Sold

That afternoon, Shi Yen had to leave the company for a meeting with Long Group. On the way out, she found Yuan Shun entering the building at the same time she was exiting. She glanced at him, trying to meet his eyes, but he didn't look at her.

He walked alongside Fang Qi and his assistant.

Shi Yen gazed away, momentarily forgetting that she had to pretend that there was nothing more than a work relationship between them.

She walked ahead, passing them when she felt a hand brush hers for a second—it was so subtle and had gone unnoticed to others. She turned around, watching as Yuan Shun tucked his hand in his pocket, continuing to walk with his subordinates. Shi Yen grinned briefly.

She then slid into her parked car, heading towards the glass-towered building filled with arches and futuristic architecture.

Shi Yen went to the lobby and was escorted to meet with the CEO of Long Group. She had learned that Yuan Shun collaborated with Long Group before; therefore, she contacted them again for another project she wanted them to work on.

Long Jie was a tall and handsome, auburn-haired man with kind eyes and a magnificent bone structure to his face. He was a refined, well-respected man in high society. He was the type of man—as the rumours had it—that rich fathers would offer handsome inheritances in addition to his wealth, for him to choose one of their daughters. In the end, he had chosen a girl with almost nothing to her name, besides a crumbling company. Shi Yen was delighted when she had heard about it.

To her further discoveries, Long Jie was the Prince of the Dragon organization, but he was not aware of what she was besides being a Shi. He had succeeded his grandfather, the former head dragon, and he was ruefully skilled in sword art like her.

She remembered sending people to his aid during a battle between organizations, one that she didn't want to make an appearance because she was angry at them for starting it in the first place. But, still, she had let it go.

His eyes were rumoured to be as blue as the azure dragon, which by looking at them, bright and clear, it was true.

Her thoughts were shaken when Long Jie shook her hand, wearing a silver smile on his handsome face. "Hello, Miss Shi. It's very nice to meet you in person," he said.

"Likewise, Mr. Long. I appreciate that you took the time to meet with me aside from our phone call two days ago."

"Not a problem," he replied. "I would be glad to meet with you anytime."

Shi Yen thought it would have been a problem. She felt puzzled. "Mr. Long, may I ask why you agreed to meet with me? I know you would rather spend your time speaking with Mr. Yuan."

Long Jie smiled. "Is his name in 'Shi Group'?"

Shi Yen grinned. "No."

"I am aware that you haven't been active with Shi Group in years, but I do not doubt your capabilities, Miss Shi. And I apologize if this sounds informal, but I've always wanted to meet a Shi for a very long time. Your family is quite remarkable."

Shi Yen smiled. "Thank you," she replied.

"Now, let me show you what you requested to see," he said.

She nodded, following him out of the office and towards a lab filled with different types of surveillance cameras. Shi Yen stared at each of them intently.

"We understand that you wanted us to design cameras that are discreet and minimal, displaying a wide-range view for the discretion of your guests coming in and out of the hotels you manage," he said.

"Yes," Shi Yen replied. "We have celebrities and city officials coming in and out, taking our best rooms, and I want them to feel as comfortable and safe as possible. There are cases of admirers coming and in out, pretending to be guests. Our security team is doing everything they can, but I want to update the surveillance system to make things easier. I've already designed 'escape routes' for the worst."

"Very well thought out," Long Jie replied. He then began to show her different designs as some of the engineers continued to work on it. He demonstrated how most of them worked, and Shi Yen was amazed by it all. "Choose any of them," he said, "They are designed to detect weapons and sort of danger, informing and alarming the security promptly. It's brand new, and it would be exclusive to Shi Group. It's the only way it would be determined not to get tampered with if no one else is familiar to the design or structure."

"Thank you, I appreciate it," Shi Yen replied. She then picked one that would blend in well with the hotel designs, going for a subtle security appearance. She then picked up another, "I would like to buy these as well for Yuan Bank."

"Of course," Long Jie responded. "Although I would need direct permission from Mr. Yuan."

"All right," Shi Yen replied. "I'm going to speak to him for a moment." She then stepped out to call Yuan Shun. He answered immediately. "Yen?"

Shi Yen glanced around. "I bought new surveillance for each of your branches."

"What's wrong with the ones I have now?" he asked.

She sighed. "There's nothing wrong with them. These new cameras will be add-ons, and they can ensure the safety of your clients and clerks."

"You sold me," he said.

"Really? I didn't even finish telling you the rest."

"I trust you," he said.

Shi Yen gaped. She bit down her flush. "Can you stop doing that?"

"Stop what?"

She gritted her teeth. "Being nice to me and stuff…"

His voice lowered, breathy through the phone. "If I did that, then you'd go back to hating me when what I really want to do is kiss you hard."

Shi Yen blushed, and she'd probably die from embarrassment. "I'll see you later," she said. "But call Mr. Long first because he needs your approval."

"Is that everything, darling?"

"Yes," she responded. "Thank you."

"I should be the one thanking you, and I will, later. Goodbye."

"Bye," she said with an inward flush.

Shi Yen then stepped back into the lab, and she noticed Long Jie was talking on the phone, nodding his head. When he finished, he approached her with excitement. "Miss Shi, we will create as many as you request as soon as we can, and we'll have a team installing them within a month."

"Thank you," Shi Yen replied, shaking his hand. She then went to sign some contracts on behalf of Shi Group and Yuan Bank with Yuan Shun's permission. When she finished, she went home, finding Yuan Shun already there accompanying Shizi.