"Sister Shui understands me best. I'll drain this glass in one go." Li Yang tilted his head back and downed the fine wine, exhaled, and then spoke. "That's right, I need your help with something."
"Just say it. Everyone likes you a lot. I'll help with whatever I can." Sister Shui said ambiguously.
Li Yang stated, "I know it's not easy for you, as a woman, to build such a large business in Jiangcheng. You are definitely a capable woman."
"Therefore, I want to cooperate with you in business."
"Oh, since when did Young Master Li become interested in doing business?" Sister Shui looked at him with some surprise.
Although the Li family in Li Yang's generation was not as prosperous as their ancestors, they were still a well-off family, and Li Yang's birth was not low.
If he wanted to do business, when his parents were alive, he could have lived a comfortable, effortless life.
Li Yang showed a hint of bitterness. "When my parents were alive, I was lost in my own little world, causing them grief and disappointing my ancestors' hard-earned legacy. Now that I've come to my senses, I want to restore my Li family's honor. If my parents knew in the afterlife, they could reincarnate sooner."
"I understand." Although Sister Shui didn't believe in the afterlife, she could tell from Li Yang's words that he wanted a fresh start.
No wonder she felt he was different from his usual self; he had indeed found new purpose.
"Since you've put it that way, I naturally won't refuse to help. However, let's be clear upfront: investment carries risks. There's profit and there's loss. If you cooperate with me, any profits made are due to your foresight and skill, not my involvement. If there are losses, you shouldn't blame me."
"Of course, cheers." Li Yang poured her a glass of wine.
Sister Shui glanced at the wine glass and said, "Don't rush to drink. I haven't finished speaking. You mentioned cooperation, but you haven't clarified how you intend to cooperate."
"It's simple. You'll continue to manage the stone gambling arena. I'll join as a technical shareholder, responsible for appraising the stones, and we'll split the profits fifty-fifty," Li Yang said with a smile.
With his abilities, he could naturally discern the quality of any stone. But even the most skilled cook cannot cook without ingredients. Despite his previous display of Imperial Green jade, the prerequisite was that the stone must actually contain Imperial Green.
Without it, his eyes would be useless.
Moreover, with so many stones, he couldn't possibly spend all day with his eyes wide open, searching through them one by one.
The biggest advantage of cooperating with Sister Shui was that he could access the best stones immediately, greatly reducing his workload in selecting them.
Furthermore, with only money in his pocket and no business, it was difficult for money to generate more money.
Sister Shui chuckled, "Fifty-fifty split? Well, Young Master Li, with just your words, you want so much from me. Are you offering to sleep with me?"
"If you need it, I'm not opposed to it," Li Yang replied with a smile.
Sister Shui playfully chided, "You're not serious. I'm talking to you seriously, and your words are too sweet."
"I guarantee you'll get more than your money's worth." Li Yang's lips curved upwards, and he picked up his wine glass. "If you don't believe me, you can consider my capabilities and then make your decision."
"You said that yourself. I haven't said I don't believe you. How about this: tomorrow there's a private auction. You can come with me, alright?" Sister Shui suggested with a charming smile, her beautiful eyes twinkling.
Li Yang nodded, "Of course, no problem."
"Cheers." Sister Shui raised her glass to clink with his, smiling enchantingly, which made Li Yang's heart pound.
This woman is truly a siren!
After a few rounds of drinks, the steaks were served. They ate until they were about seventy percent full. Sister Shui wiped her cherry lips with a napkin and looked at Li Yang, who showed no signs of leaving, with suspicion. "Do you have something else to do here?"
"Sister Shui, you're so smart. With a partner like you, I'll probably be able to make money lying down from now on," Li Yang said with a smile.
Just as Sister Shui was about to inquire further, she spotted a figure approaching and immediately understood everything. She stood up and asked, "Should I leave?"
"No need. Compared to that woman, you are far more important to me," Li Yang shook his head.
Sister Shui smiled, "Your words are so sweet. I really love you."
Saying this, she walked over to Li Yang and sat down beside him.
"Huh?" Li Yang was stunned. He hadn't expected her to be so sudden. The prominent feeling almost made him jump up and salute. "Shui,"
"Li Yang, you truly have a way with women." Su Qianqian walked over, her teeth gritted, staring at the sexy and alluring Sister Shui. A flicker of jealousy immediately appeared in her eyes.
Although Sister Shui was twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, her figure was incredibly captivating, especially when she sat down, her posture was simply mesmerizing.
Su Qianqian couldn't compare to a woman like this at all.
Sister Shui acted as if she had just noticed her arrival. "Oh dear," she exclaimed, "my apologies. My leg slipped just now, and I accidentally sat down."
"Mrs. Li, please don't... oh, Young Master Li, you seem to have divorced her. She's no longer your wife, is she?"
"That's right, she has nothing to do with me." Li Yang nodded.
Sister Shui immediately covered her mouth and laughed, "In that case, if I'm being intimate with Young Master Li, even if we're studying in bed, it's only natural. Then I won't say I'm sorry."
"Miss Su, or whatever your name is, you won't mind, will you?"
"You!" Su Qianqian was so angry she almost bit her teeth off.
Sister Shui's portrayal of a "green tea bitch" was truly masterful and full of flavor.
The way she spoke was both innocent and infuriating.
"You woman, don't get things wrong. It wasn't him who divorced me; it was I who kicked him out."
"Is that so?" Sister Shui blinked her eyes and bit her lip. "But I heard that Young Master Li, out of pity for you and your daughter, voluntarily left with nothing."
"And I also heard that when you, Miss Su, married Young Master Li back then, you were so poor you didn't even have money for food."
"Don't talk nonsense, I..."
Su Qianqian was furious. She had indeed been very poor back then, willing to do anything to get money, but she hated it most when others spoke of her despicable deeds.
"Enough, Su Qianqian. What are you doing here?" Li Yang interrupted her.
"Hmph,"
Su Qianqian slammed a file folder onto the table. "Li Yang, I know you've struck it rich by sheer luck. This is the old Li family mansion. I've come here out of great benevolence to sell it to you."
"As long as you pay eighty million, this contract will be effective immediately."
"You're asking for the moon! My old family home is worth at most twenty million. Su Qianqian, don't quote such an outrageous price." Li Yang was enraged.
Su Qianqian sneered, "It's worth that much to others, but for you, eighty million isn't much."
"I won't hide it from you. If you don't buy it, don't blame me for being impolite. I'll go back right now and have them demolish your ancestral shrine."