"I can't promise the An Group will prosper forever, but as long as I agree, no one in all of China can lay a finger on the An Family."
It wasn't arrogance; it was naked confidence.
Jiang Cheng never stated his identity outright, yet every sentence carried a deliberate hint.
Behind him loomed a force strong enough to sway the rules within China.
That power might not reach the icy gales of Great Goose Country, yet on this land it could raise an absolutely safe sky for An Jingsheng.
An Jingsheng's heart clenched; he couldn't help drawing a sharp breath.
He had weathered countless storms and met every sort of person.
There were mighty officials and underworld kings.
But none had ever sketched, in just a few sentences, a background so unfathomable it felt like a dark, mysterious scroll.
Faced with this unfathomable Jiang Cheng, An Jingsheng felt a swirl of emotions.
Shock, doubt, and a trace of fear.
He steadied himself, took a deep breath, and finally asked, "What do you want?"
Jiang Cheng's gaze stayed calm as water; he slowly uttered two words: "Cooperation."
The words were soft, yet they echoed with undeniable force.
"Just cooperation?" An Jingsheng sounded surprised, his voice rising in doubt.
"Not for a moment—for a lifetime."
An Jingsheng's pupils contracted; he was clearly shaken.
A lifetime? What did that mean?
It wasn't a simple deal; it would bind the An Group to Jiang Cheng forever!
In other words, he intended to tie the An Group completely to him!
Such appetite!
Seeing An Jingsheng silent, Jiang Cheng smiled faintly.
"President An, take your time deciding on the cooperation. As for backing the intangible cultural heritage project—if you're willing, I'll owe you a favor; if not, I won't press. Standing with the An Group would be my honor, not my necessity."
His words carried relaxed confidence, as though the startling exchange had never happened.
Yet An Jingsheng felt no lighter.
He knew Jiang Cheng had mixed velvet gloves with iron.
On one hand, he offered a way down; on the other, his tone hinted this chance might never return.
It was a reminder that if he refused now, the door would close for good.
After this mental duel, An Jingsheng looked at the young man with new respect.
Impressive!
This youth reminded him of himself when he'd first arrived in Great Goose Country—seemingly green, yet hiding world-shaking power.
He studied Jiang Cheng. Whether the man's backing was real or not, he felt the sudden urge to gamble on the An Family's future.
After a long silence, he finally said, "I'll have the Cultural Bureau approve the backing for the intangible cultural heritage project as soon as possible."
He paused, then added, "But…" Fixing his eyes on Jiang Cheng, he spoke slowly, "I hope the 'beacon' you speak of will keep shining forever."
Jiang Cheng wasn't worried.
With his healing card, barring major accidents, both grandfathers would stay healthy for at least ten years.
His father had already taken up his post.
How far that would go wasn't for him to guess.
Of course, what he didn't know, An Jingsheng couldn't know either.
If he wanted the An Family's influence, keeping them steady first was only fair.
"Rest assured, as long as the An Family's ship stays afloat…"
An Xin stood behind her father and Jiang Cheng, her slender fingers nervously twisting the silk clutch in her hands.
She couldn't hear the details, but her father looked graver than she had ever seen.
The soft rap of Jiang Cheng's knuckles on the display case echoed clearly in the quiet gallery.
"What on earth are they discussing…"
Her gaze rested on Jiang Cheng's straight back, her heartbeat quickening.
He was a few years younger than her, yet he chatted casually with her father—and even seemed to hold the upper hand.
An Xin bit her lower lip.
She knew her father too well.
An Jingsheng hated being controlled, yet right now his eyes held something she had never seen before: fear.
The thought sent a chill down her spine.
"No…"
She stepped forward abruptly, her high heels rapping sharply on the floor.
"Dad, the event is about to start."
Her voice rose an octave, carrying a note of panic even she could hear.
An Jingsheng turned, saw her reddened ear-tips, and suddenly smiled.
Normally he would have thought his daughter was being timid.
But he was in excellent spirits now.
With a chuckle he said, "I'll skip the event; you and President Jiang go on."
A faint blush colored An Xin's cheeks.
"I…"
While An Xin hesitated, Jiang Cheng said to An Jingsheng, "Old An, you put so much effort into organizing this event—wouldn't it be a shame to miss it?"
An Jingsheng paid no heed to the casual "Old An"; he focused on the meaning.
Though they had only just met, he sensed Jiang Cheng never spoke without reason.
"Well… if you say so, let's all go together."
Beside them, An Xin's delicate willow-leaf brows drew together; shards of light from the crystal chandelier scattered like puzzled stars across her eyes.
So what exactly had her father and Jiang Cheng just said?
"Exactly. Sister Xin looks stunning today and fits the theme perfectly. It would be a waste not to open the event with a speech."