Hou Mingzhu stood in the center of her moving entourage, bodyguards holding umbrellas on either side. Dressed entirely in black, she truly exuded the aura of a triad boss's daughter.
"Ye Tiancheng, I need to talk to you. I don't know what kind of security device you've installed, but it's quite magical. I can't get in right now, but I hope you can disable it and let me in."
Perhaps she was bored and looking for someone to toy with. Otherwise, Ye Tiancheng would never have allowed Hou Mingzhu inside. Among all those he suspected, Hou Mingzhu was the most likely suspect. If not for the lack of evidence, Ye Tiancheng might have already fallen out with her.
Ye Tiancheng opened the barrier. Hou Mingzhu, leading her people, tried to enter, only to find that she alone could pass. Everyone else was blocked outside, unable to enter.
"Don't follow me. Wait for me outside. I'm just going to have a few words, try to persuade him. The chances aren't high, but if it doesn't work, I'll be out soon."
After giving instructions, Hou Mingzhu went to find Ye Tiancheng. She knew he was hiding in a shack, but she hadn't expected it to be in such a dilapidated state.
The rain continued to fall. Even with a large black umbrella, Hou Mingzhu still got splashed by rainwater on her expensive clothes. She felt a surge of annoyance, but to persuade Ye Tiancheng, she had to suppress these negative emotions.
Hou Mingzhu had even planned to show a smile when she met Ye Tiancheng. She knew from childhood that opportunities must be seized.
She had prepared herself mentally, but the moment she arrived at the shack and was about to enter, Hou Mingzhu felt a strong sense of discomfort.
"Ye Tiancheng, I heard you haven't been well lately. I came to see you."
It was evident that Hou Mingzhu found the environment extremely distasteful. Holding her umbrella outside, her expression was awkward. More importantly, she seemed reluctant to enter the dilapidated shack.
"That's my fault, for a great beauty like you to worry about me. Since you've come to see me with sincerity, you shouldn't be so hypocritical as to not even step inside. Although my house is a bit run-down, it's quite cozy. You and the young lady can consider it a visit to understand the common people, to experience what shack life is like."
This word, "shack," was something Hou Mingzhu had only recently learned. She had never had the opportunity to encounter it before. If it weren't to appease Ye Tiancheng, she would have stayed far away. This kind of housing, built from grass and wood, was inherently unstable and likely harbored many bacteria.
Moreover, with the continuous rain these days, the entire house exuded the smell of rotten hay. Accustomed to a life of refinement, Hou Mingzhu found it utterly disgusting.
"I won't come in. Talking out here is the same. I have an umbrella, so the rain won't reach me anyway."
Hou Mingzhu kept encouraging herself; otherwise, she might have turned and fled. The environment was simply too poor. The incessant rain seemed to be working against her, splashing all over her. She felt a dampness on her body, making her extremely uncomfortable.
"Miss Hou, this is rather impolite. You're unwilling to come inside to talk, which shows how much you dislike my surroundings. If you don't even have this much sincerity, you might as well leave. I don't think you need to waste your time, and I have no intention of communicating with you."
"I didn't mean that. I'll come in then."
Ye Tiancheng observed Hou Mingzhu's expression. It was a form of torture for her. Seeing Hou Mingzhu unhappy, for some reason, seeing her in such a predicament finally gave Ye Tiancheng some satisfaction.
After Hou Mingzhu entered the shack, she quickly put away her umbrella. The umbrella was of good quality and quite large, making it impossible to keep open in such a cramped, dilapidated shack.
"Please, have a seat."
Hou Mingzhu looked around but couldn't find a suitable place to sit. Her head began to throb. Hou Mingzhu could sense that Ye Tiancheng was likely toying with her, but if she wanted to persuade him to come out of seclusion, she couldn't do it without some patience.
"Thank you."
After looking for a while, Hou Mingzhu could only sit on the only chair available. The moment she sat down, the chair creaked. The legs wobbled precariously, as if any slight movement would cause the chair to fall apart.
"Miss Hou, be careful. This chair was fine originally, but after Fatty sat on it, it was completely ruined, falling apart into logs. Later, when I was bored, I repaired it with nails. Unfortunately, I'm not very skilled, so this chair isn't very sturdy now. You'd better be careful, I'm afraid you might fall."
Hearing Ye Tiancheng's explanation, Hou Mingzhu became even more fearful. She felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles, with a lump in her throat, wishing she could get up immediately and return to her warm princess castle.
"It's alright. I can endure hardship. As long as I'm careful, I shouldn't fall."
Hou Mingzhu smiled awkwardly, determined to stay. She had made significant efforts. She decided to put her request forward.
"Brother Ye, how have you been resting lately? We all miss you very much and are waiting for your return. Without you in our business chain, we're finding things very difficult."
Hou Mingzhu rarely flattered people; usually, others sought her favor. Yet, now, facing Ye Tiancheng with a smile, she wore her desire to please on her face.
"Is that so? Unfortunately, something happened at home. My fiancée died tragically, which was a great blow to me. I want to take some time to rest and sort out my feelings before anything else."
Ye Tiancheng said this intentionally for Hou Mingzhu to hear. Everyone knew that Ye Tiancheng's fiancée was the very Hou family's young lady present. However, Ye Tiancheng claimed his fiancée had died, indicating he didn't take Hou Mingzhu seriously at all. This was like kicking her in the face with his foot, treating her dignity as a doormat.
Hou Mingzhu clenched her fists tightly to control her emotions. The grievances she was suffering made her want to curse, even to hit someone.
"Miss Hou, aren't you angry? I thought my words just now would surely make you furious."
Ye Tiancheng watched Hou Mingzhu with a smile. As he spoke, he was prepared for Hou Mingzhu to curse him out or even rush forward to hit him. Ye Tiancheng wouldn't hit a woman, but he wouldn't let her maintain her composure either.
"If I can't persuade you to come out of seclusion, then I'm not fit to be a leader. So many employees under me are facing starvation. What face do I need to care about at this moment? I have to endure my anger. Ye Tiancheng, I merely wish to achieve my ideals. I want to prove that I am capable, and for that, I am willing to pay any price. You name your terms, be it money or anything else."
"You can't buy me off. After selling my small forest, I could rank among the top wealthiest people. Money holds no meaning for me; in fact, I find it somewhat burdensome. Look at my life, filling my stomach with dry rations every day. Do you think I have any high expenses?"
This was the most terrifying part. Ye Tiancheng truly seemed detached from worldly desires. A person without weaknesses cannot be attacked. Since Hou Mingzhu couldn't sway him with money, she was at a loss for other options.
"Ye Tiancheng, I'll let bygones be bygones regarding past events. I can also pretend not to see your scandalous news. I hope you can put your heart at ease. Perhaps this is the right time for you to bid farewell to the past and marry me."
"Besides Hou Qing'er, I want no one else. Hou Mingzhu, you're thinking too much. I have no intention of marrying you."
Originally, Hou Mingzhu felt this was her trump card. She hadn't intended to tie her fate to someone from a farming background so quickly.
But now, there was no other choice. Hou Mingzhu had undergone significant mental preparation before deciding to propose that they quickly complete the wedding and officially marry. Unfortunately, Ye Tiancheng immediately refused.
"Ye Tiancheng, do you think I'm not good enough for you? Where exactly do I fall short?"
Hou Mingzhu couldn't maintain her composure. Having been placed on a pedestal since childhood, pampered by everyone, she had gradually lost her sense of self. Moreover, Hou Mingzhu truly fit the role of a wealthy young lady, possessing a good figure and an excellent face. She felt that no man in the world should dislike her.
"There's no place where you measure up, especially when compared to Hou Qing'er. You, the young lady, are incredibly superficial. Hou Mingzhu, you are utterly useless. Don't bother me again. I just want to be left alone in peace."
Ye Tiancheng was losing patience. Hou Mingzhu's delicate and beautiful face held no attraction for him. More importantly, what Hou Mingzhu said clashed with his values.
It was fine to tease her a little, but if the conversation continued, Ye Tiancheng would lose his patience.
"Are you trying to kick me out?"
"Yes. I only let you in to relieve my boredom. Don't you think I genuinely wanted to see you? After all, you are the prime suspect in Hou Qing'er's death."
The mention of this matter made Hou Mingzhu's emotional state unstable. After all, it was a human life; she couldn't remain unaffected.
"I don't know why you always pin these accusations on me, Ye Tiancheng. I've always been rather indifferent to people; others come to flatter me. I've treated you quite well. I've done so much for you, yet you act as if you don't see it. I hope you'll think carefully about who is truly suitable for you. Perhaps it's best for those who are not suitable to leave."
Originally, Ye Tiancheng had just intended to send Hou Mingzhu away. However, Hou Mingzhu's words made Ye Tiancheng detect some hostility towards Hou Qing'er in her speech.
Ye Tiancheng immediately felt uncomfortable. He was never a generous person, especially when it concerned Hou Qing'er. Anything related to Hou Qing'er made Ye Tiancheng extremely sensitive.
"Miss Hou, please leave. I need to rest."
"I've had enough of this wretched place. Ye Tiancheng, you're truly incorrigible. Staying in a place like this for too long will age you rapidly, and your bodily functions will decline quickly. Of course, that's in the best-case scenario. In the worst case, you might contract some diseases."
Seeing that there was no hope, Hou Mingzhu decided to stop pretending and speak frankly to Ye Tiancheng.
"This way, you're more normal. Hou Mingzhu, when you were trying to flatter me earlier, I truly felt unwell and kept getting goosebumps. From now on, please appear before me in your true self. I thank you for that."