Chapter 604 - Settling the debt: The First Favor (II) (1/2)

Lu Jin did not pull his eyes away from Xiong Zhi.

Xiong Zhi meanwhile pretended to be calm. Fortunately, because of her innate talent of having a cold and expressionless face, or plainly put, her facial paralysis, she appeared to be indifferent about it.

”Of course, I remember it. As you've also heard, this is a promise I made for Mr. Liu. Not for you, Mr. Lu Jin.”

She was cautious and a bit exasperated.

For all the big shots that could be behind Liu Fung, why must it be Lu Jin of all people?

Xiong Zhi knew that any favor this man would ask was sure to bite them back. It must be nothing good.

Lu Jin ignored Xiong Zhi's side remarks. ”Since Miss Xiong Zhi had a good memory and the blood of the Xiong who never turned back on their words, then this promise will be kept, correct?”

Xiong Zhi nodded calmly. ”Of course. Like I said, I made this promise to Mr. Liu. So Mr. Liu should discuss this with me,” she emphasized again.

She was blatantly telling them that since she made the promise to Mr. Liu, it should be Mr. Liu who asked her for the favor and not him!

Nor any other people!

But alas, it was only wishful thinking because Liu Fung was loyal to Lu Jin. And also, the exchange for two favors happened to be Lu Jin's idea.

The smiling Liu Fung spoke up for Lu Jin. ”Miss Xiong Zhi is right, of course. You can think of us as one person, his will is my will. We are here today to discuss the matter about the favors. Today, I will collect half of the debt.”

Xiong Zhi's brows twitched.

Collect half of the debt?

They were going to use only one favor today.

Xiong Zhi stared at the two men indifferently. Inwardly, she was feeling annoyed.

There was no way back to turn them down. Lu Jin had the recording as evidence in his hands. He could use this to threaten Xiong Zhi's reputation, that he could publicize the recording if she did not keep her words.

For other people, this naturally did not pose much of a threat as there was no official contract signed.

However, for a business leader and a Xiong heiress who was striving to establish her prestige on the top of the society, this would be a huge blow on her reputation for transparency and credibility.

Transparency and credibility in the business industry was extremely important, it could spell the rise and fall of the company stock price and was also a core factor in securing deals, investments, and even talents.

(A/n: Like what happened to CJ- a jewelry company in the first volume. Their reputation was destroyed and they went bankrupt because the public did not trust them anymore. Investors pulled out from them and their business partners terminated their contract. )

Once people learned that she did not hold her end of deal, the trust of the people wanting to make business with her would fall and it could affect her hard-won reputation terribly. IHZHI's reputation in the business world would plummet down. Even the board of directors and shareholders in the Xiong Empire who were holding bad intentions might persuade Old Xiong to think twice in having her as the heir.

If Lu Jin used that weapon in a proper way, he could damage Xiong Zhi's reputation greatly.

Xiong Zhi's brain worked fast. If she had no choice but to turn back from her words, she could still hold IHZHI up. Her title and position as the heiress of the Xiong Empire might be compromised into a precarious situation, but she definitely had a chance with IHZHI, although the reputation would likely make their operations harder than before.