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

The Maybach drove smoothly along the coastal highway, the rain outside the windows dried by the strong wind.

Only puddles of reflective water remained on the road, reflecting the city's dazzling yet indifferent neon lights.

Bai Jingyou leaned back on the leather cushions of the back seat, loosened his tie, and let out a long sigh.

The tension of strategizing and manipulating people's hearts in the conference room gradually fades, leaving behind a deep sense of exhaustion.

Playing a cunning villain is actually physically demanding.

"Boss, shall we go straight back to the old house?" Chen Mo glanced through the rearview mirror, his voice low, as if afraid of disturbing the man who was pretending to be asleep in the back seat.

"Hmm." Bai Jingyou closed his eyes, gently rubbing his temples with his fingers. "Also, have the finance department expedite the capital injection into Jiang's Group this month."

"Understood. And..." Chen Mo paused, "The PR director just sent me a message saying that the news of Chu's stock price crashing has topped the trending searches. Should we hire some online trolls to manipulate public opinion?"

"No need to waste that money." Bai Jingyou's lips curled into a mocking smile. "When it comes to kicking someone when they're down, netizens are more professional than online trolls. Besides, the people Chu Cang offended before are probably lining up to kick him while he's down now."

[When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down; that's human nature. Hiring online trolls now is an insult to the intelligence of the general public. You'd be better off saving that money and buying Mengyao a handbag.]

The carriage fell silent once again.

Half an hour later, the vehicle entered the Bai Family Manor, located halfway up the mountain.

The massive wrought iron gate slid open slowly to both sides, and two rows of plane trees cast dappled shadows under the car headlights.

Even in the dead of night, the Bai family mansion remained brightly lit, like an ever-burning lighthouse, overlooking the world of fame and fortune that had just undergone a reshuffling.

As soon as Bai Jingyou stepped into the entrance hall, a rich, fresh aroma wafted towards him.

It's not the expensive truffle flavor you find in high-end restaurants, but rather the homely flavor of chicken soup, slowly simmered over a low flame.

"You're back?"

A gentle yet authoritative voice came from the living room.

Bai Qing was wearing a set of silk loungewear, her long hair casually tied back, and she was holding a delicate white porcelain bowl in her hand.

As the current head of the Bai Group, she has a fearsome reputation in the business world, but in front of Bai Jingyou, she is just a worried older sister.

"Sis, still not asleep?" Bai Jingyou took off his shoes, handed his coat to the maid who came to greet him, and slumped on the sofa like he had no bones. "It's so late. Staying up late is the enemy of your skin."

"Stop being so glib." Bai Qing walked over and sat down next to him, handing him the steaming bowl of chicken soup. "Drink it while it's hot. You just came back from that filthy place, the Chu family, you need to get rid of the bad luck."

Bai Jingyou took the bowl and, without any hesitation, tilted his head back and took a large gulp. The warmth slid down his esophagus into his stomach, dispelling the chill of the late autumn rainy night.

"How does it taste? I personally watched Aunt Li stew it for three hours." Bai Qing looked at her younger brother as he wolfed down the food, her eyes full of doting affection, and casually took out a tissue to wipe the corner of his mouth.

"My sister's cooking skills must be at least Michelin three stars." Bai Jingyou put down his bowl and sighed with satisfaction.

"Stop flattering me." Bai Qing glared at him reproachfully, then her expression turned serious, her tone taking on a sharp, business-like edge. "I heard about tonight's events. Did that old fox Chu Cang really sign the papers?"

"Signed." Bai Jingyou pulled a USB drive from his pocket and tossed it in his hand. "Not only did they sign, but they also gave back the three most profitable sectors. With this backup of the shady accounts, the Chu family will be a toothless tiger from now on, only fit to be exhibited in a zoo."

Bai Qing looked at the USB drive with a complicated expression.

Although she had always known that her younger brother had changed since that accident, the ruthlessness of his methods and the precision of his planning still terrified her.

It even feels somewhat unfamiliar.

"Jingyou." Bai Qing gently held his hand, her palm warm. "You did very well, better than I expected. But... I worry sometimes too."

"What are you worried about?"

"I'm worried you're moving too fast and forgetting the way back," Bai Qing sighed. "After all, Chu Cang has been operating in Haicheng for forty years. Even a centipede with a hundred legs won't die easily. You've driven him to the brink this time. Although it feels good, you've also completely torn off all pretense of civility. From now on, our Bai family will be standing on the edge of the storm."

Bai Jingyou grasped his sister's hand in return, his eyes clear and resolute: "Sister, from the day we were born into the Bai family, we've been in the eye of the storm. You used to protect me; now, it's my turn to stand in front of you."

Bai Qing was stunned for a moment, then her eyes reddened slightly. She laughed and flicked his forehead: "You brat, you think you're all grown up now? You want to stand in front of me? We'll see when you bring your wife back."

Mentioning his wife, Bai Qing seemed to remember something, turned around and took out a gold-embossed document from the drawer under the coffee table, and handed it to Bai Jingyou.

"What is this?" Bai Jingyou asked, taking the item with a puzzled look.

"A letter of intent for cooperation from Hongye Capital." Bai Qing straightened the collar of her pajamas, reverting to her capable and strong businesswoman demeanor. "It's not for you personally, it's for the Bai Group."

Bai Jingyou raised an eyebrow and quickly glanced through the document.

The more I looked, the stronger the smile became in his eyes.

"Deep cooperation across the entire industry chain? Jointly establishing a multi-billion-dollar industry fund? And taking a 15% stake in Polaris Heavy Industries' new project?" Bai Jingyou closed the document, marveling, "Feng Rui has really gone all out this time."

Although he and Feng Rui had cooperated before, it was mostly a point-to-point cooperation based on personal relationships and exchanges of interests.

This letter of intent is clearly intended to chain Hongye Capital, this behemoth, together with the Bai family, this warship.

This is an alliance.

"Feng Rui is a smart man." Bai Qing picked up the wine glass beside him and gently swirled the red wine inside. "The news of the Chu family's downfall hasn't even warmed up yet, and his pledge of allegiance has already been delivered. It seems you've really scared him."

"It wasn't entirely from being scared." Bai Jingyou threw the documents on the table and leaned back. "Feng Ling and Meng Yao have a good relationship. Feng Rui is a doting father, so it's just a case of loving the house because of the girl. Plus, today's battle showed him the Bai family's strength. Capital, after all, always admires the strong."

"In any case, this is a good thing for us." Bai Qing took a sip of red wine. "With the cash flow support of Hongye Capital, acquiring the three sectors of the Chu family won't cause a cash flow problem. Moreover, Feng Rui's connections in Beijing are exactly what we need."

Speaking of the capital, Bai Qing's eyes narrowed slightly: "By the way, that woman from the Ye family... Ye Lingqing, she didn't make any unreasonable demands during this collaboration, did she?"

In Bai Qing's eyes, Ye Lingqing was a ruthless vixen who would devour people without spitting out the bones. Although she was an ally this time, he still had to be wary of her.

"Besides taking 60% of the profits, she also wants me to drink with her." Bai Jingyou shrugged, looking completely innocent.

"Drinking?" Bai Qing sneered, slamming his wine glass heavily on the coffee table. "This woman, she's got some serious plans. Next time she comes looking for you, tell her to come directly to me. If she wants to drink, I'll drink with her to my heart's content!"

Seeing his sister instantly bristle and fiercely protect her, Bai Jingyou couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at!" Bai Qing glared at him. "I'm afraid you'll be sold out by her and still be counting the money for her! That woman is as cunning as a honeycomb."

"Don't worry, sis." Bai Jingyou stood up and stretched. "I can handle someone like her. As for Feng Rui's contract, since he's so sincere, arrange a time tomorrow for us to have a signing ceremony. Make a big fuss, preferably let the whole of Haicheng know that the Bai family and Hongye are now in cahoots."

"Okay, leave this to me." Bai Qing nodded, then glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's almost midnight, hurry up and go take a shower and go to bed. You smell like smoke, it's awful."

Bai Jingyou chuckled and bent down to hug Bai Qing: "Yes, Your Majesty. This soup is delicious; I want more tomorrow night."

After saying that, he turned and went upstairs with light steps.

Bai Qing watched her younger brother's figure disappear around the corner of the stairs, and her stern expression softened instantly.

She picked up the empty bowl again, gently stroking the rim with her fingertips, a barely perceptible worry flashing in her eyes.

"The Chu family has fallen, who will be next...?"

She murmured softly, her gaze passing through the French windows to the deeper darkness of the night to the north.

That was the capital, the center of power, and also the source of the storm.

……

Second floor, bedroom.

Bai Jingyou pushed open the door, and the tranquility of that private space enveloped him.

Instead of taking a shower, he went out onto the terrace and lit a cigarette.

The night breeze was slightly cool, dispelling some of the effects of the alcohol.

In the garden downstairs, a few ground lamps cast a soft glow.

Bai Jingyou took out his phone, and several unread messages were displayed on the screen.

Jiang Mengyao sent a message: "Have you arrived home yet? Dad said if it's convenient for you, he'd like to invite you over for dinner this weekend and cook some of his signature dishes."

A message from Ye Lingqing reads: "Little brother, tonight's show was quite exciting. But let me remind you, although the Shen family has expelled Shen Zhuo from the family register, beating a dog doesn't necessarily make the master happy. Be careful."

Bai Jingyou's fingers flew across the screen. [Okay, I'll definitely be there this weekend. And tell Uncle I'm really looking forward to his cooking.]

After sending the message, he threw his phone on the bed, unbuttoned his shirt, and headed for the bathroom.

As hot water washed over his body, Bai Jingyou looked at his handsome face and unfathomable eyes in the mirror, a wicked smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

The bathroom was filled with steam, obscuring all expressions, leaving only the sound of rushing water, like the prelude to the beating of war drums.

……

The next morning, it was another new day in Haicheng.

Last night's torrential rain seemed as if it had never happened, and the sunlight was excessively bright.

At a roadside newsstand, people were still discussing the collapse of the Chu Group, while in an office building on the other side of the city, the signing ceremony between the Bai Group and Hongye Capital was ready.

The logos of the two companies are displayed on a huge LED screen.

Reporters with their cameras and microphones filled the press conference venue.

In the backstage dressing room, Feng Rui, dressed in a Tang suit, was holding two walnuts in his hands, smiling as he watched Bai Jingyou walk in.

"Young Master Bai, did you sleep well last night?"

"Thanks to Uncle Feng, I slept soundly." Bai Jingyou smiled as he walked over and sat down opposite Feng Rui. "But Uncle Feng, with such a grand entourage, aren't you worried about gossip in the capital?"

"Gossip?" Feng Rui paused, his eyes gleaming. "In this world, only the winners have the right to speak. The losers are wrong even to breathe. Don't you agree, Young Master Bai?"

The two exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.