My girlfriend is from the future!

Tao Wei's appearance was unexpected for He Tianran, but it was also perfectly reasonable for her to appear in order to resolve He Yuanchong's crisis.

After all, what mother would stand idly by and watch her son become someone else's stepping stone?

In another room, Wen Liang recalled that before the filming of "Wild in My Heart" started, she and a few other members of the production team visited the He residence once. She had also met He Tianran's stepmother once. At that time, He Panshan praised He Tianran's success in front of everyone. After the stepmother came, she reminded the person in charge between the lines not to favor his second son.

Judging from a single instance, one can understand the whole picture. This mother must have been very loving towards He Yuanchong.

Thinking of this, Wen Liang lowered his voice and asked:

"Does He Tianran usually have a good relationship with her stepmother?"

Cao Aiqing's gaze remained fixed on the pink wall that seemed to transmit sound. The sound of rain pattering outside the window accentuated the sharp angles of her otherwise gentle profile.

She was silent for a few seconds, then turned her head:
"Wen Liang, if you and He Tianran now have an illegitimate child, do you think my relationship with him will be good?"

"...If that's the case, I won't even let you get close to him."

If Wen Liang had a warning device on him right now, it would definitely be a level one alert with a bright red light and a constant beeping alarm, in response to Cao Aiqing's slight probing.

"That's it..."

Cao Aiqing paused, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the cool rim of the glass, then finally lifted it, took a sip of the water, and slowly said:

"Tianran's relationship with his stepmother wasn't particularly good or bad. Tianran maintained a polite facade towards her, after all, she was Uncle He's current wife. But you know, some things can't be hidden by politeness..."

Aunt Tao only had eyes for He Yuanchong. Every success Tianran achieved, in her view, was likely a step that squeezed He Yuanchong's potential position. And Tianran… he probably never expected to receive any real maternal love from her; their relationship was simply… a polite exchange.

Wen Liang seemed to be deep in thought. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that He Tianran's attack on He Yuanchong would most likely end in a hasty retreat. She then came up with a plan:
"Then... Ai Qing, you should contact President Bai right away and ask He Tianran's biological mother to come over as well. President Bai is in charge of the artists now. With this kind of thing happening, his personal and professional matters are colliding, which will give He Tianran's father a real headache. Anyway, Tianran is in the right."

Cao Aiqing frowned slightly. "Wen Liang, do you think this is a parent-teacher conference? It's not like kids fighting and calling their parents for backup when they're about to lose. Besides, you want Sister Bai to handle this... You don't know her. She might go too far."

Wen Liang was taken aback by Cao Aiqing's slightly sarcastic question, but immediately realized that it wasn't directed at her, but rather a projection of Cao Aiqing's sense of powerlessness regarding the complex family relationships in the He family.

She pursed her lips, about to say something more, when Tao Wei's gentle yet powerful voice came clearly from the next private room again, drawing their attention.

……

……

In the room on the other side.

Tao Wei seemed oblivious to her son He Yuanchong's relieved yet anxious expression, as well as to Bai Lingye's slightly furrowed brows and the fleeting amusement in Yu Naoqiu's eyes.

She simply looked at He Tianran, her face still bearing that impeccable, poised smile befitting a wealthy lady.

She had just learned everything that had happened from He Tianran.

"natural……"

Her voice was gentle, as if she were chatting casually. She took He Yuanchong's hand and led him to sit down in the chair opposite the main seat. Two bodyguards followed and stood behind the mother and son.

“Look, Yuan Chong did something wrong and should be punished. You are the older brother and the person in charge of this matter. Your father and I trust your judgment on how to handle it.”

She looked at Bailingye with earnest eyes:

"However, if we really follow the company rules and make it public knowledge, Yuan Chong will learn a lesson, but Miss Bai's reputation will inevitably be affected by rumors. Wouldn't that be a second blow to her? We can be as strict as we want behind closed doors. Ultimately, it's for the sake of family harmony and the stability of your agency. Don't you think that makes sense?"

Tao Wei's words, seemingly reasonable and for the sake of Bailingye and the company's overall interests, actually transformed the essence of "sexual harassment" into "family scandal." She cleverly used "protecting Bailingye's reputation" as an excuse to try to minimize the seriousness of the incident and block He Tianran's path of severely punishing the matter according to company rules.

But He Tianran sneered inwardly. He was trying to turn "official business" into "family business" and trying to "cover up his shame." What did that make him, He Tianran?

Is this a fig leaf for the He family?
The man understood, and sat back down in the main seat, deep in thought. He ran his hand back and forth on the smooth mahogany armrest a couple of times before finally breaking the silence:

"Aunt Tao, you're right."

He spoke slowly, his tone even somewhat calm:
“Miss Bai’s reputation and the stability of our company before its listing are indeed more important than anything else, so… we can put aside plans that would affect the overall situation, such as public handling, internal company announcements, and filing a police report.”

Tao Wei felt a sense of relief, and a slight smile was about to appear on her lips...

However, He Tianran's next words made her heart sink instantly.

"But I still want to settle some accounts with Aunt Tao and Yuan Chong..."

He leaned forward slightly, looking calmly at Tao Wei and He Yuanchong. He raised his right arm and glanced at Bai Lingye to the side, as if he were really introducing a "treasure" that he was proud of, his words full of meticulous calculation.

"Miss Bai Lingye is undoubtedly the pillar of our Hong Kong Film Studio at present."

Last year, she personally contributed 170 million yuan in net profit to the company, accounting for 35% of the company's total profit. This doesn't even include the brand premium she brought and the traffic she generated for other artists.

He Tianran spoke at a steady pace, but the numbers he announced struck the hearts of everyone present like a heavy hammer, and Bai Lingye subconsciously straightened her back.

"The company is currently conducting its final round of financing before going public, and the valuation is based on profit expectations for the next three years."

According to the most conservative model provided by securities firms, Ms. Bai's personal brand value and future earnings expectations directly support the company's current valuation of nearly two billion yuan.

He Tianran tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a soft tapping sound, as if emphasizing the weight of each number.

"If Miss Bai's reputation is damaged now because of Yuan Chong's incident, it could even affect her career and commercial value..."

He paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over Tao Wei's instantly tense face:

“It doesn’t need to be seriously damaged. Even if it just causes the market to have doubts and leads to a 10% reduction in our valuation, that would be a direct loss of 200 million. And that’s just a paper loss.”

His voice remained flat, yet it carried an invisible pressure:

"More practically, the listing process is likely to be hindered as a result. We have already invested over 30 million in underwriting fees, auditing fees, and legal fees. Delaying the listing by a year will incur opportunity costs, capital costs, and the additional performance-based earn-outs that may be necessary to maintain the valuation..."

The total losses, both inside and out, may exceed 500 million.

Five hundred million...

At this moment, it manifests as a slap that is shaking back and forth on He Tianran's hand.

This number made Tao Wei's breath catch in her throat.

This mother might disregard her reputation for her son, but she has to carefully consider the financial losses, especially the potential impact on Shanhai Group's overall strategy of expanding into the film and entertainment industry and He Tianran's IPO plans.

He Tianran placed his hands on the table, looked at Tao Wei, and said, word by word:
“Aunt Tao, you said that family scandals should not be aired in public and that we should settle this privately, and I agree. But settling privately does not mean that the incident did not happen, nor does it mean that there will be no consequences.”

My brother's actions have created a real and significant potential risk for my company. This risk cannot be dismissed simply as a "family matter." I also hope you understand that this is not a child's game; there will be consequences.

Instead of immediately stating the specific punishment, he first used cold, hard data to directly link He Yuanchong's "foolish actions" with hundreds of millions of yuan in commercial interests, completely blocking any possibility of Tao Wei trying to "muddle through the mud."

He Yuanchong, having studied finance, knew the truth of He Tianran's words. Faced with such a commercial trial, he couldn't hold back and retorted sharply:
"Impossible! If it weren't for Shanhai Capital's investment and push, how could your company, He Tianran, be valued at 20 billion? If Bai Lingye were really worth that much, her company would have gone public long ago, instead of waiting for you to acquire it!? He Tianran! You're just settling a personal score!"

He Yuanchong became more and more lucid as he spoke, as if he had grasped at a lifeline, trying to use professional questioning to evade the guillotine that He Tianran was about to lay down.

Bai Lingye's face instantly turned ugly, and Tao Wei also frowned, but a hint of expectation flashed deep in her eyes, hoping that her son's counterattack could turn the tide.

Faced with this sudden and fierce accusation, He Tianran calmly adjusted his posture, looking at He Yuanchong as if he were looking at a poor student. His tone was flat, but every word was piercing:

"Shanhai Capital's investment is an enhancement of credibility, an endorsement, and a multiplier effect, but it's not something created out of thin air! What is a cornerstone? A cornerstone is a top-tier asset like Bailingye that can continuously generate huge cash flows! Without this cornerstone, why would Shanhai Capital invest its money? Do you think He Panshan is like Aunt Tao, responsible for doing charity?"

He spoke slowly, but with a powerful sense of pressure, giving He Yuanchong no chance to interrupt:
"As for why we didn't go public before? It's simple: the original management team had a narrow vision and lacked the courage and ability to operate in the capital market!"

As for me, He Tianran, with my works, a content production company, capital from Shan Hai, and new media distribution channels like Surfline, after integrating resources, I became the path to maximize the value of this brokerage company, which led to the current valuation model of 2 billion!
This model has been jointly verified by three top investment banks and two accounting firms; it cannot be dismissed with a simple "impossible" from He Yuanchong!

He Tianran spoke eloquently about every resource he possessed, while He Yuanchong stared, his face turning from red to pale. The financial theories he had learned seemed utterly powerless under his brother's sharp, practical approach. Yet, even now, he remained unconvinced.

"So you also relied on your dad..."

"cough……"

Just then, Yu Naoqiu coughed softly, her voice carrying an objective, analytical tone, but her gaze was fixed on He Tianran, as if she were adding evidence to his argument:
“Yuan Chong, Auntie, He Tianran is right. According to data from the entertainment industry, top artists, as the core assets of asset-light companies, are usually valued at a premium of 15 to 25 times.”

If Ms. Bai's annual profit is 1.7 million, even taking the lower limit of 15 times, her personal brand value is indeed around 25 billion. Considering the company's other assets and integration effects, an overall valuation of 20 billion is already very conservative..."

Yu Naoqiu is not a professional in this industry, but she also comes from a wealthy family and is close to He Tianran, so she is aware of the market conditions for this type of investment.

At the same time, He Tianran and He Yuanchong looked at her in disbelief, unsure of which side this woman was on...

Now, the most clear-headed person in the crowd is Tao Wei.

The mother closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and knew that her son had already failed miserably in business, and that continuing to argue would only bring him further humiliation.

The next moment, she suddenly opened her eyes, no longer looking at her good-for-nothing son, but looking directly at—

Bailingye.

Tao Wei's face showed panic and apology. She stood up, walked to Bai Lingye, lowered her body, and bent down:
"Miss Bai, I'm so sorry. I've spoiled Yuan Chong since he was little. Sometimes he doesn't know his own limits. If he has offended you in any way, I apologize on his behalf."

The woman apologized as a mother, which was hard to refuse, yet she cleverly attributed He Yuanchong's behavior to being "spoiled" and "lacking self-control," thus downplaying the seriousness of the incident.

Bai Lingye hurriedly stood up, somewhat at a loss: "Madam He, please don't do this..."

She looked at He Tianran for help.

At this moment, He Tianran's expression also revealed a silent bewilderment; he truly hadn't expected this...

A mother, for the sake of her good-for-nothing son, would go to such an almost subservient degree before an actor she had always looked down upon...

He Yuanchong has a good mother...

Tao Wei's sudden bow brought the conflict back to its most primal and irresistible emotional level...

He Tianran's originally sharp eyes showed a brief moment of confusion...

He looked at Tao Wei's well-maintained, always dignified back, which was now bent so easily for the sake of her son.

This kind of sacrifice, which is almost self-humiliating, is something his equally proud mother, Bai Wenyu, who devotes more energy to her career and emphasizes independence, would never have done for him.

An extremely complex emotion, mixed with a sense of absurdity and an unspeakable envy, surged within him...

He Yuanchong was even more stunned. He watched his mother bow her head for him, and a huge sense of shame and a suffocating feeling of being tightly wrapped by maternal love came over him at the same time. His cheeks burned, he felt ashamed and wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

"mom!"

He growled hoarsely, his voice filled with pain and a desire to stop.

Yu Naoqiu watched this scene with a cold eye, the corners of his mouth curving downwards almost imperceptibly, a smile full of sarcasm, as if he found this tragic drama of "motherly love and filial piety" both laughable and pathetic.

However, this also made her, an outsider, understand one thing—

That is, within the He family, as long as Tao Wei remains in power, He Tianran, whether he steps on He Yuanchong or sits on He Yuanchong, will have to acknowledge the existence of this younger brother in the family.

Tao Wei seemed not to hear her son's cries, maintaining her bowed posture, her voice choked with emotion, yet she continued to speak to Bai Lingye with unusual clarity:

"Miss Bai, I'm so sorry, it's all my fault as your mother for not raising him well. Please be merciful and give Yuan Chong another chance... He's not a bad person at heart, he was just confused for a moment..."

Tao Wei took almost all the blame upon herself, trying to melt away any resentment Bai Lingye might have with this "motherly love," and indirectly putting pressure on He Tianran.

Bai Lingye was completely flustered. As an artist, she had never received such a grand gesture from a wealthy matriarch.

She instinctively reached out to help, but then realized it was inappropriate, and could only wave her hands repeatedly, speaking incoherently:

"Madam He, please get up. I... I can't accept this... I really can't accept this..."

She looked at He Tianran again, her eyes filled with helplessness and pleading, hoping he would end this suffocating apology.

He Tianran took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the inappropriate turmoil in his heart.

He knew that Tao Wei was making a final, desperate attempt using the most traditional and effective method...

He should have known that Tao Wei, who was able to drive away Bai Wenyu and get He Panshan, who was already married and had a child, to take her and her child back, was not someone to be trifled with...

He should have known sooner that He Yuanchong always had a sense of kinship that he himself lacked, providing him with a safety net. Blindly revealing his hand would only bring temporary benefits, even if it did...

"Ugh……"

He Tianran sighed silently to himself, slowly stood up, walked to Tao Wei's side, and instead of immediately helping her up, he spoke in a calm voice, yet with a weary, final tone:
“Aunt Tao, why are you doing this? Miss Bai is a reasonable person. The company’s rules cannot be changed by just bowing.”

His words both reminded Bai Lingye not to be morally blackmailed and clearly told Tao Wei that the self-inflicted injury scheme was ineffective; however, his tone also carried a sense of helplessness.

Because of Tao Wei's behavior, when the news reached He Panshan, even though He Tianran was in the right this time, he couldn't gain any advantage.

Is He Yuanchong's harassment of Bai Lingye really a big deal?
In He Tianran's words, the loss of over 100 million is substantial.

Ultimately, if the private compensation is adequate, and Bai Lingye agrees to forgive He Yuanchong, it's not a big deal at all.

“Tianran,” Tao Wei’s voice tightened slightly, but she maintained her composure, “You’re right, Yuan Chong has been a complete scoundrel this time, causing the company enormous trouble! We’ll take responsibility for the losses! We absolutely cannot let you and the company bear them.”

She set the tone of "taking responsibility" in advance to prevent He Tianran from proposing more demanding conditions.

"How about this?" Tao Wei offered a solution she had already come up with. "We can't touch the shares of Shanhai Group under Yuan Chong's name. They were given to us by your father and are the foundation of our business. But we can take out all of his personal investments and savings over the years, which amount to about 80 million yuan, as extra compensation to Miss Bai. This will also be a small compensation to your company."

Eighty million is a huge sum for an individual, but compared to the potential loss of five hundred million, it is just a drop in the bucket. This is just the first bargaining chip that Tao Wei has thrown out.

"Furthermore," she stared intently at He Tianran, unleashing her trump card. With a hint of hesitation, but only for a moment, she said decisively, "Yuan Chong... he has no face to manage the live streaming business of the surfing line anymore. Live streaming is the group's future focus, so you should take over the whole thing. We'll all be at ease. He'll only retain a nominal directorship in the surfing line and will no longer participate in specific management."

He Tianran pinched the bridge of his nose and forced a stiff smile: "Aunt Tao, I'm already the head of the surfing-themed film and television department. Now you want me to take over the live streaming business? Am I giving up my old profession?"

If the live streaming business of surfing can be established, it will definitely be a lucrative business in the future. However, he knows that if he is too eager at the moment, he will lose the initiative. Besides, he can't bite off more than he can chew, and he is currently too busy to handle everything.

Seeing that he did not refuse outright, Tao Wei quickly calculated in her mind that she had to offer a sufficiently substantial "price" to quell the matter and protect her son's core surfing line business and shares.

Suddenly, she thought of that burden that was giving He Yuanchong a headache, something he couldn't bear to part with but also couldn't bear to discard—the piece of land in the northwest suburbs.

The land was in a remote location, and the port city government had no clear development plan for it in the past five years. The infrastructure was almost non-existent, and the initial investment was like a bottomless pit. There was no return in the short term, so it was a hot potato. Using it to do a favor was the most appropriate thing to do.

“Tianran, if you can’t handle the live streaming business, then you should have a good talk with Panshan and find a suitable person to take over. I trust your judgment, father and son. Yuanchong made such a mistake in this position, so it’s clear he can’t stay…”

Tao Wei first offered a compliment, her face showing an expression of reluctant reluctance yet profound understanding:

“Natural… the 80 million in cash is compensation for Miss Bai, and handing over the live-streaming business is an explanation to the company, but I know that this alone is not enough to appease your anger…”

She took a deep breath, as if she had made a tremendous decision:

"In that case, the development rights to that plot of land in the Northwest District that Yuan Chong had are also handed over to you! It's a good piece of land. Although it looks remote now, it has huge potential for the future. Yuan Chong put a lot of effort into acquiring it. Now, handing it over to someone as capable as you to manage is the greatest punishment for him and a contribution to the company's future!"

She spoke with such sincerity, as if she were offering not a worthless utensil, but a priceless treasure.

He Tianran sneered inwardly. How could he not know the details of that piece of land?
The city's urban planning will not favor that direction at all, so let alone five years, even ten years, those plots of land probably won't grow much grass.

Tao Wei's move of "sacrificing the pawn to save the king" was brilliant; it not only got rid of the biggest burden but also made it seem like she had made a huge sacrifice.

Hmph, the future looks promising, but right now I can't see a single penny and I've only left myself with a mess.

A brief silence fell over the private room once again. Bai Lingye was completely stunned by the enormous numbers and the naked power exchange, holding her breath. Yu Naoqiu's eyes flashed with a sharp light as she quickly assessed the changing situation.

He Yuanchong looked at his mother, his eyes filled with resentment and shock, but Tao Wei's sharp gaze silenced him, and he dared not utter a sound.

A few seconds later, He Tianran slowly spoke: "The live streaming business of the surfing line can be temporarily handed over to... Xie Yanyan. Aunt Tao, it wasn't just Miss Bai who was hurt by Yuan Chong this time. You understand what I mean. Even if Dad finds out, he shouldn't have any objections to this choice."

"I understand, I understand. Tianran, you're so perceptive..."

Tao Wei quickly agreed, but a chill ran through her heart.

Xie Yanyan, He Yuanchong's current girlfriend, was seemingly given a chance by He Tianran to protect He Yuanchong and fulfill He Panshan's desire for a "harmonious brotherhood." However, once the girl learned the whole story, a rift was bound to form in her heart...

Tao Wei felt a mix of emotions. She realized that she had underestimated the depth of her stepson's thoughts...

"Since that piece of land in the Northwest District is a token of Aunt Tao and Yuan Chong's 'sincerity,' I'll accept it. But how and when to develop it is up to me. I need to hedge against all the risks associated with the preliminary exploration, planning, and even potential future infrastructure investments..."

His gaze shifted to He Yuanchong, whose face was ashen:

"He can continue to be in charge of the real estate project in the Haigang District. That's the task your father gave you, and it's also a key project for the group. There can't be any mistakes. But I want to take five percent of the project's profits over the next five years."

Five percent isn't a huge number for a newly started real estate project; it doesn't even account for the scale of "risk hedging" in comparable projects. However, the Harbour City project isn't just He Yuanchong's business; partners like Yu Yaozu are also sharing the pie. His stake in the top thirty is already quite substantial. Therefore, He Tianran's words, translated, mean—

"I won't invest a single penny. You'll give me five percent of your profits every year for five years, and most likely this money will come from your pocket, He Yuanchong."

How could He Yuanchong possibly accept this? He had already been given money and land, yet he still had to pay protection money regularly every year?

"Don't go too far!"

"Naturally, we need some time to think about this. Real estate is a long-term business, and we can't give an accurate answer right away."

“Sure, Aunt Tao, you know real estate projects are long-term investments, right? If the land you gave me doesn't generate revenue within ten years, it will just be a piece of land forever, a liability. So I really need to hedge it, otherwise I'll inexplicably become a liability, and then I'll be completely helpless…”

He Tianran took on this huge burden with ease, but at the same time removed all the immediately available resources, turning it into a "liability" that required long-term incubation and might never produce any output.

This is tantamount to telling Tao Wei in a clear way: I accept your "generous gift," but it can forget about occupying any of my core resources, and don't expect me to turn it into something valuable immediately.

“One week. I’ll give you a week to go back and discuss it. You can also talk to your father about this. As for how to say it, I believe Aunt Tao, your thinking is clearer than mine. Yuan Chong has stepped down from his position, and there needs to be an explanation for the handover of the land. I will cooperate. As for the 80 million… I will present Miss Bai’s letter of understanding and confidentiality agreement as soon as the money arrives.”

He Tianran calmly, even with a hint of "tolerance," dismissed the guest.

"……it is good."

This time, Tao Wei's answer was unusually dry and short, without any superfluous words.

She stopped looking at He Tianran, and didn't even try to pull He Yuanchong away. Instead, she hissed in a low voice, almost as if squeezed out from between her teeth:

"Yuan Chong, let's go!"

He Yuanchong stood up blankly, as if his soul had been ripped out. His eyes followed his mother with an empty gaze. When he passed by Yu Naoqiu, he paused for a moment, and the look he gave her was indescribably complex, a mixture of lingering confusion, a trace of infatuation, and utter dejection.

Tao Wei and her son left the private room, and the bodyguards followed silently. The door closed again.

Bai Lingye looked at the closed door, then at He Tianran, whose expression was unreadable, her feelings extremely complicated.

She received compensation far exceeding her expectations, but also witnessed a more brutal family power struggle that took place without the bloodshed of swords.

"Mr. He...?"

He Tianran sat back down in his armchair, his tone softening, but he seemed to have exhausted most of his energy. He rubbed his temples and didn't look at her.
"Take a good rest these few days and get back into shape. The new contract and the compensation from this time will be sent to your agent soon. As for today's matter... forget about it completely."

"understand……"

Bai Lingye stood up and nodded.

"Go back."

He Tianran waved his hand, indicating that she could leave.

After thanking her again, Bai Lingye walked quickly to the door of the private room, but just before grasping the doorknob, she turned back and asked a question that had been on her mind for a long time—

"Mr. He... those valuations you just mentioned... 20 billion... am I... really worth that much?"

The hesitant uncertainty reached the man's ears. He Tianran, who had been rubbing his temples, finally put his hand down. He looked up at the exotic beauty standing at the door, her face still shaken, yet her eyes filled with a strange expectation.

"The fan economy has always been a bubble that bursts easily. The so-called idol value is nothing more than which platform you stand on, what kind of camera you appear in, and what kind of brands and figures surround you. But if you tear off the superficial packaging, you... of course you are not worth it."

He Tianran stood up and picked up an umbrella from the corner:

"Whether you exist or not, this IPO will not affect the plan. The valuation of the artist is 20 billion. It could be you, Wen Liang, Su Xiaotong, or even Teacher Sun Zhangwen whose new drama is about to be scheduled. Their current artist valuations may be slightly lower than yours, but the company's total valuation will not change. Do you know why?"

He walked up to Bai Lingye, handed her the umbrella, and the girl took it, clasping her hands to her chest. Her head, which had been hanging low, slowly rose as He Tianran approached, and she uttered an answer that couldn't be clearer:
"Because I'm only worth this price because of you?"

"No, you're worth much more to me..."

As they were talking, the man suddenly felt a darkness before his eyes, and a soft, warm wetness touched his cheek. Before he could react, Bai Lingye had returned to normal.

"Then I wish us a pleasant cooperation in the future, Mr. He~"

Bai Lingye smoothed her hair, smiled charmingly, turned around, opened the door, and left. Once her figure had completely disappeared, the door lock slammed shut with a crisp sound, completely cutting off the light and sound from the corridor.

The air still seemed to hold the lingering sweet scent of Bailinye's perfume, mixed with the aroma of cooled tea, creating an alluring fragrance.

"Tsk, it seems that President He has captured the heart of another beauty."

A mocking female voice rang out from the shadows inside the private room.

He Tianran slowly turned her head and looked at Yu Naoqiu, who had never left. She walked calmly to the spot where Tao Wei had just sat and sat down with an air of nonchalance.

"Would you trade 80 million for a kiss, or your money?"

The man walked back to the main seat, but instead of sitting down, he picked up the small teapot on the table and poured a mouthful of the already cold tea directly from the spout.

Upon hearing this, Yu Naoqiu chuckled softly, as if he had heard an extremely funny joke, his shoulders trembling slightly.

She reached out and picked up an empty teacup, twirling it deftly between her fingers, her gaze fixed intently on He Tianran, as if hooked.

"Eighty million—?"

She drew out her words, each one dripping with honeyed sarcasm:

"Mr. He, your calculations aren't very shrewd. That 80 million is for silencing her, for keeping her working for the company, for that 'willing' letter of forgiveness. As for that kiss... it's at most a bonus, or rather, a clever little investment by Miss Bai. As for whether that money can buy my kiss..."

She put down the empty teacup with a dull thud.
"That depends on whether you can give me a promotion, Mr. He."

He Tianran didn't answer her question. Instead, holding the teapot, he steered the conversation back to reality:

"Enough with the show, let's get down to business. Your Yu family is skilled in real estate, and your father was deeply involved in my brother's project in the Haigang District. But what do you think of that piece of land in the Northwest District?"

"That piece of land?" She scoffed, her tone crisp and decisive: "It's tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away."

"Be more specific," He Tianran said in a low voice.

"specific?"

Yu Naoqiu raised an eyebrow, placed his hands on the table, and suppressed the playful expression on his face, revealing a rare serious look:

"Okay, since you want to hear more specifics, then I'll tell you in detail how bad the situation is with this land."

First, this area has a significant locational disadvantage, being over 40 kilometers from the main urban area of ​​the port city, with no decent infrastructure within a 5-kilometer radius, no planned subway lines, and even main roads require detours. Second, the land use is awkward; although it's designated for construction, the plot ratio is limited to below 1.5, meaning you can't build high-rises, only low-density projects, which indefinitely prolongs the return on investment period.

She spoke at a steady pace, readily reciting data, and clearly knew the land inside and out. It was obvious that the Yu family had already inspected the land when He Yuanchong approached them for help.

"Most importantly, the northwest direction is where ecological protection zones and water sources are located. There is no possibility of large-scale development plans in the short term. If the government does not take the lead in investment, social capital will not follow suit at all."

She paused, then delivered the fatal blow:
“My father also investigated that area before, and his conclusion was that unless you can get the municipal government to plan a new high-speed rail station or international airport there, it would be a miracle if the land’s value growth rate could outpace inflation over the next ten years. Its current value is basically locked in by the land price itself, and it may even become a negative asset as you said, due to holding costs and capital occupation.”

He Tianran listened silently, his face expressionless, but his eyes grew increasingly deep. Yu Naoqiu's analysis was exactly the same as the information he had, and even more thorough.

This piece of land was indeed a gift that Tao Wei carefully selected to "disgust" him.

"so……"

Yu Naoqiu concluded, a familiar, calculating smile curving his lips once more:
"Mr. He, you've traded five percent of the profits from the Harbor District project over the next five years for a 'negative asset' that you won't see any returns for the next ten years, and might even continue to drain your resources. From a purely commercial perspective, this deal is a huge loss!"

In the real estate field, Yu Naoqiu, as the heir of the Yu family, is indeed professional enough. In just a few words, he completely dismantles He Tianran's "victory".

He Tianran stared at her, and a tense silence fell over the private room.

"I think I have to go..."

Yu Naoqiu stood up, her skirt brushing against the chair without making a sound.

She didn't turn around immediately, but instead looked down at He Tianran.

"I've said everything I need to say. This land is a quagmire. If you insist on jumping in, I can't stop you..."

She spoke casually, picked up her handbag from the side with elegant movements, as if her earlier statement of "losing out big time" was just a casual remark about objective facts that wasn't worth dwelling on.

Yu Naoqiu walked to the door of the private room, placed her hand on the cold doorknob, paused for a moment, but did not press it immediately. She turned her head slightly, and light shone through the crack in the door, casting a line of light and shadow on her delicate profile.

"He Tianran, you've put on quite a show for me today. In this world, the only person who can force Aunt Tao Wei and He Yuanchong to cede territory and pay reparations, losing all face, is probably you. But... that's the end of your story."

You said it was a good show, but the ending was disappointing. You might as well have called Aunt Bai over and wiped them all out together—that would have been much more satisfying!

Her words sounded like a casual remark. After saying them, she didn't linger and pushed open the door to leave.

The door was pulled open a crack, and the light from the corridor and the sound of wind and rain outside briefly rushed in before being quickly cut off by the closing door.

"Click."

The sound of the latch returning to its original position was crisp and decisive.

In the other room, Wen Liang's heart skipped a beat as she heard the door close three times in a row.

Inside the pavilion and in the adjacent private room, a completely different yet equally suffocating silence fell.

Only the sound of rain, falling incessantly.

Wen Liang felt her breathing becoming difficult. She looked at Cao Aiqing and asked in a breathy voice:
"Have the people in the next private room...left? Did he...know we were here?"

Cao Aiqing did not answer, but turned her gaze back to the wall, as if she were having a silent confrontation with the man who was left alone on the other side of the wall.

Her silence was the answer in itself.

After a few seconds, or even minutes of deathly silence—

"Boom..."

A dull, yet remarkably clear, hammering sound came from next door…

The sound wasn't loud, but it felt like it was striking a chord directly in one's heart...

"Dong dong..."

Two more sounds rang out, the sound of clenched fists striking the wall between the three people with a moderate amount of force.

Across the wall, He Tianran's deep voice pierced through the rain and brickwork, reaching the ears of the two women inside the pavilion with an indescribable, weary, and cold hoarseness:
"...Have you heard enough?" (End of Chapter)