The person in charge of the processing plant was a seasoned old hand in his fifties. Seeing the lineup of people at the entrance, he immediately realized that these visitors were no ordinary guests. He instantly became deferential and hurried over to welcome them.
Ji Yang, however, remained where he was.
He realized that his attention kept drifting involuntarily toward Nie Xu. The man was dressed in a dark suit, carrying himself with an unhurried composure. Behind him followed seven or eight executives carrying document folders. To anyone watching, this looked like nothing more than an ordinary on-site inspection by the group’s senior management.
But Ji Yang knew better.
The old man had gone overseas, leaving the group in Ji Chengyi’s hands.
Nie Xu’s position within the Ji family had always been quite clear. He belonged to the old man. With the old man away, it was only natural for him to take a seat at the Ji Corporation’s decision-making table and stand on equal footing with Ji Chengyi. No one would find that strange.
After all, that was simply the kind of person Ji Yansong was. Even when it came to the successor he had personally appointed, he couldn’t bring himself to place his full trust in him.
Thus, Nie Xu’s presence served both as a deterrent and as a reminder.
As for how much of this arrangement was something Ji Chengyi had been forced into, and how much he had willingly accepted or even deliberately orchestrated, only Ji Chengyi himself knew.
Ji Chengyi had spotted him too, but he didn’t look surprised.
After exchanging a few words with the people beside him, he caused the entire group to turn and look in Ji Yang’s direction. Then Ji Chengyi stepped forward and walked straight toward him.
Stopping in front of him, he got straight to the point.
“I’ve already reviewed your company’s preliminary qualification documents. It doesn’t have the capabilities or qualifications required to participate in this project.”
Lin Yue, standing beside Ji Yang, looked anxious.
Ji Yang showed no reaction whatsoever. He simply asked, “Third Brother, are you referring to the requirement of having five consecutive years without any major disciplinary violations, or the requirement for joint recommendations from two members of the Ji family?”
Ji Yang glanced at the executives behind him before looking back at Ji Chengyi with a faint smile.
“It’s supposed to be an open bidding process, but in reality, it’s still an internal arrangement. Third Brother, you deliberately set such strict restrictions against me. Surely it’s not because you’re genuinely wary of my status as a core successor to the family?”
Ji Chengyi maintained a matter-of-fact composure, as though they were discussing nothing personal.
“The rules were established by the board of directors. They weren’t designed to target you specifically.”
“I know,” Ji Yang said. “But the process isn’t over yet. Third Brother, have you already decided that we don’t even qualify?”
The two stood three or four steps apart. The sun overhead stretched their shadows into two long, slender lines.
The executives nearby tactfully stepped away. Only the two bodyguards accompanying the group remained where they were. One of them was Wang Weitao, whose gaze kept wandering toward the cold storage facilities.
Ji Chengyi said, “I’m currently in charge of the Ji Corporation. It’s not that there’s no way for you to get around those two requirements. As long as you can prove that you genuinely own an independent business entity outside the family and have a stable cash flow, I can petition the board to grant you an exemption from the joint recommendation requirement.”
One moment, he was telling Ji Yang that he didn’t meet the qualifications. The next, he was suddenly offering to seek an exemption for him.
Ji Yang slowly turned the mineral water bottle in his hand.
Then he raised his head and met Ji Chengyi’s eyes.
They were beautiful eyes, gentle and clear, with the sort of quality described in books as an innate purity that remained untouched even when surrounded by filth.
But as Ji Yang looked into them now, he became clearly aware of something for the first time.
The gentleness in those eyes had always been nothing more than a calculated form of shrewdness.
“Third Brother, are you giving me special treatment?” Ji Yang asked.
“That’s hardly special treatment,” Ji Chengyi replied. “Since you want to participate, I don’t want you to be kept out because of procedural issues. After all… we share the same blood.”
That explanation was honestly a little disgusting to Ji Yang.
So disgusting that it almost made him laugh.
He managed to hold it in.
“I thought Third Brother was going to remain completely impartial until the very end.”
Ji Chengyi replied, “How could that be? We’re family, after all.”
I know you’ve set a trap and are waiting for me to walk into it. I also know that you know I’ve set a trap and am waiting for you to walk into mine. We both understand perfectly well, yet maintain a perfectly harmonious facade.
Ji Chengyi said, “I heard you’ve been spending quite a bit of time here lately. Since you’re already here, why don’t you show us around?”
“Sure.” Ji Yang readily agreed.
Although Ji Yang agreed verbally, he actually stayed at the very back of the group the entire time.
Ji Chengyi hadn’t genuinely intended for him to lead the tour anyway. He walked at the front of the second floor of the refrigerated processing plant, discussing various details with the person in charge as he pleased. From time to time, he also asked Nie Xu a question or two.
Their discussions revolved around things like strategic value and economic returns.
The corridors inside the processing plant were made of sheet metal, and walking across them produced quite a bit of noise.
Lin Yue edged closer and muttered under his breath, “Boss Xiao Yang, why are we following them around? The person in charge originally promised to give us the proposal and data today. Now he’s doing nothing but hovering around General Manager Ji. I can’t help feeling that General Manager Ji is doing this on purpose, just to humiliate us.”
“Didn’t notice that before.” Ji Yang turned his head and gave him a surprised look. “Your intuition is pretty good.”
Lin Yue asked, “Can’t we just leave first?”
“This is nothing yet.” Ji Yang said, “They’re the client, after all. Even if they deliberately make things difficult for you, it’s still perfectly legal and reasonable. They’re just making you wait. Put up with it.”
Lin Yue, whose courage was about as small as a sesame seed, was intimidated all over again. He could only respond dejectedly.
Seeing his crestfallen expression, Ji Yang smiled.
After coming down from the second floor, the group entered the freezing area on the first floor.
The moment they stepped inside, one or two of them shivered from the cold.
As the person in charge led the way, he explained, “Thank you for taking the trouble to visit, everyone. We mainly handle seafood here, so the temperature is maintained at minus eighteen degrees Celsius all year round to ensure the goods remain completely frozen and don’t undergo any deterioration.”
Ji Chengyi suddenly stopped and turned around.
“Ji Yang,” he said. “Your leg isn’t in good condition. If you can’t withstand the cold, you can wait outside. There’s no need to come in.”
Ji Yang continued walking inside as usual and replied, “Third Brother, you’re worrying too much. I’m perfectly fine. Thank you for your concern.”
The processing plant manager chimed in from the side. “Fourth Young Master has really been putting in the effort these past few days. To ensure there are no problems anywhere along the entire route, from the source to processing, he’s carefully inspected every stage. He even spent quite a long time in the freezing area yesterday.”
Ji Chengyi paused, his expression unreadable. “Is that so?”
“That’s right.” The manager hadn’t noticed anything amiss and continued, “Ever since Zhouling’s economy improved and the shipping routes reopened, the profits across our entire supply chain, from goods procurement to processing, have doubled this month…”
“Ahem. Ahem.”
One of the executives beside him finally couldn’t stand it anymore and coughed twice to remind him.
Only then did the manager remember the rumors about the internal power struggle over ownership within the Ji family. His expression changed, and he awkwardly fell silent.
Lin Yue whispered, “I’ll never call that manager a bootlicker again.”
“He wasn’t one to begin with,” Ji Yang replied.
As he whispered to Lin Yue, he caught the gaze of Nie Xu, who hadn’t said a single word throughout the entire visit.
Ji Yang noticed that Nie Xu was frowning.
Puzzled, he silently asked him what was wrong with his eyes.
Unexpectedly, Nie Xu lowered his head and said something quietly to the manager. The latter nodded repeatedly before leaving.
Ji Chengyi’s attention shifted as well. He asked Nie Xu, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Nie Xu replied. “Let’s continue. We were just discussing the technical challenges…”
Two minutes later, the manager hurried back, carrying a pair of brown, fleece-lined items. He stuffed them into Ji Yang’s hands and apologized.
“This was my oversight. I forgot that the purchasing department had just delivered a new batch of thermal protective gear a couple of days ago. These are designed to protect the joints. Look at me, I’m such a big, clumsy fellow. I didn’t even realize Fourth Young Master’s leg wasn’t in good condition. If Assistant Nie hadn’t reminded me, I might have completely forgotten about it.”
Ji Yang was a little taken aback. As he accepted the items, he noticed that the group ahead had suddenly stopped as well.
Ji Chengyi turned around. “Ji Yang.”
“Is there something you need, General Manager Ji?” Ji Yang asked.
Ji Chengyi said, “Since the processing plant seems to think so highly of your abilities, why don’t you explain your general proposal to the executives here?”
“That wouldn’t be appropriate,” Ji Yang said.
Ji Chengyi froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting that answer. “What did you say?”
“I said…”
Ji Yang walked straight through the group of senior executives. To everyone’s surprise, he reached out and pulled Ji Chengyi into an embrace.
Only Ji Yang and Ji Chengyi knew just how fake that hug was. There was even deliberate space left between every part of their bodies that might have made contact.
Even so, feeling the extreme stiffness of the body beneath his hands, Ji Yang couldn’t help finding it amusing.
With a sigh, he said, “Third Brother, I understand your good intentions. You’ve tried to get me an exemption, allowed me to participate in your senior management’s internal inspection, and now you’re even trying to give me a chance to prove myself. But so many companies are competing fairly for this project. How could I take a shortcut just because I’m the eldest grandson of the main branch?”
The executives standing nearby all twitched at the corners of their mouths.
Who in all of Fanzhou didn’t know that the two brothers had never gotten along?
Yet seeing this scene, one after another began offering their own praise.
“With brothers like you two, the main branch of the Ji family has nothing to worry about.”
“You two really have a wonderful relationship.”
“General Manager Ji’s affection for his younger brother is understandable, but doing this really isn’t appropriate.”
Ji Yang nearly laughed at what he heard.
He patted Ji Chengyi’s back with the items in his hand. Then his expression turned cold as he whispered into the latter’s ear.
“Third Brother, if you want to pin the accusation of rigged bidding on me, you should at least see whether I’m willing to accept it. When you broke my leg and had Tao Jisheng switch my medication, you should have known that there was no way things between us could ever end peacefully.”
Ji Chengyi suddenly grabbed his forearm and squeezed hard.
“You actually know about that already?”
“Of course.”
Ji Yang immediately straightened up.
His gaze swept around the group before he smiled ambiguously and said, “Whether it’s a project or a person, everyone should compete fairly, right, Third Brother?”
Ji Chengyi stared at him intently before nodding.
“Right.”
Ten minutes later.
Ji Chengyi personally stepped in to experience the processing work. As a result, he accidentally triggered the emergency locking mechanism of the freezer room.
Ji Yang was still inside at the time.
At the very last second, under Ji Chengyi’s icy gaze, Ji Yang grabbed Nie Xu, who was standing beside the door, and pulled him inside.
Cold air hissed in from all directions.
Through the transparent window, they could see the manager’s shocked face, along with the surprised and horrified expressions of the executives.
“It’s so cold.” Ji Yang’s teeth chattered slightly, but his eyes were full of amusement. “You were standing right by the door. I’ll take that as your willingness to cooperate.”
Nie Xu calmly took off his jacket and wrapped it around him. Then he took the knee protectors from Ji Yang’s hands, crouched down, and said, “Lift your foot.”
“Couldn’t you have asked them to find something better-looking?” Ji Yang complained.
Nie Xu wrapped the protective gear around his knee and stood up.
Then he asked, “Fair competition?”
“That’s right.” Ji Yang tested the snug feeling around his knee, rose slightly onto his toes, and stopped with his lips just two millimeters from the corner of Nie Xu’s mouth.
“Even if he didn’t actually intend to kill me, he knew perfectly well that my leg wouldn’t be able to withstand five minutes in here. So I’ll just make sure to strike at the heart of the matter.”
Nie Xu’s gaze lowered.
“Did you really have to jump inside? Do you not want to keep your leg?”
“I don’t have one to begin with.”
A similarly ruthless glint flashed through Ji Yang’s eyes.
It was merely a matter of whether the damage would be severe or even more severe.
Ji Yang continued smiling. “The person in charge here owes me a favor. Tell me, who do you think will get the operating rights for the South Island shipping route first? Me, or will Ji Chengyi’s plan to transfer his assets fall through first?”
Nie Xu stared at him for several seconds before finally saying, “I shouldn’t have told you about his plan to transfer assets through shell companies.”
“Too late, big brother.” Ji Yang chuckled. “We’re already partners in crime.”