To the three watching from behind, it looked as though Ye Yuning was beating a hasty retreat.
Gao Na wore a complacent smile, saying with satisfaction, "Hmph, she’s finally gotten her comeuppance!"
"Exactly. Before Ye Tong was found and brought back, look how high and mighty she acted," Lin Xinyue chimed in.
In the past, Gao Na and Lin Xinyue frequently sought out Ye Yuning, but it was never of their own volition. Back then, their families had businesses that needed to curry favor with the Ye Family, and Ye Yuning was also exceptionally talented. Their families would constantly praise Ye Yuning’s excellence, their tones implying that Gao Na and Lin Xinyue were inferior. Lin Xinyue’s stepmother, in particular, had incessantly pressured her to befriend Ye Yuning. It was as if their family’s failure to secure the best partnership with the Ye Family was her fault for not managing her relationship with Ye Yuning properly.
Listening to the two of them complain about Ye Yuning, Ye Tong felt immensely satisfied. "Alright," she said, "let’s go eat."
Ye Yuning, who had already arrived at the restaurant, ordered orange juice and a chicken cutlet rice bowl.
Chen Wei looked unhappy.
Ye Yuning passed the menu to her. "What do you want to eat?"
Chen Wei mumbled, "I don’t feel like eating!"
Ye Yuning raised an eyebrow. "They’re badmouthing me, so why are you the one getting all worked up?"
"This isn’t like you!" Chen Wei continued to grumble.
Perhaps it was because she had been by Ye Yuning’s side for so long that she had never seen Ye Yuning at a disadvantage. Therefore, seeing Ye Yuning silently accept their ridicule today made her very angry. She still preferred the Boss Ye who would shove Xiao Shuo’s head into a toilet bowl!
Ye Yuning looked at Chen Wei’s indignant expression. "Getting worked up over someone who’s about to run into bad luck? Isn’t that a waste of energy?"
Chen Wei was speechless.
Upon hearing that Ye Tong was about to face misfortune, Chen Wei immediately thought of Ye Tong’s Nanjia Peak design draft. If nothing unexpected happened, the moment Xiao Corporation released its promotional renderings, a huge scandal was bound to erupt! Xiao Corporation! She’s planning to drag its reputation into the dirt. How could Xiao Corporation let her off then? Thinking this, Chen Wei didn’t feel as angry anymore.
"Still, that’s a separate issue," Chen Wei said. "Look how smug she was just now, practically walking all over you."
Ye Yuning remained indifferent, taking a sip of her orange juice. Without addressing Chen Wei’s remark, she simply said, "We ran into them in the elevator this morning, and again at noon. Go find out what’s going on."
She had originally thought Ye Tong would come to the office to cause trouble for her this morning, but the woman hadn’t shown up at all. Could it be that Ye Tong wanted to partner with someone in their office building?
Chen Wei nodded. "Okay!"
Xiao Linye had originally planned to have lunch with Ye Yuning, but that morning, his grandfather had called him repeatedly. His grandfather had even threatened over the phone that if Xiao Linye didn’t return home that day, he himself would move directly into Shanyu Pavilion by evening. Eventually, Xiao Linye sent Ye Yuning a message, saying he had a meeting at noon.
On the way back, Lai Shuo kept observing Xiao Linye’s expression in the rearview mirror. "What made the Old Master so angry after seeing Madam last night?"
Thinking about the previous night, Lai Shuo was at a loss for words. After the Old Master left Shanyu Pavilion, he had called Lai Shuo and given him a fierce scolding. He’d also berated Xiao Linye for the kind of person he associated with and for daring to keep it a secret with him! Heaven knows, Lai Shuo truly had never seen what Madam looked like. But from the Old Master’s words, one could infer she apparently wasn’t very good-looking. Seriously? If she wasn’t good-looking, what did this master of his see in her...? Lai Shuo felt unjustly accused and even found the whole situation surreal.
Faced with Lai Shuo’s question, Xiao Linye didn’t respond at all.
But Lai Shuo persisted, "Is Madam very short?"
"Can you shut up?" Xiao Linye’s gaze turned frosty, his tone somewhat impatient.
Lai Shuo quickly said, "The Old Master went to Shanyu Pavilion last night because I was completely clueless when he asked!"
And the reason he’d been scolded was also that he knew nothing when asked. This felt even more unjust to Lai Shuo. His boss had kept things so tightly under wraps; how was he supposed to know anything?
When they arrived at the old family mansion, the butler, Uncle Zhong, was waiting at the entrance.
Upon seeing Xiao Linye, he hurried forward respectfully. "Seventh Master, you’ve returned."
"Were you waiting for me?" Xiao Linye asked in a cold voice.
His features were cool and detached, his profile so sharp it seemed devoid of warmth.
Uncle Zhong nodded, a chill running down his spine. "The Old Master hasn’t eaten much since he returned last night. The Fifth Young Mistress is very worried."
"Fifth Sister is back?"
Uncle Zhong nodded. "Yes."
That was quite rare. Xiao Ye was usually overseas; it was good if she could return even once every year or two. He and Xiao Ye hadn’t seen each other in three years.
As Xiao Linye started to walk inside, Lai Shuo suddenly said from behind, "I-I’ll wait for you in the car."
He truly dared not enter. The Old Master always did this; unable to deal with Xiao Linye, he would vent his anger on Lai Shuo instead. Lai Shuo really didn’t understand. Their boss had status, family background, and good looks. How could he choose a wife who was supposedly so ugly? Remembering the Old Master’s tirade from the previous day, Lai Shuo couldn’t help but feel apprehensive.