"Xueye!" Xinhua yelled out the moment she spotted Xueye and Jinse enter the door. She bolted over and wrapped her arms around her brother. "Are you alright?! You aren't hurt, are you?" She pulled back, looking over him for any sign of injuries.
"I'm fine." Xueye smiled reassuringly at her. "Jinse made sure of it."
"You should have brought me with you! I was worried sick!" Xinhua huffed, glaring at them both.
"He's safe now," Jinse stated almost as much to convince himself as Xinhua.
"Are you certain? Hu Ning told me that it was Jianhong's people that had taken you," Xinhua wasn't convinced that he would just let them go without some sordid deal. She knew of his reputation, having dealt with many of the repercussions as a member of the guard.
"I bought out the company's debt to him," Jinse explained, his expression was quite serious. "I wasn't about to let that man worm his way into one of his shady deals with Xueye."
"Debt?" Xinhua blinked and then she remembered having seen such repayments on the books before. "I can't believe that crazy debt was to Jianhong of all people."
"You don't happen to know the details of it do you?" Xueye asked, hoping he wouldn't have to try and pry answers out of his father. Doing so would be like pulling teeth.
"Unfortunately no. Not for lack of trying, back when I first discovered it," Xinhua sighed. She was always so frustrated that their father never elaborated when she asked. Now she was just furious since it put Xueye in danger. "Since it's caused you so much trouble we have to get to the bottom of it."
"I plan to," Xueye sighed frustratedly. "Especially if Jinse and I are going to finalize a contract over the matter. I refuse to settle for not having all the information."
"If he continues to give you trouble over the matter, I'll be more than happy to press him for details as well," Jinse had a dangerous look in his eye.
"Will you be able to without hurting him?" Xinhua chuckled darkly.
"No promises," Jinse smirked.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that then," Xueye giggled. "We have much to go over beforehand. Jiejie, if you would like to head off for a while, feel free."
"Are you sure?" Xinhua glanced between the two of them with eyes filled with worry.
"He'll be safe here," Jinse reassured. "I don't plan on letting him leave here without you or me escorting him."
"I figured that much," Xinhua crossed her arms and looked at Xueye.
"It's quite alright," Xueye nodded, a faint dusting of pink hitting his cheeks as he realized what she was getting at. "It's just business after all."
"Okay, okay," Xinhua shrugged. She really wanted to at least report this all to Shizhe anyways. Since Xueye was not in any danger by all appearances she didn't think reporting it within the guard would do much good. Shizhe cared but also she could bring it up to those she thought it relevant, especially since she was Xinhua's only other connection to Shujing. Surely he would want to know given Xueye had been under his protection from this threat from the moment it began. "I'll be back soon. Behave you two!" She teased as she started to leave.
"No promises!" Jinse smirked at her and waved as she glared at him over her shoulder. He glanced over at Hu Ning and signalled to her to join them when she had a chance. She nodded in confirmation and Jinse turned his delighted smile to Xueye once more. "Come along, dear!" Jinse placed a hand on the small of Xueye's back and guided him back to his office.
"I know we have a lot to talk about, but can we just sit for a moment?" Xueye asked as he sank into the comfortable plush seating area in Jinse's office. All the adrenaline finally wore off and now he was feeling exhausted and a little overwhelmed again. "It's all starting to catch up to me."
"There's no rush," Jinse sat close to Xueye, pulling him to lean against him. "I have all the time in the world for you."
"You always say that," Xueye melted against Jinse's delightful warmth.
"I mean it. This place runs perfectly fine without me," Jinse started mindlessly playing with strands of silky white hair. "I'm available to you anytime you need me or want me even."
"Must you put it that way?" Xueye grumbled. Now that he wasn't on edge, Jinse's smooth words were starting to affect him again.
"I mean it!" Jinse couldn't resist teasing him a little. "Even in the way you are thinking."
"Oh, stop it you!" Xueye lightly smacked his chest. He wanted to push away to hide his embarrassment, but he just had no energy to do so. Instead he just buried his face in Jinse's chest. "You don't know what I'm thinking!"
"Care to enlighten me then?" Jinse leaned down and whispered into Xueye's ear. Xueye shivered at the feeling of Jinse's breath against his neck. With great effort, Jinse forced his head back, else he would have nipped at the bit of exposed skin.
"Why must you always tease me like this?" Xueye huffed, not lifting his head.
"I'm not. I mean every word I say to you," Jinse beamed as he resumed playing with Xueye's hair. "What will it take for you to believe that?"
"Say for a second I did…" Xueye forced himself to sit up. "We are in a position now where I owe you too much…"
"Right…" Jinse winced as he thought about the meaning behind those words. He didn't want Xueye to be with him out of some sense of obligation. He almost regretted stepping in the way he had, yet he'd still do it again in a heartbeat. "Look, Xueye, the last thing I want is for you to feel like you have to do anything for me. It would kill me to know you thought that way. If there is one thing we've been able to establish over the past few years it's that our personal relationship and our business relationship are completely separate and shouldn't affect the other, understand?"
"You're right," Xueye squeezed his eyes shut. He felt like he was just looking for excuses to avoid his feelings again. "I'm just being foolish, I guess…"
"You're tired," Jinse placed a hand on Xueye's head. "That was an ordeal to go through. Perhaps it's best we leave the little details for tomorrow. You can sleep here until your sister returns, if you'd rather."
"No," Xueye said softly as he shook his head. "I would feel much better if we do get a little worked out today at least."
"As you wish," Jinse flashed a saddened smile but he understood. As long as it put Xueye's mind at ease then he was more than willing.
There was a curt knock on the door.
"Come in," Jinse called out, figuring it was Hu Ning. If it was anyone else he was going to send them away.
"I finally have a moment," Hu Ning voiced as she stepped in. "What is it you need of me?"
"Come sit a moment," Jinse waved her over.
"Just what did you do now, Master Jinse?" She sighed heavily as she sat down across from them. She doubted Jinse wanted her there very long, since he usually liked to be alone with Xueye when he got the chance, so the fact he asked her to sit was foreboding. She knew whatever she was about to hear was going to be something that would cause more work for her and those in the Fox's Den.
"I don't know if you overheard us speaking with Xinhua earlier, but I decided to buy out the debt Jianhong was lording over the Meigui Trading Company," Jinse explained rather formally.
"It's a lot isn't it?" Hu Ning's brows knitted in concern. She knew Jinse wouldn't intervene in such affairs unless it was absolutely necessary. The fact that Jinse did, meant it was something the company couldn't handle on its own.
"Sorry. It is…" Xueye sighed.
"A pretty paltry sum compared to what we possess," Jinse waved the notion away. He built this place for Xueye's sake so utilizing the amassed funding for Xueye as well was only natural in Jinse's eyes.
Jinse rose and walked over to his desk, pulling out paper and ink. He quickly wrote out the details behind the arrangement and an invoice for the transaction for Hu Ning to keep track of later. "Provided nothing goes wrong, a woman by the name of Qiu Bai should be here before sundown to collect. See to it that they get what's owed."
"It's probably for the better that you did, but I'm surprised you agreed to this, Young Master," Hu Ning looked at Xueye with worry.
"I didn't have much choice in the matter," Xueye chuckled softly, glancing at Jinse. Jinse looked at him apologetically but Xueye wasn't upset about it in the slightest with a warm smile taking over. "It's fine though. I much prefer doing business with someone I'm comfortable with over the threatening atmosphere of that meeting."
"Here," Jinse handed Hu Ning the documents he'd just whipped up.
"This isn't some joke, right?" Her eyes widened at the amount listed. She glanced between the two of them in utter disbelief.
"It's not," Jinse shook his head with a serious expression. "I could see why you would think so. It's a ridiculous amount for that bastard to request in the first place with the addition of a crazy amount of interest, it's no wonder it's become such an issue."
"Heavens," she sighed heavily. She looked at Xueye sympathetically, "Young Master, please realize that we will handle this matter and know that we are anything but ruthless debt collectors. This will be handled with care."
"Thank you," Xueye smiled. "Please don't give the company preferential treatment over this though. It is my father's debt, not mine." Xueye huffed bitterly. "I simply have to deal with the consequences of his actions."
"You shouldn't have to," Jinse practically growled as he flopped down next to Xueye again. "Still, as she said, we aren't vicious debt collectors. For the few that we do take care of, we treat each with the respect that each person deserves. While your father doesn't, if it is truly under the company, which we rely greatly upon, it will be treated with care. Finding another to handle all our supplies should you go out of business would be more of a hassle than arranging this."
"He's right," Hu Ning smiled comfortingly. "Try not to worry too much."
"Makes sense when you put it that way," Xueye giggled.
"We'll sort out the details of the official contract over the next day or two and I'll be sure you get all the finalized details," Jinse told Hu Ning.
"Fine with me. Rest assured, I'll handle everything else in the meantime," Hu Ning stood, taking that as her hint to leave them be. "Please take care, Young Master."
"Thank you. Try not to work too hard," Xueye smiled up at her.
"I'll try not to," she laughed as she left.
"Are you up for hammering out some of these terms?" Jinse asked cautiously, not wanting to make him feel pressured to.
"Mn, I feel a little better after resting. Any longer and I might actually fall asleep." Xueye admitted. He was tired but he knew he couldn't rest well without a little more peace of mind regarding the matter.
"Very well," Jinse went to his desk and brought over the paper and ink, setting it on the table and sitting across from Xueye. As much as he wanted to be near the young man it was too much of a temptation right now and he needed to focus on making this ideal for them both. "I know what we implied before was more of a front for me to be there, but I have to admit I don't mind the sound of the arrangement."
"Really?" Xueye blinked in surprise. "The way you implied it makes it sound far more favorable to the company than it is to you. It seems like a pretty unfair balance for such a partnership. Regardless, an agreement like that might require the approval of my father since he is still the rightful owner. Even if the amount you bought this debt for you might as well own the company, father would still refuse to hand it over, I suspect."
"Even if it takes time, I am interested in pursuing that route." Jinse smiled at the delightful idea of owning the company and forcing Lord Meigui to leave so Xueye could finally take over properly. He'd have to discuss the idea with Xinhua to see if it had any merit. "This debt agreement should come first, though. Your father certainly has no choice in this matter."
"Alright, what's your usual debt agreement?" Xueye asked. "Might as well start there."
"This is a special case, considering I bought it out but I suppose the basics of repayment won't be very different." Jinse sighed, getting up again to fish out such a contract. "The monthly Installments are pretty negotiable and can be adjusted based on circumstances. You can always discuss with Hu Ning if there is a need for that. I'm not looking to bleed the company dry. I don't intend to add any further interest to that ridiculous amount Jianhong already added. If it were up to me alone I wouldn't make you pay back that much but I know you wouldn't have it if I reduced the amount in the slightest."
"You'd be right about that," Xueye nodded with a shrewd smile. "I intend for you to get everything you are owed."
"Thought as much," Jinse chuckled defeatedly. He handed Xueye one of the blank contracts to look over, "Don't jump to sign this, but here's all the legal jargon of our usual loan agreements. Let me know if it seems agreeable and we can draft up one more suitable to the situation."
"Alright," Xueye said as he started looking it over. Even in just the first few lines he already felt much better about this as compared to reading Jianhong's contract. He suspected any final draft based on these terms wouldn't need much alteration. "Just what is it you want to change? This all seems perfectly fine to me."
"I'd prefer to try and pin the liability of it all on your father and less the company since he made the initial deal after all. Would you be okay with that?" Jinse asked tentatively.
"That complicates things a bit." Xueye's expression contorted as he began to consider the notion. "Father would likely still need to sign it then. It also depends on just what it is he really used the initial loan for. If it really was the company then I'm not sure I'd be okay with it."
"Hmm, right," Jinse crossed his arms. He really wanted to use this agreement to screw over Lord Meigui in some way. He supposed it made him no better than Jianhong on that front, but after so many years of trying to get back at the man for all the wrongs he'd dealt to Xueye, Jinse was more than ready to be the villain if he had to. "We should wait until we find out the details, otherwise we can forget it. I do at the very least want it to cover that I've taken over the debt from its original lender as such I won't be making any changes to the amount owed with interest."
"That makes sense," Xueye nodded. "Fine with me. I guess we'll have to wait and see what my father says."
"Easy enough then," Jinse smirked. "Does this put your mind at ease? It's just another transaction between the Fox's Den and the Meigui Trading Company. Nothing to do with you and me."
"This does help," Xueye sighed. Clearing the most pertinent business aspect gave rise to his rampant thoughts over Jinse's constant flirtations and vague declarations. "I get that you don't want me to misunderstand, but why is it really that you seem so insistent on making sure I know that?"
Jinse was starting to lose his nerve. He'd come so close to admitting it all before, especially in a way Xueye couldn't mistake, but after the clarity that proper business provided he wasn't sure he could bring himself to. He desired Xueye more than he had anyone in his long life and that's why he was most afraid to mess it up. Xueye had been through so much, so he deserved to be loved and cherished but he didn't want it if Xueye felt like he had to be with him out of some obligation. He needed to be sure Xueye knew. After such a fresh moment of uncertainty, with all the weight of this deal not yet set in stone, Jinse couldn't be the first one to admit his true feelings for the young man.
"Our bond is one that I refuse to lose," Jinse hated that he couldn't be more clear. It was obvious that clarity was what Xueye was seeking at that moment. He would be as truthful as he could but unless Xueye was more direct in questioning him, he would still dance around the matter as he always had. "I don't want this to ruin us. I've been genuinely terrified that you might think differently of me during all of this."
"I admit I was a bit worried," Xueye fidgeted with the hem of his robes. "I think that was just lingering anxiety from what we just dealt with. I should know better than to think that you would try and manipulate me the way he tried to."
"I would never!" Jinse said quickly. He knelt next to Xueye on the floor, resting a hand on his knee. "Not to you. You are the one person I will always do right by."
"I know," Xueye reached out, caressing his cheek. "I'm sorry I let my thoughts get carried away."
"I can never blame you," Jinse leaned into Xueye's touch. "You never need to apologize to me."
"I'm still going to anyway," Xueye let out a sigh of relief, glad that Jinse wouldn't hold it against him. "You deserve that much."
"You're too sweet," Jinse leaned forward to lay his head on Xueye's lap.
"You've been awfully clingy lately," Xueye giggled. "Should I be worried?"
"No," Jinse sighed. Xueye really was testing him at this point. "Can you really blame me for it, after today? There was more than one possibility of me losing you."
"And before today?" Xueye asked. He really wanted more insight into Jinse's recent behavior. He wanted to know if he was reading too much into things.
"I told you before, right? I was worried about you. I just couldn't help it." Jinse wasn't sure if he'd be able to withstand all this questioning of his intentions. He needed to shift the conversation away but he couldn't help the curiosity bubbling up inside. "Why do you want to know?"
"Oh, it's nothing really! I just wanted to know your thoughts…" Xueye's cheeks turned a pleasant pink. It was the only place one could see such a lovely color and it was Jinse's favorite. Jinse wanted to see more of it, specifically how far it spread on the rest of his body.
"You're adorable," Jinse chuckled as he rose up. He started towards the door. "You stay here. I'm going to get us something to drink real quick. We deserve it after such a day."
"Sounds delightful," Xueye let out a breath, melting into his seat once more.
Jinse really just needed a moment to compose himself. Xueye was such a wicked temptation for him. He felt he needed to put some distance between them again to try and reign in the tumultuous feelings threatening to burst forth.
The moment Jinse stepped outside and closed the door he leaned against the wall to just breathe. Though he already missed it, he felt much clearer of mind without Xueye's scent practically smothering him. He realized a lot of it was his natural instincts creeping in. Xueye always smelled delicious because of his blessing and there was a part of Jinse that found the fear earlier had made him smell even sweeter, reminding him of days he'd hunt for the fun of it. He was always one to toy with his prey.
"Cherish him, remember?" Jinse scolded himself as he marched to the bar. He was ready for wine to dull the fervent mixture of instinct and emotion.