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

The dinner at the Bai family mansion was very enjoyable.

Bai Qing's cooking skills are impeccable; his braised pork is fatty yet not greasy, and the flavor is so delicious that it makes you want to swallow your tongue.

After eating and drinking his fill, Bai Jingyou slumped on the sofa, fiddling with the voice changer he had taken from Chen Hao, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

"What's wrong? Still thinking about that phone call?" Bai Qing walked over with a plate of cut fruit and casually turned down the TV volume.

"Sis, I know Chen Hao." Bai Jingyou sat up straight, tossed the voice changer up and caught it again. "He's ruthless enough, but lacks vision. He's good at kidnapping and extortion, but to set up such a big scheme, mobilize the media resources in Beijing, and even get that level of listening equipment... he doesn't have the brains or the money."

Bai Qing used a toothpick to stick a piece of cantaloupe on his finger and handed it over: "You mean, the Chu family?"

"That brat Chu Xuan got his leg broken and was sent in jail, but the Chu family is still around." Bai Jingyou took a bite of melon, his eyes squinting from the sweetness. "They beat up the young one, and the old one comes. This is online fiction... cough, this is the rule of the martial arts world."

[Chu Cang is notoriously petty in the original story. He'd even go to great lengths to clash with the Ye family over trivial matters. Now that Chu Xuan is dead in my hands, and I've ruined the Chu family's plans in Haicheng, there's no way this old man can tolerate it.]

"We'll meet force with force." Bai Qing's eyes turned cold. "As long as the Ye family is on our side, Chu Cang will have to think twice before he tries to take action against the Bai family."

"Of course." Bai Jingyou smiled and didn't say anything more.

Some of the dirty and tiring work is best left to men.

There's no need for my sister to worry about this.

……

The following day, in Haicheng CBD, at the Genting Tower.

As soon as Bai Jingyou pushed open the office door, he saw Jiang Mengyao already sitting on the sofa in the reception area.

Today she wore a well-tailored beige business suit, her long hair was tied up, making her look capable and intellectual.

But her usually cool and aloof pretty face now had an indescribable blush, as if she had applied a light layer of rouge.

"What a rare guest," Bai Jingyou said with a smile, hanging his coat on the hanger. "Is President Jiang here to inspect our work or to collect a debt?"

"I'm here to deliver money."

Jiang Mengyao stood up, took a thick document out of her bag, and handed it to Bai Jingyou.

"This is the final settlement report for the building materials market last month, as well as the profit-sharing plan for the project in the east of the city."

Bai Jingyou took the document, casually flipped through a couple of pages, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

The figures above were 30% higher than he had anticipated.

"Why are there so many?"

"Thanks to you." Jiang Mengyao looked at him, her eyes shining brightly. "Do you remember two months ago? You told me in the private room that you only wanted a 20% profit."

Bai Jingyou nodded: "I remember. Back then, you thought I was doing charity work."

"Who could have imagined that just three days after we signed the contract, the building materials market would experience an unprecedented price surge?" Jiang Mengyao took a deep breath, her tone tinged with lingering fear and relief. "Because of the sudden arrival of the environmental inspection team, cement plants and steel mills in several surrounding provinces all suspended production for rectification. The current market price is already four times what it was then! And there's practically no market for them!"

If Bai Jingyou hadn't stockpiled a massive amount of stock and secured the supply at an extremely reasonable price, it would have been a huge loss.

Jiang's Group, let alone making money, would be completely wiped out by the penalties for breach of contract due to work stoppages.

"In this round, Jiang's Group not only didn't lose money, but also became the only project owner in Haicheng that could deliver on time because the construction period was greatly ahead of schedule." Jiang Mengyao paused and lowered her voice a little. "At yesterday's board meeting, those old fogies who originally opposed cooperating with you were all slapped in the face."

Bai Jingyou closed the file, tossed it onto the table, and leaned back in his chair: "So, President Jiang is here to share the spoils... oh no, the profits?"

"That's one aspect."

Jiang Mengyao lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. Her intellectual and strong businesswoman aura instantly collapsed, replaced by a girlish shyness.

"Um... my dad was really happy when he saw the report last night."

"Yes, it's good that Uncle Jiang is happy." Bai Jingyou asked knowingly, "And then?"

"And then..." Jiang Mengyao's voice was barely audible, "He had a couple of too many drinks and kept muttering to himself. He said... that nowadays, there aren't many young people like you who have vision, ability, and are handsome."

Bai Jingyou suppressed a laugh: "Uncle Jiang, you flatter me. I was just lucky."

"He also said..." Jiang Mengyao's face turned bright red, and she finally gritted her teeth and said, "He said our two families are old friends and business partners, which is what they call a good match. He asked me... asked me when I would bring you home for a casual meal, and... and maybe chat about something else."

Other things.

These three words contain enough information for any adult to understand.

A brief silence fell over the office.

The only sound was a faint breeze from the central air conditioning vents.

Looking at the girl in front of him, whose ears were flushed red with embarrassment, Bai Jingyou's mischievous thoughts suddenly faded, replaced by a gentle warmth.

In the original novel, Jiang Mengyao is the tragic second female lead who silently protects the male lead but ultimately ends up leaving for a distant land.

And now, she stands vividly before me, talking about the future.

"Is this... a marriage proposal?" Bai Jingyou suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.

Jiang Mengyao suddenly looked up, her almond-shaped eyes filled with panic: "No...no! I was just relaying my dad's message! If you don't want to..."

"Who says I'm unwilling?"

Bai Jingyou stood up, walked around the desk, and stood in front of her.

The distance between them instantly closed, close enough that they could smell the faint scent of jasmine on her.

"The braised lion's head meatballs from the Jiang family now must taste pretty good, right?" Bai Jingyou looked down at her, a handsome smile curving his lips. "I've been craving them for a long time."

Jiang Mengyao was stunned for a moment, then realized what he was talking about.

In that instant, the panic in her eyes turned into immense joy, like fireworks exploding in the night sky.

"Delicious! The chef was specially invited from Suzhou and Hangzhou!" Jiang Mengyao stammered, "Then... then this weekend?"

"Whatever you say." Bai Jingyou reached out and casually tidied a stray hair behind her ear. "But before I go to your house, I need to take care of a little trouble. After all, it's my first time visiting, and I can't come here with bad luck."

"trouble?"

Jiang Mengyao's eyes were brimming with worry. She instinctively gripped the crocodile skin bag strap, her knuckles turning slightly white. "Is this the person behind Chen Hao? Should I ask Dad..."

"It's just a stray dog ​​that hasn't even had enough to eat. There's no need to bother my future father-in-law."

Bai Jingyou chuckled and gently stroked Jiang Mengyao's pert nose, the gesture intimate and natural. "Besides, it makes no sense for a woman to handle the mess outside. You only have one task right now."

Jiang Mengyao felt a tingling sensation on the tip of her nose, as if an electric shock had passed through her, and her cheeks burned even hotter: "Wh...what mission?"

"Go back and tell the chef at home that I want double portions of lion's head meatballs this weekend." Bai Jingyou smiled broadly. "Also, make sure to prepare the best bottle of aged Shaoxing wine. If the wine isn't good, I'll throw a tantrum."

The tense atmosphere was instantly dispelled by his two witty remarks.

Jiang Mengyao chuckled and glared at him reproachfully, "All you ever think about is food! Fine, I'll have the kitchen prepare it when I get back. If you dare to stand me up..."

She waved her small fist, making a gesture that looked fierce, before reluctantly turning to leave.

The office door closed again only after that slender figure disappeared at the elevator entrance.

Bai Jingyou's gentle smile was like a reef after the tide receded, instantly turning cold and dry, leaving only a chilling glint in his eyes.

"Come out."

He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looked down at the bustling Haicheng CBD, and spoke indifferently.

The hidden door to the lounge opened, and Chen Mo walked out silently, still holding the tablet computer that seemed to be welded to his hand.

"Young Master."

"Chu Xuan is in." Bai Jingyou tapped a cigarette out of his pack, didn't light it, but just sniffed the tobacco's aroma. "Since that old bastard wanted to use someone else to do his dirty work, he must have left a backup plan in Haicheng. Did you find out?"

"Found it."

Chen Mo's fingers flew across the screen, bringing up a photo to project onto the big screen.

The photo shows a bald man with a muscular face, wearing a heavy gold chain around his neck weighing about two pounds, embracing two young models and howling like a banshee in a karaoke bar.

"Wang Biao, on the surface, is the vice president of a shell company in Beijing called Tianji Trading, but in reality, he is a vicious dog raised by Chu Cang." Chen Mo pushed up his glasses, his tone as calm as if he were reading an instruction manual. "After Chu Xuan's accident, this guy did not leave. Instead, he has been frequently contacting several local building material suppliers in Haicheng in the past two days, seemingly trying to cut off the raw material supply chain of our Chengdong project."

"Trying to cut off my supply lines?" Bai Jingyou's lips curled into a mocking smile. "This tactic is only slightly more sophisticated than that idiot Chen Hao's. It seems Chu Cang thinks that as long as I have no food in Haicheng, I'll obediently kneel down and beg for mercy?"

[Old man, what era are we living in? Still playing these gangster turf-grabbing tricks. Do you really think Haicheng is your backyard, where you can grow whatever you want?]

"Young Master, do you need me to take some men to..." Chen Mo gestured as if cutting off a throat.

"Rude."

Bai Jingyou snapped the cigarette in his hand and threw it into the trash can. "We're legitimate business people. Fighting is what barbarians do. Besides, Aunt Ye just invested. If we get bloodshed, wouldn't that be a slap in Aunt Ye's face?"

Chen Mo was taken aback: "So what do you mean?"

"We've invited Aunt Ye, this big shot, how can we not pay our respects?" Bai Jingyou turned around, picked up his coat, and draped it over his shoulders with a swift and decisive movement. "Prepare the car, let's go to the Golden Tripod Club. I heard Wang Dapao is hosting a banquet for building material merchants from Haicheng there tonight?"

"Yes."

"Since he's hosting, wouldn't it make the people of Haicheng seem impolite if I, as the host, didn't offer him a toast?"

Bai Jingyou straightened his tie, his eyes filled with amusement.

[The tactic of "borrowing the tiger's power" may be cliché, but it works. If that old bastard Chu Cang knew I was using the Ye family's influence as a weapon, he'd probably swallow his dentures in anger.]

......

……

Jin Ding Club, the most extravagant place in Haicheng.

Inside the largest VIP box, the air was thick with smoke and the smell of alcohol.

Wang Biao sat imposingly in the main seat, one foot on the coffee table, a glass of expensive red wine swirling in his hand.

Around him sat seven or eight local building material merchants from Haicheng, each with a fawning smile, as if they were surrounded by stars.

"Gentlemen, I, Wang, am a straightforward man." Wang Biao let out a burp, his eyes sweeping fiercely over the crowd. "Since Master Chu has allowed me to stay here, it means he values ​​this place in Haicheng. That Bai family brat is jumping around a lot now, but he's like a grasshopper in autumn—he won't last long!"

"Yes, yes, Mr. Wang is right!"

"The Bai family is just lucky; they can't compare to Master Chu from the capital!"

Several building material merchants quickly echoed his sentiments. Although they were uneasy, none of them dared to offend this formidable figure from the capital. It was said that Wang Biao had several lives on his hands; he was a truly ruthless character.

"That's more like it!" Wang Biao nodded in satisfaction, downing his drink in one gulp. "Starting tomorrow, I want you to completely stop supplying the Bai family! I'll pay the penalty for breach of contract! As long as we strangle the Bai family, we'll split the Haicheng market 20/80 from now on—I'll take 80%, and you take 20%!"

The group exchanged bewildered glances, their faces grim.

A 20/80 split? That's blatant robbery!