Volume One, Chapter Six: So You're Using the Seduction Tactic on Me, Are You?

“No, I’m not going. Why would I go to your Li family’s product launch...” Ye Tian refused without a second thought.

He had never liked social engagements; otherwise, he wouldn’t have entrusted the company entirely to Shen Yuwei, allowing himself to be a stay-at-home husband in peace.

Although the Rejuvenation Elixir was indeed his creation, since it had now been gifted to Li Cheng, how the Li family managed it was not his concern.

If their cooperation deepened in the future, he might consider attending to support the Li family.

But having just been released from prison today, he had no interest in socializing...

Ye Tian’s firm refusal left Li Qingcheng stunned.

Her earlier invitation was not a whim but born out of necessity.

The Li family consisted of thirteen branches with over five hundred members.

Li Qingcheng’s father belonged to the eighth branch, which had long since dwindled in numbers and held little influence within the clan.

Originally, Li Cheng had presented the elixir formula to the Li Group’s workshop for trial production, but it was vetoed by the first branch, which controlled the group.

Fortunately, Li Dingguo, then head of the workshop, secretly arranged for the trial production, which succeeded and caused a huge sensation within the Li family.

The Rejuvenation Elixir was simple to make and extremely cheap, yet its effects far surpassed those of the renowned beauty elixirs painstakingly refined by the Zhou family over generations. If launched, it would generate immense profits.

At this point, Li Dingguo spoke with newfound authority, insisting that the formula was invaluable and could not be trusted to just anyone. Any profits should be shared only if all branches obeyed the leadership of the eighth branch.

If they refused, he threatened to collaborate with the Zhou family, even if it meant being disowned.

Faced with such enormous profits, all branches except the first expressed support for Li Dingguo’s leadership.

From then on, Li Dingguo officially took control of the Li Group.

Although benefiting greatly, the first branch never accepted Li Dingguo’s authority.

They even questioned how Li Cheng obtained the formula, suggesting it might have originally been passed down by the ancestors but stolen by the eighth branch.

As for Ye Tian, who supposedly gave the formula, he was claimed to be a fabrication by the eighth branch!

Surprisingly, some believed this, and at every family meeting, there were demands to reveal Ye Tian’s true identity.

But Li Cheng firmly opposed this, which only fueled more suspicion.

Recently, several clan members had secretly banded together, aiming to use this as a pretext to oust Li Dingguo from the Li Group and force the eighth branch to relinquish the formula.

Now, Li Dingguo faced immense pressure.

Li Qingcheng had asked Ye Tian to attend the product launch precisely to silence the gossip among the branches.

But now Ye Tian had refused.

Li Qingcheng had no choice but to put on a pitiful expression, clasping her hands and looking at Ye Tian pleadingly.

“Please, please, you are the creator of the Rejuvenation Elixir. You should witness this historic moment. If you don’t go, the launch won’t be perfect, okay?”

She was acting coquettishly.

Her voice was soft and tender, irresistibly charming to an ordinary man.

But Ye Tian’s will was strong, and he saw through her ploy, only giving her a half-smile.

Sensing that Ye Tian was mocking her, Li Qingcheng’s face flushed. It was her first time acting so coy with a man, yet Ye Tian remained unmoved.

Embarrassed and annoyed, she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Ye Tian’s elbow and half-jokingly threatening him.

“You have to go today, or I won’t let go!”

Suddenly, Ye Tian’s arm went limp.

Turning his head, his eyes widened.

Li Qingcheng’s movement was a bit too vigorous; her loose housecoat slipped, revealing a long, graceful neck and a large expanse of smooth, fair skin.

His arm was deeply ensnared in a valley of softness…

“A seduction tactic?”

Li Qingcheng was undeniably alluring; Ye Tian admitted it fully.

For a man who had been in prison for four years without intimacy, she was dangerously tempting.

If responsibility weren’t a concern, and since Li Qingcheng was Li Cheng’s sister, he would have gladly taken advantage of her right then and there.

But that was impossible—he could not betray his word.

“Alright, alright.”

Li Qingcheng, still unaware of her wardrobe mishap, shook his arm gently, coaxing him with soft words.

What else could Ye Tian say but reluctantly withdraw his gaze and feign helplessness?

“Fine, I’ll go, but I’m only going to eat, okay?”

“Yes!”

Li Qingcheng was thrilled, jumping up and down.

“I’ll have someone bring you a suit. We’ll go together tonight.”

Watching the lively white ball twirling before him, Ye Tian swallowed and quietly looked away.

“See you tonight, I’m heading back to my room now.”

Once Li Qingcheng released him, Ye Tian nonchalantly left the room.

However, he did not go far but leaned against the corridor wall, extending his sense into Li Qingcheng’s room.

...

After Ye Tian left, Li Qingcheng immediately collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow.

Inside her mind, two little voices began arguing.

“Li Qingcheng, you’re shameless to seduce a man you just met…”

“No, it’s not really seduction. He already saw everything; what’s a few more glances…”

“Active and passive are totally different. You definitely pressed hard just now. Those two mounds were practically squashed…”

“Ahhhhh…”

The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became, kicking her feet in the air as if that could ease the awkwardness.

This scene amused Ye Tian somewhat.

After venting, Li Qingcheng suddenly remembered something.

“The formula!”

She hurried to the trash bin and retrieved the shredded formula Ye Tian had just torn up.

Though torn, the pieces were not completely destroyed.

If she pieced them together, she could effortlessly obtain a priceless formula.

This made Ye Tian frown slightly outside the door.

The formula was deliberately left as a test.

He had many formulas and would need to bring them out one day to trade for cultivation resources.

He would need trustworthy partners to manage these affairs.

Like the Li family.

He trusted Li Cheng but was uncertain of Li Qingcheng’s character.

Now she was president of the Li Group; if she claimed the Rejuvenation Elixir formula for herself…

He would have to exclude her from the partnership, and even reconsider deep collaboration with the Li family.

Unexpectedly, Li Qingcheng, after picking up the fragments, hesitated briefly but then immediately lit them on fire with a lighter.

Watching the formula burn slowly to ash in the ashtray, she patted her chest and breathed a long sigh of relief.

“This way, no one else can pick it up and leak it...”