“But some things aren’t just about offering profits. I still need to think about other factors. I have to be careful when negotiating business,” Shen Suyu said, while her mind was already spinning with ideas.
Their pace was quick, and before long, they reached the dock. Gu Yanshen personally helped her onto the boat. During the journey, Shen Suyu spoke very little, constantly thinking about how to handle the situation. Seeing her so troubled, Gu Yanshen couldn’t help but offer some reassurance.
“No matter what, he’s my friend. He’ll give me some face, so I don’t expect major problems. Just try not to worry too much.”
“You don’t have to force yourself. If it doesn’t work out, I can speak a few good words for you. You’re here because of me—I won’t let your business fail,” Gu Yanshen said gently.
Shen Suyu gave a faint, bittersweet smile and refused without hesitation. Although she wanted to gain some advantage, she couldn’t rely on him for everything.
“It’s not that I don’t want your help. These are my matters, and I can’t let you handle them. That wouldn’t be right. I need time to think and come up with a strategy myself,” she said resolutely. Gu Yanshen sighed, realizing there was nothing more he could do regarding business matters. He let Shen Suyu take the lead.
“As long as you can think it through, that’s enough. I just don’t want you to carry so much pressure. I’ll do my best to help.”
“But I don’t know how much I can actually help. Ultimately, it depends on you,” he added.
“Alright.” They exchanged a few simple words, and Gu Yanshen fell silent. There was already little he could do to assist, and any more involvement might just waste her time.
The boat didn’t take long to reach the shore. Gu Yanshen’s friend was already waiting. Seeing the boat arrive, he broke into a wide smile and waved excitedly.
“You finally made it! I thought you’d stand me up today. We discussed this yesterday—weren’t you supposed to bring a business partner?”
“Bring them over! If they meet my expectations, there’s no need for further negotiation.” The man was overjoyed at the sight of Gu Yanshen, grinning from ear to ear.
“They’re already here. This is Shen Suyu, a very good friend of mine from the island, and the person interested in negotiating a business deal with you,” Gu Yanshen introduced formally.
“Don’t let her being a woman fool you—she’s quite capable in business. Even Ye Chen admires her,” he added gently. Shen Suyu’s presence immediately impressed his friend, and his gaze carried respect.
“So you’re the one I’ll be doing business with. It’s not easy for a woman to handle business these days. How does Miss Shen plan to negotiate?”
“I’m generally reasonable, but business is all about profit. If Miss Shen can’t offer me the right benefits, then we won’t cooperate,” Fu Yuan said directly, without any hint of condescension. He wasn’t just coming to a small island for business; he frequently traveled and was used to dealing with women in commerce.
“Mr. Fu, you really surprise me. Usually, when people hear that a woman is handling business, there’s a hint of impatience on their faces,” Shen Suyu said, openly flattering him. Since boarding the boat, she had been thinking about how to build rapport, and now the opportunity was in front of her. Missing it would be foolish.
“Miss Shen, you flatter me. Everyone around Gu Yanshen is straightforward and decent; otherwise, they wouldn’t have earned his trust,” he replied.
“Please, no more flattery. We’re here to discuss business, and no matter how kind you speak, I won’t give concessions,” Fu Yuan said, keeping a polite distance. Though he still held a good impression of her, the excessive compliments slightly reduced his goodwill.
“I can see that my earlier words may have bothered you. I didn’t intend to upset you; it was just my thought,” Shen Suyu said, smiling awkwardly. She realized that people differed greatly in temperament—especially those around Gu Yanshen—and flattery didn’t always work.
“Alright, let’s get back to business. I want to settle things quickly so we can start operations,” she said, keeping her tone professional.
“Very well. So you’re looking for finished garments, and the fabrics need to be good enough for embroidery. What exactly do you mean?” Fu Yuan asked, standing on the dock without delay, ready to discuss specifics. He enjoyed doing business and focused on the deal at hand.
“This is my idea: I want to showcase my embroidery skills on your garments, and I hope people will recognize the brand. It’s essentially a way to build visibility—it’s not a huge matter, and anyone experienced in business should understand,” Shen Suyu explained confidently.
“Since you and Gu Yanshen are close, you should know that I’ve also secured orders with Master Ye. I may only place a short-term order with you for garments. Afterwards, it will stop, so it’s a one-time deal. You can consider whether to help me out,” she said calmly, putting her request forward. She was prepared for a refusal; everyone has their own rights, and just because Gu Yanshen was involved didn’t mean the deal had to be complicated.
“This is the first time I’ve seen Miss Shen be so upfront. Others negotiating with me tend to exaggerate endlessly,” Fu Yuan thought, impressed by her honesty.