Chapter 63: Schemes and Calculations

“Come on, join in. When you’re here with me, there’s no need to be so uptight—when it’s time to enjoy yourself, you really should enjoy yourself,” Pan Yixuan said with a hearty laugh, gesturing toward the maid standing at Su Tianming’s side, indicating that he could have fun with her as well.

Su Tianming turned to look at the young maid beside him. She immediately flashed him a sweet smile, bent forward slightly, and squeezed her arms together to accentuate the pale, tender valley of her cleavage, making it appear even deeper and more enticing.

Su Tianming was indeed captivated. He stared fixedly at the deep chasm between her breasts for quite a while before finally managing to tear his gaze away.

“I’d better not. I already have a girlfriend. Besides, these women are all yours—how could I just touch them as I please?” Su Tianming said awkwardly.

Pan Yixuan was utterly unconcerned. “Su Tianming, you’re saying the wrong thing. What’s a woman, anyway? Aren’t women just like clothes? I’m treating you as a brother—that’s why I’ve had her come over to keep you company. Don’t embarrass me, all right?”

Left with no choice, Su Tianming agreed and let the maid sit on his lap.

He hesitated for a moment before gritting his teeth and placing his hand on her thigh, giving it a perfunctory pat or two. Then he asked, “Young Master Pan, I suppose you’ve already heard about the crisis my family is facing?”

“I have. I heard about it long ago. The fire at your Su family’s herbal company was massive—I could see it from my own home. How could I not know?” Pan Yixuan replied as he opened his mouth, and the maid nestled in his arms sensibly picked up a piece of abalone and fed it to him.

As he feasted, he leaned his face into the heavy swell of her chest and rubbed against it a few times, closing his eyes in rapture. “Delicious! Absolutely delicious!” he exclaimed.

It was anyone’s guess whether he was talking about the abalone or the scent of the woman.

Seeing Pan Yixuan in such a good mood, Su Tianming hurried on. “Young Master Pan, do you think your Pan family could lend a hand and help us out? If you’re willing to help, my family will be sure to reward you handsomely afterward.”

At the mention of a handsome reward, Pan Yixuan finally snapped out of his reverie. He waved his hand, and the woman in his arms sensibly got up and withdrew. The maid sitting on Su Tianming’s lap followed suit and left as well.

In an instant, only Su Tianming and Pan Yixuan remained in the vast living room.

Cradling a glass of wine, Pan Yixuan smiled at Su Tianming. “It’s true—we do have the means to help your family through this crisis. But the real question is, why should we help you? Give me a reason.”

Su Tianming was mortified.

After a moment’s hesitation, he stammered, “Well… um… Young Master Pan, don’t you have a thing for Su Qingli?”

“I do like her. But she still hasn’t divorced that bastard Jiang Hao, has she?” Pan Yixuan’s expression grew dark.

Just thinking about Jiang Hao made anger surge in Pan Yixuan’s chest.

This wasn’t the first or second time Jiang Hao had crossed him. In fact, Jiang Hao’s arrogance had only grown worse lately.

Because of Jiang Hao, Pan family’s top private physician, Chen Guang, had terminated his contract and left to become chief of surgery at Maple City People’s Hospital. Also thanks to Jiang Hao, Pan Yixuan had been forced to kneel and kowtow in the sales hall of Zhao Real Estate Group.

To be humiliated by Jiang Hao twice in a row—and to such an extent—how could Pan Yixuan not be furious? He dreamed of tearing Jiang Hao to pieces and devouring him alive.

“Young Master Pan, I promise you this: as long as you’re willing to help us get through this, I’ll do everything I can to force Jiang Hao and Su Qingli to divorce. And when that happens, won’t Su Qingli come to you of her own accord, lying naked in your bed, yours for the taking?”

With that, Su Tianming burst into laughter.

At his words, Pan Yixuan’s face twisted with greed and lechery.

“You said it—that’s your promise!” Pan Yixuan grinned.

“Of course it is! Absolutely! As long as you help us, not just me, even my grandmother will support you and Su Qingli!” With Pan Yixuan showing interest, Su Tianming pressed his advantage and continued to persuade him.

Pan Yixuan’s heart did waver.

This was a golden opportunity! Maybe things really could turn out as Su Tianming described—maybe he really could get Su Qingli into his bed.

But at the same time, he hesitated. The funds needed to rescue the Su family were no small sum—they amounted to a veritable fortune! Even if the Pan family did lend a hand, coming up with such a large amount all at once would inflict real pain.

The Su family’s total assets were just over a billion, the Pan family’s nearly two billion. It sounded like a lot, but most of it was tied up in property, not cash. The Pan family’s available cash was probably only three or four hundred million.

To take out one hundred and twenty million at once would mean slashing their cash holdings by a third or even a quarter.

With such a huge outlay, how could Pan Yixuan not hesitate? Besides, he might not even have the authority to make such a decision—after all, he was only the young master, not the head of the family.

At that thought, Pan Yixuan suddenly hit upon an idea.

He pulled out his phone, smiling at Su Tianming. “I’ll be honest with you: our family has a lot of expenses too, so helping yours won’t be easy. But don’t worry—I have another way to help your family.”

“What is it?” Su Tianming asked eagerly.

“The Bai family,” Pan Yixuan replied with a grin.

At those words, Su Tianming was stunned—then elated.

The Bai family was a powerhouse in the provincial capital, with financial strength that far surpassed both the Su and Pan families. If Pan Yixuan could really persuade the Bai family to step in, the Su family would surely survive this crisis.

“I never imagined you had such influence, Young Master Pan, that you could move the Bai family to act! I’m in awe. I’ve never admired anyone in my life, but now, I truly, sincerely respect you!”

Su Tianming’s words delighted Pan Yixuan.

Without further delay, he dialed the Bai family.

“Hello, Uncle Bai? This is Pan Yixuan—from the Pan family, yes,” he said.

The call was to Bai Qiming himself.

At this moment, Pan Yixuan’s tone was completely deferential—he didn’t dare act arrogant, nor would he ever call himself ‘Young Master’ in front of Bai Qiming.

This alone showed that the Bai family’s wealth and power far outstripped the Pan family’s.