Free Web NovelChapter 203: Chapter 203: Losing the Lady and the Troops _1
Xia Ningning picked up her phone and only then did she see the many messages Xu Lele had sent her. It was just that she hadn’t had the time to check her own phone before.
She swallowed, typing in a flustered hurry, "Ye Ming has already passed my test."
But the moment she said it, she felt a bit guilty.
Xu Lele, her closest confidante, knew her very well. Sensing something was wrong from her words, Xu Lele pressed anxiously, "How did you test him, and what were you doing just now? Don’t tell me you guys..."
Following that message, Xu Lele included an emoji of surprise and shyness.
After some hesitation, Xia Ningning replied, "I just went to take a shower. The weather here in the Magic Capital is unbearably hot."
"Wow, you were alone in a room with Ye Ming and you dared to take a shower? I heard that hotel bathrooms are totally transparent!" Xu Lele, like a curious baby, kept firing questions, "You two didn’t shower together, did you? That’s really mean, not even inviting me to join."
"You’re really bold to use this move to test Ye Ming, sacrificing yourself like that. You are truly my good friend!"
Xia Ningning was so bombarded with questions that she was a nervous wreck, completely thrown off balance. She knew that the more she tried to explain at this moment, the more complicated things would get.
Not to mention Xu Lele’s vivid imagination; who knows what she might come up with next. Xia Ningning perfunctorily replied a few times, brushing the matter off to quickly end the chat.
After they had rested, the group went downstairs for a quick meal.
Having rushed around all morning, they felt much less fatigued after some rest.
Lin Bingqing, full of excitement, asked, "Master, I heard there are many fun places in the Magic Capital. There’s even a super huge casino. Shall we go check it out?" freёwebnovel.com
Lin Bingqing’s knowledge of many things in the Magic Capital was only from what she had seen on television—the Axe Gang, dance halls, and the great casinos—with big brothers in trench coats making their names in such places. She was full of curiosity.
After all, she had once been through the trials and tribulations of jianghu, and even though she had now stepped away from that world, the allure of jianghu was still strong for her.
Even Xia Ningning was curious. Having been pampered from a young age, the less she knew about such places, the more she longed to explore them.
At that time, however, Ye Ming suddenly shook his head.
"You guys go ahead and have fun. I have some matters to take care of," Ye Ming said seriously.
Xia Ningning blurted out impulsively, "What matters do you need to handle? It isn’t about another woman, is it?"
Ye Ming’s heart jolted. Indeed, a woman’s intuition is very precise.
The matter he needed to deal with did indeed involve women.
Once, near Xiaosang Village, on the mountains outside, Ye Ming had encountered a woman, Zhang Ruoxue, to whom he sold an Elixir for a billion, resulting in Zhang Ruoxue giving him an IOU and telling him to find her in the Magic Capital to claim the debt.
However, before that, Ye Ming found his marriage certificate, and on it was the name Zhang Ruoyu.
The two names were very similar, and both were from the Magic Capital. There could be some connection, so Ye Ming planned to find Zhang Ruoxue first. Perhaps she could lead him to Zhang Ruoyu and allow him to cancel the marriage arrangement.
...
Following the address on the IOU Zhang Ruoxue had left behind, Ye Ming took a taxi straight to the Shengshi Garden Community in the Magic Capital.
On hearing this name, the taxi driver asked in shock, "Young man, are you going to the Zhang Family’s territory in the Magic Capital?"
Remembering that Zhang Ruoxue had the same surname, Ye Ming nodded.
The driver chuckled and said, "I advise you not to go, someone like you won’t be able to get in."
"Why?" Ye Ming asked, puzzled.
The driver patiently explained, "Today is Elder Zhang’s birthday banquet, and the Zhang Family is in the midst of celebration. I’ve already taken three people to the Zhang Family today, and they were all turned away at the door for not having the right status."
"With empty hands like yours, not even bringing the most basic gift, it would be strange if the security let you in!"
Ye Ming immediately fell into contemplation. He was unaware of this and asked further, "How has Elder Zhang’s health been lately? Is he more spirited than before?"
Back then, Ye Ming had given him an Essence Elixir, and with that elixir, he wasn’t worried about not being able to get in.
The driver shook his head, "Elder Zhang has been in a coma for a long time now, and, what’s more, it’s strange that the Zhang Family is holding such a lavish birthday banquet for him while he’s still lying in the hospital bed."
"Despite this, the Zhang Family’s birthday banquet for the elder is very grand. I really can’t understand the thoughts of these wealthy people!"
The driver’s words plunged Ye Ming into a deep thought.
It hadn’t been long since he last saw him, not even a year had passed, and Elder Zhang’s health should have been very good. He shouldn’t have been comatose, at least not unconscious and unable to walk.
Thinking this, Ye Ming felt even more compelled to go to the Zhang Family to see the truth for himself.
The car quickly left the flow of traffic and headed down a deserted road.
After ten minutes, the car stopped outside a spacious estate, and the driver was adamant about not going any further.
"Young man, I’ll wait for you here. If you get turned away, you can still take my car to leave," he offered.
Ye Ming smiled and expressed his gratitude for the driver’s kindness.
After getting out of the car, Ye Ming saw a vast expanse of gardens and a tree-lined pathway through the woods.
At the end of the tree-lined path was the grand entrance to the Zhang Family’s mansion.
Ye Ming arrived at the front gate and sure enough, he was stopped by two bodyguards standing there.
Upon seeing Ye Ming’s ordinary appearance, they pretty much understood the situation and said, "Kid, this isn’t the place for you. Please leave."
The bodyguards were imposing, clearly trained fighters, and were not particularly polite to Ye Ming. The Zhang Family had the status to afford such gatekeepers.
Ye Ming replied calmly, "I’m here to see someone."
The bodyguard asked, "Do you have an invitation?"
Ye Ming shook his head, "I’m just here to collect a debt. I’m not interested in the banquet. Just pass on the message for me; if she could bring the money out, that would be perfect."
The two bodyguards glanced at each other, somewhat taken aback.
Speaking such words right outside the Zhang Family’s turf, not many had the courage to do so.
They hesitated for a moment before asking Ye Ming, "Who owes you money?"
Ye Ming chuckled and said, "Since I’m here, it’s, of course, someone from the Zhang Family who owes me money. The one who owes me is Zhang Ruoxue."
"By the way, I’d also like to see Zhang Ruoyu if she’s around. Have her come out as well," he added.
