Chapter 491

The woman paused, then chuckled softly.

"You caught me... Alright, I'll give another 0.1 percent. That's the absolute lowest."

Sophia Sullivan: "0.3. My final offer."

Wang Jingjing stopped moving.

Sophia set down her coffee cup and stood.

The liquid in the cup was just finished.

"It seems we can't reach an agreement today. I hope we can cooperate in the future."

She turned to leave.

Wang Jingjing, startled by her decisive attitude, quickly stood up.

"Don't be hasty, the price can be discussed..."

Sophia stopped and looked back.

"I don't like beating around the bush. 0.3. Sign now, or I'm returning to the lab."

Wang Jingjing hesitated for a moment.

Watching Sophia really about to leave, she finally gritted her teeth.

"...Fine!"

A slight smile touched Sophia's lips.

"Pleasure doing business."

After signing the contract and confirming the equipment delivery time and installation details, Sophia got up to leave.

"Miss Sullivan—" Wang Jingjing called out to her.

Sophia turned back.

"Has anyone ever told you you're a great negotiator?"

She clearly wanted the equipment badly, yet she acted like she could walk away at any moment.

Only after the contract was signed did Wang Jingjing realize it, but it was too late.

Sophia: "No."

Wang Jingjing: "I don't believe that."

"But I understand one principle."

"What?"

"Whoever concedes first, loses."

After saying that, she turned and left, leaving the woman standing there stunned.

Over a decade in sales, and today she got schooled by an amateur!

...

The weather changed abruptly.

As Sophia stepped out of the café, a light drizzle had begun to fall.

There was a bus stop next to it, perfect for sheltering from the rain.

Judging by the rain, it wouldn't stop anytime soon. Walking back to the lab wasn't realistic.

Sophia took out her phone to call a ride.

Just then, a white BMW 5 Series slowly pulled up in front of her.

The window rolled down, revealing a sunny, smiling face—

"Sophia! I thought I was seeing things. It really is you."

"Young Master Omelas? What a coincidence."

Omelas Lingshuo smiled. "Get in first. This rain won't stop soon. Where are you headed? I can give you a lift?"

Sophia glanced at the queue notification on her ride-hailing app.

She pulled the car door open and got in.

"Thank you. Straight ahead, then left turn. It's about a kilometer."

"Alright." Omelas Lingshuo shifted gears, signaled, and merged onto the main road.

"What are you doing here?"

Sophia: "Had a meeting with someone."

"Oh oh! You... have you been very busy lately?"

"Yes."

He muttered quietly, "...No wonder you didn't reply to my messages..."

"What?"

"Nothing! I was asking... you don't usually post on social media?"

Sophia: "Occasionally."

"I see..."

Omelas Lingshuo wanted to keep making conversation, but the distance was too short. They arrived quickly.

He parked the car under the awning in front of the lab.

Sophia: "Thank you."

She pushed the door open to get out.

Suddenly—

"Wait!"

She turned back.

Omelas Lingshuo got out of the car and hurried after her. "You dropped something..."

He opened his palm. It was Sophia's earring.

She raised her hand to touch her earlobe. One was indeed missing.

"Thank you."

She took the earring from the man's palm.

The moment her fingertips brushed his skin, Omelas Lingshuo stiffened all over.

A tingling sensation, like a mild electric shock.

A strange and novel feeling.

Sophia took the earring, thanked him, and walked away while putting it back on.

"Miss Sullivan—"

"Is there something else?"

Omelas Lingshuo began to stammer. "I... could I treat you to a meal? Tonight... if you're busy, another day works too..."

Sophia was puzzled. "Why treat me to a meal?"

"Well..." Omelas Lingshuo was at a loss for words, but quickly found a reason.

"My cousin said the study guide you gave her was very helpful. She insisted I must treat you to dinner to thank you! Yes, to thank you!"

"Sorry, I have work..." She pointed to the lab. "I'm swamped recently. Not sure when I'll be free."

"Then..."

"I need to go in now." Sophia interrupted him and quickly walked away.

Omelas Lingshuo looked at the sign by the door and read it softly—

"Boundless Lab..."

He got back into his car and immediately searched for information on his phone.

"Establishment date... Founder... Academic publications..."

He knew Sophia was outstanding—a grad student at MIT, got in on her own merit—but he hadn't realized she was this impressive!

Built her own lab, leading a team developing new research, multiple papers published, high impact factors...

He was engrossed, a smile unconsciously forming on his lips, when a black Volkswagen suddenly cut in front of his car.

It was speeding, and it honked loudly.

"What the..."

There was no car in front, his car wasn't moving, and he wasn't blocking the way. Why so aggressive?

Omelas Lingshuo muttered "weird" and continued looking at the information on his phone.

The smile returned to his lips, growing wider and wider.

...

Back in the lab, Sophia changed into dry clothes.

She made a cup of ginger tea to ward off the chill.

"Sophia, did it work out?" Miaomiao asked with a smile, leaning in, her chubby cheeks propped in her hands like a flower.

Sophia: "The equipment arrives early next month."

"Ahhh! Amazing! How much did they concede?"

"0.3 percent."

"!!"

Previously, when they asked Sebastian Evans, he said the highest discount he could get was only 0.1.

Sophia went to negotiate with the general agent herself.

Miaomiao thought at most 0.2, but she got 0.1 more!

"Sophia," Miaomiao said solemnly, grasping her hand, eyes full of admiration, "you are my goddess!"

"Pfft—" Sophia was amused. "Alright, how many sets of data are out? Enough for the sampling test volume?"

Miaomiao instantly deflated. "Only... two sets. I'll go check on it right now! I promise two more sets before dark!"

After saying that, she immediately ran back to the experiment station.

Sophia shook her head with a light laugh.

She put on her lab coat and returned to the experiment area.

She saw a neatly compiled set of documents on the table, exactly what she had asked Miaomiao to gather yesterday.

After reading it, she nodded. "The data is very comprehensive, even includes international figures. Well done."

"Ah?" Miaomiao turned her head. "Sophia, what documents?"

Sophia waved the file in her hand. "This one."

"Oh, that wasn't me."

"?"

"Professor Laurent sent it over."