Chapter 35 - 035, Not someone who can be easily manipulated

The door wasn’t closed tightly, and the man met her gaze, smiled with a lift of his lips, and then pushed the door to come in.

"Miss Ye, you’re quite good at billiards, I wonder if I have the honor of learning from you?"

Ye Jiuliang stood up straight, responding indifferently, "Mr. Feng is joking, to speak of ’learning’ is far too modest."

Feng Yi had arranged to discuss business here, and was about to leave, but he hadn’t expected to see Ye Jiuliang here.

He only intended to greet her but ended up witnessing her impressive billiard skills.

Not academically inclined, yet she seemed to play these games rather smoothly.

"Did Miss Ye come alone?"

Ye Jiuliang lifted her lips into a smile, "Is there anyone else here?"

Feng Yi chuckled lightly, finding her style of speaking somewhat similar to Ahan’s.

Equally choking.

"Mr. Feng, may I ask you something?"

The girl’s smile brimmed with profound meaning, causing Feng Yi to feel a bit uneasy, "What is it?"

Without beating around the bush, she went straight to the point, "Could you give me Li Wuye’s WeChat?"

"Ahan’s WeChat?" Feng Yi was taken aback, then, a cheerful laugh escaped his lips.

"Hahaha."

He thought she was going to say something else; it turned out to be this.

"I’m afraid I can’t help with that," he stopped laughing to explain, making sure Ye Jiuliang wouldn’t misunderstand, "Because Ahan has never used WeChat."

Not on WeChat!

She didn’t hear anything else, but these four words came through loud and clear.

She narrowed her eyes, a charming smile twinkling deep within them.

As if she had discovered some incredible secret.

So it was all a performance?

There was no WeChat at all.

Li Mochan, just keep bluffing.

"I really appreciate it, Mr. Feng." Ye Jiuliang put down the cue stick, reached for the hat on the table, and put it on.

Feng Yi was completely puzzled by the sudden thanks.

Thank her?

"I have to leave now for something else; enjoy your game, Mr. Feng." Walking past the billiard table, Ye Jiuliang headed outside.

Watching her retreating figure, Feng Yi had the strange feeling that he might have said something he shouldn’t have.

Late at night, the Ye Family’s home was quiet.

Without disturbing anyone else, Ye Jiuliang climbed directly over the wall to get in.

Pushing open the french windows, she groped her way into her room in the dark.

With a "click," the wall lamp lit up.

Her gaze landed on the luxurious dresses and various extravagant jewelry; she paused, then remembered something the old master had said.

He really went through with it.

Even though she said she wouldn’t go, he still got all these for her.

So many dresses and jewelry, really quite a grand gesture.

Glancing at the glittering diamonds and jewels on the vanity, she felt uninterested and went straight to the wardrobe to get her nightgown and headed to the bathroom.

After a while, the sound of water in the bathroom faded.

"Buzz buzz buzz—"

The phone lying on the bed would not stop vibrating.

Incoming call—Mingqian

The bathroom door slid open, and Ye Jiuliang walked out while drying her hair.

Tossing the towel on her shoulder, she picked up the phone and answered.

"Ajiu, there’s a motorcycle race tomorrow evening, are you coming?" Ji Mingqian’s distinctively magnetic voice was easily recognizable.

A bike race?

Ye Jiuliang curved her lips into a smile, "Aren’t you starting shooting the day after tomorrow? It wouldn’t be good if losing the race affected your mood for filming, would it?"

Ji Mingqian felt a sweetness in his throat, "Screw you, we’ll see who wins and who loses."

"Time and place, send it over."

"OK, see you at VI Club tomorrow."

After hanging up the phone, Ye Jiuliang looked at the row of gowns hanging on the rack, a devilish smile curling up at the corners of his rosy lips.

How could any backstabbing banquet be more fun than a car race?

...

"According to reliable sources, international movie star Ji Mingqian will collaborate with Director Zhao. After a year’s hiatus, Ji Mingqian returns to the public eye. What surprises will his comeback to the screen bring us this time?"

"Director Zhao’s latest movie is a hit before filming even starts, with Ji Mingqian as the lead actor."

"Fans have spotted Ji Mingqian leaving Feng Group without his agent or assistant, driving off all by himself..."

The crisp, clear voice of a woman came from the television, as Jiang Yisheng, holding the remote control, flipped through the channels—all dominated by Ji Mingqian.

On the screen was a photo taken by fans of Ji Mingqian riding a motorbike, viewed from behind.

"Ahan, Asheng."

His voice reached them before he did.

Upon hearing Feng Yi’s voice, Jiang Yisheng shifted his gaze from the TV and casually turned it off.

The next second, Feng Yi strolled in leisurely.

"Why are you free to come over today?" Jiang Yisheng asked with a smile in his eyes, looking at the person who had taken a seat opposite him.

"Here to grab a meal with you two," replied Feng Yi, then glanced around and added, "Ahan went out?"

Jiang Yisheng replied, "He left early in the morning with Wei Bei."

"Guess who I ran into at VI Club yesterday?" Feng Yi said with a hint of mystery.

"Someone I know?"

Feng Yi nodded. The next second, Jiang Yisheng immediately guessed the answer.

"Ye Jiuliang."

He was certain, without the slightest hesitation.

"How did you know?" Feng Yi was astonished.

Jiang Yisheng snorted and asked back, "Was she alone?"

"She was playing pool. I just happened to bump into her. But when I left the club, I saw her walking with Ji Mingqian," Feng Yi explained.

Jiang Yisheng poured a cup of tea and passed it to him, "Do you think they’re really boyfriend and girlfriend?"

After pondering for a moment, Feng Yi uttered two words, "No."

Even if Ji Mingqian’s acting was superb, it couldn’t withstand Ye Jiuliang’s lack of cooperation. During dinner that day, you could tell they were just very good friends, nothing more.

"To speak the truth, Ye Jiuliang is difficult to figure out."

Jiang Yisheng nodded in agreement, "Indeed."

"If she comes to tonight’s birthday party, it’s bound to be fun," Feng Yi speculated, stroking his chin as if he could already foresee the exciting scenes that would play out that evening.

Jiang Yisheng added, "Wei Bei mentioned that the invitation sent to the Ye Family was for all members, and since the Ye Family and Li Family are about to intermarry, she should probably come, unless something unexpected happens."

At that, Feng Yi couldn’t help but laugh.

With Ye Jiuliang, the unexpected was never in short supply.

"That’s not for sure. Although I’ve only met Ye Jiuliang a few times, I’ve heard plenty about her. She isn’t someone who lets others push her around."

Jiang Yisheng took a sip of tea, a breeze-like faint smile appearing on his lips, "What do you mean by that?"

"You’ll find out eventually," Feng Yi said with a secretive smile.

＊＊

As night fell, the Li Mansion was ablaze with lights.

One luxury car after another continuously drove into the grand Li estate; the courtyard was filled with all manner of luxury cars parked in an orderly fashion.

The men in suits and the women in glamorous gowns bore smiles on their faces that often betrayed a hint of insincerity.

After presenting the invitation, they stepped into the banquet hall, and without a moment to catch their breath, they were swept up in a whirlwind of greetings and small talk.

Since it was Li Mochan’s birthday banquet that evening, guests arrived bearing gifts, which were sequentially handed over to the Li family’s butler for registration.

Li Mochan was notorious in elite circles for his bad temper and cold-blooded ruthlessness. A rare event like his birthday party was an opportunity everyone wanted to seize to curry favor.