Men always dream of two things: first, a beautiful woman, and second, a beautiful woman who willingly embraces them.
Now, Ye Qiu was enjoying the second type of happiness.
Even though it was autumn, Ye Qiu could still feel the softness of Shen Monong's chest against his back. Her body naturally exuded a fragrance, like orchids or chrysanthemums, which intensified with her excited movements.
After getting hit on the head a few times by Tang Guo, her anger finally subsided. Ye Qiu, tightly hugged by Shen Monong, later received a cold but sincere apology from her, explaining that as a girl, she needed to be given some leeway.
With Tang Guo's vengeance satisfied and her mood improved, both she and Lin Bao'er were in high spirits, their faces beaming with joy. Although Ye Qiu got hit by Tang Guo a few times, such minor injuries were nothing to him. Moreover, having Shen Monong's embrace as compensation, he felt he hadn't lost out at all.
Lunch was prepared by Shen Monong. A woman like her, seemingly born to a life of luxury, turned out to be quite skilled in the kitchen. Though Ye Qiu felt her cooking wasn't as good as his own, it was certainly good enough for a restaurant chef.
Ye Qiu's culinary skills were forced upon him. His master was a gourmand but lazy, demanding various dishes from Ye Qiu. This forced Ye Qiu to become an excellent cook to avoid harsher training.
The lunch atmosphere was pleasant. Tang Guo, having successfully fought Ye Qiu, was as happy as if she had won a world championship. Her large eyes sparkled with laughter, and thanks to Ye Qiu's concession, she no longer found him as detestable.
Tang Guo had no real conflict with Ye Qiu, and Shen Monong remained silent during meals. Ye Qiu focused on eating, while the two girls chattered endlessly. When they paused to grab food, they found the dishes nearly empty, prompting them to quickly fill their plates.
"Miss Tang, are you going out this afternoon?" Ye Qiu asked Tang Guo, who was playing with Lin Bao'er on the sofa. He had plans and didn't want to miss any duties of protecting her, as repeatedly emphasized by Tang Buyi.
Tang Guo was surprised that Ye Qiu initiated a conversation. She looked to Shen Monong for guidance.
"No," Shen Monong said lightly, sipping her tea.
Tang Guo deflated like a punctured balloon.
With his answer, Ye Qiu left the living room.
In the yard were three luxurious cars, but Ye Qiu knew he didn't have the right to drive them yet. He had lied about not knowing how to drive, upset by Shen Monong's cold demeanor. Now, he knew she treated everyone the same way.
Ye Qiu took a shower and changed into his newly bought clothes: gray cotton pants, a plaid shirt with black stripes, a black fitted jacket, and brown hiking shoes. Admiring himself in the bathroom mirror, he felt a sense of pride. In his eyes, the ordinary clothes looked outstanding on him, a miracle indeed.
Since learning the identity of Tang Guo's kidnappers from Tang Buyi's office, Ye Qiu had been looking for an opportunity to investigate.
Tang Buyi had extensive information on his main competitor, Jin Haili, the chairman of Jinhai Group and the kidnapping suspect. He even knew Jin Haili's elementary school romances. This made Ye Qiu wary of Tang Buyi.
Jin Haili, a man in his forties, was slightly overweight, balding, and wore gold-rimmed glasses, appearing scholarly. However, his rise to power was marked by ruthless actions, as Tang Buyi's information revealed. Compared to the normal IQ of 70-80, Jin Haili's IQ was over 140, making him a formidable opponent.
Blue Apartments were part of the renowned Huaren Huayu Villa area in Beijing, mostly private cars. Ye Qiu walked a long way to the main road before finding a taxi.
"Financial Street," Ye Qiu lazily told the driver.
The driver, noting Ye Qiu's well-dressed appearance and the fact he came from Huaren Huayu, refrained from small talk and silently drove off.
Financial Street was Beijing's financial hub, home to numerous multinational and prominent private enterprises. Many domestic large commercial groups had headquarters or branches here. Jinhai Real Estate's headquarters were located here, boasting its own office building, indicating its strength.
Stopping at the Financial Street entrance, Ye Qiu paid the fare and walked to Jinhai Real Estate's office building. Seeing security guards at the entrance, he decided not to go in. He lacked enough information about Jin Haili's presence, office location, and security details, so he didn't want to act rashly.
Across from Jinhai Real Estate was a café. Ye Qiu decided to enter, finding a window seat. He ordered a coffee and casually observed the building. If Jin Haili's car exited, he would see it immediately.
After half an hour and two lattes, Ye Qiu still hadn't seen Jin Haili. Instead, he spotted a familiar face: Tang Buyi, with an exceptionally beautiful woman on his arm, walking past. The woman's affectionate expression suggested an intimate relationship.
Ye Qiu hesitated, wondering if he should go over and say hello.
(Friends, please throw a few recommendation votes my way. )