It’s rare for you to see things so openly, Bai Xiaosheng. Hou Yuncheng nodded but couldn’t help saying to Bai Xiaosheng, "But what if that Mr. Brown is still angry and there’s a next time?"

Given the two recent incidents, that Mr. Brown certainly isn’t someone easy to deal with.

No one can guarantee he will stop!

Faced with Hou Yuncheng’s concern, Bai Xiaosheng was silent for two seconds, his eyes turning slightly cold, "What you said, I can’t say it’s impossible. But there’s an old saying in Huaxia—"

"Once or twice, but not thrice!"

...

As Hou Yuncheng and Bai Xiaosheng were talking, that old Mr. Brown was taking a phone call.

The caller was none other than Caroline, the Regional President of North America.

"Mr. Brown, I heard that Mr. Bai Xiaosheng has been hitting walls in your territory, unable to secure even one deal recently. It’s quite satisfying, isn’t it?" Caroline said with a somewhat gloating tone over the phone.

"Miss Caroline, your information is certainly up-to-date." Mr. Brown said blandly over the phone.

Caroline chuckled softly, "Everyone knows about my friction with Mr. Bai Xiaosheng here in North America. ’Oil and water’ wouldn’t be too much to say. Naturally, I’m quite concerned about him. Seeing him hit setbacks, I admit it makes me happy. In the future, why don’t we join hands and teach this young man from Huaxia who thinks he’s on par with us a lesson? Let him know that recklessness leads to no good end, and not to dismiss even us!"

Caroline was evidently seizing the moment of old Brown targeting Bai Xiaosheng, offering an olive branch, looking to form an alliance.

Mr. Brown glanced at the caller ID, letting out a cold smile.

He, being so shrewd, surely understood what this sly woman had in mind.

She merely wanted to take this opportunity to pull him, a neutral party, over to their camp, to weaken the "Eastern" faction within the group.

"The Huaxia kid does need some lessons to realize his own limits." Old Brown immediately replied, "But these old bones of mine are still capable, no need for help. Besides, Caroline, I’m at an age where I might step down in a year or two, or even sooner. I really lack the energy to team up, please understand."

Old Brown deflected like practicing Tai Chi.

On the other end of the phone, Caroline raised an eyebrow.

Old Brown’s talk about stepping down soon has been going on for a year and a half. Now he says it’ll still be another year or two, she really doesn’t know if the old guy has a clear intention of retiring internally.

Despite Caroline’s inner sarcasm, her words painted a different picture, "You’re still so vigorous, why step down so early? That would be a loss to the group, I personally strongly disagree..."

"Oh really? I thought you all had already chosen my successor and were supporting him to step up early." Mr. Brown half-jokingly, half-seriously interjected, cutting her off.

Caroline sent a "special envoy" to the African region to secretly connect with Executive Vice President Cilio, involving both clandestine and overt collaborations for performances, leaving no clearer intention.

"Come on, Mr. Brown, we..." Hearing Brown’s words, Caroline hurriedly tried to explain.

"Alright, Caroline, some matters, as long as we understand them in our hearts, that’s enough. Just like this time, our tacit cooperation stopped all issues with those ten enterprises, sparing both you and Cilio from accountability, isn’t that great? I only hope that before I step down, neither you nor Vice Chairman Morgan will worry about the successor on my side!"

Old Brown delivered these words neither too hard nor too soft, serving as a reminder.

Caroline on the other end fell silent for a second before laughing, "You’re absolutely right, I’ll remember that."

Subsequently, their conversation didn’t last much longer and soon ended.

At that moment, there was a knock on old Brown’s office door.

"Come in." Old Brown set down the phone and said in a deep voice.

Someone entered with a smile, a white corpulent man, the Executive President of Zhenbei Group’s African region, Tike.

Old Brown had settled here, and he specially came to accompany him.

"Mr. Brown, I’ve arranged everything as you instructed. We’ll keep track of all Bai Xiaosheng’s movements, and any discussions he has in Xisuli, we’ll know right away." Tike said to old Brown with a smile.

Though Tike is also an Executive President, to old Brown, he seemed like an eager subordinate.

"Thank you, Tike." Old Brown smiled warmly at Tike, showing friendliness, "I was in a bad mood when I arrived and took it out on you a bit, I hope you don’t mind."

"No, no, there were many things I didn’t do well." Tike quickly smiled.

Absolute diligence, absolute respect.

Tike was brought to his current position by Old Brown, who knew Tike was capable and had a heart full of gratitude, being absolutely obedient to him, naturally satisfying.

"Alright, regarding Bai Xiaosheng, you just keep an eye on him, report any movement to me." Old Brown said with a friendly smile.

"Are we still continuing to target him?" Tike asked a bit cautiously, "But that Bai Xiaosheng... holds a significant position in the Supervisory Department, if we keep at it, won’t it be... won’t it be inappropriate..."

Old Brown squinted his eyes slightly, "What, are you scared?"

Tike quickly waved it off, "No, no, it’s as you say, no matter if it’s the head of the Supervisory Department himself coming, what of it! I’m just afraid it might bring some trouble for you!"

Old Brown, seeing Tike somewhat anxious, laughed, knowing he meant well.

"Alright, I have my own discretion, you just go about your work." Old Brown said, his gaze far and deep, "That Bai thinks he can run wild in my territory, my anger won’t be so easily appeased; he’ll be shown fully!"

Mr. Tike opened his mouth to say something more, but seeing old Brown unwilling to listen anymore, he promptly closed his mouth and respectfully withdrew.

As he exited and reached the door, Tike encountered Cilio, his deputy, a stern-looking black man.

"Mr. Cilio, you’ve come." Tike greeted with a smile.

"Hmm." Cilio grunted, barely acknowledging Tike, and reached out to knock on the door.

Tike embarrassedly smiled and turned away, but after walking a few steps, he looked back, giving Cilio a meaningful glance before finally turning quickly away.

Having been permitted to enter, Cilio walked into Mr. Brown’s office.

"You’re here." Mr. Brown looked at Cilio, his expression shadowed with coldness, unlike his kind disposition with Tike.

"What’s going on, how did you get entangled with Caroline, that woman is trouble! She sold you out and you didn’t even know!" Mr. Brown frowned.

Cilio hung his head, muttering, "If it weren’t for that Bai stirring things up, no one would have known."

"Idiot!" Old Brown angrily snapped, "You don’t reflect at all! Do you know how much effort I expended to squash this matter! You just want the performance, want to climb up?"

Cilio, seemingly provoked, retorted loudly, "With Tike, he doesn’t deserve to be the Regional President of Africa? I would never accept him being above me!"

"That position is not yours to take!" Old Brown got furious as Cilio dared to confront him when no one else was around.

In the shouting, with no bystanders, Cilio decidedly let loose, angrily saying, "I don’t understand how you think, actually supporting that adopted son, Tike the pig to rise above, I’m your real son, my father!"

Old Brown’s gaze was sharp, "Bastard, don’t call me father in the workplace! Call me Mr. Brown!"