"Ye Tianming curled his lips and said, 'Considering that you went back on your word before, you need to add another condition. If you renege on this bet, not only will your bloodline be cut off, but your whole family will die a miserable death in the streets.'
Bai Yuruo's face turned dark, and she clenched her fists so tightly that sparks seemed to fly from her eyes.
She was about to erupt, but remembering that arguing with a rogue like Ye Tianming would get her nowhere, she let out a cold snort and said:
'Remember your words today. I want to see if it really is me, Bai Yuruo, who is blind!'
With that, Bai Yuruo turned to leave, but suddenly looked back at Ye Tianming and said coldly:
'Bet is a bet, but the fact that you laid hands on me today is not over. I will make you pay for this.'
Having said that, Bai Yuruo lingered no longer and left with her people, not once looking back.
The remaining women gave Ye Tianming a deep, silent look, then turned on their heels and walked away.
The moment they left, Jiang Muwan could no longer hold back. She wrenched her hand out of Ye Tianming's grasp and snapped at him furiously:
'Are you out of your mind? Where on earth do you plan to get ten billion?'
Chapter 8 The Contract
Ye Tianming curled his lips. 'Ten billion? Is that a lot? It's not hard to earn.'
Jiang Muwan frowned. 'Ye Tianming, you've really lost your mind! Who do you think you are? Do you think you're Long Ze, the richest man in Longhai City? Spouting off about ten billion left and right—are you still dreaming in broad daylight?'
'Long Ze?'
Ye Tianming curled his lips, looking completely unconcerned. 'Long Ze is just a lackey to a lackey of mine.'
'You—'
Jiang Muwan was so angry she saw stars. How could there be such an incorrigible braggart of a man?
Beside them, Yè Jiànguó and Liú Cuìróng stood up, trembling, looking at Ye Tianming with bitter expressions.
Hearing their son casually throwing around the sum of ten billion and claiming that the richest man in Longhai City was his lackey, the elderly couple was too frightened to speak.
Liú Cuìróng pulled Ye Tianming aside and pleaded earnestly:
'Son, our family may be poor, but a person must have integrity. You must never boast! When you talk about ten billion so casually, are you trying to scare your dad and me into a heart attack? Forget ten billion—our family couldn't earn even one hundred million in eighteen lifetimes!'
Ye Tianming patted Liú Cuìróng's hand and smiled. 'Mom, don't worry. Your son isn't boasting. If I say I can earn it, I can.'
Jiang Muwan cast a frowned glance at Ye Tianming, her heart filled with deep disgust and disappointment.
The kind of man she despised and looked down on the most was this sort—useless to the core, yet fiercely fond of bragging.
Not wanting to stay another second, she turned directly and walked out of the small courtyard.
Liú Cuìróng was frantic with worry. 'Tianming, we'll talk about this later. Go and see what's wrong with that young lady. It's not easy to find a girl willing to marry you; don't let her run off.'
Ye Tianming caught up to Jiang Muwan outside the courtyard and followed behind her, asking:
'Hey, why are you walking so fast?'
Without looking back, Jiang Muwan said coldly, 'Don't follow me!'
'What did I do to you?'
Jiang Muwan stopped in her tracks, turned around, and looked coldly at Ye Tianming:
'It doesn't matter if your background is poor, but please have some self-respect and do things down to earth! I really detest men who love to talk big. You've disappointed me, and I will never allow myself to accept a man like you.'
'Then what kind of man can you accept?'
Jiang Muwan gave him a deep look. 'At least someone who is grounded, never makes empty promises, and can actually deliver on every single thing he says!'
Ye Tianming crooked the corner of his mouth, a playful arc forming on his lips.
'Obviously, I am that kind of man. Choosing me will not disappoint you.'
Jiang Muwan gave a cold laugh. 'Ye Tianming, you've really had enough!'
Without another word, Jiang Muwan turned to leave, but at that moment, her phone rang.
She answered, listened to the person on the other end for a moment, and her expression instantly changed.
Catching the shift in her expression, Ye Tianming frowned in confusion:
'What is it?'
'Something's wrong with the contract…'
Jiang Muwan muttered as if she had lost her soul, her face turning ashen.
Clenching her fists, she hurried toward her car without a second thought.
Ye Tianming frowned, but still followed Jiang Muwan.
When Jiang Muwan got into the car, he climbed in beside her as well.
Meeting her puzzled and suspicious gaze, he said indifferently:
'I'll go with you, so you can see that choosing a man like me was the right choice.'
Jiang Muwan paused. Looking into the man's melancholic, lake-like eyes, she found herself inexplicably remaining silent.
She had no idea why she didn't refute Ye Tianming just now.
Perhaps it was... because she had caught that fleeting flash of confidence in his eyes?
Giving Ye Tianming one last deep look, she stepped on the gas pedal, and her Bentley Continental GT transformed into a streamlined blur rushing through the city.
Inside the car, the two remained silent. Jiang Muwan drove with sweaty palms and a pale face, clearly absent-minded.
Beside her, Ye Tianming held his phone, typing away continuously, a playful expression occasionally crossing his face.
At that very moment, he had already instructed Long Ze to investigate the matter.
The problematic contract was an order between the Jiang Family and the Longhai-based Delong Group.
For this order, Jiang Muwan had met with Delong's president numerous times over the past two months, pouring immense effort into it, yet she still hadn't managed to secure the signature.
Delong's attitude had always been vague, never giving a clear yes or no.
Yet today, Jiang Muwan had sent someone to see Delong's president.
And just moments ago, she learned that the Delong president intended to give the order to the Tang family, explicitly rejecting the Jiang Family's offer to cooperate!
Two months of countless efforts had gone down the drain, and naturally Jiang Muwan was extremely anxious, her driving growing somewhat unsteady.
Ye Tianming glanced sideways at Jiang Muwan, then checked his phone, a hard-to-detect, playful smile flashing across his face.
Long Ze had just sent a message containing only a single sentence: The Delong Group is a subsidiary enterprise of the Longhai Chamber of Commerce.
With a playful smile, Ye Tianming typed a line of text and sent it to Long Ze.
Then he turned off the screen and closed his eyes to rest.
Jiang Muwan glanced sideways at Ye Tianming. Seeing him so calm and composed, she shook her head inwardly—where on earth did this guy get his confidence from?
The Bentley sped along and soon arrived at the Delong Group.
Unusually, the security barrier at the entrance was lifted, and the guards on both sides respectfully saluted Jiang Muwan's car.
Jiang Muwan was stunned. What was going on? She had never received such treatment here before; every past visit required making the guards announce her presence for ages before she was allowed inside.
What was happening today?
In a daze, she drove inside and parked the car. She picked up her phone, preparing to call the secretary of Delong's president.
The moment the call went through, she hurriedly smiled: 'Hello, is this Secretary Wang? Ah, yes, I've arrived at your group... What??'
Jiang Muwan froze, utterly unable to believe her ears.
Ye Tianming glanced at her, a barely perceptible smile flashing across his face.
A moment later, a pretty young woman dressed in a black silk OL uniform came running over.
She then respectfully opened the car door for Jiang Muwan.
With a humble smile on her face, she said, 'President Jiang, you've arrived! President Li asked me to come and greet you.'
'Secretary Wang, what is the meaning of this…'
Jiang Muwan was completely dumbfounded. Previously, getting an audience with Delong's president required waiting for half a day.
And this Secretary Wang had always acted indifferent and aloof.
After all, backed by the Longhai Chamber of Commerce, they all carried an air of superiority.
So why the sudden reversal right now?
At that moment, she caught a faint trace of a smile on Ye Tianming's face and was slightly startled.
Before she could figure it out, Ye Tianming stepped out of the car, took Jiang Muwan's hand, and grinned at Secretary Wang:
'Just take us to your president.'
Looking at Ye Tianming, Secretary Wang saw a trace of extreme, hidden reverence flash through her eyes.
Could this be the big figure her president had mentioned?
She swallowed hard, quickly composed herself, and smiled: 'Yes, sir!'
In a daze, Jiang Muwan was led by Ye Tianming toward the office of Delong's president.
Arriving at the office door, Ye Tianming pulled Jiang Muwan forward and pushed it open.
As they stepped inside, Jiang Muwan froze in her tracks.
Chapter 9 Who is this beggar?
President Li Delong of the Delong Group, usually known for his arrogance and overwhelming pride, was currently standing respectfully inside the office, as if waiting for them!
Two cups of steaming tea sat on the coffee table. Seeing Jiang Muwan and Ye Tianming, Li Delong bowed deeply, a fawning smile on his face:
'President Jiang, Mr... Mr. Ye, you've both had a hard journey. Please, take a seat!'
Jiang Muwan rubbed her eyes, suspecting she was hallucinating.
Her mind went blank. Was she dreaming?
Li Delong... why was he acting like this?
She looked at Li Delong and stammered, 'President Li, what is the meaning of...?'
Li Delong hastily replied with trembling apprehension, 'President Jiang, just call me little Li. Please, have some tea first!'
Ye Tianming patted Li Delong's shoulder and smiled warmly, 'You don't mind this contract going to the Jiang Family, do you? Go fetch the contract.'
At these words, Jiang Muwan's heart skipped a beat, and she drew a sharp breath. Had Ye Tianming lost his mind to speak to Li Delong like that?
The next second, she saw Li Delong reply respectfully:
'Of course I don't mind! One moment, please!'
Jiang Muwan saw black spots before her eyes, her limbs went weak, and she nearly fainted, unable to believe this was real.
Li Delong brought over a contract and a pen, handing them respectfully to Jiang Muwan.
'President Jiang, the contract is all prepared. Everything will proceed exactly as we previously discussed. Please sign it.'
In a daze, Jiang Muwan looked at the contract before her, then turned to Ye Tianming. Ye Tianming smiled:
'Sign it. Why are you looking at me?'
Jiang Muwan bit her lip and signed in a daze, her hand trembling as she wrote her name.
The moment she finished signing, Ye Tianming drained his cup of tea in one gulp, turned to Li Delong with a grin, and said:
'President Li, you handled this matter well!'
Li Delong wore a bitter, forced smile, nearly frightened out of his wits. Having a figure of this stature address him as President Li was practically cutting short his lifespan!
'It was only right... only right!'
Ye Tianming laughed heartily, pulled Jiang Muwan to her feet, and smiled warmly:
'The signature is done, can we leave now?'
'Of course! I'll see you both out.'
Holding onto Jiang Muwan, who was still in a state of utter bewilderment, Ye Tianming walked out of the office and back to the car.
From entering the group to signing the contract and returning to the car, only ten minutes had passed.
Looking at the contract in front of her, Jiang Muwan's head spun with dizziness.
This very contract—into which she had poured countless efforts, spent over two months running around, met Li Delong five or six times, and enlisted numerous connections and favors, yet failed to secure...
Just now, it had been signed simply because of a single sentence from Ye Tianming?
Her heart hammered violently, leaving her gasping for breath. Opening the car window, she stared blankly out at the scenery.
The next second, she turned her head, fixed her gaze straight on Ye Tianming, and asked in a trembling voice:
'Ye Tianming... tell me, what on earth is going on here?'
Ye Tianming rubbed his chin, a smile curving the corner of his lips:
'Does someone still think I was bragging?'
Jiang Muwan was speechless. Her face flushed red and white in turns, before burning with heat.
Dropping her gaze, she couldn't bring herself to look at Ye Tianming anymore.
The heavier her previous words had been, the more her face stung now.
After a moment of silence, Jiang Muwan bit her lip and asked, 'You... know the president of the Delong Group?'
Ye Tianming scratched his head: 'I suppose you could say that.'
'What is your relationship?'
Ye Tianming rubbed his nose: 'Consider us friends.'
'Friends?'
Jiang Muwan was speechless. 'I really didn't expect you to know someone like that, let alone be friends with him. You're quite something—I underestimated you before.'
Ye Tianming gave a mischievous grin: 'I've got plenty of aspects that are "quite something." You can discover them slowly.'
'...'
At that moment, Jiang Muwan's phone rang. She glanced at the screen and answered.
Whatever the person on the other end said, Jiang Muwan's expression instantly changed:
'What?! Grandfather had an accident? I'm coming back right now!'
Hanging up the phone, Jiang Muwan immediately started the car. Ye Tianming frowned: 'What's wrong with your grandfather?'
'I don't have time to tell you. I'm going home now, find your own ride back!'
'I'm coming with you!'
Jiang Muwan paused: 'Why are you coming?'
'Your grandfather is my grandfather too. Besides, when my master sent me down the mountain, he specifically told me to check on your family's elder. I ought to go.'
'No, get out of the car!'
Jiang Muwan found it utterly unacceptable to bring Ye Tianming home on the very first day they met.
'Not getting out!' Ye Tianming was determined to go.
Helpless, Jiang Muwan knew that trying to reason with this man was useless. Glancing at him in exasperation, she stepped on the gas.
Outside the Jiang Family estate, a white Bentley Continental GT came to a halt.
Jiang Muwan, in the driver's seat, glanced at Ye Tianming beside her, biting her lip in clear tension:
'Later, don't go talking nonsense in front of my family.'
'Got it.'
The two got out of the car and walked toward the estate together.
As they walked along the estate's path, Ye Tianming subconsciously observed his surroundings.
His gaze happened to land on a stone eagle statue in the courtyard, and his expression suddenly shifted.
This stone eagle statue was quite unusual, and moreover, its placement was problematic!
Ye Tianming looked around a bit more, and his pupils suddenly contracted as he spotted the building directly opposite the stone eagle!
Indeed, just as he thought!
According to Feng Shui, this was already a gathering place for Yin energy. The stone eagle faced south from the north, completely blocking the sunlight during the day.
At night, however, it could absorb and gather moonlight brimming with Yin energy, invisibly transforming this place into a well of extreme Yin.
Logically, it should never be placed this way, but what was the reason for the Jiang Family doing so?
Could it be... that someone did this intentionally?
His expression shifted slightly. If that were truly the case, then this Jiang Family had really stirred up trouble.
He glanced ahead at Jiang Muwan walking hurriedly, thought for a moment, and decided not to speak up just yet.
Soon, the two finally reached the classical villa in the center of the estate.
Jiang Muwan stepped through the front doors first, and Ye Tianming followed her inside.
As soon as they entered, Ye Tianming saw several people standing in the living room.
At that moment, the group's gazes also turned toward Jiang Muwan and Ye Tianming.
Seeing Ye Tianming, the people paused, expressions of bewilderment crossing their faces.
A middle-aged man stared at Ye Tianming over and over, finally asking in confusion:
'Xiaowan, who is this?'
Jiang Muwan lowered her gaze slightly, dodging the question:
'Dad, I'll explain later. Where's grandfather? How is he right now?'
The middle-aged man was none other than Jiang Muwan's father, Jiang Haibo.
Frowning, he said, 'Your grandfather's condition is very bad right now. The problem is that the doctors can't figure out what's wrong. Right now we can only wait for Divine Doctor Li to arrive.'
Hearing this, Jiang Muwan's face turned pale. 'Grandfather... is he really going to be alright? Dad, where is grandfather? I want to go see him.'
At that moment, a middle-aged woman walked over—Jiang Muwan's mother, Feng Hui.
Feng Hui pulled Jiang Muwan into an embrace to comfort her:
'Xiaowan, don't worry too much. Divine Doctor Li will be here soon, your grandfather will definitely be fine.'
Standing quietly in a corner, Ye Tianming was automatically ignored by everyone, and no one paid him any mind.
Suddenly, Feng Hui asked:
'By the way, Xiaowan, didn't you say this afternoon that you were going to meet that newly returned fiancé of yours? How was it, did you meet him?'
Jiang Muwan lowered her head, not daring to look at Jiang Haibo or Feng Hui, and even less daring to look at her eldest uncle's family nearby.
If they knew her fiancé was someone who picked up trash, she couldn't imagine how these family members would react.
Feng Hui frowned. 'I asked you a question, Xiaowan, why aren't you saying anything?'
Suddenly, her brow smoothed out, and she smiled excitedly:
'I get it! Are you planning to give Mom a surprise? Did you bring a wealthy golden bachelor home for us to meet? I've already told all my good sisters that I'd bring our golden bachelor over for them to take a look at one by one!'
Nearby, Jiang Haibo chimed in, 'Xiaowan, say something about my son-in-law! He has to be at least a multi-billionaire, right? Or the young master of some big shot family here in Longhai City?'
Looking at the excitement on Feng Hui and Jiang Haibo's faces, Jiang Muwan bit her lip harder and harder.
Her parents had always pinned high hopes on her fiancé, believing he was bound to be one of the top big shots in Longhai.
If they found out her fiancé was this scruffy, unkempt Ye Tianming standing beside her...
She didn't dare to imagine it any further.
Meanwhile, Ye Tianming was simply treated as air.
However, Ye Tianming wasn't in a hurry either, just standing aside and watching the scene leisurely.
Another voice rang out. This time it was a middle-aged man dressed in lavish attire, his facial features bearing a striking resemblance to Jiang Haibo.
It was Jiang Muwan's eldest uncle, Jiang Haihua. Wearing a smile, he walked over and said:
'Xiaowan, your eldest uncle heard from your mom that your fiancé is no ordinary man. He's had a successful career and made a name for himself outside these past few years. Is that true?'
With that, Jiang Haihua picked up a teacup and suddenly handed it to Ye Tianming, who had been ignored all this time.
Ye Tianming raised an eyebrow and reached out his hand, preparing to take the teacup, when he heard Jiang Haihua bark:
'Go pour some tea! Since you're a servant with nothing to do, stop standing around in the main hall. Go sweep the floor if you have free time! Standing there is an eyesore.'
Ye Tianming's outstretched hand froze stiffly in mid-air.
He looked at Jiang Haihua as a stampede of ten thousand mythical creatures roared through his mind.
He had thought Jiang Haihua was handing him tea to drink!
What the hell—he was being treated like a servant?!
His hand remained frozen in place. Jiang Haihua turned his head toward Ye Tianming, frowned, and scolded harshly:
'Are you blind as well as deaf? Didn't you hear me? I told you to go pour tea!'
Ye Tianming slowly narrowed his eyes, pulled back his hand, looked at Jiang Haihua, and suddenly broke into a grin.
'You... want me to pour you tea?'
Jiang Haihua paused, and everyone else in the living room paused as well.
The group stared at Ye Tianming as if looking at a fool, bewilderment and confusion written all over their faces.
What they couldn't fathom was how a mere servant dared to talk back to them like that.
A thought instantly popped into Jiang Haihua's mind: the servant was rebelling!
He violently hurled the teacup at Ye Tianming's leg and roared:
'Bastard, I told you to go pour tea, have you lost your damn mind?'
Ye Tianming's gaze abruptly turned cold, piercing into Jiang Haihua like a knife.
'Damn it, you bastard, you still dare glare at me? I'll slap the living daylights out of you, you punk!'
As Jiang Haihua spoke, he raised his hand and swung a slap toward Ye Tianming's face. Just as his palm was about to connect, Ye Tianming suddenly lashed out with a kick!
Bang!