Chapter 55 Tacit Understanding (Part Two) "You know that saying this means..."

"..." Yan Quan ran his fingertips along the shape and edges of the object in the envelope, guessing that it was a bank card.

The envelope was opened to reveal pink stationery, representing omega. The title page exuded the scent of carefully selected perfume, and the handwriting was a flamboyant, illegible mess, meant to appear cool.

"Don't mention it. If you're too touched, then go on a date with me."

The folded letter unfolded, revealing a close-up selfie card—long, straight black hair, long eyelashes, black eyeliner, and striking features adorned with a series of non-mainstream metal eyebrow studs, earrings, and lip piercings, gazing at the camera with a flamboyant smile.

It's Ji Yao.

In reality, the amount in the personal bank account was just a drop in the ocean compared to the financial hole in the Yan family.

But for Yan Quan now, the sentiment conveyed by the action is more valuable than the object itself.

Just like the private messages Yan Quan received from fan clubs on his Weibo account:

We'd rather believe what we see with our own eyes than hearsay. We'll always support you!

Yan Ceyan, Ji Yao, the fan club... it was these people who came together to make Yan Quan believe—

Time is a magical thing. So even if it goes around in circles and seems to have reached a dead end, it will never repeat the same mistakes.

At least this "Yan family crisis" is different from seven years ago; there has been no "betrayal," and many people still stand with Yan Quan.

Despite the current unclear situation, public opinion remains rife with discussion.

Is the Yan family really planning to play dead forever? Will they force bankruptcy in ten days and let the homeowners lose all their money?

"Chairman Yan Zhengdong has already been in jail for over half a month. What can the court do about it?"

[Yan Zhengdong has been added to the list of dishonest persons subject to enforcement, and he's even getting a government job now. He can at least get some exercise by sewing for the rest of his life (speechless).]

The only ones who truly suffer are us, the homeowners who were completely cheated out of our money... This is all hard-earned money!

I'm speechless. This world is unbelievable. Evil people go unpunished, while the son of a deadbeat is enjoying himself on a variety show.

"Damn, this is disgusting. That Yan Quan guy, can't he just die...?"

Yan Quan ignored these comments. He neither responded, refuted, nor engaged in arguments with the trolls who made personal attacks. He continued with his daily routine as usual.

Contrary to what netizens say, Yan Quan is not "shameless" and "unaffected" by external pressures, shamelessly continuing to "make easy money."

Rather, Yan Quan was well aware that things had come to this point. All arguments and public relations efforts would be futile. Moreover, this whole affair was clearly being manipulated by powerful forces behind the scenes. The more angry and argumentative he became, the more disorganized he would be, giving others an opening to exploit.

The best way to reverse public opinion is to liquidate debts and assets, preserve the property, respond to homeowners' demands, and demonstrate Yan's concrete actions and attitude.

Therefore, Yan Quan changed his previous habit of "sleeping in" and started going to the Yan Corporation office early every morning and returning late at night. Recently, he has even been working through the night in the office for several consecutive days.

Hmm... that's a bit hard to say. Yan Quan seems to be working quite hard?

No, you believe someone just because they're pretending?

[They're probably busy transferring assets at the company right now.]

[They're originally from Federation A, a foreign country... They always loved using those foreign terms (disdain)]

"Oh my god, I'm going to throw up. Isn't this a traitor?"

Sure enough, these capitalists are all crooked.

I hate seeing Yan Quan's face...

*

It was 3 PM Beijing time, in Zone A, at the Yan Group Center Building.

The clicking of the keyboard filled the air as Yan Quan leaned closer to the receiver of the online meeting—they were currently finalizing the "guaranteed handover" plan.

After this ordeal, most of the senior leaders had fled. Only a few young key personnel who trusted Yan Quan remained. Yan Quan now had to handle most things personally.

"A special fund for 'guaranteeing delivery' will be established, which will dispose of some commercial assets and land reserves, and all proceeds will be used primarily for unfinished residential projects..."

Yan Quan looked at the formatting scheme on the computer and explained it line by line in an orderly manner.

"If the Yan family invests as an investor, the Yan family is willing to sell 35% of its shares at a price 30% lower than the market price. At the same time, a management agent can be appointed."

On the other end, Yan Ceyan's deep, magnetic voice came through: "There's no need."

"The Yan family's current business focus is not on real estate, nor is it interested in controlling the internal operations of the Yan family. We are involved in this strategic investment because we believe in your ability to create greater value and benefits in the future."

Yan Ceyan spoke in a very calm tone, but Yan Quan could always detect the soft emotion in his voice: "Yan Quan, the Yan family is yours."

"From now on, you will be the largest shareholder and the person in charge of management."

As September draws to a close, summer has passed, and the lingering chirping of cicadas echoes along the tree-lined avenues outside the office buildings.

The buzzing of electricity from the other end of the communication line brushed past her ears as Yan Quan listened quietly to Yan Ceyan's words—her heart pounded with barely suppressed urgency, buzzing like the cicada wings vibrating outside the window.

"Yan Ceyan".

Yan Quan's knuckles, which were pressed against the desk, clenched slightly, and he suddenly cried out for no apparent reason.

"What's wrong..." Yan Ceyan, who was about to hang up the phone, paused and asked in confusion, "What is it?"

Yan's investment was a thankless task, and securities investment institutions in the industry avoided it like the plague. Yan Ceyan insisted on pushing forward with this project, which must have put him under great pressure.

How did they manage to achieve this...?

Yan Quan had originally intended to ask that. But after the words swirled in her mind for a while, they came out as, "It's nothing."

"I just wanted to call your name."

"What's so special about calling my name?" Yan Ceyan said with a hint of helplessness.

"Yes, there is." Yan Quan slumped back into the soft chair back, his eyes fixed on the chandelier on the ceiling, and joked in a deliberately casual manner:

"I'll take your surname."

As soon as the words were spoken, Yan Quan clearly heard Yan Ceyan pause for a moment, his breathing becoming somewhat hoarse.

Yan Quan used to joke that he would take Yan Ceyan's surname, and every time he made such a joke, Yan Ceyan would grab the back of his neck and chase after him to kiss him...

Because of this saying, it is usually used to describe "husband and wife" in folk sayings. And Yan Quan did indeed wear that silver ring when he was eighteen years old.

"Yan Quan..." After a long silence, Yan Ceyan moved his Adam's apple and said in a low voice, "You know what saying these words means."

"..." Yan Quan stared at the glaring overhead light, and after listening to Yan Ceyan's words, his vision gradually blurred.

Idiot, of course I know.

"Hmm." Yan Quan pressed his knuckles against the investment proposal and murmured, "Yan Ceyan, I said it on purpose."

"Did you see the mail in your mailbox this morning?" Yan Quan suddenly changed the subject.

"Hmm." Yan Ceyan responded softly, his voice gentle, as if he were laughing: "I saw it."

Yan Quan's gaze pierced through the office ceiling, and he seemed to see a blurry patch of light, exactly like the one from the hotel chandelier on New Year's Eve seven years ago...

Yan Ceyan's shadow gradually became clearer in the light spots.

"Yan Ceyan, I will never lie to you this time."

*

A week later, the banquet hall of the Capital World Hotel was transformed into a temporary press conference venue. Hundreds of media outlets had already set up their cameras, their long lenses and microphones aimed at Yan Quan and Yan Ceyan on the podium.

The flashbulbs instantly engulfed the two of them. Yan Quan walked to the microphone, looked at the dense crowd of reporters and cameras below the stage, and cleared his throat:

"Good afternoon, friends from the media. Today, I am honored to join the Executive Director of the Yan Group to announce a major strategic adjustment for Yan's Real Estate..."

"But before that, I would like to express my sincere apologies on behalf of the Yan Group to all affected homeowners, partners and the general public."

"The Yan family's current predicament is entirely due to our company's flawed decision-making and mismanagement. We excessively pursued expansion, engaged in illegal lending, and neglected risk control..."

Facing the media surrounded by cameras, Yan Quan bowed deeply: "I feel particularly guilty towards those homeowners who trusted the Yan family and bought off-plan properties."

Several seconds later, Yan Quan straightened up: "The Yan family is willing to face the losses caused to all parties and take responsibility. Now, I will explain our solution in detail..."

Yan Quan publicly presented a detailed three-step plan: First, the Yan Group, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance, would establish a special fund through capital injection and deferred interest loans to ensure the resumption of work on 127 high-risk projects nationwide within three months; second, land for which loans had been granted but construction had not yet commenced would be contracted at low prices to large-scale military and civilian infrastructure projects to recoup funds; third, a substantial percentage of liquidated damages would be paid to homeowners whose homes were delayed in delivery…

"I know there are many doubts from the outside world about whether I can truly assume the debts incurred by the former director. They worry that I might be secretly transferring assets to the A Federation overseas to evade debts..."

Yan Ceyan's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and he glanced at Yan Quan from the side.

Dressed in a suit and tie, Yan Quan slightly raised his head, facing the incessant flashing camera lights, and calmly said, "Therefore, in conclusion, on behalf of all the senior management and leadership of the Yan Group, I hereby pledge..."

"I will not leave Yan's without authorization until the crisis is over and all promised projects are delivered. Please supervise me."

The press conference lasted two hours, and by the end, Yan Quan's shirt back was slightly damp with cold sweat. But as he walked out of the venue, he found that Secretary Wang, who was waiting outside the hotel, spontaneously applauded.

"Mr. Yan, online public opinion is starting to shift." Secretary Wang, with a rare hint of excitement on his face, handed Yan Quan a tablet computer.

"Currently, the top trending topic on Weibo is 'Yan's Real Estate joins forces to 'ensure delivery of properties,' and many homeowners in the comments section express their willingness to give Yan's Real Estate another chance."

[It's alright, their attitude is fairly good. Let's see what happens next.]

[If the subsequent compensation is indeed paid, then I will accept the Yan family as the right family (thumbs up)]

Finally, I've taken on the responsibilities I should have, and I hope I won't let the public down again...

News of unfinished buildings comes every year, and so many real estate defaulters continue to owe debts after going bankrupt... Yan's family has set a good example of taking remedial measures after the fact.

Most homeowners are acting in their own self-interest, and their neutral stance can only be described as cautious observation.

Most onlookers were captivated by Yan Quan's "fearless and responsible" demeanor, which won him many fans. Several short videos from the press conference garnered millions of likes on Douyin (TikTok).

Wow, wow, wow! That close-up HD shot really surprised me. What an authoritative face!

[No, nobody told me Yan Zhengdong's son was so handsome before I started criticizing him (starry-eyed)]

Even putting aside the face... lol, this face is impossible to get rid of (helpless)

"His father is still in the police station, so it's really brave of him to stand up and speak on behalf of the Yan family at this time."

The key point is that their attitude was sincere, and the solutions and measures they proposed were all very feasible!

I just looked him up on Baidu Baike, his name is Yan Quan! He was studying abroad before, but he immediately returned to China to clean up the mess after his family's troubles.

[So manly! (Thumbs up) He's not at all like that vampire capitalist his dad is.]

I support his father spending his entire life in the police station; the future of Yan's Real Estate rests on his shoulders!

As the son of the notorious defaulter Yan Zhengdong, he remains untainted by the mud, a lotus rising from clear water—that is...

Wait, hasn't anyone mentioned that Shuangyan has teamed up? They used to be rivals, how did they end up cooperating?

Honestly, both couples are so good-looking. As usual, I'll ship whichever pair I see.

[Addendum: I'm not interested in this kind of business news at all. I was purely drawn in by the couple's chemistry in the same frame.]

The Yan family is also courageous, stepping forward to invest in the Yan family at this time... Is there some hidden reason behind this?

At this point, it's worth mentioning that they were each other's ex-boyfriends, and it seems they started dating in high school.

"Wow, this is like a novel plot! Arch-enemies turn into reconciled lovers?!"

Is there any food? Is there any food?

[Some sisters, yes! They're filming a dating reality show together!! Go watch "True Love Signal 2"!]

Therefore, the biggest winner in this controversy is still the production team. This surge of attention has propelled "Love Signal 2" to widespread popularity across the internet. Many casual viewers who don't watch variety shows have found the show through local news.

The official Weibo account for "Love Signal 2" was buzzing with activity and excitement.

Where are those trolls who previously accused Yan Quan of profiting from human suffering? Come out, let's fight again for another three hundred rounds!

[I told you it would turn out differently! Apologies to the trolls!]

This is totally a protagonist from a wish-fulfillment novel! See what it means to be appointed to a critical mission and save the day!

[The career-oriented fans are absolutely thrilled! Let's see who dares to call Yan Quan a spoiled brat now? Someone who only knows how to run away from the A Federation?]

[Exactly! Yan Quan has no legal obligation to repay the Yan family's debts. His willingness to step forward demonstrates his strong sense of social responsibility and morality.]

I admire such a conscientious and responsible entrepreneur; yes, I have excellent taste.

[I was originally just a passerby, and even a little disgusted by Yan Quan's "playing dirty tricks," but this incident has really won me over.]

I'm someone who never follows celebrities. But this time, Yan Quan is really... handsome, both his face and his mannerisms.

[I totally understand now! I was a fan of Yan Quan to begin with, but now I love him even more (tears streaming down my face)]

Of course, in addition to the surge in Yan Quan's individual "solo fans," another force should not be underestimated—that is, the fans of the "Double Yan CP."

[This so-called business cooperation is actually a marriage alliance, a marriage alliance! A perfect match, a match made in heaven!]

[I'm not exaggerating, true friendship is revealed in times of trouble. Compared to this, the other Alpha guests are really weak.]

[Everyone with eyes should take a look at this historic photo of them together at the press conference. They're just... a perfect match!]

[A powerful combination! Looking at it this way, the ex-husband really won this game from behind (facepalm)]

[Don't be so distant with your ex-husband! They're a young couple who even share the same surname, Yan, and they've celebrated their golden wedding anniversary; they've never been apart.]

"Add one, add one, I approve of this marriage! Double Yan locked in! (Shouting hoarsely)"

*

Online public opinion has reversed, and construction projects are progressing in an orderly manner... Just when Yan Quan, exhausted from his work, thought he finally had time to catch his breath and get some rest.

The production team of "True Love Signal 2" pulled off a big surprise—a group date for three A's and three O's (because Fu Duannian was arrested).

-----------------------

Author's Note: If all goes well, the next chapter will feature a reconciliation [droopy-eared rabbit head].