After the college entrance exams, Ye Shaohua returned to the company.
Ye Guofu had gained another son, but there was no mention of any celebration.
After days of hard work, Ye Yun finally entered face-to-face negotiations for the collaboration project with Chenguang Tech.
Three companies were shortlisted.
To stand out and secure Chenguang Tech’s favor, additional strategies were necessary.
Ye Shaohua settled seamlessly into the planning department. Working alongside the seasoned veterans there, she revised the proposal from that day.
Her contributions were so valuable that the planning department refused to let her go.
Manager Shao, from the finance department, never expected that the “borrowed” prodigy would never return.
“Have you no shame? Absolutely no shame?” Manager Shao glared at the planning department’s senior staff. “If you have any decency, return our Ye to us!”
“Sorry, but you might not believe this—I’ve never had much shame to begin with.”
Manager Shao: “…”
Well played. You win.
Since Ye Yun’s proposal had caught the attention of Chenguang Tech’s executives, Ye Guofu made arrangements to meet with their leadership. He brought along the planning and external relations teams—and made a point to include Ye Shaohua.
To everyone at Ye Corporation, this was Ye Shaohua’s first time attending such an event.
…..
“Shaohua, are you here yet?”
Ye Shaohua had been dragged out by her Class 13 classmates for an afternoon of drinking, followed by karaoke.
Though they usually seemed a little intimidated by her, today they all took turns toasting her.
Despite her high alcohol tolerance, her face still flushed slightly.
When she stepped out of the taxi, the driver even reminded her, “Be careful out there.”
Ye Shaohua held her phone and replied to Ye Guofu, “I’m here.”
Then she ended the call.
The meeting was at a luxury hotel.
Ye Yun had arrived early and was waiting at the entrance with Meng Ze.
When Ye Shaohua walked over, her clothes carrying the scent of alcohol, her expression lazy and impatient, Meng Ze froze.
“Shaohua?” His hand was still holding Ye Yun’s.
He hadn’t expected to see Ye Shaohua here and instinctively tried to let go.
But Ye Yun tightened her grip.
“Little Sister Shaohua,” Ye Yun smiled, a hint of triumph in her expression. “Meng Ze and I are together now. You… will bless us, right?”
Ye Shaohua had been making waves at the company lately, and for some reason, despite being reborn, Ye Yun felt she was doing worse than in her past life.
But the moment she remembered Ye Shaohua’s ordinary boyfriend, her confidence returned.
Meng Ze’s excellence was undeniable.
Not only did the Meng family hold shares in Ye Corporation, but Meng Ze’s mother also came from a prestigious scholarly family.
In Ye Yun’s eyes, Ye Shaohua agreeing to break off the engagement was the dumbest decision she could have made.
Ye Shaohua felt a slight dizziness. She unscrewed a bottle of mineral water, poured some into her palm, and patted it onto her face.
Hearing Ye Yun’s words, she merely narrowed her eyes lazily and said nothing.
Ye Yun, however, took her silence as suppressed frustration and smiled even brighter.
“Little Sister, this is your first time at a negotiation like this, right?” She spoke with the tone of an experienced mentor, feigning concern. “Dad’s inside. Don’t be nervous, and don’t disturb him. I’ve heard the CEO of Chenguang Tech is quite eccentric. Just follow my lead and don’t provoke him.”
Ye Shaohua finished the remaining water, tossed the empty bottle into a nearby trash bin, and barely glanced at Ye Yun.
Her gaze briefly flickered over their intertwined hands, but she showed no anger or reaction—just walked straight into the hotel without a second look.
“Little Sister’s temper has gotten stranger lately,” Ye Yun sighed deliberately, convinced she had struck a nerve. “Maybe it’s because the college exam results come out tomorrow. She must be upset.”
Hearing this, Meng Ze also sighed.
“Let’s not worry about her,” he said, shaking his head.
He didn’t care much about the exams. At this point, if Ye Shaohua even passed, it would be a miracle.
She was no longer the prodigy whose exam results once shocked the entire school—or even their social circle.
At a recent class reunion, a few classmates had brought her up.
…..
Ye Shaohua, never one for formalities, pushed open the private room door without knocking.
Ye Yun, following behind, chided, “Little Sister, where are your manners? You should knock—”
But the second half of her sentence died in her throat the moment she saw someone inside.
Yun Yi hadn’t expected to see Ye Shaohua here.
This was the best surprise of the night.
As soon as she entered, the scent of alcohol filled the room.
Her face was still damp from the water she’d splashed on it, droplets clinging to her eyelashes and the strands of hair framing her face, giving her an icy, untouchable aura.
Perhaps because the alcohol was hitting her, she tugged at the collar of her shirt, undoing a button.
Her pale fingers contrasted sharply against the dark button, drawing attention to the delicate collarbone now exposed.
Her white shirt was tucked into slim-fit jeans, accentuating her waistline.
Yun Yi tried—and failed—to keep his gaze in check.
When he saw the hint of bare skin from the undone button, he slammed his cup down with a loud thud.
Can’t you at least—just a little—pay attention to where you are?!
The others didn’t understand his sudden reaction, but his secretary adjusted his glasses discreetly.
He saw everything.
Meanwhile, outside the door, Meng Ze noticed Ye Yun’s frozen expression and asked, “A-Yun, why aren’t you going in?”
Ye Yun stared at Yun Yi’s face, her mind blank for several seconds before it finally clicked.
This was Ye Shaohua’s supposedly ordinary, good-for-nothing boyfriend.
But if he were just some random delinquent, why would he be here?
Ye Yun hadn’t been drinking, and her vision was perfectly clear. She had just watched Ye Guofu and the other Ye Corporation executives raising their glasses to him—to that man.
Pressing her lips together, she took a seat beside Director Meng and finally found a chance to whisper, “Director Meng… who is that?”
