Chapter 169 - Theres a Mole! (1/2)

“Did you… bargain?” Pei Qian asked.

Assistant Xin smiled. “I had wanted to, Boss Pei. In the end, I didn’t even manage to say anything; and Manager Zhang proactively raised the topic.”

Pei Qian felt that he was growing a little dizzy. That made sense though. No matter how eloquent Assistant Xin might be, how could she have unilaterally cut the rent by so much?

There was more than meets the eye!

Manager Zhang was only the manager for Shenhua View; where would he get so much authority to decide on reducing rent and waiving a deposit?

If 4 yuan had been the standard, cutting it to 3.5 yuan would already be not bad while reducing it to 3 yuan would be a very generous discount. However, it was immediately cut all the way to 1.5 yuan per square feet?

Who was he trying to kid?

In an instant, that was several hundreds of thousands less a month. If Manager Zhang had this authority, he would have long moved on to something better instead of just being a manager of this building, right?

There must be something going on behind the scenes!

If it was someone else, they would have happily accepted this offer.

Pei Qian couldn’t.

Reducing a small sum might be alright; Pei Qian could still try to do something else before this cycle ended. The crux was this was a substantial amount and a huge problem for him!

This time was reducing rent; what about the next time?

Something worse might even happen!

Hence, Pei Qian was determined to find out the chief culprit; once he knew his enemy, then he would know how to fight and overcome. He would be able to take into account all these uncertain variables when he calculated his losses next time. If not, he might bring himself everlasting grief with just one misstep.

Pei Qian thought for a moment. “Bring me to go find Manager Zhang.”

Assistant Xin nodded. “En, my thoughts exactly. Boss Pei should make a trip yourself.”

Assistant Xin also felt that something was fishy, and this matter needed investigating? Indeed, great minds think alike!

Pei Qian couldn’t help but think that.

A knock rang out as an administrative assistant handed Assistant Xin a bag of fruits.

Pei Qian, “?”

Assistant Xin said, “Manager Zhang had been so generous in reducing our rent by so much; I also felt that Boss Pei should personally pay a visit to thank him. I had arranged for someone to buy some fruits to bring along.”

Pei Qian, “???”

Was this what I meant when I said I wanted to go and find Manager Zhang? Who said I wanted to thank him?!

However, seeing Assistant Xin carrying the fruits and waiting for him, Pei Qian was speechless as he stood up. “Let’s go, then.”

The two went straight to Manager Zhang’s office.

The door was ajar, and Manager Zhang was busy with some work.

Pei Qian wanted to knock on the door to catch Manager Zhang’s attention when Manager Zhang already saw Pei Qian as he stood up and said, “Boss Pei! What brings you here today? Please come in and have a seat!”

Pei Qian was a little flabbergasted.

Something was indeed up!

Manager Zhang had not been like this the last time.

Although Manager Zhang had been polite the previous time, it had been more of professional courtesy as part of the service he provided. Whenever Manager Zhang spoke to the bosses of companies in the building, he always had the same manner and posture.

This time, Manager Zhang’s attitude was more respectful, a little like when someone was addressing his superior.

Pei Qian sat down suspiciously.

“Manager Zhang had given Tengda such a big discount for our rental; Boss Pei has especially come to express his thanks,” Xin Hailu left the fruits on the table as she smiled and said.

Pei Qian begrudgingly forced a smile. “Yes… that’s right.”

Manager Zhang hurriedly said politely, “Sigh, Boss Pei, you shouldn’t stand on formalities! It is our honor that Tengda has decided to set up shop in Shenhua View. It is part of my job to look out for our tenants; how could I accept your gifts? It should be me going to pay you a visit, actually.”

Pei Qian was speechless, “…”

Something was not right; something was really amiss! Pei Qian was more and more certain that some things that he didn’t know about were happening behind his back; these were important facts at that.

Pei Qian decided to cut to the chase.

“Manager Zhang, let’s be frank with each other. Reducing the rent to 1.5 per square feet… it wasn’t you who made this decision, right? Regarding this matter, I am very grateful and I wish to know which saint had rendered aid to Tengda. I hope that one day, I would be able to return the favor.”