Ye Shaohua set her cup down on the table with a light clink. “Grandpa, the last one. Finally, the set is complete.”
Grandpa Ye accepted it with evident delight.
She paid no attention to Ye Rui whatsoever. Just then, her phone rang again. She glanced at the screen and answered it.
Watching her retreating figure and seeing how Grandpa Ye doted on Ye Shaohua, Ye Rui couldn’t hold back.
“She’s certainly made some questionable friends in the year she’s been away,” he muttered.
Seeing Grandpa Ye’s cold glare, Ye Rui swallowed the rest of his words.
He just couldn’t accept it. Why was it that no matter how excellent he and his sister were, Grandpa never seemed to notice? Yet when she presented a shabby old tea set, Grandpa was overjoyed.
Meanwhile, Ye Shaohua walked towards her room while taking the call.
It was Director Wu Kai, the same person she had hung up on earlier.
“Miss Yeliu, I am sincerely interested in acquiring the rights to ‘Gods of the Firmament’,” Wu Kai’s voice was earnest. “To be frank, ‘Gods of the Firmament’ would be my final masterpiece. My love for this novel is no less than yours…”
He must have read ‘Gods’ countless times to be so intimately familiar with every character.
At this thought, Ye Shaohua suddenly spoke. “Are you with Tianhuang Entertainment?”
Wu Kai was taken aback by the question. After a moment’s pause, he replied, “No, I’m with Tianteng Entertainment. But if you’re hoping to work with Tianhuang…”
“Tianteng is fine,” Ye Shaohua said, pulling out the clothes she intended to change into. “Let’s meet in three days. We can discuss the rights then.”
“I could resign and go to Tianhuang…” Wu Kai had been anxiously explaining but stopped short upon hearing her words. After a long pause, he finally managed, “Alright! Three days it is. I’ll send the details to your phone shortly!”
As if afraid she might change her mind, he promptly hung up.
Over at Tianteng Entertainment, the executives were watching Director Wu Kai intently. “Well, Director Wu? How did it go?”
They had been alarmed by the news recently released by Tianhuang Entertainment, who boldly claimed they would definitely secure the rights to ‘Gods of the Firmament’.
This novel was different from other IP adaptations.
Acquiring it would establish a solid foundation for viewership and potentially crown the holder as the top player in the entertainment industry. Given Tianhuang Entertainment’s usual tactics, they would undoubtedly suppress Tianteng Entertainment and its artists once they had it.
The mere thought made President Tian frown with worry.
Hearing their question, Wu Kai grinned from ear to ear. “President Tian, great news! Miss Yeliu has agreed to a detailed discussion in three days!”
“Really?!” President Tian’s eyes widened. “In three days, you say? Quick, start preparing the contracts and related materials. Oh, and Director Wu, take me with you to that meeting.”
“Of course,” Wu Kai agreed. Bringing President Tian would demonstrate Tianteng’s sincerity. “However, when you meet Miss Yeliu, try not to be too surprised.”
At that moment, President Tian didn’t quite grasp what Wu Kai meant by ‘not too surprised’.
Three days passed quickly.
Ye Shaohua returned from her morning run, took a shower, had breakfast, and prepared to leave for the appointment.
Grandpa Ye had taken out the ‘shabby’ tea set she had given him and placed it on the table. “Shaohua, you know, this tea set you gave me truly brews an exceptionally fragrant tea. I’m going to use it today to entertain my old friend.”
Seeing Grandpa Ye show off like this, Ye Ruxue couldn’t help but shake her head inwardly. He actually dared to bring it out? Anyone seeing it would think the Ye family had fallen on hard times.
“Mom,” said Ye Ruxue, wearing a dress with a stylish coat over it. “I’m meeting Chu Yan today. He said Tianhuang is close to locating Yeliu. You’ll soon be able to watch ‘Gods of the Firmament’ on TV. Chu Yan says once they secure the rights, Tianhuang will become the top entertainment powerhouse in Asia.”
As she spoke, a bright smile spread across Ye Ruxue’s face.
Hearing the term ‘entertainment powerhouse,’ especially on an Asian scale, Xu Peipei was immensely pleased. “Chu Yan is truly capable. Peipei, hurry and have the driver take you. Don’t be late.”
At that moment, Grandpa Ye looked at Ye Shaohua and spoke up. “Shaohua, you’re meeting a friend today too, right? Have the driver take you. It’s windy outside.”
“Dad,” Ye Ming interjected, hearing this. “How can you joke about such a thing? Ruxue is meeting Chu Yan. If you have the driver take Shaohua, what about Ruxue? Who will take responsibility if she’s late?”
He then turned to Ye Shaohua. “Shaohua, your sister is attending to important matters. You wouldn’t try to take the car from her, would you?”
After all, Ye Ming didn’t believe Ye Shaohua’s outing could possibly involve anything significant.
Grandpa Ye was about to retort, displeased by his son’s attitude, when Ye Shaohua spoke first.
She placed a baseball cap on her head and casually tossed a coin she was holding in her palm. “It’s fine, Grandpa. I’ll take the bus.”
She didn’t even acknowledge Ye Ming’s question.
Without waiting for Grandpa Ye’s response, she turned and walked out.
Ye Ruxue watched her leave and let out a soft, derisive laugh.
Ye Ming and Xu Peipei asked Ye Ruxue a few more questions about Chu Yan, which she answered patiently. Finally, the driver brought the car around, and she got in, heading towards her destination.
The place Chu Yan had chosen for the meeting was a five-star hotel.
When Ye Ruxue got out of the car, Chu Yan was slightly taken aback. It had only been a little over a week since he last saw her, but she seemed to have gained a noticeable amount of weight.
He didn’t comment on it, however.
He was about to escort Ye Ruxue inside when he caught sight of a nimble figure hopping off a bus not far away.
The baseball cap looked familiar.
Chu Yan had a decent memory and recognized it as belonging to Ye Shaohua.
Moreover… she looked almost like a different person compared to before.
For people like Ye Ming who saw Ye Shaohua daily, the changes were less apparent. But for someone like Chu Yan who saw her only every couple of weeks, the transformation was striking.
Following Chu Yan’s gaze, Ye Ruxue also spotted the figure approaching them. A look of disbelief crossed her face.
“Ye Shaohua?” she exclaimed. “Are you some kind of sticky burr? You even tracked us all the way here? Have you no shame at all?!”
