Chapter 417 - 415: Persuasion
"Qin Tributor, I wonder how you’ve considered Yaoyin’s proposal from last time?"
Bai Yaoyin unconsciously let her fingertips lightly brush the strands of hair that fell over her shoulder, attempting to make her posture appear more natural.
However, facing Qin Yu’s intense gaze, her carefully adjusted mindset began to waver, as she recalled the previous ripples, feeling somewhat uncomfortable all over.
At this moment, Bai Yaoyin wished to quickly get to the point, to see if she could win over this Great Yan Tributor.
Bai Yaoyin felt that the sacrifices she made were already substantial, even her bottom line had been breached by this bad man.
In the Great Yan Imperial Capital, many young talents pursued her, among whom were people with distinguished backgrounds, like the King of Thunder’s grandson was one of them, but these pursuers hadn’t even had the chance to be alone with her, let alone... a kiss, something so intimate.
Qin Yu knew she was referring to agreeing to become a Guest Minister of the Carefree Pavilion.
However, he did not hurry to agree.
A month ago, Bai Yaoyin wasn’t this eager.
Now, not only did she bring it up again, she was even willing to pay some price to attract him.
There might be other reasons behind this.
Qin Yu stood up and walked to Bai Yaoyin’s side.
"You!..."
Bai Yaoyin’s pupils shrunk, and the smile on her face abruptly froze.
What did his wink mean?!
To sit a bit closer?
Are we going to squeeze together again?!
Thinking about what just happened, Bai Yaoyin couldn’t remain calm.
"You don’t mind, do you?"
Qin Yu sat down directly.
Bai Yaoyin suddenly felt flustered, like a startled kitten, instinctively wanting to stand up.
"Is Chief Steward Bai being so distant?"
"..."
Bai Yaoyin remained silent.
Her silence echoed loudly!
Is this being distant?!
Having already experienced it once, she dared not easily get close to Qin Yu again, especially not at such a close distance.
But if she kept her distance, would Qin Yu then reject her?
The Guest Minister status of the Carefree Pavilion, to others, is an opportunity and a symbol of identity, but to Qin Yu, who holds a Tributor position in the Great Yan Royal Family, it means nothing.
Resources envied by others are trivial to a Tributor of the Great Yan Royal Family.
"I... am not quite used to this."
Bai Yaoyin lowered her voice and subtly shifted her body to the side.
Yet, the chair was only so big, and through the thin fabric of her dress, she could clearly feel the scorching heat of the person beside her.
"Speak frankly, I don’t like beating around the bush."
Qin Yu casually took Bai Yaoyin’s hand, feeling the cool soft skin, delicate and tender.
So smooth.
Perhaps due to anxiety, the slender and delicate hand was slightly sweaty.
Feeling the friction in her palm, Bai Yaoyin’s skin prickled with goosebumps, an odd sensation that made her unable to maintain her previous composure.
"I want to invite you to become a Guest Minister of the Carefree Pavilion."
Bai Yaoyin fought the urge to flee, her white teeth gently parting, her beautiful eyes full of expectation as she looked at the man beside her.
Such a request from a beauty of her caliber, any man would find it hard to refuse.
However, Qin Yu knew deeply that Bai Yaoyin’s willingness to make such an effort meant the matter was definitely not so simple.
"Behind the Carefree Pavilion is the Ancient Race Bai Family, for someone like me in the Golden Core Realm, is becoming a Guest Minister really important?"
Qin Yu smiled lightly, not directly refusing, but also not giving an answer.
Bai Yaoyin wasn’t surprised at Qin Yu’s knowledge of the Bai Family’s existence.
Perhaps others had never heard of the Ancient Race Bai Family, but for someone with Qin Yu’s status, knowing these things wasn’t difficult.
What troubled her now was how to persuade him.
It wasn’t hard to see from Qin Yu’s attitude that he was interested in her, even...
Bai Yaoyin glanced silently, his interest was strong.
However, with Qin Yu’s attitude, it was clear that if she wasn’t honest, he would definitely not agree.
"Qin Tributor, since you know the Bai Family, you should also understand some of our family’s rules."
Bai Yaoyin pondered for a moment, hesitated several times, and slowly spoke.
Since honesty was needed, she might as well tell the truth, after all, these matters weren’t much of a secret.
"For the younger generation of our Bai Family, without outstanding contributions, they must comply with familial marriage arrangements."
Bai Yaoyin’s voice seemed somewhat desolate, as this matter was a thorn in her heart.
The Ancient Race, with deep foundations.
However, many rules do not allow the clan members a choice.
Without significant contributions, people like Bai Yaoyin often become sacrifices in arranged marriages.
"Chief Bai must be joking, with your status, you shouldn’t be reduced to a tool for marriage."
Qin Yu said with a smile.
To become the Chief Steward of the Carefree Pavilion in Great Yan Immortal Country’s Imperial Capital, it shows that the people behind Bai Yaoyin hold significant status in the Bai Family.
"Qin Tributor might not know, my father is the current Clan Leader of the Bai Family, but even for him, he can’t defy the rules established within the clan, let alone..."
Bai Yaoyin did not continue, after all, her relationship with Qin Yu wasn’t deep enough to expose such internal clan matters.
"Then how will you break the impasse?"
Qin Yu furrowed his brows slightly, uninterested in the rules of the Ancient Bai Family. What intrigued him was Bai Yaoyin standing before him.
Bai Yaoyin fell silent.
"Would winning over an Immortal Country Tributor as a Guest Minister help you escape your predicament?"
Seeing Bai Yaoyin’s difficulty, Qin Yu proactively said, "If that’s the case, I agree."
"Ah?"
Bai Yaoyin was taken aback, clearly not expecting Qin Yu, who had been indifferent at first, to suddenly agree.
"I can’t bear to see a new Chief Steward replace the one at the Carefree Pavilion. If the new one doesn’t get along with me, won’t that take away a lot of fun?"
Qin Yu gently wrapped his arm around the woman’s slender waist beside him, smiling as he spoke.
Bai Yaoyin gave Qin Yu a reproachful glare, thinking his words...
Could someone who became a Chief Steward at the Carefree Pavilion really be so blind as to offend an Immortal Country Tributor?
Bai Yaoyin knew very well that this guy was clearly making a move on her.
Before this, even when she invited him in her capacity as Chief Steward of the Carefree Pavilion, Qin Yu had flatly refused. But for her, he agreed without hesitation.
At this moment, Bai Yaoyin suddenly felt that the warm hand on her waist wasn’t so repulsive after all.
In fact, there was even a slight sense of... security?
"Thank you."
Bai Yaoyin dared not meet Qin Yu’s gaze, her head slightly lowered as she expressed her gratitude.
"The word ’thank you’ isn’t just said with the mouth."
Qin Yu’s fingers teased delicately, sliding through the gaps in the fabric.
The intimate touch at her waist made Bai Yaoyin’s body stiffen, her pretty face turning bright red. With two cute dimples accentuating it, her exquisite face seemed like a jar of fine wine; just a whiff was enough to intoxicate someone completely.
Finally, with Qin Yu’s laughter, the woman made a hasty retreat.
Late at night.
In an exquisite little courtyard next to the Carefree Pavilion.
Bai Yaoyin changed into a proper robe, organized her features several times, and after confirming nothing was amiss, she took a deep breath and pulled out a Transmission Stone from her bosom.
The Transmission Stone was far rarer and more precious than a Sound Transmission Stone, so even in the Ancient Bai Family, only the high-ranking family members and those who served as Chief Stewards in the Immortal Realm Imperial Capital were qualified to possess it.
As Spiritual Power surged into it, a commanding figure soon appeared above the Transmission Stone.
"Father."
Bai Yaoyin bent over, speaking respectfully.
The figure was none other than Bai Yaoyin’s father, the Clan Leader of the Ancient Bai Family... Bai Lan.
"I’ve managed to stabilize things on the Clan Elders’ side for now; you don’t need to worry."
Bai Lan cast a glance, his deep voice carrying a hint of fatherly love.
Hearing this, Bai Yaoyin felt a pang of emotion at her nose.
In the Bai Family, women at the age of sixteen would have their marriage partner selected for them, and in just a month, she would turn twenty.
Precisely because of this, the Clan Elders had repeatedly pressured her to return to the clan and marry a prodigy from another Ancient Race.
Bai Lan had never brought up these pressures to her, but Bai Yaoyin was keenly aware of the difficulties her father faced.
"Father, Qin Tributor has already accepted the Guest Minister Order and agreed to become a Guest Minister at the Carefree Pavilion."
Suppressing her feelings, Bai Yaoyin reported.
"Oh?"
A look of surprise flickered across Bai Lan’s face.
Not long ago, they had not been assured at all.
Who would have thought that in just a few days, they would succeed in persuading that Tributor?!
It’s known that to become a Tributor in the royal family of various Immortal Countries, one must have reached the pinnacle in a certain field.
Such individuals are generally quite proud.
And since they had royal backing, resources were not an issue for them.
So, under normal circumstances, it would be hard to sway them unless you could offer them an irresistible resource in exchange.
Yet, he hadn’t given his daughter any special resources to offer.
How was this accomplished?
"Yaoyin, you did very well."
Bai Lan’s stern face managed a rare smile.
"It’s what I should do."
Bai Yaoyin replied softly, even though her father never spoke of his hardships, she understood the criticisms he bore for her over the years.
Thankfully, she finally did not let her father down and accomplished something worth the Clan Elders’ attention.
Remembering Qin Yu’s resolved expression when he agreed, Bai Yaoyin felt both embarrassed and delighted.
He agreed, yet couldn’t keep his hands to himself, truly infuriating!
"Have you looked into the background of this Qin Guest Minister?"
Seeing his daughter’s demeanor, Bai Lan felt a bit startled inside, but did not reveal it.
"We only know he comes from a small region of the Great Yan Immortal Country."
Bai Yaoyin replied softly. She had already sent someone to investigate where Qin Yu claimed to be from, but the distance was too great for a response to come back within a month.
"Which means we still don’t know what his strengths are?"
Bai Lan frowned.
Even amongst Immortal Country Royal Family Tributes, there are distinctions.
Someone like the Lingtian Peak and that elusive Mo Tributor have unfathomable strength, certainly worthy of the Ancient Bai Family’s attention.
However, this newly appointed Tributor lacks any persuasive power.
Moreover, he’s too young, rumored to have only reached the Golden Core Realm.
Solely relying on this, trying to convince the Clan Elders is clearly not realistic.