***Author's Note***

Good evening, lovelies! I hope you haven't been going too mad over the lack of progress on this story! Hopefully, I'll be able to put up a lot more this week. Luckily, we're just about at the halfway point here! Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!

****End Note***

Yao Yao drew a deep breath and wrung her hands nervously as she and her father entered the lobby of a massive, intimidating tower in the middle of Shanghai that served as the headquarters for Dragon Holdings. The building was an impressive skyscraper that lived up to its name; it was built in the most modern style with massive pure white marble wrapping elegantly around what seemed like miles of perfectly polished glass. The building tapered to an elegant point, as did the marble that wrapped around it. It gave one the impression of a crystal tat had been wrapped in fine gold. The sun was just beginning to set as Yao Yao and her father had arrived, and it glinted off the building in what was both an attractive manner as well as an intimidating one. A building like this one almost made you believe in the existence of Dragons. Yao Yao shuffled her feet self-consciously as a stunningly beautiful woman stood from behind the receptionist's desk and glided over to them on her five-inch Louboutin's in a stunning scarlet that perfectly accented the pure white Ralph Lauren wrap dress she was wearing, accompanied by a plunging neckline and a single, perfect garnet the size of a chicken egg that hung from a delicate strand of pure gold around her neck. The woman's waist-length curtain of smooth, shiny and perfectly arranged hair swung gently as she came to a graceful halt in front of them.

"Good evening. Do you have an appointment?" Her voice was like cultured cream, and her smile perfectly white – she was nearly as intimidating as the building itself, but in a more gentle, panther-like way. Yao Yao was certain that this woman was no pushover.

Clearing her throat, Yao Yao stammered, "Uh, y-yes. We have a six o'clock meeting with the President."

The woman's brow furrowed in confusion for a moment before her stunning face smoothed over again, "Ah, I see. This way, please. You must be Professor Ding."

Smiling, Yao Yao's father took pity on her as he straightened the tie he rarely wore, "I am, yes. And this is my daughter, Ding Yao."

The receptionist's head rotated towards Yao Yao with a sharp, keen interest. "Is she, now?" Her eyes narrowed in speculation for a moment as Yao Yao straightened her own comparatively messy simple white cotton dress and black leather half-jacket. "Unfortunately, the President is busy with other matters and will be unable to attend. His assistant will be meeting with you." Somehow, the way she saidother matters made it sound like she meant more important matters. The woman led them into a sterile-looking elevator up fifty-seven floors and down a long, wide hallway lined with stunningly beautiful and spacious offices and conference rooms on either way. Most of these had glass walls, but the one they were ushered into was more traditional with handsome, wood-paneled walls and a massive oak conference table in the middle of the room with a number of austere, richly padded leather office chairs all around it. Yao Yao swallowed hard as she looked around the starkly beautiful room, sitting beside her father and feeling like a bundle of nerves.

After about ten minutes, the sound of very expensive men's shoes clip-clopping authoritatively down the hall was clearly heard and about half a dozen men entered, looking very worn and weary. "Ah. Professor Ding Yao. This is, what? Your seventh attempt to get us to allow you access to that bit of land? Do you have any further information for us, or are you just here to waste our time again?"

Yao Yao felt her temper rising. She cleared her throat, "I'm sorry, but my father didn't request this meeting for himself. He requested it on my behalf."

The man glanced coldly in her direction, condescending amusement turning his mouth into a sneer, "Oh? And who might you be?"

Yao Yao raised an eyebrow, "If you're going to be rude, you should introduce yourself first." She sat back and crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly feeling very stubborn.

The man closed his eyes in what seemed like a poorly-veiled eye roll, "I am Chen Liang, Assistant to the President of Dragon Holding. Now, young lady. What is your name?"

"I am Ding Yao, the world's leading expert in Nan Yue, and it is I who is requesting access, not my father."

Chen Liang's eyebrow arched, "Well, that is a change, isn't it?" He glanced to the other men seated around the table. "Very well, then. We will hear your case. Again."

Yao Yao's eyes narrowed and she had just laid her hands flat on the table to stand and give the man a piece of her mind when there was a commotion in the hallway outside. The door burst suddenly open and a very harassed-looking mouse of a man nearly fell into the room in his haste, babbling nervously, "He's here," he kept repeating. "He's here. He's here. He came."

Chen Liang didn't even bother to attempt to hide the eye roll, "Who is coming?"

The mousy fellow paled, "Him," was all he could manage.

Chen Liang's brow furrowed in irritation before something seemed to occur to him which caused the blood to drain from his face, "You...You don't mean...Not him? What is he doing here!?"

The mousy one wrung his hands, "I don't know, sir. But he's heading for this conference room!"

Chen Liang paled still further as more commotion was heard in the hallway as employees scuttled around in their haste to line the hallway, bowing in respect and, unless Yao Yao was wrong, fear. Chen Liang and the other men shoved hastily to their feet as a dozen large, muscular men in fine, starkly-cut black suits filed into the room, glancing around in the not-so-nonchalant way that betrayed them as professional bodyguards. One touched his finger to the wire in his ear and said softly, "It's clear."

Completely still silence descended as another, gentler set of footsteps was head coming down the hall. Though they were gentler, they were no less authoritative. However, the sound of this footstep was that of one born to power, rather than one who had taken what they could. Something about that footstep seemed inherently familiar to Yao Yao, and she was standing before she had consciously decided to. Her hands trembled as the footsteps came nearer and nearer; finally, their owner breached the corner and entered the room. He wore the finest suit Yao Yao had ever seen; it was a charcoal gray with a sapphire blue dress shirt and a matching charcoal gray tie that was just a shade lighter than the suit. A handkerchief that perfectly matched the shirt he wore was tucked just so into the suit coat's pocket. One hand was in his trousers pocket while the other shoved a lock of shockingly-white, shoulder-length hair behind his ear. Yao Yao's breath came in short gasps, and her father took her hand, trying to ascertain what was wrong – his question was answered when she whispered, "Wu...Dao?"

Wu Dao's gaze snapped to hers and his dark eyes widened in shock, "Yao Yao?" For a moment, he said nothing more, staring at her in shock. At last, a small smile graced his lips for a short moment before he arched an elegant eyebrow, "I was wondering who it was that would be so persistent – that is why I came. It makes sense now that I see who is behind it." Yao Yao couldn't hold herself back; she was so relieved to have real, tangible proof that she wasn't insane and that Nan Yue had been real that she hurtled around the corner of the table, tears streaming down her face in joy. Wu Dao twitched a finger towards his guards who had begun to move to intercept her, stilling them instantly. Yao Yao wrapped her arms around him, sobbing into his chest. Raising his eyebrow again, Wu Dao waited patiently with his hands clasped behind his back. He half-smiled again, patting her gently on the shoulder, "That is enough, now. Remember where you are."

Yao Yao straightened suddenly and bowed, "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be rude."

Wu Dao chuckled – once. "It is of no concern. If I did not wish you to be near me, you would not be. So; you wish to access my land, do you?" Yao Yao wiped her eyes with the back of her hand for a moment before she noticed the handsome sapphire blue kerchief that Wu Dao was holding out to her. She took it gratefully and dried her eyes with it before handing it back to him. He inclined his head politely and stowed the kerchief back in place before taking her gently by the elbow and steering her back to her chair. "Get the Professors some water, if you please." He said it pleasantly enough, but even such a softly worded request was met with instant obedience.

Within moments, Yao Yao had a glass of ice-cold water in front of her, as did her father. "Thank you," she said sheepishly. "Now, if we can discuss business. I think that I have a very good case for digging on that land. It is my belief that a tomb that was very important to Nan Yue lies on that land."

Wu Dao's expression was filled with ironic amusement, "Oh, is that so? May I see your research?" Yao Yao handed it over without argument, nodding every now and then at something he had read, "Well, this research is very thorough. Since it is you, I will allow it." Without a word, he held out his hand to the man directly to his right, and it was suddenly filled with a manila envelope that contained a contract that was ready to be signed.

Chen Liang seemed suddenly to find his voice, "But...wait; you can't..."

The man never finished his sentence. Wu Dao's gaze snapped around to glare at the man. "What did you just say?" he inquired with a quiet rage in his voice. "Do you presume to possess such authority that you can order me around? If you think that your rudeness to those with whom you meet on my behalf has gone unnoticed, then you are an even greater fool than I took you for. One more word out of you, and you will be out of a job, am I understood?" Chen Liang paled again and bowed, completely at a loss for words. Wu Dao glared at the man for another moment before his expression returned to normal, "So. Do you need to have a lawyer look these over before you sign them? I assure you that the terms are more than fair."

Yao Yao and her father exchanged excited glances, "No, it's fine. I trust you. Oh, by the way...how is..." Wu Dao narrowed his eyes and shook his head. Later, was the look in his eyes. "Never mind," she mumbled as she signed the paperwork.

***Author's Note***

The plot, as they say, thickens! Hope you enjoyed the chapter, my dear ones! Lots of love!

- Lady Darkwind