CITM - 59

Bai Wenfu’s hands were clasped in front of him, his shirt and jacket a sleek, coordinated pairing of light inner and dark outer.

His gaze swept across the room towards Ye Yun. Her hair was pulled back, revealing a smooth, full forehead and soft face. She wore a knitted vest over a blouse, with a small silk scarf tied around her neck, giving her an artistic air.

Each time he saw her, she gave Bai Wenfu a different impression. Sometimes as light as cotton, other times with serrated sharp edges, always possessing her own unique form, and generally radiating vitality.

At that moment, Zhou Zeyang and Ma Jianliang exchanged glances, their eyes hinting at an unspoken rivalry. Having previously disagreed about inviting Bai Wenfu as a guarantor, they were now quietly observing Ye Yun’s reaction.

Ye Yun put down her teacup, turned her head, and quietly asked Zhou Zeyang, “Why is he here?”

Ma Jianliang’s expression was subtle, while Zhou Zeyang calmly explained, “He’s the guarantor, and all the terms need to be reviewed by him. Before you arrived, Boss Bai went over the contract and brought up a few points. This is the pre-amendment version; you can compare them.”

The presence of three parties made the contract signing atmosphere tense today.

Ye Yun hummed in acknowledgment, took the contract, and began to read through it. Zhou Zeyang raised an eyebrow at Ma Jianliang, implying that he was overreacting. Ma Jianliang sheepishly averted his gaze, acting as if nothing had happened.

Ye Yun focused intently, reading through each clause. However, the other people in the meeting room had already discussed the contract content before she arrived. Now, with nothing to do, they started chatting. Boss Yu had tea and snacks brought over, and everyone sat around chatting and eating, making it somewhat like a noisy tea party.

Ye Yun was already a bit distracted, and now she couldn’t help but slightly furrow her brow. It took her a long while to turn a single page.

Boss Yu’s group began talking about the fun of fishing on weekends. Getting excited, they turned to ask Bai Wenfu, “Boss Bai, do you usually go fishing? Should we schedule a day sometime? I know a great spot.”

Bai Wenfu unclasped his hands and lowered his gaze, his sharply defined features conveying a cold edge. Lu Zi turned his gaze to Boss Yu, his eyes radiating a strong sense of pressure.

Boss Yu’s smile froze on his face, and he suddenly felt a murmur of apprehension. The noisy meeting room gradually quieted down as the atmosphere became tense.

Boss Yu glared at his still-grinning subordinate next to him, cleared his throat, and sat up straight.

Ye Yun’s attention remained on the paper. After the meeting room quieted down, her furrowed brow gradually smoothed out.

The vast meeting room instantly fell silent, with only the rhythmic rustling of paper being turned.

Ye Yun reviewed the first version of the contract, particularly scrutinizing the highlighted sections.

When she closed the contract, she looked up at Bai Wenfu, then picked up the revised version and opened it. The parts of the contract that originally contained ambiguities and risks had been changed. The revised version was clearly more favorable to them. Boss Yu wouldn’t fail to notice this, yet he still signed it.

After finishing, Ye Yun looked up at everyone and said, “Sorry for taking up everyone’s time.”

She turned her gaze and quietly exchanged a few words with Zhou Zeyang. Zhou Zeyang nodded and then said, “We’d like to add one more clause.”

He looked at Bai Wenfu: “The guarantor’s fee, according to the contract’s proportion, will be written into the terms and paid by us.”

Bai Wenfu’s gaze flickered to Ye Yun. She had already lowered her eyes and picked up her tea.

Boss Yu, of course, had no objections and immediately arranged for his staff to re-draft the contract.

During the wait, Boss Yu suggested hosting Bai Wenfu at a grand hotel afterward, but it was politely declined. Later, Boss Yu brought up the newly opened pleasure boats at the old dock. Bai Wenfu casually asked a question, and Boss Yu, striking while the iron was hot, offered to take Bai Wenfu and his group for a tour.

During this time, Ye Yun did not participate in their casual chat. She kept her head down, sketching lines on her drawing paper. The scratching sound of her pencil was drowned out by their conversation.

Boss Yu turned to ask her, “Boss Ye, if you don’t have anything urgent, would you like to join us?”

Ye Yun heard her name called and vaguely lifted her gaze: “Go where?”

Ma Jianliang told her, “To the old dock.”

“Oh,” she replied.

When Boss Yu asked Bai Wenfu again, his eyes subtly lifted, looking at the constantly moving pen tip opposite him. He no longer refused.

After everyone signed, Ye Yun handed the stack of items in her hand to Xiao Fu to send back for her, and then followed the main group to the old dock.

The alley leading to the old dock was well-connected, with many shops open on both sides, and a bustling crowd.

The alley was narrow. As they walked and explored, Boss Yu and Bai Wenfu’s group entered a fishing tackle shop.

Ye Yun, relying on her memory, turned into a small shop. The owner of this shop was very skilled at tie-dyeing; she had stumbled upon it once before.

After chatting with the owner for a while, Ye Yun emerged from the shop, and the people who had been scattered in the alley were gone.

She stood at the shop entrance, looking left and right, and saw Bai Wenfu leaning against the shop door opposite, a cigarette between his fingers, silently watching her.

Ye Yun stepped towards him: “Where are they?”

“They went to explore the other side.”

“Were you waiting for me here?”

He glanced at her: “Didn’t you see I was smoking?”

Ye Yun’s eyes widened slightly, just as she was about to turn away.

Bai Wenfu extinguished the cigarette in his hand and tugged at the silk scarf fluttering at her collar. A chill went down Ye Yun’s neck as the scarf landed in his hand. He then handed it back to her. As Ye Yun reached out to take it, he caught both her hands and tied them together with the scarf, pulling her towards him.

His gaze rested between her eyebrows and eyes: “Why aren’t you happy?”

“What... what do you mean?”

“The contract signing isn’t even worth a smile from you. Tell me about it.”

His gaze carried an irresistible insight that left her nowhere to hide.

Seeing her remain silent, Bai Wenfu gently coaxed, “I’ve eaten more meals than you. If you trust me, I can help you decide.”

Ye Yun’s brows furrowed deeply. After a long moment, her voice was muffled: “A friend I’ve known for years did some bad things to me.”

“Did it affect your interests?”

“It almost made me stumble.”

“What’s their background?”

“They have connections.”

Bai Wenfu then asked, “Do you have any leverage?”

“Yes, it could ruin them, but it comes with some risk.”

Bai Wenfu smiled calmly: “I don’t advise you to risk breaking ties with them. When necessary, use this matter to make that person work for you. That’s more practical than ruining them.”

His voice was slow yet powerful: “Giving way three points to others is not cowardice; seizing their Achilles’ heel is how you truly contend.”

The night was thick as ink, then suddenly dispersed by the wind. Ye Yun fell into thought.

A group of people approached from a distance. Bai Wenfu’s eyes lifted slightly, he untied the scarf and tucked it into Ye Yun’s hand, telling her, “Something landed on your head.”

“What?”

“Come here.”

She lowered her head again. Bai Wenfu leaned in, his knuckles brushing through her hair. A tickling sensation spread from her scalp throughout her body. Ye Yun’s forehead was almost touching his chest, her heart pounding back and forth.

She asked, “Is it done?”

“Mm.”

Ye Yun looked up and asked him, “What was it? Let me see.”

He said casually, “I threw it away.”

Ye Yun eyed him suspiciously. Hearing a cough behind her, she turned to see a group of people stopped by the roadside, watching them.

She walked back, a little embarrassed. Ma Jianliang stared at Bai Wenfu behind her. Bai Wenfu met his gaze expressionlessly.

Zhou Zeyang, however, looked at Ye Yun with a strange expression. Ye Yun, baffled, quietly asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Zhou Zeyang leaned slightly: “You’re quite efficient at getting things done, already hugging each other so quickly?”

Ye Yun frowned: “Hugging each other what?”

Zhou Zeyang lifted his chin towards Bai Wenfu’s back.

“I was hugging him?”

“Weren’t you? Or did you lean into him actively? With so many eyes watching, are you still too embarrassed to admit it?”

“...”