Chapter 231 - [Bonus ] Advantages Of Both Sides (1)

"500,000! Has your conscience finally made you feel uneasy, Sof?" Brent spoke casually the moment he pressed the answer button on his phone. There was no formality in his voice and he was grinning from ear to ear while waiting for the other person to speak.

"Huh? Uneasy?" Sofia questioned with an obvious playfulness in her tone. She slightly giggled before her face turned serious, looking straight on the road. 

On the driver side, Jing Jing glanced at her and secretly listened to Sofia's soft voice. The tempo of their background music was also slow which seemed to perfectly fit to tune up Sofia's sound. The two of them were coursing on the middle of the road going towards the eastern side of the district.

"Yes! You have obviously robbed me! Don't even try to deny what you've done! It's just because I'm such a generous friend that I approved the cost of the reception. But, you should feel uncomfortable taking my money!" Brent faked his complaint and pretended to be offended.

"Hahaha, I did not rob you. But, I must thank you for your generosity! Your cooperation will always be remembered, young master Brent. This friendship had benefited me greatly!" Sofia responded. "Not all friends had the same willingness as you, Brent. Thank you!" She added in full of sincerity. The traffic light a few meters away from her had turned red and Jing Jing slowly stepped on the brake until the vehicle stopped moving.

"Your welcome! As a friend, it is my obligation to give you a hand and make you successful too. After all I am a senior in this industry! Hehe," Brent stated.

"You are flattering yourself, Brent! I've never realized that you could do that!" Sofia exclaimed while laughing.

"Haha, am I? Anyway, I assumed that you are calling me today so you could adjust the cost of the reception to a reasonable amount. But now, I'm kind of disappointed," Brent continued to have a dramatic sound. He even leaned dramatically on the glass wall just outside of his office.

"Disappointed?! Young master Brent, you must be kidding, right?! You don't sound disappointed to me at all! Besides, who in the right mind would feel uneasy after securing a profit? There's no way I will adjust the cost," Sofia retorted.

"Then, why are you calling? Don't tell me you have another request from me?! " Brent said in a suspicious tone.

"That's right! The young master of the Lee family is indeed insightful! You have even foreseen this plan and you quickly realize that that I have another request from you! Brilliant!" Sofia exclaimed her compliment.

"Tsk!" Brent clicked his tongue and went silent for a long time. "Now, it's you who is flattering me! Quick! What do you need from me? Could it be that you want to increase the cost? Bah, I am a generous friend but you can't abuse my generosity!" Brent lamented.

"I' m not that greedy! Anyway, you don't lack money. Why are you acting as if the cost of our reception had harmed your financial statement?! Please, I know this is just a loose change!" Sofia defended.

"How did you know that your reception price won't harm my financial statement. Don't you know how big that amount is to me? 500,000! I could have used that amount for different investments! Why should I be willing to splurge something that I cannot profit?" Brent suddenly asked.

Sofia only laughed. What big amount? In her past life, she handled multi-million and billion deals. 500,000? Such an amount was just a matter of a few digits in her eyes.

"Young master Brent, you have announced your squad's participation in the upcoming regional tournament. But, you did not announce your wedding ceremony which will happen this Saturday. Are you planning on boycotting the bride and not showing up on that day?" Sofia asked. Her tone was calm but there was a hint of warning that could be sensed from it.

"What nonsense! I will show up! How can you slander your generous friend easily?" Brent cried. "Never in my wild imagination!" he added.

"Haha, good, good!" Sofia almost broke into a pit of laughter. Dealing with Brent felt so easy for her. Perhaps, it was because both of them were inclined in the corporate world. 

"I know that you want to establish the value of your company, Sof! Since I am your first client, if you can get a huge amount of money from me, then, your next clients would not pay you less, am I right?" Brent asserted.

"In business perspective, my friend, you are correct. However, that's not my only intention, though. It's a win-win trade for you too," Sofia responded.

Jing Jing had started the engine by now as the traffic light had flashed to green light. She drove straight silently but her attention was still directed to Sofia. Since the conversation was not on loudspeaker, she could only hear Sofia's collected response.

"Win-win situation? Other than the reception venue, what else can I get from this agreement?" Brent inquired. A spark of excitement suddenly burst within his chest but he decided not to continue her arrangement.

"Young master Lee, the only advice that I can speak as if this time is that, look forward to it. The money that you paid for the reception venue is worth it," Sofia replied.

"Why are you being secretive now? Just tell me!" Brent urged her.

"No way! I have to keep it a secret. Just in case you suddenly plan not to show up, then, you'll definitely miss an exciting ceremony in your life," Sofia sighed and leaned on the window of the car.

"What's exciting about political marriage. The interest is not in love. Only on the financial benefits of both families. We are grown up. To compromise is something part of our life. But, you are still young, I do hope, you'll marry for love," Brent stated.

"That sounded so sentimental. I'll marry for love when I get into the right age. But, for now, try to imagine this.... what if the two of you are having a subconscious bonds?" Sofia mumbled.

"AHH, enough of this conversation. What do you want from me? Do you need my help so your squad can also participate in the regional tournament?" Brent asked but suddenly paused with realization, "That's not right. You don't need me since you defeated us in the district tournament!" he corrected.

"It's not about the tournament," she slightly rolled her eyes and her expression showed the wildness of youth. It was a different sight from how she usually expressed herself.

"Then speak?! Out time is running and my father might not be able to suppress himself and snatch my phone away," Brent commented and slightly looked at his father inside his office. The senior master Lee was now massaging his forehead as if he was being beaten by his own thoughts about the future of their district.

"Ahh, that's right. Then, I'll tell you this at once. My call today is about your wedding ceremony. I'm going to tell our private press to announce in public the opening launch of my business. Then, I will include the generous client, which is you.... and Grace, and the amount that you are willing to spend on us. All in all, I am calling not to ask a favor but to inform you of this plan. Just in case you'll get shocked by the news headlines," Sofia explained thoroughly her dispositions.

"Tsk! Win-win advantages indeed. Once my wedding reception will be officially announced in the public, you will gain exposure on your business. More customers for sure! My dearest friend Sofia, you are really something! Both in gaming and in operating your business, you seemed to have an endless strategy! And you don't skip all the opportunities that are laid ahead. You seize them! I'm so proud to be your friend!" Brent mumbled.

"Excuse me?! And why would the young master Brent think that I am using you for publicity? That is totally a cheap calculation of the situation. I don't need any help with the publicity of my business. The Chronos squad is still the top trend topic on social media. One post of me and everyone will know about my business," Sofia argued.

"Alright, alright, even if you are younger than me, I felt like you need to enlighten me with your plans then. Your mind is too deep to comprehend sometimes. I must admit it or I will be a hypocrite! This is kind of embarrassing, but, what exactly do you want to achieve, Sof?" Brent supplied. The young lady had her point. With the Chronos squad's social standing, they did not need to use anyone for the public to notice them. The public had already been paying attention to the squad during the championship of the district tournament!

"Young master Brent, think. Think carefully! Who needs publicity more than us?" Sofia suddenly asked. 

Who needs publicity more than them? And the next thing she heard was a long sigh from Brent.. Such response was enough to confirm that Brent had finally grasped what  Sofia wanted to achieve.