Chapter 37: Racing

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Speeding all the way, Ye Chen closely tailed Li Ruo, following her as she raced down from Xiangming Mountain. Fortunately, the young woman slowed down when entering the city streets; otherwise, who knew what sort of accident might have occurred. Driving the BMW, Ye Chen took in the lingering scent of a beautiful woman, feeling that the interior of the car was far too feminine. Originally, the Z4 was a man’s car—its boldness was simply not something most women could handle. But then again, this only further proved Li Ruo’s strength of character.

Ordinary women would never choose such a domineering sports car, one that exceeded the nerves most people could bear. Li Ruo was a strong-willed woman—a true career woman. Women like her always harbored a desire for conquest in their hearts. No wonder she had never had an official boyfriend by her side.

The car slowly came to a stop at a scenic overlook along Binhai Avenue. There, a stretch of road followed the coastline, transformed into a viewing point popular with tourists during holidays. The scenery was spectacular—at dawn, one could watch the sun rise from the sea, so many came here for morning exercise. Now, in the late morning, people were still milling about.

“What are we doing here?” Ye Chen asked curiously, casting Li Ruo a glance.

“Oh, just to clear my mind,” Li Ruo replied, glancing back at him. “Tomorrow is Monday. Do you feel prepared for the security work at the opening ceremony?”

“Come on, can’t we skip work talk on a holiday?” Ye Chen shrugged.

The two of them walked shoulder to shoulder into the pavilion, sitting down together on a stone bench. Li Ruo wore casual attire—shorts, a snow-white T-shirt, a baseball cap, and oversized pink sunglasses—almost completely covering her delicate features. She looked at Ye Chen and said, “I’m just concerned about security that day. You don’t understand the situation Tianya Group is facing right now.”

“What’s wrong with Tianya Group?” Ye Chen was taken aback. As far as he knew, Tianya Group was one of the top companies in Province Z—could there really be a major problem inside? Frowning, he said, “A company that size couldn’t be in any serious trouble, could it?”

Li Ruo sighed, stood up, and walked to the railing, her hands resting on the edge. Gazing out at the endless sea, her eyes grew distant and pensive, though she said nothing. Ye Chen’s eyes lingered on her tall, perfect figure—he had to admit, Li Ruo’s legs were long and well-proportioned. In a woman, aside from her face, what mattered most was a pair of shapely, slender legs; otherwise, no matter how pretty her face, it would all be for naught.

Her white shorts, those flawless, elegant legs, the curve of her hips—all of it was enough to stir the imagination.

“What are you looking at?” Li Ruo suddenly turned, catching Ye Chen staring fixedly below her waist. Her brow furrowed instantly, and she glared at him, “Bastard! Careful, or I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

Ye Chen was momentarily stunned—this woman was truly formidable, almost too much to handle. He smiled sheepishly, “What can I say? Aren’t beautiful women meant to be admired?”

“Hmph!” Li Ruo, being a woman, naturally enjoyed praise and flattery. A couple of words from Ye Chen instantly stirred a sense of vanity within her. Suddenly, she felt odd—why did compliments from other men never make her feel this way, but only Ye Chen could elicit such a thrill in her heart? She shot him a peculiar look and said, “Actually, I don’t know exactly why, but Tianya Group is facing a very difficult problem. Lately, someone has been targeting us, whether intentionally or not.”

“Who could it be?” Ye Chen was puzzled.

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“I’m not sure.” Li Ruo shook her head. “Judging from recent moves in the stock market, I’m afraid it’s our old rival, Siyang Group.”

“Siyang Group?” Ye Chen was surprised, his mind quickly recalling everything he knew about them. “Are you sure? Siyang Group is far behind Tianya Group. Even though both are from Province Z, their annual net profits are worlds apart. There’s no way they could compete with you.”

“True, open competition is impossible. But who’s to say they can’t resort to underhanded tactics?” Li Ruo brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, giving Ye Chen a meaningful look. “There have always been conflicts of interest between Siyang and Tianya—not just Siyang, but even Hongyang Group and Grand Development Group, among others, have been stirring up trouble for us behind the scenes.”

Businessmen are driven by profit; it’s in their nature. Wherever there are businessmen, there is strife—Ye Chen understood this well. Not just in business, but even in the Golden Triangle, it was no different. Drugs, weapons, women... all commodities. For those warlords, these were simply profits to be chased, and they’d fight tooth and nail for them.

“Isn’t all of this pretty normal?” Ye Chen smiled. “Wherever there’s profit, there’s conflict. Even the smallest office is rife with scheming and smoky intrigue, let alone the business world.”

“You’re right, but not entirely.” Li Ruo nodded, taking off her sunglasses and hanging them from her collar. The weight tugged her shirt slightly, inadvertently revealing a glimpse of her figure. Ye Chen caught a flash of the full curves beneath and was instantly captivated. Li Ruo watched the waves crashing endlessly against the shore, a faint, enigmatic smile on her lips. “There’s a kind of balance in the business world. When everyone’s interests are interlinked, business associations form to promote harmony and avoid disputes. But Siyang Group has clearly violated the association’s principles.”

“As far as I know, Siyang Group has some powerful backing, doesn’t it?” Ye Chen chuckled.

“Exactly. That’s why they flout the association’s rules so brazenly.” Li Ruo shook her head helplessly.

“Business associations are like the modern United Nations—only able to restrain weaker, obedient countries, never those with real power and influence.” Ye Chen smiled faintly. He understood this all too well. The Golden Triangle was a chaotic world, supposedly governed by a ‘Triangle Alliance,’ but in reality, it could only control the petty players. As for the big generals and phantom organizations, at most the alliance could issue a warning. Ye Chen was clever enough to draw parallels: the business world’s rules were much the same. Perhaps this is what they called the ‘jianghu’—wherever there are people, there is strife.

“Mmm.” Li Ruo nodded, gazing at Ye Chen with a smile. “I didn’t expect you to know so much.”

“Sigh... Actually, as an amnesiac, I feel my past must have been filled with hardship,” Ye Chen said, suddenly standing tall. “Maybe something significant happened before I lost my memory. I can vaguely sense that I was an extraordinary person.”

Pfft—

Li Ruo suddenly covered her mouth and laughed. She was truly beautiful when she smiled, her cheeks blossoming, her chest rising and falling with every giggle. Ye Chen found himself drooling, forgetting all about his tragic past or lost memories.

“I really don’t know what to do with you!” Li Ruo shook her head. “Sometimes you seem calm and steady—like that day racing, I admit your serious side is very attractive. But other times, you’re so glib and annoying, like today! So, tell me, what kind of man are you, really?”

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Ye Chen was momentarily speechless, then burst out laughing. “Ha! I’m a man who seems glib on the surface but is honest at heart, with a life full of stories. Would you care to know me better?”

“As if I’d be interested!” Li Ruo pouted. “You’re a slippery one—cunning and impossible to read. I’ve looked into your background; there’s nothing there. You’ve only been in Jianghuai City for less than a year, and the only thing officially on record is when you saved a girl called Liu Momo at Jianghuai University. You had nothing to do with her then, so it shows you do have a conscience.”

“I’ve always been kind—because I’m a good person!” Ye Chen grinned, flashing his white teeth.

Beep beep beep...

Li Ruo’s phone rang. She answered, and her face turned grave.

“What? My father’s had another attack? It’s serious—alright, I’ll be right back!” Her face was tight with worry.

“What’s wrong with your father?” Ye Chen asked.

“He has severe asthma. It just flared up and the maid’s already taken him to the hospital. I need to go right away. I was planning to thank you with lunch, but now...” Li Ruo sounded apologetic.

“It’s fine—next time!” Ye Chen quickly shook his head.

“I have to go!” Li Ruo hurriedly climbed into her Ferrari 599, rolling down the window to flash Ye Chen a smile. “This car was supposed to be your prize, but I really like it. You don’t mind driving mine instead, do you?”

Before Ye Chen could reply, she hit the gas and sped off. Watching the fiery red Z4 parked by the roadside, Ye Chen felt a little helpless—the color was far too flashy for his taste. He preferred the bold and mysterious black Ferrari. But the girl was already long gone.

He drove the red BMW sports car toward Xinhai Apartments. Still thinking of Zhang Yantong sleeping at home, he grabbed two takeout lunches from a fast-food place downstairs. When he opened the door, the rich aroma of home-cooked food immediately greeted him.