"Tell me," Ye Zhixing said calmly.
"Come back to the old family residence with me to visit my grandfather."
"He was badly shaken by what happened yesterday." This sounded somewhat like a trade, but Ye Zhixing did not mind.
"I can do that."
"I would also like to ask for your help in checking if anyone there has been meddling with anything. He is elderly and cannot handle such things."
"Understood." Ye Zhixing nodded.
Not long after, the meal arrived.
Zheng Ying also arrived, bringing along a woman in her forties. She was slightly plump, with a glowing, healthy complexion and a constant smile on her face. She looked like a person of good fortune, and she moved with agility.
"President Shang, Young Mistress, this is Auntie Dong. From now on, she will be responsible for the household’s food and hygiene," Zheng Ying introduced.
Shang Jingchen had ordered him to find a housekeeper just a moment ago. Now that Shang Nuannuan had woken up, she certainly needed someone to look after her. It was impossible to expect Ye Zhixing to take on those duties; she had no obligation to do so and had her own affairs to attend to.
Zheng Ying had chosen her personally, so Shang Jingchen trusted his judgment.
After the meal, Shang Jingchen drove Ye Zhixing out to go shopping. In truth, he did not need to accompany her himself; he could have ordered someone else to go with her, or simply let her go on her own. Yet, he felt the urge to follow along.
Forty minutes later, Shang Jingchen brought her to the Capital’s Underworld Artifact Street. This was a street lined with shops selling funeral supplies, and it was said they closed as soon as night fell. This was Shang Jingchen’s first time in such a place, and to him, it felt quite novel.
Ye Zhixing seemed satisfied enough; there were plenty of places to choose from. She wandered through every shop.
As she stepped into a larger store, the owner approached with a beaming smile, greeting Shang Jingchen directly: "Sir, what would you like to buy? Our shop has everything."
His gaze had been fixed on Shang Jingchen from the start. Shang Jingchen carried an air of nobility, and his attire clearly marked him as a member of the Capital’s elite. The owner felt he looked familiar, though he couldn't quite place where he had seen him before.
"She’s the one buying," Shang Jingchen said coldly. He had an instinctive aversion to this kind of fawning.
The owner’s eyes shifted to Ye Zhixing. Seeing the simplicity of her clothes, a flash of contempt crossed his face.
"I want top-quality yellow paper, cinnabar, and incense sticks."
Ye Zhixing had no demands or pursuits when it came to food or clothing; she spent all the money she earned on buying yellow paper and cinnabar, insisting on the best quality. She knew the prices well—even the top-tier items were not expensive.
"Alright, one moment please."
The owner went to the back and returned with a black bag. "Miss, I don't usually put these out on display; they’re for my regular customers. And I don’t always have them in stock. You’re young, so you probably don’t realize how rare these are," the owner bragged smugly.
Ye Zhixing inspected them and found they were indeed of good quality. She asked, "How much?"
"Since you seem sincere about buying, I won't haggle. With this selection, the bag is twenty thousand."
Shang Jingchen had no concept of the cost of these things, and the money meant nothing to him. To his surprise, however, Ye Zhixing said, "Will you sell it for three thousand?"
The smile on the owner’s face froze instantly. His expression changed, and he snapped, "If you don't have the money, don't pretend you’re looking for quality. We have cheaper goods! If you’re broke, don't act like a big spender, you look like a pauper! You’re asking for an absurd price, that’s not fair! Get out, get out! I’m not selling to you! Stop making trouble in my shop!" He became suddenly aggressive.
Beside her, Shang Jingchen’s face darkened instantly at the owner’s tone.
"You run a black-hearted business; there will be retribution. And it will come soon," Ye Zhixing said, her voice cold and her expression unchanged.
"Retribution? You can't afford it and you dare to spout nonsense here? Get lost, you bad omen!"
The owner, overcome by shame and anger, grabbed a wooden stick and tried to strike Ye Zhixing. Perhaps being cursed was the greatest taboo in his line of work, and Ye Zhixing had hit a nerve.
Shang Jingchen moved with lightning speed, gripping the stick and standing in front of Ye Zhixing. "You want to hit someone?"
"Let’s go. There’s no need to tangle with him," Ye Zhixing said flatly. She gave him a gentle tug.
Shang Jingchen gave the owner a firm shove, causing him to stumble back several steps, nearly falling over. When the owner tried to pursue them, he was frightened off by the sharp, cold gaze in Shang Jingchen’s eyes. Shang Jingchen’s presence was simply too overwhelming and oppressive. The owner didn't dare act rashly, sensing that Shang Jingchen was someone not to be trifled with. In his sudden rage, he had forgotten there was such a man present.
After leaving the shop, Shang Jingchen glanced at Ye Zhixing, thinking that he truly couldn't let this girl go shopping alone; she would be bullied. "Ye Zhixing, how much should that yellow paper and cinnabar actually cost?" he couldn't help but ask.
"The cost is about two thousand. I was letting him make a thousand-yuan profit, and he was still unsatisfied. Greed knows no bounds," Ye Zhixing said coldly.
Only a few steps later, they saw several men charging aggressively into that same shop, smashing everything inside. Even from where they stood, they could hear the owner’s pained pleas for mercy.
Shang Jingchen was astonished. Was this the retribution Ye Zhixing had spoken of? Surely it couldn't have been fulfilled so quickly? He looked at Ye Zhixing with a newfound, involuntary respect. Ye Zhixing, however, remained calm, completely unsurprised. Perhaps it was exactly what she had expected.
They didn't go back to watch the commotion but continued walking until they reached the last shop at the end of the street. The owner was a man in his forties who looked honest and simple, dressed in an old-fashioned long gown. Beyond the yellow paper, cinnabar, incense, and various funeral items, there were many small, ancient-looking trinkets, bracelets, and talismans.
Shang Jingchen had no interest in these things.
"Little Taoist, these are the best yellow paper and cinnabar in my shop. I don't usually bring them out for others, but I can tell you know your stuff," the owner said with a smile.
Ye Zhixing examined them carefully and asked, "How much?"
"Actually, it’s not much. Just give me three thousand."
Ye Zhixing nodded. She didn't haggle this time.
Seeing Ye Zhixing nod, which signified her approval, Shang Jingchen spoke up readily: "Take how much you have; I’ll buy it all."
"Er, this—"
Ye Zhixing interrupted: "There’s no need, I—"
"Just take it as a donation of incense money, and a thank you for your help over the last two days," the young heir insisted, displaying his usual dominance.
Ye Zhixing seemed to consider it for a minute, then finally agreed.
"Little Taoist, why not leave your contact information? If I get anything good in the future, I’ll reach out to you."
"That is fine."
"And if you encounter a metaphysical incident you cannot solve, call me. Though, of course, I hope you never have to," Ye Zhixing offered voluntarily.
"Alright!"
The owner agreed and exchanged contact details with her. In the end, Shang Jingchen bought out the man's entire stock, spending a total of ten thousand yuan.
He carried the two large bags himself. When Ye Zhixing tried to take one, he wouldn't let her. She didn't press the matter; if he wanted to carry them, she would let him. If anyone saw the crown prince of the Beijing Circle and a titan of the business world carrying bags for someone, their jaws would surely hit the floor.
After leaving Underworld Artifact Street, Shang Jingchen drove her back to the old family residence. He had witnessed the girl shopping, and she was very straightforward, but she definitely couldn't come here alone.
The old residence was in the eastern part of the city, the opposite direction from the street. It took an hour to drive there. Fortunately, it was still early, only three in the afternoon.
The old man had been waiting for Shang Jingchen. Seeing him return safe and sound, his eyes grew red.
"As long as you're alright! As long as you're alright!"
Then, his gaze fell upon Ye Zhixing, and he made a startling declaration: "Jingchen, is this your wife?"