Chapter 2
That night, Fu Yu dreamed of Xiao Yi once again.
It had been a long time since he had dreamed of him, and upon waking, it always took him a few minutes to calm his emotions. There was no one or nothing else in the world that could trouble him like Xiao Yi.
Reluctantly, the day of the meeting with the Xiao Group arrived.
Fu Yu, as always, dressed in a well-tailored black suit, his face cold and stern. Accompanied by a few trusted subordinates, he arrived at the Xiao Group’s office building. After announcing their names, the two receptionists led them to the conference room.
As the remaining receptionists watched them enter the elevator, they couldn’t help but excitedly discuss:
“Oh my god, the CEO of this company is so handsome!”
“Yes, yes! Mr. Xiao and this Mr. Fu, which one should I choose?”
“Wake up, neither of them is possible.”
“People need to have dreams!”
…
After a while, the group settled into the conference room, and the representatives from the Xiao Group arrived.
Fu Yu’s gaze shifted from person to person as they entered, until he spotted a familiar figure.
The air seemed to freeze instantly, making it difficult to breathe.
Xiao Yi, when he entered, looked a bit more mature than in their university days, but that handsome face still carried a hint of wildness and roguishness that hadn’t changed at all. The moment he entered, his eyes locked onto Fu Yu’s, and it felt as if sparks were flying between them, an electric charge hanging in the air.
Xiao Yi smiled, walked straight up to Fu Yu, and extended his hand with mock politeness. “Mr. Fu, it’s an honor to meet you.”
This was not the Xiao Yi that Fu Yu remembered saying polite words. It seemed that he had mellowed somewhat over the past two years.
Fu Yu, with his strict self-discipline, couldn’t allow himself to lose his composure at this moment, especially not in front of Xiao Yi.
“Nice to meet you,” he said, naturally shaking Xiao Yi’s hand.
Xiao Yi smiled even more, holding onto his hand a bit longer than necessary. Taking advantage of the others being busy exchanging business cards and not paying attention, he leaned in close to Fu Yu’s ear and whispered, “It’s been two years. I hope you’re doing well.”
Then he quickly pulled back, as if nothing had happened, and took his seat.
Fu Yu remained standing in place, clenched his fist tightly, his veins bulging. It took him several seconds to relax his hand and take his seat without any change in his expression.
The meeting went very smoothly, even better than expected. Although the Xiao Group representatives had some suggestions for changes, they were minor compared to the usual project draft meetings. What surprised Fu Yu was that Xiao Yi’s comments were all constructive and professional. He hadn’t studied architecture in college, so how did he become so knowledgeable in the field?
Two hours later, both parties ended the meeting amicably. Judging by the atmosphere, the Xiao Group seemed very satisfied with their design. Dongjian was in a strong position to win the project, and while Fu Yu’s subordinates showed signs of excitement, he remained composed.
Just as Fu Yu thought it was time to say goodbye and leave, he heard Xiao Yi on the opposite side say, “Mr. Fu and I have some private matters to discuss. You all can go to the tea room and have a drink while you wait. Thank you.”
Fu Yu’s body stiffened as he prepared to leave.
The others naturally understood and thought the two leaders needed to discuss some business secrets. They quickly left the spacious conference room, leaving it eerily quiet, with only the two of them remaining.
Fu Yu gathered himself and was the first to break the silence. “Is there something else, Mr. Xiao?”
Xiao Yi’s gaze, somewhat teasing, was fixed on him. The eye contact was intense, making him uncomfortable. Then, Xiao Yi circled the table, taking slow and deliberate steps, gradually closing the distance between them. The tension in the air grew palpable.
Fu Yu’s rare sense of severity appeared in his eyes.
The events from years ago were still vivid in his memory, and at that time, he had spared Xiao Yi. There would be no second chance.
When the distance between them was less than a meter, Xiao Yi finally stopped his approach. He smiled lightly and said, “You still dislike me so much.”
Fu Yu remained silent, his brows slightly furrowed.
“Don’t be so tense,” Xiao Yi said, with his hands in his pockets, regaining his usual nonchalant demeanor. He laughed lightly and said, “I just wanted to tell you that I’ve decided to entrust this project to your company. We didn’t even invite other companies.”
“What are the conditions?” Fu Yu asked coldly.
“Hmm?”
Fu Yu gazed at him with indifference. “You’re offering us such a great opportunity. What do you want in return?”
Xiao Yi fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly stepped forward, placed his hands on the edge of the table, and trapped Fu Yu in the middle. Their distance was extremely close, and though there was no physical contact, Fu Yu was prepared to strike if necessary.
Xiao Yi, who was half a head taller, looked down at him, his deep eyes even more imposing than before.
“Offering you an opportunity? Heh, do you think you’re worth it? My brother originally wanted to give the project to your company, but I wasn’t convinced. So, I leaked some false information to create a bit of competition.”
Xiao Yi’s tone was disdainful, and his words were provocative, but Fu Yu felt a slight sense of relief.
He didn’t want to owe Xiao Yi anything.
“Rest assured, Mr. Xiao. Even without competitors, we will take this opportunity seriously. If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave.”
Fu Yu extended his hand to push Xiao Yi away, and while Xiao Yi’s chest was strong, Fu Yu was not weak. He used some force to push Xiao Yi back half a step. Xiao Yi didn’t get angry; he simply chuckled and watched as Fu Yu left.
It wasn’t until he exited the Xiao Group’s building that Fu Yu finally relaxed, heaving a deep sigh.
This project seemed like it was going to be quite challenging.
