Business Transaction

Xin Tuyong was surprised to find that Huan Mao had disappeared as he was introduced to a small group of men and women. They all had strong auras despite their ordinary appearances. Even the way they spoke seemed dangerous.

Everyone was dressed neatly, so he was grateful to have the suit prepared by Huan Mao. The boss of the group was a tall, gruff-looking man who let him know what to expect.

It was just as Huan Mao had said: it was a business meeting, so he should stay quiet but alert.

"...slow expansion. We can offer a room or two in exchange for some backup men, but concerning..." the man droned on at the table.

The meeting had gone on for almost two hours, according to his watch, and he fought his yawns. He tried to listen intently, but nothing made sense.

The boss on Huan Mao's side ran a hotel and wanted workers for something? Three other groups spoke with them, each seeming to be led by a sole representative.

One particular group was beginning to look disgruntled with the deals, thinking they were getting the short end of the stick*.

One man banged his hand passionately on the table while arguing his point. It scared Xin Tuyong, but he forced himself to remain calm like the others.

By the end of the meeting it seemed as though there would be a fight, but they miraculously managed to separate without any hard feelings. Huan Mao's representative was given a stack of cash in the end while he and others signed papers.

The representatives all shook hands while the subordinates stayed silent. As everyone left, Xin Tuyong followed his group out to wherever they were going, searching for Huan Mao.

They each had driven a nice car there, and had left with a few passing words to him in the parking lot. He sat awkwardly in the now empty lot and waited.

After a long while, Xin Tuyong began to wonder if she had forgotten him. He didn't have a phone and couldn't call.

Frustrated, he ran his hands through his hair and stood. A dark green car stopped in front of him at that moment and the window rolled down, revealing a smiling Huan Mao.

"Sorry we're late, the traffic was bad. I bought lunch," she said, waving a paper bag.

He got in and she passed him the food.

"Where did you go? I thought you were involved in the meeting?"

"Oh, I was, just not directly. It's a long story, but basically I'm an organizer. I heard good things about you from the other guys, so nice job for such minimal preparation."

"Thanks," he murmured between a bite of food. Minimal preparation? "I was really surprised at how... nonviolent it was. That training was just a joke right?"

She laughed, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's not always so peaceful. It's just your lucky day, I suppose."

He assumed training was overkill, but he was also kind of disappointed at the lack of application. What use was it for him to strain himself so painfully when the work was this simple?

It was just past noon and they had a long drive back. Xin Tuyong felt like something was different.

As he pondered in silence, it finally struck him.

"Is there a reason we changed cars?"

"Oh, that? I just felt like it. Why?"

"Just wondering. I thought it was a little strange. Maybe because I'm not used to this kind of thing."

"What kind of thing?" It was like she was deliberately trying to provoke him into admitting something.

"Uh... just the corporate world. It's a lot to take in even after the fact. I'm still not really sure what happened in there."

"Just business," she bluntly said.

"Yeah," he dismissed his odd feeling. "Just business."

Back at the house, they were greeted by Di Gaohun dressed in slacks and a white button-up shirt open at the collar. He looked neat, but he seemed disheveled in the way he carried himself.

By appearance alone, Xin Tuyong would have believed that he attended the meeting too.

The usually composed prince had an aura of tension surrounding him.

Di Gaohun greeted them politely, but spoke looking only at Huan Mao.

"You took him to the meeting?"

"Mhm. You should have seen him; he did great." She paused then spoke sweetly, "What brings you here on the weekend? Usually you're out doing whatever it is that you do..."

Di Gaohun's lips tightened into a scowl and his jaw twitched. The air suddenly became thick with tension.

Xin Tuyong took this as his cue to leave, so he quietly excused himself.

* "short end of the stick" means getting the fewest benefits or the most disadvantages