Crossover: Pen name: Dazai Osamu, Omega Kasumigaoka

"Brother Kitahara, your company is really thriving lately, with sales soaring. It's truly admirable!"

Kitahara Makoto waved his hand modestly in response:

"Not at all, Brother Fan, your company is truly a leader in the industry. Our company still has much to learn from you."

Fan Dingzhen, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but interject:

“Mr. Kitahara, I have always admired nn Company’s keen market insight and innovation capabilities. You and your team are truly leaders in the industry.”

Kitahara Shin smiled and nodded in thanks.

"Dingzhen, you're too kind. We're just doing our best. I heard you just returned from studying abroad. You must have brought back a lot of new ideas and thoughts, right?"

Fan Dingzhen humbly stated:

"I still have a lot to learn, but I do have some new ideas. I hope to have the opportunity to exchange ideas with you, Mr. Kitahara, in the future."

The group chatted amongst themselves, praising each other's strengths and achievements, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.

Although these words contained some business pleasantries and mutual flattery.

Just as the group was chatting happily...

As the door to the private room opened gently, waiters filed in, carrying exquisite porcelain plates upon which were laid out dishes that looked, smelled, and tasted delicious.

Their movements were light and skillful, as if they had undergone rigorous training, and every step appeared so elegant and graceful.

The first dish served was steamed sea bass. The fish was tender and juicy, with a delicate fragrance that whetted the appetite.

Next up was a braised lion's head meatball, plump and glossy red, looking absolutely mouthwatering.

There's also a dry-fried green bean dish, which is bright green and crisp, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

The waiters placed the dishes on the table one by one, each dish accompanied by an exquisite porcelain plate and a pair of chopsticks.

They carefully adjusted the position of each dish to ensure the entire table looked both beautiful and tidy.

After all the dishes were served, the waiters stepped back slightly and bowed to the guests with smiles.

Their service was both respectful and warm, making the entire dinner atmosphere even more cozy and enjoyable.

Upon seeing this, Kitahara Makoto, Fan Daqin, and Fan Zixuan also expressed their gratitude to the waiters.

They looked at the dishes on the table, their eyes shining with admiration and anticipation.

"It truly looks and smells delicious!"

Fan Daqin exclaimed in admiration,

"The culinary skills at this restaurant are getting better and better."

"Yes, every dish looks so tempting."

Kitahara Makoto echoed,

"Let's try it quickly."

Fan Daqin first picked up a piece of steamed sea bass and gently put it in his mouth.

He closed his eyes, savoring the freshness and aroma of the fish, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

He exclaimed in admiration:

"The texture of this sea bass is so delicate, it's as if you can taste the freshness of the sea with every bite."

Just as Kitahara Makoto was about to pick up his chopsticks and savor the food, his phone suddenly rang.

He frowned slightly, glanced at his phone screen, and saw that it was a call from "Haruko." He hesitated for a moment, but decided to answer the phone anyway.

"Excuse me, Brother Fan, Zixuan, I need to take this call."

After gesturing to Fan Daqin and Fan Zixuan, he left the private room.

Chapter 143 Acquisition, Not Cooperation!

The corridor outside the private room was spacious and quiet, with soft lighting casting a warm atmosphere on the floor.

Kitahara Makoto walked to a relatively quiet corner, making sure he wouldn't be disturbed by others, and then pressed the answer button.

"Hey, Haruko, what's wrong?"

Haruko's slightly shy voice came from the other end of the phone:

"Brother Kitahara, I want to discuss something with you."

"Go ahead and say it, I'm listening."

Kitahara Makoto sensed that Haruko's tone was somewhat unusual, so he patiently responded.

Haruko took a deep breath, seemingly gathering her courage, and said:

"I want to open a small bar, but I don't have enough money on hand, so... I'd like to borrow some money from you."

Upon hearing this, Kitahara Makoto's heart stirred slightly.

He was somewhat surprised that Haruko would make such a request.

He pondered for a moment, then asked:

"Haruko, your idea of ​​opening a bar is great, but have you made a detailed plan? How much money do you need? How do you plan to pay it back?"

Haruko answered his questions one by one, her voice filled with anticipation and longing.

As Kitahara Makoto listened to her story, a ripple of emotion stirred within him.

He knew that Haruko had always had her own dreams and pursuits, and opening a bar was undoubtedly a way for her to realize her self-worth.

However, he is also aware of his current situation and financial condition.

It wasn't that he was unwilling to help Haruko, but rather that he needed to carefully consider whether the matter was feasible.

He took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm and sincere:

"Haruko, I support your idea, but borrowing money is not a small matter, and I need to think about it carefully."

"Give me some time, I'll go back and discuss it with you in detail, okay?"

Haruko seemed a little disappointed, but ultimately nodded in understanding.

After Kitahara Makoto hung up the phone,

He walked back to his seat, a hint of apology on his face, and explained the situation to Fan Daqin and Fan Zixuan.

Although his mind was somewhat confused, Kitahara knew that the most important thing at this moment was to focus on the banquet in front of him.

Take a deep breath, compose yourself, and prepare to re-engage in this business exchange.

Kitahara Makoto picked up the wine glass in front of him and gently swirled it, causing the liquid in the glass to ripple with a faint golden light.

He first raised his glass to Fan Daqin, and said with a smile:

"Brother Fan, I'm so sorry about what happened earlier. Please forgive me. Here, let me offer you a toast as a way of expressing my apologies."

Fan Daqin laughed heartily upon hearing this and waved his hand to indicate that he didn't mind.

"Brother Kitahara, what are you saying? We've known each other for so many years, how could I not understand you? Come on, drink this up!"

·····Requesting flowers··········

The two men raised their glasses and clinked them together, making a crisp sound, before drinking them down in one gulp.

The alcohol spread through his mouth, bringing a slightly tipsy feeling that made Kitahara Makoto relax a little.

Next, Kitahara Makoto began to focus on enjoying the food on the table.

He picked up a piece of tempting braised pork, put it in his mouth, and chewed it slowly.

.......

The texture—fatty yet not greasy, lean yet not dry—made him nod in approval.

He then took a bite of the refreshing cucumber salad, which was perfectly balanced between sour and spicy, making him very hungry.

As the drinks and dishes were served, the atmosphere between Kitahara Makoto, Fan Daqin, and Fan Zixuan became more relaxed and harmonious.

After a satisfying meal, Kitahara Makoto felt a sense of contentment and ease.

He put down his chopsticks, gently rubbed his stomach, and turned his gaze to Fan Daqin, waiting for the other to speak.

Fan Daqin also put down his cutlery, a serious expression appearing on his face.

He took a deep breath, then turned to Kitahara Makoto and said in a slightly low voice:

"Brother Kitahara, the reason I invited you here today is because there is something important I want to discuss with you."

Kitahara Makoto paused slightly, then nodded, signaling Fan Daqin to continue.

Chapter 144 You Don't Want to Be Given Face

Fan Daqin seemed to be organizing his thoughts as well; he paused for a moment, then continued:

“Brother Beiyuan, as you know, although Alibaba Group has been developing well in recent years, it is also facing some challenges and difficulties.”

"As for me, due to some personal reasons, I may no longer be able to devote myself to the management of the company as wholeheartedly as I used to."

Kitahara listened quietly without interrupting Fan Daqin.

He knew that at this crucial juncture, listening was more important than speaking.

Fan Daqin continued:

"Therefore, I have been considering whether we need to find a suitable partner to take over Alibaba Group and continue to drive its development."

"In my opinion, you are the most suitable candidate."

Upon hearing Fan Daqin's words, Kitahara Makoto's face instantly darkened, his brows furrowed, and a flash of anger appeared in his eyes.

He stood up abruptly, and said in a slightly displeased voice:

"Brother Fan, what do you mean by this? We clearly said we were going to acquire your company, how did it suddenly turn into a partnership?"

Seeing this, Fan Daqin quickly explained:

"Brother Kitahara, please don't get agitated. Let me explain slowly. The reason I proposed the idea of ​​cooperation is that we can both benefit more from it."

"Through cooperation, we can jointly manage Alibaba Group, share resources and experience, and drive the company's development together."

However, Kitahara Makoto didn't seem to accept this explanation. He sneered and said:

"Brother Fan, are you playing word games with me? Acquisition and cooperation are two different things."

“The acquisition would mean that I could have complete control of Alibaba Group, while cooperation would mean that we would make decisions together, which is quite different from my original plan.”

Seeing this, Fan Daqin felt somewhat helpless. He sighed and said:

“Brother Kitahara, I know you have high expectations for acquiring Alibaba Group, but I also hope you can understand my position.”

"Cooperation is not about playing you; it's about believing that this is a mutually beneficial option. We can discuss it together and find a more suitable solution."

When Kitahara Makoto heard Fan Daqin's suggestion of cooperation, his face instantly turned ashen.

He stood up abruptly, his tone resolute and unwavering:

"Fan Daqin, I think you've misunderstood. My interest in Alibaba Group has always been clear: acquisition, not cooperation..."

Fan Daqin seemed surprised by Kitahara's resolute stance. He paused for a moment, then tried to explain:

"Brother Kitahara, listen to me, cooperation is actually a good option..."

But Kitahara Makoto had lost his patience. He interrupted Fan Daqin, his voice revealing a hint of coldness and contempt:

“Fan Daqin, I respect you as a senior, which is why I gave you some face before. But now it seems that there is no need to give you that face anymore.”

Fan Daqin was speechless for a moment after being choked by Kitahara Makoto's words. He looked at Kitahara Makoto, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Kitahara Shin didn't say anything more. He turned and walked towards the door, his steps firm and powerful.

Before leaving, he turned back and coldly uttered a sentence:

"Fan Da 2.9 Qin, think it over before contacting me. I don't want to hear any more cooperation proposals next time."

After saying that, Kitahara Shin strode out of the private room, leaving Fan Daqin standing there dumbfounded.

As Fan Daqin watched Kitahara Makoto's departing figure, a ripple of emotion stirred within him.

He knew that this meeting with Kitahara Makoto did not seem to have achieved the results he had expected.

Chapter 145 See you at the old tavern