Hu Weidong had promised Mei Lin in advance that he would cooperate with her during the discussion on the leak incident at this meeting, but now he is proposing an exchange of conditions.
This implies that, in Hu Weidong's mind, the cooperation he reached with Mei Lin comes with preconditions. Johnson's actions just now and Mei Lin's reaction have already undermined the basis of that promise.
It's like an old customer saying to a shopkeeper, since their relationship is so good, could he get a 20% discount on purchases. The shopkeeper agrees, but the customer then stabs the shopkeeper in the back... can the shopkeeper still offer a discount?
This is no longer a matter of giving a discount!
Perhaps in Mei Lin's view, as long as Hu Weidong promises her something, he must deliver, regardless of how she suppresses and tests him afterward, Hu Weidong has to fulfill the promise.
