As the master of the Kunlun Sect, Ye Chen had access to priceless, peerless treasures at any given moment, should he ever choose to use them.
"Since the master has given his consent, we shall go and attend to the wedding arrangements."
Seeing Ye Chen nod, the disciples finally breathed a sigh of relief. They bowed to him once more before departing in orderly fashion.
"Master… these are the keys to Youlong Villa. These are the car keys; the vehicle is parked right at the hotel entrance."
Before leaving, Ma Huayun respectfully presented the two keys with both hands.
Youlong Villa?
Ye Chen was slightly taken aback. He had been away from Jinling City for five years and had never heard of the place. However, he didn't give it much thought. After accepting the keys, he said in a calm tone, "You have been thoughtful."
"Then this disciple shall take his leave!"
Ma Huayun bowed again and left.
"I don't need to worry about the wedding arrangements now… I should just focus on spending these next few days properly with Qingyue and Little Ningning."
Watching his disciples depart, a warm smile finally graced the corners of Ye Chen's lips. "Little Ningning, my daughter… my, Ye Chen's, daughter!"
"They say a daughter is a father's little padded jacket… but she is more than that. She is my entire world!"
Thinking of Little Ningning’s sweet and clever demeanor, Ye Chen felt as if his heart were melting.
Returning to the room, he found the mother and daughter still fast asleep. Ye Chen didn't disturb them; he simply pulled up a chair and sat quietly by the bedside.
Looking at Little Ningning’s delicate, alabaster-like face, her long eyelashes, and her pouty little mouth, Ye Chen felt the urge to reach out and touch her many times. But fearing he might wake her, he would pull his hand back halfway.
Then there was Xia Qingyue, a woman of peerless elegance. Once hailed as the number one goddess of Jinling City, she looked somewhat thin from having endured so much hardship over the past five years. Yet, every look and every smile remained as enchanting as ever.
Xia Qingyue was sleeping soundly. Her fair complexion, refined features, and graceful figure made her look like a sleeping beauty as she lay beside Little Ningning.
The only flaw was the faint hint of wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. Pain and sorrow make one age prematurely, and the past five years had not been kind to her.
"It’s a good thing Hua Yuntian brought those three Beauty-Preserving Pills..."
"When you wake up, I will measure you for your wedding dress myself. And for Little Ningning, too… you both deserve to look beautiful."
Ye Chen mused to himself. Before long, Xia Qingyue slowly opened her eyes and saw Ye Chen sitting in the chair by the bed, looking at her with deep affection.
"Ah?"
Xia Qingyue was slightly startled, appearing somewhat shy. "You… you’ve been watching me the whole time?"
"Yes." Ye Chen nodded gently.
At these words, her cheeks flushed even more. "W-what is there to look at? I was asleep…"
"You look beautiful even when you’re asleep." Ye Chen chuckled. "And I could look at you for a lifetime and never grow tired of it."
"Smooth talker."
Xia Qingyue got up, blushing, but was immediately embraced by Ye Chen. "Don't move, I'm measuring you for your wedding dress."
"Okay."
"I know your height… let’s start with your waist. Lift your arms."
"Oh!"
Xia Qingyue raised her arms, her face flushed, and felt Ye Chen’s arms wrap around her waist. As the soft tape measure pressed against her skin, she could occasionally feel his strong, calloused fingers grazing her, causing her breathing to quicken.
Ye Chen moved quickly. After measuring her waist, he moved to her hips, and then…
In an instant, Xia Qingyue’s face turned bright red!
A knowing smile curled at the corners of Ye Chen’s mouth. "I didn't expect you to be quite so curvy here!"
"Y-y-you…!"
Hearing this, Xia Qingyue’s face turned as red as a ripe apple. She wished she could be an ostrich and bury her head in the sand so she wouldn't have to see this mischievous Ye Chen ever again.
Ye Chen didn't dare push it too far. Once he finished taking the measurements, he moved on to the next topic. "I will have someone custom-make the dress as soon as possible. Once Little Ningning wakes up, we’ll head back to the Xia Family."
"Ah?" Xia Qingyue was taken aback. "So soon? What about Little Ningning's injuries?"
"Little Ningning's injuries are nearly healed!" Ye Chen patiently explained. "She lost consciousness primarily due to blood loss; her heart meridians were not damaged. Besides, when I rescued her, I gave her a Foundation-Building Pill."
"After taking that pill and receiving a blood transfusion, combined with Hua Yuntian’s expert care… and I checked her pulse just now, she’s already seventy to eighty percent recovered."
The Foundation-Building Pill was a treasure of the Kunlun Sect, worth more than gold. And Hua Yuntian was a world-renowned medical saint. Coupled with Ye Chen's own unfathomable abilities, Little Ningning’s minor injuries were nothing to worry about.
"Ah?" Xia Qingyue didn't understand the technicalities and felt completely lost. "Ye Chen, where have you been all these years? What is a Foundation-Building Pill? And why does everyone call you 'Master'? Your disciples look like they are all incredibly powerful!"
"For the past few years, I have been cultivating on the peak of the Kunlun Mountains under my mentor. Three years ago, he passed away, and I became the Sect Master of the Kunlun Sect."
"As for Hua Yuntian and the others, they are my disciples. Over the years, as I taught and guided them, I have taken on quite a few. It’s a long story; I’ll introduce you to them slowly later."
Kunlun Mountains? Teaching and guiding? Taking on disciples?
Xia Qingyue was bewildered. How did it sound like Ye Chen had been involved in some kind of pyramid scheme? She vaguely felt that it didn't sound very reliable.
Noticing the look on her face, Ye Chen couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "It is indeed hard to grasp. To be honest, even I find the last five years… 'unpredictable' and 'extraordinarily dramatic'."
"In truth, I thought of coming back to find you every single moment. But after my mentor passed, I had to observe three years of mourning on the mountain."
"But fortunately… I have finally returned!"
Saying this, Ye Chen wrapped his arms around her waist again, his voice filled with tenderness. "From now on, I will stay by your side every day… and it would be wonderful to give Little Ningning a few younger siblings."
"You…"
Xia Qingyue’s face turned crimson. Just as she was about to retort, Ye Chen pressed his lips to hers. "Mmm, mmm~"
***
"Mommy~, Daddy~"
Just as Ye Chen kissed her, a soft, milky voice reached their ears. "What are you two doing?"
"Ah…"
They pulled apart in a panic to see Little Ningning awake, staring at them in a daze.
Xia Qingyue’s face burned with embarrassment, and she gave Ye Chen a sharp, playful glare.
Ye Chen, however, looked unbothered and grinned. "Mommy got some sand in her eye, so Daddy was helping her blow it out."
"Oh!" Little Ningning nodded obediently, not doubting him at all.
Xia Qingyue quickly asked, "Ningning, how is your wound? Does it still hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore, just a little itchy," Little Ningning said in her baby voice.
"Itching means the wound is healing," Ye Chen explained.
Seeing that Little Ningning had a rosy complexion and spoke with energy, Xia Qingyue’s worries subsided. "In that case, let’s go back to the Xia Family in two days… I hope my parents will accept us."
Being cast out of the family had always been a thorn in her side. Now that Little Ningning’s father was back, she felt her parents might forgive her.
Ye Chen added firmly, "They will certainly accept us."
***
That evening, Ye Chen dissolved a Beauty-Preserving Pill into a glass of water and gave it to Xia Qingyue. She drank it without a second thought and immediately felt an indescribable sense of comfort wash over her body.
When she woke up the next day, she felt light as a swallow, as if she had shed several years of age. When she washed up and looked in the mirror, she was stunned.
"This… how is this possible?"
She touched her face in disbelief. Her skin was fair and supple. "I… I think I’ve become prettier? Ye Chen, what did you do to me last night?"
"Nothing!" Ye Chen smiled lightly. "Maybe it's just that 'happiness makes one look better'?"
While the effects of the Beauty-Preserving Pill were strong, they couldn't change her basic features, so Ye Chen remained humble, attributing her improved state to her mood.
"Is that so?" She remained skeptical but couldn't explain how he could have done otherwise, so she eventually let it go.
Two days passed quickly. Seeing that Little Ningning was already walking on her own, Xia Qingyue finally exhaled. "Ye Chen, let's go back to the Xia Family."
After being away for so long, she missed her parents and her younger sister.
"Alright."
Ye Chen nodded, picked up his daughter, and walked out of the hotel to find the car Ma Huayun had left behind.
"Ye Chen, what are you doing? If we’re any slower, we’ll miss the bus…" Xia Qingyue urged.
"I'm looking for the car."
Ye Chen pulled out the key and pressed the button.
Suddenly, a black Pagani Huayra ten meters away flashed its lights and emitted a "biu-biu" sound, followed by its gull-wing doors slowly lifting open.
"Pagani Huayra… Ya Zi?"
Xia Qingyue froze. "That car costs over 80 million… how on earth do you have that much money?"
"Eighty million?" Ye Chen chuckled sheepishly. "I don't really know, it's my disciple's car!"
"Ah!" Xia Qingyue realized. She guessed that Ye Chen must have borrowed a luxury car from a disciple just to save face. A car worth 80 million? It couldn't possibly be a gift from a disciple—that would be too extravagant!
As for Ye Chen, he didn't give it a second thought. Money was just a string of numbers to him and Ma Huayun.
After they got in, Ye Chen familiarized himself with the steering wheel. Having not driven in five years, his process of getting comfortable made Xia Qingyue’s heart race with anxiety.
"Ye Chen… be careful! Oh, there’s a car in front… don't scrape it, we can't afford to pay for the damages on a car like this!"
Along the way, Xia Qingyue kept giving him reminders, and even Little Ningning chimed in, "Daddy, maybe Mommy should drive…"
"I’m just about to get the hang of it, just a moment…" Ye Chen said with a helpless, bitter smile.
Five minutes later, he had mastered the car’s performance. He pressed down on the accelerator, and the vehicle transformed into a streak of black wind, racing toward the Xia family residence.
***
At that moment, the Xia Family was holding a banquet. An engagement banquet.
The host of the banquet was the Xia Family's second daughter, Xia Lingwei, and the man she was engaged to was Jiang Feichi, the third young master of the Jiang Family in Jinling.
When Ye Chen and Xia Qingyue arrived, the banquet hadn't started yet, but a crowd had gathered at the entrance. Seeing the Pagani Huayra pull up, they couldn't help but stare with envy.
"Lingwei, look at that car… a Pagani Huayra Ya Zi! Is that Young Master Jiang’s new ride?"
"Lingwei, you are truly lucky to be engaged to Young Master Jiang. The Jiangs are a top-tier family in Jinling, and that car is a limited edition—only five in the world! It costs 80 million, and with taxes, it's over 100 million!"
"A luxury car worth over 100 million? That's insane!"
"If Xia Qingyue saw this, she’d be kicking herself with regret, wouldn't she? Hahaha!"
The crowd snickered. Five years ago, Jiang Feichi had pursued Xia Qingyue with such fervor that he had even brought heavy gifts to propose. The Elder Xia had even approved the marriage. But then, Xia Qingyue had unexpectedly become pregnant out of wedlock, and the child's father was unknown. The marriage had fallen through, and the Elder Xia had been so furious he nearly ended up in the hospital.
"Don't mention that woman to me!" Upon hearing Xia Qingyue’s name, Xia Lingwei’s face turned cold. "She has already been cast out of the Xia Family. Now, I am the apple of the family's eye! That Xia Qingyue is nothing but a dirty stone in a sewer; how could she ever compare to me?"
In the past, young noblemen had flocked to the Xia residence, but they were all there for Xia Qingyue. She, Xia Lingwei, had always been merely an afterthought. Now, after waiting so long, she had finally come out on top and could trample her rival underfoot.
"Xia Qingyue must be old and ugly by now. Comparing myself to her would only stain my own image!"
"Alright, no more talk. I’m going to go greet my future husband!"
With that, Xia Lingwei swung her hips and walked toward the black Pagani. She fought to suppress her excitement. This was an 80 million—no, a 100 million—luxury car!
"The Jiang Family is truly something else. Compared to them, the Xia Family is so shabby!" she muttered to herself. "Thank goodness I was lucky enough to marry into the Jiang Family. As for Xia Qingyue, you’ll never get to sit in a car like this in your entire life!"
At that moment, Ye Chen parked the car steadily, and the two gull-wing doors slowly lifted.
***
Xia Lingwei walked up to the car, filled with anticipation, the word "husband" almost ready to tumble from her lips.
Instead, she saw Xia Qingyue step out, carrying Little Ningning. On the other side of the car, a young, handsome man with sharp, starry eyes stepped out. His only flaw was that his attire was far too plain.
"Why is it you!?"
Seeing Xia Qingyue, Xia Lingwei knitted her brows. "Xia Qingyue, you’ve already been banished from the family! What face do you have left to return?"
She then glared fiercely at Little Ningning. "And you brought this little bastard too! After you and some wild man birthed this child, you shamed the Xia Family to its core! Your appearance today is a stain on my engagement banquet!"
"Mommy…"
Seeing the aggressive Xia Lingwei, Little Ningning hugged Xia Qingyue’s neck tightly, looking pitifully at her. "Mommy, she’s so scary… let’s go, Ningning doesn't like it here."
"Little bastard," Xia Lingwei sneered at her, her tone sharp. "Look at that pathetic expression—you're just as good at playing the victim as your mother. Who knows how many men you’ll trick into bed when you grow up. A bastard is a bastard; you're worthless to the core!"
"Shut your mouth!"
Xia Qingyue, trembling with rage, gave Xia Lingwei a firm shove. Xia Lingwei, having been prepared, dodged easily and struck back with a slap. "You bitch, you dare to lay a hand on me? See if I don't tear your mouth apart!"
Carrying Little Ningning, Xia Qingyue was too slow to react. As the slap was about to land on her face, a sound rang out.
*Snap!*
Ye Chen had gripped Xia Lingwei’s wrist tightly.
His eyes, cold as glacial ice, locked onto her as he spoke in a low, chilling voice: "If you dare to curse my wife and daughter again, believe me—I will rip your tongue out!"
Looking into his eyes, Xia Lingwei was struck dumb. The coldness, the cruelty, and a sense of absolute dominance… she had never seen such a gaze in her life. Her legs went weak with fear.
*Vroom!*
Just then, a long motorcade sped toward the Xia residence. At the lead was a Lamborghini, followed by various Maseratis and Porsches—all luxury cars worth millions.
"That red Lamborghini… that’s Young Master Jiang’s ride!"
"Young Master Jiang is here!"
Hearing this, Xia Lingwei’s confidence returned. "My husband is here! Be smart and let me go, or my husband will have you lying dead on the street within minutes!"
"Oh?" Ye Chen lifted an eyebrow. Was there anyone in Jinling City who could leave him dead on the street?
He was about to retort when Xia Qingyue grabbed his arm, looking at him with watery, pleading eyes. "Ye Chen… don't cause trouble. I only came back to seek my parents' forgiveness…"
Seeing the tears in her alluring eyes, Ye Chen’s heart softened. "Fine, I’ll listen to you."
"Hmph!"
Xia Lingwei snorted. "Cowardly as expected. You didn't dare provoke the Jiang Family, yet you pretend to be so sentimental. Xia Qingyue, you and your wild man are quite the actors!"
With that, she walked off toward the red Lamborghini.
Jiang Feichi had already stepped out of his car and was staring intensely at Xia Qingyue. When he had parked, he had immediately noticed the Pagani Huayra Ya Zi parked at the entrance. That was a luxury car worth over 100 million! Only five in the world—even the Jiang Family didn't have the qualification to buy such a car!
Even if they had the qualification, would they spend 100 million on a car? That would be insanity!
After eyeing the car for a few moments, Jiang Feichi’s gaze fell upon Xia Lingwei and Xia Qingyue. It had been a while, and Xia Qingyue seemed even more beautiful than before…