Xiao Jun’s smirk widened into a genuinely impressed smile. He raised two fingers and snapped them crisp and clear in the warm air.
"Ah Hei!" Xiao Jun called out.
The dark-clad guard appeared instantly at the doorway, bowing deeply. "Yes, Young Master?"
"Bring out fresh rice paper, fine ink, and the seal," Xiao Jun ordered smoothly. "Young Madame Bai and I have a historic agreement to record."
Within moments, Ah Hei set down a smooth wooden tray holding a roll of fine white paper, a heavy inkstone, and an ink brush. Xiao Jun dipped the brush into the dark ink, his hand moving with fluid grace across the scroll as he wrote down every single condition Yimei had listed.
When he finished writing the terms for the twenty percent profit split, the priority deliveries, and the non-compete clause, he paused. He looked up at Yimei, his dark eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint as he twirled the brush between his long fingers.
"Now that your demands are settled, Partner Yimei, I have two small conditions of my own," Xiao Jun said, resting his chin on his hand.
Yimei tilted her head slightly, her face unreadable. "I am listening."
"First, your East Market Tea House looks far too plain and old to serve drinks meant for a Minister’s banquet," Xiao Jun pointed out, tapping the desk lightly. "I will cover the entire cost of renovating your shop. We will add carved privacy screens, fine silk banners, and grand wooden tables so the noble ladies feel comfortable sitting there."
Yimei’s eyes narrowed slightly, sensing the hidden hook. "And the second condition?"
"Second, your current staff is far too small," Xiao Jun continued with a lazy grin. "I will send over a new team of trained workers—four skilled servers, two guards for protection, and a trusted accountant. They will work under your manager, Liu Fang, but I pay their wages."
Yimei’s gaze turned cold and sharp as ice. She knew exactly what he was doing: he was placing his own loyal eyes and ears inside her business.
"You want to place spies in my tea house, Young Master Xiao?" Yimei asked directly, her tone completely devoid of fear.
Xiao Jun laughed softly, not even bothering to deny it.
"Call them protection, call them helpers, call them spies," Xiao Jun replied with an easy shrug. "If my sister’s wedding banquet is going to make your tea house famous across the entire capital, I need to know the place is secure and running smoothly. Besides, wouldn’t it be nice to have heavy guards at your shop when your bitter family comes looking for trouble?"
Yimei considered his words carefully. With the Bai Manor aunts and Yulan constantly plotting against her, having strong guards and extra workers—even Xiao Jun’s people—would actually work to her advantage. If he wanted to watch her, let him watch. She had nothing to hide, only money to make.
"They work under Liu Fang’s orders," Yimei specified firmly. "If any of your people disrespect her or step out of line, I fire them on the spot without asking your permission."
"Agreed," Xiao Jun chuckled, pressing his personal red jade seal firmly into the red paste and stamping the bottom of the paper.
He handed the brush over to Yimei with a dramatic bow of his head. "Sign here, my fierce partner. Let us go make a fortune."
Yimei took the brush, her hand firm and steady as she signed her name in clear, elegant calligraphy right beside his seal.
Once the ink dried, she rose smoothly from her chair, pulling her thick fur cloak back over her shoulders to hide her torn sleeve. She looked down at Xiao Jun, her dark eyes calm, sharp, and businesslike.
"Since our contract is signed, I expect the first delivery of dried plum, ginger, and honey at the East Market Tea House by tomorrow morning," Yimei said coldly.
Xiao Jun leaned back in his chair, twirling his ivory fan with an amused, lazy grin. "So eager to leave, Young Madame Bai? You won’t even share a celebratory cup of warm tea with your new business partner?"
"I have a tea house to run and a household of snakes to handle," Yimei replied, her voice smooth and unbothered. "I don’t have time for idle chatter."
She paused for a brief second, looking at him. Remembering a strange custom from her previous modern life, she decided to end their business transaction properly. Yimei reached out, extending her right hand toward him for a firm, professional handshake.
Xiao Jun blinked, looking at her outstretched, slender hand in total surprise. In the capital, noble ladies never offered their bare hands to men, let alone a male business partner.
A mischievous, dangerous spark lit up his dark eyes. Instead of taking her hand to shake it, Xiao Jun leaned forward with effortless grace, caught her fingers gently in his palm, and bent his head to press a soft, lingering kiss right against her knuckles.
Touch.
Yimei’s eyes flashed with sudden anger. She yanked her hand back violently, wiping her knuckles against the dark silk of her sleeve as if she had just touched something foul.
"Young Master Xiao!" Yimei snapped, her voice dropping into a lethal, icy whisper. "Mind your manners. I am a married woman, not one of your tavern playthings."
Xiao Jun sat back, resting his chin in his hand, a loud, delighted laugh erupting from his chest as he watched her furious reaction.
Yimei hurried down the carved wooden stairs, her face cold and her stride long and sharp. Qinqin immediately rushed over from the counter, looking at her Miss with wide, worried eyes.
"Miss!" Qinqin whispered, searching Yimei’s face. "Are you alright? Did he—"
Before Yimei could answer, a tall guard dressed in fine dark grey armor stepped out from behind a wooden pillar, bowing his head with deep respect. It was Ah Hei.
"Young Madame Bai," Ah Hei said politely, his voice calm and firm. "Our Young Master has already instructed the warehouse. The fresh shipments of honey, dried fruit, and herbs will arrive at your tea house early tomorrow morning. He also ordered me to escort you safely back to the Bai Manor."
Yimei stopped, her eyes narrowing slightly as she looked at the guard.
"No need," Yimei rejected sharply, her tone icy enough to freeze the room. "Tell your Young Master that I can walk my own path."
Without waiting for his reply, Yimei reached out, firmly grabbed Qinqin’s trembling hand, and pulled her maid along as she stepped out through the heavy grand doors into the falling snow.
The cold wind hit Yimei’s face as she stepped into the snow, cooling her anger. She held Qinqin’s hand tight as they walked toward the road to find a carriage.
Qinqin looked back at Wenlong Tea House in fear. "Miss... is everything really okay? He seemed dangerous."
"He is just a spoiled nobleman who thinks he can trick people," Yimei said calmly. "But he signed the contract. We have our ingredients, and tomorrow we launch the new menu."
Across the street, a man stood hidden in the dark alley shadows.
It was Lin Feng—Bai Zhengyu’s personal guard. He had been secretly following Yimei all morning on Zhengyu’s orders.
He had followed her everywhere.
Once Yimei safely boarded a carriage, Lin Feng turned and hurried through the snow, rushing back to report every detail to the disabled Young Master in the Northern Courtyard.