An infuriating phone call

At the Ye Family home.

Ye Zhize walked into the house with a sour expression and sat down on the sofa.

"Brother, you look upset! Did something happen?"

Ye Zhize glanced at Ye Yinglan. "Nothing."

He had hired several people to spread damaging rumors about Ye Fan, only for them to be dragged into an alley and beaten up.

A few days earlier, Ye Hongwen had learned that Tang Yongjin had secretly come to Cang City. Ye Zhize had wanted to find an opportunity to make himself known to this influential figure. Yet before he could find one, Ye Fan had already won Tang Yongjin's favor.

He had also learned that the Wu Family had given Ye Fan a villa, and that Tang Yongjin had personally gone there to pick Ye Fan up and take him to the Tang Family's ancestral home. Elder Zhou from the jade shop had gone along too. What an honor that was!

Both Tang Yongjin and Zhou Jinzhi were figures even his grandfather had to treat with the utmost respect!

Under Wang Xiaofei's influence, Ye Zhize had always regarded Ye Fan as a rival. With the Wu Family backing him, Ye Fan inspired both intense jealousy and deep contempt in Ye Zhize.

Setting up the Beauty Trap had ruined Ye Fan's reputation and won Liao Tingting's affection, leaving Ye Zhize rather pleased with himself. Yet Ye Fan's sudden rise now filled him with profound unease.

Why should he get all this? Bitter resentment welled up in Ye Zhize. He had put enormous effort into grinding Ye Fan into the dirt, yet the bastard had climbed back up so quickly. The Wu Family really was generous, giving Ye Fan an entire villa outright. Was this how a great family showed its wealth and power?

Ye Hongwen walked in. Seeing his grim expression, Ye Yinglan asked, "Father, you don't look well! Did something happen?"

"Your grandfather called me over just now and spouted a load of nonsense," Ye Hongwen said impatiently.

"What did Grandpa say?"

"Your grandfather said that brat Ye Fan somehow won Elder Zhou's favor, and now Tang Yongjin appreciates him too. He even said the Wu Family managed to secure its partnership with the Tang Group because of Ye Fan, and told me to call him home. I think your grandfather's going senile. How could a tongue-tied fool like Ye Fan possibly be capable of that?" Ye Hongwen said scornfully.

"Exactly! Grandpa must have gotten it wrong. What can that pervert do besides disgrace our family?" Ye Yinglan hurriedly agreed.

The thought of Ye Fan made Ye Yinglan's face ache. She had gone to trouble him twice and been slapped both times. Though she refused to admit it aloud, she was deeply wary of him.

Ye Hongwen looked at Ye Zhize. "Zhize, how are things between you and Liao Tingting? Didn't you say the Liao Family's partnership with the Tang Group was practically guaranteed? Have you asked Liao Tingting what happened?"

Ye Zhize frowned. "I've been busy with work lately and haven't seen Tingting much."

Ye Hongwen's words dealt Ye Zhize a heavy blow. Ye Dinghong was an old fox who would never make claims without being sure. That meant Ye Fan really had turned his fortunes around.

Over the past few days, Ye Zhize had vaguely sensed that Liao Tingting was no longer as considerate and agreeable toward him as before. He had asked her out several times recently, but she had found excuses to turn him down each time. He suspected her change in attitude had something to do with Ye Fan.

Ye Hongwen furrowed his brow. "Work matters, but your marriage is just as important. A wife like Liao Tingting isn't easy to find!"

Ye Zhize forced a smile. "I understand. I'll take her out for a meal when I have time."

At the Bai Family home.

"Grandpa, who made you angry?" As soon as Bai Yunxi entered the house, he saw Bai Shiyuan pacing with his hands behind his back like an ant on a hot pan, his expression extremely grim.

At the sight of Bai Yunxi, some of the gloom lifted from Bai Shiyuan's face. "Yunxi, you're back!"

Bai Yunxi immediately spotted the letter on the table. "Ye Fan sent this?"

Bai Shiyuan forced a smile. "That brat is a complete bastard. Don't pay any attention to his nonsense."

Bai Yunxi smiled and put the letter away.

Watching his expression, Bai Shiyuan asked, "Yunxi, aren't you angry?" Bai Yunxi had actually kept the letter. Shouldn't he have burned it to ashes?

Bai Yunxi smiled. "That's just how he is. Getting angry with him won't do any good."

Bai Shiyuan was speechless.

"Is there medicine in this bottle?" Bai Yunxi asked.

Bai Shiyuan nodded. "Yes. Ye Fan sent it. He said you should take one a day. I'll have it tested later."

Bai Yunxi shook his head. "There's no need. Since Ye Fan sent it, it should be fine."

Bai Shiyuan looked at Bai Yunxi and forced a smile. "You trust Ye Fan that much?" What had gotten into his grandson?

"With that brain of his, he couldn't pull anything!" Bai Yunxi said.

Bai Shiyuan was speechless. In the end, it still came down to trust.

Xiao Chi was drinking tea in his office when his phone rang.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Old man Xiao, it's me!" Ye Fan's breezy voice came through the phone.

Hearing Ye Fan's voice instantly set Xiao Chi's temper flaring. "What do you want?"

"I forgot to ask A Xi for his number last time. Give it to me, will you?"

"Ha! Why should I give you Yunxi's number just because you want it? Speaking of which, how did you get my number?" Xiao Chi asked irritably.

"Aren't you a professor at the college? It's on your college's website!" Ye Fan said as though it were obvious.

"Yunxi's number? I don't have it!" Xiao Chi said coldly.

"Old man Xiao, don't be so stingy. Yunxi gave me a token of his love. Before long, I'll be your grandson-in-law. We're going to be family, so you shouldn't be so cold to me!" Ye Fan complained.

Xiao Chi was getting on in years, and his hearing wasn't very good, so he had turned up his phone's volume. As a result, practically everyone in the office heard Ye Fan.

Seeing his colleagues all looking his way, Xiao Chi felt acutely embarrassed.

Xiao Chi covered the phone, but Ye Fan showed no sign of letting up on the other end.

"How about this, old man Xiao? Give me Yunxi's number, and I'll bring you some Tenfold Tonic Pills next time. They're really nourishing. They replenish yin, strengthen the kidneys, and keep you fit and healthy. They're perfect for an old man like you who has trouble getting around. Take them and you'll feel ten years younger, an old man brimming with youthful vigor!" Ye Fan said.

"You little bastard!" Furious, Xiao Chi hung up on Ye Fan.

"Professor Xiao, are you all right?" a history professor beside him asked curiously.

Looking at Professor Shi's face as he struggled to suppress a smile, Xiao Chi felt utterly humiliated.

Xiao Chi forced a smile. "I'm fine. Nothing's wrong!"

Xiao Chi rolled his eyes. What kind of nonsense is this? Ye Fan, you damned idiot!

"Professor Xiao, are you really all right? You don't look very well. Who called you?" Professor Shi from the History Department asked curiously.

"A moron," Xiao Chi said through gritted teeth.

Professor Shi smiled. "Professor Xiao, you're remarkably patient! You didn't even hang up immediately on a moron like that."

Xiao Chi's face alternated between green and white as he silently cursed Ye Fan dozens of times. "There's something wrong with his brain, but he does have some ability."

"Indeed! Not just anyone would have the nerve to call Professor Xiao and ask for Bai Yunxi's number. What's his relationship with the Bai Family's Third Young Master? I could have sworn I heard him say he was going to become your grandson-in-law," Professor Shi said, eager for gossip.

Xiao Chi fell silent for a moment. "...Old man Shi, your ears aren't working properly. You misheard."

"Did I?" Professor Shi asked skeptically.

Looking at the disconnected call, Ye Fan said in distress, "That old man has such a temper! I even offered him a present, and he still hung up."

Qian Yu looked at Ye Fan, his expression twisted with regret. Why had he opened his big mouth and told Ye Fan he could find Xiao Chi's information through the college where he worked?

Ye Fan sighed. "Looks like I'll have to find another way. Maybe I should ask that profiteer who sells jade for Bai Yunxi's number. I need to buy some jade anyway. Ah, why did I forget to ask last time?"

Qian Yu was speechless. Young Master Ye, are you sure Young Master Bai would give it to you just because you asked?

Ye Fan rubbed his chin and finally turned his gaze to Qian Yu. "Did you come to see me about something?"

Qian Yu said cautiously, "Young Master Ye, are you still selling those talismans?"

"Oh, you placed an order earlier too, didn't you? But I sold all my talismans to some charlatan, so I don't have any right now," Ye Fan said.

Qian Yu paused. "...A charlatan?"

"Apparently he's some Realman Zhang from Dragon Tiger Mountain. A total amateur!" Ye Fan said, shaking his head.

"Realman Zhang from Dragon Tiger Mountain!" Qian Yu exclaimed in amazement. Dragon Tiger Mountain was a name that commanded absolute trust! Yet Young Master Ye didn't even think much of someone from there.

"You know him?" Ye Fan asked, looking at Qian Yu.

Qian Yu nodded. "I do!"

"Looks like that charlatan is pretty famous," Ye Fan said.

Qian Yu was speechless.

"I'll find time to draw you a few Peace Talismans. I don't have time right now." Qian Yu wasn't paying much, but even a small sum was still money. Ye Fan had recently acquired plenty of good things and needed to find time to refine them into pills to improve his strength.

Qian Yu hurriedly said, "There's no rush at all. Take care of your own affairs first."

Ye Fan nodded. "All right." Once he reached the third level of Qi Refining, drawing a few Peace Talismans would only take minutes.

"Young Master Ye, you went to Boss Tang's place earlier? What did you go there for?" Qian Yu couldn't resist asking.

"I treated him before, and he invited me over. I've discovered it's faster to make money off the rich. I took a look at that unscrupulous property developer's ailment, and he gave me fifty million. Clearly, he's been making a fortune," Ye Fan mused.

Qian Yu furrowed his brow. Young Master Ye really has soared to success. That unscrupulous property developer must be Tang Yongjin. In that case, the recent changes at the Tang Group must have something to do with Ye Fan. The Ye Family's old patriarch must be kicking himself now.