Chapter 99 - Mr. Bang

It has been a wonderful day for Xiong Zhi. Even though she tried so hard to talk about that day. It was unfruitful. Linfeng was so skillful to turn the topic over. Whenever she would ask about it, Linfeng would mention another thing that she has to answer until she forgot about it.

At least she had spent her time having a walk with Linfeng while talking random things aside from their plans earlier.

Linfeng brought her home and left after for the Zhou Mansion.

********

Xiong Zhi was holding her phone.

Ringggggg.

Ringggggg.

Toot.

Xiong Zhi dialed Song Xuantin's number for the second time.

For some reason, Song Xuantin kept rejecting her calls.

Ring

Ring

Toot.

Xiong Zhi got her laptop and message, Gu Zhen, in his email.

[Hang up for a second. I need to talk to you. It's about your father. Urgent.]

After two minutes, a reply was sent.

[I'm available. What is it? ]

Xiong Zhi did not reply and dialed Song Xuantin's number.

Ring

"That's so fast. Haha." Song Xuantin's oversweet laughter sounded.

"It's me."

Song Xuantin who was smiling on the other line froze.

"Xiong Zhi!" She was shocked. She thought it was Gu Zhen.

"You keep rejecting my calls. You still owe me a plan for Operation 2."

Song Xuantin slapped her forehead.

"Zhi'er. I remember that. Don't worry I will not run from that responsibility. Can it wait tomorrow? I'm busy today."

"Busy talking with Gu Zhen?" Xiong Zhi clicked Gu Zhen's new message.

[Xiong Zhi? Call me now.]

She exited from it and continue talking to Song Xuantin.

"I'm glad you are having progress. I want to tell you that I invited Linfeng for next weekend. You better have a plan."

Song Xuantin sighed.

"Fine. Fine. I got it. I'll end the call now."

Toot

Toot

Xiong Zhi just stares blankly at her phone.

Ting!

Another message from Gu Zhen.

[Xiong Zhi?]

Even Gu Zhen wants to finish his matter with her so he can freely talk with Song Xuantin.

Xiong Zhi envied them a little. But still, she's happy for Song Xuantin.

[No need. I was mistaken. ]

Xiong Zhi typed and send it.

Ting!

Gu Zhen who was waiting for the call opened the message. After reading it, he dialed Song Xuantin's number.

"Hello?"

"Sorry about that. Where was I?"

"Oh. You're talking about SSS. I  am using it on my PC now. Where will I get the virus?"

The two then continued their discussion.

*****

Sunday morning.

Xiong Zhi prepared to meet Mr. Bang. As they mentioned in their plan, Linfeng reached out to Mr. Bang to have a meeting with Xiong Zhi.

Xiong Zhi needed to personally talk with Mr. Bang.

Their meeting place was the same coffee shop.

Mr. Bang was already waiting when Xiong Zhi arrived.

He stands up to receive Xiong Zhi.

Mr. Bang was a tall and muscular man. He was in his early forties but it looked like he was only in his thirties.

Despite his build, he wears eyeglasses.

"Young Miss, it's a pleasure to meet you." It was his first time having a face to face interactions with the Young Miss of Xiong. He met her once in the Empire's last banquet.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too." Xiong Zhi bowed as well and sat.

Mr. Bang asked Xiong Zhi what she wants to order then he called the waiter.

"I bet you already heard the matter from Linfeng."

"Yes. Mr. Zhou told me briefly about it."

Mr. Bang also got the information from Zhou Min that Mr. Xiong would give him a month for the ArtWorld with the help of Xiong Zhi.

"Then do you already know that Lu's got the land?" Xiong Zhi asked.

Mr. Bang sighed sadly.

"I've heard the rumor from one of the investors. It turns out it's true. ArtWorld will be no more."

Mr. Bang was a former CEO and now one of the major contributors to the Xiong Empire in these last five years. He could read between the lines. On the surface, ArtWorld would proceed for a month, they would hold the investors for a month, which was to reduce the empire's expenses.

But in the end, ArtWorld would be gone.

His dream would never be built.

That's the sad reality.

"For a while. But it's not yet too late to call it gone."

Mr. Bang suddenly becomes hopeful.

"What do you mean? Is there a way for us to get the land?"

Xiong Zhi shook her head.

"It's hard to get the land from Lu's. Unless we want to have an economic war with Lu's. It's not yet possible. I will scout more land for you."

Xiong Zhi thought about it. In the past, the Xiong Empire took months to find good land for the ArtWorld. And it's not fruitful.

However, this time, there will be a difference.

Before, there was no IHZHI.

Now, IHZHI existed. And what IHZHI acquired lately?

Finding a new land for IHZHI was not that difficult.

But Mr. Bang does not think so.

His hopeful eyes turned to disappointment.

"It's difficult to find land for the ArtWorld. I created ArtWorld for that land. They are irreversible."

"Then, are you willing for ArtWorld to be gone? In one month, ArtWorld will cease to exist. "

Mr. Bang sighed heavily once more.

Having the land from the Lu was not possible.

And to build another ArtWorld with another geography will take a long time. Especially, he created ArtWorld with enthusiasm with that land in mind.

"Think about it. Think of the reason why you want to create ArtWorld. I'll give you days to decide. You have to give me your answer on Friday. "

Mr. Bang was too torn and could not answer Xiong Zhi.

"But I want to tell you, with or without you, I'll create my own ArtWorld. I will buy the project that you work hard for in the past years. I have other people who can modify it. But I think personally that it's better if it's you who will modify it. You know ArtWorld than anybody else. Please consider."

Xiong Zhi stands up and bowed. Mr. Bang did the same thing. He accompanied Xiong Zhi to her car.

While watching the young Miss car leaves, Mr. Bang sighed heavily.

He sighed a lot today.

Actually, for him, there's no need to think further but to grab this last saving straw to not let ArtWorld be gone forever.

'It's just that...'

Mr. Bang turned to his car and drove.

He needed to visit that place.

Mr. Bang left the coffee shop with a lot of thoughts in his mind.