283: Chapter 283: Discord in the Shadows 283: Chapter 283: Discord in the Shadows Hong Kong, the Wu Family.
A luxurious estate, with several villas standing within, surrounded by a wrought iron gate guarded by about twenty men in black.
Beyond that were bushes and fountains, and behind the villas, a patch of golfing green—the residence of the Wu Group, one of the three major enterprises in Hong Kong.
Splendid and magnificent—those villas were ingeniously arranged.
With careful observation, one would notice that the layout resembled that of a traditional Chinese courtyard house, minus the periphery decorations and background.
In the villa to the west, a man paced back and forth with a certain urgency, seemingly waiting for some news.
An air of tension mingled on his handsome and dashing face.
This man was Wu Yu, the second son of the Wu Family, who had previously invited Su Qingyu to collaborate.
Suddenly, the room’s door was gently opened, and in walked a man dressed in a white suit.
A close look revealed a slight resemblance to Wu Yu.
“Yo, big brother, what brings you here?” Wu Yu glanced at the newcomer, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, then warmly invited him to sit, ordering a servant to pour him some tea.
If I didn’t, maybe you’d soon be moving to the villa on the east side,” said the man, sitting on the sofa with a sarcastic tone that was tinged with mockery.
“You must be joking, brother.
That’s your residence, how could I possibly move there?”
“Enough with the jokes, let’s talk business.
Recently, the company has been actively looking for collaboration partners in Yanjing.
For some reason, you’ve found Tianya Group.” The man crossed his legs, his eyes flashing with disdain when mentioning Tianya Group.
“Haha, big brother, the Tianya Group is a potential powerhouse in Yanjing.
Of course, I want to shop around when looking for collaborative partners,” Wu Yu responded promptly.
Well, although father allowed us to search freely, I found the Ji Family, and we’ve already started negotiations.
They’re very keen to work with us.
Your scouting Tianya now seems a bit redundant, doesn’t it?” The man’s eyes were filled with arrogance, and a sense of noble superiority seemed to emanate from his whole being.
“Well, the proof of the horse is seen when it’s paraded; the ultimate decision is still in father’s hands.
Brother, you shouldn’t be too presumptuous,” Wu Yu said with a laugh, settling himself down with a glass of red wine to savor.
The man’s brow furrowed at these words, his earlier haughty expression now marred with frustration.
But, what if you mistake fish eyes for pearls and the collaboration fails, causing the family and company to suffer losses?
Tianya Group’s President Su Qingyu—is certainly easy on the eyes, but does she have the capability?
Think carefully, brother.
If it fails, be ready to face the consequences.
Father is getting old, his health declining day by day, perhaps it’s best not to make things harder.”
“Thanks for the warning, big brother.
Whether it’s fish eyes or pearls, I can surely tell,” Wu Yu said, flashing a confident smile.
“But may I also remind you, big brother.
The Ji Family is a bunch of old foxes—don’t end up being eaten to the bone by them.”
Having said his piece, Wu Yu proudly downed his wine, while the man across from him had a face darkening like a brewing storm.
“Thank you for the reminder, little brother.
I won’t disturb your rest then,” the man said coldly after a silent moment, then swiftly left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Turning back, his eyes bore into the door as he muttered to himself, “There’s nothing Wu Zijian wants that he can’t get.”
For the past several days, Su Qingyu had been diligently planning her trip to Hong Kong to negotiate collaboration with the Wu Group, not daring to slacken her efforts.
An Lan, Su Qingyu’s best friend and right-hand, was also working overtime day and night.
Meanwhile, Ye Shikai, who was undergoing training courses, started to listen and learn seriously.
Luo Shiqi, upon seeing his earnest demeanor, simply smiled and no longer disturbed him.
She, too, needed to understand much about business, for she was not only the Underground Queen of Yanjing but also the Chairman of the Luo Group.
“She’s going to Hong Kong tomorrow, isn’t she?” Luo Shiqi suddenly said during a break.
yes, it’s an early flight.” Ye Shikai put down the pen in his hand and responded indifferently, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.
“Are you worried about her?”
“Mhm.” Ye Shikai nodded.
Su Qingyu was his wife, and he didn’t want her to fail.
He had seen how much effort she had put into the negotiations with the Wu Family and that she had even been threatened because of it.
In the same way, Ye Shikai’s concern extended to the threateners; he had an intuition that these people wouldn’t just stop at threats.
“Do you want to go with her?” Luo Shiqi continued to ask.
“Foolish.” Luo Shiqi said softly and then gently tapped Ye Shikai’s head.
“What do you mean?” Ye Shikai said, puzzled.
“You going to Hong Kong would be of no use other than protecting Su Qingyu.” Luo Shiqi spoke dispassionately, tossing her pen aside and pointing to the ground beneath their feet.
“Only by staying here, in Yanjing, can you assist her the best.”
Ye Shikai wore a befuddled expression, not understanding Luo Shiqi’s words at all.
“Do you know why the collaboration between Tianya and the Wu Family has been so difficult?” Luo Shiqi began to explain.
“Because of the Ji Family’s involvement.”
“The Ji Family’s representatives in Hong Kong are only a few members of the family, but the real decision-makers are still here in Yanjing.”
“So you mean, I should stay in Yanjing to figure out the Ji Family’s true intentions behind the scenes?” Ye Shikai said tentatively.
“Exactly, by staying in Yanjing, you can uncover the Ji Family’s actual hand and their bottom line, which is the only way you can support Su Qingyu at the negotiating table.”
“But I’ve asked Ji Yu about the threats that day, and she knew nothing about it.” Ye Shikai had spoken to Luo Shiqi about the threats before, and at that time Luo Shiqi was not surprised, rather she seemed to have already guessed it.
“Not knowing doesn’t mean the Ji Family has made no moves.
Those people from the Ji Family are not just cunning; they are incredibly sly.
They won’t let the Wu Family slip by as an easy catch,” Luo Shiqi said with certainty, making Ye Shikai suddenly understand.
“You still believe that the threats came from the Ji Family?”
“It’s not a belief, it’s a certainty.
I am absolutely sure I am not wrong,” Luo Shiqi emphasized, raising her voice sharply.
“Then who is the person who tipped me off?
It definitely wasn’t Ji Yu.” Ye Shikai shook his head.
Apart from Ji Yu, who else could have had access to such information?
But one thing’s for certain, these threateners must be from the Ji Family.”