Please, mature women, have some self-respect. I just want a raise and a promotion.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tianhu's gaze instantly turned cold.

He was about to lash out when Liu Xueyi spoke first.

"What business is it of mine if the man leaves through the back door?"

Zhang Tianhu's subordinate added, "But that man came out of your room."

Zhang Tianhu stared at Liu Xueyi: "How do you explain this?"

Liu Xueyi remained calm.

"Oh, you mean that man? He's one of my clients."

"Lin Zheng from Tenghua Group, someone came to discuss materials cooperation."

"You don't actually think I was talking to him about sex, do you?"

Zhang Tianhu's expression changed several times, as if he remembered something, and he suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"Lin Zheng? The Lin Zheng who brought down Liu Shanhai and dealt with Li Ting?"

"Yes, it's him. What, you know him?"

"I don't know him, but someone wants him dead."

Zhang Tianhu turned around and waved to his men.

"Let's go back."

The group dispersed in a flurry, and the corridor returned to silence. Liu Xueyi closed the door to the private room, leaned against the door, and let out a long sigh.

She picked up her phone, found Lin Zheng's number, and sent a message: "He's gone. You're safe."

Less than half a minute after the message was sent, Lin Zheng replied with two words: "Received."

Liu Xueyi put down her phone, walked to the window, looked at the empty street below, and a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.

What a coincidence tonight! Lin Zheng had just arrived when her husband received the news.

She thought for a moment and immediately thought of Lin Quan, whom she had met at the hotel.

Lin Quan has run into her several times; this is definitely not a coincidence.

Moreover, the forest rights belong to Liu Kaishan, and Liu Kaishan belongs to Zhou Haimin.

When you put everything together, it’s not hard to see that someone is setting her up.

Thinking of this, Liu Xueyi took out her phone and made a call.

"Hey, help me investigate someone, Lin Quan, Liu Kaishan's nephew."

"I want to know where he went tonight and what he did."

After hanging up the phone, she walked to the card table, picked up the cup of tea that Lin Zheng had just drunk from, and slowly took a sip.

Then she laughed.

She wanted to see who was behind this trick.

Meanwhile, in Li Zhen's office at the sand field, the ashtray was piled high with cigarette butts.

Li Zhengang sat opposite him, and after listening to Lin Zheng's account, his face darkened as if it were about to drip water.

"Liu Kaishan's move is truly ruthless; he doesn't openly harm you, but secretly uses Zhang Tianhu to strike."

Li Zhengang stubbed out his cigarette, lit another, and said, "You've gotten away with it today, but what about tomorrow? He's got Lin Quan watching you; there will always be a time when you're all alone."

Lin Zheng frowned: "So I need to finalize the sand and gravel materials deal as soon as possible."

Li Zhengang was taken aback: "You're still going to see Liu Xueyi?"

"No, we can talk about it over the phone."

"Liu Xueyi is probably being monitored by Zhang Tianhu at this time, so we must be careful."

"Also, Mr. Li, could you arrange for two reliable people to follow me starting tomorrow? They don't need to get too close, just keep them within sight."

"No problem, I'll pick two clever ones."

After discussing for a while, Lin Zheng got up and went to a guest room in the backyard of the battlefield to rest.

He lay in bed. Liu Xueyi had already agreed to help coordinate the materials, and after tonight's events, her trust in Liu Kaishan had definitely diminished.

Once this thin veil is lifted, things will be much easier to handle afterwards.

Lin Zheng picked up his phone and saw a message from Liu Xueyi saying that she had found out that Lin Quan was behind tonight's events, and Liu Kaishan was the mastermind behind them.

Both of them were set up by Liu Kaishan, whose goal was to get rid of Lin Zheng and replace him with his own people to take over the project and make money in the second phase.

Lin Zheng was shocked and broke out in a cold sweat after reading the information, and he had to admire Liu Kaishan's methods.

He can kill without anyone noticing; Old Bi is truly cunning.

We can't wait to be tricked by Liu Kaishan, but now is not the time to retaliate.

Qiu Ruiming wasn't finished yet, and now he's facing Liu Kaishan on two fronts. He simply doesn't have the ability or resources to fight on two fronts.

Just as Lin Zheng was trying to figure out a solution, Liu Xueyi sent another message.

"Come to my office tomorrow; I need to finalize the materials with you in person."

"Okay, what time?"

"Two o'clock in the afternoon."

OK.

Lin Zheng replied to a message, put down his phone, and went to sleep.

The next afternoon, Lin Zheng arrived at Chengyuan Earthwork Group's office in Dianhai Town on time.

This is a three-story detached building. A Mercedes and two black cars are parked in front of it. There aren't many people coming and going, but they are all dressed in suits and ties, and they don't look like ordinary building materials merchants.

Liu Xueyi's office was on the second floor. The door was open, and she was sitting behind a large desk with a document spread out in front of her.

She was wearing a black business suit today, her long hair was tied up, and she looked capable and efficient, completely different from the languid and ambiguous woman in the private room last night.

"sit."

She pointed to the chair opposite her, then picked up the phone on the table, told her secretary not to let anyone in, and hung up before turning her gaze back to Lin Zheng.

"After our conversation last night, I had someone check on Zhou Haimin's situation again."

"How so?"

"He did indeed give the order to raise prices, but it's not just targeting your project; all construction projects in Dianhai Town have seen price increases. It's just that other projects have seen smaller increases, while yours has seen a particularly large one."

At this point, Liu Xueyi picked up her teacup and took a sip.

"This proves that he was indeed after you."

Is there any way to change the price back?

"Yes, but it will take time."

Liu Xueyi put down her teacup and continued, "Zhou Haimin owes me a favor. If I talk to him, he'll at least agree, but the condition is that you have to give me a legitimate reason."

Justifiable reason?

Lin Zheng frowned, lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and asked, "What reason?"

"Just say it's a key project supported by the district. If the material prices are too high and the project has to stop, Zhou Haimin won't be able to bear the responsibility if the district holds him accountable."

Lin Zheng thought about it and felt that the reason made sense. It was neither about using personal relationships to pressure people nor about transferring benefits.

"Is that reason enough?"

"That's enough, but not thorough enough."

"Zhou Haimin is a very shrewd man. To get him to talk, you have to offer him enough benefits."

"Relying on my connections will only get him to loosen his grip once; he'll just hold me back next time."

"There must be some conflict of interest involved for him to not give face to his uncle Liu Kaishan."

"So, what do you think would be good for him?"

"His son is graduating from university this year and wants to join Tenghua Group."

"If you could arrange a job for his son at the group, he'd definitely be happy to help you. And..."

At this point, Liu Xueyi smiled, her face carrying an ambiguous expression.

"I heard you're quite close to Lin Xiaoyu; her husband has some influence in the Tenghua Group."

Lin Zheng remained silent for a while after hearing this, and finally nodded.

Zhou Haimin wanted his son to join Tenghua Group, which was a potential breakthrough.

But we'll have to trouble Lin Xiaoyu with this.

Thinking of this, Lin Zheng said, "I need time to work on this, but I can make a promise first."

"As long as material prices return to normal, I guarantee I'll arrange a suitable job for his son within one month."

"make a deal."

Liu Xueyi extended her hand and shook hands with Lin Zheng.

Her hands were warm and dry, and her fingertips lingered in his palm for two seconds before letting go.

After finishing our business, the atmosphere relaxed a bit.

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere instantly became ambiguous.

"Lin Zheng," Liu Xueyi called softly, turning around to face Lin Zheng.

As Liu Xueyi turned around, the alluring white stockings swayed in her professional-style mini black dress, leaving Lin Zheng momentarily stunned.