"I really can take responsibility."
This bed is so comfortable, so much better than that broken wooden bed up on the mountain...
The pillow is so soft too, and this bolster—oh, it's so plush, just like a woman's...
Ye Tianming muttered to himself with his eyes closed, couldn't help giving it a firm squeeze, and suddenly his heart sank!
No! This feel was all wrong!
The next second, a woman's faint, delicate moan sounded beside his ear.
Ye Tianming snapped his sleepy eyes open and bolted upright.
Taking in the scene before him, he froze like a statue.
On the large bed of the five-star hotel suite, a curvaceous woman was sleeping right beside him.
The woman was gorgeous, her delicate profile as flawless as if carved by the hands of God.
She lay with her back to him, entirely bare, her skin like congealed lard and her body like fine jade.
Ye Tianming's mouth twitched, completely bewildered. What on earth was going on?
How did a woman suddenly appear here?
The previous night's alcohol was still pounding in his head. Ye Tianming rubbed his temples, slapped his forehead, and suddenly memories came flooding back.
This was Longzhou!
His hometown!
Yesterday he had bid farewell to the old man, descended the mountain alone, and arrived in Longzhou by nightfall.
He had booked a suite near the airport to sleep, planning to head home the next day.
In the middle of the night, feeling terribly bored, he had gone out to a bar for a drink.
And so, he had gotten drunk...
The last image in his mind was a stunning, otherworldly woman stumbling drunkenly into his booth and clinking glasses with him...
Putting the pieces together, Ye Tianming looked back at the woman's jade-like body sprawled across the bed, his gaze turning complicated.
That meant... she must have been the woman from last night.
What a mess!
Ye Tianming wanted to slap himself.
He had come down the mountain this time to find a wife. The old man had arranged six engagements for him, insisting he must choose one of them to marry.
He had returned full of joy, never in his wildest dreams imagining—
That on his very first night back, he would rack up a debt of romantic karma!
A sudden thought struck him, and Ye Tianming hurriedly threw back the blanket, looking down at the sheets.
On the snow-white sheets, a smear of plum blossom-like blood bloomed, glaringly bright.
Ye Tianming's hand stiffened, and his heart plummeted to the very bottom.
The outcome he least wanted to see had happened after all.
The woman was still a virgin...
He had gone too far. Ye Tianming gave a bitter laugh. What on earth was he supposed to do now?
Just as Ye Tianming was feeling anxious, the woman rolled over.
When Ye Tianming caught a clear view of her face, his breathing caught.
She was truly a beauty capable of overthrowing cities and kingdoms!
Even though Ye Tianming had seen his fair share of women, the phrase "peerless beauty" had never popped into his mind before.
The woman before him was the first.
The woman's delicate brows furrowed slightly, as if she were having an unpleasant dream.
Or perhaps feeling a lack of security, she hugged her arms across her chest.
With that movement, the perfect contours of her chest were pressed into view right before Ye Tianming's eyes.
Gazing at this breathtaking sight—
*Gulp.*
Ye Tianming swallowed hard.
The sound of his swallowing echoed clearly in the dead silence of the room.
Jiang Muwan, half-asleep, seemed to sense something. Her crystal-clear eyes flickered with a trace of confusion as she slowly opened them.
What first came into view was the pristine white ceiling.
Followed by a face that was part roguish, part handsome.
The two locked eyes.
The atmosphere froze.
After a three-second silence, Ye Tianming looked at Jiang Muwan and grinned.
"Hey beauty... you've got a great chest."
"Ah—!"
A scream shattered the tranquility of the room.
Jiang Muwan sat up in a flash, wrapped herself tightly in the sheet, and shrank into the corner of the bed, staring at Ye Tianming in terror.
"Who are you? Why are you here?!"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that question? This is my room."
Jiang Muwan was stunned. A look of confusion flashed across her pretty face, and as she glanced around, her expression shifted.
This indeed wasn't her room.
Her heart sank. *Oh no, could I have gotten drunk and walked into the wrong room last night?*
Almost instinctively, Jiang Muwan pulled back the blanket and looked down.
When she saw she wasn't wearing a single stitch of clothing and spotted the faint trace of blood on the sheet—
She froze entirely.
Mist slowly welled up in her eyes. Looking at Ye Tianming with reddened eye rims, she asked in a trembling voice:
"Did you... sleep with me?"
Ye Tianming lit a cigarette and smiled amiably.
"Are you questioning my ability or your own looks?"
"In the dead of night, a lone man and a woman, and you crawled into my bed. If I hadn't slept with you, would I even deserve to call myself a man?"
Tears swirling in her eyes, Jiang Muwan grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him in despair.
"You bastard! Animal!"
"No need for name-calling. Besides, you were the one who got drunk last night, walked into the wrong room, and crawled into my bed. It's not like I forced—"
"Shut up!"
Jiang Muwan's voice suddenly spiked, tears finally spilling over and cutting trails across her beautiful face.
She felt wronged. She felt furious. She felt grief-stricken.
And she felt deep regret!
If not for the agonizing despair of failing to find the divine doctor who could cure her grandfather—
Why would she have gone out to drink herself into a stupor?
And if she hadn't gotten drunk, how could she have been defiled by a man like this?
Jiang Muwan bit her lip, tears falling endlessly.
She considered herself a favored daughter of the heavens; who in Longzhou didn't know her?
The young talents who admired and pursued her could form a line stretching all the way to the Second Ring Road.
Yet she hadn't fancied a single one of them, all because she was waiting for the man of her dreams to arrive...
And yet, her virginity, guarded for over twenty years, had been stolen today by a slacker-looking man.
The more Jiang Muwan thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, her tears flowing uncontrollably.
She looked at Ye Tianming again.
Taking in his stubbly face and his cheap, crumpled clothes—
She fell into utter despair.
*Jiang Muwan, oh Jiang Muwan, how could you possibly fall for such a lowly, insignificant man?*
Exhaling a plume of smoke, Ye Tianming said leisurely:
"Alright, don't take it too hard. Even though I'm engaged, I can take responsibility for you."
"Take responsibility for me?"
Jiang Muwan wiped away her tears and said coldly:
"What gives you the right to take responsibility for me? What capability do you even have to take responsibility!"
Ye Tianming blinked and said earnestly:
"I have money, I have power. Whatever you want, I have."
"Not only are you unprincipled and sloppy, but you're also a massive braggart. Men like you are the absolute scum of the earth in my eyes."
Jiang Muwan looked at him as if hearing the most absurd joke in the world, her eyes filled with mockery.
"I really—"
"Enough! I don't want to hear another word of your nonsense!"
With that, Jiang Muwan picked up her handbag from the nightstand, pulled out three stacks of cash, and tossed them coldly at Ye Tianming.
"You and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. Please don't pester me."
Looking at the three stacks of cash before him, the corner of Ye Tianming's twitched.
"What is this?"
"Nothing much. Consider it your compensation."
"Do you take me for someone who cares about your thirty thousand bucks?"
Jiang Muwan glanced over Ye Tianming and his cheap outfit.
"Yes."
Without another word, Jiang Muwan got up and dressed.
Once she was ready.
She stood by the bed, silently staring at Ye Tianming.
Her gaze was filled with hatred, laced with a hint of sorrow.
Taking a deep breath, Jiang Muwan turned around and walked toward the door without looking back.
Just as she reached the doorway, Ye Tianming suddenly spoke up:
"Actually, I really can take responsibility."
Jiang Muwan's figure paused, freezing in place.
"I can take responsibility."
Yet it was only a one-second pause before she resumed walking out.
Her cold voice rang out.
"No need. You and I belong to different worlds."
Her words faded as Jiang Muwan left.
Everything fell completely quiet.
In the room, Ye Tianming squinted at the three stacks of cash.
Taking a final drag of his cigarette, he let out a dry, amused laugh.
Was he actually being looked down upon?
As the sole successor of Tianmen, the most powerful faction in Huaxia, not only did he command countless armies, but his medical skills were also heaven-defying.
Even the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor revered throughout Huaxia was merely the most useless of his twelve disciples.
As for wealth, he had no idea how much money he actually owned.
He reckoned the combined assets of all Huaxia wouldn't be far from a trillion.
Countless women outside were falling over themselves to pursue him.
Just a few days ago, the four top aristocratic families of Huaxia had even tried to send their granddaughters to be his concubines.
Yet today, a man with wealth, strength, medical prowess, and boundless power—
Had actually been spurned and looked down upon by a woman?
And she had even thrown thirty thousand bucks at him?
Ye Tianming rubbed his nose, feeling a sudden urge to laugh.
Jiang Muwan's cold, disdainful expression flashed in his mind.
*Fine, no use sweating the details. Fate comes and goes, no need to dwell on it.*
Besides, he still had six letters of engagement on him, and he had to handle them one by one this time he came back.
As he was thinking this, Ye Tianming's phone suddenly rang, and he answered it.
At the other end came the voice of a middle-aged man, filled with utmost reverence.
"Head of the Dragon! Your subordinates are waiting downstairs at your hotel. Please give your orders if you need anything at all."
Ye Tianming scratched his head: "Are you guys from the Six Dragons Chamber of Commerce?"
"Indeed. This subordinate is Lóng Zé, president of the Longhai Chamber of Commerce's Longzhou branch."
"This subordinate learned from the Old Master that you returned to Longzhou last night, and came specially to wait for you."
Ye Tianming said indifferently: "Got it, I'll be right down."
"Yes!"
Downstairs at the hotel, a middle-aged man in black hung up the phone.
He was Lóng Zé, the richest man in Longzhou and president of the Longhai Chamber of Commerce.
The second the call ended, everyone in the fleet of thirty Rolls-Royces parked behind Lóng Zé got out of their cars and stood behind him in respectful attendance.
As one of the most powerful figures in Longzhou, Lóng Zé currently showed not an ounce of arrogance; instead, his face bore an expression of nervous reverence.
Because the person he was about to welcome was an existence akin to a deity in his heart!
At that moment, Jiang Muwan walked out of the hotel entrance carrying a shoulder bag.
Even though her face was pale and carried a hint of exhaustion, it still failed to hide her peerless beauty.
Stepping outside the hotel gates, she caught sight of the scene out front and couldn't help showing a look of shock.
Wasn't that Lóng Zé, the richest man in Longzhou?
Given her status, she wasn't quite high-reaching enough to interact with Lóng Zé just yet, but she recognized his face.
Seeing Lóng Zé leading so many people and so many cars, seemingly waiting to pick someone up, she was shocked. Just how massive must the background of that person be?
"Unrelated personnel, please leave immediately. The Grand Courtyard Hotel is cleared out for today."
A black-suited bodyguard behind Lóng Zé walked over and said to Jiang Muwan.
Jiang Muwan was startled and subconsciously asked: "Are you here to pick someone up?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Inconvenient to disclose, please leave immediately."
The bodyguard's tone turned cold.
Jiang Muwan bit her lip and glanced back toward the hotel entrance.
She wanted to stay and watch, but seeing the bodyguard's gaze, she felt a wave of helplessness.
She was a tactful woman and knew that someone of this caliber wasn't someone she could meet just because she wanted to.
With no other choice, she had to head toward the parking lot.
Once she was inside her car, her phone rang.
Jiang Muwan answered, and her father Jiang Haibo's anxious voice came through.
"Muwan, why didn't you come home all night last night? Where are you?"
Jiang Muwan bit her lip, and after a moment of silence, finally said:
"I had things to do at the corporation, didn't make it back."
"Get back here as soon as you can. Our families got word—the man you're engaged to has returned to Longhai, and it's happening today."
Jiang Muwan's expression changed: "He's back?"
"That's right, hurry back and get ready, we're going to go see him today!"
"Oh, and did you find out anything about that Divine Doctor Li you were supposed to ask around for?"
Jiang Muwan's expression dimmed. "No, Dad. Divine Doctor Li is said to be a disciple of the Ghost Hand Divine Doctor, with an infinitely noble status, not easy to find at all. Why don't we find someone else to treat Grandpa?"
The man on the other end sighed: "I know. Just come back first and we'll talk."
"Mm."
Jiang Muwan hung up the phone, a flurry of complicated emotions welling up in her heart.
She had signed the engagement with that man several years ago.
Yet on the very night before his return, she had a one-night stand with another man and lost her virginity...
This was truly the most absurd thing under the sun.
Jiang Muwan sighed and looked in the rearview mirror.
She wanted to see who this bigwig was who could make even Lóng Zé act so deferential.
Right at that moment, Ye Tianming walked out from the hotel entrance.
Dressed in completely tacky clothes and sporting an unkempt, slacker look.
Black lines instantly appeared on Jiang Muwan's forehead. *Why is it this guy again?*
"Bad luck!"
Her pretty eyes glared at Ye Tianming in the rearview mirror, and most of her mood to stick around vanished.
Not wanting to linger a second longer, she started the car and drove off.
She missed the scene that followed. Had she stayed just one second longer, she would have witnessed a sight she would never have believed in her life!
She would have seen Lóng Zé leading a crowd of people, dropping straight to one knee before Ye Tianming!
And shouting with utmost reverence:
"Greetings, Head of the Dragon!"
Scanning the crowd before him, Ye Tianming gave a slow smile:
"Alright, I'm not a fan of this routine. Get up, all of you."
"Yes, Head of the Dragon!"
Lóng Zé led the others to their feet and said respectfully: "Head of the Dragon, please get in the car!"
Ye Tianming nodded without saying much and got into the Rolls-Royce right in the middle.
Lóng Zé got into the same car; his role today was that of a chauffeur.
As the richest man in Longzhou, before this man, he was only fit to be a driver.
Inside the car, Ye Tianming crossed his legs and asked the driving Lóng Zé with a smile:
"Who told you I was back? That old man?"
Cold sweat beaded on Lóng Zé's back as he stammered nervously:
"Head of the... the Old Master told us. He told us to protect you. You... you aren't angry, are you?"
"Protect? Do I need his protection?"
Ye Tianming curled his lip, looking completely indifferent, though a wave of warmth surged in his heart.
Though the old man on the mountain always tried to scheme against him, deep down he couldn't let go of him.
Turning his head to look out the window at the bustling metropolis outside.
Ye Tianming's eyes were filled with emotion...
The car soon arrived in the western suburbs of the city, where Ye Tianming's home was located in this rundown district.
The convoy of dozens of Rolls-Royces instantly caught the attention of the people living in the area.
The sight was breathtakingly grand, creating a massive sensation!
The convoy reached an intersection, but because Ye Tianming's house was right at the very end of the lane, the cars couldn't easily pass through.
Ye Tianming got out, looked around, and said to Lóng Zé:
"It's hard to park here, you guys head back first. I'll reach out if I need anything later."
Lóng Zé nodded respectfully and handed over a brand-new smartphone:
"Head of the Dragon, this is your private phone. My contact info is inside, just give the word if you need anything at all!"
Ye Tianming took the phone: "Not a bad showing, I'll take it."
Flattered and thrilled, Lóng Zé said: "You're too kind, Head of the Dragon!"
Ye Tianming smiled and turned to walk down the lane.
Lóng Zé led the convoy away.
Walking down this familiar path, Ye Tianming felt a momentary trance.
Three years away—were his parents doing well? Was his sister doing well?
Back then he had left without a single word; surely they must have worried about him!
Catching sight of his family's small courtyard in the distance, Ye Tianming couldn't help quickening his pace.
Finally reaching the gate of his family's courtyard, Ye Tianming's heart trembled as he looked inside.
At a single glance, his expression changed.
The once-familiar courtyard had become horribly dilapidated, piled high with scrap metal and trash, looking nothing like a place fit for humans to live!
A gust of wind blew past, making it look all the more desolate!
Ye Tianming rubbed his eyes, refusing to believe what he was seeing.
*Why has it come to this?*
*Is this still my home?*
At that moment, the sound of footsteps came from nearby.
Ye Tianming turned his head to look—it was two elderly scavengers.
The two elders were skin and bones, with white hair and faces covered in wrinkles.
Their clothes were filthy, ragged, and covered in patches.
The load of scrap on their backs was so heavy it bent their frail bodies double.
With every step they took, both elders had to pause and rest.
Watching them, Ye Tianming felt a deep wave of pity.
To be at such an advanced age and still forced to scavenge for garbage was truly miserable.
He stepped forward, intending to lend the two of them a hand.
Just as he reached them and got a clear look at their faces.
Ye Tianming froze as if struck by lightning!
In that exact second, an indescribable surge of emotion rushed straight to the top of his head!
Tears instantly flooded Ye Tianming's eyes. Unable to hold back any longer, he called out to the two elders in a trembling voice:
"Dad, Mom... how could it be you?!"
The two elders stopped walking, slowly and laborily raising their heads to look at Ye Tianming.
The second they saw Ye Tianming, the scrap metal on their backs slipped and crashed to the ground.
"Tia... Tianming?!"
"Dad, Mom, it's me! I'm Tianming, I'm your son!"
Tears brimming in his eyes, Ye Tianming couldn't hold back anymore as he pulled both elders into a tight embrace.
The two elders broke down crying right then and there.
They were none other than Ye Tianming's father and mother, Yè Jiànguó and Liú Cuìróng!
Liú Cuìróng held Ye Tianming tightly, crying uncontrollably.
"Tianming... son, you're finally back! Mom has searched so hard for you all these years!"
Letting his tears fall, Ye Tianming looked at his parents in such a state, his heart aching fiercely!
"Mom, why are you out picking through trash? I remember you both had jobs, right?"
Pulling back from his parents, Ye Tianming wiped their tears, his heart filled with questions.
A complicated expression surfaced on the faces of Yè Jiànguó and Liú Cuìróng.