Chapter 798: The Oblivious Clan Leader Li

"Alright! Waiter, bring us a brush and ink," Li Zhuang called out the door.

"Right away! One moment, please."

Huang Lihua carefully finished reading the contract. She was moved by Ye Qianning’s words. Everyone knew Nanyuan was poor, but the Gu family had changed the entire region’s livelihood, elevating its aquatic products to new heights.

It seemed no one in Nanyuan remembered those poor years; they were all just jealous of how much money the Gu family was making now.

Anyone who truly understood business would know how difficult the journey had been for Boss Gu. He’d only been making good money for a few years, and already, others wanted to ride on his coattails and establish their own rival trade routes.

’Now that was truly unscrupulous—profiting from them while calling *them* the ruthless ones.’

"I’ve finished reviewing the contract as well, and I have no questions," Huang Lihua said. "However, before I sign, I have just one request: I’d like to see the lotus silk again." She had seen it once before in Loulan and hadn’t been able to forget it.

"Of course. You can come find me at the Immortal Sea Building tomorrow to sign the contract, Miss Huang."

"In that case, I have no further questions. I will be sure to arrive on time tomorrow morning." Huang Lihua folded the contract and tucked it into her sleeve.

The waiter returned with the brush and ink.

"I’ll sign right now." Fearing that any delay might bring complications, Li Zhuang picked up the brush, wrote his name on the contract, then took out his personal seal and pressed it down. "Boss Gu, Miss Ye, it’s done. Take a look."

Gu Shuo picked it up and glanced at it, then took the brush from Li Zhuang’s hand, signed the contract, and affixed his own personal seal.

"As for the deposit, I’ll have someone deliver it tomorrow."

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful."

Li Zhuang stared at the contract, now in black and white, and couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear.

"The contract is in duplicate. You’d best keep your copy safe, Clan Leader Li." Gu Shuo tucked the other copy into his sleeve.

"Of course I will. This is the hope of our entire clan." Li Zhuang folded it with great care, then stood, turned his back, and appeared to pull a small pouch from inside his trousers.

Ye Qianning: "..."

’I can’t even watch this.’

"Ahem. Clan Leader Li, could you be a little more discreet? There are two ladies present," Huang Lihua said with a slight cough.

Li Zhuang stuffed the contract into the pouch and put it back in his trousers. "I did turn away, didn’t I?"

"..."

Huang Lihua rolled her eyes and stood up. "Boss Gu, Miss Ye, it looks like you still have matters to discuss, so I won’t intrude."

"We’ll see you tomorrow at the Immortal Sea Building, Miss Huang," Ye Qianning said, rising as well.

"Alright. Until tomorrow, then." Huang Lihua turned, only to see Li Zhuang sitting back down. She frowned slightly. "Clan Leader Li, the contract is signed. Why are you still here?"

"I haven’t eaten yet," Li Zhuang said simply.

"What’s there to eat now that the contract is signed? Come on, I’ll take you for a walk around the city."

Li Zhuang waved his hand. "I’m not going."

Huang Lihua cursed inwardly. ’How can this man be so dense?’

"Clan Leader Li, perhaps you should go for that walk with Miss Huang after all," Gu Shuo couldn’t help but interject.

"I’m just not one for strolling... Strolling... sounds fine, actually." Before Li Zhuang could finish his sentence, he felt an ice-cold stare. He looked up and met Shui Xingqi’s gaze, shivering involuntarily.

"Let’s go."

Huang Lihua was exasperated. ’He won’t budge until someone makes it painfully obvious. So stupid.’

"Boss Gu, Miss Ye, I’ll be leaving then. See you around!" Li Zhuang chuckled as he stood up and walked out the door.

Huang Lihua hadn’t even reached the stairs when Li Zhuang caught up to her.

"So, Miss Huang, where are we going for our walk?"

"..."

"Dayu City seems pretty lively at night. Why don’t we get something to eat first, and then go for a stroll?"

Huang Lihua was at her wit’s end. "Stroll where? If you want to stroll, go by yourself."

"But weren’t you the one who told me to come out for a walk?"

"...If I told you to go jump off a bridge, would you do that too?"