Chapter 299: Money Is Still Not a Problem

After returning home, Sun Miao still couldn't calm down. He recalled everything that had just happened, his heart filled with rage and resentment.

He decided to call Chen Qingdi and demand to know why he had been treated this way.

As soon as the call connected, Sun Miao immediately said, "Chen Qingdi, why would you do that to me? You were the one who invited me to that meal!"

Chen Qingdi chuckled on the other end of the line.

"Sun Miao, I was only treating you to a meal. Can't you afford it? Or do you just think I'm not worth being treated by you?"

Sun Miao was rendered speechless by the question. Steeling himself, he said, "The meal was too expensive. I can't afford it."

Chen Qingdi's tone turned mocking. "Oh? Is that right? Well then, you'd better work hard and earn some money. Stop thinking others will treat you to meals."

Hearing this, the rage in Sun Miao's heart flared even more intensely.

He hung up the phone, resolving to never deal with Chen Qingdi again.

He felt like Chen Qingdi had made a fool of him, and he had paid a heavy price for it. He decided to be much more careful and cautious in his dealings with others from now on.

Chen Qingdi sat in his office, fingers drumming lightly on the desk as he replayed yesterday's confrontation with Sun Miao in his mind.

He knew the newspaper president was a smart man and wouldn't be baited easily. But as long as he had a hold on his weakness, he was confident the man would have to yield.

Before long, Chen Yuan walked in with a thick envelope, announcing that it was ready. Chen Qingdi gave a slight nod and told him to deliver the envelope to the coffee shop downstairs.

A short while later, Sun Miao arrived directly at the Mingyue Group. Chen Qingdi smiled and had security escort him to the guest reception room.

"President Sun, it's been too long," Chen Qingdi said with a smile, sitting on the sofa.

Sun Miao gave a somewhat awkward laugh. "President Chen, you conned me out of eight thousand US dollars yesterday. I want that money back."

Chen Qingdi roared with laughter. "Eight thousand US dollars is nothing. I'll give you fifty thousand, but on one condition: your newspaper stays out of my family's affairs from now on. Save yourself the trouble."

Sun Miao was stunned. He hadn't expected Chen Qingdi to be so generous; it confirmed that he'd been set up yesterday. A pang of regret hit him, but seeing Chen Qingdi's supremely confident expression, he knew there was no turning back.

"Fine. I accept your condition," Sun Miao said, sighing inwardly.

Chen Qingdi smiled, satisfied. He took an envelope from a drawer and handed it to Sun Miao. Sun Miao accepted it. The envelope felt heavy in his hands, and he was overcome with a wave of complex emotions.

"President Sun, a pleasure doing business with you," Chen Qingdi said with a small smile.

In the brightly lit guest reception room, Chen Qingdi sat on a plush sofa, a document in his hand.

His slightly stern gaze was fixed on Sun Miao, who stood before him looking nervous and ill at ease. His hands were clenched, and his lips trembled slightly.

"Mr. Sun, this is the 'red envelope' you've earned." Chen Qingdi pushed the document toward Sun Miao, his tone a little cold.

Sun Miao hesitantly took the document. His eyes swept over it, and when he saw the final number, his heart skipped a beat.

Fifty thousand US dollars. It was an enormous sum for him. He hesitated. 'Will this money put me in a compromised position?'

"Mr. Chen, I... I don't know what to say." Sun Miao slowly placed the document on the table, his eyes searching Chen Qingdi's expression for some kind of clue.

Chen Qingdi's brow furrowed. He was clearly getting impatient.

"Mr. Sun, my time is valuable. Fifty thousand US dollars is pocket change to me. I don't intend to use it to tie you down. I just want you to understand that there are no strings attached to our deal."

His tone radiated an undeniable dominance, as if to tell Sun Miao that he was just a minor newspaper president, and to someone like him, this sum of money was less than nothing.

A complex mix of emotions surged through Sun Miao. He knew he couldn't compete with a businessman on Chen Qingdi's level, but he also wasn't willing to abandon his principles for it. He fell silent for a moment, then took a deep breath.

"Mr. Chen, I understand what you mean. But I'm not willing to abandon my principles for this." Sun Miao's gaze was resolute. His voice, though quiet, was filled with determination.

Hearing this, a cold smirk played on Chen Qingdi's lips.

"Mr. Sun, you're a smart man. If you want to keep opposing me, I don't mind. Bring it on. In my eyes, you're just some minor newspaper president. You're not even worth dog shit."

Chen Qingdi's words stung Sun Miao deeply. He knew it was the truth, but he didn't want to accept it.

He was silent for a moment before taking a deep breath.

"Mr. Chen, I understand. I'll leave now. But please remember, I'm not leaving because I'm afraid of you. I just don't want this money to become a barrier between us." Sun Miao's words were filled with conviction and resolve. He turned and left the guest reception room without a single backward glance at Chen Qingdi.

Chen Qingdi watched Sun Miao's retreating figure, a complex mix of emotions stirring within him. He knew that this minor newspaper president possessed firm principles and courage.

'Maybe he isn't suited to survive in this world, but I still respect his decision.' He then picked up a file from the table and began to read it carefully.

It was a financial report for his company, and he needed to study it closely to decide on his next move.

Sun Miao left the office, secretly vowing to be much more careful in the future and never let himself be played by Chen Qingdi again.

Meanwhile, Chen Qingdi sat in his office, thinking about his next plan. He knew the newspaper wouldn't give up its attacks on him so easily, but as long as he had a hold on their weakness, he was confident they would take the bait.

Before long, Chen Qingdi's phone rang. He answered it and found it was his confidant, Chen Yuan.

"Boss, the reporters from that newspaper are here. Do you want me to stop them?" Chen Yuan asked.

"No need. Let them in," Chen Qingdi said faintly.

Before long, a middle-aged man and a young woman were brought in. They were reporters from the newspaper whose president Chen Qingdi had just swindled.

"What are you here for?" Chen Qingdi asked faintly.

"We're here to interview you," the middle-aged man said. "We heard you played a trick on our president yesterday, and we want to know how you did it."

"Yeah, I want to know too," the young woman couldn't help but ask.

Chen Qingdi gave a faint smile. "You want to know? I can tell you. But you'll have to agree to my conditions."