夜幕低垂，華燈初上，白馬軒步履匆匆地走進了一個典雅的茶館， greeted by the sight of an elderly man already seated, gazing out the window and waiting for him. The wait, though brief, felt eternal to the elder, who was nearly about to call again to remind Liang Laoye of his arrival.

“I'm here,” Liang Laoye said, a hint of relief coloring his voice when he saw Bai Haifeng finally enter.

Bai Haifeng took a seat opposite Liang Laoye, his expression calm yet distant. “What can I do for you, Elder Liang?”

“First, have some tea,” Liang Laoye gestured to the服務員, who quickly fetched a pot of what was described as exquisite Maotai, a well-known Chinese green tea. “The tea here is outstanding; I thought you might appreciate it.”

“All I've got time for is your business, not tea,” Bai Haifeng replied, his gaze steady. “And my family is waiting for me.”

Liang Laoye's face tightened slightly, “That's regrettable. It seems you were about to stand me up, Bai Lawyer.”

“I'm not here to flatter you, Elder Liang. We have business to discuss. What is it?” Bai Haifeng sat back, his posture relaxed but his mind alert.

“Business? With you, Bai Lawyer? It's not about business, but cooperation.”

Bai Haifeng laughed, “I don't engage in business, and I have no desire to with you, Elder Liang. There's nothing to discuss.”

“Hmph, that's interesting. You don't want to take over Bai Family, then? You've let the family's prosperity slip through your fingers without a fight? I don't believe you have no ambition, Bai Lawyer. Don't you want to see Bai Family thrive under your leadership?”

Bai Haifeng remained silent, his eyes fixed on Liang Laoye. After a moment, he smirked. “You're correct. I do want to see Bai Family fall. How about we try something else?”

Liang Laoye leaned forward, his voice low. “You hate your grandfather's part in breaking you and Su Qiqi up, and you've transferred that hatred to Bai Family. Why not bring Bai Family down yourself? I can help you.”

“You make a good point, Elder Liang. But the recent actions of yours have put me off. I want to bring Bai Family down, but not for someone like you to benefit in the end.”

“Don't worry, Bai Lawyer. I have no intention of becoming the ultimate benefactor. If we cooperate, the money will be yours, and Bai Family's businesses will be mine. You see, it can all work in your favor.”

Bai Haifeng raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And what's in it for me?”

“I have a proposal. You marry my daughter, Su Manni.”

Bai Haifeng burst into laughter. “Elder Liang, what a delightful plan! I'll have half of the money because of Su Manni, and Bai Family's businesses will be in your hands. It seems like the real winner here is you.”

Liang Laoye quickly countered, “That's not how it works. As long as you don’t divorce her, she can’t claim your property, can she?”

Bai Haifeng shook his head, “Not good enough. You're giving me a hollow promise. You have nothing, and you're asking me to tie the knot with your daughter. This is too much to ask.”

“I can compensate you further. If you agree to marry her, I can give you 0.5 of the shares in Ling Family’s company. What do you think?”

Bai Haifeng snorted, “Ling Family’s 0.5% is not appealing to me. The real feast is Bai Family, which you're so keen on.”

The elder's face flushed slightly with embarrassment. “Fine, let's not beat around the bush. We can draft a prenuptial agreement. As a lawyer, you know how to draft one that benefits you, don’t you?”

Bai Haifeng chuckled. “That’s a good idea. However, my concern is that with nothing to her name, how can I guarantee her satisfaction?”

“I assure you, Bai Lawyer. My daughter loves you and wishes to be with you. I believe that if you promise to marry her and ensure her well-being, she will be content.”

Bai Haifeng pondered for a moment, then said, “Let me think about it.”

The elder, growing impatient, said, “You can sign the agreement early. The content will be up to you. As a lawyer, you must know how to draft one in your favor.”

“All right,” Bai Haifeng nodded. “The cooperation is possible, but the marriage comes with conditions. I will marry Su Manni only if these conditions are met.”

“What conditions?” Liang Laoye asked, intrigued.

“The cooperation needs to lead to Bai Family's downfall, and Su Manni must give birth to my child. If these conditions are met, I promise to marry her.”

Liang Laoye's brow furrowed. “What if she gives birth to a daughter instead of a son? Will you still marry her?”

“Child’s gender is irrelevant. It's all about the company. As long as you honor your agreement, and as long as Su Manni gives birth to my heir, I will marry her without hesitation. I can draft a contract for you, what do you think?”

Liang Laoye could feel a slight unease but couldn't pinpoint any issue. As long as Su Manni carried Bai Haifeng's child, and as long as Bai Haifeng was willing to cooperate to bring down Bai Family, it seemed like a win-win situation for him.

“Fine,” Liang Laoye agreed quickly. “Let's do it. You draft the contract, we will review and sign it. From then on, we will operate based on the agreement.”

“The night is late, let’s discuss the agreement tomorrow,” Bai Haifeng rose, his mind already elsewhere. “I have to leave now.”

“One more thing!” Liang Laoye called out, “I hope you take good care of the woman you brought back to the Bai Mansion.”

Bai Haifeng arched an eyebrow, his tone sharp. “You're getting a bit overbearing with your demands. Know when to stop!”

“The woman is from outside, and I don’t want that kind of chaos in Bai Mansion. Is that too much to ask?”

Bai Haifeng stared at Liang Laoye for several seconds before he laughed, “All right, I can agree to that. I won’t bring her back to the Mansion!”

With that, Bai Haifeng turned to leave. “I'll draft the agreement tomorrow.”

“By the way,” Liang Laoye added, “this is not about demands, Bai Lawyer. It’s about keeping the family's honor and respect.”

Bai Haifeng nodded, his expression one of resignation. “Understood. Then I’ll be on my way.”

(Chapter End)