Giving Respect

As usual, the triple plea! Votes, recommendations, and favorites, please!

Wednesday, early morning, High-Tech Zone Sub-Bureau.

The sudden transfer order announced at the morning meeting struck Lu Yin, who had spent all of yesterday in anxiety, like a devastating blow.

"Hereby appointing Second-Class Police Inspector Lu Yin of the High-Tech Zone as Deputy Captain of the Patrol Squad at Chengkou County Police Bureau."

Chengkou, the most remote suburban county under the jurisdiction of Mist City, a major town in the southwest, was called a county, but its central district barely matched the scale of a township. Its streets formed a four-by-five grid, with a single supermarket to its name. Yet, organizationally, the county police bureau held the rank of a principal department, the patrol squad was a deputy department, the squad itself a section chief, and the deputy captain’s role was a perfect fit for a second-class inspector at deputy section level.

As soon as the meeting ended, Lu Yin, feeling as though a heavy stone weighed upon her heart, stormed angrily into the deputy director’s office.

"Uncle, why?" she demanded.

"Why what?" Deputy Director Huang Zongli of the High-Tech Zone Sub-Bureau took a sip of tea, then looked up, casting a rather disapproving glance at his own niece.

Under Huang Zongli’s gaze, Lu Yin flinched inwardly, but still insisted, "Why send me to such a far-off suburb like Chengkou? Are there no other options?"

"Bang!" Huang Zongli suddenly slapped the table, shouting, "You still want other options? The only reason you haven’t been completely demoted is because I, your uncle, went all out to save you!"

Lu Yin fell silent.

"Do you even know whom you’ve offended? Utter nonsense!" Huang Zongli was still indignant. "Yesterday morning, Director Wu called me personally. The person you arrested was a student under eighteen. You showed up at the school without informing the parents. Even if there had been a video, this alone would be enough to have you sweeping the streets!"

"I—"

"Don’t ‘I’ me! Is that half-brother of yours so precious, but I, your uncle, am not?" Huang Zongli grew even more agitated. "If my sister hadn’t raised me herself, entrusting you to my care on her deathbed, I wouldn’t bother meddling in the filthy business of the Lu family!"

"Uncle—"

"Sigh. The transfer is set in stone. Don’t entertain any fantasies, and don’t run to your uncle, the deputy secretary-general. Because of your actions, I’ve heard his promotion to secretary-general next week has already been scrapped."

"What?!"

"No need to act shocked. That Yang Tang, his father is a senior professor at Mist University, with many protégés in the city government, some even outranking me. I’ve also heard that just yesterday afternoon, the secretary to Number Two personally called to explain the mess you caused!"

Lu Yin was stunned, unable to believe it. "Does Yang Tang’s father really have so much influence?"

"Hmph, it’s all about academic connections. Do you know who Yang Tang’s father’s mentor is? Qian Siping!" Huang Zongli’s gaze was full of disappointment as he spoke. "Against people like that, even if we follow the letter of the law, we may not get them to come to the station, let alone the fact that your actions on Monday were completely unfounded!"

Lu Yin hurriedly nodded in agreement, but muttered under her breath, "Qian Siping? Why does that name sound so familiar?"

"How could it not? He’s the vice president of the Royal Academy of Sciences!"

At lunchtime, Bai Keqing came to find Yang Tang, getting straight to the point. "Let me treat you to a meal, and introduce you to someone!"

The reason for her directness was not because she and Yang Tang were especially close, but because she had realized that if you wanted to ask Yang Tang for help, you had to be straightforward. Otherwise, nothing would come of it.

Yang Tang waved his hand. "Ke Bai, you’ve got it backwards. After all you did for me the other day, I should be the one treating you!"

"But I brought a friend—the one from Qin Chuan Restaurant."

Yang Tang frowned. "That poem I wrote for the restaurant was never registered online. If your friend copies it, there’s nothing I can do. Why bother buying it?"

Bai Keqing was taken aback, then admitted sheepishly, "Don’t be mad, but I already registered your poem online for you. I also registered your previous one, 'Hearts Aligned,' and even 'If Only We Could Meet Again for the First Time'..."

Now it was Yang Tang’s turn to be surprised. After a long pause, he glanced meaningfully at Bai Keqing. "Well, let him come, then. I’ll hear his offer, but I can’t promise to sell."

"Then let me thank you on her behalf."

Half an hour later, in a private room on the second floor of Qin Chuan Restaurant, Yang Tang met the ‘he’ Bai Keqing had mentioned—who turned out, in fact, to be a ‘she’: a stunning beauty, not yet thirty, in the prime of her youth!

"Hello, my name’s Qin Yiqing."

"Yang Tang."

Qin Yiqing stood at least 1.7 meters tall. Her slightly elongated, limpid eyes held no trace of seduction, only crystal clarity. Her jet-black, ear-length hair lent her an air of freshness and composure. The hint of reserved smile at her lips made her approachable, yet never lacking in grace or charm. Her dress, of some unknown make, was cut to fit perfectly, accentuating her elegant, slender figure—truly captivating.

Her fair, delicate hand parted from Yang Tang’s almost at once, and she gracefully turned to take her seat opposite him.

It must be said, Yang Tang was momentarily taken in by Qin Yiqing’s allure. But a man of experience is a man of experience: he recovered quickly, knowing a woman like this was far beyond his reach at present. Snuffing out any fleeting fantasy, he shifted instantly to business mode. "Boss Qin, I hear you’ve been looking for me?"

Qin Yiqing was momentarily surprised, as if she couldn’t believe Yang Tang had so quickly shaken off the effect of her charm. Her cherry lips parted as she spoke softly, "That’s right. I believe you know why I’m here?"

One had to admit, her voice was also enchanting—crisp but not piercing, smooth but not cloying, clear with a subtle hint of sweetness.

To spend a night with her—

Just as Yang Tang’s thoughts began to drift, a sudden surge in the sea of spiritual power in his mind jolted him awake.

Impressed and wary, Yang Tang grew all the more cautious. "Boss Qin, of course I understand your intentions. But today, I’m here to treat Ke Bai to lunch, and as a favor to her, I agreed to meet you. So if you’re interested in my poem, just name your price. You have five minutes."

Qin Yiqing was both surprised and slightly irritated. What did he mean, as a favor to Bai Keqing? Was her own face not persuasive enough?

Bai Keqing, too, was slightly startled by Yang Tang’s attitude, but secretly, she was a little pleased. "Tang Tang, Sister Yiqing is my—"

"Quiet!" At this, Qin Yiqing’s businesswoman’s temper surfaced. "Fine, Yang Tang, let’s talk business. Qin Chuan Chain Group is prepared to offer three hundred thousand for all rights to your poem, including authorship!"

Yang Tang shook his head with a smile. "Not enough."

Qin Yiqing’s composure finally broke; her willow brows arched slightly. "How much do you want?"

"If you want authorship rights, add another zero to that offer. Otherwise, there’s nothing more to discuss," Yang Tang replied coolly.

"Don’t you think you’re asking too much?" Qin Yiqing frowned.

Yang Tang shrugged. "Boss Qin, as you said, it’s business. I’ve named my price. If you’re not willing, we can part ways amicably, can’t we?" In truth, had this been half a month ago, Yang Tang would have accepted three hundred thousand without hesitation. But the broader one’s horizons, the bigger one’s heart. Yang Tang had already made three million and didn’t mind setting a high price for the poem—take it or leave it.

Qin Yiqing, unaware of Yang Tang’s recent fortunes, hesitated for a good ten seconds before nodding decisively. "Three million it is. I’ll buy it!"

"Hold on," Yang Tang interjected, waving his hand.

Seeing this, Qin Yiqing realized he had more conditions and grew annoyed. "Don’t push your luck!"

"Heh, Boss Qin, you seem to have misunderstood. This is business. I have terms; if you don’t like them, you don’t have to buy," Yang Tang said with a smirk.

"Speak!"

"It’s simple. Three million, after taxes."

Those two extra words nearly made Qin Yiqing jump up in anger. "You—"

"In addition, I know my price is a bit much. So, the contract must specify that after the transaction, Qin Chuan must not defame me or cause me any trouble for any reason. The penalty for breach: three hundred million in compensation!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

"Why not? So long as you don’t plan on coming after me later, the three hundred million is just paper."

Qin Yiqing thought it over and realized it was true. Gritting her teeth, she nodded fiercely. "Deal!"

Now that Qin Yiqing had "swallowed her pride" and agreed to these terms, everything else was easy. Both sides quickly found lawyers and drafted the contract. As soon as Yang Tang finished lunch with Bai Keqing, Qin Yiqing suggested signing on the spot.

"Sign, then!" Yang Tang picked up his wineglass, sipped the last of the red, and recited with a smile, "In the luminous goblet, the grape wine glows, as the pipa hastens us to drink on horseback." With that, he prepared to sign the contract.

"Wait!" Qin Yiqing suddenly snatched the pen from his hand in a frenzy.

Yang Tang eyed her sideways, displeased. "What’s this supposed to mean? Are you toying with me?"

"No, no," Qin Yiqing shook her fair hand repeatedly, "That poem you just recited—?"

Yang Tang gave a half-smile, "The one about the grape wine in the night-glowing cup?"

"Yes, yes, is it for sale?"

"No."

"Why not?" Qin Yiqing, rarely, put on a pitiful expression.

"No reason. It’s simply not for sale," Yang Tang replied, raising his brow. "Are we signing or not? If not, I’m leaving." With that, he stood up to go.