Chapter 727 - 723: Don’t Be So Ugly

Cecilia Sterling blinked, somewhat surprised by Shawn Lane’s sudden appearance, but a faint, unreadable smile soon touched her lips.

’Obviously, he didn’t come all this way to find her. He’s here for the Lane Group.’

Shawn Lane froze for a few seconds. Fortunately, he had already been informed that Cecilia Sterling was the studio’s investor. While surprised, he quickly composed himself.

The others frowned at Shawn Lane’s rude behavior, barging straight into their conference room.

Timothy Rowe asked in a hostile tone, "And you are?"

Shawn Lane’s gaze swept across everyone in the room. They all appeared to be young people around his age. He schooled his features and adopted a formal attitude. "My apologies for the sudden interruption. I’m from the Lane Group, and I’m here to discuss a partnership with your company in good faith."

Gavin Garrett watched Shawn Lane, a vague memory stirring. Before graduation, some rumors had circulated around campus involving Cecilia.

He scooted closer to Cecilia Sterling and asked uncertainly, "Cecilia, this isn’t your ex-boyfriend, is he?"

"You have a good memory, Gavin." Cecilia Sterling made no attempt to hide it, smiling at Gavin Garrett.

Gavin Garrett immediately pursed his lips. "What a jinx!"

He then turned and sneered at Shawn Lane. "What’s the Lane Group playing at? First, it was a junior employee, then a department head, then a manager. The rank of people visiting our studio keeps getting higher. And now the ’Crown Prince’ himself shows up? Who’s next, Chairman Lane gracing us with his presence?"

’Crown Prince?’

The others stared at Shawn Lane, sizing him up. ’No wonder he’s so young.’

Shawn Lane paid their words no mind. He was here today with a clear objective. He had learned from his father that this matter was putting immense pressure on the company and causing his father a major headache.

He wanted to resolve this issue for the company, and in doing so, prove his capabilities to his father and the senior executives.

"I understand you’ve rejected the Lane Group many times, but we don’t want to give up. We will demonstrate our utmost sincerity." Shawn Lane continued earnestly, "Your team worked so hard to develop this program. Isn’t the ultimate goal to profit from it? The price the Lane Group is offering is far higher than any other company’s. Why would you turn down good money?"

Paige shook her head gently and corrected him. "We’re not against making money. You’re giving us too much credit."

Shawn Lane’s brow furrowed in confusion.

Then Paige added, "We have a problem with the Lane Group!"

Her words made the others burst out laughing.

Gavin Garrett nodded and laughed along. "That’s right. We have a problem with the Lane Group."

Shawn Lane’s face went cold. A man of his pride, he felt intensely humiliated.

’A problem with the Lane Group?’

’Why would they single out the Lane Group for no reason?’

Shawn Lane looked at Cecilia Sterling, the accusation in his eyes clear. He obviously believed she was the reason.

Cecilia Sterling simply continued to smile at him. ’Seeing him stand there, struggling to look composed while being utterly helpless and awkward, is so satisfying.’

’Was I once like this, too?’ she wondered. ’I tried so desperately to prove that the paper Shawn Lane stole and published was my own work, but no one believed me. Back then, I was just like he is now: knowing exactly who was pulling the strings, yet completely powerless.’

"Cecilia Sterling."

Shawn Lane finally couldn’t hold back any longer and called out her name. He knew this was all her doing.

"What happened between us was just a typical relationship issue. You don’t have to take things this far, do you?"

"Did I do something unforgivable to you? Why are you being so ruthless?"

In the face of Shawn Lane’s indignant questions, Cecilia Sterling simply raised an eyebrow. "Ruthless? I think it’s fine..."

"You..."

"Hey, pretty boy," Timothy Rowe cut in, reminding him coldly, "don’t take out your own incompetence on a woman. The grudge between our studio and the Lane Group is more complicated than just what happened between you and Cecilia."

Timothy vividly recalled the night he first met Cecilia. They had come face-to-face with Walter Lane and his wife, who had baselessly insulted both them and Cecilia. He could still clearly remember their cold, arrogant, and condescending attitude.

Gavin Garrett had been there too, and his expression turned grim at the memory.

’Seeing the Lane Group’s Crown Prince standing here begging for a partnership... now this is satisfying!’

Shawn Lane suppressed his anger, nodded slightly, and continued, swallowing his pride. "Regardless of what happened in the past, we hope to achieve a reconciliation through this partnership. The Lane Group truly needs your program, so please, name your conditions. We will do our best to meet whatever we can."

’All partnerships and negotiations are a process of discussion,’ Shawn thought. ’No matter what, I have to get them to the negotiating table with the Lane Group.’

’They can name any condition?’

This time, with Cecilia Sterling present, Timothy Rowe didn’t immediately refuse. Instead, he looked to her, wondering if she had a new plan.

A mocking smile played on Cecilia Sterling’s lips. "Any condition at all?"

Hearing this, Shawn Lane felt a glimmer of hope and nodded quickly. "Name them!"

"In that case, I want thirty percent of the net profit from the Lane Group’s artificial intelligence division." Cecilia Sterling’s tone was light and casual, but to Shawn Lane, her words hit like an atomic bomb.

Even Timothy Rowe and the others were stunned, unable to tell if Cecilia was joking or being serious.

’She must be joking, right?’

’Thirty percent?’

Shawn Lane’s eyes widened. He seemed utterly blindsided that Cecilia Sterling would make such a ridiculous and absurd demand.

"You..."

"I’m serious," Cecilia Sterling cut off his sputtered objection. "You said to name my conditions, so I did. Whether or not you can accept them depends on the Lane Group’s sincerity."

’She’s actually serious?’

’This is a blatant insult. A profound humiliation to him and to the Lane Group. This is going too far!’

"Cecilia Sterling!" Shawn Lane was burning with rage, his composure finally cracking. He glared at her and snapped, "Your annual fee for other companies is only a few hundred yuan! The Lane Group has already offered triple that price, which is unprecedented in this industry! We don’t even care if word gets out and makes the Lane Group look like a bunch of suckers."

"We may have had our past disagreements, but I came here today in good faith on behalf of the Lane Group. Even if you had asked for four or five times the price, I think we could have continued negotiating. But why do you have to mock and humiliate me like this?"

"Thirty percent of the net profit! Do you have any idea how much money that is? Do you know what that would mean for the Lane Group?"

"First, you shut the door on the Lane Group, and now you’re trying to use this opportunity to suck us dry! Don’t make such an ugly scene!"

Cecilia Sterling replied airily, "The only ugly thing here is you."