Five yuan a night, might as well make do.
"Who the hell is that! Can't even sleep peacefully!"
"Hey, buddy, scoot over." Ye Tian licked his face and squeezed in a spot to settle down against the wall, closing his eyes.
At this moment, a black Toyota sedan silently stopped at the entrance of the alley, blending into the night, as if it became one with the nightlife.
"Boss, he smoked a cigarette by the riverbank, then went to look for a place to stay."
"Where is he staying?" A woman's voice.
"Uh... Number 8 Alley on East Street."
"..." The woman on the other end of the phone fell silent, as if even her breathing had stopped.
"Boss? Boss? Bo..."
"Come back, all of you. Don't let him notice you." Tang Su hung up the phone, pinching her somewhat painful nasal bone, looking a bit tired.
Hearing the receding car engine sounds outside, Ye Tian leaning against the wall, put on a slight smile.
The next day, Ye Tian hurried to Waterfront Nightclub early in the morning, stole ten yuan from a pickpocket on the street, and bought two fried pancake rolls for breakfast.
The nightclub was closed during the day, probably because Tang Su had informed the club's employees yesterday, and someone was specially arranged to wait for him at the door.
"Mr. Ye?"
"Yes."
"Hello, I am the department manager from Tianheng Industry, you can just call me Sun Yang. Manager Tang is already waiting for you, please get in the car."
Sun Yang made a welcoming gesture with one hand, and following his direction, there was a black Mercedes S350 parked by the roadside.
Struck it rich, there's even a Mercedes to ride in.
"Let... me ride in this?" Ye Tian asked, somewhat in disbelief.
Sun Yang smiled slightly, "Yes, this is specially arranged by Young Master Lin for you. He said we must not slight Mr. Ye."
"Your... Young Master Lin?"
Sun Yang nodded.
Ye Tian was puzzled, "Aren't we going to see Manager Tang?"
Hearing this, Sun Yang was a bit surprised, "Aren't you Miss Tang's boyfriend? Miss Tang said... sorry."
As they were talking, Sun Yang's phone rang. He picked up the phone, spoke a few words, and then handed it to Ye Tian, "It's Miss Tang."
Ye Tian took the phone indifferently. He really had no clue what Tang Su was up to, "Hello, Sister Tang..."
"Ye Tian, let me tell you, I'm in trouble now, and you are my personal bodyguard, so you must come and save me..."
"I'm going to call the police..."
"Shut up!" There was a furious impatience in Tang Su's tone, as if she were scolding a hopeless case, "Who told you to call the police! Now, you just need to listen to me and do as I say. Don't worry, there's no danger to your life, don't worry about kidnappers or anything like that, you just need to..."
Holding the phone, Ye Tian leaned against the Mercedes with one hand on his hip, posing in a flamboyant manner, completely oblivious to the envious glares of passersby, enjoying the comfort brought by the luxury car.
"Okay, my dear, come, give me a kiss, muah~~~!" Following a disgustingly mushy kiss, Ye Tian finally hung up the phone, "Here's your phone. Let's hurry up and not keep my little wifey anxious."
Sun Yang was very obedient, his demeanor as gentle as ever, seemingly incapable of anger.
The interior of the Mercedes was exquisite and luxurious. Ye Tian looked around like a country bumpkin, curiously examining everything and occasionally asking questions such as "How much does this car cost?" or expressing amazement like "Even if I raise pigs for a lifetime, I couldn't afford even a single wheel." The driver, Sun Yang, wondered if this guy was really the plant Tang Su had brought in, as Young Master Lin had mentioned.
It was a three-minute drive to the destination. Ye Tian thought to himself, this kid is really showing off. What's the point of sending a Mercedes for a drive that wouldn't even cover the cost of gasoline? From this point of view, Ye Tian already disapproved of this person who was pursuing Tang Su.
Taoyuan. A rather artistic name. Ye Tian didn't know what it was; he didn't recall such a place in Huaizhou City.
"Mr. Ye, this way, please."
After the car was parked by a designated person, Ye Tian followed Manager Sun into the building named Taoyuan.
What came into view was a water curtain cascading over an arched doorway overgrown with various green plants, offering a tranquil and comfortable atmosphere in the heat of summer. Walking further in, there was a flat courtyard. Crossing the rockery, stepping on flagstones, and passing over an arch bridge, one would see a three-storied antique-style building, its pillars and railings varnished with redwood, artificially burnt red tiles and green bricks, intricately carved beams and painted eaves, charmingly antique, with dragon-shaped ornaments adorning the corners of the roof.
A typical Southern garden architectural style.
Constructing a garden-style building is not easy in the North due to the simple reason that the North lacks water, and the essence of a Southern garden lies in the use of water—vivacious and charming, blending naturally and seamlessly with the quaintness of the garden, captivating visitors. However, to Ye Tian, this Taoyuan seemed to have perfectly inherited the essence of Southern gardens. Even if put up for comparison, it would not fall short of the famed Suzhou gardens except in size.
Such a grand gesture! Moreover, it is located in the bustling area of Chaoyang Street. Just the cost of the land must be astronomical, but money is secondary. What's key is the taste evident in Taoyuan, something not just anyone could achieve.
"Mr. Ye, I've long admired your reputation!" As he thought, a group of people emerged from the corridor with red columns. The young man in a white suit greeted Ye Tian, and among the accompanying people was Tang Su.
The man in white, Lin Cheng. Tang Su hadn't given Ye Tian a detailed description of Lin Cheng's identity over the phone, only mentioned he was the son of a conglomerate's chairman.
The crown prince of the Arab Emirates hunted with me before. What are you in comparison? Although that's what he thought, he still had to give due respect.
"It is an honor for Young Master Lin to come out personally to greet me," Ye Tian said as he quickly walked forward a few steps with a beaming smile and a courteous demeanor, shaking hands with Lin Cheng. His gaze then turned to Tang Su, "Susu, let's go. Uncle is waiting for us at home."
This statement took everyone by surprise. Susu! This guy actually called Tang Su 'Susu.' Looking at Tang Su, her face even turned red, this 'Poison Rose' of the business world blushing! The sight of her flushed cheeks left onlookers stunned.
Ye Tian distinctly felt Lin Cheng's grip tighten.
Humph, without some spice, you wouldn't know roses have thorns.
"That's settled then, Young Master Lin. Do come over to our home when you have the time. Susu, we're out of groceries, let's head to the supermarket to buy some. I'll cook you sweet and sour pork ribs for lunch. Oh, Young Master Lin, feel free to visit our home anytime," Ye Tian said with a warm smile, his countenance revealing nothing of his true thoughts.