Who's going to be the female lead's simp? Aren't the supporting female characters mor

The Maybach drove away from the Shen Group building, leaving the lifeless building and the absurd flower basket behind it in its exhaust fumes.

Inside the carriage, Li He fiddled with the Montblanc fountain pen that had just been the subject of a multi-billion dollar contract. The carefree smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by an unusual seriousness.

Although he usually looks like a foolish son of a landlord, he has developed a keen sense of smell after being in this circle for a long time.

"Brother Bai," Li He hesitated for a moment before speaking, "You said in the elevator earlier that some people don't want the Shen family father and son to live. Does that include our future business partners?"

Bai Jingyou leaned back in his chair, his long fingers gently massaging his brow. Hearing this, a mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth: "Li He, you've improved."

"That's right, you get influenced by your surroundings," Li He scratched his head. "I was just thinking, if we take over that data center, isn't it like we've taken on a hot potato? That old fox Shen Tianyang used it as a lifeline, and ended up killing himself. Now that we've taken it over, will those who were originally eyeing the Shen family turn their guns on us?"

"A hot potato?" Bai Jingyou opened his eyes, his gaze unfathomable, as if hiding a bottomless abyss. "That's for the weak. In the hands of the strong, it's called nuclear deterrence."

He turned his head to look at the street scene rushing past the window, his tone flat: "As for those who are watching... they've already arrived."

Following Bai Jingyou's gaze, Li He saw two black Rolls-Royces at the intersection ahead, one on the left and one on the right, like two gatekeepers, not violating any rules, but blocking the Maybach's path.

The car window rolled down, revealing Zhang Yi's exquisitely made-up face, which couldn't hide her greed.

"President Bai," Zhang Yi waved through the car window, the jade bracelet on her wrist gleaming green in the sunlight, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave? President Ye has already prepared tea at Tingyuxuan. Let's all chat about how to divide the cake?"

Bai Jingyou chuckled and instructed Chen Mo in the front row, "Follow them."

……

Tingyuxuan is the most exclusive private teahouse in Beijing.

There is no opulent splendor here that nouveau riche would prefer; instead, there are Taihu stones transported from Jiangnan and priceless Ming Dynasty huanghuali furniture.

The aroma of tea wafted through the private room.

Ye Lingqing, dressed in a plain cheongsam, was gracefully brewing a pot of Da Hong Pao tea.

When she saw Bai Jingyou enter, she smiled slightly, her expression gentle, but her eyes gleamed with shrewdness.

"President Bai's move to force us into a corner has truly opened our eyes." Ye Lingqing pushed a cup of tea in front of Bai Jingyou. "Now the whole capital is saying that the Shen family's elephant was tripped up by you, an ant."

"Just lucky." Bai Jingyou sat down without touching his tea. "President Ye and President Zhang were in such a hurry to see me, surely not to praise me?"

Zhang Yi, sitting opposite, could no longer contain herself. She slammed her bag down on the table with a thud: "Bai Jingyou, let's be frank. The Shen family has fallen, and that land is yours, we have no objection. But you can't swallow that data center that the Shen family owns all by yourself."

"Oh?" Bai Jingyou raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Zhang has quite a good appetite. Aren't you worried about indigestion?"

"Enough with the nonsense." Zhang Yi lit a thin cigarette, and through the swirling smoke, her eyes sharpened. "That data center contains all of the Shen family's secrets and networks over the past twenty years. If even a single thing leaks out, it could cause an earthquake in Beijing. If you hold onto it, you'll be the target of everyone's ire. Why don't we share it and share the risks?"

Although Ye Lingqing didn't speak, her hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air, clearly indicating the same meaning.

That's what allies are.

One second they're handing you a knife, the next they're trying to cut your flesh.

Bai Jingyou looked at the two women, each with their own ulterior motives, and suddenly smiled.

His laughter was soft, yet it instantly lowered the temperature in the private room by several degrees.

"shared?"

Bai Jingyou leaned forward, placing his hands crossed on the table. An invisible sense of oppression instantly enveloped the entire room. "Sisters, haven't you made a mistake?"

Zhang Yi's fingers, which were holding the cigarette, paused: "What?"

"I never need anyone to share the risks for me," Bai Jingyou said calmly and coldly. "Because in this situation, I am the risk itself."

"You..." Zhang Yi's expression changed.

"I'm taking the data center." Bai Jingyou interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argument. "However, since you two sisters have helped me avoid a lot of trouble, I won't let you leave empty-handed."

He snapped his fingers.

Chen Mo, who was standing behind them, immediately stepped forward, took out two pre-prepared documents from his briefcase, and placed them in front of Zhang Yi and Ye Lingqing respectively.

"The Shen family owns three office buildings on the West Third Ring Road, as well as controlling stakes in two five-star hotels," Bai Jingyou said calmly. "These assets are clean, transparent, and readily convertible to cash. While they may not have the 'hidden value' of a data center, they are secure and safe to handle."

Zhang Yi and Ye Lingqing quickly flipped through the documents, their expressions shifting rapidly.

This is indeed a piece of fatty meat.

And as Baek Kyung-woo said, it was clean meat.

Compared to that data center that may be hiding countless bombs, these tangible assets are more in line with the businessperson's desire for stability.

"President Bai is truly... shrewd and meticulous." Ye Lingqing closed the file, gave Bai Jingyou a deep look, and smiled first. "Since President Bai is so generous, then I won't stand on ceremony. High-tech gadgets like data centers are indeed not suitable for a woman like me who runs a manufacturing business."

She is a smart person.

Since Bai Jingyou dared to bring these things out, it means he was absolutely confident that he could take over the data center for himself.

Continuing to argue will not only bring no benefit, but will also offend this rising star.

Seeing this, Zhang Yi, though unwilling, could only take a deep drag on her cigarette and put the documents into her bag: "Fine, you win."

……

Night falls on the top floor of the DeepBlue Technology Building.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the city lights of Beijing shone brightly.

The traffic flowed like a river of light.

Bai Jingyou stood alone by the window, holding a glass of red wine, but he didn't drink it.

The office door was gently pushed open.

There was no knocking, and no appointment was made.

In this company, there is only one person who can get in this way.

"Why aren't the lights on?"

Jiang Mengyao's voice rang out in the darkness, carrying a hint of weariness and concern that was barely perceptible.

She turned on the floor lamp by the door, and the soft, warm light instantly dispelled the chill in the room.

Jiang Mengyao was dressed in a smart beige trench coat today, carrying a thermal food container in her hand.

"Thinking about something." Bai Jingyou turned around and watched her walk to the coffee table, skillfully open the food box, and the aroma immediately filled the room. It was a soft and sticky congee with preserved egg and lean pork.

"You haven't eaten yet, have you?" Jiang Mengyao ladled out a bowl and handed it to him. "I heard from Chen Mo that you didn't drink a single drop of tea at Tingyuxuan last night."

Bai Jingyou took the porridge, and the warmth passed through the porcelain bowl to his palm, slightly warming his heart that had been hardened by the business world all day.

"You didn't come here just to bring porridge, did you?" Bai Jingyou sat down on the sofa and took a bite. It tasted very good, very homey, not at all like something a pampered young lady who never lifts a finger would make.

Jiang Mengyao sat down opposite him, staring intently at him: "You got your hands on the Shen family's data center?"

"Um."

"You're insane." Jiang Mengyao sighed, her brows furrowed. "Do you know what's in there? It's not a trade secret; it's leverage over half of Beijing's elite. If you have it, you're putting half of Beijing's powerful and influential figures on the spot. They'll do anything to ruin you."

"I know." Bai Jingyou put down his bowl, his tone as calm as if he were discussing tomorrow's weather. "Mengyao, if I don't take it, the Shen family will use it to buy themselves a chance to breathe, or even turn around and bite us. If Feng Rui or Zhang Yi take it, they will use it to reshuffle the deck, and then I won't be able to escape unscathed either."

"It is only safe in my hands."

"Safety?" Jiang Mengyao laughed angrily. "Do you think you're going to live forever? How many eyes are watching you right now? Do you believe that tomorrow when you go out, there might be a bomb under your car?"

Bai Jingyou's heart stirred slightly as he looked at her anxious expression.

In this calculating world, it's a luxury to have someone genuinely care about your safety.

"So, I need you," Bai Jingyou suddenly said.

Jiang Mengyao was taken aback: "What?"

Bai Jingyou put down his wine glass, leaned forward, and looked directly into her eyes: "The Jiang family's position in the cybersecurity field is unparalleled. I need your help to add a lock to this data center. A lock that no one but me can open."

That's the real reason he's waiting for her here tonight.

Instead of defending it, why not turn this data fortress into your own private territory?

Jiang Mengyao looked at the man in front of her.

He was clearly using her, yet his eyes were so open and honest, even carrying a hint of...trust?

"Aren't you afraid I'll leave a back door in the lock?" Jiang Mengyao asked, biting her lip.

"If it were anyone else, I would kill them." Bai Jingyou reached out and gently stroked her furrowed brows. "But if it's you, I'm not worried about such a small matter."

Jiang Mengyao's heart skipped a beat.

Is this considered a love confession?

In this man's logic, entrusting trust is perhaps more important than entrusting one's life.

"...The porridge is getting cold, eat quickly." Jiang Mengyao blushed and turned her head away, her voice barely audible.

"Okay." Bai Jingyou smiled, the coldness in his eyes melting away to reveal a genuine warmth.