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Chapter 22 – Gently Enclosed (Bug Fix)

Lin Keying appeared in a sharp professional outfit—white blouse paired with a black suit—her attire projecting a rare blend of polish and competence.

Beneath the neatly tailored suit was a heart racing with nerves and excitement. Her slender heels clicked crisply on the conference room floor, as if providing a dramatic soundtrack to the tense negotiation.

Under the intense gaze of everyone in the room, Lin Keying walked step by step toward the man seated at the end of the table. She stopped precisely one arm’s length from him.

“President Cheng, here is the information you requested.” Her tone was polite and professional, her smile calm—as though she and the man had conducted countless business meetings before.

As she handed over the kraft paper envelope, she leaned in slightly. Her long, curled hair brushed lightly against the man’s fingers, and in a hushed tone that others could just barely catch, she murmured, “Secretary Yang risked everything to bring this back.”

Led by Director Wan, the representatives of Yee Wo Trading frowned as they watched the so-called secretary whisper to Cheng Wanting.

And when they saw the kraft paper envelope in her hand, their expressions changed dramatically. With tense looks exchanged among them, unease swept through the board members.

The conference room fell utterly silent. Only the faint rustle of Lin Keying’s movements broke the stillness.

Aside from Cheng Wanting, no one knew who she was. Her stunning appearance, on par with a beauty queen, made it hard for anyone to believe she was merely a secretary. Yet no one dared to question her presence outright.

Lin Keying straightened up and locked eyes with Cheng Wanting. They exchanged a look so deep it felt like a silent message, one only the two of them could understand.

Still, the man remained composed—his expression unreadable, betraying no emotion.

Was it confidence? Or just a practiced calm?

“President Cheng, don’t think you can buy time by bringing in some random person. Regarding Wharf Holdings—”

Director Wan hadn’t even finished when Cheng Wanting tossed the envelope onto the table with a loud thud.

His eyes were cold as he said, “Director Wan, perhaps you should review the contents of this folder before continuing.”

All eyes turned toward the kraft paper envelope in front of Director Wan.

Cheng Wanting’s calm and assertive statement introduced a new and unexpected twist to the negotiation, which until now had seemed like a foregone conclusion.

“You…” Director Wan’s face stiffened. His eyes hesitated over the sealed envelope, seemingly afraid to open it.

Cheng Wanting folded his hands, long fingers sharp and commanding, mirroring the strength in his voice: “Director Wan of Yee Wo Trading colluded with outsiders to acquire Wharf Holdings’ stock at a low price, resulting in losses exceeding hundreds of millions. If such news were made public, Wharf Holdings’ stock would crash. Tell me, Director Wan—can you bear that consequence?”

Director Wan’s eyes flared with fury. He slammed the table and shot up, roaring, “Cheng Wanting, stop spouting nonsense!”

Hearing the explosive revelation, the others in the room began whispering among themselves. If it were true that a core director of Yee Wo had colluded with outsiders to hollow out Wharf Holdings, such a revelation would send its stock price into free fall. Mass panic would follow, and the coveted company would shrink to a fraction of its value.

“Director Wan, whether you’ve been true to Wharf Holdings and Yee Wo is something you should be very clear about.” Cheng Wanting leaned back in his chair, his demeanor cool and unshaken.

The tension rose to a boiling point as suspicions flew among the attendees, no one quite sure whom to believe.

Lin Keying broke the deadlock with the poise of a true professional: “The documents in that folder were retrieved at great personal risk by Secretary Yang. He was injured during the mission. The bloodstain on the back of the envelope is proof. Director Wan—your men were certainly ruthless.”

Though surrounded by elite business leaders, Lin Keying showed no trace of fear as she spoke clearly and calmly, increasing everyone’s suspicion toward Director Wan.

Especially when they noticed the smear of dark red blood on the envelope—it supported the secretary’s story.

“What men? Utter nonsense!” Director Wan’s face contorted with disdain as his trembling jowls deepened into an ugly scowl.

But Lin Keying didn’t waver. “Since Director Wan refuses to admit it, why not let the others examine the documents inside and decide for themselves?”

That statement received immediate support from the rest of the attendees. Since words alone were inconclusive, they might as well review the documents themselves and determine the truth.

Under the crowd’s skeptical gaze and mounting pressure, Director Wan’s face turned red. But still, he didn’t make a move to open the folder.

He had long known Cheng Wanting had noticed something amiss and was secretly investigating him. Wan hadn’t taken it lying down—he even arranged for armed interception of the secretary today…

What he didn’t expect was this woman, suddenly appearing with the envelope in hand.

“You damn bitch! Who gave you the right to speak here?” Director Wan lunged toward Lin Keying, reaching to strike her.

Click. A chilling sound rang out—the cocking of a gun.

The cold black muzzle pointed straight at Director Wan’s flushed face.

Cheng Wanting had drawn his gun in an instant, his arm steady, forming a deadly line aimed squarely at his opponent. His voice was icy: “Who gave you the nerve to lay a hand on my people?”

With a gun now in play, the room dropped to a freezing silence. Bodyguards on both sides braced for a possible clash.

“Director Wan, President Cheng, this is supposed to be a peaceful negotiation—let’s not escalate.” The HSBC representative stepped in to mediate.

No one wanted bloodshed. If a conflict erupted, who could afford the consequences?

Other attendees quickly followed suit, urging restraint.

Director Wan, clearly acting out of impulse, now broke into a cold sweat. Staring into Cheng Wanting’s razor-sharp gaze, he slowly backed down.

Seeing this, Cheng Wanting narrowed his eyes and finally holstered his weapon.

The momentary crisis passed.

Another Yee Wo director, fearing further escalation, urged, “Director Wan, if you have nothing to hide, let them see the documents!”

He leaned forward to open the envelope, fingers untying the string.

But just as the documents were about to be retrieved, Director Wan snatched the envelope and tore it to shreds.

“What documents? This is all a setup by Cheng Wanting to frame me!”

Everyone present was a veteran in the business world. The envelope may have been destroyed, but Director Wan’s behavior made the truth plain as day.

The HSBC representative, acting as a neutral party, announced, “Today’s shareholders’ meeting for Wharf Holdings will be temporarily suspended. Though Yee Wo currently leads Universe Group in holdings, the legitimacy of its shares must be investigated. A final decision will be made next week.”

But despite this delay, it was already clear to all: with Director Wan exposed, Yee Wo’s position was crumbling. Wharf Holdings had all but changed hands.

Universe Group was poised to become the largest shareholder of Wharf Holdings.

Some were elated, others anxious. With HSBC’s announcement, both sides knew how the tides had shifted, and the outcome was now just a matter of formality.

“No need to wait for next week,” Lin Keying’s voice rang out, drawing all eyes.

“Mr. Guo Changda has already agreed to sell his 13% stake in Wharf Holdings to President Cheng.”

Her words struck like a stone dropped into a calm lake—immediate waves of shock.

Mr. Guo, the elusive swing vote that both sides had failed to secure, had apparently sold his shares?

The outcome of this battle for control of Wharf Holdings was now clear.

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The war over shares had come to an end. Wharf Holdings would soon bear the Cheng family name, and the shipping tycoon’s influence would expand accordingly.

HSBC assisted with the post-negotiation arrangements. As Universe Group solidified its position, it would likely go on to acquire the remaining shares, becoming the undisputed power behind Wharf Holdings.

As the meeting ended, the conference doors opened. Cheng Wanting, tall and commanding, stepped out into the corridor of Yee Wo Trading’s 25th floor.

Surrounded by men in black suits—representatives and bodyguards alike—he issued instructions calmly.

Matters regarding Wharf Holdings needed follow-up, but Lin Keying had already been escorted to Universe Group Tower by bodyguards for rest.

Before she left, the HSBC representative shook Cheng Wanting’s hand. “Congratulations, President Cheng.”

Cheng Wanting returned the handshake. “And thank you for HSBC’s support.”

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After a brief exchange between the two parties, Cheng Wanting watched him leave and simply said, “I still have a few words to say to Director Wan of Jardine Matheson.”

Director Wan had already been taken away. Under internal investigation at his own company, Jardine Matheson, he had no strength left to resist and confessed everything.

He had secretly shorted Kowloon Wharf’s stocks by 8%, causing incalculable direct financial losses. If the news were to leak, it would be a devastating blow to Kowloon Wharf, a company partially owned by Jardine Matheson.

Jardine Matheson would deal with him internally, and would also hand him over to the police.

When Cheng Wanting appeared in the office where Director Wan was being interrogated, his polished black leather shoes echoed on the floor. Standing tall beneath the doorway, his broad frame blocked out the light behind him like an unscalable mountain.

Director Wan glared at him with resentment. “Cheng Wanting, you secretly investigated me and found evidence. I blame myself for being too soft-hearted, for not dealing with your men and stopping this.”

Cheng Wanting curled his lips into a mocking smile. “Director Wan, I should thank you for your cooperation today. I discovered the issue, but you were cautious—and ruthless—enough not to let me get actual evidence. That kraft paper envelope only held a few gossip tabloids from today. I didn’t expect you to lose control like that.”

“You—!” Director Wan shot to his feet, staring at Cheng Wanting’s retreating figure. Only then did he realize everything.

He slumped back into his chair, utterly drained, hating himself for falling right into Cheng Wanting’s trap.

++++

By the time Cheng Wanting finished handling the Kowloon Wharf matter and returned to the Huanyu Group building, it was already near dusk. Upon his return, he immediately instructed the company vice president, “Everyone has worked hard during this time. Double the bonuses for all staff this month.”

Spending tens of millions to reward employees—Young Master Cheng was nothing if not generous.

Even the cleaning aunties in the Huanyu building received rewards—everyone got a share.

For working people, a sudden bonus is a delightful surprise, not to mention encountering such a generous boss.

Secretary Yang, who had just escaped a gang of small-time thugs, rushed back to Huanyu. As soon as he stepped into the lobby, he heard the news and knew everything must have gone perfectly.

After hearing what had happened at the negotiation from Cheng Wanting’s personal bodyguards, Secretary Yang then headed straight to the 32nd floor by elevator.

Following the plan, he had pretended to obtain key evidence. After retrieving the kraft paper envelope, he was ambushed on the road and, during the escape, received a call from Lin Keying. He hurriedly hid the envelope in a dessert shop and asked Lin Keying to deliver it to the meeting room.

As for the entire plan, there had been no time to explain it.

Yet the outcome was perfect.

Inside the Huanyu Group building, employees were filled with joy, celebrating their boss becoming the largest shareholder of Kowloon Wharf.

As the shipping industry was on the decline, real estate was rising like the morning sun. The Cheng family’s strategic shift from sea to land was clear—and Kowloon Wharf would be the most critical landing point.

When Secretary Yang wove through the excited crowd and returned to Cheng Wanting’s side, he couldn’t help but think of the rumored duet-like performance between Miss Lin and the young master. He regretfully said, “Young Master, Miss Lin didn’t even discuss anything with you beforehand, yet she cooperated with your plan so perfectly. You two are a perfect match—such amazing chemistry.”

After all, according to the original plan, it was supposed to be him performing that role.

Cheng Wanting recalled his surprise upon seeing Lin Keying in the meeting room. Without having time to discuss anything, she had immediately joined in the attack against Director Wan—seamlessly.

Such natural synchronicity.

“Mm.” Cheng Wanting gave a soft response, then glanced at Yang Minghui. “Did you get hurt?”

“No!” Secretary Yang beamed proudly. “Young Master, those little gangsters aren’t enough to hurt me. It just took a bit of time to shake them off.”

“Good. Make sure all the reporters downstairs are properly managed. What should and shouldn’t be reported today must all be reviewed thoroughly.” Cheng Wanting threw out one final instruction before heading back to his office.

“You can rest assured, Young Master—I understand!”

++++

Huanyu Group, CEO’s Office.

Lin Keying, still wearing a business outfit she’d hastily bought at the mall, finally let out a breath of relief while sitting in her fiancé’s office.

Coming to Hong Kong and cosplaying a secretary, then barging into a multi-billion-dollar power struggle—it had made her nervous.

But also a little excited.

With Secretary Yang out handling matters, she was alone in Cheng Wanting’s office. The large space was bright and expansive, bathed in golden sunset streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows, glittering with soft radiance.

Just like his home, Cheng Wanting’s office was spacious, clean, and minimal, without anything unnecessary.

On the redwood desk were neatly arranged documents, a black teacup, and a sleek fountain pen.

Behind the desk was a wall-to-wall bookshelf. Through the sliding glass doors, she could see rows of books neatly arranged—on finance, economics, and even military strategy.

It suited her fiancé perfectly.

—“Getting bored waiting?”

A familiar voice suddenly echoed through the quiet office. Lin Keying turned and saw her victorious fiancé standing there.

Realizing she was still in her professional outfit, Lin Keying had the urge to tease. She put on a polite business smile and said, “Hello, President Cheng~”

Cheng Wanting scanned her from head to toe carefully.

Taking long strides, he approached her.

Today, Lin Keying looked different. No longer the plain floral blouse from their first meeting, nor the sensual fitted dresses she later wore.

Today she wore a white shirt, black blazer, a short black pencil skirt, and heels—everything about her radiated sharp, professional competence.

Even her smile was different.

Cheng Wanting stared deeply at her, his voice slightly hoarse. “Where did you get the outfit?”

Pleased with herself, Lin Keying explained how Secretary Yang had asked her to deliver the file. “I figured even with his ID, casual clothes wouldn’t cut it for that kind of place. So I just went to the mall and got a business outfit. How is it? Do I look like a secretary?”

She even twirled playfully to show it off.

But as she twirled, she didn’t notice his gaze darkening.

“You do look the part, Secretary Lin.” At that moment, Cheng Wanting let down some of his guard, visibly relaxed but never took his eyes off his “Secretary Lin.”

Having taken part in a billion-dollar scheme, Lin Keying was still riding the high and eagerly asked, “So you had Secretary Yang rush out for the document, then let him get chased by gangsters—it was all to put on a show for Director Wan?”

Cheng Wanting nodded slightly, admiration flickering in his eyes. “When did you realize the documents in that envelope were fake?”

Lin Keying had arrived near the end of the negotiation. Cheng Wanting had no chance to inform her of the plan, yet her words had perfectly aligned with his intentions.

“When you casually tossed the envelope in front of Director Wan, like you didn’t care at all.” She hadn’t known about the plan but guessed it based on his actions and tried helping.

Unexpectedly, her suggestion for Director Wan to open the envelope publicly had convinced him even more that the envelope contained incriminating evidence—and also exposed his guilt to everyone present.

A masterstroke.

Cheng Wanting looked at her intently. His eyes unreadable. Remembering what Yang Minghui said about their perfect teamwork, a rare smile tugged at his lips.

Thinking of the doubled bonuses outside, Lin Keying boldly stretched out her hand. “So? Was I brilliant or what? Don’t you think I deserve a reward too, President Cheng~?”

Wearing her sharp outfit, eyes sparkling with glee, she stood bathed in golden sunset light like a vision from a dream.

Cheng Wanting’s smile widened—but just as he was about to speak, his eyes caught the faint cut on her right index finger.

The thin red line against her pale skin—it was blinding.

Just like the bloodstain on the kraft paper envelope.

“Who gave you permission to do that?” His expression suddenly changed, voice low and furious.

Following his gaze, Lin Keying looked at the self-inflicted cut. She had done it on a whim to make the blood on the envelope more convincing.

It was just a shallow cut. Nothing serious.

She had done it for him—why was this annoying man yelling at her?

“You—” Lin Keying no longer cared whether he was some rich CEO or even her fiancé. She opened her mouth, ready to argue—

Only for her words to die in her throat.

His breath was hot against her finger. Wet, warm.

Lin Keying looked down.

The man had lowered his head and was gently sucking on the cut on her finger, lips softly wrapping around the wound.

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