Hua Xiaomo looked at him, not knowing what to say. But Qi Longbing’s handsome face still wore that faint smile, giving him a sense of familiar strangeness.

"President Qi, what exactly did you want to see me for?" Hua Xiaomo asked, his voice heavy. He didn’t want to suspect him, but with so much happening at his company, he couldn’t help but feel doubtful.

Qi Longbing regarded him, one hand in his pocket, the other resting on his own chin, as if deep in thought.

It was a while before he spoke. "Do you mean to say that if I hadn’t mentioned your company’s affairs, you wouldn’t have come at all?"

Qi Longbing asked indifferently. A trace of displeasure flickered in his heart. However, he quickly masked his emotions and continued to observe the other man.

"Come in," Qi Longbing said as he stepped aside, ushering him into the room.

Hua Xiaomo hesitated but eventually entered. No one else was present, and the air was very quite.

And when Qi Longbing closed the door, Hua Xiaomo’s heartbeat skipped. Recognizing that only the two of them were in the room, his gaze deepened.

Hua Xiaomo started to feel nervous, but at this moment, he knew he shouldn’t be so tense; he needed to stay calm.

Hua Xiaomo turned to look at Qi Longbing, who had already poured two glasses of red wine and was extending one to him.

Hua Xiaomo hesitated but reached out to take the glass.

"President Qi, I want to know if the complaints lodged against my company’s game software have anything to do with you?" Hua Xiaomo asked, looking directly at him. He knew he needed this answer.

Qi Longbing smiled. "It seems Director Hua cares a great deal about the money you’ve lost. But aren’t you very wealthy? How could such losses matter to you!"

Hua Xiaomo was startled. "Are you really involved?"

Qi Longbing’s smile turned cold, his eyes twinkling darkly. However, he quickly replied, "Do you think that if I wanted to target your gaming company, I would need to stoop to such methods?"

Hua Xiaomo’s brows tightened. He could read between the lines of Qi Longbing’s statement, which seemed to imply no involvement with his company.

"So you’re saying it wasn’t you behind all this?" Hua Xiaomo said.

"Indeed, it wasn’t me who masterminded it, but I do know the person who did. However, there’s no need for me to tell you that," Qi Longbing responded coldly, his eyes carrying a hint of indifference as he looked at Hua Xiaomo.

"Do you think that just by owning a gaming company and making money you can become invincible and look down on everything? Hua Xiaomo, you’re really a frog in a well, don’t you know?"

"Are you unaware that many eyes are coveting this piece of cake? So they use methods to suppress and strike at you; it’s quite normal. Also, your company was too arrogant in its initial stages, you know?"

"With regards to your company’s promotions and other aspects, you have severely squeezed out others. So how could you expect to monopolize such a large share of the gaming market? Many others are eager for a piece of the action, do you understand?"

Qi Longbing spoke slowly, swirling the red wine in his glass, his eyes holding a discerning gleam.

"Now that you’ve given up on going public, I see no reason to strive for your cause any further. It was your own decision to give up, wasn’t it? So, you’ll have to fight for your presence in this second-rate market and grit your teeth to survive this calamity," Qi Longbing said indifferently. He then paced slowly around the room, contemplating before he continued.

"The reason I sought you out today is merely to reminisce, nothing more. If you want to misconstrue my intentions, there’s nothing I can do about it."

Qi Longbing swiftly lifted his glass of wine and leisurely began to drink, his expression exuding immense contentment.

Hua Xiaomo observed him, noting the unparalleled contentment on his handsome face. The slight curl at the edge of his sensuous lips seemed to hint at endless wisdom.

Listening to his lengthy speech, Hua Xiaomo suddenly felt a chill settling in his heart. But now, with no way out, he had to press on.

As for how far he would have to endure and what his company would turn into, he hadn’t considered it at all.

But for now, all he could do was grit his teeth and endure. As for everything else, he really didn’t want to think too much about it.

"Thank you for telling me so much. My mind is in turmoil. President Qi, I won’t keep you company any longer. I’ll be leaving now," Hua Xiaomo said. He set down the wine glass, gathered his handbag, and prepared to leave. But just as he reached the door, he heard a voice from behind.

"Hua Xiaomo, I’ll be staying here for another week. Of course, within this week, you can continue with your own affairs; it’s unrelated to me, and I won’t intervene in your company’s matters. However, if you decide to seek my help, that will be a different story." Qi Longbing finished his wine slowly.

His eyes held a faint glimmer, laced with a trace of scheming.

Hua Xiaomo turned his cheek to look at him.

"If I ask for your help, would you help me?" Hua Xiaomo asked after pondering for a moment. Maybe the current rate of loss had already exceeded his expectations. If the losses continued at this pace, he truly didn’t know how much longer his company could withstand. Yet, if he could get support from another company, he believed he could overcome this difficulty.

"Are you asking for my help? But why don’t I sense any sincerity in your attitude? If you request it, then, depending on our personal relationship, I might consider lending a hand. Of course, that also depends on your own efforts and whether they satisfy me." Qi Longbing said this as he walked over to a sofa and slowly sat down, casually crossing his legs. He no longer looked at Hua Xiaomo, his gaze fixed on the large screen ahead. He quickly pressed a button on the remote control, and a movie started playing on the screen.

Hua Xiaomo glanced at him. He knew, of course, what Qi Longbing was implying and what he was asking for. Suddenly, a wave of sadness washed over him from deep within.

If he could do it all over again, back when he first returned to City A, had he not agreed to Qi Longbing’s request then, he would be even less likely to agree to anything now.

Besides, with Qi Longbing’s current status, it was unreasonable for him to make such a request. Wasn’t Qi Longbing already married? He had a wife; he was married. Hua Xiaomo wouldn’t have any further entanglement with him.