Final Civilization

Chapter 17: Xiao Ba

"How can you tell?"

"Tianzhou's business sectors mainly involve real estate, coal mining, sand extraction, logistics, credit finance, and some maritime shipping." Qi Rong looked at Han Ming and said, "You should be able to see that these industry sectors share quite a few common keywords."

Han Ming blurted out, "High-profit attributes, extremely high policy barriers and resource barriers, significant legal risks. Simply put, besides money, they require extremely strong connections and a tough approach."

"Exactly." Qi Rong nodded. "Yan Jing's two former husbands had some background, but for a woman to fight her way out of Tianzhou's power vortex and become its actual controller, firmly suppressing several major shareholders, and to multiply the Tianzhou Group's output value several times over in just a few years... such a person is absolutely not simple."

"And not easy to deal with either." Han Ming said with a laugh. "But for the sake of 60 million, we must serve this major client well."

"There's one more thing I haven't told you yet." Qi Rong looked at Han Ming. "Tianzhou requested to add a clause in the contract, specifying that you must be stationed at Tianzhou for at least two days every week."

"Just me?"

Qi Rong nodded.

Han Ming was a bit puzzled. "What's the reasoning behind that?"

"I don't consider this an excessive condition, so I've already agreed. All your expenses while working at Tianzhou will be reimbursed by the firm, so don't worry about that.""Aren't you afraid Yan Jing might poach you?" Han Ming asked with a wry smile.

"Do I need to worry?" Qi Rong looked at him with a knowing smile.

Han Ming gave a helpless smile in response. "Well, if you don't treat me to a meal, that would be too much."

"No problem."

Qi Rong paused, her gaze shifting away and then back. "Another day. I'll pick the place."

...

Han Ming couldn't quite figure out Yan Jing's arrangement for him to be stationed at Tianzhou every week. Even a rotation system would have been better, but she specifically designated him.

Those who knew would understand Han Ming saved her daughter and did her a great favor. Those who didn't might think some young pretty boy had latched onto a female tycoon.

According to the process, the legal team would be stationed at the Tianzhou Group for a relatively long period in the early stages, mainly to interface with the group's various sectors and handle the handover with Yingcheng.

In the afternoon, Han Ming and several key members, including Yan Li, drove to Tianzhou Tower to meet with the people from Yingcheng and Tianzhou's legal director.

They had just arrived when Han Ming received a call from Secretary Jin, asking him to go to the 46th floor.

"Go ahead. Leave the handover to us. I'll brief you later." Yan Li was not only highly capable but also extremely tactful. She knew this major client Tianzhou was coming specifically for Han Ming. Big bosses often operate simply; even if Han Ming was just nominally in the advisory team, others might not care. So she naturally followed the client's wishes.

"Alright, see you later." Han Ming said directly.

Han Ming put away his phone and took the elevator to the 42nd-floor high-level platform. Someone was waiting at the elevator entrance leading to the top floor. Seeing Han Ming, they immediately opened the elevator door.

"Mr. Han."

The person was very polite. Han Ming said nothing and entered the elevator again, heading to the 46th floor.

The entire top floor was decorated with tropical plants, making it feel like being in a rainforest. The sound of flowing water and misty vapors made it seem nothing like being in a concrete urban jungle. Han Ming entered the Rainforest Hall but didn't see Yan Jing. There wasn't a single person around, just quiet and serene. So he began admiring the plants.

At that moment, he suddenly noticed a patch of fern leaves in the corner moving unnaturally.

Han Ming's heart tightened with curiosity. He walked over. A moment of time rewound from between his brows. His frown relaxed, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. Feigning tension, he said loudly,

"Huh? I definitely heard movement here. Could I have been mistaken?"

"Hehehe..." The fern leaves trembled again, and a very soft giggling sound came from within.

An idea struck Han Ming. "It probably couldn't be someone hiding here. Usually, only cuckoo birds hide behind trees like this."

After Han Ming finished speaking, he waited a moment. Sure enough, from behind the fern leaves came two childish, milky-voiced sounds.

"Cuckoo~ Cuckoo~"

"So it really is a cuckoo bird. But cuckoo birds should blow bubbles..." He continued.

After waiting a bit, the sound of clumsy bubble-blowing started again.

"Blub blub blub blub blub~"

"Hmm, still a little cuckoo bird. Then I'll go look somewhere else."

With that, just as he turned and pretended to walk elsewhere, a cute, bubble-blowing head, trying hard to suppress laughter, popped out from behind the fern leaves. Taking a deep breath, she shouted loudly,

"I'm right here!"

Han Ming pretended to be startled, turning back to look at her with feigned surprise, then put on an annoyed expression. "Well, well! So it was you!"

"Uncle Han Ming~"

Yan Duoduo, with two leaves stuck on her head, ran over in small steps and hugged him, her little face puffed up. "Did I scare you? Hehehe~"

With that one sentence from the little girl, Han Ming felt his heart melt.

It was hard to imagine that the White Widow of Jinghai could have such an adorable daughter.

Han Ming crouched down, plucked the leaves from her head, and said with a smile, "I didn't know you were so good at hide-and-seek. I really thought it was a cuckoo bird~"

"Uncle Han Ming, Mom said you'll come play with me every week from now on. Is that true?" The little girl's big eyes blinked at Han Ming, seemingly full of expectation and delight.

Hearing this, Han Ming couldn't help but feel speechless inside.

So Yan Jing spent a huge sum to sign with Fang Tiancheng and specifically designated him to be stationed at Tianzhou... just so he could come play with Duoduo? This woman's way of doing things was indeed somewhat fierce.

Although Han Ming felt a bit annoyed inside—after all, he was a lawyer, not a male nanny—seeing Duoduo's cute, chubby little face, he couldn't seem to get angry.

Ever since he saved Duoduo, this little girl had become especially close to him. He could feel her innocence and sincerity. So he responded with a smile,

"It's true. Uncle Han Ming will come every week."

"Yay~!"

The little girl happily called out to the side, "Auntie Weng, Uncle Han Ming promised to come play with me every week!"

"Really? That's wonderful."

Auntie Weng walked over and greeted Han Ming with a warm smile.

"Hello, Mr. Han. I'm Duoduo's nanny, Weng Hui."

Auntie Weng was Duoduo's dedicated nanny, deeply trusted by Yan Jing. She was the nanny Han Ming saw at the accident scene that day. His impression of her was quite good. For a nanny to protect the child desperately in a crisis spoke volumes about why Yan Jing trusted her.

Han Ming nodded. "Hello. We've met."

"We really owe you a lot from that day." Auntie Weng said, still seeming a bit shaken. "That car suddenly charged over, scared the soul right out of me. Luckily you were there, otherwise I wouldn't know how to explain things to Chairwoman Yan."

It really wouldn't have been easy to explain. That situation was almost certainly fatal. Even Han Ming, with his ability to foresee the future, had to repeat it 13 times to save Yan Duoduo. The danger was unimaginable.

"Auntie Weng, can I take Uncle Han Ming to see Xiao Ba?"

Duoduo looked at her and asked.

"Duoduo, be a proper young lady." Auntie Weng reminded her.

"But I want Uncle Han Ming to meet Xiao Ba."

"What is Xiao Ba?" Han Ming asked.

"This..." Auntie Weng gave a helpless smile.

Little Duoduo grabbed Han Ming's finger and led him to a rainforest-themed display area. After searching in the bushes for a while, she suddenly picked something up and shouted joyfully to Han Ming, "This is Xiao Ba!!"

Han Ming looked and saw the little girl was actually holding a frog as big as a dinner plate. Watching the frog, looking utterly resigned to its fate, croaking and pawing at the air with its claws, Han Ming broke into a cold sweat.