Everyone knew that the Second Miss of the Yu family rarely appeared in public.
Yet facing this kind of occasion, she showed no trace of nervousness at all. Instead, she was relaxed and at ease, as if she were talking about her own dreams.
Mu Qianjue had been dismissive at first, but as she went deeper into her presentation of the design, a blueprint actually began to take shape in his mind.
The audience was even more astonished.
They whispered among themselves.
“Chairman Yu has hidden her well—his daughter turns out to be the designer in charge of the Luanxing Bay project.”
“If she hadn’t been brought here today, I’d never have known the Yu family had such a lovely, well-mannered daughter.”
“With such a poised and graceful demeanor, she doesn’t seem like someone kept hidden away at home. I’d guess she’s too beautiful, and the Yu family was afraid someone would steal her away, so they never let her go out.”
“…”
From just now until this moment, Pei Zhizhou’s gaze had never left Yu Ni.
He hadn’t expected that such an obedient woman would be the Yu family’s bargaining chip for tonight’s bidding.
If he could win her over.
And put her to use for the Pei family.
It would be like adding wings to a tiger for the Pei Corporation.
Listening to the discussions around him, Yu Shengnian showed no joy on his face, glancing repeatedly at the time on his wristwatch.
Unlike his anxiety and nervousness, Yu Jingxi was fully focused on the bidding, determined to turn the situation around.
Yu Ni’s excellence truly made Mu Qianjue see her in a new light.
Mu Nan leaned in close and lowered his voice, “This is the Yu family’s Second Miss—the well-behaved girl I told you about earlier. The Yu family treasures her and never lets her appear in public. This time, when you moved the schedule up earlier, Miss Yu injured her hand and couldn’t draw the design blueprints, so the Yu family brought her to attend in person.
“Also, in my investigation, I discovered that the Second Miss of the Yu family doesn’t actually bear the Yu surname. She was originally the daughter of the Jiang family, once the richest family in Yungang, over a decade ago. After the Jiang family fell from grace, the Second Miss was adopted by the Yu family and given the Yu surname.”
Mu Qianjue studied Yu Ni. As she spoke about her design philosophy, a bright light flickered in her eyes.
This well-behaved appearance was completely different from the woman who had teased him earlier.
Neither of the Yu family’s daughters was simple.
One had drugged him.
The other had broken into his room as the antidote.
Performing their act in perfect coordination—they were clearly putting on a show to win the bid.
But Mu Qianjue had to admit that Yu Ni’s design had struck deep into his heart.
The ten minutes were up.
Yu Ni’s bidding presentation came to an end. “Thank you, Crown Prince, for giving me this opportunity. That concludes my presentation.”
Mu Qianjue stood up and applauded. “The Second Miss Yu’s design is indeed compelling. I can give Yu Corporation another chance—as long as the Yu family produces the complete design blueprints.”
“Of course, no problem.” Yu Jingxi agreed with delight.
Mu Nan stepped forward and announced, “Today’s bidding ends here. As for who will secure the Luanxing Bay partnership, I will announce the results in three days.”
Everyone departed one after another.
Yu Ni was about to leave, following behind the father and son of the Yu family, when Mu Nan suddenly blocked their path. “Second Miss Yu, please wait. The Crown Prince would like to speak with you alone.”
Yu Shengnian politely declined, “My daughter is timid and rarely interacts with strangers. I’m afraid that wouldn’t be convenient.”
Mu Nan’s eyes turned cold. “It seems Chairman Yu no longer wants this partnership.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Just as Yu Shengnian was about to explain, Yu Jingxi lowered his voice to remind him, “Things have finally taken a turn for the better. If we off the Crown Prince again, not only will we fail to secure the partnership, but our entire Yu Corporation will be in trouble.”
Yu Shengnian pushed up his glasses, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the man seated high above them at the front, and had no choice but to compromise.
“Ni Ni, watch your words. Don’t displease the Crown Prince.”
Yu Ni nodded.
Yu Shengnian and Yu Jingxi walked out of the venue, with Mu Nan following behind, closing the door behind them.
In the brightly lit room, Yu Ni shed her earlier docility and smiled sweetly. “What’s this? Is the Crown Prince dissatisfied with my bidding just now?”
Mu Qianjue rose from his chair and strode toward her.
Yu Ni backed away.
He kept advancing.
Within moments, she had nowhere left to retreat.
“Miss Yu really went to any lengths for tonight’s bidding.” Mu Qianjue seized her throat, his eyes cold as tempered ice.
Yu Ni hadn’t expected him to turn on her so suddenly.
Choking, she whimpered coquettishly, “Crown Prince, that hurts~”
Her skin was so fair that even a light pinch left a red mark.
Her face was translucent as cicada wings—as if with a little more force, he could snap her neck.
“The daughter raised in the Yu family’s inner chambers is quite the actress. A good girl in public, a scheming cuttlefish in private.” Mu Qianjue’s hand brushed across her face.
The chill of his white jade thumb ring mingled with his ruthlessness, and Yu Ni couldn’t suppress a shiver.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Crown Prince.”
“Your sister drugs me, and then the younger sister walks right into my room. Do I need to spell it out any more clearly?” Mu Qianjue despised nothing more than being schemed against.
And by two women working together, no less.
Yu Ni froze.
She quickly pieced together what had happened.
She explained, “I stumbled in by accident. I didn’t know you’d been drugged.
“Of course, the decision is yours, Crown Prince. Believe me or don’t.”
Mu Qianjue bored into her eyes.
No matter the moment, this woman faced him without a ripple of emotion.
Those eyes sparkled bright, clean and pure as obsidian.
The kind one couldn’t bear to sully.
Yu Ni continued, “Besides, my design was outstanding and exceptional. The Crown Prince was very pleased with it, wasn’t he?”
Yu Rou, that idiot.
Actually drugging Mu Qianjue.
The man before her was suspicious by nature, and he had already decided she and Yu Rou were in league together. Getting close to him would only be harder now.
“The Pei family’s design isn’t bad either.” Mu Qianjue released her and went to sit back in his seat.
Yu Ni, freed, drew great gulps of air.
The smile remained on her face. “The Pei family’s design is all flash and no substance. Developing it would be costly, not to mention difficult. The Crown Prince is a businessman—who’s the better choice, no one knows better than you.”
“Are you threatening me?”
Mu Qianjue’s face darkened further, his patience clearly wearing thin.
Yu Ni stepped closer and grabbed his collar. “I’m merely reminding the Crown Prince that I can bring you the greatest profit. Cooperating with me—you won’t lose a thing.”
Her sleeve slid up, revealing the scars on her slender arm.
Mu Qianjue’s pupils contracted.
He suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist, rose, and pinned her against the desk. “No one has ever dared negotiate terms with me this boldly. You’re the first.”
“So will the Crown Prince agree to the partnership or not?” Yu Ni leaned back, one hand braced on the desk.
Shedding the ill-fitting cheongsam, she looked pure and demure tonight—truly capable of beguiling hearts.
As if in punishment, he gripped her chin and kissed her.
Yu Ni’s hands found his firm back and clutched hard, her lips and teeth no less unruly—she bit down hard on him.
Mu Qianjue winced at the pain and pulled back. “Wanting a partnership comes at a price.”
“And what price does the Crown Prince want?”
Yu Ni was entranced by his bone structure, her hand tracing his contours.
Last night’s sculpture had only the face—if she could carve out this body as well, it would surely become a masterpiece.
Her hand slid down from his lips, just about to reach his Adam’s apple.
Mu Qianjue caught her wrist. “What can you give me?”
Yu Ni boldly pressed close to his ear. “Whatever you want.”