Chapter 89: My Little Cat [Arnis, 80%]…
“This way, Master.” The assistant respectfully led He Yue.
The “negotiation” was ultimately held in Arnis’s office, and it was bound to be an unconventional one.
Arnis had used all his might to please He Yue in pursuit of a higher favorability value, thinking that 100% would lead to a happy ending, so he had sheathed all his sharpness, packaging himself with a gentle and approachable exterior, hiding all the ruthlessness he had used in business wars.
Now, his fantasy was shattered the moment the system blocked Knasch, and He Yue was looking forward to seeing Arnis’s true, fierce nature.
In the pictures from the press conference on the optical network, Arnis, as the face of Yiai Group, the current executive president, had a sinister gaze like a sharp venomous snake, ready to strike at the other party’s weak spot at any moment.
He Yue pushed open the door to the president’s office and met Arnis’s gaze.
He sat in the president’s chair, his face, which he hadn’t seen for a long time, was calm, the satin fabric of his expensive suit slightly reflective, the well-tailored suit gentlemanly and decent.
When their eyes met, He Yue was surprised not to receive a vicious look. He felt a hint of emotion in Arnis’s eyes, and his expression was as gentle as usual.
Even though he knew He Yue was on a mission, even though he knew he was just a pawn in the mission, Arnis still maintained a gentle goodwill towards He Yue.
This unusual goodwill made He Yue’s scalp tingle, and he really couldn’t tell if the other party was just an excellent actor from years of business wars, or if he was really as infatuated with He Yue as Wien was.
The 75% value was not a lie.
“What does the president want from me?”
“Bonding, I want to bond with Master.”
The expected answer…
Such ambiguous words coming from the serious and old-fashioned President Arnis had no tension, as if he were reading a business proposal.
He Yue didn’t agree, and took two steps forward, almost reaching the desk, with only a desk’s distance between him and Arnis.
“I’m not the only male insect in this insect race, why did you choose me? There are so many female insects in this insect race, why should I choose you?”
Arnis was used to sharp business clients, and he was not flustered by He Yue’s questioning. “Is everything I’ve done for you before not enough of a bargaining chip for this request?”
He had spent a lot of money on He Yue and created many beautiful memories.
The sponsored venue and paints, the dazzling fireworks display, and his generous help when He Yue was in a trap. Arnis had done a lot, and every bit was piled up with real money.
He was constantly adding bargaining chips to this request, until He Yue couldn’t refuse.
“What happens after bonding?”
Arnis said lightly, “You are my master, my wealth is all yours, even the entire Yiai Group can be yours. In this world, as long as it’s something money can buy, you can have it.”
“Does the president only solve problems with money?”
“That’s what I have the most of.” Arnis chuckled. “Last time I used a sky-high breach of contract fee to buy the opportunity to give you a blowjob, then this time, I’ll use my entire fortune…”
He paused. “The fortune of the number one on the entire insect race’s rich list, can it buy the opportunity to be your dog?”
“Mr. President really only solves problems with money.”
Arnis didn’t show any displeasure at He Yue’s mockery, and even admitted it with a smile. “Business negotiations should be like this. As long as the price I offer is generous enough, it’s hard for the other party to refuse.”
He had used all his fortune, a fortune that was an astronomical figure, to buy this rare opportunity.
“If the president sells all this to me, you’ll be penniless. If I abandon you at this moment, you’ll be a beggar on the street.”
He Yue thought for a moment, and smiled. “The headline on the optical network is ‘President Arnis of Yiai Group becomes a beggar on the street’… doesn’t the president consider the risk?”
“If it weren’t for you, I would have died in the snow a long time ago. Since I’m still alive here, I should thank Master with my life.”
The rose-shaped candle, which had long since lost its shape, was taken out from the drawer by Arnis and placed in his palm. His gaze was deep, his intentions unclear.
“Does Master still remember?”
“I don’t.”
He Yue couldn’t see any story in a deformed rose-shaped aromatherapy candle.
Arnis’s face changed slightly, and countless emotions pierced through the sharpness of a business tycoon, dragging out the soft emotions from the bottom of his heart.
“It’s good that you don’t remember… a child Master casually saved, a larva that hadn’t even grown all its fur, you shouldn’t remember.”
In his flickering eyes, Arnis’s voice trembled slightly, and he struggled for a long time before he could say what was in his heart:
“But, I also fell in love with you at first sight in that snow disaster…”
He Yue had only experienced one nuclear hole crisis since he transmigrated.
That bright red rose candle became the only memory anchor of this incident. He Yue had casually saved a larva in front of the secondary nuclear hole that had suddenly appeared in Area A and bought all his aromatherapy candles.
When they parted, He Yue had stuffed one of the aromatherapy candles back into his hand and refused to say his name. He only considered this a chance encounter and never thought about it again, only the insect involved had been thinking about it for a long, long time.
In this long period of time, Arnis had found this male insect, and over time, he had developed a submission value of over 50% for him.
It seemed that everything had been solved, and this incomprehensible obsession also had a real source.
He Yue gestured in disbelief. “But at that time, at that time you were only, this tall.” He gestured at his chest, and only then did he remember the scene of Arnis shrinking after giving him a blowjob last time.
The box of unlabeled pills also became the key to solving the puzzle.
He Yue thought of a certain detective anime in another world, where the male protagonist shrank after taking a pill.
This kind of magical thing could really happen before his eyes.
“At that time, Koeyle also said that you had an accompanying male insect.” He Yue said.
“Maybe it’s because I was very close to Lord Yilinde who adopted me, or, it’s Major General Koeyle being jealous?”
It also made sense…
The name Koeyle was already a distant memory for He Yue.
He Yue asked, “So, this medicine, was it also fed to you by Lord Yilinde?”
“There’s no female insect easier to control than a child, right?”
He Yue could string his story together, but it was probably just a cliché story of being controlled by Yilinde with drugs and abandoned in the snow, and then being saved by He Yue.
“You rich families are really messy…”
“It’s not messy anymore,” Arnis said in a calm, chilling voice. “Now, this rich family only has me, one insect.”
The major shareholder who held all the shares, the executive president who held the executive power…
He Yue didn’t agree immediately, but said, “Let me think about it, Mr. President.”
“Alright.”
Arnis didn’t show any frustration at not achieving his goal. He knew He Yue would agree, after all, this pawn of his still had its uses.
The value was now 75%, not 100%.
This game was his use for He Yue.
Arnis’s dedicated communication device rang at the right time, and the assistant’s voice came from the other end. “Mr. President, there’s an emergency meeting for a project that needs your attention.”
He looked up at He Yue.
“Go ahead.”
“Sorry for my absence, the lunch at Yiai Group headquarters is very sumptuous, is Master interested in trying it?” The president’s intention to keep He Yue for a while was very obvious.
He Yue nodded. “I’ll wait for you.”
Arnis inexplicably felt like he was reporting to his family, and this feeling made him very happy. He instructed on the communication device, “Caines, show Master around Yiai Group headquarters, whatever Master wants, just put it on my card.”
The assistant named Caines knocked on the door and led He Yue out.
The Yiai Group headquarters building was very tall, and the various departments were clearly divided and orderly. The coffee shop was equipped with high-quality drinks and desserts, and there were many insects who came to rest and chat after finishing their work.
“It’s working hours, why are there so many people here?”
Caines handed He Yue the ordering tablet. “It’s an old tradition at Yiai Group headquarters, we look at the quality and quantity of work, not the working hours. If you’re tired, you can rest. This is the employee code of conduct that the president ordered to be revised.”
He Yue ordered a latte and a few popular desserts, and chuckled. “He’s still a somewhat conscientious capitalist?”
“The president is also very popular among the employees.”
He Yue felt that the assistant before him was particularly like a matchmaker, desperately praising his own president.
The soft dessert melted in his mouth, and the free desserts provided by Yiai Group to its employees were not at all perfunctory.
He Yue watched as Caines sat restlessly before him, and every time he tried to start a conversation, he would cut him off, so he could only sit there awkwardly.
“Go do your own thing.” He Yue’s words were like a lifesaver to this insect.
Caines hadn’t had time to be excited when he sat back down, dejected. “The president said my job today is to accompany you. Yiai Group also has a few entertainment floors, would Your Excellency like to take a look?”
He Yue had already inspected the floors for a while and was no longer in the mood to be a leader.
“I’m not interested in the facilities of Yiai Group headquarters. It’s alright, I’ll just sit here and wait for Arnis. You can go do your work.”
He Yue ate his dessert and browsed his optical device to pass the time.
The news about Arnis on the optical network was very popular, and the public was discussing how many tricks this insect, who had legally sent his adoptive insect to the gallows, taken over the shares and executive power, and was now “dictating” at Yiai Group, had.
There were many conspiracy theories, and many historical records were dug up.
Arnis was undoubtedly an excellent but ruthless merchant, which was why he could make a name for himself in the chaotic business world.
“Hey, do you know the gossip about the president and a male insect?”
The voice behind him made He Yue’s stirring spoon stop, and he listened carefully to this gossip that might be about him.
“You mean that painter? I went to the art gallery last week, those paintings really have a story. It’s a pity I didn’t see the painter in person…”
“I haven’t seen him either, but from the photos… no wonder our president also fell for him.”
The two female insects giggled, and He Yue, who happened to hear their conversation, also pursed his lips.
“Let’s go, there are too many insects here, let’s go over there.”
He Yue got up and followed them, passing by many female insects in work suits walking in the corridor.
He stood by the water cooler at the corner, hearing the rustling of tea leaves and the two female insects’ quiet discussion.
“…It was already very, very late, and I was the only one in the entire project team who wanted to go home. I went to the group’s underground parking lot and heard President Arnis and Lord Yilinde arguing.”
“Wow, what were they arguing about?”
“Lord Yilinde cursed the president, saying something like don’t think you can escape his drug control by bonding. If a male insect appeared by the president’s side, he would kill one.”
He Yue’s gaze froze.
An insect passed by him and looked at this male insect master who was standing motionless by the water cooler with a puzzled look.
To avoid being seen, He Yue turned his head and took a disposable plastic cup, and turned on the switch of the water cooler.
“And then, and then?”
“The president of course disagreed, and he argued with Lord Yilinde for a long time. At that time, the copyright color case had just broken out, and that Master’s art gallery was closed, and he himself was also imprisoned.”
The hot water in front of him was steaming, and He Yue’s nose and cheeks were slightly hot.
“Lord Yilinde said, as long as the president is still entangled with that male insect, he will continue to blow up the male insect’s art gallery, and also kill the painter male insect.”
The culprit who planted the explosives…
He Yue stared at the water cup in a daze, his thoughts drifting far away.
“Lord Yilinde left after making his threat, and then, you guess what happened?”
The other listening female insect patted the gossip insect’s shoulder. “Don’t keep me in suspense!!”
“After Lord Yilinde left, I heard the president make a communication, his voice was not as loud as when he was arguing, I only heard a few words…”
Their voices were very low, and He Yue also held his breath, listening carefully to their conversation.
“He said, Yilinde really did it, and then, he wanted to arrange for the Master to be in a prepared room and take him away.”
The listening insect took a sharp breath. “Oh my god… really! So the president… is really the mastermind!”
“Absolutely true, I heard it with my own ears! He’s the president, don’t you know how strict he is when he does project background checks! Who wasn’t tormented by him? I posted on the optical network, and told many of my insect friends, but they all said I was a conspiracy theorist…”
“…Ah!” He Yue pulled his hand back and let out a low cry.
The overflowing hot water spilled on his hand, leaving a red mark. Many insects stopped to look at this casually dressed male insect, and even the insects who had just been talking noticed.
“There’s cold water in the tea room, Master, this way.” The enthusiastic female insect led He Yue to rinse his hand with cold water, and didn’t forget to call other insects to get a first-aid kit.
The cold water washed over the burn on the back of He Yue’s hand, and his heart also turned cold bit by bit.
What a thorough trick…
If He Yue won, Arnis would get Yilinde’s shares and become the executive president and controlling shareholder of the entire Yiai Group; if He Yue lost, when he was in prison, Arnis could still break him out and find a reason to let him live in anonymity, forever isolated from the world.
What breach of contract fee, what buy-one-get-one-free for the contract price, were all just the most common little tricks.
This was the real bloody business war Arnis had experienced in creating his business empire.
From the moment Arnis high-profilely sided with Yilinde, leaning towards a talented painter, or even before that, from the moment he decided to bid high at the auction and then returned the paintings to He Yue, he had already been planning for the 75% submission value.
That strong, even obsessive possessiveness, was to possess He Yue from the beginning.
He Yue turned off the cold water, and a large red burn mark appeared on his wet right hand. Without the cold water, the burn quickly regained its temperature.
His calmed mood was washed away by the cold water to the extreme, and his anger was hidden under his calm eyes, and he forced a terrifying smile.
He expressionlessly wiped the water from the back of his hand and applied burn ointment to the wound.
All the goodwill Arnis had shown him was secretly marked with a high price, forged into an exquisite and sturdy cage, waiting to possess He Yue.
He Yue’s remaining goodwill for Arnis was gone, and had even fallen into the negative. Now, he just wanted to torture this president’s proud self-esteem and thoughts until there was nothing left.
He pulled the wrapped bandage tight, completely covering the wound with the ointment.
“Master, do you need… help?” The female insect who was watching at the side saw He Yue applying the medicine with a cold face, thinking he was gritting his teeth in pain, and cautiously asked.
“Get out of the way.”
The female insect who had just run into He Yue’s “gunpoint” was scared by the cold command and braced himself against the sink to avoid falling.
He Yue went straight to the elevator and stood at the door of the president’s office.
Caines, who was working in the assistant’s office, saw He Yue and immediately came up to him. He glanced at the tightly wrapped bandage on He Yue’s hand, and his heart sank.
He hadn’t done the job the president had instructed him to do, and his bonus might be gone.
“Is Arnis back?” He Yue’s tone was stiff, making Caines shiver.
“Not… not yet, I’ll take Your Excellency to the office to rest.”
He Yue sat in the president’s chair and reopened the drawer full of miscellaneous items.
A medicine bottle, a rose-shaped aromatherapy candle, and a handmade black cat tail.
The aromatherapy candle had been polished to a shine by Arnis, and the originally sharp petals now had rounded corners. This president had spent a lot of time caressing this only link to He Yue, almost turning it into jade.
When Arnis walked into the office, his expression was a bit flustered. He anxiously checked He Yue’s injury and knelt beside the chair, holding one of He Yue’s hands.
“Master, how did you get this injury?”
He Yue was annoyed by his concerned look, and his free hand was raised high, and he slapped the president’s cheek without hesitation. The moment his palm went numb and hot, the anger that had welled up subsided a little.
“You dare to put on this act in front of me again?”
“…What?” Arnis’s expression was slightly stiff, but he still asked, bracing himself.
He Yue leaned in, grabbed his tie and shirt with one hand, and frowned. “Arnis, you clearly know that Yilinde, who adopted you, will go after the male insects around you, why did you still provoke me?”
Arnis’s eyes flickered, and he didn’t say a word in his defense.
“Arnis! I’m not your possession, not a tool you use to fight for the shares of Yiai Group! This trick of yours to kill with a borrowed knife is really brilliant, I only discovered it now.”
He Yue’s gaze fell on the black, fluffy cat tail decoration in the drawer.
“I’m not your pet, I’m not like Black Sugar.”
He Yue released his grip on the president’s messy suit and tie and pushed him back.
His cold gaze was devoid of anger, only endless disappointment and determination.
“Not now, not ever. I don’t want to see you again, ever.”
He Yue stood up from the president’s chair and walked around the dazed Arnis, who was sitting on the floor, his leather shoes making a soft sound on the soft carpet.
[Host, are you really going to give up 75%?] The system asked, a little flustered after hearing He Yue’s words.
(Don’t worry, I’ll have both 100% and a mad dog.)
The president was flustered, all his composure as a negotiator and business elite gone, leaving only a flustered expression and a fumbling action of hugging He Yue’s calf.
“No, Master, don’t go… I know I was wrong…”
The expensive suit became wrinkled as He Yue tried to pull his leg away. His leg was held tightly, and even when He Yue kicked his suit pants dirty, he didn’t let go.
The neat suit became messy, and President Arnis now looked like an abandoned dog. He held He Yue’s leg and begged him to give him a chance to forgive his conspiracy, but he was met with even more fierce resistance.
“If you keep this up, I’m going to call the police and say you’re harassing me!” He Yue threatened.
“I didn’t treat you as a tool… Yiai Group is not as important as you…”
He Yue stood still, his expression still serious. “President Arnis, you know best how much effort it takes for a brand with a ruined reputation to regain the public’s trust. Even if this brand regains trust at a huge cost, this stain will accompany it for a lifetime.”
He kicked Arnis hard, leaving a clear shoe print on his suit.
“Besides, I’ve already trusted you once. How are you going to explain to me that you clearly knew Yilinde would target the male insects around you, yet you still high-profilely let him discover my existence?” Arnis’s face turned pale bit by bit.
“You’re so amazing, in a situation where either I or Yilinde would die, you unhesitatingly put me in your gamble. If I really hadn’t found a way to break the deadlock, would I have just been imprisoned and borne all the blame?” Arnis explained eagerly, “I wouldn’t have let you go to jail! I would have taken you away from there!” As soon as he finished speaking, an even more forceful slap landed on Arnis’s face, directly knocking him to the side.
“Who would want to go with you! Do I need you to hold an umbrella for me on a sunny day with no rain!” He Yue rubbed his numb palm and brushed his long hair back. He stood there, and even with the faint anger on his delicate features, his full lips pressed into a thin line, he didn’t lose his elegant posture.
He was the most impossible negotiation partner in Arnis’s life, leaving no loopholes.
“We… still have a deal, don’t we? You promised me, Master…” Both sides of Arnis’s face were swollen, and his voice was a bit muffled.
“Do you think I’ll still agree to this condition now?”
Arnis knelt before He Yue, the surface of his suit pants with the shoe print stretched taut.
“Then let’s change it. I ask Master to forgive me for being momentarily bewitched. I didn’t know Yilinde would use this method to deal with you, and I only had the crooked thought of taking you away when I was arguing with him. Please believe me.” He Yue clapped his hands, his anger turning into a cold smile.
“What a good use of language, President Arnis. Of course you didn’t know what method Yilinde would use to deal with me at first, but you must have known that to control you with drugs, he wouldn’t let you have a chance to bond with a male insect, and he wouldn’t let me go.” He chuckled softly. “President, a well-timed concealment is also a form of deception, I won’t believe you anymore.” He turned around, his cold back showing no warmth.
“As for forgiveness, alright, I forgive you. There’s nothing between us anymore, I don’t even have any hatred for you.” [Arnis, 80%.]
The system’s voice reminded Arnis.
“No, you can’t go…” He knelt to He Yue’s feet and hugged his leg, like a dejected abandoned dog. “Isn’t there still a mission? Master can’t abandon me, please use me!” He Yue paused, a little surprised that he had revealed everything about the system.
“Why can’t I abandon you, a mission target, can’t I change one?” [Host, it seems you can’t…]
(Shut up.)
He Yue broke free from his hand and went to open the president’s office door.
With a click, the office door was locked, and a soft white towel covered He Yue’s mouth and nose.
“I’m sorry, Master, please, only be my little cat forever.”
