"Haha, I'm here on orders to deliver a plaque to him."
"Oh? What kind of plaque?" Zheng Guang asked.
"It's something my dad wrote for him. My dad said I should personally give it to Ye Hao." Tang Xiaoyun said, "Elder, could you help call your young master out for me?"
"My young master..." Zheng Guang seemed unsure how to respond and occasionally glanced at Ye Hao.
Ye Hao, feeling helpless, had no choice but to ask, "So, who is your dad? And what kind of plaque are you delivering?"
"My dad... I'll tell the master of Dragon and Phoenix Castle once he comes. I don't want to make a big scene just yet, so I won't mention my dad's name right now." Tang Xiaoyun replied.
"I am the master, go ahead and tell me!" Ye Hao said.
Tang Xiaoyun turned around in surprise. After seeing Ye Hao dressed so ordinarily and just standing at the door earlier, she was utterly convinced that Ye Hao couldn't be the master of Dragon and Phoenix Castle.
"Aren't you afraid the true master of Dragon and Phoenix Castle will be unhappy with you acting like this?" Tang Xiaoyun asked.
"I am the master here, there's nothing to be unhappy about." Ye Hao said helplessly.
"Stop pretending. If your young master comes back and fires you for losing your job, don't blame me." Tang Xiaoyun kindly warned.
"Don't worry! Here in Dragon and Phoenix Castle, when I say one, no one dares say two." Ye Hao stated.
"You talk as if you really are the master of Dragon and Phoenix Castle... Hmm? You do look a bit like that martial arts expert, Ye Hao?" Tang Xiaoyun seriously observed Ye Hao, and upon realizing he resembled the Ye Hao she saw in videos on the Peking University campus network, she asked in surprise.
"I am Ye Hao." Ye Hao replied.
"Are you really Ye Hao?" Tang Xiaoyun suddenly felt a mysterious sense of admiration when she heard Ye Hao's confident reply.
"Of course! There's only one Ye Hao in Dragon and Phoenix Castle, not a second one." Ye Hao confirmed.
"Great, I finally found you. I've come all the way from Chaoyang, bouncing over dozens of kilometers. Aren't you going to invite me in for a tea?" Tang Xiaoyun smiled.
"Well, I have an appointment with someone today, maybe some other time?" Ye Hao said awkwardly.
"What's the big deal, you can just take me with you, can't you?" Tang Xiaoyun suggested with a smile.
"Uh... isn't that a bit inconvenient? I don't even know your name or surname."
"Hello, I'm Tang Xiaoyun, now we're acquainted, right?" Tang Xiaoyun extended her hand for a self-introduction.
Ye Hao was a bit surprised upon hearing her name. Tang Xiaoyun? Could it be that she's Tang Xiangdong's daughter?
Although Ye Hao was surprised, he didn't want to be rude. He lightly shook her hand.
"I've long heard your name; it's said that you have the beauty to shame flowers and the grace to embarrass the moon. Seeing you today exceeds your reputation!" Ye Hao complimented with a smile.
"Really? Thank you." Tang Xiaoyun replied, shyly fidgeting a bit.
Ye Hao, seeing this scene, awkwardly smiled.
Then Ye Hao asked, "You mentioned Chairman Tang is giving me a plaque; what kind of plaque is it?"
"Oh, stop calling me 'lady', just call me Xiaoyun." Tang Xiaoyun chuckled, "My dad asked me to bring you a plaque with eight characters; it's in the trunk, have a look."
"Alright." Ye Hao nodded, curious about what eight characters Tang Xiangdong had written for him.
Receiving praise from Tang Xiangdong delighted Ye Hao greatly, as Tang Xiangdong was the nation's number one chairman!
Ye Hao and Tang Xiaoyun opened the trunk of the Hongqi L9, with Zheng Guang following behind.
When the trunk opened, Ye Hao saw the eight characters, he felt that all his contributions to the country had been rewarded. This reward was spiritual, a self-reward. This kind of reward needed no material acknowledgment, just recognition, more people recognizing it would suffice.
"Serve the country loyally without question"
"Thank you, thank you, Chairman, for the eight-character aphorism. I will certainly take it as an example." Ye Hao saluted gratefully.
"Alright, alright! My dad isn't here! If you're truly grateful, why not come by my house tonight?" Tang Xiaoyun suggested with a smile.
"This... might not be appropriate? Chairman Tang is incredibly busy; wouldn't it interrupt his work if I visit unannounced?" Although Ye Hao wanted to go, he felt that Tang Xiangdong, being responsible for the entire nation, had very precious time. Ye Hao was afraid to disrupt his work.
"Oh, it's nothing, my dad's human too, he has some free time after work to chat with us occasionally, you can just treat it as a casual visit." Tang Xiaoyun insisted on the invitation.
"Let's see how it goes. Let me bring this plaque inside first. I'll hang it in my mansion headquarters to remind all my brothers that a person's life should be about serving the country loyally. When the country is in danger or requires aid, we must be the first to rush forward." Ye Hao said.
"So admirable, I really like people who are patriotic and devoted to their families like you." Tang Xiaoyun blushed with praise for Ye Hao, her girlish demeanor made Ye Hao feel a bit unnatural.
Ye Hao awkwardly smiled and then, with Zheng Guang's help, brought the plaque into Dragon and Phoenix Castle.
Shortly after, Tang Xiaoyun seemed to remember something and asked, "By the way, didn't you say you had an appointment? Will you be late? If it's not a date, why not take me along?"
"Well, do you have that much time to accompany me? I'm just meeting a friend." Ye Hao replied.
"I have time! I didn't go to class today." Tang Xiaoyun said.
"Alright then, but we might discuss some private matters in conversation, and it might not be convenient for you to listen. I hope you won't mind!" Ye Hao said.
"Of course! I understand, I'll avoid it when necessary, and you guys can chat." Tang Xiaoyun assured understandingly.
"That's good then, Elder Zheng, keep an eye on the house, I'll be out for a bit." Ye Hao said.
"Okay, young master, if anything comes up, just call me, and I'll be there immediately."
"Don't worry, it's just a short distance, no problem." Ye Hao smiled.
Afterwards, Ye Hao and Tang Xiaoyun headed towards the tea house located in the upper right corner of Peking University's east gate, on foot.
Along the way, Tang Xiaoyun was filled with admiration for Ye Hao, constantly asking him questions, like how he rose to prominence and what kind of artifacts the mansion had.
Ye Hao didn't hide much from Tang Xiaoyun, trying to share things that would pique Tang Xiangdong's curiosity, so when Tang Xiaoyun mentions it at home, Tang Xiangdong might consider entering that sphere and send someone to discuss it with Ye Hao.
With laughter and banter all the way, how would Qian Xiaosheng react upon seeing Ye Hao bring Tang Xiaoyun to him?
At this moment, in the Yihe Tea House located in the upper right corner of Peking University's east gate, Qian Xiaosheng was leisurely enjoying his own company, occasionally humming a few unknown tunes.
However, when Ye Hao and Tang Xiaoyun arrived, engaging in cheerful conversation, Qian Xiaosheng's smile instantly faded... (To be continued. If you like this work, please consider voting for it at qidian.com with recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)