After Mr. Xiang divorced, the president regretted it

The private plane cut through the night sky, carrying Xiang Yu, Yan Jin and their team, and flew to the other side of the ocean. In the cabin, soft lights sprinkled on everyone's face, reflecting their expressions of expectation or nervousness.

After more than ten hours of flight, the plane finally arrived at its destination. As soon as they got off the plane, a foreign scent hit them in the face, and the slightly cool air made Xiang Yu and Yan Jin feel refreshed.

After a short break, they rushed to the agreed location for their first face-to-face meeting with Jack, the representative of the international partner.

The conference room was decorated in a simple and elegant style. Outside the French windows, one could see the bustling scene of a foreign city. Jack and his team had been waiting for a long time. When they saw Xiang Yu and Yan Jin, Jack came forward enthusiastically and spoke fluent Chinese with a local accent: "Welcome, President Xiang, President Yan, I'm glad to finally meet you!"

After both parties sat down and exchanged pleasantries, they got down to business. The projector began playing the introductions of both companies and projects.

"I believe this cooperation will be a win-win situation," Jack said with a confident smile, speaking Chinese with a slight accent. "Your company's technological advantages, coupled with our influence in the international market, will definitely create a new situation."

Xiang Yu nodded and agreed: "We are also looking forward to this cooperation."

However, as the discussion deepened, the two sides had differences on some key terms. Jack's proposal was obviously more inclined to protect their own interests, while Yan Jin insisted that cooperation should be based on equality and mutual benefit.

"Mr. Jack," Yan Jin said calmly, but with unquestionable firmness, "We understand and respect your company's position in the international market, but in this cooperation, we hope to see the joint efforts and contributions of both parties, rather than excessive demands from one party."

The smile on Jack's face froze for a moment, then returned to normal: "Boss Yan, I understand your feelings, but in the business world, profit comes first, this is an eternal truth."

"Profits are certainly important," Xiang Yu took over the conversation, his tone steady and powerful, "but what we value more is long-term development and a win-win situation."

The two sides exchanged words, and the atmosphere gradually became tense...

"How about this," Jack was silent for a moment, as if he had made a decision, "I have a new plan here, I believe you will be interested..." He pushed a document to the other side of the table, "We can take a look at this plan first, and then continue the discussion."

Yan Jin picked up the document and read it carefully, while Xiang Yu, who was sitting next to her, looked out the window with a deep gaze, as if he could see through the changes behind the steel and concrete...

At first glance, this new plan seemed to take into account some of Yan Jin's demands, but in some details it was more favorable to Jack's company. Yan Jin carefully read the terms on the document, frowning slightly. She picked up a pen, circled a few key points on the document, and expressed her doubts to Jack in fluent English: "Mr. Jack, regarding these two points, I think..."

The smile on Jack's face faded a little, and he turned to look at the translator Emily beside him, motioning her to translate. Emily was embarrassed, and stumbled over Yan Jin's words. However, due to the misunderstanding of some professional terms, the content of her translation was far from Yan Jin's original intention.

"What Ms. Yan meant is..." Emily tried to explain, but was interrupted impatiently by Jack, "I know what she means! I just don't understand why you always have to care about these details? This is of no benefit to either of us!"

Yan Jin's originally calm tone revealed a hint of displeasure: "Mr. Jack, these are not 'details', but key issues concerning the core interests of both parties." She pushed the document to the center of the table, "If you can't understand this, I think we need to reconsider our cooperation."

Jack stood up suddenly and said in a tough tone: "Boss Yan, I hope you understand that our company is discussing this cooperation with the utmost sincerity. But if your company always holds such a conservative attitude, I think it will be difficult for us to reach a consensus!"

The atmosphere in the conference room dropped to freezing point, with both sides on edge and neither side willing to give in. Emily looked anxiously at Jack, then at Yan Jin, trying to say something to ease the atmosphere, but it seemed feeble.

At this moment, Xiang Yu, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up. A playful arc appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he said in a slightly teasing tone: "It seems that we have encountered a little 'cultural difference' today..."

Xiang Yu's relaxed tone was like a stone thrown into an already turbulent lake, stirring up even bigger waves. Jack turned to him abruptly, frowning, obviously dissatisfied with Xiang Yu's "teasing". "Mr. Xiang, this is not a joke," Jack said in a deep voice, "We are discussing a serious business, not discussing cultural differences after dinner."

Yan Jin also frowned slightly. She understood that Xiang Yu wanted to ease the atmosphere, but Jack's mood at the moment was obviously not suitable for this method. She took a deep breath and was about to speak, but Xiang Yu gently pressed the back of her hand.

"Mr. Jack, you are right. We are talking about business," Xiang Yu put away his smile and became serious, "but business also needs to be based on mutual understanding and respect. We respect your company's culture and hope that you can understand our way of doing things."

However, Jack didn't seem to buy it. He snorted coldly and threw the document in his hand on the table. "If this is your company's attitude towards cooperation, I don't think there is any need for us to continue the discussion!"

After that, he stood up and left the meeting room angrily with Emily.

Only Yan Jin and Xiang Yu were left in the room. Yan Jin rubbed her brows and sighed tiredly. This meeting was more difficult than she had imagined. The cultural differences were like an invisible wall between them, difficult to cross.

"It seems that we have to work overtime tonight." Xiang Yu walked to her and handed her a cup of warm coffee.

They spent the next few hours talking all night, analyzing the reasons for the failure of today's meeting. They explored the differences between Eastern and Western cultures in business negotiations, from communication methods to values, from risk preferences to decision-making mechanisms, analyzing them one by one, trying to find the crux of the problem.

“They value efficiency and profit more,” Yan Jin concluded, “while we focus more on relationships and long-term development.”

"That's right," Xiang Yu nodded, "We need to find a balance that can both protect our interests and make them feel our sincerity."

They developed a new communication strategy and decided to pay more attention to the other party's cultural habits in the next meeting, express their views in a more direct and clear way, and be more patient and tolerant, giving the other party enough time to understand and accept.

The next morning, the first ray of sunlight shone into the room through the gap in the curtains. Yan Jin and Xiang Yu stood in front of the window, looking at the gradually brightening sky in the east, their hearts filled with anticipation and anxiety.

"Are you ready?" Xiang Yu turned to look at Yan Jin with a questioning look in his eyes.

Yan Jin took a deep breath and smiled confidently, "Of course."

New challenges are coming. Can they bridge the cultural gap and find a win-win path for cooperation?

There was a knock on the door, interrupting their thoughts, and Jack's assistant walked in. "Mr. Jack, please come over. He is ready to start today's meeting."