The office fell silent once again.

Old Hou lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag, the smoke obscuring his somber face.

He had just realized that using such official hard tactics to pressure Qi Yun might backfire, possibly scaring Wei Zhe away, which could result in nothing but trouble.

After all, the incident with the last photovoltaic project showed that this guy clearly yields to soft approaches, not hard ones.

Having Qin Minghui communicate with Qi Yun was his first step in extending an olive branch, and if this matter succeeded, Qin Minghui could also bask in the reflected glory. There’s no reason the latter wouldn’t put forth his best efforts.

With this thought, Old Hou’s mood calmed slightly as he began to think about the next step.

...

The two office locations were not far apart, and forty minutes later, Xu Yunliang’s car drove into City F’s compound.

Qin Minghui had already received the secretary’s notification in advance and personally met Xu Yunliang at the elevator to guide him to the office.

"Secretary Xu, what brings you here in person? A phone call would suffice for any instructions," Qin Minghui said with a smile, inviting him to sit.

Technically, the two were at the same level, but the latter was the chief steward, and he also had a seat at the table during major meetings, so his status was much higher.

As Xu Yunliang sat on the sofa, he accepted the tea Qin Minghui handed him, a friendly smile on his face. "Qin, no need for formalities. I came over because there’s something I want to discuss with you, and I’d like to hear your thoughts."

"Please, Secretary Xu, I’m all ears," Qin Minghui said humbly, fully aware that whatever brought him here was no trivial matter.

"It’s like this, President Qi Yun, you should be quite familiar with him, right?"

Putting down his teacup, Xu Yunliang spoke in a calm tone, "Recently, he’s invited an esteemed guest from across the straits, Mr. Wei Zhe, the CEO of T-Base Electric, and along with him is Mr. Zhang Wei of Evergreen Shipping. This matter has Old Hou’s full attention."

He mentioned Old Hou, instantly adding weight to his words, causing Qin Minghui to sit up straight, his expression serious.

"We’re both aware of Mr. Wei’s significance in the semiconductor industry. Though his visit is personal, if we seize this opportunity to express our welcome and attention, showcasing our favorable business environment, it could greatly benefit S’s image and development."

"Old Hou is particularly keen on this opportunity," Xu Yunliang emphasized once more.

Qin Minghui nodded in agreement, "Secretary Xu is right. This is indeed a rare opportunity. We should express our welcome and attention."

"Yes, but..."

Switching gears, Xu Yunliang furrowed his brow slightly, "It seems Comrade Qi Yun is somewhat resistant to this, and previous communications haven’t been smooth."

"Old Hou’s view is that this matter needs to be handled delicately, not forcibly. Qi Yun is one of S’s outstanding young entrepreneurs, and we must nurture his enthusiasm. Mr. Wei is a distinguished guest, and proper etiquette is crucial."

"Qin, you are Bird City’s leader and have close ties with these entrepreneurs; your words carry weight."

The higher-ups hope the city will take the initiative, showing concern for Comrade Qi Yun’s business in the name of serving enterprises, subtly conveying our attention and goodwill during communications."

"If possible, create an opportunity for the leaders here in S to have a brief exchange with Mr. Wei, which would be ideal. Of course, everything must respect the guest’s wishes and schedule."

Although these words were vague and the reasons dignified, Qin Minghui quickly grasped their underlying intent.

This was to make him the intermediary.

Qin Minghui quickly calculated in his mind.

This matter was challenging, and he knew Qi Yun and Old Hou didn’t quite get along.

Qi Yun even dared to disregard Old Hou’s face; though he had some ties with him, would Qi Yun show him respect? If he also got a cold shoulder, it would be more than just his own embarrassment...

But on second thought, if this was successfully managed, the benefits would be tangible.

Not only would he bask in the glory, but he’d also leave a good impression with Old Hou. More importantly, since Xu Yunliang had personally come, there was no room for refusal. Otherwise, he would truly face difficulties in the future.

Considering these stakes, Qin Minghui quickly made up his mind.

"I understand Secretary Xu’s instructions! This matter is indeed significant, concerning S’s image and the reputation of our business environment." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Please assure Secretary Xu and Old Hou that I’ll take on this task, personally communicate with Comrade Qi Yun, and do my best to convey the concern and attention of S’s leaders, striving for a result that satisfies everyone."

Hearing this, Xu Yunliang showed a satisfied smile.

That was precisely the assurance he wanted; how to execute it and to what extent was Qin Minghui’s concern.

"We trust Qin to handle this matter. We await your good news from S."

"It’s my duty. Please, Secretary Xu, take care. Let me see you off."

Hastily, Qin Minghui stood up, courteously escorting Xu Yunliang to the elevator, only relaxing once the doors closed, the smile on his face fading slightly.

Back in his office, Qin Minghui paced back and forth, pondering how to broach the subject with Qi Yun.

A few days ago, Zhang Dayong hadn’t reached out since leaving the disciplinary office, which made him sense something was amiss.

Could it be that Qi Yun was dissatisfied with his performance in this matter and conveyed some message to Zhang Dayong?

This thought made Qin Minghui feel a slight unease in his heart.

Compared to himself, Zhang Dayong clearly had a closer relationship with Qi Yun, acting as an important bridge between him and Qi Yun.