Chapter 8: Come to My Place Tonight

“What are you doing here?” Xie Dong shouted at Chen Ye. “Do you think this is somewhere you belong?”

Bai Xueyan looked surprised. “Xiaodong, you know each other?”

Xie Dong gritted his teeth. “Mom, this is Chen Ye, Xiaoyu’s ex-boyfriend. He’s an ex-con!”

“I see.” Bai Xueyan nodded. Han Qiuya had already told her Chen Ye had recently left prison. What she hadn’t expected was that he was her son’s girlfriend’s ex.

She looked at Wen Yu. The young woman was tall and slender, with a sweet, innocent face and an appealing manner.

“Hello, Auntie,” Wen Yu said, biting her lip and looking fragile.

Bai Xueyan nodded. “What did you come to see me about?” she asked her son.

He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “The same thing I mentioned on the phone. I want you to put money on Xiaoyu’s card. You can cut it in half—five hundred thousand is fine. I already promised her.”

Her expression cooled. “Out of the question.”

“Mom!” he snapped. “You’re making me lose face!”

“If you want to save face, earn it yourself. You’re old enough. I have work to do.” She turned to Chen Ye. “Come with me.”

“Wait!” Furious, Xie Dong demanded, “Mom, why are you with this ex-con?”

He raised his voice, pointing repeatedly at Chen Ye. “Look at him. He’s bad luck. He’s contaminating the whole place.”

“Stop shouting.” Bai Xueyan frowned. “He’s a new employee.”

“What? You hired him? What can an ex-con do? He might commit another crime and end up back inside, and drag you down with him…”

“Shut up!” she snapped. “This is none of your business.”

“I’m making it my business! Fire him and throw him out!” Xie Dong bellowed. “Did you hear that, Chen Ye? You’re a penniless ex-con. You don’t belong here. Get out while you can, or I’ll make you sorry!”

He looked around for something to use as a weapon. His shouting drew employees into the corridor to watch.

Embarrassed, Bai Xueyan scolded him. “Enough. Get out. Whatever you want to say can wait until I’m off work.”

“Mom, Chen Ye is no good…”

“Out!” She pointed angrily toward the exit.

Xie Dong clenched his teeth and gave Chen Ye a vicious look. “Just you wait. I’ll deal with you sooner or later.” He pulled Wen Yu away and stormed off.

Back in her office, Bai Xueyan rubbed her temples and smiled wearily. “Don’t take it personally. I’ve spoiled him into behaving like that.”

“I won’t,” Chen Ye said.

She let out a long breath and looked at him. “If only he were half as sensible as you.”

“I’m not so sensible myself,” he said with an awkward smile. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have gone to prison.”

That piqued her curiosity. “You seem honest and good-natured. How did you end up there?”

Chen Ye told her the whole story. Far from looking down on him, Bai Xueyan thought even better of him.

“You risked yourself for your girlfriend. That took courage and responsibility. But your devotion was wasted. She didn’t deserve it.”

She prided herself on judging people well, and one glance at Wen Yu had convinced her the girl put on an innocent act.

Chen Ye smiled bitterly. “I don’t blame her. Everyone has the right to pursue a better life.”

“You’re very generous.” Bai Xueyan smiled. “Talking to you has improved my mood. It’s time to get back to work. I’ll arrange for someone to help you settle in. Learn what you can from him.”

“I will, Bai-jie.”

That afternoon, Chen Ye reported to the business department, completed his onboarding, and was shown the company’s operations. Only then did he realize how impressive Shanghai Beauty was.

It wasn’t merely a women’s wellness chain; behind it stood a major publicly listed group. The location where he worked was Shanghai Beauty’s flagship center, but not its corporate headquarters. The group headquarters occupied an entire office tower in Lujiazui’s financial district. Bai Xueyan normally worked there and was only visiting the front line to inspect operations.

By his reckoning, that made her a wealthy woman worth around a hundred billion yuan.

As he pondered this, his phone chimed. Wen Yu had sent him a message: *Xie Dong is going to come after you tonight. Don’t go back to your place!*

Chen Ye frowned. Let him come, he thought coldly. He’d wanted to beat Xie Dong up for some time. He ignored the message.

When Wen Yu still hadn’t heard back half an hour later, she called. Chen Ye found a quiet spot and answered.

“Chen Ye, did you see my message?” she asked urgently.

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t you answer? Don’t go home tonight.”

He took a deep breath. “Why are you telling me this? We’ve broken up. Why should you care what happens to me?”

“You helped me in the past. Even though we’ve broken up, consider this repayment.”

“I don’t need it,” he said coldly.

“Why are you like this?” she said impatiently. “I’m telling you to stay away for your own good!”

“If I don’t go home, where am I supposed to go?” he asked offhandedly.

She fell silent. After a while, she said, “Come to my place.”

“Your place?”

“Yes. There are things I want to tell you anyway. Come over.”

“Can’t you say them on the phone? Why do I have to come to your place?”

“It’s important. I’d rather tell you face-to-face. I’ll send you the address. Just come over tonight.”