Chapter 86: Gu Qing'er Takes the Initiative

"None of this has anything to do with me?"
"And how can you guarantee that?" Sun Xian, his face full of disbelief, pressed further.
"I, Ye Tian, mean what I say. Whether you believe me or not is your choice."
Ye Tian sneered, "To put it plainly, the only reason I'm willing to talk to you here is to avoid unnecessary trouble. Otherwise, once the factory is shut down, I could still get the land without any issue."
"So that's how it is!" Sun Xian suddenly understood.
After all this, he realized he had completely misunderstood Ye Tian's intentions. He had always thought Ye Tian came to make trouble simply to go after the Sun family!
But he had forgotten that Xin Xin Food Factory was originally the old property of the Ye family!
Ye Tian's real purpose in coming was to reclaim his family's land, and it had absolutely nothing to do with Sun Xian or the Sun family.
"At least you've figured it out." Ye Tian nodded.
"My goal is simple: I came today to take back the Ye family’s land. As for dealing with the Sun family, your name isn’t on my list for vengeance."
He wasn’t lying.
A collateral branch of the Sun family like Sun Xian probably hadn’t even qualified to participate when the Ye family was pillaged, and his knowledge of the event was likely nothing more than idle gossip, far removed from the truth.
Why should he trouble someone so far removed from the matter?
Sun Xian fell silent for a while, then finally nodded.
"I agree."
"But what about my wife and my two cousins? Transferring the company isn’t my decision alone—it requires the consent of at least half the shareholders."
"Don’t worry, I’ve already taken care of them," Ye Tian replied calmly.
Gu Qing’er had already sent word that everything was settled.
In fact, persuading Sun Xian’s two brothers had been effortless.
As long as Gu Qing’er showed up with her family’s prestige and a thick stack of incriminating evidence, they were bound to panic.
To the three Sun brothers, Xin Xin Food Factory was a hot potato—getting rid of it was the obvious choice. Their real trouble was finding someone willing to take it off their hands.
With Gu Qing’er arriving in person to negotiate, the other two were more than happy to oblige.
Hearing Ye Tian’s words, Sun Xian finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then please have them leave first."
"Alright."
Ye Tian sent a message to Zhu Yun’er, instructing her to call each department and tell them to retreat.

The efficiency of the upper echelons in Zhongdu was astonishing. In less than ten minutes, those staff members who had been clamoring to investigate and shut down Xin Xin Food Factory gathered their documents and left without even a backward glance.

"Young Master Ye, you truly have some power!"
Watching the factory return to calm, Sun Xian couldn’t help but flash a mocking smile.
Of course, he was mocking his own impotence.
"Even those high-and-mighty department heads come and go at your beck and call. If you wanted to deal with our little Sun family, wouldn’t it be as easy as lifting a finger?"
"That’s not something you need to concern yourself with."
Ye Tian brewed himself a cup of tea, taking a sip with indifference.
He had his own plans.
Now was not the optimal time to confront the Sun family directly. The Sun family was keeping a low profile, retreating to advance, and suppressing public opinion.
Besides, those upper-level officials were quietly lending their support.
Even Ye Tian found it difficult to catch the main branch, led by Sun Qishan, in any major wrongdoing.
Still, if one wants to condemn, the pretext is easy to find.
Even the Three Gorges Dam has its cracks; given time, the Sun family would show its flaws, and then it would be the perfect moment for him to strike.

Soon, after a brief conversation—
Within half an hour—
Gu Qing’er stormed into the office with a group of people.
"Well, well, Young Master Ye Tian, it’s been a while!" The tall beauty entered with a teasing remark.
"You really have some influence. Just a word from you, and Deputy Team Leader Zhu Feng sent out so many emails for you!"
"Are you sure there’s no deal between you two?"
"Enough," Ye Tian replied, helpless. "But thank you, anyway."
Truth be told, though Gu Qing’er was like the other heiresses—hoping to package herself off to him as a stud horse—she spoke with a natural candor, making her well-suited as a friend.
When Ye Tian messaged her for help, she acted without hesitation, giving him considerable respect.
"Don’t act so grateful," Gu Qing’er pouted.
"You already helped me once. Because of your intervention, the old master offered an olive branch to the Gu family. My father said he’s very thankful to you!"
"So, helping you is only right."
"That’s a separate matter—I owe you thanks for it," Ye Tian replied with composure. "And what you owe me isn’t settled just by doing this little favor."
So, he’s waiting for me here.
Gu Qing’er’s lovely face froze for a moment, inwardly grumbling.

But Ye Tian was correct.
She’d merely done a small favor—compared to what Ye Tian had done for the Gu family, it was nothing.
For her sake, Ye Tian had stood up to the pressure from four major powers single-handedly. If it had been anyone else, they would have collapsed on the spot.

"Just as well, I need your help with something."
Ye Tian ushered a crestfallen Sun Xian out of the office.
"Well, Young Master Ye, I’ll take my leave then. If you need anything else, just call."
Director Zhang flashed a knowing look, hurriedly excused himself, and closed the door behind him.

"You!"
With only the two of them left in the empty room, Gu Qing’er couldn’t help but let her imagination run wild.
This guy—could he be the sort who says no but immediately reveals his true colors given the chance?

"What about me?"
Ye Tian shrugged helplessly. "Didn’t you say that as long as I helped you win the Black Tortoise’s head, you’d give me anything I wanted?"
"What, you’re not even willing to help with this little thing?"
"You shameless!"
Flustered by Ye Tian’s words, Gu Qing’er blushed furiously, biting her lip in mock anger.
"Fine! If you insist, then come on." She began unbuttoning her blouse.
"But I’m telling you—if there’s a child, I get to take them back to the Gu family. Otherwise, it’s too much of a bargain for you!"

Ye Tian blinked innocently at the sudden appearance of two pale cheeks. It took him a moment to realize something was off.

"Hey! That’s not what I meant!"
He hurried forward, grabbing her open blouse and buttoning it back up.
"I just want you to help me hire a construction crew to relocate the factory buildings."
"I need this plot of land to rebuild the Ye family."

Gu Qing’er’s face, flushed with embarrassment moments before, instantly became rigid.
The next second, Ye Tian’s cheek bore a bright red handprint.

"Bastard!"
"Next time you talk to me, can you please keep your mind in check? You make people jump to all the wrong conclusions!"
"Fine, you’re the one with a dirty mind, and you blame me?" Ye Tian muttered under his breath.