Xiao Pang was indignant on the side, but Ye Tiancheng didn't seem to care. Perhaps this "green hat" was a minor issue for Ye Tiancheng. Hou Mingzhu had done many more outrageous things in his dreams, making this hardly worth mentioning.
"Alright, stop nagging in my ear. Hou Mingzhu's situation has nothing to do with me. As long as that woman doesn't actively seek me out, I'll be grateful."
As if on cue, just as Ye Tiancheng finished speaking to Xiao Pang, a subordinate ran over to inform him.
"Brother Ye, Miss Hou Mingzhu is here. She's even more beautiful than in her photos, truly a graceful beauty."
The subordinate almost forgot his purpose, looking so infatuated. Ye Tiancheng couldn't help but shake his head.
"Wipe your drool. It's embarrassing to act like you've never seen a woman before."
"Brother Ye, Miss Hou is truly stunning. I'm not usually one to judge by looks, but I have no resistance to such a beautiful and elegant woman. I feel like I've fallen for her."
Ye Tiancheng couldn't stand it any longer, finding it hard to watch. He wondered if this subordinate had been completely dazed by her beauty, speaking so boldly in front of him.
However, Ye Tiancheng wouldn't stoop to the level of such a minor figure. Perhaps these people had never encountered any sophisticated women in their lives. In their world, the pinnacle of womanhood might be a village beauty like Wang Xiaomiao. Encountering someone of a higher caliber would leave them utterly mesmerized.
"Alright, work hard for me. You need money before you can have women. Otherwise, daydreaming is useless; you should focus on practical matters."
Ye Tiancheng's words were tactful, but the logic was sound. It was impossible to blame girls for being realistic. Without a house or a car, expecting a woman like Hou Mingzhu to squeeze into a rental apartment was pure fantasy. Beautiful women always paired with the wealthy. Handsome men without money were useless.
"Brother Ye, I understand. I'll definitely follow you and work hard. I've already built a house for my family, spending twenty thousand yuan. I'm a small-time rich man now, but I'm still far from my goal. I'll definitely follow Brother Ye and work diligently. I believe I'll achieve success one day."
Seeing his subordinate's enthusiasm, Ye Tiancheng didn't dampen his spirits. At this pace of earning, it would be quite difficult to earn tens of millions in his lifetime. He might only become a moderately wealthy person, and becoming significantly richer seemed unlikely.
Isn't this just the life of an ordinary person? Ye Tiancheng had no right to look down on others. After all, if he hadn't been fortunate enough to obtain the Nuwa Stone, he might have fared even worse than this subordinate. Earning a few yuan a day, he wouldn't have been able to achieve anything in life. Forget achieving anything, even having enough to eat would be a problem. Achieving anything was simply wishful thinking.
"Brother Ye, should we let Miss Hou in?"
"Doesn't Hou Mingzhu have a boyfriend? It's not good for her to come looking for her ex-fiancé at this time. If some gossip spreads, I think it will be very troublesome. Why don't you tell Hou Mingzhu that to avoid suspicion, it's best for her to leave?"
Ye Tiancheng really didn't want any trouble. Moreover, thinking about what Hou Mingzhu had done, Ye Tiancheng didn't want to see her again. Meeting her would inevitably lead to complications, which was very annoying.
"Brother Ye, why don't we meet Miss Hou? I think Miss Hou is truly pitiful. It's not easy for a girl, so why be so ruthless and leave no room for maneuver?"
It seemed beauty truly possessed infinite power, even making this subordinate speak up for her. This was Hou Mingzhu's ability. Ye Tiancheng truly hadn't realized how this cruel and cunning woman could bewitch so many people with just her appearance. It was truly baffling.
"Are you going to keep talking? Aren't you afraid I'll fire you? Then your dream of becoming a rich man will be completely shattered. Think carefully; I always keep my word and am not just trying to scare you."
Ye Tiancheng's expression had become very serious. The subordinate dared not speak further but felt sympathetic towards Hou Mingzhu. He was momentarily in a difficult position, and it was Xiao Pang who finally eased the awkwardness.
"Brother Ye, why are you arguing with a subordinate? It will make people laugh. I don't think it's a big deal. How about this? Do it as a favor to your brother. Just meet Hou Mingzhu. Otherwise, there will be endless trouble later. The Hou family is a prominent family, and Hou Mingzhu likes to pester. If you don't face this hurdle, you'll never get past it."
Ye Tiancheng was willing to listen to Xiao Pang's words. The two had supported each other to get to where they were. Ye Tiancheng had always treated Xiao Pang as a brother, a bond that even surpassed familial affection. He always felt that without relatives, no one was genuinely good to him without ulterior motives. Ye Tiancheng relied on Xiao Pang for companionship.
"Alright, I'll give you this face, Fatty. Go tell Hou Mingzhu to wait for me in the reception room."
The horticultural center had a reception room, which was set up for receiving clients.
Some clients needed to see the raw materials at the horticultural center before placing orders, which was why Ye Tiancheng had this large reception room with several private rooms.
While it was sufficiently upscale, it also offered privacy, making clients feel secure.
Ye Tiancheng chose this location to meet Hou Mingzhu precisely because he wanted it to be formal and to make it clear to Hou Mingzhu that her complicated romantic life had nothing to do with him, her former fiancé.
After the subordinate went to deliver the message, Fatty was very understanding.
"Then, Brother Ye, steady your emotions and have a good talk with Hou Mingzhu. I'll go back to my work. Call me if you need anything."
After saying this, Xiao Pang left. Ye Tiancheng immediately went to the reception room. Upon seeing Hou Mingzhu, Ye Tiancheng felt something was different, but as a straightforward man, he couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different. He just felt that her face looked a bit strange.
"Your eyes seem swollen. Looking closely, they resemble walnuts."
Ye Tiancheng was truly a blunt man. If he noticed something was wrong, he should have been more careful. Instead, he blurted out the truth carelessly.
Hou Mingzhu's expression instantly soured. "Do you think I look ugly like this?"
"Not at all. I just strongly suspect you cried before coming. Why are your eyes so swollen?"
"Brother Ye, my heart is so heavy. I shouldn't have listened to my friends and deliberately found someone to make you jealous. But you didn't react at all, and in the end, it was I who was waiting and suffering. I'm in too much pain, so I came to talk to you."
This was different from his dreams, but Ye Tiancheng couldn't be bothered with Hou Mingzhu's situation, mainly because he didn't take her seriously at all.
"There's nothing to talk about with me. It's normal for you to find a boyfriend. After all, you're single and can't go your whole life without one. Of course, I wish you happiness. So, you don't need to come specifically to tell me."
Ye Tiancheng wasn't angry with Hou Mingzhu; he genuinely felt this way. Hesitation in such matters could lead to unnecessary fantasies for Hou Mingzhu, making things even more troublesome.
"Brother Ye, are you saying this because you're angry with me? I don't believe you're so indifferent to our relationship. Have you never liked me?"
Regarding Hou Mingzhu's question, Ye Tiancheng didn't dare to hesitate. Even a slight hint of soft-heartedness could give Hou Mingzhu false hope, leading to further entanglement.
"Hou Mingzhu, I can confirm that I truly have no feelings for you. The reason we've been entangled until now is simply because you refuse to let go. Now that you have a new relationship, I wish you happiness."
Ye Tiancheng's face showed no unusual expression; in fact, it was too calm, forcing Hou Mingzhu to believe that this person had never valued their relationship. Perhaps all of this was just a fantasy of love that Hou Mingzhu had conjured, and in the end, she had performed a solo act all by herself.
"Ye Tiancheng, you're too much. Why shouldn't you like me? What is it about me that dissatisfies you? So many people are eager to express their affection for me, so why are you so cold to me? Is your heart made of stone?"
"If I don't have feelings, I don't have feelings. I believe such things cannot be forced."
In the past, to eliminate her most formidable enemy, Hou Mingzhu had even committed murder. That fire had haunted her dreams ever since, but all her efforts had yielded no results, only becoming a laughingstock for others.
"Ye Tiancheng, I understand. You just want to get rid of me quickly. I found someone to make you jealous, but it didn't succeed. You won't be jealous because you never liked me, and you never will."
Hou Mingzhu's words were filled with despair, but this was reality. A reality Hou Mingzhu was unwilling to accept, but it was laid out before her. Hou Mingzhu couldn't refuse to accept it.
"Actually, I should have been more direct to avoid so many misunderstandings. I regret being too kind to you back then, which led to this situation. Now, everything is terribly wrong, and I also bear responsibility. I hope you can return to your normal life soon and stop being influenced by me. I'm a scumbag, and you shouldn't have any expectations of me."
Ye Tiancheng was determined to be absolutely clear this time, so there would be no future trouble from Hou Mingzhu. Looking at Hou Mingzhu's eyes, he knew this woman wouldn't give up easily and would continue to cause trouble for him.
"I understand now. I understand everything. But Ye Tiancheng, remember this: I won't let you off easily. Even if this is a karmic entanglement, I can't help but hate you. You are too heartless to me!"
"You can hate me, but I hope you can calm your emotions and stop pestering me. This will also block your good luck. You should be able to find a good man; there's no need to create unpleasantness over me."
Ye Tiancheng knew very well that with Hou Mingzhu's qualifications, she could not only find a rich man but even a popular celebrity. Yet, she insisted on pestering him, wasting her youth. This was truly not worth it.
"My life is my own decision, Brother Ye. If you don't like me, don't dictate to me. I will always hate you until you regret being so cold to me."
After saying this, Hou Mingzhu grabbed her bag and left. Watching Hou Mingzhu's retreating figure, Ye Tiancheng was momentarily speechless. If this woman became stubborn, she could truly shake the heavens. He couldn't reason with her even if he wore out his lips. It was truly frustrating.