See You Again (Time Already Knows) - Chapter 15
Chapter 15 - She Slowly Looked Up, It Really Was Ye Jiacheng. He Returned.
Yi Pei’s arm left the mahogany tea table as he leaned back. He grew a pair of slanted eyebrows, his pupils clear and serene. His gaze roamed over her visage, as if he was probing her thoughts.
Shi Jian sat upright and unmoving, pursing her lips, not knowing how she should react. She wanted to interrupt Yi Pei: work was work, could it be that he wanted to take advantage of friendly relations?
But, if she really thought of Yi Pei like that, she must’ve underestimated him.
It was difficult to see through Yi Pei. He could be ruthless and cold blooded, yet also tender and soft. It was publicly known that he treated his employees well. That was a reason that so many skilled employees wanted to work for him in the future; they wanted the glory of going to Oulu Bay.1
Oulu Bay, Yi Pei’s private residence. Legend has it as the place where Yi Pei specially entertained his “scheming officials”. In «The Mr.Yi In My Eyes», Zhao Yilin had a passage relating to Oulu Bay: “Oulu Bay houses many famous paintings collected by Mr.Yi. Besides being an outstanding businessman, he is also an oil painter who focused on the ego. Mr.Yi’s painting style is intense and exquisite, his composition focuses on symmetry and balance, and his technique is elaborate. I once had the honor to view his work. At that time, I was shocked. Oulu Bay’s garden was filled with green, with no other colors sprinkled intermittently. Mr.Yi is adamant sometimes. I remember one time he personally barbequed for us guests. Mr.Yi had also roasted corn for us; it was delicious……”
There were differences between people. Some just barbeque, like her; while others barbeque just once, and the event would be written down using eloquent language, like Yi Pei. Shi Jian blinked, her train of thought skipping around. When she was leaning on her headboard flipping through this book back then, she’d even shared that passage with Ye Jiacheng. What did Ye Jiacheng say? He said: “What is there to trust about these half true biographies? This Zhao Yilin is most likely in love with Yi Pei. It’s hard to trust the words from someone who has love in their heart.”
Beautiful pieces of literature indeed lack trustworthiness. Shi Jian thought that she couldn’t base her judgement of Yi Pei off those biographies. As for impossible tasks, she definitely can’t agree to those. So for this Gelan City contract, she shook her head, and said bluntly: “President Yi, this matter inconveniences me.”
“Oh?” Her reply seemed to come as no surprise to Yi Pei.
“Yes.” Shi Jian nodded, then in a joking manner, she bravely said her thoughts aloud: “If President Yi is willing, give up two commas, then it may be convenient.”
She simply didn’t believe that Yi Pei would let her do a thing that couldn’t be accomplished. Where was the meaning in that? Since Yi Pei seeked her out, then naturally this was his biggest leeway. Two commas, coincidentally, was the breakeven point that she’d just predicted for the Gelan City Project.
Impartial.
……
Shi Jian gave a call to the Yang family. Unexpectedly, it was Yang Jiantao himself who answered the call. She giggled: “Uncle, it’s me, Shi Jian.”
“You don’t need to introduce yourself, I’m not as forgetful as you.” Yang Jiantao retorted, his tone businesslike, “So you still remember the family phone number. I thought you’d forgotten.”
Someone was still angry. Shi Jian was helpless, and continued: “Uncle, I’m coming over for dinner tonight, tell Auntie for me……”
“Hmph.” Yang Jiantao seemed to be impatient with her, “What do you want to eat? I’ll have the kitchen make it for you. Your auntie isn’t here today, she’s having a student meeting.”
Oh, no wonder he picked up the phone. He must’ve gone home early to take care of Nini.
Yang Jiantao was a good dad.
Once she left work, Shi Jian went directly to the Yang household.
Sure enough, in the living room, Yang Jiantao was accompanying Nini. The toy train ran along the long stretch of rails, ding ding ding. The nanny opened the door. She walked in carrying a small leather bag which had a jar of fructose inside. It was the gift Timothy mailed her for All Saints Day last month. There were a total of two jars; she kept one for herself. Additionally, the bag also had a copy of the new contract inside.
Soon, she could eat dinner.
Dinner was naturally incomparably sumptuous. Shi Jian praised Auntie’s flawless cooking as she ate. Yang Jiantao fed Nini, and drawled: “Then come back to live with us.”
“En.” Shi Jian made a noise of agreement, taking care of another problem first, “Uncle, I signed my tripartite agreement with Yi Mao Real Estate.”
“Not bad.” Yang Jiantao continued to feed Nini, “There’s some saying, the pavilion closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first, spring arrives early to the plants that face the sun2 ……but don’t worry, I still won’t sign Yi Mao Real Estate’s new contract.”
Oh. Looks like Uncle knew why she came over today. Shi Jian didn’t become anxious, and said after a while: “What if Yi Pei was willing to give two more commas?”
“What?” Yang Jiantao looked at her, sweeping his gaze over her. She directly took out the new contract, “Director Yang, I don’t know if you would be interested. Look over the new contract version 2.0?”
Nini was handed over to the nanny. Shi Jian followed Uncle Yang Jiantao into his study. Yang Jiantao didn’t read that much, and naturally didn’t like reading. The very masculine man’s bookshelf was pretty much just filled with Nini’s coloring books. Inside, the only thing he probably read was the set of «The Art of War». Oh, there was also «Water Margin».
Yang Jiantao sat on his executive chair, carefully inspecting the finished contract. Shi Jian sat on the side and said: “Uncle, you already know how bad dragging out a big project is for a company’s reputation, two commas is probably Yi Pei’s bottom line.”
Yang Jiantao set down the contract, thought about it, and said normally: “Shi JIan, why do you think Yi Pei wasn’t willing to give the terms before, why would he give them now, and then give them to me through you?”
Shi Jian also thought about it, saying: “Probably giving you a sweet taste of success, and watching your reaction.”
“En.” Yang Jiantao surprisingly agreed with what she said.
Shi Jian asked what she wanted to know: “Uncle, do you feel this contract is worth signing?”
“If there’s benefits, then there is business.” Yang Jiantao understood, “The most important thing is that Yi Pei extended an olive branch to me; do you think I should accept it?”
Shi Jian replied honestly to this question: “I don’t really understand, but it appears to be…… not bad?” She smiled, her tone quick and light. Even if she had more years of experience, it wasn’t easy to determine the future pros and cons of the business world. She believed Yang Jiantao would be more accurate in his decisions on the right things and right people than she would be, considering the time he’d spent in the business.
[Found on jeytranslations.blogspot.com | Do not repost to other sites. ]
She only just understood something a moment ago. The two comma profit margin was what Yi Pei wanted to give Yang Group in the beginning, only he didn’t want to give them directly. Or perhaps, he didn’t want to give them so frankly.
Her cellphone beeped; she received a new text. She thought it was Ye Jiacheng, but it wasn’t. This unfortunate misconception was like a bee in her heart lightly pricking her. Only as she wanted to react, she felt that it hurt a bit.
Yang Jiantao could be considered satisfied. He put down the contract she’d brought, then brought up another issue: “Oh right, Professor Shi, your dad and my wife’s sister’s husband, suddenly said he would come back after a while, saying he wanted to see your……”
“Yes?” Shi Jian’s eyes widened. Her dad wanted to come back to see her what?
“See your—— boyfriend.” Yang Jiantao finished his sentence, “They’re worried. Tim told them, said a bad man was going to swindle you away.”
Tim, that loudmouth! Shi Jian raised her head and said helplessly: “Don’t you guys listen to Tim’s nonsense.”
“So, do you really have a boyfriend? What kind of person is he, what does he do?” Yang Jiantao asked, “Your auntie and I don’t know anything.”
Shi Jian lowered her head, not knowing how to say, “You can relax, I really haven’t been swindled by a bad man. Tim is driveling, you all even believe him.”
“Really? Why do I feel…… you’ve really been swindled.” Yang Jiantao looked at her suspiciously, then continued to ask, “Is it Yi Pei?”
Uncle even thought she and Yi Pei……! Shi Jian’s head hurt. She once again formally, solemnly, and earnestly emphasized, “Uncle, I truly only work for Yi Pei, and don’t have any other kind of relation with him.”
“Oh.” Yang Jiantao nodded, then said as if he relaxed a bit, “As long as it’s not Yi Pei.”
Haha, was Yi Pei that terrible? Shi Jian laughed in spite of herself.
“Yi Pei has a fianceé already, and she’s even the only daughter of the Huayi Zhao family.” Yang Jiantao talked about the rumors he’d heard. The Yi and Zhao family wanted to firmly unite. Even if it was another person’s wedding, the old men in this business still had to pay attention…… Yang Jiantao leaned back on his leather chair, and guessed: “Lady Zhao was probably studying abroad, that’s why they haven’t had a wedding ceremony yet. Now that she came back, and Yi Pei is thirty something this year, they will probably be anxious to wed very soon.”
It’s a pity that they couldn’t marry in the end……
Shi Jian faintly sighed in her heart. Nothing can surpass seeing one’s child die before themselves as the most sorrowful thing in the world, in addition to a lover losing their life’s true love…… but she frowned slightly, not able to help pondering a question: if she warned Yi Pei to not let his fianceé go on the ski trip under any circumstances, would it be strange?
Then, she couldn’t contact Ye Jiacheng.
The next day, Shi Jian and the secretary of the general office, Emily, left work together. Emily walked beside her and was chatting with her husband over the phone. Her voice was sweet: “Husband, I’m a bit tired today; I really don’t want to cook. Let’s go eat at a restaurant, okay? Come pick me up in a little while.”
Shi Jian lowered her head, sad tears about to spill out. If she could choose, she would rather be older by ten years, not wanting to be younger by ten years.
Emily hung up, and asked her: “Shi Jian, do you have a boyfriend? If you don’t, I can introduce one to you.”
“I……” Shi Jian was afraid of forgetting herself, so she hurriedly said goodbye and left.
Shi Jian breathlessly went directly to the south of the city, to Ye Jiacheng’s apartment. She knocked first; no one answered.
Then she jumped. The spare key on the doorframe was gone.
She didn’t know when Ye Jiacheng would be back.
Shi Jian waited outside the door. She was wearing high heels. She waited until her legs were sore and numb, as well as very cold. Then, she unprofessionally squatted beside the door.
She had waited for Ye Jiacheng like this in the past, every time she forgot to take her keys. Ye Jiacheng had wanted to change to a fingerprint lock. She didn’t like it, feeling like using a key to open the door had more of a homey feeling.
She squatted, then stood. Stood, then squatted…… Shi Jian didn’t know how long she’d waited for. When she felt like she was about to fall asleep, she finally heard the sound of footsteps, a familiar gait, going one two, one two, strong yet quiet.
She slowly looked up, it really was Ye Jiacheng.
He returned.
Shi Jain scared Jiacheng 😅😅
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