After gathering all the medicinal ingredients, Ye Fan hung a "No visitors" sign on his front door and set up a formation at the entrance. Anyone who barged in would be attacked by it. With all his preparations complete, Ye Fan began refining pills.
Ye Fan had no idea that while he was secluded, refining pills, quite a few people had come looking for him, including members of both the Ye Family and the Liao Family.
The Ye Family.
Wang Xiaofei looked at Ye Zhize and asked uneasily, "Zhize, did something happen between you and Liao Tingting? Why would the Liao Family suddenly postpone the engagement?"
Ye Zhize gritted his teeth. "I'm not really sure either."
Wang Xiaofei looked at Ye Zhize, but could hardly criticize him.
Stealing Ye Hongwen away from Wu Ying had always been a source of pride for Wang Xiaofei. Although many people looked down on her for rising from mistress to wife, she had never cared.
Wang Xiaofei held Wu Ying in utter contempt. The woman had come from a good family and was quite attractive, yet she had no feminine charm whatsoever. She could not even keep a man.
After Ye Hongwen made her his wife, she had barely needed to lift a finger to make him thoroughly despise Ye Fan. To Wang Xiaofei's surprise, however, many people had recently been asking her about Ye Fan, saying how remarkable he was and how many influential people he knew. She could have dismissed it if only one person had said so, but hearing it from several people made her uneasy.
Ye Zhize frowned. Lately, whenever he asked Liao Tingting out, she found an excuse to decline. Liao He was no longer as warm toward him as before, either. Ye Zhize had learned that Liao He had taken Liao Tingting to Ye Fan's villa several times, though they had never managed to see him.
Ye Zhize figured that Liao He was probably dissatisfied with him and wanted Liao Tingting to go back to her ex. That fickle woman might have rekindled her feelings for Ye Fan.
"Your father seems to have gone to see Ye Fan again," Wang Xiaofei said.
Ye Zhize's face darkened. "I know."
The Tang Family's project was a hugely lucrative prize. Whoever secured it would have nothing to worry about for the next few years. If the Liao Family landed the project, their lack of strength in real estate would surely lead them to seek the Ye Family's cooperation. The Wu Family, however, was a different matter.
His grandfather was so eager to get a share of the Tang Family's project that he kept sending his father to see Ye Fan. But Ye Fan seemed to have truly grown independent, refusing to show even his father any respect. His father had apparently gone several times in a row, only to be turned away each time.
Liao Tingting walked along Antique Street in a gloomy mood.
The Tang Family had suddenly gone back on their decision about the project, dealing a considerable blow to the Liao Family, who had been ready to pursue their grand ambitions.
The Liao Family had already established a connection with Tang Yonghe, but somehow, Tang Yonghe had offended Tang Yongjin, who was now ruthlessly suppressing him. The Liao Family had been caught up in it as well.
The Liao Family had run into quite a few problems lately.
Having heard that Tang Yongjin and Ye Fan were on good terms, Liao He had taken Liao Tingting to see Ye Fan, hoping to ask him to mediate. However, Ye Fan had consistently refused to see them, so Liao He's plan had naturally come to nothing.
Liao Tingting had always been a golden girl. Even when she had dated Ye Fan, he had been the one constantly trying to please her. Being turned away time after time left her deeply displeased.
"Tingting, we're out to have fun. Don't dwell on all those upsetting things," Jiang Rou said.
"That's right! Tingting, speaking of which, when are you and Ye Zhize holding your engagement ceremony?" Hu Yuqin asked.
Liao Tingting said nothing. She had thought Ye Zhize was a good match before, but after hearing so much about Ye Fan's recent "achievements," she could not help finding fault with Ye Zhize.
"We haven't set a date yet," Liao Tingting said.
"Tingting, I heard the Tang Family gave that big project to the Wu Family. They're going to make a fortune this time. Weren't all the rumors saying that the Tang Family had chosen to work with your family?" Jiang Rou asked.
"There was a slight change of plans," Liao Tingting said flatly, though inwardly she was terribly jealous of the Wu Family's luck. They had been on the brink of collapse, but with the Tang Family backing them, their future now looked limitless.
"Oh, isn't that Ye Fan?" Hu Yuqin said.
Liao Tingting looked toward the jade shop and froze for a moment.
The jade shop's owner was Zhou Jinzhi, but he rarely came out to attend to customers himself. Usually, the shop assistants served them.
"Ye Fan and Mr. Zhou seem to be getting along quite well!" Hu Yuqin said.
Liao Tingting had long heard that Ye Fan was on good terms with Mr. Zhou. Seeing the two talking made her believe those reports all the more. She gritted her teeth and began regretting her choice of Ye Zhize. If Ye Fan really were such a worthless good-for-nothing, someone of Mr. Zhou's standing would never have bothered with him.
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