**********

CHAPTER 177

If Ye Cheng said it wasn't funny, then he was lying but he tried his best not to laugh out loud as this was a very important situation.

"I am so ashamed for the way I spoke the other day, Ye Cheng. I guess I was just too hurt by the whole incident. This was a project I was looking forward to."

"Then you should have thought about it well. Who do you think it affected the most? That was a business plan that would have ensured my company stayed on top and also move yours in the business ranking but everything fell apart because your security wasn't as tight on the way you handled things."

"I am sorry."

"I know. I hope you fix things up on your end. You see, they couldn't dare come close to my office as the security placed on it is something that would give them away as soon as they tried nonsense. I just hope if we ever do business again, things like this wouldn't happen."

Mr Kang's face looked solemn now. Coming here wasn't as easy for him but he threw his pride away, so he could correct the mistake he made.

"I apologize sincerely. I really do. It was from my own carelessness and I would make sure to fix things."

"How do you intend to fix that? You Xaiowen had gone ahead to announce the exact same business deal."

"Just because he did, doesn't mean we cannot do ours. We just need to modify some things."

"I hate being thought pff as a copy cat."

"We can make him withdraw it. This is a stolen work and his company could be run down because of it. We have proofs and CCTV footages to show."

"As true as that may be, send him a warning and inform him of the problem associated with such. Show him the proofs and while at that, teach the Li Group a lesson. This would teach them never to cross my path again."

"I will personally see to it that it is done."

"If you can do that, then I can let this mishap go." He was stern about the whole things as he knew one person would soon start calling, telling him he wasn't handling the business well.

"I will see to it that things are done right. Please, my sincerest apology to Li Jing. I know she must be devasted about what happened."

Personally speaking, Mr Kang knew how much the whole project meant to them and how well Li Jing was looking forward to it as well.

Even though it wasn't his fault and it was Ye Cheng's company's, he still shouldn't have spoken that way.

"I will let her know as soon as she arrives." Mr Kang checked his watch to see the time. "I know, it is already 7:40 Aam. She should be arriving any minute from now."

"Then I can see her and tender my apology personally."

"As you wish." Ye cheng picked up his phone and put a call through to Han Qing Qing. "Inform Li Jing to come straight to the meeting room once she arrives."

"Yes, sir."

He dropped the telephone and averted his gaze back to Mr Kang. "Let's wait. Care for a cup of coffee?"

"Yes, thank you."

A couple of minutes later, a knock came on the door and it pushed open, presenting Li Jing in a knee-high Black skirt and a nice blue blazers jacket with a black breast tube and a blue high heel to match.

Her hair was packed up into a neat bun, making her slender neck and dazzling earrings with a matching necklace that Ye Cheng got her shine and be more visible.

Everything she wore, only complimented her looks and brought out her dazzling beauty for all to see.

Slowly she walked into the room and bowed her head lightly to both men and greeted. "Good morning sirs."

"Welcome, come and have a seat," Ye Cheng replied her before extending his hand to the seat by his side as his smile never left his lips.

Mr Kang still did not say anything. He was mesmerized by her looks and how well she comported herself. Also, his guilt ate up at him. She had tried to run away from her useless sister but he only succeeded in being a pawn for her sister to get to her and hurt her.

He was lucky she came out of it and Ye Cheng didn't transfer his anger at her.

"Mr Kang, I see you are here today." Li Jing raised her brows at him, suggesting for him to speak which he got the cue and immediately cleared his throat.

"Yes, I am. Good morning. It is nice to see you again, Li Jing."

"Likewise." She darted her gaze to her right-hand side and her eyes locked on Ye Cheng. "You sent for me?"

"Yes, Mr Kang here, has found the culprit. He did a thorough search via his CCTV footage like we requested and found out who did steal the files."

Ye Cheng looked at Mr Kang and gave him the go-ahead to speak with Li Jing. After all, he was the one who wanted to meet with the young scholar.

"Yes. Everything Ye Cheng has said is true. It is sad though but I figured it out. Your sister, Li Xiu had people steal those files from me and most probably sent it to You Xiaowen. Although I do not know what she hoped to achieve if she wanted to get back at you or something."

"I do have a pretty good understanding of that though. As much as she wanted to get back at me and Ye Cheng for the embarrassment they faced at the party, they also may have given it to Mr You so as to redeem themselves. I checked the stock market, the Duan Group had fallen considerably due to the withdrawal by many prominent companies from their business."

"In other words, if they could get on You Xaiowen's favour, then the others would consider doing business with them once they got wind that they brought the business plan," Mr Kang explained for her.

"Exactly but they seem to have been forgetting something."

"What is that?"