Chapter 2001: A Woman's Calculation

Zhao Fusheng had always believed that work and personal life should be kept separate.

Work is work, private matters are private matters; mixing the two is undoubtedly a mistake.

After all, when business is intertwined with personal relationships, making certain decisions often requires considering too many external factors.

But clearly, Lee Boo-jin, the eldest daughter of Samsung's Lee family, was well-versed in the ways of business.

Her initiative to visit him put Zhao Fusheng in a difficult position.

"Sister Boo-jin, this isn't like you."

After the meal, Zhao Fusheng invited Lee Boo-jin to his study. As soon as they sat down, he couldn't help but complain.

"What is like me?"

Lee Boo-jin smiled sweetly and glanced at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng was a bit surprised, then realized that this was the eldest daughter of Samsung's Lee family, raised with elite education. In her eyes, there was probably no such thing as style; as long as a deal could be struck, she would do anything.

"Forget it, I can't argue with you."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head helplessly. Arguing with a woman was undoubtedly a foolish thing.

Whether the woman was a housewife on the street or the eldest princess of Samsung, the result was the same.

"That new co-CEO of Hanxing Investment looks very familiar to me."

Lee Boo-jin sat across from Zhao Fusheng and smiled.

"What's there to be familiar with? He used to be my secretary."

Zhao Fusheng said bluntly, "Sister Boo-jin, I have a good impression of you, and you know what kind of person I am. So, I think we'd better be open and honest with each other, don't you think?"

He simply didn't have the patience to beat around the bush with Lee Boo-jin, because in his view, it was utterly meaningless.

If there's something to discuss, discuss it directly. Beating around the bush doesn't solve anything.

In the end, they'd have to get back to the main topic anyway, wouldn't they?

Sure enough, after hearing Zhao Fusheng's words, Lee Boo-jin laughed.

"My father's intention is for Future Group and Samsung to cooperate in China."

Lee Boo-jin looked at Zhao Fusheng and spoke slowly.

"Impossible."

Zhao Fusheng shook his head and gave his answer directly.

"Why?"

Lee Boo-jin was very surprised. She had thought Zhao Fusheng might refuse, but she hadn't expected him to refuse so directly, without even considering it.

"First, Future Group has rarely been involved in the manufacturing sector so far."

Zhao Fusheng looked at Lee Boo-jin and said slowly, "Our principle has always been to focus on the internet industry."

Lee Boo-jin nodded. She knew that.

From the start of his business to now, Zhao Fusheng had never shown any interest in manufacturing. Most of the time, he directed his investments toward the internet industry.

"Second, although you and I have a good relationship, and we have cooperated with Samsung, in China, Future Group will not cooperate with any company to build factories."

Zhao Fusheng looked at Lee Boo-jin and said calmly.

"Why?"

Lee Boo-jin was truly confused. What did Zhao Fusheng mean?

Zhao Fusheng smiled and didn't hide anything from her. He explained seriously, "When it comes to business, especially factories, I prefer to go it alone. Moreover, I'm not optimistic about the development of manufacturing globally."

Hearing this, Lee Boo-jin frowned slightly, and her expression changed instantly.

She realized that perhaps the last sentence was what Zhao Fusheng really wanted to say.

In other words, he truly wasn't optimistic about the future of manufacturing.

Since he had put it that way, Zhao Fusheng had already blocked all paths, so she naturally couldn't say anything more.

As a smart woman, Lee Boo-jin was good at reading people and could see that Zhao Fusheng's attitude was quite firm.

Since that was the case, she had nothing more to say.

"Let's not talk business today, only friendship."

Zhao Fusheng smiled at Lee Boo-jin.

Seeing this, Lee Boo-jin had no choice but to drop the subject, and they talked about other things.

After Lee Boo-jin left, Fan Baobao curiously asked Zhao Fusheng about her.

"Why did she come to our house?"

Fan Baobao was puzzled.

Her friendship with Lee Boo-jin wasn't close enough to invite her home.

Zhao Fusheng smiled: "Looking for reinforcements."

"Reinforcements?"

Fan Baobao was surprised.

"The Samsung family has always had this habit."

Zhao Fusheng said with a smile, "Do you think Lee Boo-jin is stupid? By doing this, I bet the news has already spread back to Korea."

"You mean she did it on purpose?"

Fan Baobao was quite surprised. She hadn't expected that Lee Boo-jin's visit today carried such an implication.

In other words, she deliberately did it for everyone to see, to show them that she had a good relationship with Zhao Fusheng, good enough to visit his home.

Of course, if a deal could be struck, that would be even better.

No woman from a big family is simple.

……

……

"I heard Lee Boo-jin went to your house?"

"How do you know?"

The next day, Zhao Fusheng received a call from Zheng Yao.

"Haha, it's all over the place now."

Zheng Yao laughed.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head helplessly: "It must have been Fan Baobao who told you. You women are so gossipy."

"Haha, so, has Miss Lee left a bad impression on you?"

Zheng Yao teased, clearly doing it on purpose.

Zhao Fusheng couldn't be bothered to argue with her and said casually, "What I mean is, what if we don't cooperate with Samsung this time?"

"No problem."

Surprisingly, Zheng Yao agreed readily.

Zhao Fusheng hadn't expected that at all.

"Wait, why did you agree so quickly?"

Zhao Fusheng asked in confusion.

"Should I have objected?"

Zheng Yao chuckled and explained to Zhao Fusheng, "In my opinion, we really should keep our distance from Samsung."

"Reason."

"Those who follow different paths cannot work together."

Zheng Yao's answer was simple, clearly given after careful consideration.

Or rather, she had probably thought about this issue long ago.

"Indeed."

Zhao Fusheng deeply agreed with Zheng Yao's words.

"Those who follow different paths cannot work together"—that phrase was indeed fitting.

For Future Group, their development direction was completely different from Samsung's. More importantly, Samsung's development in China would inevitably involve investments everywhere, involving various relationships. Would Future Group, as a partner, want to be dragged into that?

And that was the issue Zhao Fusheng had always wanted to avoid.

Even for his own company's development, Zhao Fusheng tried to avoid dealing with the government, let alone with Samsung.

Never get involved where you shouldn't—that was Zhao Fusheng's principle.

Moreover, the internal struggles within Samsung were too complicated. Despite the current appearance of filial piety and harmony, Zhao Fusheng knew that sooner or later, the CJ Group and Samsung factions would clash again. Which side would Future Group take then?

He didn't want to take either side.

Since that was the case, there was no need to let Lee Boo-jin drag him into it.

Zhao Fusheng just wanted to make money, not get caught in Samsung's quagmire.

After all, Samsung was worth over two hundred billion US dollars, but the Lee Kun-hee family owned only two percent of the shares.

The remaining shares were mostly held by Jewish consortiums in the United States.

For Zhao Fusheng, Hanxing Investment was a strategy in his overseas布局. Whether it was CJ Group shares or Samsung shares, as long as there was profit to be made, Zhao Fusheng wouldn't mind selling them.

It was just that his previous attitude had been too stubborn, and others hadn't realized this.

By the time they figured it out, Zhao Fusheng would have already cashed out and left.

Thinking of this, Zhao Fusheng smiled and said to Zheng Yao, "Since that's the case, if Lee Boo-jin asks to meet you, remember to tell her."

"You're not going to see her?"

Zheng Yao asked in surprise.

Zhao Fusheng nodded: "She's already visited me in a private capacity, so there's no need for a meeting."

Since Lee Boo-jin had played this trick on him, he couldn't be blamed for not considering their past friendship.

"That's fine."

Zheng Yao laughed. She was happy to see Zhao Fusheng take this attitude.

After all, Zhao Fusheng sometimes wasn't thick-skinned enough. Compared to those old hands, he still cared too much about his face.

In business, caring about face is not a good habit.