CHAPTER 215: CHAPTER 215: THE ART OF COUNTERBALANCE

The next day, dawn at Mintang Media.

Bian Yue sat in her office, looking at the gift Yao Yimin had placed on the desk, offering a helpless smile, "It’s good enough that you came, why bring something too?"

"Shengshi Yan performed exceptionally well; I should thank you," Yao Yimin smiled sincerely, "Bian Yue, without your support and trust, none of this would have gone so smoothly."

Bian Yue’s expression was complex. Her gaze shifted away from the gift on the desk as she composed herself, "Don’t worry, as for Xie Zhang..."

"No need," Yao Yimin interrupted Bian Yue, her tone sounding resigned and eerily calm, "At this point, I’ve already given up. Bian Yue, I’ll be honest with you, I’ve met with Xie Zhang, and he was colder than I imagined. I know I can’t persuade him, and I’m certain that neither can you, even if you indeed use Shen Jinci’s influence to pressure him. It won’t end well."

"Yimin, what did you talk about with him?" Bian Yue frowned, asking uneasily.

"It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s all in the past," Yao Yimin shook her head, her smile bitter, "I’ve always known that An Jiayi’s death is a scar in my heart, but for Xie Zhang, it’s just a minor deviation in life. I can’t expect him to take a stand on Jiayi’s death, so now, I’ve done all I could and come to terms with it."

Bian Yue knew that such matters were fundamentally impossible to come to terms with.

Yao Yimin’s words were just to avoid making things difficult for herself.

Bian Yue looked down, her eyes reflecting complex emotions. Her voice was steady, betraying nothing unusual but carrying a weight of seriousness, "Yimin, I can’t do anything to help you right now. Once Mintang is on the right track, I will make Xie Zhang give you an explanation..."

Yao Yimin’s smile deepened as she shook her head and grasped Bian Yue’s hand, "I came to see you today because I don’t want you to worry too much, I don’t want you to feel burdened. Bian Yue, the development of Mintang is the top priority. As for Jiayi’s matter, I’ve truly moved on."

She had already given An Jiayi’s diary to Xie Zhang, that was her biggest trump card.

Bian Yue had been gracious to her, and unless absolutely necessary, Yao Yimin didn’t want Bian Yue to encounter any impropriety.

At this point, when she said she’d given up, it wasn’t just to comfort Bian Yue.

Life must go on.

"Bian Yue, really, thank you, and truly, let it be. I even hope you can be happier, and if there are any unreconciled pasts, try to let them go as well. Don’t let yourself suffer; everything should prioritize your feelings first."

Bian Yue could hear that Yao Yimin truly had her best interests at heart, but she didn’t know how to respond.

She looked at Yao Yimin’s hand gripping the back of her hand, her brows slowly furrowed, she pursed her lips, and remained silent...

Lu Zhonian came over at noon that same day, just after Yao Yimin had left, narrowly missing her.

His status was special and distinguished. Bian Yue personally went downstairs to greet him, smiling and saying, "President Lu, how do you find the time to come here?"

"I heard from Zhuang Jie Ning that there have been some internal strife at Feng Cheng recently," Lu Zhonian followed Bian Yue’s pace inside, observing the employee area where everything at Mintang was functioning smoothly.

Bian Yue had put in the effort, which is why the company now looked like this.

"Whatever internal strife Feng Cheng has, true or not, it doesn’t concern me, does it?"

Bian Yue intentionally distanced herself; Lu Zhonian chuckled lightly.

"Bian Yue, since I’ve chosen to collaborate with you, do you think I wouldn’t have investigated these matters? The relationship between you and the Li Family is indeed intricate."

Lu Zhonian saw a clear change on Bian Yue’s face as he spoke.

He laughed, following Bian Yue into the office, looking around, and then casually continued, "You must’ve been occupied with these issues for the past two days, not having come to see me, right?"

"Shengshi Yan was released, there are many business matters to discuss, and I just couldn’t get away," Bian Yue calmly made tea for Lu Zhonian, her expression revealing nothing, much harder to read than before.

Lu Zhonian smiled, eyeing the cup of tea placed before him, speaking faintly, "This tea wasn’t brewed specifically for me, was it?"

"I just had some with Yimin," Bian Yue responded with an open smile, equally meeting Lu Zhonian’s gaze, her voice becoming even more serene, "President Lu, your visit today wasn’t expressly for me, was it?"

"How do you know it wasn’t? If you hadn’t been absent from Xinghe these past days, I wouldn’t have needed to make this trip," Lu Zhonian raised an eyebrow, his tone probing, "Tell me, are you planning to continue your collaboration with Lixing?"

Bian Yue’s smile faded to a calm expression, "My cooperation with Lixing has nothing to do with you, does it?"

"By saying that, you mean you intend to continue," Lu Zhonian smirked, his mature and stern demeanor softened by his smile.

He spoke earnestly, "Bian Yue, I know you dislike me meddling in your affairs, but as your business partner, I must remind you. The art of checks and balances is not that easy; be careful that in the end, rather than achieving a win-win for all, it results in mutual loss."

Bian Yue’s face was stoic as she faced Lu Zhonian, her eyes harboring a faint coldness.

Lu Zhonian’s smile remained tranquil, "You don’t trust? Bian Yue, in the world of business, there is no room for sentiments. You and Shen Jinci play tactics, I fear you might end in disaster."

After a long pause following Lu Zhonian’s words, Bian Yue finally spoke in a restrained voice, "Thank you for the reminder, President Lu. If I do fail, I’ll make sure not to involve Xinghe’s interests."

Lu Zhonian’s smile grew more genuine as he placed a document on the table, standing up with a smile, "A gift for you, I hope you are as sharp-tongued at the Lixing negotiation table."

He walked towards the exit as Bian Yue looked at the document on the desk, a vein pulsating on her forehead.

She had long understood that in the business world, sentiment was not the currency, having witnessed the years of open and secret rivalry between Li Sihe and Li Tingmo. Bian Yue was well aware that if Shen Jinci stood with Lixing, he could not possibly be biased towards her.

Bian Yue’s frown deepened as she picked up the document Lu Zhonian had left on the table.

She began to read it, her complexion changing after only a few lines. Stunned, she continued to flip through the contract, until the papers dropped from her hands onto the floor.

Her fingers went numb, her brain blank in an instant.

Wen Jiao walked in from outside, saying as she approached, "What did Lu Zhonian talk to you about? How come he just left? Bian Yue... you..."

Wen Jiao stood in front of Bian Yue, alarmed at her pale face, "Are you feeling alright? Why do you look so terrible?"

Bian Yue picked up the document from the floor, moving slowly. After a while, she spoke softly, "Jiaojiao, I’m fine. I just need some quiet time alone... just a moment."