"Do you really still think he's one of us?" Rosé voiced her skepticism, her sharp eyes clouding with mistrust as she knit her brows. "He never intended to sink or swim with us from the start."

  "Exactly. That guy can't be trusted for a second," Phueak added, scrunching up his face.

  "He won't show," Rosé concluded firmly, crossing her arms. "A man like Adisorn... if there’s no profit involved, he won't waste his time with the likes of us."

  The breeze from the Huangpu River swept past. Amidst the covering silence, Gawin kept his gaze fixed on the riverside path, as if waiting for a vital piece to complete the morning’s teamwork.

  Suddenly, a tall, elegant figure in a long navy wool coat emerged from the crowd. His well-groomed hair fluttered in the wind. His piercing eyes were hidden behind pitch-black sunglasses that reflected the Pudong skyscrapers like a part of the high-end scenery.

  The group froze. Rosé bit her lip hard. Phueak stood paralyzed mid-stretch. Ohm stopped his jogging and instinctively stood at attention.

  Only Gawin remained unfazed. A dimpled smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and his eyes behind the thick frames sparkled with sudden mischief. "I’m glad to see you... Mr. Adisorn."

  Adisorn didn't answer. He simply tucked his hands into his coat pockets, his expression as cold and haughty as ever. Rosé turned her face away slightly, her crossed arms asking the silent question: Does this venomous snake really have the nerve to join us?

  "Alright, since we’re all here..." Gawin turned to everyone cheerfully, gesturing toward the wide stone steps. "I have a surprise for you all."

  Gawin gently set down his backpack and pulled out a paper box smelling of fresh Qingtuan and a thermos of Longjing tea.

  "I stopped by Shen Dacheng on Nanjing Road. The queue was a kilometer long, but I really wanted you all to taste the flavor of Shanghai’s spring." Gawin opened the lid, revealing emerald-green glutinous rice balls glistening like jewels.

  "Ah... mugwort-infused sticky rice dough," Ohm began describing with the air of a connoisseur. "The red bean filling is delicately sweet, while the salted egg yolk and pork floss give a rich, savory texture. It’s the pinnacle of local snacks."

  "Whoa, Boss, you really know your food everywhere, don't you?" Phueak teased. They all sat on the steps, sharing the chewy treats and sipping pale yellow Longjing tea. The scent of roasted tea leaves mingled with the river mist, creating a rare moment of aesthetic peace.

  Surrounded by skyscrapers, they looked out over the slow-moving water. The cool breeze washed away the exhaustion of the hard weeks prior.

  "I used to walk along a river like this... with someone," Gawin remarked softly, as if sinking into a memory. "That day, the work was heavy, and the obstacles seemed endless. But looking at the water that never stops flowing... it made me realize that problems are just like the river. They flow in, and they must flow out."

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Phueak, his cheeks puffed out with Qingtuan, nodded vigorously. "Totally. It reminds me of when we went undercover at that 'Lom Loy Rak' restaurant by the Ping River. That was so intense!"

  Ohm bared his teeth instantly. "And you almost got us caught because you wouldn't stop eating! If I hadn't dragged you out, the whole plan would have been ruined by your gluttony!"

  Phueak gave a dry laugh, avoiding Ohm’s glare. Rosé stole a small smile at the bickering duo. Meanwhile, Adisorn sat slightly apart; though his sunglasses hid his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitched upward ever so slightly a thought no one could decipher.

  Gawin took a sip of the slightly astringent tea that sharpened his senses, before Ohm broke the silence with a serious tone.

  "By the way... why did you send Yong Chang to Phakphum?"

  Ohm knew well that Phakphum was the CEO of Wonder Design, a subsidiary of Wonder Package. Gawin and Phakphum were legendary rivals, constantly trying to cut the legs off each other's chairs. Every encounter was like two tigers baring teeth, thickening the atmosphere with tension. Yet Gawin chose to hand his number-one enemy over to Yong Chang.

  Gawin smiled deviously. "Phakphum is cunning and treacherous. And to deal with a sly fox like Yong Chang, no one is more suitable than someone of the exact same breed." Gawin’s smile was profound, as if he were watching two tigers prepare to devour each other while he sat comfortably by the river, sipping tea.

  At the heart of Bangkok’s densest business district, the Miracle Construction building towered amidst the skyline. This was a ten-billion-baht construction empire, and Phakphum sat on its throne as Chairman.

  Yong Chang stepped out of his polished, gleaming luxury car, looking up at the endless peak of the building with suspicion.

  'That chef said this place was a gold mine... but is he luring me here to be slaughtered?' Yong Chang adjusted his suit. Despite his paranoia, his hunter's instinct told him this was a golden opportunity. If he could seize this place like his other ventures in Thailand, it would be a power base more stable than anything else in his hand.

  The elevator surged to the silent executive floor. A receptionist in a sleek grey uniform led him through a hallway decorated with contemporary art, arriving at the giant doors guarding the master of this domain.

  The doors opened to reveal Phakphum a tall, elegant man with a sharp, fox-like face, reclining in a high-end leather chair. The executive in a deep blue suit offered a faint smile, twirling a gold fountain pen rhythmically, like a predator watching prey enter his territory.

  "A pleasure to meet you... Mr. Yong Chang," Phakphum greeted in a steady voice, rising with brisk grace. "To have a representative from CK Group, the energy giant, visit us is an unexpected delight."

  Phakphum extended his hand. Yong Chang shook it with an equally firm grip.

  "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Phakphum," Yong Chang replied.

  Phakphum’s lip curled into a meaningful smirk. Yong Chang noted that those eyes and that smile were exactly like a sly fox who had just seen its prey walk into a perfectly laid trap. "Please, sit. You’ve had a long journey; let’s have some tea first." He gestured toward an exquisitely carved dragon-themed tea table.

  Yong Chang narrowed his eyes slightly as he sat down across from the fox of Miracle Construction.

  Character Profile: Phakphum

  From the Thai Novel:: The CEO's Secret Plan ????????????

  Gawin, a sharp-witted and charismatic CEO, finds himself entangled in a high-stakes game of corporate cat-and-mouse. When whispers of internal corruption threaten his empire, he teams up with a brilliant, no-nonsense accountant to unmask the traitors.

  Blending sharp business maneuvers with witty office comedy, this story follows their undercover mission to audit the fraud while navigating a minefield of eccentric colleagues and unexpected sparks. It’s a battle of ledgers, lies, and laughter, where the ultimate bottom line is discovering who they can truly trust.