The Bodyguard King's CEO Wife

Chapter 1702: Chapter 1702: Bath

Both of them were caught off guard by Mi Wen’s sudden arrival. This teahouse wasn’t exactly famous in the city; after all, Ye Shikai liked to keep a low profile. He used to be a man in the spotlight—he couldn’t very well have the streets packed every time he came out just to drink tea and chat. He hadn’t expected Mi Wen to come so quickly, and even the Hidden Guard hadn’t had time to report her arrival.

Ye Shikai glanced out the window. There were no carriages or guards of the Lord beneath the teahouse; it seemed this time she was on a "micro-disguise private visit."

"Greetings, my lord." Shangguan Jian bowed with clasped hands, while Ye Shikai only nodded slightly in greeting.

"Today I’m not here as your lord, but as a friend." Mi Wen said calmly, sitting down across from Ye Shikai. Shangguan Jian understood why Mi Wen had come—she was here for Ye Shikai, otherwise she wouldn’t have come all the way from the yamen to this teahouse tucked away in a corner of the western part of the city.

"My lord, Old Ye, I’ll leave you two to talk. I’ll take my leave first." With that, Shangguan Jian left the private room.

"What did you come to see me for?" Ye Shikai said evenly, cutting straight to the point.

"You still owe me two conditions. Have you forgotten?" Mi Wen didn’t circle around either. She knew that if she said something like, "Can’t I come just to drink tea," Ye Shikai would definitely turn around and leave. Besides, Mi Wen was not someone who enjoyed beating around the bush.

"I remember."

"But I’ve also said, I’ve resigned from office, and I absolutely will not command troops in war again. That’s the premise." Ye Shikai immediately added. It was the same as what Xu Jia had said: Mi Wen would never be content to just "let him go."

"All right, no problem." What Ye Shikai didn’t expect was that Mi Wen agreed without a second thought.

"Since that’s the case, just tell me what you want. As long as it’s something I can do, I’ll do it."

"No need to rush. Of course it’s not now."

"If it’s not now, then my lord, please head back. I still want to sit here and drink my tea." Ye Shikai waved his hand.

"What, I can’t sit here and drink tea now?" Mi Wen beckoned the waiter to bring a pot of tea and sat in front of Ye Shikai, slowly savoring it.

"The whole of Linxiang City is mine. Whatever I want to do, I do."

"Suit yourself then." Ye Shikai got up, intending to leave. Mi Wen moved quickly and stepped forward to grab him.

"Do you have any other business?" Ye Shikai’s tone was very flat, even a little cold. Though Mi Wen looked very alluring, he’d already seen through her. After the massacre of the war prisoners, a deep chasm had opened between them. Wanting to drink and tea together, to chat and bare their hearts like before, was already impossible.

"Come back to the yamen with me."

"Why?" Ye Shikai instinctively took a step back.

"The second condition—you’ll find out tonight. So come back to the yamen with me now." Mi Wen took his hand and led him straight out of the teahouse. Ye Shikai had wanted to refuse, but then he thought it over and agreed. He owed Mi Wen two conditions; they were like two stones pressing on his heart. The sooner he repaid them, the sooner he’d find peace of mind. Mi Wen hadn’t brought any guards with her this time; as the two of them walked down the street, no one recognized them.

The yamen.

The two of them sat in the main hall for two hours without saying a word, just sitting there in silence. In the end, it was Ye Shikai who lost his patience first.

"What condition? Hurry up and say it. I still have to go back for dinner tonight." Ye Shikai set down his teacup and said impatiently.

"Don’t be in such a hurry. As for dinner, there are plenty of cooks in the yamen. You can eat whatever you want." Mi Wen brushed him off with a couple of casual lines and left. Ye Shikai felt it would be inappropriate to leave, so he could only sit there drinking tea and nibbling on snacks.

Before long, night slowly fell. Just when Ye Shikai was about to "lose it," two maids finally walked into the hall.

Ye Shikai was sure he didn’t know them, but Mi Wen’s residence was right in the center of the yamen. If he wasn’t mistaken, these must be maids from Mi Wen’s side.

"Mr. Ye, my lord is inside waiting for the General." one of the maids said softly.

"All right, take me in." Ye Shikai let out a sigh of relief, stood up, and followed the two maids to a room.

Frankly speaking, although Ye Shikai had stayed in the yamen for a period of time, he had never been to Mi Wen’s residence. Back then, Mi Wen had built her residence inside the yamen precisely for the convenience of handling affairs.

"Mr. Ye, my lord is inside. Please go in."

"All right."

Ye Shikai pushed the door open alone and slowly walked into the room. As soon as he stepped in, he caught a faint fragrance. In front of him was a narrow corridor, with many vases and calligraphy and paintings set along both sides. The "decor" was quite good. At the end of the corridor was a corner, and beyond the corner, yet another long passage. Helpless, Ye Shikai could only walk on. Turning left, turning right—like a maze—until he was so vexed he felt like smashing the walls.

"Mi Wen, are you in here?" Ye Shikai shouted loudly as he walked forward. When he reached the central area, many great swathes of bright red silk hung down from the ceiling, suddenly blocking his view. Ye Shikai could only reach out to lift the silks aside and walk forward step by step.

When he brushed aside the last strip of silk, Ye Shikai froze completely at the scene before his eyes.

A red carpet, steam misting in the air, a wooden bath barrel placed in the center, pink flower petals floating on the surface, and... the beauty in the bath...

"What, struck dumb?" Mi Wen was lying in the bath barrel, the hot water’s surface covered with pink peach blossom petals. Her seductive appearance would be enough to make ninety-nine percent of men "fall."

This was Mi Wen’s bathhouse.

"What exactly are you... trying to do?" Ye Shikai forced down the urge to turn around and leave, and asked coldly. As the saying went, "Lust is a blade at your throat." He needed to figure out what Mi Wen was really after.

"Nothing much. Don’t you owe me two conditions? I called you over, of course it’s to have you repay them."

"If you have something to say, just say it. You’re a young lady—don’t you know what self-respect is?" Ye Shikai went on, "I’ll wait for you at the door. Hurry up and get dressed, we’ll talk after." After saying that, Ye Shikai turned and left.

The main hall.

Ye Shikai sat alone in the hall, his heart still thudding wildly. In terms of figure and looks alone, Mi Wen was beauty incarnate; add to that her lofty position, and wherever she went she was a cold and aloof "queen."

But why did she have to do this, actually letting Ye Shikai into the bathhouse to "look" at her? If there had been any misunderstanding just now, he would never have been able to explain himself.

After a while, the wooden door slowly opened. Mi Wen emerged with only a thin red gauze robe draped over her, walking out barefoot.

"Hey, why are you dressed like that?" Ye Shikai hurriedly took a step back. Fortunately, no one else was nearby; if they were seen, Linxiang City would be full of gossip again tomorrow.