Chapter 71 - My conditions.

Tang Huizhong stood at the door, listening to Chunlan who was on the phone. When he heard Jihai speak about Shen Ji, he immediately entered inside the room and collected the phone from her. Chunlan who was initially startled inhaled his cologne and stretched her hand to retrieve the phone saying. "Papa, is that you? Give me back the phone!"

Huizhong ignored his daughter and spoke to the phone. "Jihai, tell me. Do you really have Shen Ji?"

Jihai smiled. "Greetings, Father-in-law. Its been a long time since we have met. Why don't we meet for a business din-"

"Don't play with me, boy. You don't want to be my enemy." Huizhong growled at the insolent boy.

But Jihai's smile widened further as he turned to the Bingwen's questioning gaze. "I dare not, Father-in-law. But I am afraid its truly not convenient for me to discuss the details right now, that's why I am proposing a meeting."

"Tell me the time and place." Huizhong said, his eyes straying to his restrained daughter who was struggling against his bodyguard, Yin Tao.

"How can I bother Father-in-law to come outside to personally meet me? Its best if I just come to the Tang mansion to see you instead. Such matters should not be said in public." Jihai could already imagined the reddening face of the old man as he tried to subdue his growing rage when he heard his conditions.

And he was not wrong. At the other end of the call, Tang Huizhong was already irate, his hands gripping the phone tightly. "I expect to see you at 9:00pm, not a second later."

He hung up.

The two men in the car burst into laughter when the call ended. The driver watched them laugh to their heart's content, his face growing more and more uncomfortable. "Boss, is it okay to be messing with the Tang Patriarch like this? We need to be more careful."

But the two men ignored him, engrossed in their new roleplay. Jihai's voice deepened uncharacteristically as he said. ".......let me tell you, he was like this. DON'T PLAY ME WITH ME, BOY. YOU DON'T WANT TO BE MY ENEMY!"

Bingwen burst into laughter once more when he saw Jihai scrunch his face to impersonate Tang Huizhong, his eyes creasing in mirth.

The driver: "......."

Jihai commented. "Father-in-law is truly funny indeed. He still thinks I am still that naive and weak boy in the past."

Bingwen said. "He is a man that only respects strength and hates weakness."

"Then he need not worry." Jihai put down the glass of water he was holding. "I intend to show him how strong his son-in-law has grown."

At 9:01pm, a row of black cars entered the Tang family's mansion. Chunlan was asked to dress and accompany her father who sat in the parlor ignoring her. She felt happy and uncomfortable since she was unable to find out what they had discussed.

Tang Huizhong watched Bai Jihai enter the room, dressed in a black suit and black tie as his bodyguards halted at the door. His sleek black hair was combed back to reveal his handsome facial features as he walked towards them, his hands tucked in his trouser pockets. "Chunlan."

Chunlan's head quickly whipped to the direction of his voice, feeling him take her hand making her stand up. "Jihai, welcome."

He smiled and tucked some of her hair behind her ear which was adorned with a pair of green earrings. "You look pretty."

Chunlan struggled to hide the smile from her lips. "Just pretty?"

He pecked her smooth pale cheeks which turned red instantly. "You look lovely. Beautiful. Dazzling. Gorgeous. Exquisi-"

"Enough! You disrespectful brat, how dare you ignore me and flirt with my daughter in my presence?!" Tang Huizhong who had been watching the scene finally couldn't take it anymore, seeing the way his daughter was happily blushing and the annoying boy didn't even greet him!

Jihai released Chunlan's face and turned to face him. "Father-in-law, I didn't see you there! Allow me to kowtow and give my greetings..."

"No need! Follow me to the dining table." Huizhong left them and started walking.

Ryōsei who had accompanied them shook his head when he saw Jihai taking his revenge because Tang Huizhong blatantly disrespected the Sakai clan by not coming out to greet them. Jihai was truly now a scheming man who was now winning the girl's heart and fighting with her father. Truly commendable!

They sat around the table, each one in their own thoughts as the two men stared at each other. Tang Huizhong finally said. "Tell me now. What would it take for you to give me Shen Ji?"

Jihai said. "Let me marry Chunlan."

Chunlan frowned lightly, her hand covering his own. "Jihai."

Huizhong immediately refused. "Never. I will never allow you to marry my daughter. State another condition."

"But that's the only condition I have." Jihai replied.

"How about I trade your uncle for Shen Ji?" Huizhong sat in satisfaction as he watched the young boy's eyes narrow in anger for the first time.

"What do you mean, Father? No one knows the whereabouts of Sakai Sumiyoshi except me and......." Chunlan froze.

Yin Tao.

"Sometimes, you forget dear child, that Yin Tao is my personal bodyguard not yours." Huizhong almost shook his head at his daughter's gullible and innocent way of handling things.

"I told you father in-law, that I have only one condition. Any other person is unimportant to me." Jihai reiterated.

"Father, please stop this...."

"You should listen to your daughter, Huizhong. This days, most children just run away with their lovers without giving their parents face. Your daughter was truly raised properly.". An old man walked into the room with a sturdy wooden cane. He wore a red linen shirt and trousers which was embroidered with golden threads. His grey hair was tied into a Chinese knot.

Huizhong stood up to greet the old man, his eyes signaling Jihai do the same. In order to please his father-in-law, Jihai stood up and faced the old man leaving only Chunlan seated. She whispered. "Jihai, who is that?"

Huizhong silenced his daughter, and bowed his head in greeting. "Welcome, Uncle."

The old man looked around the house and said. "Its been ten years since I have stepped foot into the Tang mansion since the death of your father, Huizhong. Time has truly flown." He turned to face the man standing near Chunlan. "Are you the one they now call Sakai Yukiharu?"

Jihai smiled. "I didn't expect the old patriarch of the Wen family, Wen Qiqiang to come personally to see me."

"How could I not come when you declared war on me by leaving my grandson half dead on the front of my house? I have to admit, you really have some guts, boy." The old man's eyes scanned Jihai who replied.

"It was just a small present, not worth mentioning. But I was curious, did you like it?"