The Lady Boss

Dugu Yan stared fixedly at the Immortal Herbs Ye Guchen had drawn.

Dugu Bo looked calm on the surface, but the way he kept reaching for his tea without realizing it betrayed his nerves.

Ye Guchen had drawn the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot.

But just as he began sketching the outline of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, copying the illustration from the Immortal Herb compendium he had browsed in Dou II—

Dugu Bo froze with his teacup halfway to his lips, then set it down.

He knew the Immortal Herb before him all too well. Wasn't it the strange medicinal plant growing in his own garden?

Dugu Bo slowly rose, staring intently at the drawing on Ye Guchen's paper.

"What is this?"

At Dugu Bo's instinctive question, Ye Guchen didn't stop drawing. He calmly replied,

"Oh, this is called the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass. It grows in extremely harsh conditions and can only survive in places of bitter cold..."

The moment he heard that it grew in places of bitter cold, Dugu Bo was certain it was the same herb from his garden.

"Hahaha! I've spent years searching for a way to cure my poison, yet the antidote was right in my hands all along, and I never knew it!"

Dugu Bo slowly shook his head, overcome with emotion.

The antidote could be hard to find—or impossible to find—but it had been right there in his hands.

For a moment, an inexplicable sadness welled up in him, then gave way to doubt and resentment toward himself.

"Why didn't I think of a way to cure the poison sooner? If I had, Xiao Xin and Xiao Fang wouldn't have..."

He looked at Dugu Yan, guilt weighing on him all the more. "I was too weak to protect her, and Yanyan lost her parents so young."

Seeing the old man suddenly sink into sorrow, Ye Guchen didn't know why, but they were partners now, so he ought to offer some comfort.

"From the looks of it, Lord Poison Douluo, do you recognize it?"

Ye Guchen feigned surprise, acting as though he hadn't noticed Dugu Bo's reaction, and asked.

Dugu Bo forcibly suppressed the emotions that had surged up inside him and composed himself.

"To be honest, I have a medicinal garden, and in it grows the very Immortal Herb you mentioned, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass."

But emotions weren't so easily suppressed once they had surfaced. Dugu Bo still couldn't help sighing.

"If I'd met you sooner, perhaps Yanyan's parents wouldn't have..."

Only then did Dugu Bo realize he was getting carried away. He quickly cut himself off.

"Alas! Let's not speak of it."

Compared with Dugu Bo's sudden sorrow, Dugu Yan seemed much more at ease. The moment she heard that the herb that could cure the poison was growing in her grandfather's garden, her clenched fists had relaxed without her noticing.

"That's wonderful! Grandpa, that means you'll be all right too!"

Dugu Yan threw herself into Dugu Bo's arms.

Ye Guchen and Zhu Zhuqing sat to one side, quietly watching the heartwarming scene.

Dugu Bo gently patted his granddaughter's back. A rare softness appeared on his usually grim face.

He said nothing, only stroked the crown of Dugu Yan's head in silence, as if he were trying to pour all the years of regret into that embrace.

A moment later, Dugu Yan lifted her head from her grandfather's arms. Her eyes were reddened, but she was smiling. She turned to Ye Guchen, her voice still trembling a little.

"Y-Young Master Ye, when will you be able to cure Grandpa's poison?"

Seeing the grandfather and granddaughter overcome with emotion, Ye Guchen didn't rush to suggest going to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"I'm sure the two of you have a lot to talk about, and curing the poison isn't something that can be done in a day."

Ye Guchen paused, pretending to think it over, then gave his answer a moment later.

"How about taking me to your medicinal garden tomorrow? That'll give me today to sort out the affairs of my shop."

Dugu Bo nodded. "All right! We've waited this long; one more day won't make a difference." Then he stood and cupped his fists toward Ye Guchen in thanks.

"Then I won't keep you any longer. I'll come get you tomorrow morning!"

Ye Guchen rose and saw Dugu Bo and his granddaughter to the shop entrance.

"Phew..."

Only after watching them leave did Ye Guchen let out a long breath.

"That's the first step taken care of!"

Back in the courtyard, Ye Guchen finally dropped his act and sat down at the stone table.

He brewed himself a pot of tea. After all, before transmigrating, he'd been an ordinary person. Transmigration hadn't magically made him brave or decisive. Facing Dugu Bo and scheming to get his hands on the old man's garden had still made him nervous.

Ye Guchen drained his cup.

"I still need more practice!"

Once he had calmed down, Ye Guchen summoned the three stewards currently in charge of procurement at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

There were only three in all: one handled rare ores, one medicinal herbs, and one Whale Rubber.

All three were Soul Ancestors, each with an in-depth knowledge of the goods they handled.

They sat across from Ye Guchen, waiting for their young boss's instructions.

"Next, I'll be away from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion for a while, accompanying Lord Poison Douluo on some business. During that time, keep the procurement running as usual. But remember: if anyone deliberately drives up the price, stop buying."

The three men nodded in unison.

The moment they heard the words "Lord Poison Douluo," any thoughts they'd had of taking the opportunity to make a killing vanished.

Come on, making money was one thing; you had to live long enough to spend it.

The middle-aged steward in charge of medicinal herbs stepped forward and asked,

"While you're away, Boss, who should we report to?"

Ye Guchen turned his gaze to Zhu Zhuqing. Zhu Zhuqing would be one of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion's senior managers sooner or later. He might as well take this opportunity to teach her a few things about business. Even if she messed up, it would only cost a little money to gain experience.

When Zhu Zhuqing saw him looking at her, she immediately understood what he meant and waved her hands repeatedly.

"I can't do it. I've never been involved in business."

But Ye Guchen had already made up his mind. He gave Zhu Zhuqing an encouraging look. "I think you can do it! Believe in yourself."

Then he turned back to the three stewards.

"Put her in charge of everything."

The three men looked puzzled and exchanged glances. The burly, middle-aged steward in charge of mineral procurement, Tie Yan, spoke first.

"Isn't the lady boss going with you?"

At his words, Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed scarlet, while Ye Guchen remained perfectly calm. He couldn't help giving Tie Yan a secret thumbs-up.

Ye Guchen shot Zhu Zhuqing a teasing glance, then turned back to the three men.

"Your lady boss isn't coming with me. While I'm away, she'll have the final say on everything, big or small."

Seeing all three nod, Ye Guchen waved a hand.

"If there are no questions, you can go."

The new shop had only just opened, so there wasn't much work to do. The three men rose and left together.

Only after everyone had left did Zhu Zhuqing lightly punch Ye Guchen on the shoulder.

"W-Who said I'd be your lady boss?"

After Ye Guchen had helped her untangle her emotional knots, Zhu Zhuqing had fallen for him. After spending these past few days together, they had grown much closer, but having their relationship suddenly laid bare still made her shy.

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing acting like a bashful young woman, Ye Guchen pulled her into his arms. He lifted her chin with one hand and gazed into her eyes.

"Then, beautiful Miss Zhu Zhuqing, would you be willing to be the lady boss of my Hundred Treasures Pavilion?"

Faced with Ye Guchen's sudden confession and the strange way he was holding her, Zhu Zhuqing's face turned bright red. She immediately slipped free of his hand and buried her face in his chest.

Ye Guchen felt her soft warmth against him, and heard her heartbeat racing.

Only after a while did Zhu Zhuqing manage to say three words.

"I'd love to!"

At her answer, Ye Guchen held her soft body even tighter. He leaned in and kissed the half of her face that was visible, red and smooth as silk.

A soft, burning sensation spread across her lips.

Only after a moment did Zhu Zhuqing pull away from Ye Guchen's embrace and sit beside him, leaning against his shoulder.

"I'm worried I won't do a good job..."

Ye Guchen heard her and reached out to tap the tip of her nose.

"Silly girl, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion is bound to grow bigger and stronger. While it's still developing, you can learn how to manage it. Even if you do happen to mess things up, it'll only cost us a little."

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze grew resolute. She looked at Ye Guchen.

"Don't worry. I'll take good care of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion while you're gone!"

As soon as she finished speaking, while Ye Guchen was retrieving the previous account books from his Storage Soul Tool Ring, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly reached out with both hands, cupped his face, and kissed him on the lips.

A rush of damp warmth and softness, mingled with Zhu Zhuqing's unique fragrance, washed over him. Ye Guchen instinctively set the documents on the table, wrapped his arms around her soft waist, and kissed her back.

Though he didn't know why Zhu Zhuqing, usually so cool and aloof, had suddenly become so passionate, Ye Guchen had already been taught by Ma Xiaotao. He was no longer the inexperienced man who only dared to talk a big game, and they could have taken things further.

But remembering Zhu Zhuqing's age, he still forced down the heat rising within him. A moment later, their lips parted.

Once the rush of desire had passed, all that remained was an even stronger shyness. Zhu Zhuqing's face was already burning.

Seeing this, Ye Guchen merely caressed her cheek before beginning to explain the account books on the table.

Though Zhu Zhuqing felt shy, she still listened carefully.

To his surprise, Zhu Zhuqing picked up the business concepts extremely quickly. After hearing each point just once, she had grasped the business knowledge he'd brought from his previous life, and was even able to adapt it to the realities of Douluo Continent.

Ye Guchen couldn't help thinking more highly of her.

It seems handing the Hundred Treasures Pavilion over to her was absolutely the right choice.

But the pent-up heat clearly wasn't going to disappear on its own. Zhu Zhuqing was still young, so Ma Xiaotao would just have to bear the brunt of it.