Chapter 33

Chapter 33: Head-On Collision!

Ye Wan Lan had been at Zhou He Chen’s side as a stand-in for two years. In all that time, he’d never once seen her put effort into school. She only cared about luxury bags, jewelry, and watches.

But he hadn’t cared either.

To be his pet, she only needed to behave and look pretty. Intelligence was irrelevant.

He’d humiliated Ye Wan Lan with words more times than he could count. Every time, she’d been the one to bow her head first.

Until she fell into the water.

After that, everything veered in a direction Zhou He Chen could no longer control.

Somewhere deep down, he could feel it—Ye Wan Lan was slipping out of his grasp.

But that was impossible.

Without him, how could Ye Wan Lan survive in treacherous River City? With only her own abilities, she would crash into walls until she was bleeding and broken.

A delicate flower raised in a greenhouse couldn’t survive storms and blazing sun.

Secretary Li looked surprised, but he still nodded. “I’ll relay your words to Miss Ye.”

“What does she want to study?” Zhou He Chen asked indifferently. “Physics, or history?”

He sneered. “Her IQ can’t handle science. Let her study history. History is just memorization.”

“Understood.” Secretary Li smiled. “Last year’s physics college entrance exam was record-breaking hard again. The year after next will probably be about the same. Even your sister only got 258 on the combined paper last year.”

“Mm.” Zhou He Chen’s brow smoothed, his mood lifting. “Keep following up with President Quan. Their project will start sooner or later. When it does, we’ll learn who the partner is.”

His gaze sharpened into something cold.

“Yes, sir,” Secretary Li said. Then, carefully: “But Madam…”

“She’s angry,” Zhou He Chen said, rubbing his temple. “Once she cools down, I’ll apologize properly.”

Secretary Li didn’t dare say more.

Downstairs, in the main hall, Steward Zhou tried to soothe Madam Zhou.

“Madam, please calm down. You’ve dealt with President Quan many times. Her temper has always been strange.”

He lowered his voice. “Second Young Master failing this time really isn’t his fault.”

“How is it not his fault?” Madam Zhou snapped. “If he couldn’t get it, then he’s not capable enough. If it were He Yuan, he would’ve taken it long ago…”

Her voice caught. “Cough—cough!”

Steward Zhou hurried to hand her warm water. “Madam, Eldest Young Master was exceptional. It’s hard to compare. But Second Young Master is still far beyond ordinary people.”

Ever since Zhou He Yuan became a vegetable, his name had turned into a taboo in the Zhou Family. If anyone mentioned it, Madam Zhou would fly into a rage.

The fact she’d brought it up herself today meant her disappointment in Zhou He Chen had reached its limit.

“Yes…” Madam Zhou murmured, then suddenly stood. “Prepare the car. We’re going to the First Hospital. Let the caregiver attending He Yuan rest. I’ll take over.”

Steward Zhou bowed. “Yes, Madam.”

He called the driver while fetching her coat.

What a pity…

So many doctors, and still the Zhou Family couldn’t wake Zhou He Yuan.

The eldest young master had been far gentler than the second, and there had never been a troublesome stand-in at his side.

If Zhou He Yuan could wake up, perhaps the Zhou Family wouldn’t be drowning in problems.

—

The next day, at Wan Tian Qing Company headquarters, business was back on track.

In just one week, operations had stabilized again.

On top of the fifty million in compensation Ye Wan Lan had received from the Qin Family, Quan Zhao Ning had casually injected another eighty million in working capital, helping Wan Tian Qing fight its way back.

Salaries were paid on time. Top-performing salespeople received higher bonuses and commissions. The entire company buzzed with relief and excitement.

“Sister Lan,” Cheng Qing Li said, handing over a tablet, “Yi Xiang is in exam month right now. She’s studying and doesn’t have time to come over.”

“But she sent me a bunch of her older designs. Take a look.”

Ye Wan Lan studied the screen. “These are excellent. Qing Li—register the copyrights first, then send them to the factory for samples. Next weekend, we’ll go to the mall and pick materials.”

“Got it!” Cheng Qing Li was as energetic as ever.

Jiang Xu Lin leaned in. “Wow. Impressive. I didn’t expect you to find talent besides me—an outstanding Su Embroidery master—and now a jewelry designer too.”

He whistled. “Where did you dig her up? These designs are no worse than those top luxury brands like Jadica.”

His eyes flicked to the signature. “Zhou Yi Xiang?”

He froze. “Zhou? That’s Zhou Family. Don’t tell me you still have feelings for Zhou He Chen—”

“A branch member,” Ye Wan Lan cut in flatly. “Not related to the main Zhou Family.”

She didn’t look up. “Yi Xiang joined the company before you did. You can call her Sister Yi Xiang.”

Jiang Xu Lin scoffed. “Are you kidding? She’s in exam month—she hasn’t even graduated university.”

Ye Wan Lan replied without missing a beat, “If you keep talking, I’ll ask President Quan how to turn you into one meter sixty.”

Jiang Xu Lin choked. “Would you really do that to an outstanding Su Embroidery master?”

“Outstanding?”

“Of course.” Jiang Xu Lin puffed up. “After the Ning Dynasty fell, ninety percent of Shen Zhou’s Su Embroidery techniques were lost. Unfortunately for the world, I know that ninety percent.”

Ye Wan Lan turned to Cheng Qing Li. “Qing Li. Get a needle. Make him embroider.”

Cheng Qing Li snapped to attention. “Yes, Sister Lan!”

Jiang Xu Lin jolted. “Are you insane? You’ve only treated me through the second course! My hand hasn’t fully recovered yet!”

Ye Wan Lan hummed, unhurried. “An outstanding Su Embroidery master should be able to embroider even without hands, right?”

Jiang Xu Lin fell silent.

He stopped bragging immediately.

—

At six that evening, Xu Pei Qing returned home from work.

Someone was already waiting by the building entrance.

When she approached, Secretary Li stepped forward, wearing an unfailingly polite smile. “Ma’am Xu, I’m here on sir’s orders to bring Miss Ye back.”

Xu Pei Qing’s expression iced over. “Did she contact Zhou He Chen herself and ask to go back?”

“Of course.” Secretary Li’s smile widened. “Ma’am Xu, you know what Miss Ye is like. Your family lives comfortably, sure, but it’s not enough to keep her.”

He tilted his head, regretful in a way that felt rehearsed. “Sir used to spend a million on a single bag for her without blinking. What about you?”

He glanced toward the building. “This place is nice—inside the second ring—but it’s still only a few bags’ worth of money to our sir.”

Xu Pei Qing let out a cold laugh. “Madam Zhou is rich. Of course we can’t compare. If you’re taking her, what does it have to do with me?”

Secretary Li’s smile sharpened with arrogance. “It’s good that you understand.”

Xu Pei Qing tightened her grip around her keys until her knuckles whitened.

Had Ye Wan Lan… failed to hold on again?

It was always the same story. She’d almost been fooled by these past few days of “change.”

Fine. If Ye Wan Lan went back to Zhou He Chen, she could stay gone. Xu Pei Qing didn’t want to watch them play that endless chase anymore.

Click.

The lock turned. The door opened.

Secretary Li lifted his foot to follow her inside—

A hand came down from behind and clamped onto his shoulder.

“What did you just say to my aunt?”