The reception room fell into a hushed silence, all gazes fixed on Yu Baihan, as if expecting a response akin to “I fell into the river with your mother. Who will you save first?”
Yu Baihan took a deep breath, clasping back his biting retort. Part of him wanted to tell Si Wei, “If you desire that 1% so much, why not have it?”
Then the Lu family could hold on to the remaining 50%, and everyone would walk away content. Yet he could vividly foresee the repercussions of such audacious sarcasm: a brainwashing intervention package.
Suppressing his instinctive snark, Yu Baihan sipped his water and ventured, “How about we temporarily allocate that 1% here… As for the remainder, my brother and Mr. Lu could split it evenly.”
After all, weren’t they both “fond” of him? Not even willing to part with a mere 1%?
Lu Huan’s half-smile flickered as he traced his fingertips along the rim of his cup, observing Yu Baihan.
On the other hand, Si Wei couldn’t help but burst into laughter, a cold gleam shimmering in his eyes. “Does Xiao Han truly understand now? This 1% allocation is essentially securing it as our joint marital property.”
Yu Baihan’s surprise briefly flickered in his gaze. Was this legal-blind person giving him a lesson in law?
Si Wei’s demeanor softened slightly at his genuine bewilderment. “Xiao Han, you know now. Let’s proceed with our discussion.”
Implicit within his words lay a deeper message, a final opportunity for Yu Baihan to demonstrate whether his obedient “pawn” had strayed from its course.
With a lowered gaze, Yu Baihan’s mind raced through the plotlines of the original novel. The teacup on the low table before him had drained completely, a single droplet trailing down the pristine porcelain, leaving behind a transient mark.
His mental gears suddenly ground to a halt.
After a brief pause, Yu Baihan responded, “Then, third brother at 25%, Mr. Lu at 26%.”
Lu Huan lightly pinched his wrist, and his lips curled in silent amusement.
A chill seemed to sweep across Si Wei’s countenance, freezing it momentarily.
Yet, in the next instant, Yu Baihan’s soft murmur reached their ears: “If the third brother is generously granting 1% to my husband, how about my husband display your magnanimity by surrendering the Qiongshan project to the third brother?”
Lu Huan’s gaze lifted abruptly to fix on Yu Baihan.
Si Wei’s brow furrowed in surprise.
In the midst of his thoughts, Yu Baihan, bridging the gap between “marionette” and “charming spouse,” had the audacity to embrace Lu Huan’s waist, lifting his gaze and asking, “Sir, is that okay?”
Lu Huan met Yu Baihan’s gaze, his intentions concealed.
After a drawn-out moment, just as Lu Huan was about to address the situation, a distinct prodding sensation at his lower back jolted him, a bemused expression painting his features: “…”
With measured deliberation, Yu Baihan tapped Lu Huan’s lower back, each pressing a discrete prompt. His fingers exerted firm pressure, as if drilling a hole into a wall.
The urgent message was clear: I’m covertly maneuvering; give your nod of approval quickly!
—
A pivotal plot point from the original book resurfaced in his mind.
At this juncture, when the Si family’s pressure was nearly inescapable and Lu Huan found himself backed into a corner, the Qiongshan project stood as his last bargaining chip. It also represented the sole cooperation he had managed to wrest from the grasp of the Si family.
Placing all his hopes on the Qiongshan endeavor, Lu Huan’s anticipation mounted as the project neared completion. Yet, the author’s whimsy intervened, and the narrative took a drastic turn—sudden inspiration struck, leading to the obliteration of the entire project site by a mudslide.
It was as if fate conspired to thwart Lu Huan at every turn.
Yu Baihan continued prodding Lu Huan’s side, a notion germinating within him: why not capitalize on this moment and bestow this stroke of fortune upon the Si family?
After all, their destiny seemed to be fraught with hardship, so why not let them have a taste of prosperity?
However, in the midst of his prodding, a large, encompassing hand promptly quashed his theatrical act. Lu Huan’s fingers coiled around his feigning digits, pulling them away from his back.
Two seconds of intense eye contact ensued, followed by a faint parting of Lu Huan’s lips. “Agreed.”
Yu Baihan blinked, momentarily taken aback: Huh?
Was that a commitment? That simple?
Could it be that the intelligence downgrade he jokingly endowed Lu Huan with was still in effect?
Si Wei, on the other hand, was as stunned as anyone by Lu Huan’s swift acquiescence.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
He was well-versed in the significance of the Qiongshan project—an immensely lucrative venture.
Po atf Oe ojwlis kfgf ab kliilcuis rafq vbkc ogbw mbcafcalbc, kjr la cba kbgat j wfgf 1% bo atf rajxfr?
Qjgs bo qbafcalji yjmxagjmx, Vl Qfl rkloais lcafgpfmafv, “Nfgs kfii, kf tjnf jc jugffwfca. Lbkfnfg, rlcmf atlr lr jc lcobgwji jggjcufwfca, kbeivc’a la yf wbgf jqqgbqgljaf obg Ugfrlvfca Oe ab lrref j ifaafg bo mbwwlawfca?”
Lu Huan directed his call, “Yao Xingran.”
“Ah… yes,” Yao Xingran snapped back from her stupor, hesitated momentarily, then turned and departed to fulfill the request.
Before she exited, she couldn’t help but cast a sidelong glance at Yu Baihan, regarding him as an enigmatic fairy capable of bringing both blessings and calamities upon the land.
In a swift turn of events, a billion-dollar project was relinquished without further ado!
—
The current round of negotiations had yielded a resolution, and a palpable sense of ease pervaded the once-tense reception room.
However, Yu Baihan’s discomfort was rapidly escalating because of his overindulgence in tea, leaving him with an urgent need to use the restroom.
Turning to Lu Huan, he softly murmured, “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”
Si Wei’s gaze darted toward them, laced with a hint of playful jest. “Even bathroom trips require coordinated notification between you two. Your closeness is truly remarkable.”
Yu Baihan, already en route, nearly stumbled at Si Wei’s comment.
What an unusual demand for courtesy.
Reacting swiftly, Lu Huan snatched at the collar of Yu Baihan’s shirt, effortlessly steadying him.
As if on the same eye level, Yu Baihan, with one hand resting on Lu Huan’s thigh, turned his head to lock eyes with him—Lu Huan’s countenance, still exquisitely handsome and unblemished, held his gaze.
Si Wei observed from the rear, his scrutiny profound.
In a hushed tone, Yu Baihan expressed his gratitude, “Thank you, Mr. Lu.”
Lu Huan’s eyes glittered, his lips curling in a manner akin to someone savoring a spectacle. “You’re most welcome.”
Yu Baihan’s retort was lost in his throat; a mix of exasperation and amusement left him unable to respond.
With Si Wei’s view obscured, Yu Baihan seized the opportunity, directing a swift flirtatious smile toward Lu Huan, punctuated by an air kiss: Momo Chirp! =3=
Before Lu Huan could fully process the playful gesture, Yu Baihan hastened to his exit, the door closing with a resounding “thud.”
In a fleeting instant, that subtle, covert flirtation was sealed behind the closed door.
—
The restroom was just a brief walk from the corridor’s corner, a mere ten meters away.
Sleek ebony tiles adorned the entire wall, exuding an air of opulence. A sweeping glance around led Yu Baihan to envision a red carpet runway fitting seamlessly within the lavishly adorned space.
Positioned in the communal area beyond the restroom’s confines, the sink offered a view of the hallway.
Emerging from the restroom after completing his business, Yu Baihan bent over the sink to wash his hands, his face mirrored before him. As he swiped away the last vestiges of water with a single hand, he encountered an unexpected sight in the mirror: Si Wei standing silently just behind him.
A lithe silhouette lingered at the door, wordless yet striking in its presence.
Yu Baihan nearly choked on his breath at the sight. Swiftly regaining his composure, he turned his head and addressed the figure, “Third brother.”
Si Wei’s gaze took on a discerning glint as he dove straight into the matter at hand. “How did you learn about the Qiongshan project?”
Yu Baihan’s response stumbled incoherently, “I saw it in Mr. Lu’s study.”
“You gained access to his study? When?”
“Last night.”
A palpable pause hung in the air for a beat. Si Wei’s demeanor shifted abruptly as he advanced a step closer.
His eyes roved over Yu Baihan’s damp countenance, tracing the path of water droplets down to his throat, dampening the fabric around his neckline.
“Did you sleep with Lu Huan?”
Yu Baihan: …
A curious line of thought, indeed.
Lowering his lashes, Yu Baihan’s Adam’s apple bobbed subtly as he replied, “Yes.”
Si Wei’s eyebrows lifted, his tone taking on an air of languid nonchalance, “You’re proving more valuable than I had anticipated.”
The entire length of the corridor lay deserted, devoid of any onlookers.
He intentionally lowered his voice, secure in the belief that no wandering ears would catch his words.
Yu Baihan’s mind drifted back to the surprising scene from the previous night, and a flush of embarrassment crept over him. No, he still hadn’t proven himself sufficiently useful.
Otherwise, at least half of last night’s chapter wouldn’t have consisted of ellipses.
Lost in this train of thought, his mind momentarily wandered, causing him to overlook Si Wei’s query.
Observing Yu Baihan’s pensive countenance and downcast demeanor, Si Wei offered a derisive smile. “I truly cannot fathom why Lu Huan is enamored with you. Nevertheless, that’s inconsequential. I care not about the extent of your intimacy, just….”
He paused, the small corner of the world falling into silence.
Yu Baihan snapped back from his reverie and met Si Wei’s gaze.
With a gesture, Si Wei’s hand descended, landing on Yu Baihan’s slender shoulder. Under his touch lingered the dampness of wet fabric. His thumb brushed against the slight protrusion of a collarbone, exerting a subtle pressure, a silent warning.
“Never forget your origins and your true identity.”
Yu Baihan’s calm demeanor belied his internal amusement: raised within a society governed by law, he stood proudly as a lawful citizen. Thank you very much.
Si Wei, observing the attentive stillness, eventually withdrew his hand and stepped back with a satisfied smirk. After nearly achieving his objective, he saw no reason to prolong the encounter. He pivoted on his heel, disappearing around the corridor’s bend within a few strides.
“I’m taking my leave. Stay vigilant for any updates.”
Yu Baihan dutifully nodded, his response swift. “Understood.”
As Si Wei’s form receded into the distance, the echo of his footsteps dissolved into the silence of the corridor.
—
As Yu Baihan emerged from the corridor, he found himself crossing paths with a hurried Yao Xingran.
Yao Xingran’s eyes widened upon spotting him, her gaze adopting a mixture of emotions once more.
Oh, the enchanting consort, the enchanting consort!
Unaware of her thoughts, Yu Baihan inquired, “Secretary Yao, where is Lu Huan?”
Yao Xingran composed herself, replying, “Mr. Lu is currently in the project department. I was returning to fetch some materials for him.”
Accompanying her into the president’s office, Yu Baihan stated, “I’ll wait for him here, then.”
The office, spacious and well-illuminated, boasted a breathtaking view.
Directly facing the entrance stood Lu Huan’s desk, flanked on one side by a bookshelf and a small sitting area. On the other side, a private lounge offered a glimpse of Lu Huan’s more personal space.
The clock had struck past eleven.
With no clear idea of when Lu Huan might return, Yu Baihan felt the dampness of his collar, chilled against his skin from his earlier scene of washing his face. Wrinkled by Si Wei’s grip, his attire seemed to carry a venomous chill.
Facing Yao Xingran, he inquired about a change of clothes. She was in the midst of collecting the materials and paused, seemingly indecisive. Eventually, she relented. “There’s a change of clothes in Mr. Lu’s lounge.”
“Could you kindly ask him on my behalf?”
Yao Xingran couldn’t help but think: President Lu seems quite infatuated with you. How about asking if he’d like you to wear a dress?
Suppressing a smile, she dialed Lu Huan’s number.
“Mr. Lu, it’s me… Yes, I’ve located the information. It’s yours… Uh, Mrs. Lu was wondering if you’d be willing to lend some clothes.”
The term “Mrs. Lu” amused Yu Baihan.
As for Lu Huan’s reaction, only Yao Xingran was privy to that.
After swiftly concluding the conversation, Yao Xingran relayed the message to Yu Baihan, an expression of ‘I knew it’ playing across her features, “President Lu said you can wear whatever you like.”
Actually, the precise words were “whatever you like,” but that likely meant dressing casually, right?
“Thank you.” With a nod of appreciation, Yu Baihan turned on his heel and made his way to the lounge.
—
Lu Huan’s private lounge bore a striking resemblance to the primary bedroom in the Lu family residence. Its predominant color scheme was a smoky blue blended with silver accents, punctuated by lavish embellishments that exuded an air of opulence.
A massive wardrobe spanned an entire wall, and upon Yu Baihan’s exploration, he encountered two meticulously organized rows of high-end suits, each tailored for distinct occasions. These, unfortunately, were off-limits for him. After a thorough search, he finally stumbled upon a few casual T-shirts tucked away in the innermost section. Settling for a light-colored option, he swiftly changed into it.
Comparatively, Yu Baihan realized that Lu Huan, though slender, had a more towering stature.
Tugging at the shirt’s generously wide neckline, he couldn’t help but ruefully muse: What a textbook novel trope! If this were a romance piece, the author would likely milk this T-shirt outfit for chapters—from the lounge to the restroom, office, panoramic windows, underground parking lot…
Suppressing the urge to overthink, he deliberately veered his thoughts away, aware that further pondering might lead to entrapment.
Before Lu Huan’s return and Yu Baihan’s change of attire, he occupied himself by sinking into the plush swivel chair in the lounge, immersing himself in his mobile phone.
After indulging in the flying car game for a good ten minutes or so, an unexpected text message appeared, abruptly diverting his attention.
Sender: [Si Wei]
Yu Baihan’s lips twitched involuntarily.
The mere arrival of a message from a Si family member seldom boded well.
Exiting the game and opening the message, Yu Baihan was met with two tersely worded lines.
[Si Wei]: Get closer to Lu Huan.
Yu Baihan contemplated for a moment before typing a reply.
Yu Baihan: I will do, as you say.
[Si Wei]: Don’t let me catch wind of any missteps on your part.
Yu Baihan grasped the implicit meaning behind this message. The Qiongshan project’s remarkably smooth progress was bound to raise Si Wei’s suspicions, given his shrewdness. An investigation would likely ensue once he was out of sight.
Yet, even a thorough examination would reveal no foul play on Yu Baihan’s part.
After all, how could he be held accountable for an unforeseen mudslide? He wasn’t Mother Earth.
[Yu Baihan]: Understood.
With his reply dispatched, Yu Baihan noticed Si Wei’s contact name, and a chuckle escaped him as he began to edit it.
Si—wei—sui.
Ranking third.
“Shan San’er” seemed like a fitting moniker.
Yu Baihan was so engrossed in his playful “hehehehe” editing session that he remained oblivious to the lounge door softly opening behind him.
It wasn’t until he felt a firm hand turn his swivel chair around that he snapped out of his focus.
Turning his head, he discovered Lu Huan standing right in front of him.
Bathed in the lounge’s bright, white illumination, Lu Huan had discarded his coat, leaving him in a white shirt and silver-gray suit pants that oozed an air of elegance.
One hand rested casually in his trouser pocket, while the other, still holding the remnants of his earlier smirk, gently brushed against the corner of Yu Baihan’s lips.
“Our Baihan, do you need to wear two faces?” He inquired, his voice tinged with amusement.
Yu Baihan, caught off guard, stammered, “…”
Caught red-handed.
The author has something to say:
After a considerable pause,
Yu Baihan: Our dear Mr. Lu~ do you have a dual personality?
Lu Huan: …
Or rather, “The Emergence of a Thespian.”
Jajajajaa estos dos son tan hilarantes, me encanta el desarrollo, ya quiero saber en que más meterá la pequeña cola de zorrito.
This is very fun lmao, as a note I, would love to have some explanations for the names/nicknames the mc gives Si Wei this chapter:)
It’s literal third rank, because he’s the third child.
This is my opinion, maybe because asian family always thrives for 1st place, 3rd place is viewed as something bad? 😂
Anyway, Baihan won’t give them good nicknames~
I see, thank you for the explanation! I’m learning Chinese (only beginning), so I’m always curious:)
Typo?
The very first sentence seems unfinished?
Thanks for the info! I’ll fix it when I’m home later^^
Hee hee, “the enchanting consort” 😘
Thanks for the chapter 💞