Ye Qiu took a sip of the Longjing tea that Tang Buyi had brewed for him, thinking, "This tea must be expensive. But its taste doesn't compare to the homemade flower tea I used to make with the old man. And in terms of medicinal effects, it's far inferior. Traditional Chinese medicine is profound; how many people truly understand its essence these days?"
Tang Buyi was momentarily taken aback. He realized that although Ye Qiu's attire was quite rustic, the moment he picked up the teacup, he exhibited an air of refinement, or rather, a distinctive aura. It was as if he were a seasoned tea master, meticulously evaluating and appreciating the tea with grace and poise.
"Uncle Tang," Ye Qiu said softly, noticing Tang Buyi staring at him with a teacup in hand.
"Ah—haha, I was just lost in thought," Tang Buyi said, taking a sip of tea to cover his embarrassment. "You might find it funny, Ye Qiu, but Guoguo is my most precious daughter. Having someone repeatedly target her has really angered me. Ever since the first kidnapping incident, I've had Wang Bo arrange an investigation. Of course, we haven't found any significant leads yet. But there are two people who have the strongest motives."
"One of them is Jin Haili, the owner of Jinhai Real Estate. Due to the overcrowding and congestion in Beijing, the city is expanding outward. In the new planning scheme, Langshan will be turned into a villa area."
"Langshan? The place where the race happened last night?" Ye Qiu was puzzled upon hearing the familiar name. He remembered Shen Monong mentioning it with disdain, saying it was a place of daily fights, weekly violent clashes, and monthly deaths. How could it be up for development?
"Yes. It used to be a notorious area with frequent deaths and injuries. No one wanted to develop it even for free. But now, with the new plan, it's become a hot commodity. Green City Real Estate, a subsidiary of Tang Corporation, and Jinhai Group both bid for that 300-acre plot. Given the companies' strengths and backgrounds, they're evenly matched. I suspect Jin Haili wants to kidnap Guoguo to force me to withdraw from the competition for that land. This wouldn't be the first time he's done something like this."
"And who is the other suspect?" Ye Qiu noted Jin Haili's name and asked.
"The other person is...never mind. He's an old rival of mine, and it's not necessary for you to know for now. I'm afraid you might provoke him, which could endanger your safety. Ye Qiu, I'll rely on you for Guoguo's safety. She's starting her studies in finance and management at Tsinghua University in a few days. Haha, I need her to take over the family business one day. She hasn't disappointed me; she's very talented in business. You wouldn't guess, would you?"
Ye Qiu shook his head. He couldn't imagine that spoiled woman knowing anything about business management.
"Haha, you'll understand as you spend more time with her. By the way, I've already spoken to Vice President Li about your school registration. What major do you like?"
"Me?" Ye Qiu was puzzled.
"Yes, you'll be attending university with Guoguo. Oh, and Bao'er will also be studying computer science at Tsinghua University with you. She's a computer genius, the new representative of the Lin family. She was specially recruited by Tsinghua at sixteen, though it's not her first special recruitment. She just didn't want to go to school alone before. Now that Guoguo is going, she agreed to attend. As for her personality—she's as difficult as Guoguo. But if you can build a friendship with her, it will be very beneficial for you."
Ye Qiu was stunned. That girl in WoW named 'Cute Little Belly Band' was a computer genius?
Talented people really aren't scarce these days. Except for himself being a loser. His house was full of them.
"I hope you'll study finance, the same major as Guoguo. It will make it easier for you to protect her and give you a decent job in the future. If you don't mind, Tang Corporation's doors will always be open for you after you graduate. I had to ask Elder Ye for help this time, so I'm sorry to trouble you with being a bodyguard for a few days. But it's not a long-term solution."
"Why are you treating me so well?" Ye Qiu looked Tang Buyi in the eye, holding his cup. This question had been on his mind for a while. Tang Buyi's attitude towards him was overly courteous.
"Haha, it's my duty. Even if Elder Ye asked me to give you Tang Corporation, I wouldn't refuse," Tang Buyi said with a smile, but his expression was resolute.
"Elder Ye? My old man?"
Tang Buyi smiled wryly. "Elder Ye is indeed the old man you refer to. Of course, only you would dare call him that."
Ye Qiu nodded, not pursuing the matter further. The old man hadn't mentioned anything when he left, and Tang Buyi didn't seem inclined to explain. He'd figure it out later.
"I want to study archaeology," Ye Qiu said.
"Archaeology?" Tang Buyi looked at Ye Qiu in surprise. "Why choose that? It's a rather niche field."
"It's a personal interest," Ye Qiu smiled. He wanted to unravel the mystery of the Soul Devouring Ring. Maybe he could find some clues in this field.
Tang Buyi considered for a moment and said, "Alright. If that's what you like, I won't force you. But could you promise me something?"
"Uncle Tang, don't be so formal. Just tell me what you need," Ye Qiu nodded.
"Until I find the culprit behind the kidnapping, could you stay by Guoguo's side as much as possible?" Tang Buyi asked earnestly.
"Sure, I will."
"That's good. Don't worry, this won't be for long. But—shouldn't you inform Elder Ye about choosing archaeology?" Tang Buyi said, looking troubled. He wanted to help Elder Ye with future plans, but Ye Qiu chose such a niche major. How would he explain it to Elder Ye?
"No need. I can make my own decisions," Ye Qiu said firmly, leaving no room for doubt or rebuttal.
"Haha, alright then. You should also change your outfit; you need to look decent for school. The card Wang Bo gave you has a credit limit of one million. If you need more money, contact Wang Bo. He'll handle it."
One million? Ye Qiu was stunned. He thought it would be at most thirty or fifty thousand. He didn't expect Tang Buyi to be so generous.
That old man has some serious clout. But why did he give me only six hundred yuan when I left, lecturing me about the financial crisis and the need to save money?
Damn, that stingy old man.
"I was planning to shop today, but I was worried about Miss Tang's safety, so I came to get some information first," Ye Qiu said with a smile. Given the one million yuan, he had to speak more pleasantly.
Tang Buyi was delighted to hear Ye Qiu's concern for his daughter's safety. He laughed and said, "Ye Qiu, don't be so formal. You and Guoguo are about the same age, so don't call her Miss Tang. Just call her Guoguo."
"Um," Ye Qiu responded noncommittally. Guoguo? He couldn't bring himself to say that.
"You came just to ask about the kidnapping? You're not planning to confront them, are you? Ye Qiu, I know you're skilled, but don't act rashly. Even a hero can't fend off a crowd. If something happens to you, I wouldn't know how to face Elder Ye," Tang Buyi advised.
"I understand," Ye Qiu said with a squinting smile.