Chapter 14.1 (1/2)

Chapter 14.1

Although Yin Li later agreed to push off Su Qing Dong’s dinner for ours, that didn’t necessarily mean that he also agreed to our proposal . Thus, Wei Yan and I were still on edge . Furthermore, as he drove us to Polaris, Wei Yan also had to rea.s.sure Mr . DuPont on the side . Thus, he seemed a bit weary . In contrast, when I caught my reflection in the car’s mirror my complexion was better than when I had arrived . To prepare for these negotiations I had also applied light makeup and lipstick, which gave me a bit more of a competent feeling . My frantic, dejected state after seeing that painting had vanished after seeing Yin Li .

“As expected, it’s easier for a man and woman negotiating with each other to close a deal . ” As Wei Yan drove, he looked at me through the rear view mirror . “This is my first time hearing you mention your boyfriend . But besides that, Yin Li actually has a serious girlfriend? Looks like their relations.h.i.+p must be quite good for him to be moved by your words . ”

Wei Yan smiled and continued . “Is your boyfriend real or is he just something you brought out to put on the sign for display?”1

1 “打幌子” meaning shop sign, is also used to imply that something is a false claim, kinda like what’s in the store isn’t as great as what’s displayed on the sign .

I felt that now wasn’t the time to reveal my relations.h.i.+p with Yin Li . So instead, I opted to reveal half of the matter . “Yes, I have a boyfriend . He’s been looking after me ever since my car accident . This should count as love, right?”

After that Wei Yan didn’t say anything else, and we quickly arrived at Polaris .

As Wei Yan ordered food, I chatted with Mr . DuPont . The older gentleman loved theater and had gone to pretty much every one in Paris . To my shock, of the theaters and various performances that he brought up, I was able to happily converse about them all . The two of us could discuss for ages on this topic .

“Miss, have you lived in Paris before? It’s rare that I encounter a young person like you who is so familiar with Parisian theater old and new . Even native Parisians wouldn’t have such a grasp on it . It’s so laughable . Paris is the cultural capital of the world yet its splendor is lost upon the majority of Parisians themselves . ”

I smiled at Mr . DuPont . “It’s only that I’ve read so many books . In truth, my understanding isn’t that deep . ” Yet somehow, my thoughts were forced back to that large oil painting . And in the cellphone I was holding, was still that phone number .

I was way too familiar with Paris and France, as if I had really lived there before . It was like that part of my life was tucked away, sleeping peacefully in some corner of my memory . In comparison to Paris, this current city might as well be entirely unfamiliar to me .

“Alright, I’ve pretty much finished ordering . Come see if there’s anything else you want to add . ” Fortunately, Wei Yan interrupted my silly train of thought . He tossed me the menu and raised his eyebrow .

I glanced it over . To conquer Yin Li, Wei Yan really pulled out all the stops . The dishes he selected all followed the principle of “High in Price, Not in Taste . ” Pen in hand, I crossed out all the expensive seafood dishes and swapped them out for simpler ones before returning the menu to Wei Yan2, saying, “Yin Li is allergic to seafood . ” Then I calmly added, “Last night I investigated Yin Li’s background a bit . You know, as the saying goes: ‘If you know yourself and know your enemy, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles . ’”3

I glanced it over . To conquer Yin Li, Wei Yan really pulled out all the stops . The dishes he selected all followed the principle of “High in Price, Not in Taste . ” Pen in hand, I crossed out all the expensive seafood dishes and swapped them out for simpler ones before returning the menu to Wei Yan2, saying, “Yin Li is allergic to seafood . ” Then I calmly added, “Last night I investigated Yin Li’s background a bit . You know, as the saying goes: ‘If you know yourself and know your enemy, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles . ’”3

2 So in China the way you order dishes at a restaurant is they give you a paper copy of the menu with boxes next to each dish and you check off the ones you want to order (Or write a number if you want more than one) . That’s why Wei Yan and Yan Xiao are scribbling back and forth on the menu lol

3 This saying, “知己知彼百战百胜”, comes from The Art of War which y’all have probably heard of before . It’s also often shortened to “知己知彼” aka “know yourself, know your enemy” .

Wei Yan grinned . “Indeed . So did you come up with that final maneuver back there after seeing the gossip about his girlfriend?”

I took a sip of tea, declining to comment .

This time when he came, Yin Li didn’t bring his a.s.sistants . He was also more amiable towards me and Wei Yan . He exchanged a few words with Mr . DuPont, creating a pleasant atmosphere of warm conversation between guest and host .

From stocks to real estate to antiques, Wei Yan and Yin Li seemed to have a lot of shared interests to discuss . At the dinner table, the unwritten rule was that discussion should turn to more personal topics, and leave business matters to after the meal .

From stocks to real estate to antiques, Wei Yan and Yin Li seemed to have a lot of shared interests to discuss . At the dinner table, the unwritten rule was that discussion should turn to more personal topics, and leave business matters to after the meal .

“Mr . Yin’s girlfriend must be very outstanding . ” I didn’t know what they had been talking about, but Wei Yan had turned the spotlight on Yin Li . From their conversation earlier, Wei Yan had estimated that this deal was pretty much eighty-percent confirmed . So he relaxed and they drunk a few gla.s.ses of wine . The result was that Wei Yan was now a little tipsy .

Yin Li didn’t seem to mind the the remark . He sent me a glance from over the top of his wine gla.s.s . “Outstanding indeed . When it comes to haggling over prices, she’s especially shrewd . ”

With my thick skin I pretended not to understand the deeper meaning in his words . Instead, I played dumb and incessantly praised, “Mr . Yin’s girlfriend must definitely be extremely gorgeous, generous, and charming, the perfect woman!”

Yin Li raised a brow . “Thank you Miss Yan . I’m sure your boyfriend must also be extremely handsome and outstanding . ”

“Naturally, my boyfriend is indeed extremely handsome and outstanding . His only flaws are his jealous tendencies, his appet.i.te for control that’s a bit strong, and maybe also the occasional facial paralysis . But ignoring all that, we are a match made in heaven . ” In a contest of shamelessness, he was still far beneath me .

Sure enough Yin Li’s face twitched, but he immediately regained his calm countenance and responded, “Me and my girlfriend are actually also a match made in heaven . ”

“Naturally, my boyfriend is indeed extremely handsome and outstanding . His only flaws are his jealous tendencies, his appet.i.te for control that’s a bit strong, and maybe also the occasional facial paralysis . But ignoring all that, we are a match made in heaven . ” In a contest of shamelessness, he was still far beneath me .

Sure enough Yin Li’s face twitched, but he immediately regained his calm countenance and responded, “Me and my girlfriend are actually also a match made in heaven . ”

The somewhat tipsy Wei Yan raised a gla.s.s and toasted, “To the matches made in heaven!”

Yin Li and I both stared blankly, then we both revealed abnormal smiles . His was more sinister while mine was more dismal . We raised our gla.s.ses and toasted, “To the matches made in heaven!”

Though Wei Yan was a bit tipsy, luckily he still remembered the order of business . After the meal, tea and coffee were served and he resumed negotiating the terms of the contract with Yin Li . This round compared to last went more smoothly . Yin Li only amended a few minor parts and didn’t make things difficult for us .