Chapter 9: The Most Honored Guest

After returning to her room, Ye Shihan didn’t dwell on anything further. She simply lay down on her bed and soon drifted off into a deep sleep.

The next morning, she woke up before seven. After washing up and dressing carefully, she received a call from Xiao Yu. At that moment, Xiao Yu was already waiting outside the Ye family’s door. Ye Shihan grabbed her handbag and went down to join Xiao Yu, and together with Taishui, who was driving, the three of them set off toward Huayi Group.

After a half-hour drive, they finally arrived at the grand gates of Huayi Group. Gazing at the imposing Huayi Tower, a wave of apprehension suddenly washed over Ye Shihan.

“What are you just standing there for? Let’s go,” Xiao Yu said with a soft laugh, looking at her with eyes full of affection as she stood frozen in place.

“Xiao Yu, are you really confident you can help me secure this partnership?” Ye Shihan asked, her doubt evident.

“Don’t worry. With me here, it’ll be fine.” Xiao Yu smiled calmly, fully aware of how she must be feeling. He then exchanged a glance with Taishui.

Catching the gesture, Taishui nodded slightly and took out his phone. The number he dialed was the one Liu Junhe had sent him the previous night—the contact for the person in charge of this project.

“We’re downstairs. Come pick us up,” he said succinctly, hanging up as casually as if it meant nothing. He didn’t notice the dazed look creeping over Ye Shihan’s face.

Ye Shihan was shocked. She couldn’t tell who Taishui had called, but she could vaguely guess it was someone from Huayi Group. Yet, the situation felt wrong. Her own Ye family was clearly the party at a disadvantage, and even getting a meeting with Huayi’s higher-ups was uncertain. But Taishui had simply made a call and expected someone to come fetch them—wasn’t this the reverse of what she’d expected?

She was very curious about Taishui’s true identity, given such confidence. Xiao Yu had told her Taishui was someone important, but she still didn’t know the specifics. As she mulled over her suspicions about Taishui, she couldn’t help glancing at Xiao Yu. What she couldn’t understand even more was why someone as seemingly influential as Taishui would listen to Xiao Yu so obediently. Could Xiao Yu really have such powerful connections?

“Well, I didn’t expect you’d actually come here. What a surprise.” A mocking voice sounded from behind just as Ye Shihan’s thoughts were drifting. The words drew the attention of all three, and they turned around.

It was Li Minghao, and following him was a middle-aged man in his forties.

At the sight of Li Minghao, Ye Shihan frowned, a look of disgust flashing across her face.

Li Minghao approached, smiling at Ye Shihan. “What, do you really think that loser by your side can help you clinch this deal? You’re too naive.”

“That’s none of your concern,” Ye Shihan replied irritably, brows knitted.

“Shihan, do you really think I’m inferior to that loser? I brought my uncle here early this morning just to help you, so your whole family wouldn’t be kicked out of the Ye family. Can’t you see my sincerity?”

Looking at the woman he’d yearned after for years, Li Minghao had done all he could, yet nothing he did ever seemed to leave a good impression on her. He couldn’t help feeling helpless.

“Li Minghao, I’ll say this again: we’re not close. Please address me by my full name. And regardless of how things turn out today, I don’t need any help from you,” Ye Shihan said coldly.

She couldn’t say why, but she’d always found herself repulsed by this young master of the Li family, perhaps because she knew his character too well.

“You don’t want my help? Just relying on him?” Li Minghao was visibly annoyed by her blunt rejection, immediately turning his ire toward Xiao Yu.

Taishui frowned and curled his lips into a cold smirk. At this, Li Minghao flinched and quickly averted his gaze. He knew too well the formidable strength of this burly man and didn’t have the guts to provoke him.

“Minghao, who are these people?” The middle-aged man, sensing the tension, stepped forward and looked at Ye Shihan and the others.

“Uncle, this is Ye Shihan—the Ye family’s young lady I’ve mentioned. I brought you here so you could lend her a hand and help her secure the contract. With you being a senior executive at Huayi, it should be a piece of cake,” Li Minghao said, flattering his uncle as he made the introduction.

“Don’t worry, with me involved this will be no trouble at all. But it seems Miss Ye may not need our help,” Li Quan replied with a smile, his gaze landing meaningfully on Xiao Yu.

“It appears you’re not fools—you understood what my wife meant. Since that’s the case, why don’t you get lost already?” Xiao Yu’s indifferent voice cut in before Ye Shihan could respond.

Both Li Minghao and his uncle Li Quan stared at Xiao Yu, their faces flushing with anger.

Even Ye Shihan was stunned—she’d never expected Xiao Yu to say something so brazen. One was the eldest son of the Li family, the other a Huayi Group executive, yet Xiao Yu had just told them both to get lost. Was this really the same Xiao Yu who once lacked all confidence?

“Xiao Yu, you useless fool—you dare tell us to leave? You’re not here to negotiate, you’re here to cause trouble! Does Huayi Group allow riffraff like you to run wild? Uncle, call security and throw them out!” Li Minghao snapped.

Li Quan’s face was also clouded with fury. As a senior executive, he’d never been so humiliated. He immediately beckoned to some security guards in the distance, who rushed over, recognizing him.

“Manager Li, how can we help?” asked the head of security, bowing and grinning obsequiously.

“Captain Wang, I suspect these people are here to make trouble. Get them out—now!” Li Quan barked.

At his words, the security captain immediately called his men to surround Xiao Yu and the others. Through it all, Xiao Yu and Taishui remained calm, but Ye Shihan was growing anxious.

“Please cooperate, or don’t blame us for getting rough. If anyone gets hurt, don’t say we didn’t warn you,” the security captain said with a sneer.

“Oh? I’m standing right here. If you’ve got the nerve, just try and touch me,” Taishui replied without the slightest fear, meeting aggression with aggression.

Others might not know how formidable Taishui was, but Li Minghao certainly did. Seeing Taishui’s unyielding stance made him nervous, but remembering they were on Huayi Group’s turf, his worry disappeared. Taishui might be strong, but surely he wouldn’t dare make a move here. Or so he thought.

The security captain, annoyed by Taishui’s defiance, waved to his men. “Fine, you refuse a toast, so you’ll have to drink forfeit! Boys, get them!”

At his command, the guards surged forward. Seeing this, Xiao Yu frowned, worried for Ye Shihan’s safety, and quickly shielded her behind him, whispering, “Be gentle.”

This remark was, of course, meant for Taishui. Hearing it, Taishui’s lips curled into a cruel smile. He moved like a tiger unleashed, charging at the guards.

A chorus of screams rang out as several figures were sent flying, crashing hard to the ground. In the blink of an eye, the security guards lay defeated, and this was with Taishui holding back—otherwise, with his skills, they could have been far worse off.

Both the security captain and Li Quan stared at Taishui in utter disbelief. Huayi Group’s requirements for security were strict; all the guards were former soldiers, not outstanding perhaps, but more than a match for a few ordinary people. Yet now, so many had fallen in less than a minute. How could they not be shocked?

Taishui clapped his hands, his gaze fixed on Li Quan as he slowly approached. Li Quan trembled with fright.

At that moment, Li Quan spotted a woman in a business suit accompanied by two company executives rushing over from the reception hall. Relief flooded his heart and he hurried to meet them, eager to escape Taishui.

“Secretary Lin, these people forced their way into our company. I tried to persuade them to leave, but they wouldn’t listen and even attacked our staff!” he reported, then shot a contemptuous look at Xiao Yu’s group.

“There are important guests arriving today. I won’t pursue this further, but you must leave our company at once!” Secretary Lin said, not bothering to distinguish right from wrong.

Xiao Yu stepped forward, a wicked smile playing on his lips. “Are you sure you want us to leave?”

“Do you think this is a joke? Get out! People like you aren’t welcome here. Working with our company? You’re dreaming!” Li Quan interjected, emboldened now that his fear had vanished.

“I am Xiao Yu,” Xiao Yu replied calmly.

“I don’t care who you are—leave immediately!” Li Quan blustered, oblivious to the drastic change in Secretary Lin’s expression behind him.

“You—you’re Xiao Yu? Mr. Xiao?” Secretary Lin exclaimed, her face a picture of shock. Without waiting for Li Quan to react, she hurried forward, bowed deeply before Xiao Yu, her face full of remorse.

“Mr. Xiao, I apologize for keeping you waiting,” Secretary Lin said, her words brimming with humility.

Just last night, Liu Junhe had called, instructing her to prepare the contract with the Ye family and to be sure to receive a distinguished guest named Xiao Yu properly this morning—no mistakes allowed. Yet just now, she had nearly driven this very guest out of the company. If Liu Junhe found out, her career would be over.

As Secretary Lin finished speaking, a hush fell over the scene. Li Quan and Li Minghao could only stare at Xiao Yu in stunned disbelief.