This time, Qing Ye returned to Zha Zha Ting. Qing Hong Zhi arranged for two people to accompany her back to handle these matters – one was a female assistant from his company.

The other person was Jiang Bo, who could be considered Qing Hong Zhi’s friend despite their age difference. In his thirties and still unmarried, he was a notorious figure in Beijing’s legal circles, known as the “Tyrant Flower.” The “Tyrant” referred to his dominating presence in court, while “Flower” was a nickname earned from his reputation of remaining unattached despite numerous romantic opportunities.

Jiang Bo had indeed helped Qing Hong Zhi navigate through some complex cases. Later, when Qing Hong Zhi started his own company, he hired Jiang Bo as his part-time legal counsel, seeking his assistance with various matters, including the current issue of changing his daughter’s legal representative status.

Qing Ye wasn’t particularly familiar with Jiang Bo, having only met him twice before. She was resistant to her father’s arrangements this time, feeling that it was just a matter of signing some documents, yet her father had made such elaborate preparations.

Take this Lawyer Jiang, for instance – he brought a large suitcase, wearing a flashy black trench coat paired with a red turtleneck sweater and gleaming British leather shoes. Qing Ye strongly suspected that his huge suitcase contained nothing but clothes as if he were going on vacation.

Especially with his meticulously trimmed mustache and quintessential playboy face, Qing Ye couldn’t understand how his clients could trust someone with such an appearance.

During the drive to the airport with Uncle Sun, Jiang Bo, who hardly looked his age with his alluring phoenix eyes, spoke to Qing Ye in an unnaturally mature tone: “Last time I saw you, you were shorter, wearing two little braids. Now you’ve grown so much.”

“…”

“I thought you were still in high school.”

“…”

“By the way, do you remember me?”

Qing Ye forced a smile at him and then closed her eyes, pretending to sleep. Only then did he finally stop talking.

But he didn’t stay quiet for long before starting to chat with Assistant Tian.

Meanwhile, Qing Ye felt somewhat anxious. Since New Year’s Eve, she had completely cut off contact with the people in Zha Zha Ting. After more than half a year, returning to this once-familiar place and potentially seeing that person made her unexpectedly nervous.

On the plane, Jiang Bo sat next to Qing Ye and took out a document from his briefcase, handing it to her: “This is the asset evaluation report. I’ve prepared it for you. We’ll use this report to negotiate the transfer price with them. I’ll handle the negotiations, so don’t worry.”

He then handed her another document: “This is the transfer agreement. Your father mentioned that the place is quite poor, and I suspect they might not understand these matters well, so I prepared everything in advance. If they have no objections, they can sign it directly.

Don’t worry, this agreement protects you from all risks. It clearly outlines everything – debt issues, operational conditions, labor risks. Once they sign, you won’t have to worry about anything that happens with this company in the future.”

Qing Ye gave the documents a cursory glance, threw the transfer agreement back to him, and then promptly tore the asset evaluation report in half.

The “rip” sound startled Jiang Bo, who immediately exclaimed: “Why did you tear it up?”

Qing Ye slapped the torn papers onto him: “Not needed.”

Jiang Bo raised an eyebrow: “Not needed? Your father specifically asked me to help calculate the assets clearly so you wouldn’t lose out in the transfer.”

Qing Ye repeated: “Thank you for your kindness, but I don’t want any transfer fee.”

Jiang Bo immediately narrowed his eyes, looking calculating. This made Qing Ye smile and ask directly: “What else did my father tell you to do?”

Jiang Bo raised his eyebrows in surprise, then smiled: “I see you’re as quick-thinking as your father.”

Qing Ye turned her head to open the window shade, gazing at the misty clouds, and said flatly: “Arranging two people to accompany me – did he think I was negotiating with a listed company?”

Jiang Bo crossed his legs, saying leisurely: “I’ll tell you since it’s no big deal. What’s in it for me? Will you introduce me to your college classmates?”

Qing Ye shot him a contemptuous look: “Uncle, where’s your sense of shame?”

Jiang Bo appeared unbothered: “Call me brother, not uncle. I’m not that much older than you. Are all the young ladies at your school like you, looking down on people?”

“We only look down on unserious people.”

Jiang Bo laughed immediately, turning slightly toward Qing Ye: “Your father did give me some other instructions. He wanted me to see if you’d found yourself a lover in that poor place.”

Qing Ye turned to look out the window coldly, saying: “Then why tell me?”

Jiang Bo responded confidently: “Whether I tell you or not, I’ll complete what your father asked me to do. Brother’s been through this before, so little sister, be careful not to give yourself away.”

“…” You wish.

After getting off the plane and transferring to a bus, Jiang Bo complained the whole way. But when they finally got off the bus in An Zi County, he genuinely exclaimed: “This place is backward. What era are these taxis from? I think your father was overthinking it – how could you find a boyfriend here? Your taste would have to be unique.”

Although Jiang Bo’s reaction mirrored Qing Ye’s initial impression of An Zi County, hearing these words now felt jarring to her. She walked away to hail a taxi.

Assistant Tian, dragging her suitcase, followed behind saying: “Qing Ye, let’s find a place to stay first and put down our things before meeting them.”

Since only Qing Ye knew the area, once in the taxi, she gave the driver directions to the hotel where Xing Wu had taken her before, then sat quietly in the front passenger seat, staring out the window without saying a word.

At the hotel, seeing Qing Ye’s low spirits, Jiang Bo approached her and said: “Don’t look so gloomy, making it seem like your father sent two people to monitor you. Think about it – your father couldn’t be here for your crucial college entrance exam period and felt guilty about it. He’s just worried you might make a rash mistake. After you graduate, if he doesn’t find you a wealthy match, he’ll at least look for someone of equal standing, like an elite professional like me.”

Qing Ye handed her ID card to Assistant Tian and turned to Jiang Bo: “The person he owes is my mother, not me. And please, pick up your face from the floor.”

Jiang Bo fell silent, thinking that Brother Qing’s daughter had quite a personality. No wonder before leaving, Brother Qing had gone to such lengths to ask him to nip any concerning developments in the bud.

Jiang Bo narrowed his eyes and smiled silently.

Qing Ye shared a room with Assistant Tian, while Jiang Bo got a single room. By the time they got to their rooms, it was already three in the afternoon. After a brief rest, they prepared to head to Zha Zha Ting. Since they might need to file documents at the Industrial and Commercial Bureau and it was too late today, they planned to first meet with the other party to discuss the relevant matters, and then prepare the materials for tomorrow.

The early February weather didn’t seem as cold as last year. Qing Ye wore a light purple coat that wasn’t particularly thick, and she didn’t need to huddle against the cold. She stood downstairs with Assistant Tian, waiting for Jiang Bo.

However, when this gentleman came down, he had changed into a formal suit and carried himself with an air of importance. His appearance and the way he strutted around made him stand out like an exotic flower in this county town.

Qing Ye’s eye twitched as she asked him: “Why did you change clothes?”

Jiang Bo adjusted his suit with a serious expression: “This is called professional integrity, little sister. Let’s get to work.”

“…”

So Jiang Bo, dressed like he was heading to the World Trade Center, appeared in Zha Zha Ting, drawing stares along the way. Since Qing Ye had informed Du Qi Yan about her arrival today, even Huang Mao and Pang Hu were present when they reached the Qing Gu Food Factory.

As soon as she stepped into the familiar courtyard, Pang Hu excitedly dropped his book, stood up from his small stool, and grinned at Qing Ye: “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Qing Ye opened her arms to him: “Did you miss me?”

Pang Hu hugged her with a smile: “Yes, very much.”

Jiang Bo silently observed this enormous creature beside Qing Ye, his face twitching. Surely not?

Then Huang Mao approached with a pitiful expression: “You only have eyes for Fatty, not me? You never reply to my messages – have you forgotten me?”

Qing Ye put her arm around his shoulders as they walked toward the factory building, secretly scolding: “Don’t you need a filter for that mouth? I brought you a gift this time.”

Hearing about the gift, Huang Mao excitedly asked: “What is it?”

“I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”

Later, Qing Ye whispered something to Huang Mao that Jiang Bo and the others couldn’t hear, but they saw Huang Mao turn to give Jiang Bo a look.

Jiang Bo watched Qing Ye and Huang Mao walking arm in arm, whispering secrets, his frown deepening. As soon as they entered the factory, Qing Ye went straight to the production line to find Liu Nian and continued discussing recent production matters with him.

Jiang Bo and Assistant Tian were invited to Du Qi Yan’s office, where she served them tea.

Through the office window, Jiang Bo observed how familiar Qing Ye seemed with the young man called Liu Nian.

Just then, Du Qi Yan called out: “Qing Ye, they’re back.”

Qing Ye’s conversation with Liu Nian abruptly stopped. She looked up toward the factory entrance, where Quan Ya entered first, followed by the man she hadn’t seen for half a year.

His hair had grown longer, no longer the rebellious crew cut, but somehow transformed into a messy layered style. He wore a black motorcycle jacket, his eyes carrying a cold handsomeness. From the moment Qing Ye saw him, her heart seemed to stop. She could even feel the sounds entering her ears being infinitely amplified, all other people instantly fading away, her eyes fixed only on that figure.

Qing Ye had thought seeing him would make her lose control, that she would be impulsive like on New Year’s Eve, perhaps unable to contain herself. But perhaps due to the long separation, this once-familiar person now felt slightly strange to her. She was more controlled than she had imagined, at least outwardly showing no emotional fluctuations.

She simply put down the new product samples and walked toward them. Xing Wu quickly noticed her as well, turning his gaze toward her, merely… looking at her, his dark eyes unfathomably deep.

Jiang Bo and Assistant Tian also came out of the office. Qing Ye walked up to Quan Ya and the others. Surprisingly, no one spoke, not even the usually chatty Huang Mao, who quietly watched them at this moment.

The atmosphere became mysteriously awkward for a moment, even Assistant Tian looked around uncertainly, not knowing what was happening.

Jiang Bo curled his lips thoughtfully, observing the two men who had just entered – one scholarly-looking, the other radiating vigor, both around six feet tall and quite handsome.

Qing Ye introduced her companions calmly but politely: “This is Lawyer Jiang, and this is my father’s assistant, Ms. Tian.”

Then looking at the others, she introduced: “Quan Ya, Xing Wu.”

Jiang Bo stepped forward, offering his business cards with a smile in his eyes: “I’ll be helping Qing Ye handle the transfer procedures. Shall we find a place to talk?”

Quan Ya took the card and glanced at it, then looked at Qing Ye. She avoided his gaze – she had already made it clear to Jiang Bo that she didn’t want any transfer fee, just the basic procedures.

The money she had initially invested in the factory had already been recovered through the monthly payments Xing Wu had Du Qi Yan send her. She didn’t want to discuss asset liquidation anymore. Since leaving Zha Zha Ting, she hadn’t spent any energy on the factory, and her return now was purely for procedural matters – it wasn’t that complicated.

Quan Ya pocketed the card, and Xing Wu said to Jiang Bo: “Let’s talk somewhere else.”

The transfer materials were already prepared and with Fang Jie. That place was more spacious, just next door in Target Factory Zone 3, not far to walk.

As they were leaving, Huang Mao approached Xing Wu and said: “Watch out for that bakayaro.”

Xing Wu frowned: “What bakayaro?”

“That guy with the mustache next to Qing Ye, doesn’t his mustache look like a bakayaro? Qing Ye just secretly told me not to mention your relationship with her in front of him. Why do you think that is?”

Just as he finished speaking, Huang Mao’s expression suddenly changed: “Don’t tell me Qing Ye and he…”

Xing Wu looked back at the well-dressed Jiang Bo but said nothing.

On the way, Qing Ye walked with Quan Ya, discussing factory matters. Since her departure, all factory affairs, big and small, have been managed by Xing Wu and implemented by Quan Ya. Quan Ya handled regular tasks like recruitment, client relations, suppliers, advertisers, and such. The factory now had over a dozen workers and had hired an accountant – things were becoming more professional.

Jiang Bo, Assistant Tian, and Xing Wu walked behind them. Jiang Bo tried to indirectly inquire about the factory’s future development while making small talk with Xing Wu.

Before they knew it, they arrived at Fang Jie’s company, a five-story standalone office building that looked quite impressive.

Jiang Bo deliberately pulled Qing Ye back and told her: “I just chatted with Xing Wu – this factory could attract significant investment. Are you sure you don’t want a transfer fee? If your father knows about this…”

“No,” Qing Ye replied decisively.

Entering the building, the five of them got into the elevator. Quan Ya pressed the fifth-floor button. Assistant Tian held the door as Qing Ye entered first, standing at the back. After they all entered, the elevator door closed.

When Qing Ye looked up, she found Xing Wu standing right in front of her. His back was still so tall and broad. The distance was too close, and his familiar scent seemed to wash over her, entering her nostrils, and instantly awakening long-dormant emotions. She suddenly had the urge to tightly hug him from behind, but the elevator quickly stopped, and Quan Ya said: “We’re here this way.”

Qing Ye unconsciously stepped forward but accidentally stepped on Xing Wu’s heel. He turned to look at her, and she raised her head in confusion, saying very softly: “Sorry.”

Xing Wu had already turned away and stepped out of the elevator. Qing Ye walked last, quickly regaining her composure.