In the room, Ye Bufan saw Chu He again. Compared to yesterday, Chu He's complexion had visibly improved, and he could even get out of bed and walk.
"Mr. Ye, thank you so much." Chu He was about to kneel upon seeing Ye Bufan, but Ye Bufan stopped him.
"Elder Chu, there's no need to be so polite. You can call me Ye Bufan or Xiao Fan." Ye Bufan helped Chu He up. "I saved you simply to repay Mengyao's favor."
Chu He turned to look at Chu Mengyao beside him, seemingly having told Ye Bufan about him.
"Xiao Fan, Mengyao has told me about you. You are the savior of my Chu family, and I will help you resolve your issues with the Liu family. Although this old man has long since retired from Chu family affairs, they still have to show some respect to an old man like me," Chu He said.
Ye Bufan knew that ever since the Yang family came looking for him last night, this matter was destined to not end well. Thus, he politely cupped his fists and expressed his thanks to Chu He.
Chu He took out a bank card from his drawer and continued, "There's ten million here as my token of gratitude to you, Xiao Fan."
After speaking, Chu He instructed Chu Mengyao.
"Also, Mengyao. Later, take Mr. Ye to buy some decent clothes, and then gift Mr. Ye the villa in Xiangshan under my name."
Chu Mengyao nodded and said, "I'll go arrange it later."
"Elder Chu, you don't need to go to such expense. I'm merely repaying a favor," Ye Bufan said, cupping his fists towards Chu He.
While Ye Bufan appeared calm on the surface, his heart was anything but settled—"No wonder Master said that the temptations in the world below would affect cultivation, which is why he always told me to strengthen my resolve."
Chu He chuckled. "Xiao Fan, judging by your attire, you must have just emerged from seclusion in the mountains after following an ẩn sĩ master, right? Perhaps you don't know, but after entering the world, money is the currency of this realm. While it's not omnipotent, without money, you'll definitely find it difficult to move. I heard from Mengyao that you're in Jinhe without any backing and no decent place to stay. That villa is empty anyway, so feel free to take it."
Ye Bufan thought that Chu He's words indeed made sense. After a moment of consideration, he accepted Chu He's kindness, realizing he needed to establish himself quickly after entering the world.
Seeing that Ye Bufan had accepted the bank card, Chu He nodded with satisfaction, his heart filled with joy.
After Ye Bufan left yesterday, Chu He had contacted Zhu Zizhen to inquire about his opinion of Ye Bufan. Zhu Zizhen had highly praised Ye Bufan over the phone, even stating that Ye Bufan's medical skills were worthy of being Zhu Zizhen's master, and that at such a young age, his future achievements would be extraordinary.
Upon considering the current predicament of the Chu family, his son Chu Qianceng lacked foresight, and his son Chu Lou had died young, leaving behind a son, Chu Haoyu, who was still too young to be entrusted with important responsibilities.
Now, Chu Mengyao, who had just returned from abroad to take over the Chu family business, had a difficult path ahead, and the revival of the Chu family was a long and arduous journey.
Chu He worried he might not live to see the Chu family rise again. All he could do now was pave the way for Chu Mengyao's future. After Ye Bufan left yesterday, Chu He had people investigate Ye Bufan's background, but the result was a lack of any valuable clues. Thus, Chu He decided to take a gamble, and Ye Bufan became his first choice for recruitment.
"Mengyao, take Xiao Fan around and show him. See what he needs for the villa and buy it."
Seeing that his plan was complete, Chu He said no more and had Chu Mengyao escort Ye Bufan out.
As they were leaving, Chu Qianceng stood at the doorway, with Chu Mengyao's cousin, Chu Haoyu, standing behind him.
Chu Qianceng's eyes were filled with dissatisfaction, while Chu Haoyu looked at Ye Bufan with a more respectful gaze. After Ye Bufan left, Chu Qianceng took Chu Haoyu into Chu He's room.
"Dad! How could you give the Xiangshan villa to a complete stranger? Besides, that kid looks like he has ill intentions." Chu Qianceng exclaimed before Ye Bufan was even out of earshot.
"Silence!" Chu He rebuked sternly.
Chu Mengyao seemed to have heard the commotion behind them and looked at Ye Bufan apologetically, saying, "Let's go, I'll take you to buy some nice clothes, and then I'll take you to the villa."
Ye Bufan smiled without a word, nodded, and said as he walked out, "I'll do as you say."
The two took a car to Jinhe City's largest mall. Ye Bufan, dressed in a blue robe, walked alongside the elegantly dressed Chu Mengyao, their unusual pairing immediately drawing many curious glances.
Entering a men's clothing store, the sales assistant cast a disdainful look at Ye Bufan's attire and was about to shoo him away when she noticed Chu Mengyao behind him.
"CEO Chu, why are you here?" the sales assistant said with a forced smile at Chu Mengyao.
This clothing brand was one of the Chu family's businesses, which primarily dealt in clothing and furniture, with some ventures into other sectors.
Chu Mengyao nodded and said, "I want to buy some clothes for my friend here. Can you help me pick some out?"
The sales assistant nodded repeatedly and said to Chu Mengyao, "Certainly, CEO Chu, I'll arrange it right away."
"Sir, please follow me." The sales assistant led Ye Bufan to the back of the store. The entire store was divided into two areas: the front for more cost-effective clothing, and the back for higher-end custom-made garments made with better materials.
As he walked in, he encountered a man and a woman selecting clothes in the custom-made section.
Upon entering, Ye Bufan's eyes lit up; he hadn't expected to see acquaintances.
The man and woman, seeing someone enter, turned around and saw Ye Bufan.
"Ye Bufan!" Liu Ruoyan exclaimed upon seeing Ye Bufan. The young man beside her, upon seeing Ye Bufan, showed a flicker of panic in his eyes besides shock.
Ye Bufan had observed all this. The aura of the young man before him was very similar to that of the person he had left on the second floor of the Liu family villa yesterday. Coupled with the current situation, Ye Bufan was almost certain that this was the second young master of the Yang family.
"It's you," Yang Fei exclaimed, narrowing his eyes.
"Why wouldn't it be me?" Ye Bufan chuckled. "Is it that I shouldn't be here? Or... that I shouldn't still be alive?"
Yang Fei's body stiffened. He thought: Could it be that Baldy and Old Yue failed? No, Old Yue is a martial artist of intermediate level. This kid must have been lucky to escape them.
"Ye Bufan, is it? Since you know, I'll give you a chance. Hand over the marriage certificate obediently, and I might consider sparing you." Yang Fei walked up to Ye Bufan and said.
"Darling~ why are you wasting so much time with him?" Liu Ruoyan interjected. "My mother said people like him are proud and greedy for money, so he should be taught a lesson. Let him know what it means to ask for trouble."
"Kid, I advise you not to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
Yang Fei contemptuously stepped forward, took a bank card from his pocket, and threw it in front of Ye Bufan.
"There's five million in this bank card. You probably won't earn this much in your lifetime. It's enough for you to return to your village and live out your days. On behalf of the Yang family, I give you two options: either take these five million, hand over the marriage certificate, and get lost back to your village, or face the consequences of our Yang family's methods."