"That'll do. Let's call it here for today."
As dusk settled in, Ji Jue washed his hands at the tap, wiped away the grime, and nodded. "Thank you for the guidance, Yan Craftsman. I'd say I've figured out most of it."
Figured it out? Most of it?
Did he even hear the nonsense coming out of his own mouth?
Yan Jian nodded beside him, disillusioned with life, too lazy to play along.
Whatever you say.
If you say so, then so be it.
"I more or less understand the specifics now as well."
Ji Jue turned back to look at him. "It hasn't been easy for you to hold things together alone all these years, Yan Craftsman. It wouldn't be right to force you to stay. If you want to leave, I won't stop you. As for compensation, I'll help you get the highest amount possible.
"Of course, if you can stay, that would be even better."
Ji Jue smiled faintly. "After all, restoring production won't be easy. With you here, I'll be much more confident."
Silence descended.
Still stunned, Yan Jian did not even have time to feel overjoyed. He stared at Ji Jue blankly, as though he had not understood, his mind suddenly empty.
Instinctively, he wanted to be happy, yet he did not know whether it was for the freedom and compensation he had long dreamed of, or for the resumption of production he had already given up on.
He could not say a word.
Over the years, he had been fed too many empty promises.
Now, he was afraid at the very sight of one.
Before he could react, though, a note with a phone number written on it was pressed into his hand.
"Excuse me, my business cards haven't been printed yet. Yan Craftsman, once