I'll send someone down to get you

A breeze stirred the white gauze curtains in the room, bringing a faint chill.

Half of Ye Yizhou's face was buried in his silk comforter. Wisps of hair lay scattered over his tightly closed eyes, and his finely shaped nose twitched slightly as he breathed softly.

"Bzz~ Bzz~"

His phone kept vibrating on the bedside table.

Ye Yizhou's long lashes fluttered. Without even opening his eyes, he furrowed his brows and reached out from under the covers to feel for his phone.

"Hello!"

His indistinct mumble carried the unmistakable irritation of someone who had been woken up.

"I left a document in the study at home. Bring it to the office for me."

"Hm?"

Still half asleep, Ye Yizhou struggled to open one eye, glanced at the caller's name, then closed it again, his mouth running on. "Is that how you ask someone for a favor? Old Ye, not to criticize, but you don't even understand basic social etiquette. How do you get by in the world of money and power? You..."

"I've already transferred you two hundred yuan." Ye Chongli shut him down with a single sentence.

Ye Yizhou immediately fell quiet and said obediently, "Oh, then I'll book a courier for you."

"If I wanted a courier, couldn't I book one myself? Why would I need you pocketing the difference as a middleman?"

Ye Chongli snapped back irritably, then grew a little more serious. "This document is important. Bring it here yourself, immediately. Right now."

Ye Yizhou sat up in bed, irritably ruffled his hair, and let out an enormous yawn. "Got it," he said listlessly.

After hanging up, Ye Yizhou casually tossed his phone onto the comforter and headed to the bathroom to wash up.

Half an hour later, a sleek black Bugatti pulled up outside the Lingyao Group building.

Ye Yizhou called his dad. "Send someone down to get it."

Ye Chongli was displeased. "You're already downstairs. Can't you bring it straight up?"

"I can't get in!" Ye Yizhou protested, feeling wronged.

Ye Chongli: ...

"You can't even get into your own family's company. What a disgrace."

Ye Yizhou: ???

Huh? He was getting scolded for that too?

"Stay downstairs and don't wander off. I'll send someone down to get you."

"Beep, beep, beep..."

Ye Chongli hung up as soon as he finished speaking, giving Ye Yizhou no chance to refuse.

Ye Yizhou had no choice but to pull into a parking space. He took a pair of gold-rimmed glasses with nonprescription lenses from the center console and put them on, picked up the document envelope from the passenger seat, then got out and walked through the entrance to the Lingyao Group building.

Security personnel in black suits stood in two rows at the entrance.

"Hello, sir. Do you have an appointment?"

As expected, he was stopped, though the guard's manner and tone were quite gentle.

"I'm here to deliver some documents. Someone will be coming to meet me shortly."

Ye Yizhou raised the envelope in his hand. "Can I wait in the lobby?"

"Of course."

Ye Yizhou raised his brows slightly. Getting through the company's front door was pretty easy after all.

The ground-floor lobby was spacious. Directly opposite the entrance were several rows of turnstiles for employees, with three more guards standing nearby, seemingly to prevent anyone from forcing their way through.

The reception desk was on the left, while a section on the right served as a meeting area, furnished with comfortable tables and chairs and supplied with tea and snacks so employees could talk with clients there.

Another section was a small showroom, offering a direct look at the high-tech products developed by the Lingyao Group. The special effects were rather cool.

Holding the documents behind his back, Ye Yizhou stood tall as he watched the new product demonstrations with interest.

A security guard followed behind Ye Yizhou at an unhurried pace, keeping a little distance.

This gave visitors the freedom and space to look around while ensuring that any dangerous behavior could be stopped immediately, within a controllable range.

"Hello, sir. Here's some water. You seem very interested. Would you like me to introduce our company's products?"

Ye Yizhou turned and looked at the young woman standing beside him in a business skirt suit, smiling brightly and holding a cup of hot water.

"Are you Ye Yizhou?" Seeing his face as he turned, she covered her mouth and asked in a surprised whisper.

One of Ye Yizhou's brows rose slightly. He lifted a hand to adjust his glasses, his eyes behind them cold and unreadable. "Who?" he asked coolly.

His puzzled response made the young woman hesitate, and she studied his face more carefully.

It was clearly the exact same face, but the impression he gave really was a little different.

The ditzy little beauty was softer and more adorably clueless, a cute little sweetheart.

The man before her, with his gold-rimmed glasses and cold expression, radiated presence. He was so commanding!

But he was the same person!

The contrast was incredible.

"Don't worry, dear. I'm not a hater."

She lowered her voice to whisper to Ye Yizhou, then straightened her back and spoke with professional confidence. "My name is Yu Ning. Would you like me to show you around?"

Ye Yizhou looked at Yu Ning. He could tell she was excited, but she was able to restrain herself, stay professional, and do her job properly.

She was very impressive, and very cute.

Ye Yizhou lowered his eyes, his lips curving into a soft smile. "Sure. Sorry for the trouble!"

Aaaaaah!

Yu Ning screamed inwardly. It really was her little sweetheart. When he smiled, he gave people a sense of happiness like spring warmth and blossoming flowers.

Suppressing her excitement, Yu Ning worked to stay calm and began explaining the products to Ye Yizhou fluently and professionally.

Ye Yizhou nodded now and then, listening attentively.

"Hello, Vice President."

"Hello, Vice President."

The successive greetings and approaching footsteps brought Yu Ning's explanation to an abrupt halt. She turned and politely greeted the approaching vice president, Lu Yuanqing.

"Hello, Vice President!"

With an obedient expression, Ye Yizhou echoed the greeting in a very cheerful voice.

"What do you think of the showroom?"

Lu Yuanqing glanced around the showroom before his gaze finally settled on Ye Yizhou.

"It's great. The explanations were detailed and professional too." Ye Yizhou found it quite interesting and was generous with his praise.

"Thanks for your work." Lu Yuanqing gave Yu Ning, who had been explaining the products, a slight nod.

"It's part of my job." Flattered by the attention, Yu Ning stole a glance at Ye Yizhou, then at their vice president, not quite understanding what was going on.

"Let's go!" Lu Yuanqing patted Ye Yizhou's back and draped an arm naturally around his shoulders.

Yet Ye Yizhou's brows furrowed, his face darkening with displeasure, as though he might erupt at any moment.

Yu Ning: !!!!

What was going on?

Although Lu Yuanqing was in his forties, there was no trace of weariness on his face. His skin remained firm, his features were handsome, and he had a refined air. He was an absolute dreamboat among mature men, as well as a famously upright, noble gentleman.

He was actually getting handsy with her darling in public? Her darling clearly didn't want it!

Wasn't that harassment?

Lu Yuanqing's appearance in the ground-floor lobby had already drawn everyone's attention.

An older person patting a younger person on the back and putting an arm around his shoulders would ordinarily be a way of expressing affection.

But no one had expected the young man to be so resistant to Lu Yuanqing's familiarity. That changed the nature of things.

The security personnel gathered around as well.

A faint tension hung in the air, and hostilities could erupt at any moment.