Chapter 202: You Know What I Mean
“Mr. Taylor, do you have something to say?” Chen Yang asked directly.
Taylor smiled and said, “Boss, what do you think of Aisha as a partner?”
Aisha, standing nearby, gave Taylor a reproachful glance. “Taylor! I’m doing business seriously.”
Chen Yang smiled, raised his glass in response, and said, “Your Highness Princess Aisha, your foresight and boldness are the key to Huafu Fund’s success. It is my honor to cooperate with Your Highness.”
Upon hearing this, Taylor changed the subject, his face still smiling, but his voice lowered somewhat, carrying a half-joking, half-serious tone. “I’ve recently heard some interesting rumors that you, Boss, are about to have some good news and get engaged to the daughter of a local wealthy merchant surnamed Shen. This is truly surprising news.”
Princess Aisha’s smile stiffened slightly on her face, her blue eyes looking toward Chen Yang. Although she tried her best to remain calm, a trace of subtle tension and probing still emerged.
She and Chen Yang were close business allies, but the relationship between them could not simply be described as allies.
This kind of “scandalous news,” whether true or false, could affect their cooperation and the fund’s image.
Chen Yang cursed Shen Xing Shan inwardly for spreading rumors so quickly that even the European circle had heard the news.
As for why Taylor got the news so quickly, Chen Yang soon thought of one person.
Medillen, President of Royal Dutch Shell Asia Region.
Taylor had returned this time to represent him in acquiring the Shell Company to start operations at the oil storage plant in Yangshupu.
There was an oil pipeline there, directly connected to Huishan Wharf, which was the main reason Chen Yang had always wanted this plant.
Oil transportation was a very troublesome matter. If there was a mature oil pipeline directly connecting to the plant, it would make his work much more convenient.
Seeing Taylor’s expression as if he were watching a good show, Chen Yang showed a hint of helplessness on his face and explained to Aisha, “Aisha, please don’t believe those groundless rumors. It’s completely a one-sided wishful misunderstanding by Mr. Shen. I have clearly rejected it.”
“Currently, all my energy is focused on the operation of Huafu Fund and the production of penicillin. I really have no time for other things.”
“Your Highness, our cooperation is built on mutual trust and common goals. I will not let any unnecessary personal rumors affect the foundation’s major affairs.”
Hearing Chen Yang’s clear denial, Princess Aisha’s expression visibly relaxed, and she regained her elegant smile. “Of course I believe you.”
Taylor’s mouth twitched slightly. His cousin’s feelings toward this Chinese partner were far more than mere business appreciation, and although Chen Yang’s denial was straightforward, his respect and protection toward Aisha were also evident.
Taylor smiled lightly at Aisha and said, “My dear sister, as I told you, it’s not surprising that a capable man like the Boss has some rumors around him, is it?”
His words seemed like consolation, yet also subtly stirring certain emotions.
“Mr. Taylor, you’re too kind. Aisha, we still have some things to finish. Mr. Taylor, excuse us.”
With that, Chen Yang, as before, accompanied Aisha as an advisor, weaving through the crowd at the reception.
Aisha’s radiance was enough to overshadow his identity, so these people didn’t suspect anything.
The banquet was gradually coming to an end, with guests starting to bid farewell one after another.
Taylor, with a perfectly timed look of anxiety on his face, found Chen Yang and Princess Aisha, who were chatting with several bankers.
“Aisha, Chen, sorry to interrupt.” Taylor cut into their conversation, his tone somewhat urgent. “There’s a small problem. Tomorrow morning’s meeting with the representative from Swiss Les Bank is about the procurement plan for the laboratory. I need copies of several key patent authorization documents.”
“I remember asking the secretary to deliver them to the Huafu Fund office this afternoon, but I just discovered she sent the wrong version! Without the correct documents, tomorrow’s negotiation will be very disadvantageous.”
He looked at Aisha with a very earnest expression. “Aisha, my good sister, could you trouble yourself to go back to the office now?”
“It’s in the safe. You know the location. Only you and I have permission to open it.”
“I must stay here to accompany several important investors and really can’t get away.”
He turned to Chen Yang again and said very naturally, “Chen, it’s so late. I’m not comfortable letting Aisha go to the office alone. Could you trouble yourself to escort her there?”
“This…” Chen Yang hesitated for a moment. Although it was unexpected, involving tomorrow’s negotiation, it was indeed inconvenient for Aisha to go back alone so late.
“Alright, I’ll leave things here to you.” Chen Yang didn’t refuse. “Aisha, let’s go.”
With that, Chen Yang apologized to the several bank executives they were talking to. Taylor then took over to continue chatting with them.
However, just as Aisha was leaving, Taylor suddenly gave her a look, as if telling her that everything was prepared.
You two will surely have an unforgettable night.
Shanghai, No. 28 Huangpu Beach, Huafu Fund office building.
The black sedan pulled over on the street, and Chen Yang and Princess Aisha got out.
The two walked up the marble stairs to the third floor.
The corridor was long and quiet, their footsteps echoing unusually clearly. Arriving at the thick oak door of the Huafu Fund office, Aisha took out a bunch of keys from her handbag and found the brass key among them.
The key was inserted into the lock, and with a click, the office door opened smoothly.
Aisha walked inside and turned on the office lights. Chen Yang followed her in and casually closed the door.
And at that moment, a faint snapping sound came clearly from the door, but it was very light, and neither of them noticed.
Aisha opened the office safe and took out a sealed document bag from below. She pulled it out and looked—it was the important documents Taylor had mentioned.
“Let’s go.” Aisha smiled and said, but when she turned the door handle again, it didn’t budge.
“Strange…” Aisha tried again, her fine brows furrowing slightly. “It’s usually very smooth.”
“Let me try.” Chen Yang turned it; the feel was indeed sluggish, as if there was something wrong inside the lock cylinder.
He applied a bit more force, but the handle didn’t move at all, as if something inside was blocking it.
“Is it latched from the inside?” Aisha frowned and said.
Chen Yang carefully checked the door seam and keyhole. Under the light, he seemed to see something off with the bolt position, like it was jammed by something small. “It doesn’t seem latched. It looks more like a problem with the lock itself.”
“Then what do we do? The documents are important…” Aisha was a bit anxious.
“Let’s try to ram it open.” Chen Yang took a deep breath, stepped back a few steps, and then charged forward, slamming his shoulder hard against the area near the door lock!
“Bang!” A muffled thud echoed in the empty corridor.
The door shook, but didn’t open. Instead, a very faint sound of wood cracking came from above the door frame.
Chen Yang rammed it again with force! “Crack!” This time the sound was clearer; a teeth-gritting metal twisting noise came from the door lock area. The door showed no sign of loosening, and it seemed like something had broken, completely eliminating any possibility of opening from inside.
“Looks like we’re in trouble. Let’s see if the internal telephone works.” Chen Yang walked to the desk and picked up the old-style desktop telephone receiver that needed to be connected through the building’s main switchboard.
There was dead silence in the receiver, no sound at all.
“The telephone line seems to be cut too.” He put down the receiver, his brows furrowed tightly.
All these “accidents” pointed to the same source—Taylor.
“I’ll shout for someone to come open the door.” Just as Chen Yang was about to open the window to call out, Aisha quickly pulled him back. “Chen, don’t. It’s so late—if people see us alone, a man and a woman, in the office, I’m afraid…”
“I think we can only wait here for Taylor to notice we haven’t gone back and come looking for us.”
Chen Yang sighed and sat on the sofa with Aisha. He wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but the subtle situation of being trapped at this moment made the atmosphere somewhat unusual and ambiguous.
After a moment of silence, Aisha suddenly spoke softly, breaking the quiet. “Chen…”
“Hm?” Chen Yang turned to look at her.
Under the light, Aisha’s blue eyes appeared exceptionally clear and brave. She looked straight at Chen Yang. “Chen, those rumors about you… you denied them so decisively at the banquet… is it really completely impossible? Or…”
Chen Yang was silent for a moment, then said slowly, “Aisha, that really isn’t true. I have nothing to do with Miss Shen. As for marriage… I have no plans for it currently.”
Aisha took a step closer, the distance between them becoming very near. “Then… if… if the other party isn’t a local miss who you have to be careful to protect, who might bring you ‘danger,’ but rather a… partner who could stand shoulder to shoulder with you, even provide you with support and… protection?”
“Your Highness Aisha,” his voice was somewhat low and deep, “I admire you very much, Aisha. Far beyond that of a business partner.”
“You deserve purer feelings, not a relationship that might be filled with unknown risks…”
“Risk?” Aisha scoffed. “It’s the first time I’ve heard that love involves risks.”
“If I say I won’t be afraid of that risk, would you consider changing our relationship?”
“Chen, you know what I’m talking about.”
This was too direct.
Chen Yang suddenly felt a bit flustered. A royal princess confessing so boldly—no matter her family background, appearance, knowledge, or anything else, she was more suitable than anyone.
The dream of countless men to marry a beautiful rich woman and reach the peak of life—wasn’t it just like this?
Before Chen Yang could react, a warm body pressed close. Aisha’s face gradually approached in his vision, and then a warm breath pressed onto his lips.
More than ten seconds later, Aisha’s face flushed red with shyness.
Chen Yang seemed to still be savoring Aisha’s passion from moments ago.
“Chen, do you have an answer now?” Aisha mustered her courage and asked.
Chen Yang looked at Aisha and said, “Aisha, I think for this kind of thing, the girl shouldn’t take the initiative.”
Aisha’s heart skipped a beat. Chen Yang reached out, cradling her face. “It should be me doing it.”
