A gentle breeze, carrying the unique sweet and briny scent of water vapor, stirred the hair of the women by the dock.
Feng Lingyi stood upright on the edge of the wooden boardwalk, holding an exquisite fishing rod, her gaze focused intently on the calm, waveless water.
She had just sprinkled another handful of expensive imported fish food into the water; the fine particles shimmered enticingly in the sunlight, slowly sinking to the bottom. The float, however, seemed frozen in place, completely still.
The empty fish bucket beside him silently mocked this patience.
Qin Xiao walked onto the pier, his footsteps making a soft sound on the wooden planks.
"President Feng has such refined tastes."
His voice carried a hint of teasing.
"However, using such top-quality fish food to bait the area, and not even attracting a single small fish, isn't that a bit... a waste?"
Feng Lingyi did not turn around; her clear, cold voice drifted on the wind.
"Mr. Qin, you must be having a tough time lately, right?"
Qin Xiao walked to her side, his gaze shifting from the still water to her sharply defined profile.
"I have already experienced President Feng's methods."
Feng Lingyi finally turned her head, her beautiful eyes calm and unwavering, revealing no emotion.
"Since President Qin is aware of this, then I will speak frankly."
“If you stop the new energy battery plant project, I will withdraw from that organization.”
"We will ensure that the Qin family's land construction proceeds smoothly, and that everything goes well from now on, bringing them a fortune every day."
Upon hearing this, Qin Xiao's lips curled into a subtle smile.
"President Feng, what you're saying sounds a bit like... you're concerned about me?"
He gently shook his head.
"Have you forgotten why you traveled all the way to the capital?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Feng Lingyi's fishing rod suddenly sank downwards!
Her eyes flickered, and she quickly and skillfully began reeling in the line.
However, what was dragged out of the water was not the big fish as expected, but a tattered leather shoe that reeked of a strong stench and was covered in black silt.
The smell was downright like a biological weapon.
Feng Lingyi's beautiful brows furrowed instantly, and with a flick of her wrist, she flung the stinky shoe into a corner of the pier with obvious disgust.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, stood still again, got into position, and prepared to cast the fishing line out again.
Perhaps it was the bad luck brought by that shoe, or perhaps it was a slight disturbance in his mind, but this time his casting motion went slightly off, his center of gravity swayed, and he cried out in surprise as he fell straight backward.
They were about to fall into the water.
In a flash, an arm came across, precisely and powerfully encircling her waist, abruptly stopping her fall and pulling her back steadily.
Qin Xiao's aura, carrying an undeniable presence, instantly enveloped her.
His palm, through the thin fabric of her clothes, pressed firmly against her flat, firm abdomen. The warmth of his palm seeped through the fabric, carrying a strange, heart-pounding sense of power.
Feng Lingyi could even clearly feel the outline of his fingers and the slightly taut muscles beneath his palm. The touch was brief yet clear, carrying an irresistible sense of control.
An unnatural blush spread uncontrollably from her fair neck upwards, reaching her ears. Her body stiffened for a moment.
Qin Xiao released his grip almost immediately, as if that action was merely an instinctive reaction.
He took a half step back, creating a safe social distance, and his expression returned to its previous calm and composed state, as if the strong embrace and warm palm had never existed.
"The real estate market is already at its limit; there's a cliff ahead."
His voice was calm, yet it carried a resolute tone.
"This new project is crucial to whether the Qin family can find a new way to survive, so I can't stop it."
The blush on Feng Lingyi's cheeks had not completely faded when she heard these words, and her tone involuntarily became somewhat anxious.
"President Qin, do you know what you're doing? I'm trying to help you!"
She seemed somewhat annoyed by Qin Xiao's ungratefulness, or perhaps it was some other emotion.
"If you try to fight head-on like this, you'll be smashed to pieces!"
Qin Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly, finally understanding.
The woman set up that feng shui arrangement that could be both offensive and defensive, and then took the initiative to meet with him. Rather than a threat, it was more of an awkward warning and dissuasion.
She was worried that she would accidentally run into the trap Ye Chen had dug and die.
A faint warmth swept through Qin Xiao's heart, so fleeting it was almost imperceptible. But the expression on his face remained unchanged.
“I know very well who my opponent is, and I know what I am doing.”
His gaze was calm, as if it could pierce through the fog before him and see into the distant future.
"Even if there are mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, I have to get through them."
He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening as he stared directly at Feng Lingyi.
"But you, Mr. Feng..."
"Now, can you tell who your friends are and who your enemies are, who might stab you in the back at any moment?"
Feng Lingyi was speechless for a moment after hearing his words, and then a flame seemed to flicker in her eyes.
"Qin Xiao! You're too arrogant! Do you know what kind of enemy you're facing?!"
Her voice rose unconsciously, filled with obvious worry and anxiety.
"You'll die! You really will die!"
Qin Xiao ignored her warning and instead bent down, slowly taking off his shoes and socks to reveal his clean feet.
He walked barefoot to the edge of the pier and dipped his feet into the cool river water.
The clear water rippled gently, reaching above his ankles.
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