Perhaps accustomed to his beauty, Luo Yan and Zhang Jin seemed immune to their boss's good looks. But Chen Li was not. The young woman stumbled, falling back into her seat, her mouth half-open and her cheeks flushed crimson.
Zheng Yu'an remained still, giving a slight nod, assuming that Yan Shuwang would not approach. However, the other man's gaze flickered, and in the next second, the tips of his leather shoes changed direction.
With long legs, the distance was short. In just a few steps, Yan Shuwang was at the four-person table. He extended his hand toward Zheng Yu'an, with a hint of condescending appraisal: "Yan Shuwang, CFO of WE GO."
Zheng Yu'an stood and shook his hand. "Hello, CFO Yan. I'm Zheng Yu'an from JZ Bank."
Yan Shuwang's palm was warm and dry, his fingers long and elegant. He held the grip for a few seconds, releasing it with restraint. Zheng Yu'an, now closer, realized that the other man was a good half-head taller than him.
"Just this little bit of food?" Yan Shuwang glanced at the table. His voice was rich and mellow, his pace unhurried, creating a peculiar sense of harmony with his appearance.
Zhang Jin said, "It hasn't all arrived yet. You're here early."
Zheng Yu'an glanced at him, surprised. After all, they hadn't agreed to have lunch together. Had he known Yan Shuwang would be here, he would never have casually settled for a meal in the company cafeteria.
"I have a luncheon appointment," Yan Shuwang said, making it clear he didn't intend to sit. He turned his head toward Zheng Yu'an, and suddenly, his lips pursed slightly, revealing a shallow smile. "Enjoy your meal, Director Zheng. We can discuss business again this afternoon."
They say a beauty who doesn't smile only possesses three-tenths of their soul. Zheng Yu'an now understood the essence of that old saying. He was quite stunned by the other man's sudden smile, taking a moment to regain his senses before replying, "Alright."
Chen Li hadn't recovered from the impact of such beauty even after Yan Shuwang had left. She covered her face and whispered in astonishment, "Oh my god!"
Luo Yan clearly understood her feelings, sighing, "I've worked with CFO Yan for eight years. The motivation to put on makeup every morning, even at forty, is CFO Yan's face."
Chen Li exhaled and laughed. "Then I'm not at a disadvantage. Our Director Zheng's face is worth putting on makeup for too."
Zheng Yu'an simply smiled, remaining silent.
Luo Yan clicked her tongue. "Little Director Zheng is quite the handsome man himself. You and CFO Yan standing together just now were a feast for the eyes."
Whether it was a feast for the eyes or not, Zheng Yu'an didn't have time to care. After all, Director Qin Hanguan's gossiping on his heels was even more of a headache.
"You met him?" Director Qin, for all his good qualities, had a touch of the busybody about him.
Zheng Yu'an was on his way to the conference room. Chen Li had made him a cup of coffee, and he thanked her quietly.
"I'm here to talk money, not to find a date," Zheng Yu'an said, holding the rim of the coffee cup and gently swirling the contents. "How can I discuss the money if I don't meet him?"
Qin Hanguan laughed loudly. "So, Yan Shuwang is a great beauty, isn't he?"
Zheng Yu'an didn't reply. Although Qin Hanguan was a bit of a clueless chauvinist, his aesthetic judgment was spot on this time.
"Don't feel pressured," Qin Hanguan said, inexplicably trying to reassure him. "Different styles. You're a lady-killer across five thousand years of history. Have some confidence."
Zheng Yu'an was speechless.
For large, high-net-worth companies, financing and loans weren't too difficult. The larger the amount, the more important the oversight. In addition to the bank and the company, securities firms joined in to form a triumvirate, cooperating and supervising each other.
Three hundred million wasn't a small sum, but the JZ branch in the park could manage it. The final point of negotiation was the interest rate discount.
Zheng Yu'an had expected the money negotiations to be tricky, but he hadn't anticipated them being this difficult.
"After working together for so long, I know JZ Bank's sincerity," Yan Shuwang said, having removed his suit jacket, revealing a physique that didn't quite match his face. "However, many banks are offering lower interest rates than you."
A rich, juicy piece of pork belly. Zheng Yu'an sighed inwardly again. He had made inquiries beforehand. WE GO had contacted no fewer than twenty banks in the past month, including the world's largest. JZ Bank was still in the running solely based on past relationships.
"When WE GO was first established, CFO Yan, you signed off on the financial settlements every month when salaries were paid, correct?" Zheng Yu'an asked suddenly after a moment of silence.
Yan Shuwang seemed surprised that he would bring that up, his gaze clouding over. After a long pause, he gave a perfunctory smile and asked, "What is Director Zheng trying to say?"
Zheng Yu'an's expression was slightly nostalgic. He lowered his head slightly, scratching his forehead as if embarrassed, then looked up at Yan Shuwang and smiled. "I was working at the counter back then and handled many documents signed by CFO Yan. I have a very deep impression of your handwriting."
The interest rate wasn't impossible to concede, but playing the sentiment card was essential.
Zheng Yu'an made himself a cup of instant coffee in the break room, lost in thought about work matters. Zhang Jin and Luo Yan had been called into the conference room, and Zheng Yu'an took the opportunity to get some fresh air. As he sat down, he subconsciously reached into his pocket, only to realize that he had left his suit jacket inside. He hadn't brought his cigarettes or lighter.
Zheng Yu'an was speechless for a few seconds, his mood slightly collapsing. Leaning against the wall, he set the coffee cup aside and couldn't help but sigh.
The break room door was pushed open from the outside.
Yan Shuwang entered, a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he unbuttoned his collar. He paused slightly when he saw Zheng Yu'an, then nodded in greeting. "Director Zheng."
Zheng Yu'an had already straightened up, his smile practiced to be neither overly ingratiating nor humble. In Qin Hanguan's words, it was a lady-killer smile that could charm across five thousand years of history.
Yan Shuwang stared at his face for a moment.
"Do you smoke, Director Zheng?" Yan Shuwang held his cigarette in a unique way, pinching it in the middle with his index finger and thumb, his palm not deliberately obscuring his lips. The act of inhaling looked like a kiss.
Zheng Yu'an feigned a troubled expression. "My cigarettes are in the conference room. I forgot to bring them."
Yan Shuwang's gaze didn't leave his face. He tapped the cigarette pack in his hand, pulled one out with his fingertips, and then very naturally offered it to Zheng Yu'an's lips.
"..." Zheng Yu'an's mind inexplicably recalled Zhang Jin's words that Yan Shuwang never casually offered cigarettes to others. He hesitated for a moment, then still supported the other man's hand and took the cigarette into his mouth.
"I'm sorry," Zheng Yu'an said, his words muffled by the cigarette. He asked, "Do you have a lighter..."
Yan Shuwang smiled. "No need," he said.
Zheng Yu'an felt a shadow fall over him. Yan Shuwang condescended to bend down, the cigarette tip facing the one in his mouth, the movement of his lips as if preparing to kiss, pursing the cigarette holder and slowly taking a light puff.
A wisp of smoke floated and swayed, the embers glowing brightly, reflected in Yan Shuwang's eyes.
Only after Zheng Yu'an tasted the familiar flavor in his mouth did he remember.
Yan Shuwang smoked the same brand of cigarettes as him.