Sign the contract.

I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh, saying, “You’re overestimating me. What makes me so different from others?”
Mina replied, “If what happened is true, and you could endure what most people couldn’t, then you are indeed different. No wonder Ayun likes you—I admire your character as well.”
I smiled and said, “Mina, there’s no need to flatter me. I know myself well. If I stay with Ayun, I’ll only drag her down. When she leaves me then, all my happiness will turn to pain. So breaking up now is like cutting the knot—swift and decisive, and I won’t have to suffer anymore.”
Mina smiled, her eyes glinting mischievously. “If you won’t take my advice, there’s nothing I can do. But remember, don’t regret it later.”

Just then, my phone rang. It was Jin Yulian calling, telling me their car had entered the city district of Hudou.
I said to Mina, “Sorry, my friends are arriving soon. Explaining things to Ayun will have to wait.”
As I spoke, I stood, clearly indicating it was time for her to leave. Mina gave a sly, almost imperceptible smile. “Very well, I’ll say no more. If you don’t explain things to Ayun today, you’ll regret it.” With that, she hurried away.

I checked my phone—it was past ten o’clock. I thought that once Jin Yulian and her companions arrived, we’d first have lunch, then rest a bit before heading to Du Guoqiang’s company to sign the contract.
If the contract went through, I’d earn a ten percent commission, over two million US dollars—a fortune in yuan. My fate would change completely. Most importantly, Jin Yulian would secure twenty million dollars, solving her financial crisis. She’d no longer be threatened by Qian Duobao, nor forced to marry him.
I called Jin Yulian, asking how much longer they’d need to arrive.
She replied, “Traffic is heavy in the city, probably another hour or so.”
I said, “Alright, drive safely. I’ll wait for you at the hotel. When you arrive, we’ll go eat together.”
She responded, “Okay, see you soon.”

I lounged on the bed, playing with my phone. Time quickly passed; after eleven, Jin Yulian called again—they were almost there. I hurried downstairs to greet them outside the hotel.
Soon, a black Mercedes S500 pulled up. Driving was a middle-aged man with a flat haircut and gold-rimmed glasses; Jin Yulian’s secretary, Xiao He, accompanied her.
Jin Yulian introduced the man, “This is Lawyer Gu. He came with us and drove.”
I exchanged a few polite words with Lawyer Gu, then accompanied them to a nearby restaurant.

Lunch was, of course, Jin Yulian’s treat. We ordered a few dishes, but since everyone was nervous about the contract signing in the afternoon, nobody drank. After eating, Xiao He paid the bill for us.
Seeing there was still time, I brought Jin Yulian, Secretary Gu, and Xiao He to my room to rest for a while.
During the break, we discussed contract details. Jin Yulian was uneasy. “Afeng, I can’t shake this sense of uncertainty. This contract seems almost too smooth.”
I reassured her, “We have Lawyer Gu overseeing things—there shouldn’t be any problems. Besides, the other party agreed to a hefty deposit.”
Xiao He laughed, “General Manager Jin, you worry too much. Not only do we have Lawyer Gu, but you yourself are watching over everything.”
Jin Yulian smiled, “Afeng, if this deal goes through, I’ll truly have you to thank for helping me through this financial crisis.”
I replied, “No need to thank me—I’m content with my commission.”
She laughed, “Don’t worry, you’ll get every bit of what was promised.”

The company started work at one o’clock. We arrived ten minutes early. Since it was a formal signing, Jin Yulian didn’t want to be looked down upon, so she brought the Mercedes S500, her company car.
We arrived at the office building of Donghua International Trade Group and parked in the underground garage. I called Sister Li, telling her we had arrived. She answered, “I’m here too. Come upstairs to find me.”
Following the arranged floor, we met Sister Li and her company’s legal representative. After a few brief courtesies, we got straight to discussing the contract details.
As the overall terms had been agreed upon in advance, there were no major issues. We moved directly to signing the contract. As with any standard contract, it stipulated a deposit of ten million dollars, and if either party breached, they’d owe ten million dollars in penalties.
Jin Yulian and Lawyer Gu, finding no issues, signed their names. Sister Li took Jin Yulian to the finance department.
Donghua International Trade Group transferred the deposit to Jin Yulian’s company. Jin Yulian called her company’s finance office to confirm receipt. Once she heard the funds had arrived, she let out a long sigh of relief—the heavy stone weighing on her heart finally lifted.
After the signing, everyone exchanged a few polite words. Lawyer Gu and Xiao He prepared to leave.
Jin Yulian asked if I wanted to leave together. I replied, “Let’s stay in Hudou for two days and then return.”

Jin Yulian was tempted, but considered that if we left now, we could all ride together. If we stayed to enjoy ourselves, we’d have to take the high-speed rail back.
Sister Li, smiling warmly, said, “The day after tomorrow, my team and I are heading to Mingzhou to pick up goods. You’re welcome to ride with us.”
Jin Yulian and I were pleased and thanked Sister Li.
She laughed, “No need to thank me—it’s just a small gesture.”

To celebrate the successful signing, Jin Yulian and I invited Sister Li to dinner that evening.
Sister Li tried to decline, but our enthusiasm won her over.
I asked her about any distinctive restaurants nearby. She answered, “Many people in Hudou are immigrants from Mingzhou. The cuisines are similar—there aren’t many specialty dishes.”
Jin Yulian thought for a moment, “How about Japanese cuisine?”
I replied, “I don’t care much for sashimi.”
Sister Li laughed, “There’s a Sichuan hot pot restaurant by the Huangpu River that’s quite good. It’s cold now—hot pot with lamb would warm us up. What do you think?”
I smiled, “I love hot pot lamb. Japanese food is just expensive, nothing more.”
Jin Yulian teased, “You sound so knowledgeable—have you actually had sashimi?”
I recalled Ayun taking me to Chu Shao’s banquet, boasting a million-dollar meal. I thought even ten thousand was exorbitant. Chuckling, I said, “I’m just guessing.”

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Chapter 67: Signing the Contract – Free to Read.