C15 The Classic will Always be Passed down

Wu Ying, with a commanding presence, observed, "Young Master Qin certainly has the spirit of youth. There's an audacity that comes with being young." He then cast a glance at the assembled crowd, drawing their focus to himself, and added with a pointed look, "But I, too, have been young, and there are actions from my youth I still regret. I was arrogant, overconfident, and recklessly extravagant. In hindsight... it was quite unbecoming."

After a brief pause, he continued, "The disappearance of the caravan is a grave issue, not one to be trivialized as child's play. Young Master Qin, let's pretend you never said that. Please take back your words and reconsider."

Tang Ruoyan felt her cheeks flush with discomfort, and even her assistant, Little Ye, winced from the sting of Wu Ying's veiled criticism.

Being part of Tang's, it was disheartening for her to be caught in Wu Ying's trap and to suffer the repercussions of Qin Fann's predicament.

While Wu Ying's comments might have seemed benign to an outsider, everyone present understood the true nature of his 'soft knife' tactic: to accept it meant humiliation and a loss of face; to resist meant being labeled as the naive child Wu Ying portrayed. For a CEO brimming with ambition, this was an intolerable affront.

Indeed, Wu Ying's prowess in leading the Wu family business was undeniable, and he had evidently invested considerable effort in honing his skills of subtle coercion.

In the face of absolute strength, however, such maneuvers were as inconsequential as air and clouds—trivial, in Qin Fann's view, lacking any real impact.

Qin Fann regarded Wu Ying with a detached air, mentally relegating him to his blacklist, and with a wry smile, he remarked, "It seems, Director Wu, that your youth was rife with regrettable actions."

Wu Ying, unable to keep pace with Qin Fann's agile wit, was left speechless.

Qin Fann, maintaining his smile, responded, "What I respect is Ruoyan and the directors' ability and strategy in managing the company, not a penchant for endless talk. Regarding the caravan, I have given my word to assist, and I intend to honor that commitment. It's late now; let's address this tomorrow."

"Wait," Wu Ying interjected, attempting to salvage some decorum, "Young Master Qin, we cannot simply defer such an urgent matter. As everyone knows, the merchant fleet has disappeared at sea, possibly captured by pirates. With every passing minute, lives are at risk. If we appear indifferent and postpone action until tomorrow, consider the anxiety of the missing employees' families and the difficulty of managing the consequences. The implications are quite serious."

Qin Fann thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "You're right, CEO Wu. I appreciate your willingness to help. You said you came to assist my Ruoyan, so tonight, you'll be in charge."

"Mr. Qin, let's stay on topic. Remember, you promised to help Tang's retrieve their caravan. As an outsider, it wouldn't be right for me to steal your thunder," Wu Ying pointed out.

Qin Fann's smile vanished as he became serious, searching the crowd for a familiar face. His eyes landed on the CEO's personal assistant, Little Ye.

"Sister Little Ye, major internal decisions are not to be observed by outsiders; it's equivalent to a breach of confidentiality. Could you please ask CEO Wu to step outside for a moment?"

All eyes turned to Little Ye, with directors and department managers wearing smiles of anticipation, eager to see how she would respond.

They expected Little Ye to reject Qin Fann's request, interpreting his rejection of Wu Ying as a self-inflicted wound.

However, their speculation was not unfounded; Tang Ruoyan's silence seemed to seal the deal.

Despite this, Little Ye adjusted her expression and, with a practiced smile, bowed slightly to Wu Ying. Extending her arm in a welcoming gesture, she said, "My apologies, CEO Wu, but our internal meeting isn't open to external participants. I've prepared some exquisite tea for you in the VIP reception room. Please, follow me."

The room went quiet, with everyone from Wu Ying to the directors, managers, and even CEO Tang Ruoyan herself taken aback by Little Ye's audacity.

Little Ye had boldly requested the departure of Wu Ying, the esteemed CEO of Wu Corporation, a man of equal stature to Tang Ruoyan.

Wu Ying took a few seconds to compose himself before his face turned cold. "It appears that the decline of a company is greatly affected by the basic qualities and awareness of its staff. Mr. Qin, you needn't invite me for drinks again; I'll be too busy."

Qin Fann simply smiled, not giving Wu Ying another glance as he left.

Once Wu Ying had left, Qin Fann spoke up again, cutting off Tang Ruoyan's attempt to calm the bewildered and slightly emotional directors. In a low voice, he reassured, "With the outsider gone, we've solved half the problem. I'll handle the rest. Ruoyan, you go ahead and leave. As for the caravan, I'll have a satisfactory solution for you by tomorrow night at the latest."

Qin Fann nonchalantly handed the umbrella to Tang Ruoyan's delicate hands, ignoring the directors who were still trying to collect their thoughts, and walked away in the direction Wu Ying had gone.

Tang Ruoyan, taken by surprise, held the umbrella and exited the building. Outside, she watched as the directors got into their cars, while the rain dampened the strands of hair peeking out from under her umbrella. In that moment, she gained a moment of clarity and turned back towards the company.

The two managers who were still there quickly joined her, unable to accept the notion of the female CEO without any attendants.

Rushing back to the office lobby, Tang Ruoyan surveyed the room. Apart from a few employees working late, the large hall was missing the one person she was looking for.

She felt a pang of regret and a surge of anxious guilt. Perhaps her failure to ever really notice Qin Fann was the reason she couldn't recognize his silhouette now. She acknowledged that she might have been too harsh.

"Director Tang, why haven't you left yet?" Little Ye, the female assistant, returned to her desk and saw Tang Ruoyan's hair still dripping. She approached with concern.

"It's nothing. I just don't want to go home yet. Where's Qin Fann? Have you seen him?" Tang Ruoyan asked, maintaining her composure.

"Oh, you mean Young Master Qin? He mentioned taking the Sorrow Orchid for some fresh sea air. He even borrowed it before he left..."

"What? You let him take that orchid? It's incredibly precious..." Tang Ruoyan's voice faded. She had been feeling guilty about her behavior towards Qin Fann, but now she was absurdly comparing his value to that of a plant.

No flower, no matter how precious, can compare to a living person.

Even a beggar, even a criminal, they're still...

Her frustration was palpable, and her mood quickly soured. The Sorrow Orchid was her most prized possession, one that held significant emotional value.

Little Ye seemed to sense something and stepped aside, revealing the treasured Sorrow Orchid behind her. "Director Tang, your orchid is right here. Young Master Qin only took the one he had been nurturing himself."

"What... are you... saying?" Tang Ruoyan found herself slipping back into a state of shock, unable to break free.

The sea breeze blew gently, bringing with it the moistness and primal scent of the ocean. The surface of the distant sea rippled with a hint of turmoil, reflecting Qin Fann's annoyance.

He felt like giving the world a defiant middle finger. He thought back to the legends, wondering if it wasn't the monkey's staff that had pierced the heavens, but rather someone who couldn't adapt to the new world and acted out in frustration.

Qin Fann put away his bitter smile and looked at the Sorrow Orchid and various trinkets in his hands.

He sorted through the employee belongings that Little Ye had brought out: clothes, shoes, car keys, discs...

Under the starlight, he noticed a disc with a familiar, scantily clad beauty printed on it. Qin Fann realized it was a treasured collector's edition, likely belonging to Little Cang.

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