Meng Yuguan and the others turned pale, but Xie Ran didn’t even change his posture, he still leaned back slightly with a relaxed pose against the chair, expressionless, looking down at the others indifferently, as if inspecting subordinates. Compared to the elders of the Meng family present, he looked more like a superior.

At that moment, he really was the superior.

Xie Ran hadn’t offered any conditions to Meng Yuguan from beginning to end, he had just stated a few facts plainly.

The growth of Meng family’s stock price, the increase in the valuation of the drone company, Meng Yuguan’s personal wealth growth, and the new contract terms that Xinxiang wanted to offer Xie Ran.

Just a few numbers were enough to explain why he was “dissatisfied” with the proposal Meng Yuguan had put forward earlier.

And Meng Yuguan could not find any words to refute.

These figures were all publicly available in the market, and didn’t even require any private means.

The new contract wasn’t surprising, any competitor would do the same. Meng Yuguan wasn’t unable to think of it, he just underestimated Xie Ran and assumed someone who foolishly shared technology wouldn’t understand business negotiations.

Meng Feixuan’s sarcastic remarks made Meng Yuguan so choked up he couldn’t speak.

Those from Meng Yuguan’s faction looked at each other and also had nothing to say.

The scene became somewhat awkward, but luckily Meng Sien remained rational and stepped forward at the right moment, saying: “Mr. Xie, isn’t this a bit inappropriate?”

Xie Ran glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and said: “Please explain in detail.”

Meng Sien kept smiling but his tone was less polite: “At the opening ceremony of Haimeng that day, it was Mr. Xie who voluntarily proposed to share the technology with the Meng family. You didn’t put forward any conditions then, but now you are dissatisfied with the Meng family’s proposal. Doesn’t this count as… raising the price after the fact?”

As soon as Meng Sien spoke, Meng Yuguan and the others immediately perked up and angrily glared at Xie Ran: “Exactly, this was your own proposal. We never forced you.”

“Little Mr. Xie, this is a bit unfair.”

The reason Meng Yuguan and his group were so sure Xie Ran was inexperienced and easy to fool was precisely because Xie Ran hadn’t set any conditions on that day, and had indeed given the technology to Meng Siyun afterward.

Therefore, even if Xie Ran’s current demands were reasonable, Meng Yuguan and his group insisted on keeping control.

Since Xie Ran hadn’t set conditions when he handed over the technology, he no longer had the right to initiate terms.

Meng Yuguan and the others seized this point to attack fiercely, trying to morally overpower Xie Ran.

Meng Yucheng had worried that Xie Ran would ask for excessive conditions, so he had remained silent earlier. But when Meng Yuguan and his group started to pick apart Xie Ran’s earlier words, he couldn’t stand it anymore.

Xie Ran was willing to hand over the technology because of his loyalty to Meng Siyun, and there was no formal contract with the Meng family. The Meng family was a large group, and holding on to a single sentence too tightly made them look like bullies.

Meng Yucheng immediately composed his expression and was about to support him, but then saw Xie Ran glance at Meng Yuguan with an indifferent look, completely unbothered by their words, and calmly said: “It seems the elders here really value oral promises.”

Meng Yuguan proudly said: “Naturally. The Meng family got to where it is today by honoring unbreakable contracts.”

No matter what, he had to firmly hold onto this point. Only by morally overpowering Xie Ran could they avoid being too passive even if the proposal had to be compromised.

“I agree with your point,” Xie Ran suddenly put down his coffee cup, took out a phone from his pocket, and said: “Without contract spirit, no person or company can go far.”

As he spoke, he pressed the play button on the phone, and a recording played. It was unmistakably Meng Yuguan’s voice:

“If you can solve this… I personally fully support Siyun taking over as president.”

The audio had been cleaned with technology and was clear and touching.

Everyone present: “…!!”

Damn, they had all forgotten about this!

Meng Yuguan, who was holding a tea cup, almost spilled his tea when the recording played. He quickly put the cup on the table with a loud “clack.”

Meng Feixuan made an exaggerated sound, pretending to be surprised: “Sir, I didn’t hear clearly, play it again!”

Xie Ran actually played it twice more. Each time, it was a public execution of Meng Yuguan.

Meng Yucheng, who had intended to speak up for Xie Ran, exhaled and sat back comfortably.

The elders in his faction also showed expressions of enjoying the show.

Meng Yucheng no longer worried about Xie Ran making unreasonable demands.

Not to mention Xie Ran clearly supported Meng Siyun, the fact that he could hold Meng Yuguan firmly was enough for Meng Yucheng to look at him differently.

Obviously, there was no need to continue the negotiation. Meng Yuguan and his group had pushed “contract spirit” too far, and completely blocked their own retreat.

Meng Yuguan was speechless, but Xie Ran still had more to say. He then sat up straight, straightened his back, immediately gaining a commanding aura as he looked down on everyone present and said calmly: “Also, when I said I would share my technology with Meng Siyun, it wasn’t with the Meng family. I hope you don’t misunderstand.”

Meng Yuguan and the others froze on the spot.

So from beginning to end, Xie Ran had never made any “oral promises” to the Meng family.

His technology always belonged only to him and Meng Feixuan.

The Meng family had no right to bargain with him.

Meng Yuguan personally tried to manipulate Xie Ran but was overwhelmed and utterly defeated. No one from his faction present could restrain Xie Ran.

In the end, Meng Yuguan and his group had to agree to remake the proposal, and the new proposal’s content had to match the contract from Xinxiang, meaning they had to give more than the plan Meng Feixuan initially designed according to the group’s regulations.

Meng Yuguan nearly strained himself in frustration but was helpless.

The specific proposal needed to be discussed again by the group’s senior management, and no decision could be made on the spot.

Meng Yucheng was in a good mood, saw it was about time, and stood up to say: “Let’s eat first.”

Meng Yuguan, still embarrassed and wanting everyone to forget his predicament, quickly said: “Yes, yes, it’s time to eat.”

Xie Ran made no comment and naturally got up to push Meng Feixuan’s wheelchair.

Although it was called a casual meal, it was more like a family banquet for the Meng family.

Besides Meng Yucheng and Meng Yuguan’s families, several shareholders of the Meng family also dined together, they were all direct or collateral relatives.

Such family banquets seemed normal for the Meng family. The old mansion’s dining room was large enough to seat a dozen people.

Due to the special shareholder structure, many matters of the Meng family’s companies were usually settled over meals.

The elders of the Meng family entered the dining room, each found a familiar seat, some casting sidelong glances at Xie Ran.

Xie Ran was the only outsider at this banquet. His participation was not only because of the technology he provided but also because of his special relationship with Meng Feixuan.

This was actually a test by the Meng family for this prospective “crown princess.”

In this era, prejudice against sexual orientation wasn’t as strong, but Meng Siyun’s identity was special. In the past, especially Meng Yucheng’s faction, would have had many objections.

Now, they just hoped Xie Ran wouldn’t have too many objections to Meng Siyun.

Meng Yuguan’s faction wished Meng Siyun and Xie Ran would break up on the spot and naturally had many criticisms of Xie Ran.

Especially Meng Yuguan, who stared at Xie Ran throughout the meal, thinking someone from a small family, no matter how smart, couldn’t learn the cultivated temperament and manners from childhood, while the Meng family was a multi-generation noble family whose etiquette showed in the details. During a meal, Xie Ran would definitely reveal shortcomings.

However, to his surprise, from seating to serving to various details during the meal, Xie Ran behaved politely and with great manners, appearing to have more style and depth than others present, not making a single mistake.

Meng Yucheng and his wife did not think the aristocratic rules were very important, nor that Xie Ran needed refined manners to be with Meng Siyun. But Xie Ran’s performance exceeded their expectations, pleasing them greatly.

At the end of the meal, Meng Yucheng couldn’t find a single fault with Xie Ran and felt quite unwilling. Then Meng Sien suddenly said: “Speaking of which, since Mr. Xie is with my brother, he’s half a member of the Meng family. It doesn’t seem right for him to continue live streaming, does it?”

Meng Sien’s words suddenly opened Meng Yuguan’s mind. He had just finished eating and put down his chopsticks with a slight smile: “Indeed. Our Meng family still has some status in Haijing, so we must maintain appearances. If Mr. Xie wants to join the Meng family, he can’t continue doing such a public, flashy job like live streaming. Otherwise, outsiders will laugh at our Meng family.”

Meng Yuguan felt much better after speaking. He wasn’t really thinking about the Meng family or Meng Siyun, he just wanted to humiliate Xie Ran after being annoyed by him earlier.

Therefore, his words disparaged Xie Ran’s work, which was somewhat typical of aristocratic attitudes.

Aristocrats cared about face, while stars and internet celebrities were seen as superficial earners. Even in this era, they still held this prejudice.

After Meng Yuguan spoke, several elders chimed in one by one, regardless of faction, all conservative and arrogant.

“Right, if you want to enter our Meng family, you can’t do live streaming anymore.”

“Meng family members can’t be so flashy.”

“This job pays about two million a year. The Meng family can give you that.”

The elders spoke in turn. Meng Yuguan grew even more smug, thinking no matter how good or arrogant Xie Ran’s technology was, to enter a top aristocratic family, he had to follow aristocratic rules.

In the end, he would have to let the elders control him.

Just as Meng Yuguan was about to say more, Meng Feixuan suddenly put down his chopsticks and looked at them with a mocking expression: “What nonsense are you talking about?”

The voices at the table stopped abruptly. One elder frowned at Meng Feixuan’s attitude and said: “Siyun, we’re just trying to look out for you. If Xie Ran wants to be with you, he can’t ignore the rules, right?”

Meng Feixuan burst out laughing, again in that sarcastic tone: “Did I hear wrong? Equality and freedom are written in the nine-year compulsory education law. And yet someone keeps talking about rules? Next, are we going to restore dynasties? No way, right?”

Meng Feixuan’s sarcastic rebuttal made several elders’ temples twitch. One elder even felt dizzy and pointed at him: “Siyun, what… what are you doing?”

Meng Feixuan crossed his arms: “Just speaking the truth. If you haven’t studied this, I suggest you take some online courses. The aristocracy isn’t short of money, right?”

The elders were speechless.

They never expected that their biggest obstacle to educating Xie Ran was not Xie Ran himself, but their own crown prince.

…No, it seemed Meng Feixuan needed more education than Xie Ran!

Meng Yuguan even suspected that if he had watched Meng Feixuan instead of Xie Ran while eating, he could have found a hundred faults in him.

That wasn’t all. Meng Feixuan then even asked Xie Ran to take out his phone, saying: “So what if you do live streaming? You stream whenever you want. What’s it to you?”

Xie Ran didn’t usually talk while eating and had wanted to finish first before replying to the elders. Unexpectedly, Meng Feixuan couldn’t hold back and challenged them first.

Meng Feixuan took the phone from him, opened the “Big Face Cat” app, and started a live stream on the spot: “Sir, the right to talent and freedom of speech, we are streaming live now!”

Xie Ran: “…” His AI had such a strong competitive spirit.

Xie Ran’s live stream now had quite a high popularity, and many fans had subscribed to notifications. So when Meng Feixuan started the stream, many fans immediately received alerts and logged in, but they were all confused:

【What’s going on? Isn’t this Xiao Ran’s work time?!】

【Oh my god, workaholic Ran is working overtime? My youth is over!】

【Huh, where is this? Who’s this handsome guy?】

【Is this Xiao Ran’s friend? So handsome!!! I approve!】

【I feel this handsome guy looks familiar, like I’ve seen him somewhere.】

Meanwhile, the Meng family elders were shocked: “Siyun, what are you doing?”

“Live streaming. There are over a thousand viewers now,” Meng Feixuan pointed the camera at them: “Come on, say hello to everyone.”

The elders stiffened slightly and sat up straight.

Comments on the stream:

【I remember now, isn’t this Meng Siyun? There was a photo of him in financial news!】

【Wow, it really is him. No wonder he looked familiar!】

【Whoa! Could this be… traveling with the Meng Siyun family?!】