What's Wrong with One More Rich Slacker in the World?

Yet the confrontation everyone had expected never happened. They only heard the young man ask:

"He sent you down to get me?"

Who was "he"?

The onlookers secretly following the drama were completely lost.

"Yes."

Lu Yuanqing teased him with a smile. "What's wrong? Am I not high-ranking enough?"

"No, how could that old man do this? He really knows how to boss people around! You're a vice president worth hundreds of millions, and he actually made you do grunt work like coming down to pick someone up. Does he have a problem with you?"

Ye Yizhou sidled up to Lu Yuanqing, looking indignant on his behalf, his fists clenched tight.

Before Lu Yuanqing could speak, Ye Yizhou frowned and said with a serious expression, brimming with righteous indignation, "He must! Uncle, even I feel this is unfair to you! You have to tell your sister about this later. You can't keep indulging him."

"Uncle!"

Yu Ning couldn't help repeating it in surprise. Then, realizing she seemed to have drawn too much attention, she hurriedly covered her mouth.

"That's right, my actual uncle." Ye Yizhou smiled and confirmed it, sparing her any awkwardness or embarrassment.

The sister Ye Yizhou had just told Lu Yuanqing to complain to was his mother, Lu Qingwan.

"You and your dad really are father and son. The moment he arrived this morning, he started complaining to me about your great exploits yesterday."

Lu Yuanqing looked at Ye Yizhou in amusement and shook his head helplessly. The two really were exactly alike.

Ye Yizhou looked shocked. "Huh? That's how he talks about me to other people? He's ruining my reputation."

"As if he needs to say anything. Weren't you just trying to drive a wedge between us?"

Lu Yuanqing shook his head gently, his helpless tone tinged with affection.

"I was not! I genuinely feel indignant on your behalf! This has absolutely nothing to do with any personal grudges," Ye Yizhou protested righteously.

Lu Yuanqing scoffed. "Ha."

More like it has everything to do with personal grudges!

Ye Yizhou looked up and met Lu Yuanqing's eyes, and they both laughed.

"Oh, and remember his face. This is our chairman's younger son. Don't stop him outside next time he comes."

Lu Yuanqing turned to instruct the security guards standing nearby.

They looked at Ye Yizhou and quickly nodded. "Yes, Vice President."

"It's fine, no need to remember. I won't be coming back anyway." Ye Yizhou waved a hand dismissively.

"What nonsense. Sooner or later, you'll have to inherit the family business too. Have some sympathy for your dad. He's getting on in years, and he still has to worry about such a huge corporation."

Lu Yuanqing spoke disapprovingly.

"Uncle, have some sympathy for me too."

Ye Yizhou tugged Lu Yuanqing's sleeve and shook it twice, looking pitiful. "I'm so young. How could I endure the hardship of having a job? What's wrong with one more rich slacker in the world? Can't I be one?"

Lu Yuanqing shot him down mercilessly. "In your dreams."

Bzz, bzz.

The phone in his pocket vibrated.

Lu Yuanqing glanced at the caller ID and answered.

"I've got him. We're coming up now."

Lu Yuanqing waved his phone, the call already ended. "Let's go. Your dad's getting impatient."

Ye Yizhou followed Lu Yuanqing through the employee turnstiles and took the elevator upstairs.

Oh my god, my idol is actually our corporation's boss's younger son!

Yu Ning was stunned. Those online gossip accounts claimed every day that her idol was attaching himself to others, chasing clout, and sucking up for potential roles...

With his resources, did he need to suck up for roles?

If he really wanted one, he could just be the one funding the project, okay? Whose favor would he need to curry?

Wasn't that utter nonsense?

This was everyone's first time seeing or hearing about the corporation's younger son, and he actually turned out to be Ye Yizhou.

The employee group chat instantly exploded.

Those in the know expressed their shock, while those out of the loop waited in bewilderment for the gossip.

But soon, a pinned message instantly silenced the group:

Discussion of the young master's identity, whether internally or externally, is prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation!

An explicit ban-they didn't understand, but it certainly sounded serious!

"Young master, the instructions have been passed along. Rest assured."

Lu Yuanqing's assistant put down his phone and reported to Ye Yizhou.

Ye Yizhou nodded. "Sorry for the trouble."

"If there's nothing else, young master, I'll get back to work." After saying this to Ye Yizhou, the assistant left.

"Come on. Your dad's waiting for you in his office."

Lu Yuanqing unlocked the door with facial recognition, pushed open the office's imposing black solid-wood double doors, and gestured for Ye Yizhou to enter.

"Old Ye, I've brought your documents. Hurry up and come greet your sovereign."

With no outsiders around, Ye Yizhou instantly dropped the act. His gait turned a little rakish. Spotting a long sofa inside, he naturally settled into a half-reclining sprawl, even draping one leg over the armrest. He waved the document envelope in his hand, every inch a spoiled rich boy, and wailed with his eyes closed:

"Old Ye, hurry up with the tea and pastries! I came to bring you documents without even eating first. Who wouldn't feel sorry for me?"

Footsteps stopped in front of the sofa, followed by the crisp clink of a plate being set on the table.

"Mr. Ye had someone prepare this cake for me just now. I haven't touched it. If you don't mind, young master, you can have some to tide you over."

A pleasant, deep, resonant voice rang out.

That voice...

Ye Yizhou's eyes flew open, meeting an incomparably handsome face. He froze in embarrassment.

Why was Yan Qingdu here?

Pretending nothing had happened, Ye Yizhou withdrew his leg from the sofa's armrest and slowly sat upright. Avoiding Yan Qingdu's gaze, he lowered his head, adjusted his glasses, and murmured, "Thank you."

Ye Yizhou turned toward Lu Yuanqing, who had brought him in, looking utterly miserable.

"I didn't get a chance to tell you there was a guest." Lu Yuanqing looked innocent.

"Some premium Da Hong Pao brewed for our young master. Careful, it's hot."

Ye Chongli came over with a cup of hot tea and set it on the table, his face full of concern.

Ye Yizhou raised his eyes to Ye Chongli. Looking at his father's loving smile, he frowned slightly. He seemed to detect something odd about all this.

He kept feeling that his dad was up to something!

"Qingdu, you and Yizhou haven't met yet, have you? Let me introduce you. This is my younger son, Ye Yizhou."

Ye Chongli cheerfully introduced Ye Yizhou to Yan Qingdu.

"Hello, I'm Yan Qingdu."

Yan Qingdu extended a hand toward Ye Yizhou, his fingers long and his knuckles well-defined.

Ye Yizhou reached out and shook Yan Qingdu's hand. "Hello."

"Qingdu, you have no idea. Yesterday, he suddenly told me he was getting married, then showed me your picture. It gave me quite a shock."

As though he had casually remembered something amusing, Ye Chongli shared it with Yan Qingdu, smiling delightedly. "I thought it was real and told him to bring you home for dinner. Then he actually said the wedding wouldn't be quite that soon, and that the only thing standing between him and marrying you was getting acquainted. Isn't that funny?"

"Is that so?"

Yan Qingdu's lips curved as he looked thoughtfully at Ye Yizhou. Ye Yizhou's expression remained unchanged, but he could feel Ye Yizhou's grip tighten a little, as though he were suppressing some emotion.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Yan." Ye Yizhou withdrew his hand, a faint smile still on his lips, his voice gentle.

Then he turned his head.

"You."

His face cold, Ye Yizhou crooked a finger at Ye Chongli, his voice dropping several degrees as well. "Come outside. Let's have a word."

With that, Ye Yizhou strode into the outer room.