"But I can't protect her forever. I have my own life, and my own affairs to attend to!" Jiang Yi said.
"You don't have to protect her forever!"
Ye's father said, "Find a suitable opportunity to reveal Yanran's identity to the world, let her safely return to the Xiao family, and become the head of the Xiao family. Once Yanran has power, she won't need your protection anymore!"
Jiang Yi hesitated!
This matter was not difficult for him.
But he felt conflicted.
"Jiang Yi, I know this might put you in danger too, but I truly have no other way."
Ye's father showed a pleading expression.
"Alright!"
Jiang Yi took a deep breath and agreed!
By helping Ye's father, he considered all his debts repaid!
"Find a suitable opportunity to tell Yanran this secret. She has the right to know," Ye's father said.
"Mm."
Jiang Yi nodded.
Ye's father did not linger and turned to leave the villa.
Looking at Ye's father's villa, Jiang Yi felt a sliver of regret.
His own revenge was not yet taken, and now he had taken on Ye Yanran's affairs.
What made Jiang Yi even more frustrated was that he originally wanted to sever all ties with Ye Yanran.
But now, he was entangled with her again, creating a complete mess.
However, Jiang Yi quickly came to terms with it.
He was only doing this to repay Ye's father's kindness, not for Ye Yanran.
The two could not be conflated.
Ye's father was Ye's father, and Ye Yanran was Ye Yanran.
After helping Ye Yanran become the head of the Xiao family, she would go her own way, and he would go his.
"What did he say to you just now?" Dongfang Mei asked Jiang Yi.
Jiang Yi did not answer Dongfang Mei but instead asked, "You are from the capital, and the eldest daughter of the Dongfang family. Do you know everything about the business world in the capital?"
"There is nothing in the capital that I don't know!" Dongfang Mei said.
"Then do you know of a very powerful Xiao family in the capital's business world?" Jiang Yi asked.
"Why are you asking this?" Dongfang Mei looked puzzled.
"Just answer me," Jiang Yi said.
"There is indeed a very powerful Xiao family in the capital's business world. They are incredibly influential and their wealth is comparable to a nation's. They are known as the foremost family in China."
"This family's influence is immense, with top talents from the Xiao family in every industry!"
Dongfang Mei finished speaking and took a sip of red wine.
"This Xiao family can be described as terrifying. Not only in China but throughout Asia, they are a renowned major family. They even have many businesses abroad."
Jiang Yi was somewhat surprised.
He hadn't expected Ye Yanran to have such a significant background.
"I heard my mother say that more than twenty years ago, the head of the Xiao family, the current Old Master Xiao, suddenly fell ill and became a vegetative state, causing the Xiao family to split into factions."
"The members of the Xiao family divided the vast Xiao family into more than a dozen large and small factions, each establishing their own domain."
"Compared to your Dongfang family, who is stronger?" Jiang Yi was very curious.
"Of course, it's our Dongfang family!"
Dongfang Mei smiled, "Our Dongfang family is constantly rising. While the Xiao family is an established major family, they are plagued by internal strife. If Old Master Xiao were not still alive, the Xiao family would have disbanded long ago."
Jiang Yi hummed, then fell silent.
If he hadn't divorced Ye Yanran, he would have become the son-in-law of China's foremost family?
"Why are you asking about the Xiao family and asking so many questions? Do you have any connection to the Xiao family?" Dongfang Mei asked with curiosity.
"I have no connection to this family," Jiang Yi said.
Jiang Yi chose to keep Ye Yanran's secret.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Dongfang Mei, but Ye Yanran's secret was of great importance. She was the eldest daughter of China's foremost family.
It wasn't that Jiang Yi was afraid, but keeping this secret could avoid a lot of trouble and make helping Ye Yanran easier.
Seeing that Jiang Yi wouldn't speak, Dongfang Mei didn't press further.
She was worried that asking too much might make Jiang Yi uncomfortable.
At that moment, a servant walked in from outside.
"Mr. Jiang, there's a very beautiful woman looking for you outside!" the servant said.
"What woman?"
Dongfang Mei's eyebrows furrowed.
"She didn't say. She only said that Mr. Jiang asked her to move into the villa, so she brought all her luggage!" the servant explained.
Hearing this, Dongfang Mei looked at Jiang Yi.
"Who is that woman? What is your relationship with her? You must explain clearly!"
Dongfang Mei's face was calm, but her heart was anxious.
"It's Shen Lu!"
Jiang Yi explained the whole situation.
"No, she cannot come to the villa to live with us." Dongfang Mei looked serious.
"This is my home. Who I let live here is my decision. Whether you like it or not, she's coming." Jiang Yi's attitude was resolute.
This was his territory, and he made the rules.
Dongfang Mei was not foolish. Knowing she couldn't stop Jiang Yi, she said, "She can move in, but I have one condition: from now on, I make the decisions in the house. If I don't like Shen Lu, I have the right to kick her out."
Jiang Yi ignored Dongfang Mei.
"Please let Dean Shen in!" Jiang Yi said.
The servant acknowledged and walked out.
A moment later, Shen Lu walked in from outside the hall!
Servants followed behind her, dragging piles of luggage.
Dongfang Mei's eyebrows furrowed upon seeing so much luggage.
She knew Shen Lu intended to stay for a long time.
Shen Lu also appraised Dongfang Mei.
Shen Lu was confident in her beauty, but upon seeing Dongfang Mei, her confidence vanished.
She wondered how such a beautiful woman could exist in the world.
Any man, in front of such a beautiful woman, would be completely captivated.
This was Shen Lu's first time meeting Dongfang Mei, and she was utterly overshadowed by Dongfang Mei's beauty and demeanor.
If Dongfang Mei's beauty was a hundred points, then Shen Lu's beauty was only sixty points, just passing.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dongfang Mei, and I am the mistress of this villa."
Dongfang Mei spoke, immediately asserting her claim and status.
"Hello, my name is Shen Lu!" Shen Lu also introduced herself.
"I've heard Jiang Yi mention you. Indeed, you are both talented and beautiful, not only capable but also so gorgeous," Dongfang Mei said with a smile.
"Miss Dongfang, you flatter me. How can I compare to you!"
Shen Lu also smiled, "I hope my staying in the villa won't disturb you and Master Jiang! I didn't expect Master Jiang to have other people living with him. I apologize."
Shen Lu's words were tactful.
"It's fine!"
Dongfang Mei smiled, "You are a guest, there's no such thing as disturbing. Please stay! If you need anything, just tell me!"
"Thank you, Miss Dongfang!"
After thanking her, Shen Lu dragged her luggage to a room and began unpacking.