Chapter 470 - 469: Mei Lin Is Being Coveted

When Qin Sitong heard Yun Zijin on the phone with Xia Zhiyun, her first instinct was to tell her to just ignore them.

But then she remembered that Yun Zijin had already agreed to meet with Xia Zhiyun, so she held her tongue.

The car stopped in front of the Wangyou Milk Tea Shop, and Qin Sitong got out.

"Oh, by the way, I’m heading in. Once the studio sends the design blueprints, I’ll forward them to you, and we can choose one together."

Although Qin Sitong was the one managing the shop, something like the renovation style still needed to be discussed with Yun Zijin.

Yun Zijin nodded. "Okay."

Once Qin Sitong had entered the Wangyou Milk Tea Shop, Yun Zijin told Ling Qi to drive, heading back to Jade Lake.

To her surprise, however, when she returned to Jade Lake, she saw Yan Shutang again.

Lu Yunque wasn’t around this time, so Yun Zijin had to face him alone.

"Uncle Yan, what are you doing here?"

’Could he be here to ask me for the Ice Tree and Fire Tree since he failed to buy them at the auction the other day?’

"I came looking for you. I just got here. I was about to call you, but then you returned."

Yan Shutang had driven here himself this time.

Since he had just arrived, his car was parked at the entrance to Jade Lake.

The gate guard had been about to come out and tell Yan Shutang to move his car to the adjacent parking lot, but seeing that he knew Yun Zijin, the guard backed away.

’Oh, he knows Miss Yun. Never mind, then.’

"I see. We shouldn’t talk out here. Let’s go inside."

Yan Shutang nodded, got back into his car, and followed Yun Zijin’s vehicle into Jade Lake.

Upon entering the living room, Yun Zijin politely invited Yan Shutang to sit down, then asked a maid to prepare some tea.

"I’d like some Lingwu tea, heh heh..."

His superior found out about the small amount he bought last time and pinched half of it. It was gone a long time ago.

Now that he was at Yun Zijin’s place, Yan Shutang couldn’t help himself.

’If you’re shameless enough, nothing is awkward.’

"Alright. Sorry to trouble you, Sister Xi."

The maid was a young woman, only a couple of years older than Yun Zijin, who had started working here right after graduating from college.

Although it was a service job, the work at Yun Zijin’s was light and the pay was high. Even her classmates who had joined major corporations didn’t earn as high a monthly salary as she did.

"It’s no trouble at all! I’ll get right on it."

Shen Xi hurried to the tea room and began to deftly prepare the tea.

Hoping to secure her position here for the long term, she had recently been following tea ceremony bloggers to learn various brewing techniques.

While Shen Xi was away preparing the tea, Yun Zijin turned to Yan Shutang. "Uncle Yan, how did you know I’d be returning to Jade Lake today?"

She usually decided her schedule on the spur of the moment, so it was nearly impossible for anyone to know her plans in advance.

Yet Yan Shutang had shown up anyway. Last time, it was at Xingyu Mansion; this time, at Jade Lake. Yun Zijin grew suspicious that someone had leaked her location.

Hearing her question, Yan Shutang knew she was suspicious.

"Have you forgotten what department I work for? From Monday to Friday, you spend most of your time at Jade Lake, only returning to Xingyu Mansion on weekends."

Since today isn’t a weekend, wasn’t it obvious where to find you?

Yun Zijin knew Yan Shutang wasn’t telling the whole truth, but she also knew that pressing the issue would be pointless.

"Miss, Mr. Yan, please have some tea."

Shen Xi came over with a pot of tea and two cups. After filling a cup for each of them, she respectfully stepped back.

"So, tell me, why have you come to see me today?"

Yan Shutang was the type who never showed up unless he needed something. He definitely had a reason for seeking her out today.

"Is there somewhere we can speak more privately?"

Yan Shutang’s expression turned serious, and Yun Zijin began to take the matter seriously as well.

"My study will do."

Mei Lin had installed and upgraded the security system in Yun Zijin’s study; its most important feature was its anti-eavesdropping capabilities.

The two of them took their tea and relocated to the study.

Yun Zijin led the way, eventually sitting down on the sofa next to the study’s coffee table.

"You can speak freely now."

Yan Shutang scanned the room, and only after confirming there was nothing suspicious did he sit down again.

"The framework for the lab is mostly complete. And... your assistant added quite a few security measures. Most importantly... the lab’s self-contained security system is completely different from anything we’ve had before."

But its security level is far beyond what our own internally developed systems could ever achieve.

"We already verified that, didn’t we? If that weren’t the case, I wouldn’t have been given a hand in this lab project in the first place."

’If I hadn’t been able to take on this job, I would have lost my manor.’

"Yes. So... what the higher-ups are suggesting is, they’d like your... assistant... to help upgrade the systems for our other labs, research institutes, and the like.

Rest assured, we’re not asking your assistant to work for free. She can ask for anything she wants. As long as it’s within reason, we’ll do our best to accommodate her."

After he finished, Yan Shutang looked at Yun Zijin expectantly.

If she weren’t so impossible to poach, he wouldn’t have needed to make this trip.

Yun Zijin: "..."

"Uncle Yan, you need to understand that my assistant is extremely busy. She manages all of my assets. If she’s running all over the country for you, will you take responsibility when my affairs fall into disarray?"

Although it was mostly real estate and just collecting rent each quarter, with Mei Lin gone, who knew if her subordinates would try to line their own pockets.

Money is a powerful temptation, and Yun Zijin had no desire to test people’s integrity.

"Don’t worry about that. While Mei Lin is away, we’ll assign someone to temporarily fill her role. We will ensure none of your assets run into any problems."

He had already contacted Mei Lin, but she was completely unmoved, so his only remaining option was to approach Yun Zijin.

Mei Lin was utterly devoted to Yun Zijin, so she would surely listen to whatever Yun Zijin said.

It wasn’t like they were actually trying to poach her, they just wanted her to help out with a small matter.

"You already went to Mei Lin, didn’t you?"

Yun Zijin quickly put two and two together. They had failed to persuade Mei Lin, so now they were coming to her as an indirect approach. Their little scheme was as clear as day.

Called out so bluntly by Yun Zijin, Yan Shutang gave an awkward, dry laugh. "It’s all just standard procedure, you know.

But we would never force anyone to do something against their will. We operate on the principle of mutual consent.

Since Mei Lin didn’t agree, we came to you to see if you could figure something out."

Mei Lin, like Yun Zijin’s team of bodyguards, was completely unpoachable.

Sometimes, Yan Shutang even suspected Yun Zijin had put some kind of spell on them. Every last one of them had turned down a guaranteed government position, insisting on staying with her.

"What can I do? Mei Lin is her own person. I have no right to make decisions for her."

’In reality, as long as I agree, Mei Lin won’t object.’

’But since they’re trying to poach my talent, it would be a loss of face if I didn’t use this for a little leverage.’

"Name your conditions."

With Mei Lin’s security system, they wouldn’t have to worry about espionage from other countries.

In fact, they might even be able to launch a counter-offensive and obtain their data.

"You’ll have to ask Mei Lin about that. It’s no use asking me."