time, Li Mu Bai thought that his cousin, Li Qin Yao was really guilty as charged. However, in the past year, he had looked into the matter and found out that Li Qin Yao did find evidence to prove that she was not guilty.

Li Mu Bai could not understand why didn't she provided the evidence to clear her name. At the end of her investigation, what did she find out?

He was convinced that someone set her up. But, why didn't she expose the culprit?

"I didn't know that you're operating a cafe now," Li Mu Bai said after a long silence between them.

"Well, now, you know." Li Qin Yao answered nonchalantly. She could guess that Li Mu Bai came to see her for something, but since he did not want to talk about it yet, Li Qin Yao was not going to ask.

"How is your business?"

Li Qin Yao answered him with a shrug. " I didn't make as much as I did when working for QL, but it's not so bad. Anyway, I need to spend my time into something instead of being idle."

He leaned into his seat and with his arms on folded on his chest. Then he smiled. "Why did you choose to enter the F&B industry?"

"You know that starting a business in the F&B industry is the easiest."

"They are also the easiest to close down. Don't you see how many restaurant and cafe appeared and disappeared after a while?"

Li Qin Yao chuckled at his words. She leaned forward and spoke, "President Li, are you cursing my shop, or are you threatening me?"

Li Mu Bai shook his head and sighed, "I don't mean it that way."

"Tch! Why are you here, anyway? What is it?" she narrowed her eyes. "Could it be that QL Group is now interested in the food industry? Or… You want to buy this piece of land?"

"Yao Yao."

"I told you not to call me that. Although we're cousins, we're not that close." Li Qin Yao leaned on her seat and crossed her arms on her chest. "Just tell me what you came here for, Li Mu Bai. Both of us are a businessman. We both know that wasting time could make us lose millions. Why? You've made so much for QL Group now; you don't have to worry about losing some money?"

Li Mu Bai heaved, feeling a bit sad at her hostility. He did not like her tone or the indifferent look she gave him.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Wait. Don't tell me that you need my help to defeat Li Ming Han?"

Li Ming Han is their cousins. Their grandfather, Chairman Li Ren Xin, allowed his grandchildren to compete for the position of QL Group's President. In the beginning, there were five of them. After Li Qin Yao withdrew from the competition, there were only Li Mu Bai and Li Ming Han. And last year, their grandfather made his decision, and Li Mu Bai was chosen as the president of QL.

"Of course not." Li Mu Bai chuckled. Then he stared into her eyes. "It will be Chairman Li's 70th birthday soon. The company is planning a celebration. Will you come?"

"Am I even invited?"

Li Mu Bai took out an envelope from inside his jacket. Then he slid the envelope across the table towards her. "Here's an invitation. For you and your mother."

Li Qin Yao laughed as she laid her gaze on the envelope. "You could have mailed this to me instead of coming here."

"So? Are you going?"

She pointed a finger to the invitation card on the table. "I don't need that. He's my grandfather. Of course, I'm going to visit him on his birthday. I don't necessarily have to show up at the celebration."

"Grandfather will give you a call in these few days to invite you to the celebration."

Li Qin Yao watched him with a surprised look. "Why? Li Mu Bai. I'm warning you. Don't mess with me."

He let out a low laugh. "Why would I want to mess with you? Who knows what Chairman Li is thinking." Li Mu Bai pushed the envelope closer to her. "Li Qin Yao, you have to attend this celebration."

Li Qin Yao stared at him suspiciously. "Why?"

"Even though you have quit working for QL, you are still a part of the shareholder. Who knows," Li Mu Bai shrugged before he continued, "grandfather might want you there to announce something."