Chapter 416: Chapter 416: Taking Matters into One’s Own Hands

Xu Xiangbei handed the business card he got from Qin Libao to Manager Zhou, which had the official website of Zijin Real Estate on it.

Xu Xiangbei looked at Manager Zhou with an encouraging gaze: "I learned from President Qin that there is a building project in Yanjing that needs smart home technology chips. The bidding documents for this project are on their company’s website. I want you to participate in the bidding and secure this smart home chip project. Do you have the confidence?"

Manager Zhou appeared even more excited than Xu Xiangbei: "Of course, I have confidence. Although I wasn’t in charge of the last project, I participated from beginning to end. I am fully aware of the chip models, performance, and their requirements. I am absolutely confident in securing this project."

Xu Xiangbei was a bit surprised. Manager Zhou was a very honest person. Since he was so confident, it seemed that the project had a chance of success.

Affected by Manager Zhou’s emotions, Xu Xiangbei also excitedly said: "Manager Zhou, this is the first chip project since I took over the company. We must secure it and show those who laughed at us that our Thunderbird Group is alive and kicking again."

"Alright, President Xu, I’ll go prepare the bidding documents now."

"Wait a moment."

Seeing Xu Xiangbei stopping him, Manager Zhou adjusted his glasses and asked suspiciously, "President Xu, is there anything else?"

Xu Xiangbei replied kindly, "Don’t overwork yourself. Health is the most important. If you work yourself into exhaustion and fall ill, it would be a major loss for our company."

Manager Zhou suddenly felt a rush of emotion, nodding vigorously: "Thank you, President Xu. I will remember that."

After going back, Manager Zhou downloaded the bidding documents from the website and found that the project details were exactly the same as the last smart home chip project, like a replica.

This project was entirely within his capability, and within a few hours, he had prepared the bidding documents.

Before the end of the day, Manager Zhou placed the neatly prepared bidding documents on Xu Xiangbei’s desk for his review.

Xu Xiangbei flipped through the newly printed documents, smelling the pleasant scent of the ink.

This Manager Zhou is truly a workaholic, Xu Xiangbei thought with a wry smile: "You’re really impressive, you started preparing at noon and finished printing by the afternoon?"

"Because it’s exactly the same as the previous project, I’m very familiar with the project details, so I prepared the bidding documents quickly."

Browsing through the bidding documents, Xu Xiangbei was baffled; chip programs, specifications, functions—all of this was beyond him.

He pretended to look at a few more pages, then quickly signed them and handed them back to Manager Zhou: "Haha, Manager Zhou, there’s no problem with this document. Go ahead, I trust you."

Manager Zhou had just reached the office door with the documents when he suddenly blacked out and fell to the ground.

Xu Xiangbei was startled and checked his pulse, finding it weak and his face pale—it was hypoglycemia. He quickly dissolved a piece of chocolate in water and fed it to Manager Zhou.

After a while, Manager Zhou woke up on the sofa, looking very unwell. He had been staying up late for several consecutive days, and his body was already weak, causing him to collapse from exhaustion.

Manager Zhou struggled to get up from the sofa. Xu Xiangbei sighed softly: "You need to rest at home for two days to recover. You shouldn’t do anything for these two days."

Hearing that he needed to rest at home for two consecutive days, Manager Zhou looked anxious, holding the bidding documents: "President Xu, this document needs to be delivered to the Zijin Real Estate office in Yanjing by noon tomorrow, or it will miss the deadline. This is a project we are determined to win."

Manager Zhou’s body was too weak to continue working, and his life would be at risk if he pushed himself. He had no choice but to have someone else deliver the bidding documents to Yanjing.

Xu Xiangbei thought deeply and decided he couldn’t trust anyone else to deliver such an important document. He planned to deliver it himself.

Manager Zhou had a relaxed smile: "President Xu, you’ll have to make the trip yourself. You just need to deliver the bid documents. The opening won’t be for at least a week, by which time I should be recovered."

Xu Xiangbei wanted Monica to book a flight to Yanjing for that night, but Monica helplessly replied, "President Xu, there are no flights tonight. The earliest flight to Yanjing is at 8 AM tomorrow morning."

Xu Xiangbei pondered privately. After arriving in Yanjing at 8 in the morning, it would be past 10. It would probably take another hour or two from the airport to Zijin Real Estate. Traffic is severe in Yanjing, and if there’s a traffic jam, reaching the Zijin Real Estate office by noon might be impossible, which would delay things.

Xu Xiangbei checked his watch and decisively decided: "It’s currently 7 PM. I’ll drive now. It only takes seven hours to drive from Earth Sea to Yanjing via the highway, so I should reach Yanjing by 3 AM tomorrow, with plenty of time to deliver the bidding documents."

"Ah Rong, come with me to Yanjing tonight. You’ll drive; take my car. My Porsche is faster."

Ah Rong flicked her smooth bob haircut in defiance: "I don’t like your car. I think it’s slower than my Black King Kong. If we take my Black King Kong to Yanjing, six hours will be enough."

Xu Xiangbei laughed: "Then we definitely need to take my car. Driving at night, safety comes first. This isn’t a race; why drive so fast?"

Ah Rong had to comply with the order, taking the silver Porsche keys from Xu Xiangbei’s hand.

After fastening her seatbelt, Ah Rong revealed a slight, disdainful cold smile, turned the key, and started the silver Porsche. The engine roared like deafening thunder.

Xu Xiangbei smiled proudly, "How is it? Isn’t this engine sound powerful? My car is called Thunder; doesn’t it sound like thunder?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Ah Rong did not comment, coldly said, "Get in, fasten your seatbelt, we’re leaving now."

Buzzing under the shining streetlights, the silver Porsche dashed forward like a silver phantom, and in the passenger seat, Xu Xiangbei hummed a few bars along with the car’s luxurious sound system.

Seeing Xu Xiangbei so at ease, Ah Rong shook her head lightly with disdain.

Around midnight, passing by a service station, Ah Rong drove the car in, and Xu Xiangbei, thinking Ah Rong was tired, asked with a smile, "Ah Rong, are you tired? Do you want me to drive so you can rest for a bit."

Ah Rong refused Xu Xiangbei’s kind offer. She seemed to have endless energy. Even in the dead of night, she was still vibrant, her skin glowing with the light of youth under the lights.

"No need, I’ll keep driving, but I need to buy a bottle of water; I’m feeling a little thirsty."

Xu Xiangbei laughed, "They say women are made of water and need to stay hydrated; looks like it’s true. Wait a minute, I’ll go down with you."