Chapter 10: Give Four Hundred Thousand First

Relying on a branch of the Lin family?

Or relying on a cousin who is a top student at Jiangcheng No. 1 High School?

Or perhaps relying on pathetic, low-level tricks like "playing hard to get"?

In Jiangcheng, the five great families are the heavens. If she offends one of them, how far can Ye Wanlan possibly get?

Xu Li just wanted to laugh at Ye Wanlan’s naivety: "Ye Wanlan, I’ll say this once. Whether you go or not is up to you, but I’ve warned you in advance—you cannot withstand the Qin family’s wrath."

"Alright." Ye Wanlan smiled. "I’ll be waiting. Bring it on."

She turned and headed to a coffee shop to buy an extra-shot iced Americano.

Xu Li frowned.

In the past, the most outrageous thing Ye Wanlan had ever done was intentionally make Zhou Hechen jealous, but she was always the one to initiate a reconciliation.

As for the idea that Ye Wanlan truly didn't like Zhou Hechen anymore, Xu Li didn't believe it for a second. All of them knew how much of a sycophant she was.

And as long as Sheng Yunyi was around, no matter what methods Ye Wanlan used, it would be futile.

Xu Li shook his head and drove away.

Twenty minutes later, he arrived at the old Zhou family residence.

Today, Xu Li was acting on his father’s orders to deliver something to the Zhou family.

The five great families of Jiangcheng were deeply intertwined in their interests, with marriage ties existing to varying degrees, and the younger generation of each family had grown up together as childhood sweethearts.

After handing the items to the Zhou family butler, Xu Li went to find Zhou Hechen.

Zhou Hechen was in the study reading. He nodded slightly. "A-Li."

"Brother Hechen, do you know who I ran into today?" Xu Li sneered. "Ye Wanlan, shopping all by herself!"

Zhou Hechen’s hand paused, his eyes darkening.

"I saw her near the Art Academy; she bought quite a few painting supplies," Xu Li added. "Could it be that since her other path didn't work, she’s planning to learn painting like Sister Yunyi to win your favor?"

Zhou Hechen finally spoke, his tone mocking: "Is that necessary?"

"Who knows what she’s thinking." Xu Li shrugged. "But Brother Hechen, you must not spoil her again. Even if she writes another long-winded essay begging for reconciliation this time, you cannot soften your heart."

Zhou Hechen pressed his temples and exhaled slowly, feeling irritable.

He had felt very uncomfortable after waking up at the Qingchen Bar this morning. Usually, when he sent Ye Wanlan a message, she would rush over to pick him up immediately.

Playing hard to get?

Zhou Hechen’s expression was cold.

It was a pity she had chosen the wrong target. He disliked disobedient pets the most.

"Hmm." Zhou Hechen said indifferently, "Go tell the Qin family that I’m no longer involved in this matter. They can do whatever they want; they don't need to consider me."

Xu Li nodded. "Don't worry, Brother Hechen, I will definitely convey your message."

Zhou Hechen lit a cigarette.

The curling smoke blurred his features.

He had to let Ye Wanlan suffer a little; only then would she understand that in Jiangcheng, he was the only one she could rely on.

**

At this moment, at the Lin residence.

Lin Huaijin and Xu Peiqing had gone out early for a spring outing, and Lin Wenli was at home in seclusion, working on practice papers.

After placing a bag of candy at the door of Lin Wenli’s bedroom, Ye Wanlan went inside and contacted Cheng Qingli: "Qingli, it’s me. Do you have time tomorrow? Let’s meet."

"I do! Sister Lan, I was just about to look for you." Cheng Qingli said excitedly, "There’s an intangible cultural heritage exhibition in Nancheng this summer, and they’re short on models. I’m trying to secure a spot for you. Don't worry, I definitely won't let you be out of work."

Ye Wanlan raised an eyebrow. "No need. I’m looking for you to ask you to be my General Manager."

"Sister Lan, it’s not time to be dreaming yet."

"Hmm, we’ll talk about it tomorrow."

Ye Wanlan opened her laptop.

Her computer was an old model from four years ago, already obsolete in today’s rapidly developing technological era.

Ye Wanlan accessed a trading platform and sold several of her stocks.

A few minutes later, several zeros were added to her bank account balance.

She tapped the table, her eyes narrowing.

If that transmigrator hadn't stolen her body, she could have obtained hundreds of times more money.

But why was her body transmigrated into?

Why her, of all people?

Was it a coincidence? Was it intentional? Or was it a punishment?!

Ye Wanlan pressed a hand to her heart and exhaled slowly.

Tonight felt creepily long.

The night passed without her noticing, and the sun hung high once again.

At noon, Ye Wanlan arrived at the Yuting Club.

Cheng Qingli got off the bus, waved happily, and trotted over: "Sister Lan!"

Ye Wanlan handed her a milk tea.

"How did you know I liked this flavor?" Cheng Qingli said in surprise. "Sister Lan, what did you need me for?"

"My company is short on staff, and I’m here to find someone," Ye Wanlan said. "She is our jewelry design director; she cannot be absent."

Cheng Qingli was stunned: "Whose design director is here?"

"Mine. She’s waiting for me inside." Ye Wanlan walked straight into the Yuting Club.

The doorman and waiters recognized her face and did not stop her, assuming she was there to see Zhou Hechen.

Just as Ye Wanlan reached the elevator, the doors opened, and a girl stumbled out, her clothes torn to shreds.

Ye Wanlan caught her by the shoulders in time: "What happened?"

The girl looked up in panic, meeting a pair of eyes as blue as the ocean, and stammered: "Th-they wanted me to serve drinks, I refused, and I..."

"Alright, come with me." Ye Wanlan pulled her close.

A waiter frowned and blocked their path: "Miss Ye, you can't—"

Ye Wanlan glanced at him.

It was flat and calm, yet it felt as if a crushing weight had descended upon him.

The waiter froze.

"Sister Lan? Why are you out so fast?" Cheng Qingli was still happily drinking her milk tea. "Where is our jewelry design director?"

"Qingli, take Yixiang to the car." Ye Wanlan put on a pair of white gloves. "I’ll be right back."

"Alright, Sister Lan, no problem!" Cheng Qingli took the girl to the car and comforted her: "Don't be afraid, drink some hot water. Aren't you cold wearing so little? Put on my jacket."

Zhou Yixiang was still dazed.

How did that person know her name?

At this moment, inside private room A11.

"Brother Xu, that woman is gone. What bad luck!"

"The monk can run, but the temple can't," Xu Lu said dismissively. "She got lucky this time, but it won't be so easy next time."

"Brother Xu is right. As long as she dares to show her face, she won't be able to escape."

The background music was chaotic, and the people in the room were all drunk and disheveled.

"Bang!"

The door was kicked open, and a flood of light poured in.

A figure stood against the light.

Clad in white, she appeared like a blade drawn from its sheath.

Xu Lu squinted, and when he saw who it was, he was surprised: "Ye Wanlan? What’s this? You didn't go find Zhou Hechen, but instead came to find me?"

The others were also surprised.

The news that Qin Xian had been beaten into the hospital by Ye Wanlan had already spread throughout the Jiangcheng circle.

"It seems that after Zhou Hechen cut off your funds, you’re so poor you’ve come here to work. No matter, I’ll give you a chance to make money today." Xu Lu laughed. "One hundred thousand to take off one piece of clothing, how about it?"

Someone spoke up: "Brother Xu, maybe we should..."

Ye Wanlan was, after all, Zhou Hechen’s person. If they humiliated her, weren't they humiliating Zhou Hechen?

Even if you beat a dog, you have to look at its master.

"What?" Xu Lu sneered. "She’s a fake, and she offended Qin Xian. Do you really think Zhou Hechen will still back her up?"

He and Zhou Hechen had always been at odds; just last month, Zhou Hechen had snatched a big deal from him.

It was just his luck that his younger brother, Xu Li, was an idiot who called Zhou Hechen "brother" every day—he wouldn't even know if Zhou Hechen sold the Xu family out!

Ye Wanlan remained calm, and then she suddenly smiled.

There was a moment of silence in the room.

They could call Ye Wanlan greedy, call her vulgar, call her lacking in class, but looking at her face, they truly couldn't find any insults to hurl.

Ye Wanlan took off her high heels, then removed her gloves, and threw them all into Xu Lu’s face.

"Pay the four hundred thousand first."