That night, they talked more than usual. Two men who rarely spoke their minds, especially after a hearty, well-done steak dinner, returned to Xiaozhu Courtyard and worked on the drawings together late into the night.
“You said you don’t usually work overtime.” Ouyang gave Jiang Yi a heads-up.
“Right. After I finish annotating the drawings, I’ll stop immediately. I don’t want to wake up tomorrow and forget everything.” Jiang Yi, in a rare good mood, worked at night.
Ouyang smiled and went to take a shower. When he came out, he was wearing a gray bathrobe and sat on a barstool, watching Jiang Yi’s focused profile. “Finished annotating?”
The scent of lemon seemed to linger in the air. Jiang Yi glanced at him casually. “I’m adding the last period. Why are your periods hollow?”
“Are you sure you’re not from another planet?”
“I am.” Jiang Yi hit save and stood up, moving to the sofa. “Have you been back to Arches?”
Ouyang chuckled and leaned his head on his hand, looking even friendlier. “You really are interesting.”
“If that’s a compliment, I accept.”
Ouyang poured himself a cognac and sat beside Jiang Yi. “A gift from some Europeans. Apart from alcohol, they don’t have much to offer.”
“I’m from America, so I have even less to bring.” Jiang Yi took a sip and finished it in one go. “Not bad.”
Ouyang looked at him in surprise. “Is that how you usually drink wine?”
“In my experience, people in your profession usually have a high alcohol tolerance.”
“Sometimes experience can be misleading.” Jiang Yi turned and draped his arm over the back of the sofa, teasing. “Besides wine, what other experiences can you share with your partners?”
“Power, ambition, sacrifice, balance—and women.” Ouyang listed his life pursuits casually.
“All good topics.”
“And you, coming all this way to expand your territory—what have you learned?”
“Still like a schoolboy. I don’t even know how to use idioms correctly.”
“Jiang Yi, you know, even if you couldn’t speak Chinese, it wouldn’t affect your career much.”
“That won’t do. I’m afraid the translators might get it wrong.” Jiang Yi suddenly realized he enjoyed talking to Ouyang—not a good sign.
“Actually, you act like a real Chinese.”
“I am one.”
“Oh?”
“I don’t want to talk about that. Let’s talk about you.”
Ouyang shook his head. “Nothing to say. In fact, it’s been a long time since I’ve sat on a sofa and talked to someone—without even mentioning money.”
Jiang Yi laughed lightly and blurted out, “What about Liang Menghai? You and her…” He stopped himself. Overstepping boundaries or prying into privacy wasn’t his style. “I mean—aren’t you two almost official? Surely you have plenty to talk about.”
Ouyang shifted closer. “If we’re going to have a man-to-man talk, I can tell you: Menghai is a good woman. Rare.”
“I can understand that.” Jiang Yi nodded.
“But I’m not ready to settle down yet. We’re both still searching for our own way of life.”
Of course, a man like him would take pride in pursuing different lifestyles, never sticking to just one. Jiang Yi felt their conversation had crossed a line, which wasn’t like him, so he decided to pull back.
“Are we doing this for others, or for ourselves?” Jiang Yi stood up. “I’m going to bed. See you tomorrow.”
“The league has started. Not interested?”
“European Cup or NBA? Sorry, I don’t follow those.”
“You have a great build. I thought you’d be into sports.”
“Is going to the gym the same as watching the Premier League?”
“Oh, I feel like talking to you always leads me into a maze.” Ouyang suddenly pointed at him. “You’re a master negotiator.”
“I just like to take charge of everything myself.”
“Including your partners’ mental states?”
Jiang Yi was almost at a loss. This was the first opponent who dared to debate him. He knew these inexplicable conversations would keep repeating until one side gave in. But Ouyang Jinghui was still commendable in some ways—like his work and social skills.
The next day, Ouyang reported their discussion to the board for collective consultation, then waited for Yifan to submit the report on Monday.
After that, Ouyang disappeared for a few days—a perfectly normal situation, but Jiang Yi’s mood was affected. Around nine every night, he’d glance at the door, wondering if someone would walk in. This really, really wasn’t a good sign.
So when Jiang Yi met Ouyang Jinghui again at the weekend meeting, they both performed flawlessly, convincing everyone. This was the result Jiang Yi wanted. He told himself he didn’t want anything more—if there was more, it was all irrelevant.
But a day later, Ouyang invited him to an entrepreneur summit in another city. Ouyang had two tickets and wanted Jiang Yi to join him, as the summit would help promote the Yunxi project and further establish Yifan Studio’s brand—a win-win.
Jiang Yi felt he should refuse, but in theory, he had to accept. Still, after two days of preparation, he set off on the journey.
While the entrepreneurs were making grand speeches, Jiang Yi felt he’d come to the right place. Sometimes, you shouldn’t be too subjective—missing an opportunity isn’t just about missing a chance. In a world where the strong prevail, you have to put in double the effort to seize opportunities, or they’ll pass you by without mercy.
“How do you feel?” After a full day of meetings, Ouyang asked Jiang Yi in the car on the way to the hotel. Jiang Yi showed him his business card holder.
Ouyang smiled. “Good results.”
“At least after the Yunxi project, Yifan can survive another year.”
Ouyang knew he was joking. “Don’t be so pessimistic. Yifan is practically irreplaceable now.”
“Hearing that from the chairman of Longtai gives me a confidence boost.” They could already joke with each other, harmlessly.
“Want to take advantage of it?”
Jiang Yi tilted his head, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“There’s a card and dice game in the hotel. Didn’t you just meet those two Hong Kong businessmen? They invited us up for a friendly game.”
“You’re the dealer?”
“OK, I don’t mind.” Ouyang’s smile had the charm of a mature man—strong yet flexible, hard to ignore.
That night, they lost a modest amount. Neither was very focused on the game. Jiang Yi and Ouyang each had a business suite. The Hong Kong businessmen, feeling a bit guilty about winning, arranged a “beauty trap” for them.
Coincidentally, that night, Jiang Yi rented a hotel car to see the city’s famous lake. To others, he seemed pragmatic or experimental—his meticulous appearance gave the impression he wasn’t a romantic. A few words with him would dispel any romantic notions. But privately, Jiang Yi really was the kind of person who could recite poetry—only when he was alone, and he didn’t want anyone to know.
So when he returned to his room at eleven, he was surprised to find his space occupied. “Ouyang?!”
“Hi, sorry for taking your place.” Ouyang Jinghui, in a shirt, was sitting in the armchair by the bed, watching an English channel.
“Did you need something?”
“No. There are two enthusiastic ladies waiting in my room. I couldn’t refuse, but I felt guilty, so I gave them my place for now.”
Jiang Yi immediately understood and looked at him with a mix of amusement and disbelief. “You’re afraid of that kind of thing?”
“They set a trap for me today. Tomorrow, they’ll double their demands. That’s the rule of survival. I don’t want to break it.” Then, with interest, he asked, “Were you out finding new clients?
“No, just out for a drive.” Jiang Yi answered honestly.
After emerging from the shower in his bathrobe, Jiang Yi took a risk and suggested, “If you’re worried about being disturbed, you can sleep here.”
“I’m honored. The bed’s big enough.” Ouyang smiled. “I’ve never slept with a man before.”
Jiang Yi smiled faintly. “Then tonight you can try it.”
Ouyang teased, “If the company is you, I’d be happy to.”
Jiang Yi had to admit—his heart had never raced so wildly before. Sometimes, Ouyang’s words missed the mark, but his unique brand of teasing was so direct, yet somehow neutral, that it left Jiang Yi at a loss.
If Ouyang was unintentional, he was just too talented. If he was intentional, he was a genius.
A hazy aura enveloped them, mixed with something disorienting. Jiang Yi’s heart felt as if it had been seized, a subtle stirring that made his cheeks grow warm. Most of the time, it was Ouyang Jinghui’s warmth and friendliness that proved most lethal—like a soft sword striking out, leaving most people defenseless.
Ouyang Jinghui was used to wielding his charm like a broadsword, using his tolerant demeanor to lull opponents into a false sense of security, never truly taking them to heart. Even now, despite his many doubts, Jiang Yi wouldn’t ask for answers.
Chapter 05
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