Chapter 15 — IAVD (QT) Chapter 15

Ye Yiyang called security.

While waiting for them to arrive, he glanced at Manager Li, who was still hovering nearby, and called Xu Ming: "You probably heard what happened in the conference room. He’s the person you brought in, so you handle him. I don't want to see him in this company ever again."

Xu Ming’s voice on the other end lost its playful tone, replaced by gravity. "I’ll give you an explanation for this."

Friendship was one thing, but business was another. When it came to professional matters, Xu Ming never joked around. He felt he hadn't been rigorous enough this time. He was an "old hunter" who had been pecked in the eye by a sparrow; the HR manager he had worked so hard to headhunt—a man praised by many industry titans—turned out to be a pimp. If this got out, the company would be a laughingstock.

Ye Yiyang said, "Let Deputy Manager Yang take over HR for now. Don't look for outside headhunters anymore. Yang has been with us since the beginning; if we train her well, she’ll be able to hold her own."

"Understood," Xu Ming agreed.

"President Ye!" Manager Li pleaded, hearing their conversation.

Ye Yiyang pulled his hand away, his face cold and ruthless. As security arrived, he pointed at Ji Wu, instructed them to "politely" escort her out, and turned to leave.

Manager Li desperately tried to follow him. Ji Wu, surrounded by security, couldn't catch up; she looked resentful and wanted to say more. Other employees passed by, glancing at her curiously. She valued her dignity and feared making a scene that was too ugly, so she gritted her teeth and shut up.

She shot a look of humiliated rage at Ye Yiyang’s retreating back, stomped her foot, and gave up, leaving the premises.

Manager Li turned back to see her retreating figure, casting a look of "disappointed but not surprised" at her before continuing to chase Ye Yiyang all the way to his office. Xu Ming appeared just in time to block Li at the door.

Ye Yiyang patted Xu Ming's shoulder and walked past him into the office, leaving the matter for him to settle.

Xu Ming let out a heavy sigh.

…

By the time work ended, Xu Ming reported that Manager Li had been dismissed and would not be seen at the company tomorrow.

Ye Yiyang looked up. "Tell me, how did you get fooled?"

Xu Ming’s expression was sour. "He was introduced by Chairman Qi of Changping Company. I just called some other friends and found out this Li guy only knows how to introduce women to please his superiors. He has zero actual ability. Chairman Qi only praised him because they’re birds of a feather."

Ye Yiyang nodded. Looking at Xu Ming’s dejected face, he showed a bit of understanding but still warned him seriously: "Keep your mind on your work."

Xu Ming had spent all his time thinking of ways to mock Ye Yiyang, and now karma had caught up to him.

"..." Xu Ming had no comeback. Facing the big boss who paid his salary—especially when he was speaking on behalf of the company—he could only admit his mistake. "I understand."

Ye Yiyang nodded with satisfaction and added, as if showing off: "I know you care about me. Don't worry, Mingzhu has finally come around. We'll invite you to the wedding banquet later."

Xu Ming was genuinely surprised. "She came around?"

Ye Yiyang gave a faint smile but didn't elaborate; he had to keep some face. He checked his watch with a reserved expression and waved his hand. "I'm off the clock. I have a date."

…

He went down to the parking lot and opened his car door, planning to head to the reserved restaurant.

"President Ye!" Ji Wu, who had been waiting for a long time, stepped out from another car nearby and hurried toward him. "Can we talk?"

Ye Yiyang stopped, looking at her with a strange expression. This was the company’s internal parking lot. You couldn't get in without a permit. How did she get here?

Thinking of the "understanding" between her and Manager Li, he figured it out, which only increased his disgust. In the past, women who thought highly of themselves had tried to pursue him, getting his contact info and calling him late at night. He had rejected them all, but he had never met a woman so "resourceful" that she could get past his own security and manipulate his employees. If she were an industrial spy, she’d be invincible, Ye Yiyang thought, becoming inwardly wary while keeping a neutral face. "We aren't close. There's nothing to talk about."

Ji Wu looked wounded, putting on a look of indignant reproach. "I truly admire you, President Ye, which is why I asked Manager Li to help. I finally get to see you; can't you be a gentleman? Why be so distant?"

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with deep affection and a hint of grievance. No successful man could refuse a woman who delivered herself to his door, especially one who seemingly didn't care for his wealth or fame but only admired him as a person. This was a common weakness in men.

Ji Wu had learned this from a university professor and had applied it successfully for four years. She had no reason to think she couldn't handle someone like Ye Yiyang. His company was in new tech and very rich, but no matter how wealthy he was, he was still a "programmer" at heart. How many women could a guy who spent all day writing code have seen?

Ji Wu was full of confidence, and a bit of it leaked onto her face.

Ye Yiyang felt like he was watching a bad play. He gave her a meaningful look and raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you want to say?"

Ji Wu sighed. "Do you think I'm a gold-digger chasing you for money? You've misunderstood. If you remember me, you should know we’ve met once before. My name is Ji Wu, I'm Ji Ze's sister. I truly admire you for who you are."

Invoking Ji Ze’s name was effective. Though not quite on Ye Yiyang’s level, Ji Ze was still a big name. To an outsider, it made her look like she had equal status—someone worthy of being a friend. And once they were friends, the rest would be easy.

Of course, Ji Wu had her own agenda. Seven years ago, after Song Ruyue moved to the nursing home and Ji Ze became obsessed with work, her life had declined. The banquet for Ji Mingzhu had exposed her identity to their social circle. Her suitors disappeared, and friends who only cared about her "Ji Heiress" title vanished.

She had tried to build a new circle, but it never worked because of her background. Eventually, she realized she needed a new backer. Since Song Ruyue was out, she targeted Ji Ze. But the "brother" she grew up with was cold and unyielding. When she acted "pitiful" for him, he threatened to send her back to the Zhou family, scaring her so much she gave up on him and looked elsewhere.

However, her reputation preceded her in the upper class. She couldn't get what she wanted and was forced to leave the city. In the years she spent wandering, she found no high-quality men. Now at a marriageable age, she had discovered Ye Yiyang.

She actually looked down on Ye Yiyang slightly, thinking his background was too low and that he was just a "nouveau riche" with no heritage. Even with his handsome face, he was just a good-looking upstart.

But Ye Yiyang had one great advantage: he was a self-made man who used to be a commoner. He had no overlap with high society, so he wouldn't know her past. If she could marry him and become Mrs. Ye, no one in social circles would dare use her background against her again.

Ji Wu’s calculations were running fast. She had tried calling him in the middle of the night before, only to be immediately hung up on and blocked. She tried to stage "accidental encounters," but he was always working or disappearing after hours. She could never catch his attention.

Just as she was about to give up, she saw his company was hiring a secretary. If she could get that job, she’d be close to him every day. She spent a fortune bribing Manager Li to get the interview, only for Ye Yiyang to personally reject her for her lack of qualifications.

She was annoyed, but after a few hours of reflection, she felt she couldn't give up. Ye Yiyang was her only ticket back into the center of high society. She drove back, got a permit from Li, and waited in the parking lot.

After her speech about her "identity," Ji Wu grew more confident. "President Ye, I think our backgrounds are a good match. Won't you really consider it?"

Ye Yiyang’s gaze was strange. "You’re Ji Ze’s sister?"

"Yes," Ji Wu said, her smile widening. "We met at the Wang family banquet. You're so talented; I’ve admired you for a long time. If we could have a chance to get closer, that would be wonderful."

Ye Yiyang studied her, his expression unreadable, a trace of mockery in his eyes. "That’s a coincidence. I know Ji Ze. I’ll be sure to tell him about how you broke into my company and disrupted our recruitment process. I’ll even ask him for compensation."

Ji Wu froze. What? She had lowered herself to confess, and this man didn't notice at all? He was only thinking about the interview?

Ye Yiyang waved his hand. "Safe travels, Miss Ji. I have a date today and my girlfriend is waiting. I won't see you out."

Ji Wu was thrown into chaos. Ye Yiyang already has a girlfriend?! Since when? Why didn't she know?

Ye Yiyang had protected Mingzhu’s privacy well. The employees knew he had a girlfriend, but very few had seen her. When she visited, she used the executive elevator. No one outside knew his girlfriend was Ji Mingzhu, the daughter of the legendary Ji Xiu. Even within the company, it was a rumor people weren't 100% sure of.

When Ji Wu was digging for info, no one could give her a straight answer, so she assumed he was single. The revelation hit her hard, and she stood there dazed as his car drove away.

But Ji Wu wasn't someone who gave up easily. She quickly calmed down. Since Ye Yiyang knew Ji Ze, wouldn't it be easier to ask Ji Ze to introduce them? Even if their bond had weakened, they were still "siblings" of fifteen years. He’d surely help her with such a small favor.

…

After losing Ji Wu, Ye Yiyang headed to his date. He and Mingzhu met twice a week at various locations. This time, it was a sky restaurant on the 66th floor. With fine food and the city lights shimmering through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the atmosphere was perfect.

He waited quietly with a bouquet of roses. Mingzhu arrived on time, bringing his coat in a paper bag. "Sorry I'm late," she said.

Ye Yiyang shook his head. He pulled out her chair and sat across from her, staring at her for a long time as if wanting to say something. Mingzhu blushed and tapped the back of his hand. "Dad scolded me when I went home yesterday. Be honest—did you complain to him?"

Ye Yiyang looked surprised. He didn't expect his father-in-law to reject him to his face but then help him behind closed doors. He smiled. "Uncle cares about you. He thinks our relationship is stable and it's normal to want us married. He wasn't going to let you keep stalling."

Mingzhu pouted, both complaining and happy. "Dad always worries about me and never thinks of himself. He’s getting older but still fusses over me every day."

"If you don't want him to worry, then marry me." Ye Yiyang’s eyes grew serious. He pulled the diamond ring—the one he’d failed to give her five times—from his pocket. "I’ll take good care of you."

Mingzhu froze. She stared at the ring for five seconds, then slowly nodded. "Okay."

"You... you agreed?" Ye Yiyang was dazed, then a massive wave of joy hit him. He quickly took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger. "No taking it back! You promised!"

"I won't," Mingzhu said, feeling a bit guilty. She had rejected him five times, only thinking of her own worries and ignoring his disappointment. Seeing him smile like a child, she felt she shouldn't have been so willful. She’d probably been spoiled by her father these last few years.

Ye Yiyang didn't care about any of that, holding her hand with a tender gaze. They only let go when the waiter arrived with menus.

During the wait for their food, Ye Yiyang calmed down from his joy and remembered the parking lot incident. "Mingzhu, I remember you said you weren't swapped by mistake, but switched on purpose. Do you know the name of the person who took your place?"

Mingzhu, who was admiring her ring, looked up. "I do. Her name is Ji Wu. Why?"

Ye Yiyang’s expression turned subtle. "So it really is her?"

He told her everything that had happened that day. "I have to tell Ji Ze. I don't know how many things she’s done outside using his name."

Ji Ze had a bright future and a clean reputation. If a woman claiming to be his sister was acting "cheap" and causing trouble, it would ruin him. Besides, Ji Ze had just been complaining about being a "lonely dog" and wanting to find a suitable girlfriend; if Ji Wu kept this up, he’d never find one.

Mingzhu was silent, her gaze drifting. She hadn't seen Ji Wu in seven years. Ji Wu had tried to visit Ji Xiu on holidays, but he always refused. Eventually, she stopped coming. She hadn't been a good student and went to another city for college. Ji Ze had mentioned once that she was "playing hard."

Mingzhu hadn't realized that after graduating, Ji Wu would return and target her boyfriend. At the banquet when they were fifteen, Ji Wu had looked at Ye Yiyang with pure disdain. Who would have thought that years later, she’d be the one throwing herself at him?

Mingzhu nodded. "I’ll tell my brother. Don't worry."

Ye Yiyang smiled and leaned over to tap her nose. "Good. I’m relieved to leave it to the Madam." Mingzhu swiped at his hand in mock annoyance.

After dinner and a movie, they parted. Mingzhu had driven herself today—a Maybach Ji Xiu had given her for her eighteenth birthday. She loved the car and rarely drove it, but today she had used it to attend a business meeting on her father's behalf to "bolster her presence."

The two cars drove side-by-side for a while before parting at an intersection.

…

Back at home, Mingzhu hid in her room and called Ji Ze about Ji Wu.

Ji Ze was silent for a long time. "I’ll give her a stern warning when she gets back."

"Okay," Mingzhu said, then added shyly, "Brother, I'm going to marry Ye Yiyang."

"What?!" Ji Ze’s mask of calm broke. "How could you agree so easily?"

The siblings were close; Ji Xiu didn't know about the five failed proposals, but Ji Ze did and had been enjoying the show. Now, in just one day, Ye Yiyang had won.

"I'm not exactly young," Mingzhu explained. "It's time to get married. Yiyang has waited so long; I can't keep him hanging forever."

Ji Ze sighed. "Fine. Have you picked a date? Do you need help?"

"Yiyang said he'll talk to Dad about the date in a few days. He's handling all the arrangements. You just have to be there to walk me out."

Ji Ze felt conflicted—happy for his sister, but also a bit lonely. When would he find someone to spend his life with? After a few more words, they hung up.

Ji Ze sat in his study for a long time, trying to settle his feelings. Just then, he heard Ji Wu’s voice from downstairs. Recalling Mingzhu’s words, his gaze turned cold. He opened the door and headed down.