Chapter 5: Summoning Yeqi Meiyu

At that moment, Lu Ming cast a cold glance at Ji Xizhao, ignoring him entirely. Instead, he turned to Ye Qi Shanjian and spoke.

“Mr. Ye Qi, I’m here today regarding an order between Ms. Huo Yutong and your company. I hope you’ll transfer this order to Ms. Huo’s firm. If you have any conditions, feel free to state them.”

Having fought overseas for many years, Lu Ming was used to living and dying alongside his comrades. He had little patience for these kinds of political games. He simply wanted to settle matters quickly and go home to sleep.

Ye Qi Shanjian heard Lu Ming’s words and sneered. “Mr. Lu, do you think I’d hand over an order worth a billion just because you say so? Aren’t you being a bit arrogant?”

Yun Ketian stepped back a few paces, appearing to survey the room casually, but was in fact watching closely. He was curious to see how Lu Ming would handle this, though, given his own status, he wouldn’t get involved in their dispute.

Lu Ming saw that he would not be able to convince Ye Qi Shanjian with words. In the past, he’d had plenty of ways to make Ye Qi Shanjian obey, but now he simply couldn’t be bothered.

He pulled out his phone, dialed a string of numbers, and waited.

Moments later, the call connected.

“Is this Ye Qi Meiyu?” Lu Ming asked softly.

“Yes, it’s me, sir. What are your instructions?” Ye Qi Meiyu’s voice was filled with excitement on the other end. She couldn’t believe Lu Ming was calling for her help so soon—she was on the verge of fainting from delight.

“Your group has a person in charge in Hua Xia named Ye Qi Shanjian, correct?”

“Yes, sir. Is there a problem?” Ye Qi Meiyu felt a bit puzzled.

“I have a friend who wants to sign a contract with your group, but your representative here refuses. And frankly, I really don’t like this person.”

Lu Ming’s tone was calm.

Ye Qi Meiyu’s voice grew serious. “Sir, let me handle this. Where are you right now?”

“I’m in the banquet hall of the Triumph Grand Hotel, with your representative.”

“I’ll come immediately. Please wait, I’ll give you a satisfactory answer,” Ye Qi Meiyu responded, her tone as cold as ice. She wasn’t angry with Lu Ming, but rather with that idiot Ye Qi Shanjian—how dare he offend Mr. Lu? It was unforgivable.

Lu Ming hung up, glanced at Ye Qi Shanjian, then said to Huo Yutong, “Let’s sit over there and wait for someone. She’ll handle this soon.”

With that, Lu Ming turned to leave. But before he could go, Ye Qi Shanjian burst out laughing.

“You think a phone call will scare me? Do you really know our President Meiyu? What a joke.”

Ye Qi Shanjian didn’t believe for a moment that Lu Ming could possibly know their president. Even within the group, only a handful had ever met her.

The president of Changwu Corporation was famed for her low profile and mystery; she never appeared in the news or on television.

The corporation’s affairs were always managed by the five directors, who answered only to the president. Beyond these five, only a few senior elders within the group had ever met her.

He himself had only seen the president once, entirely by chance. At that time, she was scolding the five directors, who stood trembling in her office, their faces pale with fear.

When he’d delivered documents to her, he’d been so overwhelmed by Ye Qi Meiyu’s aura that his legs went weak and cold sweat poured down his back. She’d only glanced at him, yet he’d nearly collapsed. That encounter left a profound impression on him.

To witness the usually lofty five directors cowering like scolded children before Ye Qi Meiyu had shocked him further.

Only then did he realize that the true power in the group lay with their low-profile president, not with the directors as rumors suggested.

After that, perhaps due to his distant familial connection to the president, he suddenly gained the favor of the five directors, rising swiftly to become president of the Hua Xia branch—a meteoric ascent.

Someone as powerful and enigmatic as the president—how could an obscure figure like Lu Ming possibly know her?

That phone call was nothing but an act, a little show of bravado between Huo Yutong and Lu Ming. He would not be fooled by such a simple trick.

Lu Ming merely looked at him coldly, said nothing, and sat at a nearby table with Huo Yutong.

Lu Ming closed his eyes, resting, while Huo Yutong, though outwardly calm, was filled with unease.

On the surface, it seemed Ye Qi Shanjian and Ji Xizhao had reached an agreement, and who knew if Young Master Yun had gotten involved as well. Besides, the conversation between Lu Ming and Ye Qi Shanjian had been anything but pleasant.

Matters were growing ever more complicated.

She glanced at Lu Ming, who sat with his eyes closed, and tried to reassure herself.

“If he’s so calm, perhaps there’s still hope.”

Meanwhile, Yun Ketian continued his conversation with the other two, keeping a steady eye on Lu Ming and Huo Yutong.

He wore a suit tailored by an international master, though it was rumpled and he didn’t care. Even so, his speech carried a natural air of dominance.

Despite knowing his true identity, Lu Ming remained composed—this only made Yun Ketian more intrigued.

Ji Xizhao and Ye Qi Shanjian, meanwhile, chatted and laughed, occasionally casting disdainful glances at Huo Yutong and Lu Ming.

Huo Yutong’s heart grew more and more unsettled.

After more than ten minutes, Huo Yutong could no longer contain herself. She was about to wake Lu Ming and ask what he intended to do—this was a matter of her family’s and company’s survival; she couldn’t afford carelessness.

Just then, the doors to the banquet hall opened. A woman in a formal suit entered—strikingly beautiful, but with a face as cold as water.

Her indifferent eyes swept the hall, and upon seeing Lu Ming, they brightened. She hurried over in quick, small steps.

“Sir, Ye Qi Meiyu apologizes for arriving late. Please forgive me.” Ye Qi Meiyu abruptly knelt at Lu Ming’s feet, bowing deeply in utmost respect.

Huo Yutong was startled.

“What’s going on? In this day and age, who still shows such respect? And what’s her relationship with Lu Ming?”

A flood of questions filled her mind.

This scene also drew the attention of everyone present.

At that moment, Lu Ming slowly opened his eyes, frowned, and said, “Stand up. Don’t do this again—I don’t like it.”

“Yes, sir.” Ye Qi Meiyu rose respectfully and stood docilely at Lu Ming’s side.

All eyes in the hall were on them, and among the stunned crowd, Ye Qi Shanjian began to tremble.

That moment struck him like a bolt of lightning; he nearly fainted on the spot.

“The president actually paid such respect to Lu Ming—what is their relationship?”

Waves of shock crashed in his heart. He had offended Lu Ming so deeply, yet the president behaved like Lu Ming’s subordinate. The thought of what might become of him sent chills down his spine.

He was almost certainly doomed.

Lu Ming spoke then.

“Let me introduce you. This is President Huo Yutong. There’s an order to be signed with your branch—handle it.”

He then turned to Huo Yutong. “Your problem is solved. We’re even now. I’m going home to sleep.”

With a yawn, Lu Ming stood and left the hall. To him, the matter was settled.

Watching Lu Ming’s figure disappear, Huo Yutong remained stunned, unable to make sense of what had just happened.

Then Ye Qi Meiyu spoke.

“Miss Huo, it’s an honor. I am Ye Qi Meiyu, president of Changwu Corporation. If you have any future business with us, you may contact me directly. I hope we can work together even more closely.”

Huo Yutong snapped to attention upon hearing the introduction.

Heavens—if she could establish a connection with the president of Changwu Corporation, her company would soar.

Moreover, seeing Ye Qi Meiyu’s deference to Lu Ming, it was clear Lu Ming carried considerable weight with her. Even from her tone, Huo Yutong could sense it.

From Ye Qi Meiyu’s words, it was obvious she wanted not just this order, but deeper cooperation.

With a major group like Changwu, even a few orders would be enough to propel her company to new heights.

A great joy surged in her heart, leaving her nearly speechless; she could only nod vigorously.

Ye Qi Meiyu nodded in return. “I have some matters to attend to first. We’ll discuss our cooperation in detail later.”

With that, Ye Qi Meiyu turned toward Ye Qi Shanjian, her expression icy.

As she approached, Ye Qi Shanjian’s heart froze; at last, unable to withstand the pressure, his legs gave out and he collapsed to his knees, prompting a collective gasp from the crowd.