Chapter 54 Suicide Mission

Chapter 54: A No-Win Situation

In his previous life, Jiang Luo had never truly encountered big capital.

He was too ordinary—just doing some business, making some money. He was indeed better off than most and earned quite a bit, but ultimately, he was merely operating in the margins, making deals that were beneath the notice of major capital, a businessman never taken seriously by the powerful.

Someone like Li Fengrui, so high and mighty—even if Jiang Luo had wanted to curry favor, he wouldn't have had the chance. At most, he might have been able to shine Guo Ronghai’s shoes.

So, regarding Young Master Li Fengrui, Jiang Luo had only ever known of his existence, heard some rumors and gossip about him, but didn't actually know him and had almost no interaction with him.

To put it bluntly, Jiang Luo knew nothing about Li Fengrui’s background.

He had no privileged information about Li Fengrui that others lacked.

Jiang Luo sighed inwardly: *Of course, it had to be me. Right off the bat, I’ve offended capital.*

And as it turned out, Li Fengrui was indeed ruthlessly efficient in his methods—

While Guo Ronghai was still kneeling on the floor, slapping himself repeatedly, Li Fengrui picked up two small suitcases from beside his feet, placed them one by one on the coffee table, unlocked them, opened them, and turned them toward Jiang Luo.

Jiang Luo glanced down. Well, one case was filled with RMB, the other with USD.

Jiang Luo took a look and said to himself: *As the saying goes, the more money you have, the quicker you die.*

He had it wrong.

This wasn’t a Hongmen Feast.

This was a no-win situation.

Li Fengrui might as well have said it outright: *Today, whether you want to or not, Vilanido will enter Pacific Department Store.*

No choice.

Jiang Luo kept his expression neutral, lowered his gaze to the RMB and USD, looked for a few seconds, then raised his eyes to Li Fengrui beside him: "Boss Li, was this really necessary?"

Jiang Luo spoke clearly, his tone calm and composed: "There was indeed some unpleasantness between me and Manager Guo, which is why when he approached me about Vilanido entering Pacific, I refused."

"But it’s not necessary for him to kneel in front of me just to apologize."

"Chinese tradition says one kneels only to heaven, earth, and parents. For him to kneel to me—I truly don’t deserve it. It’s too much."

"As for this money…"

Li Fengrui cut him off: "The money is also an apology, to compensate for your financial losses."

"I’ve already learned everything about the incident involving the dolls from Wencheng being sold in the department store."

"The RMB is to repay your 'benefit fee.'"

"The USD is a personal gesture from me."

Li Fengrui got straight to the point: "I won’t beat around the bush or waste each other’s time."

"Aside from apologizing, the purpose of this meal is to ask Manager Jiang to reconsider and allow Vilanido to enter our Pacific Department Store."

"As long as Manager Jiang agrees, we can sign the contract immediately. I’ll also give Vilanido the best floor, the best location, the most favorable commission rate, and rebates."

Li Fengrui gestured with an open palm, his expression saying, "It’s all up to you," and said: "Manager Jiang, you must give me an answer."

Jiang Luo actually hesitated for a moment.

He had refused Guo Ronghai because Guo Ronghai had offended him and was arrogant and dismissive, which was why he rejected Vilanido’s entry into Pacific Department Store.

But Li Fengrui was being so sincere…

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Luo weighed his options, then curved his lips into a faint smile: "Boss Li, you flatter me."

This was a polite refusal.

Li Fengrui looked at Jiang Luo, his gaze deepening.

He patiently asked: "May I ask why, Manager Jiang?"

"Guo Ronghai did offend you."

"But Pacific Department Store hasn’t, right?"

"Or does Manager Jiang have some other concerns?"

He even added: "As long as Manager Jiang agrees, I’ll waive all commission fees for the department store."

Hearing that last line, Jiang Luo was genuinely tempted.

He could also tell that Li Fengrui was a straightforward man, not short on money, and definitely someone who kept his word.

But Jiang Luo thought of the few small and medium-sized bosses he had known in his previous life who later worked under capital.

Coincidence?

In any case, not a single one of them ended well.

Jiang Luo believed Li Fengrui’s promise, but he didn’t trust capital.

In the business world, everything revolves around the word "profit." Without any personal connection, why would Li Fengrui offer him all these benefits?

Even waiving the department store’s profit share?

Jiang Luo was a wolf; he could sense danger from afar.

Instinctively, Jiang Luo didn’t want to, and wouldn’t, board Li Fengrui’s rogue ship.

In fact, in his early years, in his previous life, Jiang Luo hadn’t had this awareness.

He had been striving and scrambling in the business world, eager to lick the boots of capital, thinking that even the scraps from those big bosses would be enough to make him rich.

He attended banquets and drinking parties, networking with all sorts of people, toasting and flattering, all just to build connections, treating relationships as more important than anything else.

In the past, if Li Fengrui had sat beside him and called him Manager Jiang, Young Master Li wouldn’t even have needed to bait the hook—Jiang Luo would have climbed right up.

But in this life, Jiang Luo had come to understand many things. He realized that scrambling and struggling often led nowhere.

A person is destined to walk their own path.

Jiang Luo didn’t want to offend Li Fengrui, but he wasn’t afraid either.

He reached out, closed the lids of the two small suitcases, and pushed them back toward Li Fengrui, saying calmly: "Boss Li, thank you for your kindness."

"Your sincerity is evident, and I appreciate it. But I cannot accept rewards without merit—I definitely cannot take this money."

"I'll be straightforward too. I'm just a common-as-they-come small business owner trying to make some money, nothing compared to you, Boss Li, with your outstanding family background, looks, scholastic abilities, and exceptional natural talents."

"In business, Boss Li must have a more ambitious and long-term vision."

"As for me, when it comes down to it, all I can manage is the limited scope right in front of me."

"Indeed, our ways are too different to work together."

Jiang Luo said bluntly, "I have no intention of offending you, Boss Li. Pacific Department Store has substantial backing behind it, and I’m just a small-time operator in Haicheng. For you to call me Boss Jiang shows you respect me, and I understand that."

Jiang Luo added, "As the saying goes, what’s said is said—it can’t be taken back. Since I told Guo Ronghai back then that Vilanido would never enter Pacific Department Store, I intend to keep my word."

"It’s not aimed at anyone, just consider it my hot-headed remark."

"It’s not that I don’t want to cooperate with you, Boss Li."

"As long as you say the word, any product under my company besides Vilanido can be worked with and enter Pacific Department Store."

"I also don’t need any special treatment from you, Boss Li. Let’s just follow the contract and the mall’s regulations—whatever should be done will be done."

His words were watertight, showing spine but remaining respectful, leaving Li Fengrui stumped on how to reply.

Pushing further would only make him seem unreasonable.

Being rejected, of course, Li Fengrui was displeased.

He had offered sincerity, money, and benefits—yet he was still turned down. With anyone else, Li Fengrui would have thought they were overstepping.

But Jiang Luo…

This Jiang Luo neither panicked nor cowered in his presence, neither flattered nor tried to win him over. In all these years, including his months in Haicheng, Li Fengrui had never encountered anyone like him.

Li Fengrui mulled it over and could only think: *China has a huge population, and indeed, there’s all kinds of people.*

He’d met one like this.

Li Fengrui even wondered if Jiang Luo knew something and was deliberately avoiding his scheme.

But what could Jiang Luo possibly know?

Jiang Luo couldn’t possibly be aware of his actual plans and calculations.

After some thought, Li Fengrui didn’t find Jiang Luo particularly remarkable—he just concluded that Guo Ronghai was a useless fool who had offended someone and messed things up.

Li Fengrui wasn’t one to dwell on things or drag them out. He had clearly understood Jiang Luo’s attitude and decision.

So he didn’t bring up Vilanido again, instead asking Jiang Luo what else his company had, while glancing sideways at Guo Ronghai, who was still kneeling there slapping himself.

Guo Ronghai immediately got up and left the private dining room.

Li Fengrui raised his wrist, glanced at his watch, and smiled. "Let’s eat. It’s getting late."

"Okay."

Jiang Luo stood up as well.

But as he turned, Jiang Luo didn’t notice Li Fengrui sneaking a few discreet looks at the curve of his suit around his waist and hips.

Li Fengrui quickly averted his gaze, thinking to himself: *Boss Jiang is quite easy on the eyes. I wonder how old he is—probably younger than me.*

The meal proceeded with easy conversation, very harmonious.

As the dinner drew to a close, Li Fengrui brought up out of nowhere, "How old are you, Boss Jiang? You look younger than me."

Jiang Luo: "I was born in 1971."

1971?

Eighteen? Nineteen?

Li Fengrui was genuinely surprised.

"I started young," Jiang Luo said offhandedly.

Li Fengrui smiled. "So you really are younger than me—my junior, then."

Jiang Luo thought, *Please, no—spare me the "little brother" talk.*

In his previous life, during the infighting among the Li family’s children, Li Fengrui had every one of his younger brothers wrapped around his finger.

Crossing paths with Li Fengrui and offending this Young Master Li, Jiang Luo knew perfectly well that after this meal, things were not over by a long shot.

Soon, the meal ended. They shook hands, Jiang Luo took his leave, and he left first.

As soon as Jiang Luo was gone, Guo Ronghai, his face puffed up like a pig’s, pushed open the door to the private dining room.

Li Fengrui sat by the sofa, stone-faced, none of the good humor he’d shown while chatting and eating with Jiang Luo remaining.

He cold-faced, looked down and snapped shut the briefcase stacked with cash on the tea table, his voice equally icy. "Since Boss Jiang’s Vilanido won’t come to our Pacific, then we’ll just create our own version of Vilanido."

Guo Ronghai knew exactly what Li Fengrui meant.

In fact, they had already been preparing for this even before approaching Jiang Luo.

"Should we find someone to…" Guo Ronghai, thinking Jiang Luo was asking for it, wanted to rough him up.

Li Fengrui replied indifferently, "Squashing him is easier than squashing a bug. Leave it for now."

He added, "He really is quite good-looking."

Jiang Luo left Nanjing East Road, slid into the driver’s seat, and as he drove, he went over the exchange from the restaurant in his mind. It was clear: he had rejected Li Fengrui, and given what he knew of Young Master Li’s merciless approach and temperament, this matter wouldn’t end easily.

Whatever then.

Jiang Luo quickly stopped thinking about it.

Let it be.

*It’s gonna rain or your mom’s gonna remarry*—just like there’s no holding back Young Master Li.

He’d cross that bridge when he came to it.

Jiang Luo wasn’t worried at all.

He was used to being defiant, believing that whatever challenges arose, he could handle them—whatever comes, he’d handle it. No matter what, he’d come out on top.