"Ha! You? Cherry blossoms?" Ohm narrowed his eyes at Phueak, a smirk tugging at his lips half mockery, half affection.
"Thought you only cared about your next meal."
Phueak pouted. "Food’s great. But since we got here, we’ve barely left that damn shop. Every time I try to chill, some urgent executive bullshit shows up."
He turned to Adisorn, eyes bright with hope. "When things slow down, you should take us out, sir. You always look so damn stressed. Never smile. Fresh air might do you some good."
The simple words hit Adisorn harder than expected a strange warmth he wasn’t used to.
"We should bring Mr. Gawin, Mr. Tum… and Ms.Rosé too," Phueak added cheerfully.
Adisorn’s expression darkened instantly. "If Gawin’s coming… count me out."
Ohm and Phueak exchanged a quick glance. Ohm lowered his voice. "Still stuck on that vote, huh? But it wasn’t what you think. Gawin voted no because he didn’t want Rosé to feel alone. He planned to stand with her… but then she voted yes. Left him hanging with his hand up like an idiot."
Adisorn arched an eyebrow, keeping his face carefully blank.
"Besides," Phueak added with a grin, "he knew we’d win anyway. We were always ending up here, watching your back."
Adisorn said nothing, but the knot in his chest loosened just a little. He snapped his tablet shut and stood. "It’s late. I’m turning in. You two should sleep too." He paused at the door, not quite looking back.
"And don’t touch anything in my room."
The door clicked shut behind him.
Phueak leaned in, whispering, "He’s kinda cute when he doesn’t know what to do with kindness."
Ohm chuckled softly, staring at the closed door. "Yeah… he is."
A convoy of black luxury vehicles glided to a stop outside CK Group headquarters. Security in dark suits fanned out like shadows, clearing the perimeter with military precision.
The center door opened. Chatchawin emerged tall, broad-shouldered, radiating controlled menace. Without his usual sunglasses, his mismatched eyes were impossible to ignore: one deep charcoal, the other a pale, almost golden brown that seemed to cut through everything it touched.
Beside him walked his secretary immaculate in a cream suit, thin-rimmed glasses, every movement graceful yet calculated.
At the end of the long marble hall, Li Ming approached with a politician’s smile, board members trailing behind him like obedient ghosts. Gawin walked among them, observing silently.
"Welcome, Mr. Chatchawin," Li Ming said, extending a firm hand.
Chatchawin shook it once, brief and cold. "Pleasure."
Li Ming gestured smoothly. "Today’s session will be led by Mr. Gawin, Director of the Hydrogen Project."
Gawin gave a small, polite bow. "An honor."
Chatchawin’s reply was a thin smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Likewise."
Inside the vast conference room, the air felt heavier than it should. Meiling sat with perfect posture. Opposite her, Wen Jie leaned back, a faint predatory smirk already playing on his lips.
Gawin stepped to the front as the projector hummed to life. "Welcome to the Hydrogen Silk Road"Gawin began. After a brief, polite round of applause, the roadmap flashed onto the screen.
"As you are aware, Away Logistics will be joining our pilot Sandbox in Thailand. Ms. Meiling will now present the Exclusive Energy Sovereignty roadmap."
Meiling rose smoothly and took the stage. "We have analyzed every distribution route for Away Logistics across Thailand. The primary issue is uncontrollable variables specifically, the volatility of global oil prices. CK Group’s hydrogen energy decouples you from that instability. We offer a balanced, fixed-cost energy solution."
She clicked to the comparison chart. "Furthermore, Away Logistics will gain a competitive edge in carbon footprint reduction, attracting Fortune 500 partners seeking Green alliances. The result: Away Logistics becomes the leader in clean-energy logistics with long-term cost certainty."
Chatchawin listened without expression. Wen Jie let out a soft, mocking huff.
"And the price?" Chatchawin asked, voice low and blunt.
Meiling kept her smile steady. "Full Data and AI Grid access. In return a ten-year supply contract at twenty-five percent below market."
The room stayed quiet.
Chatchawin leaned forward slightly, eyes locking onto hers. "And if CK changes the terms later? If you squeeze me with new conditions… how exactly do I trust you won’t screw me over?"
The question landed like a blade. Meiling’s grip on the remote tightened until her knuckles whitened.
"I need real guarantees," he continued, voice calm but relentless. "Not pretty promises that can vanish when it suits you."
Silence stretched.
Meiling swallowed. "If certainty is what you want… I propose Shared Destiny. Fifty-one to forty-nine joint venture, with you in control. System failure over four hours triggers immediate damages. Full tech transfer to your team."
Chatchawin let out a low, dry laugh, but his mismatched eyes remained ice-cold like a lion watching prey expose its throat.
"You’re still being too careful with your words" he said softly, dangerously. " I need
absolute
clarity. If future conditions become impossible, how do I know CK Group won't use technicalities to sabotage me?"
The air in the room seemed to thicken. Meiling froze for half a second too long.
Beside Gawin, Tum stared at Chatchawin. In his vision, a swirling mass of soot-black smoke coiled around the man, laced with searing flames that promised total destruction. Tum’s stomach tightened. Someone in this room was meant to burn.
Wen Jie’s smirk widened into something openly satisfied. He had been waiting for this exact moment watching Meiling cornered, faltering under pressure.
The silence that followed felt like a loaded gun on the table.