The oppressive pressure that had filled the private room vanished the moment the person left.
He Qinglei breathed a sigh of relief, exhaling slowly. He then noticed that the Drunken Flower Shadow wine on the table remained untouched.
He abruptly stood up, grabbed the wine jar, and walked to the window, looking down.
He happened to see the young couple descending the steps of the Drunken Wind Tower.
The Shen Jieyuan, who had appeared so nonchalant in front of others, was now gently holding his wife’s hand. As they walked down the steps, he turned his head and whispered a reminder to the woman beside him.
He Qinglei thought he was surely reminding her to be careful of the steps.
Even when boarding the mule cart, the man shielded the woman completely, appearing exceptionally gentle and gentlemanly.
He found it difficult to reconcile this image with the man who had exuded a cold, aggressive aura before him.
He Qinglei watched for a while. Shen Yun, sensing his gaze, looked up at him after helping Su Xiaoqi onto the mule cart.
His thin lips curved slightly, his smile faint.
He Qinglei, however, felt an inexplicable shiver run down his spine.
He didn't know why, but Shen Jieyuan didn't seem like a difficult person to get along with, yet he always gave him a sense of fear.
He hunched his shoulders and vigorously shook his hands, trying to rub away the goosebumps that had appeared on his skin.
“Young Master, their terms are so harsh. It’s better we don’t cooperate. I will find another way to get that formula…”
Liu Yishou said in a low voice.
But as he spoke, his voice trailed off completely.
He dared not continue.
Because his young master’s face at that moment was extremely grim.
It made him swallow the rest of his words.
“Shut up, Liu Yishou, Liu Yishou. I always thought you were quite capable, but why are you so muddle-headed today?
Look at you, what kind of people have you brought to the young master?”
It would have been fine if he had just brought them over. He considered this meal an attempt to smooth things over.
But he hadn’t expected this foolish person to still be thinking of scheming against others.
Did they think everyone was a fool?
He Qinglei was furious.
They were all employees, but why were the people around that couple so loyal and smart, knowing how to set traps for others?
The one beside him was as stupid as a pig, just spouting nonsense.
“Let’s go back. I will explain this matter to my father myself.” He Qinglei had already decided not to use Liu Yishou anymore.
He was too foolish; what was the point of keeping him?
Meanwhile, Su Xiaoqi and Shen Yun were discussing the matter in the cart.
“How many chances do you think the He family has to cooperate?”
“Ten percent.” Shen Yun turned his head to look at Su Xiaoqi, his eyes gentle.
Su Xiaoqi blinked. “I don’t think so. If this Young Master Meng is in charge of the He family, perhaps there is hope.
But he is just a young master; the chances are slim.”
In fact, although she had come today, she hadn’t held out much hope.
After all, although the He family in Mianzhou City couldn't compare to the Su family in terms of wealth,
they were quite famous in the Bashu region.
Their tea business had spread throughout the entire Bashu area.
“My wife underestimates Young Master Meng.” Shen Yun smiled and shook his head.
Su Xiaoqi was puzzled. She sensed there was more to Shen Yun’s words.
“The head of the He family is forty-two years old today, with four sons and three daughters.
He has two legitimate sons; the eldest legitimate son is an official in the capital.
The second legitimate son is the Young Master He we just met. Above him are two illegitimate elder brothers and three illegitimate younger sisters.
They are idle at home and have not been put in charge of any business.”
Su Xiaoqi was confused. “After all, they are from the He family; don’t they manage even a small shop?” This didn’t seem like the style of a prominent aristocratic family.
Logically speaking, wouldn’t aristocratic families teach their children how to conduct themselves from a young age, as well as how to manage the family's industries?
“When the legitimate sons are present, the illegitimate sons have no say.” Shen Yun chuckled lightly.
This statement sounded superficial.
But Su Xiaoqi understood.
This indicated the capabilities of the He family’s legitimate wife and her two legitimate sons.
Recalling He Qinglei’s slightly round and honest face, Su Xiaoqi narrowed her eyes.
That was a deceptive face; if she truly believed it, not only would they not cooperate, but they would likely devour her whole.
“Dealing with such people as rivals can be tiring, but becoming a mutually beneficial partner is very effortless,” Shen Yun concluded.
“Alright, then I will temporarily believe my husband. But if we cooperate, how will the profits be divided?” Su Xiaoqi was curious.
She felt that although Shen Yun was a man of deep schemes, if he used these tactics on others, she would be happy to see it.
“Three-seven split, or six-four contention,” Shen Yun said calmly, depending on how the negotiation went.
Su Xiaoqi became happy and couldn’t help but cheer, “As expected, when our Young Master Shen starts planning, no one else stands a chance.”
“Oh, really? You can’t compete either?” Shen Yun stared intently at Su Xiaoqi, a half-smile on his face.
Su Xiaoqi’s heart tightened; she suddenly realized she might have said something she shouldn't have.
She quickly smiled to cover up her slip of the tongue.
“Let’s go to the small courtyard.”
Shen Yun softly hummed in response.
Su Xiaoqi felt that Shen Yun when silent was more profound and terrifying than when he spoke, making him unfathomable.
She needed to appease him properly before she left.
Otherwise, with his dark heart, he would probably scheme her to the point of leaving no trace behind.
Xiao Sanzi, sitting on the cart shaft outside, heard this and responded loudly with a "Yes."
The mule cart turned a few bends and soon arrived at the back door of the supermarket courtyard.
Xiao Sanzi jumped off the cart and knocked in a specific rhythm, and the door opened.
An anxious voice emerged, “Xiao Sanzi, you’re back! How did things go?”
Xiao Sanzi looked at the anxious Xiao Yi before him, licked his dry lips uncomfortably, and swallowed hard.
He pointed to the mule cart and said in a low voice, “Sister Xiaoqi is here, and uh, Brother-in-law Yun is also here.”
Xiao Yi’s face instantly turned pale.
He glanced at Xiao Sanzi, then at the swaying carriage curtain. After a moment’s thought, he braced himself and walked forward.
Little Magpie had advised him earlier.
She had also analyzed that his actions were for their own good, which was understandable.
But the way he chose to do it was not good.
If Sister Xiaoqi came, he should avoid making excuses and apologize directly.
As a man, it was already bad enough that Sister Xiaoqi had to clean up his mess.
If he couldn’t even muster the courage to admit his mistakes, he wouldn’t even respect himself.
So, he didn’t hesitate for long. He quickly stepped forward and lifted the carriage curtain, immediately seeing Su Xiaoqi inside the mule cart.
She was leaning against the carriage wall, her eyes clear, motionless, as if waiting for him.
Xiao Yi gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, his head bowed, “Sister Xiaoqi, I, I’ll help you down from the cart.”
Su Xiaoqi didn’t move. She merely glanced at him, then looked at Guo’er, who was standing on the other side of the mule cart, ready to help her.
Then, without hesitation, she extended her hand to Guo’er.
Xiao Yi’s dark and thin face flushed instantly.
An inexpressible sense of depression and suppression surged into his heart, and his eyes became a little red.
Su Xiaoqi did not make things difficult for him for too long. She pointed at Shen Yun inside the mule cart and said, “Help my Young Master Shen down.”
Xiao Yi looked up in shock, only then realizing that the Brother-in-law Yun that Xiao Sanzi had mentioned was inside.
He quickly bowed and carefully reached out his hand.
Shen Yun showed no outward expression, but he glanced at Su Xiaoqi, his face full of helplessness and doting affection.
Alright, he had been tricked by Xiaoqi.
But what else could he do? His wife, he could only protect, indulge, and dote on her.