And I agree

Su Jianjun noticed her wondering look and a sly smile appeared on his lips. "I hope you don't mind… My new Chief Operations Officer will be joining us today."

Ying Yue glanced at him in nonchalance and nodded politely. "Of course."

The waiter returned, placed a glass of water in front of them, and took their orders promptly. When he left, the silence on the table was disconcerting. Fei Haocheng frowned, sensing the slight tension buzzing in the air. "Shall we start with business? Do we have to wait for your COO, Director Su?"

"No, no, we can start. He'll just catch up." A mysterious look crossed his face as his eyes drifted to Ying Yue and back to Fei Haocheng. "The contract between the cooperation of Changsu and Fei International is expiring in a month. Previously, you have always renewed your contract with us at such a time. Am I correct to presume that this would still be the case? There have been no problems with our partnership with the past few years."

Fei Haocheng pondered this over, but not a minute later, his voice was serious and full of determination as he spoke his mind. "Indeed, there have been no problems with our partnership, Director Su. However," he clasped his hands in front of him as if to say that there was nothing he could do with what he was about to tell him. "The recent expansion of Fei International has prompted us to be stricter with guidelines and procedures regarding partnerships."

Su Jianjun cocked his head to one side, keeping his face neutral.

"As such," Haocheng continued, "Should Changsu still hope for the same circumstances, we will be open to receive your proposal. Mind you, it will be open to other companies, as well."

Ying Yue watched the two quietly. Haocheng was doing a good job. He may seem like a little kid a lot of times, but he had a good eye with business, as well. It was during times like this that he seemed so similar to Huangjin.

Thinking about him made her miss the man who was more than a thousand miles away. She sighed, wondering what the man could be doing right now. Huangjin hadn't updated her since his arrival there.

The Director of Changsu didn't expect the younger Fei brother to be quite alike to Fei Huangjin in dealing with business. Perhaps he had underestimated this Fei Haocheng, after all. A confident smile graced his lips as he tapped a finger on the smooth wooden table. "Before you decide to be strict on those…procedures," he drawled, "perhaps a conversation with our new COO would change your mind, Vice President Fei."

"Well…" Haocheng was silent as he glanced at the woman beside him.

"Director Su," Ying Yue began, "these procedures are necessary to ensure that competent standards are set even in partnerships with Fei International."

"And I agree, Miss Ying." Su Jianjun gazed at her deeply.

The way he said those words seemed like he knew something they didn't, making Ying Yue's fingers twitch in discomfort. She felt like something was off. Her eyes briefly flitted on to the empty seat beside him. "If you don't mind me asking, Director Su, what does your COO have to offer us that you as the Director could not?"

Fei Haocheng frowned at this. He hadn't thought of asking that.

"Since his recent appointment, the COO has been busy with overhauling the operations in my company, just as I have been busy with the financial aspect of things. I have not had the opportunity to be updated on the most recent…changes," a wide smile broke out on the man's face. "Hence, I believe that COO Song would be better suited to negotiate on what we have to offer."

Ying Yue and Fei Haocheng looked at each other. It seemed like Su Jianjun was really trying to push for an immediate renewal of their partnership.

Just then, their food arrived, lightening the tense atmosphere -- but only slightly -- as each became absorbed in their own world. Su Jianjun was engrossed in his meal, Fei Hoacheng was stressing over the number of meetings he still had to do for the rest of the week, and Ying Yue was wondering when a certain husband would be calling her.