I Want to Become Close Partners with Miss Ju Zi

Long Wushang stopped rolling the walnuts in his hand and set the pair of collector's walnuts on the coffee table.

"Since you're being so straightforward, Miss Ju Zi, I'll speak plainly."

Long Wushang leaned back against the sofa, his gaze sweeping up and down the bespectacled woman before him.

"I do indeed want to work with you. Xu Tianran must trust you deeply by now, and your abilities certainly merit that trust. I've always enjoyed dealing with capable, intelligent, beautiful women."

Ju Zi's expression remained unchanged at his words. Behind her gold-rimmed glasses, her beautiful eyes stayed calm.

None of that was the point. No matter how flattering or pleasing his words were, they meant nothing. What mattered was what came next.

Seeing her like this, Long Wushang felt his desire to conquer her steadily rise.

"The cooperation I'm talking about isn't between the merchant association and the Eastern Palace, nor is it the sort of overt or covert cooperation between me and His Highness the Crown Prince."

"I want to establish a close strategic partnership known only to the two of us."

Ju Zi raised her eyebrows slightly at Long Wushang's novel turn of phrase.

"A close strategic partnership? That's an interesting expression, Chairman Long. I'm not quite sure what you mean," Ju Zi asked in confusion.

At that, Long Wushang leaned forward slightly, close enough to catch the scent of the woman opposite him.

"It's simple. The Black Dragon Merchant Association has all the people and money you could need."

"According to my intelligence, during the recent assassination attempt on His Highness the Crown Prince, the commander of his guards turned on him on the spot and crippled both his legs. Xu Tianran is now suspicious of everyone. He doesn't dare trust a single official at court or