Ye Chen rolled down the window and smiled at the security guard. "Uncle Tang, it's me, Xiao Ye. I want to go back and grab a few things. I'll be right out."
"Oh, it's Xiao Ye! Go on in. You can park in any of spaces 6, 7, 9, 8, 10, 11, or 12. Nice car. Did you get a job as a driver? You really don't need to work so hard. Isn't Zhenzhen's company still looking for a vice president? You should go work there." When the security guard, Tang An, saw it was Ye Chen, his face broke into a broad smile.
So he was one of their own. He could come and go as he pleased.
Ye Chen returned a faint smile. "Thanks for the offer, Uncle Tang, but I really wouldn't be a good fit at Zhenzhen's company. And thanks for renting me the place so cheaply. I'm moving out. Since I'm leaving early, you don't need to return my deposit."
As it turned out, this security guard, Uncle Tang, was a famous property tycoon. He owned an entire building in the complex and only worked as a guard because he was bored sitting around at home.
By sheer coincidence, Ye Chen had once saved Tang An's life.
Tang An had always been grateful. Not only had he rented his place to Ye Chen at a low price, he had also been hoping to make Ye Chen his son-in-law.
Tang An's daughter, Tang Zhen, was three years older than Ye Chen. She'd fallen for the handsome young man at first sight, taken one look at his face and lost her heart, and brought him tasty food every few days.
Tang Zhen was beautiful, with a lovely figure and an elegant presence, and Tang An was a good man too. But Ye Chen had turned her down outright.
After that night, Su Ningwei had taken up residence in Ye Chen's heart, and he didn't want to lead Tang Zhen on.
Saving Tang An had been a small matter, and Ye Chen had never given it a second thought.
Besides, his family had been in such dire straits back then that Ye Chen felt he wasn't good enough for the Tang family. He hadn't even considered dating anyone; all he could think about was making money.
Most importantly, Ye Chen simply didn't have feelings for Tang Zhen. Being together was a lifelong commitment, so he naturally wanted to find someone who stirred his heart.
When Tang An heard Ye Chen was moving out, he panicked. If Ye Chen left, where would he find such a wonderful son-in-law?
"You're moving out? Where are you going? Does the new job provide room and board?" Tang An asked anxiously.
"Yeah, it provides room and board. I'm in a hurry, so I'll head in now." Ye Chen nodded.
Ye Chen didn't want to say much. After all, Su Ningwei was a public figure, and having children out of wedlock wasn't something she could be proud of.
Watching the back of Ye Chen's car disappear, Tang An grew even more anxious.
He'd thought that being close by would give him an advantage.
It was said that when a woman pursued a man, all that stood between them was a veil.
As long as Ye Chen and Tang Zhen spent enough time together, sparks would eventually fly.
Who could have guessed that Ye Chen would be moving away?
It was hard enough to find a young man both he and his daughter liked.
Naturally, he couldn't bear to just give up on him.
The moment Tang An thought of that, he called Tang Zhen and told her to come over and stop Ye Chen from leaving.
Ye Chen returned to his place and packed all his things.
After showering and changing into clean, fresh clothes, he picked up two bags and went downstairs to check out his new home.
He'd just gone down one flight of stairs
when he heard the rapid clatter of high heels.
It was Tang Zhen, hurrying over. She was strikingly beautiful, with delicate makeup and fair skin.
She wore a black-and-white business skirt that accentuated her curves.
Black stockings hugged her long, shapely legs.
Her long hair was pinned up neatly, giving her the polished, capable air of a mature beauty.
The faint scent of perfume drifted through the air.
Tang Zhen held the railing with one hand and blocked Ye Chen with the other. Slightly out of breath, she asked, "X-Xiao Chen, are you really moving out now?"
"Yes. I've already told Uncle Tang. Thanks for looking after me all this time." Ye Chen stopped and nodded.
Ye Chen was a little confused. Why had Tang Zhen come over during work hours?
Tang Zhen panicked. "My dad said you were going to work as a driver? I happen to need a driver too. Name your salary and benefits, and I can provide room and board as well. Come work for me, okay?"
"Zhenzhen-jie, thanks for the offer, but I'm not going to be a driver. I'm going to take care of my wife and kids." Ye Chen replied.
So Tang An had tipped her off. It looked like he'd have to explain things clearly.
Tang Zhen froze. The old man's information wasn't accurate at all.
How could Ye Chen turn down a vice president's position to become a driver?
Wait...
What had Ye Chen just said he was going to do?
Take care of his wife and kids?!
"What did you just say you were going to do?" Tang Zhen asked, wondering if she'd heard him wrong.
Ye Chen enunciated each word. "I'm moving in with my wife and kids so I can take care of them."
"You have a wife and kids? I heard that right?" Tang Zhen stared at him in disbelief.
Tang Zhen was stunned!
She'd only been away on a business trip for a week, and someone had stolen her home.
Ye Chen already had a wife and kids?
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
Ye Chen had always had a very clean private life.
Tang Zhen frowned. Could Ye Chen have become someone else's kids' stepfather?
"I heard you right. I have a wife and kids. They're waiting for me at the hospital," Ye Chen replied.
"Um, are you short on money? If you are, I have plenty. Whatever she can give you, I can give you too. You don't need to become a stepfather. Xiao Chen, I really do like you. I may be three years older, but people say a woman three years older is as good as a pile of gold. I'm my father's only child, so everything my family owns will be yours someday."
Tang Zhen was frantic. She forgot all about keeping up appearances and blurted out her confession.
Ye Chen couldn't help laughing at Tang Zhen. "Zhenzhen-jie, I've always thought of you as a big sister. I've never had any other feelings for you. I'm not short on money, and I'm not becoming a stepfather. Besides, what she can give me, you really can't."
"What can she give you? A house or a car?" Tang Zhen protested.
"Neither," Ye Chen replied. "Three kids."
Tang Zhen's eyes went wide. "Three kids?! Are you sure they're all yours? Don't let her fool you. The prettier a woman is, the better she is at lying."
"Yeah, I'm sure they're mine." Ye Chen smiled. Tang Zhen seemed to have forgotten that she was a beautiful woman too.
Tang Zhen's spirits sank. She hadn't expected Ye Chen to have three children with another woman.
It seemed she had no chance at all.
If only she hadn't tried to play hard to get. She should've gotten Ye Chen drunk and made her move.
Sigh. The seeds of her love hadn't even sprouted before they'd been scalded and ruined.
"Can we still keep in touch?" Tang Zhen asked, unwilling to give up.
For some reason, Tang Zhen simply didn't want to become a stranger to Ye Chen. If only she'd met him sooner.
Even if she couldn't be his lover, maybe she could stay by his side as his big sister. That didn't sound so bad.
Ye Chen knew how Tang Zhen felt about him, so he answered tactfully. "Zhenzhen-jie, you're too beautiful. You know how women can be insecure. I'm afraid my wife will get the wrong idea and become jealous. So unless it's something important, we should keep our distance and not contact each other too often."
A man with a wife and kids needed to keep a certain distance from other women, so his wife wouldn't feel uneasy or insecure.
After giving birth, a woman's emotions could fluctuate a lot. If things weren't handled well, she could develop postpartum depression.