Chapter 10: Another Blind Date

“Mom, I’m not some commodity to be sold at will, nor am I a bargaining chip for your interests. I’m a person—I want to live my own life.” Su Manman’s eyes shone as she finally spoke her heart.

Seeing Su Manman unmoved, Wang Meili quickly devised a new tactic.

“Manman, do you really have the heart to watch the company your father and I have built through half a lifetime of hard work just collapse like this? Must I kneel before you and beg before you’ll agree?” Wang Meili’s voice trembled as she gazed at Su Manman, her eyes brimming with tears, knees beginning to bend.

“Mom, can you stop pressuring me?” Su Manman shouted.

Realizing Su Manman was resolute, Wang Meili snatched the fruit knife from the coffee table and pressed it to her neck. “Su Manman, today you must divorce that useless man and be with Lu Yu. Otherwise, I’ll die right here in front of you!” she threatened harshly.

“Mom, put the knife down. We can talk this over,” Ye Feng interjected, stepping forward to intervene.

“Shut up! You have no place in this conversation. Everything is your fault—you ruined our family. Get out!” Wang Meili pressed the blade closer to her skin as she spoke.

“Mom, stop this. Put the knife down. I’ll do as you wish, isn’t that enough?” Su Manman had long seen through her mother’s intentions. After the last incident, it was clear her mother cherished her own life too much to truly go through with it. Still, no matter what, Wang Meili was her mother.

“You’d better not be lying to me this time, or I’ll show you I’m serious. I always keep my word,” Wang Meili said, still suspicious.

“I’m not lying,” Su Manman replied helplessly.

Hearing her daughter’s assurance, Wang Meili hastily threw the knife to the floor, afraid she might accidentally hurt herself. The cold blade against her skin was a terrifying sensation.

Quickly, she walked over to Su Manman, a broad smile on her face. “You really are my good daughter. I knew you were the kindest.”

Su Manman recalled the bitter look her mother had when she walked in, as if she wanted to devour her, and now this sudden warmth—the last spark of hope in her heart was quenched.

“Manman, you don’t know how outstanding Lu Yu is. He earned both a master’s and a postdoctoral degree at such a young age, and his family’s assets are worth over a hundred million. When you marry him, don’t forget to support your own family!” Wang Meili’s face was full of flattery.

Listening to his mother-in-law praise Lu Yu endlessly, Ye Feng sneered inwardly. Just a hundred million and she’s already so pleased—if she ever discovered the true extent of his wealth, she wouldn’t be able to imagine it.

“Ye Feng, you should go out now.” Su Manman looked at Ye Feng, her expression calm.

Ye Feng was puzzled but didn’t question her. He quietly turned and left.

Wang Meili assumed Su Manman was moved but embarrassed to show it with Ye Feng present. After all, they’d lived together for three years. Watching Ye Feng’s departing figure, a barely perceptible, sinister smile played on her lips. “Ye Feng, you think you’re worthy of my daughter? Just wait and see how I deal with you,” she thought.

Su Manman noticed her mother staring after Ye Feng and was puzzled. “Mom, why are you looking at him?”

“Oh, nothing. Just remember what you promised me—don’t go back on your word.” After a few last instructions, Wang Meili left.

Outside, Ye Feng’s phone rang—it was Secretary Tao. He answered, and her pleasant voice came through: “Hello, President Ye. Zhang Chao, the general manager of Tingxuan Holdings, has been requesting a meeting. He’s come many times. Should I arrange for you to see him?”

Ye Feng gave a cold chuckle. “Fine. Let him come to the company tomorrow morning.” With that, he hung up.

After his mother-in-law left, Ye Feng returned inside to find Su Manman sitting motionless on the sofa, lost in thought. Hearing footsteps, she looked up. Seeing Ye Feng before her, she asked, “Do you want to come with me tomorrow? I’m a little afraid…”

“Manman, remember, I have to go to work tomorrow—the job you found for me. Don’t worry about it,” Ye Feng replied with a gentle smile.

Though a trace of disappointment crossed Su Manman’s heart, she didn’t show it. “Then I’ll ask Meng Qing to go with me.”

“That’s fine. If anything happens, call me. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Ye Feng reassured her.

His words brought a touch of warmth to Su Manman’s heart.

The next morning, Ye Feng did not go to Meng Qing’s company. Instead, he went to his own—Hengda Group.

...

By then, Zhang Chao had been waiting in Hengda Group’s reception room for some time. The silence felt oppressive, making him increasingly anxious. The chairman had given him a strict order: he must secure the contract with Hengda Group or be fired.

Hengda Group was the commercial titan of Licheng, controlling half of the city’s industrial lifeline.

Negotiating with such a giant, it would be a lie to say he wasn’t nervous. His palms were slick with sweat.

Just then, a familiar figure approached. Zhang Chao’s face twisted with disdain, momentarily distracting him from his anxiety.

He stepped forward, blocking Ye Feng’s path. “What are you doing here? Is Hengda Group’s security so poor that any stray cat or dog can just walk in? I’ll have to tell Secretary Tao to change the guards.” The memory of how Ye Feng had embarrassed him in front of Su Manman still stung, and he couldn’t resist a few words of mockery.

Ye Feng merely smiled indifferently. “I’m here for the same reason you are.”

Zhang Chao thought, “Hengda Group is a fat piece of meat. Could Su Manman have gotten a share? Maybe they sent him to negotiate? I can’t let him meet the president, or I’ll be finished.”

Zhang Chao sneered, “You fool, you’d better know your place. Hengda Group will always choose the partner who brings them the most profit. Businessmen always think of their own interests. Hengda would never pick a loser. You might as well leave before they throw you out.”

Ignoring him, Ye Feng walked toward the president’s office, but Zhang Chao blocked him again, causing Ye Feng to frown.

Not noticing Ye Feng’s displeasure, Zhang Chao continued his tirade. “Do you have any idea how things work? Without Secretary Tao’s introduction, the chairman won’t see you! You’re just a freeloader living off a woman—no ability of your own, relying on a woman to support you. You’re a disgrace to all men!”

Ye Feng’s patience snapped. He’d put up with Zhang Chao’s insults time and again, but enough was enough.

An overwhelming aura of authority erupted from him. Zhang Chao was so startled by the sudden pressure that he was struck dumb, instinctively stepping aside as Ye Feng strode to the president’s office. Under his breath, he cursed, “Loser—just wait until you’re thrown out!”

Inside the office, Secretary Tao followed Ye Feng in, pouring him a cup of coffee. “Chairman Ye, the people from Tingxuan are here and have been waiting quite a while. Would you like to see him now?”

She spoke cautiously, worried she might inadvertently anger him, given the look on his face when he arrived.

“Yes, bring him in,” Ye Feng said after taking a sip of coffee.

Secretary Tao left and found Zhang Chao pacing the reception room. She couldn’t help but laugh. “Manager Zhang, what are you doing?”

“Oh—nothing, just stretching my legs,” Zhang Chao replied, scratching his head in embarrassment.

“The chairman is ready for you. Please come with me, Manager Zhang.”

“Of course, thank you, Secretary Tao.” Zhang Chao nodded and bowed politely, thinking to himself, “That loser must have offended the chairman—perfect, just what I needed. Now I’ll get the contract and keep my job.” He couldn’t help but smile.

“All right, Manager Zhang. Go on in—the chairman is waiting for you.” With that, Secretary Tao left.

Zhang Chao pushed open the door and was momentarily stunned to see Ye Feng sitting in the president’s chair.

He instantly dismissed the absurd idea. “How could Ye Feng be the chairman? The chairman must be away on important business. That’s all.” So, he immediately launched into a tirade against Ye Feng.