Brooklin's face was shadowed as he spoke, Lan Jiu turned away without even bothering to acknowledge him. Lan Biao understood his master's temper well and chuckled, "There is an old Chinese proverb that goes 'Think thrice before acting.' Mr. Brooklin, do you know what it means?"

Though Brooklin could speak fluent Chinese, he was unfamiliar with the nuances of idioms. He recognized each individual character but failed to grasp their combined meaning. His stiff face showed no reaction as Lan Biao explained matter-of-factly, "It simply means that if you think too much - three times in particular - you'll end up reporting directly to heaven."

Nie Yunhuan bit back laughter at the absurdity of this twisted interpretation while Brooklin's expression darkened considerably. After a tense silence where veins throbbed on his forehead, he finally said, "I can agree, but I demand that Miss Gu Yingxi personally oversees this advertising campaign."

Gu Yingxi had no expectation of being involved in such matters until now. She knew Mr. Brooklin understood her desire to join the Lan Ning Company, and realized this was a deliberate maneuver to bring her attention. Overwhelmed with emotion she could find no words, but Nie Yunhuan dismissed the request outright: "Impossible, Miss Gu is not an employee of our company."

Every concession had already been made today - they came here specifically to defend Gu Yingxi's honor only for it to be trampled again. Now that Brooklin had suffered losses and incurred debts toward Lan Ning Company, his resentment grew deeper. He resolved to pay the heavy sum now and later seek retribution by borrowing resources from his uncle in England once back home.

Yet even after paying so dearly, Brooklin expected returns. Though he hadn't succeeded in asserting dominance over Gu Yingxi, he still needed her to acknowledge his capabilities lest he lose face before this woman who mattered most to him. The amount of money he'd sacrificed was substantial for merely requesting that she handle the campaign - but Nie Yunhuan's immediate refusal ignited a cold fury within him as Brooklin declared with chilling voice, "My only demand is Miss Gu as sole spokesperson for our wine advertisements, whether you agree or not."

"Then there's no more to discuss," Nie Yunhuan shook his head. Inviting this ill-omened woman into their company was akin to welcoming a vengeful spirit. After trimming the influence of these rival men and eliminating threats, she had no desire for further contact with Gu Yingxi - especially since Brooklin seemed unaware that Gu was secretly infatuated with Lan Lingyan.

A prince of the Italian mafia's Green family with such limited capabilities? Even backed by powerful figures, his days were numbered if this was all he could muster.

"I paid such an exorbitant sum," Brooklin roared as Nie Yunhuan continued to show disrespect. The advertising fees were astronomical - enough that the Green family would struggle for years just repaying it while their annual grape cultivation costs and labor expenses alone already constituted massive outlays not included in projected profits. "Unless Miss Gu is the spokesperson, I'll only pay half!"

Lan Jiu nodded decisively: "Then we accept your reduced offer."

The words hung heavy as Brooklin finally registered their meaning. Even a shrewd man like him couldn't suppress the urge to vomit from this humiliation.

"Mr. Lan," Brooklin hissed through clenched teeth, "this is outright mockery!" Lan Lingyan repeated the agreement coldly: "We'll handle the advertising campaign however we please, and you won't dictate our spokesperson selection - only half of your original payment!"

"This is outrageous!" The anger boiled over as Brooklin exclaimed in a Chinese idiom. Though the reduced sum was still an entire year's income for the Greens, it felt like throwing money into water where it made splashes yet returned nothing. Without satisfying his desire to see Gu achieve her goals through this campaign, what justification did he have to spend all that? Was he being treated as some naive fool with deep pockets?

"Mr. Green," Lan Lingyan's voice darkened dangerously, "my patience is limited. I hope you don't force me to repeat myself."

The initial negotiations had been arranged out of respect for Nie Yunhuan - otherwise Brooklin wouldn't have wasted his time at all. The Greens were wealthy but lacked real power; if not for his first business venture targeting precisely this rich yet vulnerable family by abducting their eldest heir, Lan Lingyan would likely have never given Brooklin the chance to sit across from him.

Lan Lingyan's refined demeanor masked no tolerance for such trivialities now. He'd already shown his ruthlessness in past dealings with Brooklin - killing members of the Green family once, and doing so again if needed.

Patience abandoned, he rose and pulled Nie Yunhuan up by her arm. Turning to Lan Biao, he gave silent instructions that Brooklin wouldn't be released until all necessary signatures were secured. As he prepared to leave, Brooklin sat speechless with an ashen face while Gu Yingxi's heart nearly stopped.

She hadn't seen Lan Lingyan for so long - missing him painfully despite his complete indifference toward her. Yet even this tiny wish for a glance was now slipping away...

"Jiu Ge..." she called out passionately, causing the assembled men to shudder involuntarily at the sight of such heartfelt devotion directed at their cruel master.

Lan Biao bit back laughter as he observed Nie Yunhuan's twitching brow.

Remaining calmer than anyone else present was Lan Lingyan himself. A flicker of killing intent crossed his eyes - Gu Yingxi had always been a mere nuisance to him, unworthy of serious consideration. Why should he care about how she chose to address him? She was nothing more than an unremarkable dog that neither pleased nor annoyed him.

But now he found her utterly repulsive. Adjusting his glasses with deliberate precision, the special lenses flared white before he coldly declared: "Mr. Green, if you cannot control your property, perhaps it's best not to bring it out in public."

Brooklin had long been fixated on Gu Yingxi, viewing her as an inevitable acquisition. He certainly didn't want Lan Lingyan speaking ill of his 'belongings,' especially coming from the same man who'd already incited his murderous rage once before. Snorting with contempt, he retorted: "My affairs don't need your interference, Mr. Lan."

Lan Lingyin merely smiled while secretly plotting to teach this arrogant man humility.

The contract had cost Brooklin dearly - an expensive advertisement that achieved nothing and failed to secure Gu's favor. His fury was, yet operating within Chinese territory made approaching Lan Lingyan unwise. After exhausting mafia resources without uncovering any information about him, Brooklin lost his composure completely, shedding the elegance he once maintained.

Gu Yingxi found this transformation shocking while developing even more complicated feelings for Lan Lingyan through comparison - Brooklin suddenly appeared far less impressive. Remembering how Lan Lingyan had ignored her entirely during this encounter (having likely mistaken their relationship), she felt another wave of heartache and requested to return home:

"I've been away from my family for some time now, and I'm truly grateful for Mr. Green's hospitality and support. If there ever comes a day when you need my help, please don't hesitate to ask - I'll certainly cooperate wholeheartedly."

Brooklin's anger flared at her distancing behavior. He wasn't naive; he recognized the growing emotional distance between them. Yet this only intensified his fury toward Gu Yingxi.

Though Brooklin could be romantic and emotionally driven when it came to love, his position as heir of the Green family was secured through calculated decisions, not sentimental impulses. One foolish act had already cost him - repeating such behavior wasn't in character anymore.

His attraction to Gu Yingxi was unique but limited. While he found her alluring for reasons beyond mere beauty or figure (after all, there were many more conventionally attractive women), that allure now felt like claiming someone others had rejected. This feeling deeply wounded his pride as a lifelong prodigy who always obtained what he desired.

When she suddenly requested to return home, it felt like she was treating him as disposable now that he'd shown her some kindness.

Clamping down on her chin with brutal force, he sneered: "Miss Gu, don't you think this sudden desire for departure is rather disrespectful toward me?"

Gu Yingxi had grown accustomed to Brooklin's gentlemanly demeanor and was startled by this violent shift. Her face paled as she trembled, paralyzed by the pain of his grip. Tears welled up in her eyes as she pleaded: "Mr. Green... what are you doing? What's wrong with you?"

Her vulnerable, tearful expression should have softened him - yet Brooklin only saw a woman who hadn't resisted at all. He relaxed slightly and smiled: "Miss Gu, I always believed something special could blossom between us."

She recognized this familiar predatory gaze immediately from other men before. Each time it was followed by torn clothing - but unlike past experiences with Lan Lingyan nearby, she now felt no confidence in resisting. Weakly struggling despite knowing it was futile, she whispered: "Don't do this... please..."

Her voice trembled pathetically like a frightened deer on the verge of tears: "Aren't we friends?"

Brooklin laughed at her naivety: "Miss Gu, do you really believe that two strangers without deep bonds or mutual trust can call themselves friends through mere physical intimacy?"

Shaking her head weakly with foreboding dread already settling in, Gu Yingxi knew escape was impossible. As Brooklin undressed her, she only closed her eyes tightly to avoid seeing the situation unfold.

This passive response actually disappointed him - far less dramatic than imagined. Was this woman truly pragmatic and lacking the dignified resilience he associated with classical Chinese beauty? Or had his earlier fantasies about her been entirely illusory?

Anger rising at her meek acceptance, Brooklin abandoned all restraint. After such an immense financial sacrifice for nothing in return except a helpless cry, he felt compelled to extract some form of retribution from this woman. Especially since he would eventually settle the score with Lan Lingyan later.

Her muffled sobs during their encounter only irritated him further when his mood was already poor. Though her body possessed intoxicating qualities, it was just another woman after all - a potential slave if truly desired. The weeping face made everything more repulsive than sensual.

The first intimate encounter left Brooklin with no pleasant memories. Thinking back to previous lovers who were equally beautiful but far smarter and obedient, he found Gu Yingxi's half-hearted resistance utterly tiresome. If she really enjoyed it so much why pretend to be violated? Perhaps if she had fought harder he might have felt some satisfaction...

"Enough, Miss Gu," he growled with irritation. "You're crying - did you truly enjoy none of it? Or is my technique lacking?" Seeing her exhausted yet still displaying a pained expression post-coitus, Brooklin's darkened face declared coldly: "If you're unwilling, please just leave."