"Ye Chen was stunned, unable to comprehend what was happening."
"As long as you sign the divorce papers and leave the apartment I’m renting, you’re free to do whatever you want. I won’t interfere, and I won’t care! But manufacturing drugs in the home I pay for? Do you really intend to drag Youyou and me down with you until we’re dead? I was actually foolish enough to believe you’d made a fortune by picking up antiques! So that was the capital for your drug operation, wasn't it? I knew you’d take risks for money, but I never imagined you would become this depraved and insane!"
As she spoke, Chen Yinuo’s body trembled uncontrollably, her voice distorted, and she spiraled into a state of extreme panic.
Ye Chen, meanwhile, was completely blindsided by this outburst.
Drug money? Depraved and insane?
She thought he was manufacturing drugs?
Seeing the sudden change in Ye Chen’s expression, Chen Yinuo became even more convinced of her conclusion.
"What’s next? Are you going to silence us? Come on, do it! Kill Youyou and me. We’ve suffered enough under your torture these past few years! If you don't kill me to cover your tracks, I'm going to report you to the authorities!" Chen Yinuo shrieked, sobbing bitterly.
"Yinuo, have you been watching too many movies? What’s with the drug manufacturing and the murder?" Ye Chen forced a bitter smile. "I admit that I’ve been a miserable wretch, a scoundrel, and complete trash in the past. But I’m not insane enough to manufacture drugs, let alone silence anyone!"
Before Chen Yinuo could retort, he continued to explain, "That three hundred thousand wasn't drug money from Zhang Jingshan; I really did sell him the items I found at the Antique City! Besides, take a good look at these materials—do you honestly think you could make drugs out of these?"
Chen Yinuo froze.
Though she remained convinced that not a single word out of Ye Chen’s mouth could be trusted, she still cast a glance toward the side.
Looking closely, she realized that while there were many materials she didn't recognize, she saw several items that were quite familiar: fresh aloe vera, opened packets of pearl powder, peach leaves, Vitamin E capsules, and even some paulownia flowers, ginkgo nuts, mung beans, and goji berries.
Instantly, a complex look of embarrassment flickered across her face. Indeed, these certainly couldn't be ingredients for manufacturing drugs.
"You’ve turned a perfectly good rental apartment into this mess—what exactly are you trying to do?" Although she knew she had misunderstood him, Chen Yinuo’s tone remained cold.
"I’m trying to develop an ointment to help remove the scars on your body," Ye Chen said.
"You’re using *these* things to develop a scar-removal ointment?" Chen Yinuo let out a cold laugh.
"Yes." Ye Chen knew she wouldn't believe him, but he nodded anyway.
"Delusional!" Chen Yinuo scoffed. She continued, "Even if you actually managed to create an ointment that could erase scars, do you really think it could erase the scars in my heart? Could it erase the traces left by years of your endless domestic abuse?"
Ye Chen didn't respond. He knew that anything he said right now would be pale and futile.
"Heh, there’s no point in talking about this anymore! Twenty-five days from now, as long as you sign the divorce papers, that will be the greatest favor you could ever do for me. I’ll be forever grateful for your leniency! Fine, continue with your work; I only came back to pack a few things."
After speaking coldly, Chen Yinuo walked into the bedroom. In moments, she stuffed some of her and Youyou’s clothes and daily necessities into a suitcase and dragged it out.
"Youyou, come with Mommy!"
For Chen Yinuo, every extra second facing Ye Chen was an ordeal.
"Mommy, can we not leave? Can we stay here with Daddy?" Ye Youyou asked, her lip quivering as tears fell.
"Are you going to listen to me or not?" Chen Yinuo’s brows furrowed.
Ye Youyou didn't dare to make another sound, but she hugged Ye Chen’s neck tightly.
"Youyou, listen to Mommy and go with her for now. After a while, Daddy will come to pick you and Mommy up, and then our family of three will never be separated again!" Ye Chen forced a smile as he set Ye Youyou down.
"Daddy, are you telling the truth?" Ye Youyou’s bright, watery eyes widened with excitement.
"It’s the absolute truth. Come on, let’s pinky-promise!"
"Okay! Pinky-promise, a hundred years no changing, whoever breaks it is a puppy!"
To the side, Chen Yinuo watched the father and daughter silently. However, she didn't believe a word Ye Chen said. There would be no future for her and Ye Chen—none. Perhaps this would be the last time she ever returned to this apartment.
"Daddy, you have to hurry and come pick Mommy and me up!" Ye Youyou said, looking back as she reluctantly walked toward her mother.
"Yes, Daddy promises. I will definitely do it!"
Watching Ye Youyou return to Chen Yinuo’s side, Ye Chen finally stood up.
"From the day I married you until now, you’ve finally acted like a decent human being for once." After a moment of thought, Chen Yinuo said this just before leaving. With that, she pulled Ye Youyou away.
"Yinuo, wait!" Seemingly remembering something, Ye Chen called out hurriedly.
Chen Yinuo ignored him and kept walking toward the door. Seeing this, Ye Chen rushed to grab the brand-new, unopened laptop and stood in her path.
"Yinuo, I sold your work computer before—this is what I owe you," Ye Chen said.
"I don’t need it," she replied, expressionless, as she tried to push past him.
"If you don't take it, I won't let Youyou go with you!" Ye Chen said, a desperate thought coming to his mind.
Chen Yinuo’s body stiffened. She didn't doubt for a second that Ye Chen was capable of such a scoundrel move. She didn't speak, nor did she push him away again; just as he said, he owed her this. She grabbed the handle of the laptop box and walked away quickly with Ye Youyou.
Just as she reached the door, she suddenly paused.
"I will pay you back as soon as I can for the one-hundred-thousand-yuan settlement fee you paid for Yihao."
The words fell, and she walked on, without looking back!
Left standing in place, Ye Chen watched the backs of the mother and daughter as they disappeared, a thousand bitter emotions welling up in his heart. It was a long time before he could snap out of it. Finally, a sudden phone ringtone pulled him out of that bottomless pit of guilt and desolation.
[Chapter 28: Promotion]
As soon as Ye Chen picked up the phone, Zhang Jingshan’s voice came through, sounding immediately excited. "Mr. Ye, did you watch the municipal government’s press conference just now?"
"Yes, I did," Ye Chen replied calmly.
"Mr. Ye, I was wrong! I should have listened to you. It was only three days—just three days! If I had taken out ten million then to buy ten units, I could have turned around and made at least forty or fifty million!" Zhang Jingshan said, filled with regret.
"Enough, there’s no point in saying that now. Is there something else? If not, I’m hanging up," Ye Chen said.
Hearing that Ye Chen seemed to be in a bad mood, Zhang Jingshan was stunned. *What happened?* But he didn't dare to gossip or risk offending him. Even his previous excitement vanished instantly.
He shifted gears, saying, "Mr. Ye, I don't know where you're staying yet. I'll pick you up tomorrow, and we can go handle those two properties together, how about that?"
"At the intersection of Dongpu Avenue. Call me when you arrive tomorrow."
"Alright, that's settled then. See you tomorrow!"
Sensing Ye Chen’s foul mood, Zhang Jingshan didn't dare to keep bothering him. The call ended.
Ye Chen put aside his tangled thoughts and put his gloves back on to return to tinkering with the Flawless Ointment. The reason the Flawless Ointment became a one-of-a-kind, phenomenal success in his previous life—and why anyone who tried to spend a hundred million to acquire the formula through illicit means failed—was precisely because of the complexity of the production process and the vast array of ingredients. As long as the secret remained only in his own hands, the outside world would never be able to produce a competing product.
Thus, with such an intricate process and a wide variety of materials, developing the ointment was certainly not a task that could be done in a flash. Wishing to use the Flawless Ointment as the first step toward repairing his relationship with his wife, Ye Chen wanted to finish it as quickly as possible and didn't want to waste any more time.
***
The next day, following Zhang Jingshan’s call, Ye Chen had to take off his gloves and head out of the apartment with the two deposit subscription forms.
"Mr. Ye! Mr. Ye!"
At the intersection of Dongpu Avenue, inside a Range Rover with its hazard lights flashing, Zhang Jingshan sat in the driver’s seat, leaning out to wave at Ye Chen. After Ye Chen got into the car, he noticed Li Changfeng sitting in the passenger seat.
"Mr. Ye, I hope you don't mind me tagging along for the fun," Li Changfeng said with a smile.
"It’s fine," Ye Chen replied with a faint smile.
"Mr. Ye, I owe you so much for what happened a few days ago. If not for your warning, I’d probably be lying in the ICU right now. With the brakes failing on the Huanan Expressway at my usual driving speed, if I had hit a passenger car, I might have stood a chance, but if I had hit a truck, I might not even have had the chance to reach the ICU," Li Changfeng said from the passenger seat, visibly shaken by the thought.
Every word he spoke carried deep gratitude. After all, to him, Ye Chen had truly been a lifesaver.
"Changfeng, Mr. Ye’s wife works at your Huaxing Trading. How do you intend to repay this life-saving debt?" Zhang Jingshan asked while driving.
"I’ve looked into Ms. Chen Yinuo’s work performance. Her previous role in the Sales Department was truly a waste of her talent. That’s why, this morning, I promoted her to be the manager of the Business Cooperation Group at Huaxing Trading. The title might not sound like much, but within the company, it’s a special position that reports to no one but me. Furthermore, she will be handling both the supply and sales ends of Huaxing Trading, which is a position of extraordinary importance," Li Changfeng explained.
Though he was answering Zhang Jingshan, the words were clearly meant for Ye Chen. Had the Ferrari incident not occurred, he might still have promoted Chen Yinuo—she was indeed talented—but he certainly wouldn't have made her the manager of the Business Cooperation Group, a role he reserved for his own inner circle. But after the brake failure, Ye Chen had become his savior, and Chen Yinuo was the wife of his benefactor. Under these circumstances, given her proven capability, if he weren't afraid of causing rumors and unnecessary trouble, he would have even considered making her a Vice President of the company.
"That sounds about right," Zhang Jingshan chuckled, though he caught a glimpse of Ye Chen in the rearview mirror.
"Try your best not to let Yinuo know about my involvement," Ye Chen said suddenly.
Knowing his wife, if she found out her promotion and raise were connected to him, she would likely quit on the spot, even if she desperately needed the job right now.
"Understood, Mr. Ye. Don't worry, I won't say a word to Ms. Chen," Li Changfeng promised hastily.
As the topic of Chen Yinuo concluded, the three continued to chat until they arrived at Jinlin Mansion.
***
Meanwhile, at Huaxing Trading.
"Yinuo, congratulations! Manager of the Business Cooperation Group—that's amazing!"
"Yinuo, I told you long ago that with your talent, you should be in the Business Cooperation Group. Being in Sales was a total waste!"
"Yinuo, from now on we should call you Manager Chen!"
After the Human Resources Department announced the personnel changes, the entire floor where Chen Yinuo worked erupted. The main reason was the sheer shock. If Chen Yinuo had just been transferred to the group, no one would have been surprised. But she hadn't just been transferred—she had been promoted straight to manager! This wasn't just a promotion; it was a rocket-ship ascent.
The Business Cooperation Group was a special entity within Huaxing Trading—an existence that didn't have to bow to anyone but General Manager Li Changfeng, and one that could even tell the Vice President where to go. With this move, the employees who were offering their "congratulations" were feeling emotions that went far beyond envy and jealousy.
Yet what they couldn't fathom was why, even though Chen Yinuo was talented, she would be promoted to manager so abruptly. Was there something fishy going on?
They weren't the only ones thinking this. Among the envious and jealous well-wishers, Chen Yinuo herself was utterly bewildered. Even though she knew her work was good, she had never dared to dream of a promotion; she would have been satisfied just keeping her current job. But now, the company had suddenly promoted her to manager?
Chen Yinuo truly felt like this was all too surreal, too dreamlike. If pinching herself hadn't hurt, and if she hadn't confirmed it with HR three times over, she would have thought she was dreaming, or that HR had made a massive mistake.
However, before Chen Yinuo could even respond to the congratulations, Vice President Wang Tao walked over with a cold, sinister expression. He stopped beside her and sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Chen Yinuo—oh, excuse me, I should call you Manager Chen now. It seems I really underestimated you. Not only were you able to secure a contract with a bid ten percent lower than the competition, but you also convinced Yunshan Network to insist on only working with you. And now, you’ve been promoted to manager of the Business Cooperation Group without any warning. Your climb to the top is truly unprecedented! Though, I heard that Manager Yang of Yunshan Network didn't want to renew the contract at first, and that you later went to find the Chief of Yuntian Company, Zhang Jingshan, right?"
The surrounding staff froze. Why did Vice President Wang's words sound so off? Was there more to the story?
"Yes, what about it?" Chen Yinuo’s heart skipped a beat.
"Nothing! Just saying you’re very capable, very talented, heh!" He emphasized the word "capable" before turning around and walking away with a cold, derisive sneer.
*Swish!*
In an instant, the employees seemed to understand something. The way they looked at Chen Yinuo changed completely.
[Chapter 29: This is a Half-Immortal]
"Wang Tao, what do you mean by that!"
Chen Yinuo wasn't stupid. She heard the implication in Wang Tao’s words and felt the change in her colleagues' gazes. Her eyes turned red instantly, and she couldn't take it anymore, calling out the Vice President by his full name.
"I don't mean anything by it. I'm just saying that Manager Chen is very capable and has great skills, heh!"
Emphasizing the word "skills," Wang Tao walked away with a cold laugh.
"He’s spouting nonsense! It’s not what he said!" Once Wang Tao left, Chen Yinuo, surrounded by those strange looks, hurriedly tried to explain herself.
"Mm, we understand!" Although her colleagues said they understood, the strange look on their faces showed they were far from convinced.
If Wang Tao hadn't brought it up, they might not have gone down that train of thought. But with him planting the seed, they immediately became certain that Chen Yinuo had latched onto that playboy Chief from Yunshan Network. As for *how* she latched onto him—well, they all knew how these things went...
Otherwise, how could she have landed that contract? How else could Yunshan Network insist on only dealing with her? How to explain that the contract was signed by Chief Zhang Jingshan himself? Or that she was promoted to manager out of nowhere?
"When things are abnormal, there must be a demon." It seemed highly likely that the Chief of Yunshan Network had pulled strings with the boss of Huaxing Trading to get Chen Yinuo this position.
Chen Yinuo, on the other hand, felt increasingly wronged under their skeptical "understanding." She knew exactly what they were thinking, but she felt that any further explanation would be futile and would only make things worse. Unless she resigned to prove her innocence, but that would just play right into the hands of a scoundrel like Wang Tao. And what would happen to her and Youyou’s livelihood?
No, she would prove herself with results. She would prove to everyone that the company’s decision to promote her was the right one!
***
At Jinlin Mansion, the Range Rover pulled to a stop.
Everyone except Ye Chen was dumbfounded. In the shaded area temporarily set up outside the sales office, it looked absolutely packed with people! The scene was bustling with noise and a long, winding queue of people waiting to buy homes. Compared to the complete emptiness of three days ago, it was a total turnaround. The developer had even hung up banners announcing that lottery numbers would begin at 2:00 PM, with priority given to those who could verify their assets for a full, cash payment.
A property that no one wanted a few days ago had turned into a place where you had to stand in line unless you had the full payment ready.
"Mr. Ye, are we sure we’re at the right place? Is this really Jinlin Mansion?" Zhang Jingshan asked, stunned. Even though he knew that after last night’s press conference, Jinlin Mansion would become the hottest neighborhood in Jiangzhou, he hadn't expected it to be *this* hot.
"Let’s just say that people now have more foresight when it comes to property investment. This scene doesn't surprise me at all. For a long time to come, Jinlin Mansion will be a place where you can’t even find a single unit to buy," Ye Chen said.
"Mr. Ye, may I ask you something? How did you know the prices in Jinlin Mansion would skyrocket? Did you have some inside information?" Zhang Jingshan asked, hesitation in his voice as he voiced the doubt he had been holding onto for a long time.
"No inside info. It was just intuition. I’ve always trusted my intuition," Ye Chen said, walking forward as light as a feather.
Even if the idea of "intuition" sounded far-fetched, he couldn't care less whether Zhang Jingshan or Li Changfeng believed him.
"I knew it! 'Intuition' again!" Zhang Jingshan’s mouth twitched.
"How can this be just intuition?"