Raven stood by the roadside, negotiating with a taxi driver.
Aidan caught her arm. "What was that?"
"Listen, Aidan," she said, pulling her hand back, "I'm sorry. You were being unreasonable. I don't want anything."
"Not that." His gaze sharpened. "You were about to leave."
Raven glanced at the taxi as it pulled away.
She said nothing.
After a moment, she walked back and took the front seat.
Aidan drove in silence. A few minutes later, he stopped outside a boutique, stepped out, and returned with a bag. He tossed it onto the back seat without a word.
The car moved again.
"Raven," he said, eyes on the road, "do you understand how important this conference is for our family?"
The hotel came into view ahead.
As soon as the car stopped, Raven opened the door, vanishing from his sight.
Aidan frowned slightly. Somehow, that question had offended her.
Before he could follow her, his phone rang.
"Aidan? Accompany her to the conference. Okay?" William reminded him.
Aidan hung up. His grip tightened around the phone.
"I'm not stupid. If they want me there, they should say it. Why play games?"
At the entrance, he spotted Lin Yun, chairman of the Lin Company, with his sons, entertaining a group of Russian clients, perhaps investors.
Aidan intended to walk past without acknowledging them, but Lin Yun hurried over and grabbed his hand, shaking it with forced familiarity.
He leaned in, lowering his voice.
"Help me this once. These investors want to terminate the contract, and I don't understand them at all. I'll owe you a favour."
Aidan rolled his eyes. Still, he turned to the Russian businessmen, studying them from head to toe. Lin Yun had never been reliable—but for the sake of an acquaintance, he agreed.
He greeted them in Russian. The effect was immediate. Their expressions softened.
"Finally," one of them said, relieved. "Someone who understands us. These people hired a translator who knows nothing. There's been too much confusion."
"What seems to be the problem?" Aidan asked.
"For six months, this man hasn't paid a single penny. We came here after learning he would attend this conference. Now he refuses to acknowledge the debt. If he doesn't pay by this evening, I will sue him—and take over his business."
Aidan translated calmly, then added,
"You're the major contributor to this conference. I didn't expect your business to be this… messy."
Lin Yun turned sharply to his sons, eyes widening.
"What does this mean? You told me the Russian investors increased the rate—and that you were paying them ten per cent more than agreed."
"Don't tell me you lied about the profits, too."
The sons lowered their heads.
One muttered, "The profit did increase by fifty per cent… but we didn't pay the interest. That part is true. But six months ago, we agreed to close their accounts. We don't need them—they're too demanding."
Another added weakly, "They never responded."
Aidan let out a quiet snicker.
"How many times did you contact them?"
Silence. No answer.
He turned back to the Russians.
"How much do they owe you?"
The assistant handed over a tablet displaying the accounts. Aidan skimmed through it, then let out a dry chuckle.
"Looks like you're about to go bankrupt," he said, glancing at Lin Yun.
Lin Yun checked the figures himself, his face draining of colour. He shot a furious look at his sons.
Silence thickened.
Aidan reviewed the previous transactions once more. Something clicked. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
He turned to the Russians.
"I'll pay you right now. Terminate the contract. Then we're done."
They exchanged surprised looks.
"Everyone prefers a good deal," one of them said cautiously. "We can still negotiate. Their company will collapse if we terminate."
Aidan met his gaze, calm and unbothered.
"That's exactly what I want."
His meaning was unmistakable.
"You will ruin them." They argued.
"Didn't you want that too?" Aidan countered.
"We…were threatening. Not doing it."
Aidan signaled at Xiaowei, who was standing nearby.
"This is cruel. To both of us. Lin Yun must know." One of the Russian businessmen turned to Lin Yun and spoke in broken English.
"He pays the debt."
Lin Yun looked at Aidan, and his eyes watered. "You are an angel. Aidan. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't see the sun the next day."
Xiaowei had arrived a while ago; he was waiting for this sudden meeting to end so he could approach his boss. He understood and pulled a cheque book, handing it to his boss.
"Yes! Beg, beg, beg. Your company is corrupt. Not my problem." The Russian misunderstood Lin Yun's reaction and, his teeth grinding, asked him to convince Aidan not to ruin the Lin company.
"You fucking bastard! You want to terminate the contract. Go die." Lin Yun said to his investors, who repeated the same thinking, which was directed at Aidan.
Meanwhile, he grinned; the language mess entertained him.
Aidan pulled a matte black fountain pen that rested between his fingers, marked only by a thin azure ring near the grip. The clip curved slightly inward—deliberately flawed.
"You are a diabolical, Sir Aidan. You will rot in—" The Russian businessman cursed at him, but his partner noticed the pen and placed his big hand on his peer and pulled him away.
Aidan chuckled, knowing what they were mumbling to each other. He turned to Lin Yun's family, "You don't need them."
"Whatever you say. I am indebted to you. I have nothing to offer right now. How about I offer you 15% equity?" Lin Yun offered the sons off the ground, it was too high for a debt.
"Think twice. Discuss with your beloved sons, and get back to me." Aidan advised.
"Aye…I have to go. Do you want this or—" Aidan said, and swung his pen upside down in the air.
They crouched their backs and walked up to him, immediately grabbing the cheque, "We will never ruin your air again."
"Xiaowei." He called and handed the checkbook to him, and said, "Take care of our guests."