Stop putting pressure on me

"Excuse me, not only are we a legitimate company, we're a publicly listed company."

Ye Chongli was utterly unapologetic and very proud, seemingly finding nothing inappropriate about it at all. "Since our young master has expressed his intention to inherit the family business, the company's directors need to learn about every aspect of the person who'll be taking charge. There's nothing wrong with watching his livestream."

Ye Yizhou actually laughed at that.

"Would you listen to what you're saying?"

After watching the livestream, could they really feel comfortable handing the company over to him?

"The young master's performance on today's livestream stood in stark contrast to his public persona over the past two years in the entertainment industry. That alone proves his acting skills are superb and his depths unfathomable. Nobody in business is an innocent little bunny. He knows how to conceal his abilities and mislead others, yet can also silence an entire room with his imposing presence in an instant. I'm confident that under the young master's leadership, the company will only prosper further."

"Whether it's a business marriage or true love, the young master tying the knot with President Yan is a happy occasion worthy of celebration."

Every one of them lived up to their reputation as an old fox. They were all shrewd veterans of the business world, and they certainly knew how to make things sound good.

Every other sentence was about his marriage to Yan Qingdu. Whether it came down to clever tactics or personal charm, it all supposedly proved how impressive Ye Yizhou was.

"Wait, Yan Qingdu and I aren't exactly keeping our marriage secret, and plenty of people know, but it's not as though the whole world has heard about it. Why do all of you know? Have you been going around publicizing it?"

Somewhat puzzled, Ye Yizhou turned to Ye Chongli and questioned him in a low voice.

"Qingdu joined our meeting this morning. He said it himself, not me," Ye Chongli clarified in his own defense.

But...

"He watched my dating show livestream with you? Where was he watching?"

"It was an online meeting!"

Ye Yizhou: ...

Although he had hoped Yan Qingdu would see it, surely not under circumstances like these!

"You said you were married, and the other directors got curious and asked who you'd married. Qingdu said it was him. That was all," Ye Chongli recounted casually.

"So why was he having a meeting with you?"

Ye Yizhou changed the subject outright, feeling there was still a great deal he didn't know about all this.

"Now that you and Qingdu are married, naturally our two families are closer. The deeper strategic partnership we mentioned before has also been put on the agenda, so we held a meeting to discuss the details."

Ye Chongli patiently filled Ye Yizhou in on the background.

Ye Yizhou had heard about this before. It was also the basis for the political marriage he had initially proposed.

What Ye Yizhou cared about most was, "What was the conclusion?"

"We plan to use our company's new technology in film and television production, using those productions to broaden public awareness and acceptance of this new technology. Our company's holographic technology is an emerging technology, and we must retain control of its core technology. But that technology is also the most important part of our partnership with Yan Group. To ensure both sides are as satisfied as possible with the collaboration, we need a bridge that both parties trust deeply."

Lu Yuanqing gave a general overview of the project.

"Could you put that in simpler terms?" Ye Yizhou listened with his brow tightly furrowed.

"Simply put, you'll be in charge of this joint project, and you'll have the final say on both sides."

Ye Yizhou's brow furrowed even further. "Who am I to have the final say on both sides?"

"You're Chairman Ye's legal heir and the legal spouse of Yan Group's head. In terms of your position, your words do carry weight on both sides."

Lu Yuanqing nodded at Ye Yizhou and said with a serious expression, "And we'll specify all of this in the contract clauses. So whether under inheritance law, contract law, or other legal relationships, you'll have considerable authority."

"You're really comfortable handing such a major project to a newcomer with no experience whatsoever?"

Ye Yizhou expressed his doubts about that.

"Well, President Yan specifically requested that you be put in charge of this project, young master!"

"Young master, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Every project carries risks at the start. As long as it doesn't lose money, it'll be a great success."

"We've all seen what you're capable of, young master. We believe you young people can create new sparks with holographic technology."

"Exactly. Just go ahead and do it, young master. If you run into any difficulties with the project, come to us anytime. If there's anything we can help with, we certainly won't refuse."

The directors spoke up one after another to state their positions, while those who said nothing kept nodding in agreement.

Ye Yizhou leaned languidly against the back of his chair, tapping his slender fingers against the conference table a few times as he listened thoughtfully to them speak.

They seemed to have a great deal of confidence in his abilities.

But he hadn't demonstrated any particular abilities.

It was very strange.

"What did Yan Qingdu promise you?"

Ye Yizhou spoke slowly, his calm tone carrying an oppressive force that brooked no argument.

Everyone who had been voicing their support fell silent, turning toward Ye Chongli in unspoken agreement.

"Nothing much. Qingdu said he'd cover it, whatever happened with the project in the end."

Ye Chongli had nothing to hide from his own son.

"Have you no shame? So you've landed yourself a deal where you can't possibly lose?" Ye Yizhou gave a cold scoff. He'd known it had to be something like this.

"I didn't ask for it. Qingdu offered it himself. I couldn't stop him!"

Ye Chongli spread his hands, looking utterly innocent, and explained quite frankly, "I swear, whether I meant it sincerely or not, I really did turn him down at the time. But he said that since this was a project for his partner to gain experience, naturally he should bear the consequences. Once he'd gone that far, I would've looked very tactless if I kept quibbling. I'm an emotionally intelligent person. I've always known how to read people, so I had to show him that much respect."

He even remembered to guilt-trip Ye Yizhou at the end. "If you feel bad for Qingdu, then make sure you do a good job with this project."

Unfortunately, Ye Yizhou wasn't buying any of it. He rolled his eyes irritably at Ye Chongli.

"Stop putting pressure on me."

"I'm not putting pressure on you. Just as long as you know where things stand. Your dad has every confidence in you!" Ye Chongli looked at Ye Yizhou and nodded solemnly, his face full of appreciation.

Ye Yizhou was speechless.

"Since the young master has agreed to this joint project, we'll take our leave."

The main item on today's agenda had been discussed and settled, so the directors could take their leave now.

"Thank you for your hard work."

The directors left the conference room one after another, leaving only Ye Yizhou, Ye Chongli, and Lu Yuanqing in the spacious room.

"Wait, the thing you want me to handle is the joint project with Yan Group. What makes you think you can take time off and go on vacation? Who's going to run the company?"

The more Ye Yizhou thought about it, the stranger it seemed, and he couldn't quite understand it.

"Yuanqing, of course!" Ye Chongli said with complete confidence.

Lu Yuanqing sent an eye roll his way.

"I've also hired all those professional managers. And failing everything else, there's still you!"

Ye Yizhou sent an eye roll his way too.

Ye Chongli saw none of it and sighed. "There's no longer anywhere for me to put my talents to use here. Let me go! The world is so big. I want to get out and see it too!"

Ye Chongli happily took his wife off on vacation, delighted with himself, but left Ye Yizhou an enormous "gift."