Chapter 48: I Find You Quite Interesting

Shen Yan thrust the bottle into Ji Yanxi’s thigh.

A spray of blood splattered onto his face, while coldness filled Shen Yan’s eyes.

Bai Mohan knew then that Shen Yan was truly angry.

But what surprised him most was how much Ye Yao Yao mattered to Shen Yan—so much so that Shen Yan would actually harm Ji Yanxi because of her!

Ji Yanxi instinctively screamed, but under the pressure of Shen Yan’s glare, he forced it down.

The next moment, another shrill cry escaped him.

Shen Yan pulled the bottle out, and the pain surged anew.

Thus, what began as a gathering of brothers ended with Shen Yan injuring Ji Yanxi.

“Yanxi was just joking, wasn’t that a bit much?” Bai Mohan ventured cautiously.

Shen Yan’s icy gaze swept over. “Are you trying to teach me how to handle things?”

Bai Mohan lowered his head, silent.

“Let’s go.”

Shen Yan tossed the bloodied tissue into the trash and strode toward the door.

Feng Yuqi followed close behind.

After hearing what Ji Yanxi said, he’d wanted to hit him himself.

The young master had vented his anger for him.

On the way back, Shen Yan lowered the car window, letting the cool breeze in. He felt a little clearer.

In truth, even now, Shen Yan didn’t understand how he’d acted so impulsively, stabbing Ji Yanxi.

All he remembered was how piercing those words were, and his hand moved before he knew it.

“Brother Yan…”

Feng Yuqi hesitated for a moment. “As far as I know, Miss Ye isn’t at all like they said.”

His master had been champion of underground boxing tournaments abroad.

Even leaving aside her family background, that alone was enough to guarantee her a worry-free life.

Besides, his master was a daughter of the Ye family!

Of course, very few knew this, unless they were extremely close.

“Oh? And what is she like?” Shen Yan’s voice dropped below freezing.

Feng Yuqi knew Ye Yao Yao well?

Well, well.

A man who just returned from abroad knows his wife better than he does.

Feng Yuqi shuddered, suddenly regretting his own words.

Brother Yan’s look could cut right through him.

“It’s just a feeling. Nothing more,” Feng Yuqi tried to muddle through.

But Shen Yan would not allow it.

Feng Yuqi wished he could slap himself. Why did he lose his composure whenever it concerned his master?

“Brother Yan, when I was abroad, a girl who pursued me seemed to be Miss Ye’s friend. They talked about some older brother, so I doubt she’s an orphan.”

He spoke as subtly as he could, hoping that if this got exposed in the future, his master would show mercy.

“Someone pursued you?”

Shen Yan raised an eyebrow, teasing, “So what does the girl who chased you look like?”

“She’s pretty,”

Talking about her, Feng Yuqi’s eyes sparkled, and a faint blush colored his rugged face. “But I’m not good enough for her, so I chose not to delay her.”

Shen Yan said nothing, thinking how melodramatic these words sounded.

Not good enough?

What era is this—still worrying about that?

“If there’s a chance, let me meet her. No one working under Shen Yan is ‘not good enough.’”

Feng Yuqi nodded, silent.

He’d received an invitation his first day back, but had no intention of meeting.

…

Yu Wanqing persisted in sending messages to her beloved, but still couldn’t arrange a meeting.

She considered looking up his workplace, but was afraid it would be too intrusive.

When you truly love someone, you become cautious and indecisive.

Yu Qingqing’s deeds in the Ji family had reached Yu Boyao’s ears.

Old habits die hard; a person’s nature always reveals itself in time.

The Yu family’s stock stabilized, and with Yu Wanqing helping at the company, Yu Boyao’s burden eased.

Whenever he had a free moment, his mind was filled with thoughts of Yu Wanqing’s marriage.

His daughter was at the age to wed.

What mattered most to Yu Boyao were the strength of the family and the character of the prospective in-laws.

As long as the man hadn’t committed murder or some grievous crime, he could be considered.

People nowadays are fickle—they no longer love only one person for a lifetime like his generation did.

Moreover, people are ultimately unknowable; Yu Boyao focused on family reputation and responsibility.

Yu Wanqing hadn’t managed to meet her beloved yet, and now she heard about this arrangement.

“Dad, I’m not going. I already have someone I love,” Yu Wanqing refused.

Her time abroad had shaped her outlook; she believed in free love and disliked arranged marriages.

If Yu Wanqing hadn’t liked anyone, perhaps she would have complied—but she did.

“Where is the person you love? Bring them home for me to see.”

Hearing his precious daughter had someone she liked, Yu Boyao felt a crisis—his cabbage was about to be taken by someone unreliable!

“In a few days.”

“No, right now.”

“Dad, she’s busy,” Yu Wanqing replied helplessly.

“What could be more important than you?”

Yu Boyao’s impression of that ‘pig’ dropped instantly. “He doesn’t care about you—he’s no good.”

Yu Wanqing was pushed out. “Remember to go. I’ve already arranged it; I’ll send you the address and contacts.”

“Dad, listen to me—”

But the office door was already shut.

Of course, Yu Wanqing had no intention of going.

But if she didn’t, her father wouldn’t believe her.

So, when Ye Yao Yao received the message, she was stunned.

“Wanqing, you…”

“Yao Yao, help me! Just go and turn him down for me,”

Yu Wanqing pleaded, “I haven’t made any progress with the one I love—I can’t let anything else get in the way.”

There are no secrets that don’t leak; if word got out, they’d be finished.

“So you’re putting me out there? Yu Wanqing, you’re really something.”

Despite her words, Ye Yao Yao agreed, “Alright, I’ll go for you.”

“Yao Yao, I’ll repay your kindness for a lifetime, even as an ox or horse.”

That evening, Ye Yao Yao, after work, headed to the meeting place.

Inside the cafe, a man sat quietly, gold-rimmed glasses on his face, tailored suit, eyes calm and watchful.

His name was Bei Tang Mo. Much like Yu Wanqing, he had just returned from abroad. Yu Boyao had arranged the meeting, thinking they’d have topics in common.

Ye Yao Yao found him from the photo, greeted him politely, “Sorry, there was traffic. Thank you for waiting.”

Bei Tang Mo stood to welcome her, smiling gently, “No problem, I just arrived myself.”

He sized Ye Yao Yao up. “You are…”

Guessing Yu Boyao had shown him a photo beforehand, Ye Yao Yao didn’t bother to pretend, “I’m Ye Yao Yao, Wanqing’s close friend. She couldn’t make it today, so I’m here in her place.”

“In her place?”

Bei Tang Mo focused on the word, “In what way? Are you here to reject me for her, or to accept me for her?”

Hmm... No wonder he’d just returned from abroad—he certainly knew how to flirt.

Ye Yao Yao was about to answer when Bei Tang Mo cut her off, “Miss Ye, your name is all over the news online. I find you quite interesting.”