Chapter 483: We Know Each Other

Li Yiyi didn’t recognize the person and remained calm in response to their excessive praise.

“Director Huang, don’t scare our Li comrade with your compliments. You look like a weasel wishing the chicken a happy new year, but you don’t have any good intentions,” said Jiang Linglan, smiling.

Huang Director, hearing the comparison, pointed at her with a helpless look, “Director Yao, your mouth is still as sharp as ever. I’m scared now. Alright, let me introduce you to two people.”

“No need for introductions, we know each other.” At that moment, Ito Jing, who was sitting at the dining table, stood up and smiled at Li Yiyi.

“Comrade Li, we meet again,” Ito Jing greeted her with a broad smile.

Li Yiyi slightly nodded at him, feeling that something about this encounter felt different than usual. Perhaps it was just her imagination, but she had a sense that Ito Jing seemed somehow different this time.

“Mr. Ito Jing, hello.” Unable to pinpoint the change, Li Yiyi remained cautious.

“Please, Comrade Li, have a seat.” Ito Jing continued to smile.

But his smile sent a chill down Li Yiyi’s spine.

Director Huang glanced at the two of them, feeling that something was odd about the situation, though he couldn’t quite place it.

“Alright, alright, since you know each other, sit down. When the food arrives, we can eat and chat,” Director Huang interrupted the somewhat suffocating atmosphere with a smile.

Just as they sat down, Ito Jing spoke, “Director Huang, the request you made earlier, I might not be able to agree to it.”

Director Huang, who had been smiling up until that point, immediately lost his smile and stared at Ito Jing, looking puzzled.

“Mr. Ito Jing, may I ask why?” he asked, his tone serious.

Ito Jing sneered, “No particular reason. Although you all claim that our antiques and cultural relics were taken from you, do you have any proof? If you do, show it to us. If you can prove those things are yours, I can arrange for them to be returned to you. But if you can’t, then sorry, we’re not fools and we won’t just give away such precious items.”

Hearing this, Director Huang gripped his cup tightly in anger. “What you’re doing is outright robbery! Just how long has your small country been around? How could you possibly have such ancient relics? Anyone with a brain knows this!”

Ito Jing’s smile remained, as if he didn’t even care about the accusations.

Seeing his shameless demeanor, Director Huang felt like flipping the table over. Eating, eating, what a joke. He was just thankful he hadn’t had to buy the two R-country people a meal.

Ito Jing, however, was perceptive enough to sense the hostile glare from Director Huang, and at that moment, he stood up.

“It seems like this meal isn’t going to happen. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll leave. Let’s call it a day,” he said.

Tanaka Sho, sitting next to him, also stood up, looking concerned at both parties but remained silent.

“Comrade Li, perhaps we’ll meet again another day. I still have a lot I’d like to discuss with you,” Ito Jing said with a smug smile before walking away confidently.

Once the two of them left, the private room felt much emptier.

“Bastards, they took our things and now refuse to admit it! Their faces are thicker than the Great Wall! I’ve really learned something today,” Director Huang muttered loudly, staring at their retreating figures.

Jiang Linglan quickly poured him a cup of tea and placed it in front of him. “Director Huang, don’t let it get to you. It’s not worth making yourself sick over these things.”

Director Huang immediately gulped down the tea. “I just can’t stand their shameless faces, refusing to admit they stole our precious relics. It’s utterly disgraceful.”

Li Yiyi, hearing this, started to understand the reason behind this gathering.

However, since the negotiations had fallen apart, it seemed this was a failed mission.

“Director Huang, did we invite them here to ask for our belongings back?” she asked.

Seeing the negotiations collapse, Director Huang no longer had a reason to hide anything. He nodded grimly. “That’s right. During the recent investigation, we discovered that R-country took a lot of valuable things from us during the last war. The higher-ups wanted to talk to the new management of the company to see if we could get some of it back. But it turns out this new manager is even more ruthless than Tanaka Ichiro.” He sneered.

Li Yiyi, hearing this, interrupted him, “Director Huang, the new manager wouldn’t be Ito Jing, would it?”

“That’s him! We’ve all been deceived by his smiling tiger act. This guy’s heart is darker than Tanaka Ichiro’s,” Director Huang said with a grim expression.

Li Yiyi thought to herself, as expected, Ito Jing was indeed a different person.

“But Director Huang, there’s one thing I don’t understand. Tanaka Ichiro passed away, so shouldn’t his son have taken over?” she continued asking.

Director Huang shook his head. “I heard that Tanaka Sho was supposed to inherit it. I don’t know how Ito Jing did it, but he somehow got their elders to choose him as the new manager.”

At that moment, the waiter brought in the ordered dishes.

Seeing the delicious spread of food on the table, the three of them exchanged glances.

Finally, Director Huang waved his hand. “Even though the damn R-country people aren’t here, let’s not waste this delicious meal. We’ll enjoy it ourselves and eat even better.”

The three of them ate until they were stuffed, leaving the restaurant only when they couldn’t eat anymore.

Back at the residential compound, the family had already eaten, and everyone was gathered in the living room watching the recently popular Shanghai Bund.

“Rolling waves, rolling waves…” As Li Yiyi walked into the courtyard, she heard the off-key singing of her silly son.

Not only was he out of tune, but his local dialect singing was also making everyone cringe.

“Sis, how was it? Was my singing any good?” After finishing a verse, Jiang Zhanpeng asked his older sister with a proud look.

Jiang Yueyue covered her ears, which were slightly offended, and seriously looked at her silly brother, asking, “Do you want me to tell the truth, or should I lie?”

Jiang Zhanpeng thought for a moment, then smiled like a little fool and said, “I want to hear both the truth and the lie. Sis, hurry up and critique my beautiful voice.”