Chapter Seventy-Eight: Utterly Arrogant

The Kid of the Rich House, No Popup, Chapter Seventy-Eight: Utterly Arrogant

Xiao Tianci glanced at Meg once more, then turned and went outside. Only after the door closed did he say, "At last, they've come looking for us. Tell them to wait. We'll talk after we finish eating."

By now the entire building had been sealed off, and a large force was heading straight for the restaurant. As he walked, Xiao Tianci said casually, "By the way, how's the matter I asked you to check, King Kong?"

King Kong shook his head. There was still no news. Xiao Tianci began to think hard as well.

Phantom. Had he truly trained himself into a phantom? Why had he flashed once and then never appeared again?

Ever since the night of Xiao Tianci's wedding, after Phantom's attack, there had been no more news of him. Even King Kong, who knew the most about him, could find nothing. Xiao Tianci had asked King Kong to think of a way to gather information on Phantom, but there had been no results.

Phantom was like the ghosts in films that vanish when sunlight strikes them, never appearing again. What exactly was he thinking, what was he doing? As King Kong and Fang Meng had said, the Phantom of today was nothing like the one from before. Even they could not discern any trace of him. He was certainly watching Xiao Tianci, but what was he waiting for? A good opportunity?

"Mm. Keep looking."

There was plenty of time at noon, and Xiao Tianci's appetite was fairly good today; at the very least, his first step had gone well. He ate until nearly business opening time before strolling back at an unhurried pace. The aide had been waiting in one of the reception rooms the whole time. Though inwardly anxious, and though the president had called twice during that interval to ask about the result, he could only answer truthfully.

When he finally saw Xiao Tianci walk in, he hurried forward with a smile, reaching out to shake hands. "Mr. Xiao, hello. I am..."

Xiao Tianci walked right past him without even glancing his way, went straight on, and sat down. The chief steward, Lin Jian, followed behind with King Kong and Fang Meng. The aide of the president of M Country had never before seen such an arrogant man. Even if two countries were at war and negotiating, they would still at least exchange a polite embrace.

The intelligence had said that this Xiao Tianci was fickle and possessed a bit of cleverness, but after inheriting the estate he had become somewhat unaware of his own surname. It seemed the rumors were true. A barnyard chicken had turned into a phoenix, and no longer knew his own name.

Still, as an excellent politician and a man soon to be nominated as vice president for the next term, he would absolutely not waste emotion on someone like this. Smiling, he withdrew his hand. Seeing Xiao Tianci sit there without even inviting him to sit, he cursed inwardly, but his face remained smiling as he said, "Mr. Xiao, hello, I am..."

"I don't care who you are. If you came looking for me, then speak. I'm very busy right now and have no time to play along with you."

His arrogance was such that the man had not even finished speaking before being cut off. Even with his good temper, his expression changed somewhat.

Thinking of the president's personal instructions, and how important this matter was, he took a breath to calm the anger in his chest and told himself not to stoop to the level of such a person. Sooner or later, Xiao Tianci would learn what sort of thing he was.

"Mr. Xiao, first of all, I represent the president in expressing our deep gratitude for your assistance to the government in thwarting the terrorists' latest attack. At the same time, your company's breakthrough success with the shield is not only a contribution to Meihua Company, but to all mankind. In order to express his thanks, the president wishes to invite you to dinner, and also hopes to discuss cooperation regarding the shield. A righteous and heroic man like you surely also hopes to ensure the protection of the people's property and safety. If this cooperation succeeds, then Meihua and the government will be able to establish a longer-term partnership, which would be the best choice for both sides."

Xiao Tianci did not even give the aide the chance to fully introduce himself, yet his words were still quite proper. With just a few sentences, he made their purpose clear. Xiao Tianci secretly nodded to himself. Indeed, people who played politics could endure anything.

Xiao Tianci's face still carried a trace of disdain, wearing the air of a man who believed himself above the heavens and the earth, the most formidable of all. "Wouldn't it have been enough to say cooperation from the start? Why waste so many words? As for those bastards, destroying them didn't require your thanks. They had the bad luck to cross me. As for the shield, tell me how you want to cooperate."

Although he was inwardly very displeased, hearing his tone made it seem there was hope, and he hurriedly said, "Mr. Xiao, because this matter is rather significant, I think it would be better if you discussed it in detail when you meet the president."

"Bang..."

Xiao Tianci slammed the table, shaking over the cups placed on it, and said most unhappily, "Damn it, so you're just a messenger. Since you can't make the decision, why are you wasting my time here?"

With that, he had already stood up. When the aide saw this, he knew things could not go on like this. No matter what Xiao Tianci was like, if he failed to invite him, then it would be his own responsibility. He hurried forward and said, "Mr. Xiao, please wait. This matter cannot be explained in just a few words. Please give me some time..."

Xiao Tianci had already passed by him. The aide tried to chase after him and speak, but he was already being held down by Lu Man. Seeing Xiao Tianci leave, he grew anxious. At that moment, his phone rang. He opened it and loudly said, "Mr. Xiao, it's the president on the phone."

Seeing that Xiao Tianci had already reached the door, he was angry and anxious, yet Lu Man's hand on him prevented him from moving an inch. When had he ever suffered such treatment? This Xiao Tianci was simply too arrogant. Who did he think he was, to not even place the president in his eyes?

"Let him go."

Fang Meng appeared again at the doorway. Only after Lu Man heard Fang Meng's words did he release his hand. Fang Meng said, "Come here."

Xiao Tianci was standing right at the door. The aide quickly said a few words into the phone before coming over and handing it to him.

"Mr. Xiao, how is your health? I am currently on my way back to the country. I am truly looking forward to seeing you soon!"

His tone was indeed different. Xiao Tianci also greeted him warmly. "Heh, so it's the president. I am also very much looking forward to meeting you, though I worry that your duties must keep you busy."

For such polite, hollow exchanges, the president of a great world power of course handled them with ease and composure. "Mr. Xiao, rest assured. No matter how busy I am, when you come I will be sure to treat you well. I wonder whether my aide has already spoken with you. I hope we can cooperate smoothly."

Hearing Xiao Tianci's conversation with the president, the aide standing nearby looked even worse than before. If Xiao Tianci truly were merely an arrogant man, then so be it; he would not think much of it. But hearing Xiao Tianci's tone while speaking to the president of M Country made everything different. Hmph, so this was just a trick to toy with him, to look down on him because his rank and status were insufficient.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Watching Xiao Tianci chatting and laughing on the phone with the president, he wanted nothing more than to rush over and beat him up at once.

Of course, that was only his fantasy. He would never dare actually make a move at such a time. Just look at those bodyguards; the moment his hand went out, before it even touched Xiao Tianci, he would probably be finished.

After a few more sentences, the conversation naturally turned to the shield. Hearing the president again speak of wanting to jointly research and develop the shield with Huamei, he naturally also mentioned many benefits. But Xiao Tianci knew very well that he could not even get in touch with the research lab right now, so where was there any shield to speak of? He had only once seen some matters related to it while browsing through his father's private computer, and it seemed the lab had always been researching it.

So he had no shield at all, much less any possibility of cooperating. After listening to him finish, Xiao Tianci's tone suddenly turned much colder. "Mr. President, since you keep saying this is for the protection of the people's property and lives, and for peace, then it's very simple. Just like Huamei's technology products before, we will also treat this as a product and sell it on the market. When the time comes, if you need installation or want to place an order, I think that will certainly be no problem."

There was silence on the other end. After a while, a faint laugh came through. "Heh, Mr. Xiao, your personality is very much like your father's."

Damn it. If I don't resemble my father, do I resemble your grandfather instead?

He snorted through his nose. After a brief pause, the man on the other end said, "Mr. Xiao, I believe you understand very well how much power this technology would have if used in the military. Though you are Chinese, Huamei has already taken root in M Country. Moreover, as the world's foremost power, M Country can certainly elevate you to an even higher summit."

Xiao Tianci laughed. "Haha, forget it. I have acrophobia. Heights make me dizzy. I already feel dizzy now. Since the president says I resemble my father, you should know that continuing this conversation would only waste both your time and mine. Oh, and most importantly, wasting your phone bill would be bad. Even if it's public money, it should still be saved."

The other side was stunned for a moment, clearly not immediately catching the teasing meaning in Xiao Tianci's words. Then he understood. "It seems Mr. Xiao is very determined."

"Ha... You guessed right, Mr. President. I am indeed very determined. All right, Mr. President, I won't waste your phone bill any longer. I have a lot to do now. When the shield is made public and goes on sale, I will certainly invite you to come as well."

With that, he snapped the phone shut and casually tossed it back to the aide.

The aide was now even more stunned. Watching Xiao Tianci leave without even turning his head, while Lu Man and three others kept him surrounded in the middle all the way until they escorted him out of the hospital, he felt somewhat dazed. Once outside, although the mission had not been completed, there was at least no blame to bear. At the same time, he felt much better. Yes, even the president had been toyed with by them; what did his own little grievance amount to?

At that moment, the phone rang again.

"Mm, good. Understood. I'll take care of it right away. There won't be any problems."

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