Chapter 83: The Suitor
Half an hour had passed since Wang Mengde arrived at the Xiao family’s company. The employees had all been ordered to keep their lips sealed, though many remained curious. Yet, ever since Xiao Ye had closed the door to the reception room, not a single sound had emerged from within.
As whispers spread among the staff, a group of renovation workers marched straight in from outside, without greeting anyone, and entered the reception room. In less than five minutes, these workers, together with Xiao Ye, emerged. Before leaving, they replaced the broken lock on the door, which had been kicked in earlier.
Xiao Ye, for his part, showed no trace of blood or injury.
...
Meanwhile, Ye Gang was waiting in the sanatorium for news from Wang Mengde. A flamboyant woman beside him peeled an orange and placed a segment in his mouth.
As he chewed, a man in a suit charged in, his face stricken with panic.
“Something’s wrong, Young Master Ye!”
“What’s the panic? Has the sky fallen?” Ye Gang sneered, regarding the man with contempt.
The suited man steadied his breath, his voice trembling.
“President Wang... is dead.”
The moment the words left his lips, Ye Gang shot upright, terror spilling from his eyes.
“What did you say?” he demanded, his brows furrowing as he nearly leapt from the bed. He could never have imagined Wang Mengde would be killed.
The suited man looked troubled, barely daring to breathe.
“I understand, you may leave now,” Ye Gang said, his face blank and his molars clenched, waving the group away.
This sudden twist left him stunned.
Just then, the woman beside him gently patted his shoulder.
“What’s there to panic about? This can be handled easily.”
Ye Gang snapped out of it, confusion clouding his gaze as he looked at her.
“If Xiao Ye can’t act, can’t those around him?” the woman said, peeling an apple with languid grace and a strange gleam in her eyes.
Hearing this, Ye Gang’s tightly furrowed brow instantly relaxed.
...
Xiao Ye entered the office, where Qin Xue’er was already feeling much better. Seeing she was fine, he moved to approach her, but her phone suddenly rang.
It was Shu Ran calling.
“Hello, Ran, what’s up?”
“Nothing much, just wondering if you have time. I’d like to invite you and your husband to dinner.”
Though she hadn’t put her phone on speaker, Xiao Ye could hear their conversation clearly.
“I think I have time. Once I finish up, I’ll head out.”
“Alright, hurry up then.”
Shu Ran hung up quickly, leaving Qin Xue’er a bit puzzled. She set her phone down and turned to Xiao Ye.
“Ran wants to have dinner tonight. Let’s get ready.”
“You...” Xiao Ye hesitated, looking at Qin Xue’er.
But she simply waved her hand, indicating she was fine and didn’t want to discuss it further.
After tidying up a bit, they prepared to leave. Just then, her phone rang again.
“Lingyu, where are you?”
“I’m about to leave the company. Send me the address!”
Within half a minute, the address arrived on Qin Xue’er’s phone.
The restaurant appeared to be quite upscale. Xiao Ye, familiar with Shu Ran’s circumstances, recalled looking into her background after a class reunion. Her current finances couldn’t possibly cover such a place.
They parked and entered the restaurant, immediately spotting Shu Ran. Beside her sat a man in luxurious attire, handsome and distinguished in appearance.
Strangely, in such a high-end restaurant, there wasn’t another guest around—only staff waiting discreetly nearby.
“You two are so slow, making us wait forever,” Shu Ran greeted them warmly. The man beside her looked surprised but smiled, pulling out a chair for Qin Xue’er.
“I haven’t been introduced—who are these two?” he asked, smiling at Qin Xue’er, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
“These are my friends, Qin Xue’er and her husband, Xiao Ye,” Shu Ran replied.
“Miss Qin is married? What a pity. You certainly don’t look it,” the gentleman said regretfully, then continued, “But why the mask?”
No matter where she went, Qin Xue’er always wore a mask—it had become habitual. She smiled, saying nothing.
The gentleman understood and extended his hand to Xiao Ye.
“Hello, I’m Chen Ning.”
“Xiao Ye.”
“I booked the entire restaurant tonight—order whatever you like, it’s all on me,” Chen Ning boasted, hands on his hips.
Yet Xiao Ye had never cared for such ostentation.
At that moment, Qin Xue’er stood up suddenly.
“Excuse me, I need to use the restroom.”
Now only Shu Ran and Xiao Ye remained at the table. Chen Ning seemed uninterested in Xiao Ye, focusing on the menu and chatting amiably with Shu Ran.
Xiao Ye was curious—Shu Ran had never mentioned this before. He hadn’t expected she would have a suitor from such a wealthy background.
“It’s getting late, let’s order something,” Chen Ning said, picking up the menu and calling for a waiter. But Shu Ran pressed the menu down.
“No rush, we’re not all here yet. Let’s wait,” she said, forcing a smile at Chen Ning.
Xiao Ye glanced around—why hadn’t Qin Xue’er returned yet? Just as these thoughts crossed his mind, his phone buzzed with a message that caught his attention.
“Quick, get Ran out of here. We can’t stay.”
Xiao Ye frowned and discreetly picked up his phone.
“What’s wrong?”
“This man isn’t trustworthy. Look at Ran—she doesn’t look happy at all,” Qin Xue’er messaged again.
Xiao Ye watched the two at the table. Indeed, Shu Ran’s expressions were stiff, her smiles forced.
Chen Ning didn’t sit right with Xiao Ye; his manner felt exaggerated and insincere.
“Ran gave me a signal earlier. Something’s off. I suspect this man has other intentions tonight,” Qin Xue’er messaged again while Xiao Ye observed.
“What do you want to do?”
“I’ll return soon, make up an excuse, and we’ll leave together.”
Xiao Ye finally put away his phone. Three minutes later, Qin Xue’er returned to the table.
Chen Ning was about to call the waiter, but Qin Xue’er spoke up.
“Ran, I just remembered—I forgot to turn off the gas at home. Come with me to check.”
“How could you forget something so important?” Shu Ran feigned alarm, grabbed her purse, and stood to address Chen Ning.
“Sorry, Mr. Chen, it’s sudden. We’ll have to call it a night.”