After this ordeal, Ye Tiancheng didn't sleep well. Seeing Hou Mingzhu still unconscious and showing no signs of waking, he worried something might happen. Ye Tiancheng stayed by her side, but as time passed and it became boring, he unknowingly lay down next to Hou Mingzhu and fell asleep.
"Hey! What did you do to me?"
Ye Tiancheng was woken up by a shout. When he opened his eyes, he found himself hugging Hou Mingzhu. It was too late to pull his hand away.
*Slap!* A loud slap landed on Ye Tiancheng's face.
Ye Tiancheng looked at Hou Mingzhu with a wronged expression, "Why did you hit me?"
"It's because you took advantage of me while I was sleeping. You deserve to be beaten to death."
If he had known, he wouldn't have saved her. This Hou Mingzhu might as well have rolled off the mountain and died. Being alive, she was just arrogant, overbearing, and unreasonable. It would have been cleaner for her to die.
"Miss Hou, don't forget, if I hadn't saved you, you would have fallen off the cliff. Even if you didn't die, you would have been disfigured. You wouldn't have had the mood to think about whether I took advantage of you."
After Ye Tiancheng's reminder, Hou Mingzhu finally remembered that the situation was indeed critical before she fainted. If Ye Tiancheng had reacted even a second slower, or if he hadn't possessed such strong true qi, Hou Mingzhu would have undoubtedly been smashed to pieces at the bottom of the cliff.
"You... Ye Tiancheng, don't think I'll be grateful to you."
Although Hou Mingzhu said this, her feelings towards him had actually changed a bit. After all, it was a life-saving grace. No matter how heartless a person was, they couldn't completely disregard it.
"I don't need your gratitude, Hou Mingzhu. I just hope you won't bother me again. Let's just live our own lives."
Ye Tiancheng's words were quite heartless. In fact, after this life-saving incident, Hou Mingzhu's feelings for him had deepened.
"By the way, what evil art did you secretly cultivate? What was that mysterious power when you saved me?"
Hou Mingzhu was genuinely terrified, but she wasn't so scared that she lost her mind. She still remembered Ye Tiancheng's abnormality at that time. He was as if divinely aided, something an ordinary person could never achieve.
Ye Tiancheng didn't want to discuss this matter further. Hou Mingzhu was too restless. Ye Tiancheng didn't even need to tell her the truth. Once he revealed anything about the Nuwa Stone, it would quickly bring him a lot of trouble. If the stone was snatched by cultivators, that might be the best-case scenario. Ye Tiancheng even suspected he might be dissected and studied by some terrifying research institution.
"Hou Mingzhu, if you're feeling better, hurry up and leave here. As for anything else, I have nothing to say."
Ye Tiancheng still maintained a distant demeanor, which surprised Hou Mingzhu. After all, in such a critical situation, Ye Tiancheng still chose to save her. Why was it that when he acted, one could see his kindness, but when he spoke, he was so cold and heartless? Could a person truly have such distinct dual personalities, like a split personality?
"Are you in such a hurry to kick me out? My savior, haven't you ever thought about me repaying you?"
This Hou Mingzhu was truly unpredictable. Ye Tiancheng seriously suspected that dealing with such a woman could lead to his death, ultimately dying from her capriciousness.
"Perhaps it's better not to. I can't afford it."
Seeing that Ye Tiancheng was already beyond reconciliation, Hou Mingzhu finally realized that one couldn't be too arrogant. Otherwise, they might truly have no friends. Not only would they have no friends, but even their fiancé might fall into someone else's arms.
"Alright, don't be so emotional. Sometimes I speak without thinking. Actually, I'm very grateful to you. After all, you saved my life. Ye Tiancheng, I know your current difficulties. Perhaps I can help you."
Ye Tiancheng should have been pleased to hear this. He was certainly willing to accept help. However, coming from Hou Mingzhu's mouth, it carried a hint of dread.
"No need. As long as you, Miss Hou, don't come looking for trouble, I will be eternally grateful and dare not have any complaints. In short, please spare me."
Ye Tiancheng was trying his best to avoid her, as if facing some terrible plague. Hou Mingzhu, who had been so proud before, felt a little disappointed after this blow.
"Ye Tiancheng, do you really think I'm that kind of malicious woman, incapable of anything but scheming against others? Is that how you see me?"
Suddenly sensing that Hou Mingzhu's tone was off, Ye Tiancheng analyzed it slightly and realized that the once arrogant young lady seemed on the verge of tears.
"Hey, Hou Mingzhu, I didn't do anything to you. Don't act like you're about to cry."
"Of course, I won't cry. Ye Tiancheng, you're not qualified to make me cry. It's just that I got something in my eye."
Seeing Hou Mingzhu's stubborn expression, but with tears dripping down, Ye Tiancheng began to wonder if he had been too heartless.
"Alright, it's all my fault. Don't cry. I was just worried about trouble. Just tell me if you have any instructions. I won't look at you with prejudice anymore."
"Let's cooperate."
Hou Mingzhu suddenly said this, leaving Ye Tiancheng completely bewildered. This woman was so fickle. She was talking about business now, when just moments ago she was weeping profusely. The fact that she could be so rational as to discuss business was truly remarkable.
"Okay, how should we cooperate? You tell me."
"I've been planning to create a catering empire for three years. I've been preparing for a long time and can only put it into action recently. The catering I want to do focuses on healthy, organic ingredients. I heard you previously ran a horticulture center. I think we might be able to cooperate."
Ye Tiancheng hadn't been listening very carefully before. He thought Hou Mingzhu wouldn't say anything serious. However, when he heard her propose cooperation and the possibility of revitalizing his horticulture center, Ye Tiancheng instantly felt awake.
"I think your idea is feasible. But let me be clear upfront: in life, you can do whatever you want to cause trouble for me, but don't expect that if your ladyship gets unhappy, you can dictate terms to me in business."
Ye Tiancheng's concerns were valid. Given Hou Mingzhu's unpredictable nature, cooperation could be discussed, but even if they started cooperating, stability would be a major issue. If two partners frequently argued over various issues, the business wouldn't prosper. Ye Tiancheng felt that it would be less troublesome not to cooperate at all.
"Don't worry, I am an emotionally volatile woman, that's true. But in business, I am more serious and dedicated than anyone else."
"I'm sorry, but based on my past interactions with you, I can't believe your words."
"It's just a simple cooperation. I will purchase the raw materials needed for the restaurants from you. Even if I don't buy them, others will. What are you afraid of? If the produce you cultivate at your horticulture center is good, then people will naturally compete for it."
Although Hou Mingzhu's character was questionable, there were no negative rumors about her in business. She seemed to be quite trustworthy, and what she said made some sense. Since it was a simple buyer-seller relationship, there was no need to be so tense. Having an extra buyer meant an extra outlet.
"Alright, then go ahead with it. No matter how many raw materials you need, I can provide them. And even if there is competition, I will prioritize you, after all, we have this relationship. I am a sentimental person."
Regardless, polite words had to be said. This was essential emotional intelligence when conducting business. Seeing that Ye Tiancheng had agreed, Hou Mingzhu had no other reason to deliberately cause trouble.
"Then it's settled for now. It's quite funny, isn't it? I can get anything I want, but I still have to negotiate with my fiancé. Do you think I'm a bit pathetic?"
Ye Tiancheng didn't really care what this woman was lamenting about.
"Now that the person is fine, do you want me to send you back?"
"Ye Tiancheng, are you so eager to kick me out because you're afraid I'll discover your little lover? Actually, I already know some information. I just can't believe it. After three years of farming, your taste has really become increasingly rustic. You actually fancy a woman like that. I suspect any of my subordinates would look down on her."
Hou Mingzhu's unpleasant remarks were nothing new to Ye Tiancheng. He knew she was like this, and he told himself not to get angry, because getting angry meant losing.
"You're overthinking it. I'm just farming here every day. Occasionally getting close to women doesn't mean what you think."
A man's mouth is a deceiving thing. Ye Tiancheng couldn't tell the truth. If he were a bit too naive, he would surely meet misfortune. Ye Tiancheng knew too well how vengeful Hou Mingzhu was.
"Alright, actually, I also dislike people who make demands but don't offer rewards. Ye Tiancheng, don't worry, I will give you rewards. As long as you cooperate, I will pay the compensation from the Su family for you. Consider it proof of my sincerity in cooperating with you."
Such a large sum of money, would Hou Mingzhu really give it? Ye Tiancheng found it somewhat unbelievable. Although he and the Hou family had this marital connection, Hou Mingzhu hadn't given him a single cent in the past three years. Now, to offer such a generous amount, Ye Tiancheng was somewhat shocked and unaccustomed to it. Was this woman plotting some trick again?
"Looking at your expression, you seem shocked. Let me tell you the truth. I know how amazing your pears are. You can give me this batch of unsold pears as repayment. And I believe that with your current momentum, with a little help, you will become the greatest modern farmer, even a great industrialist, admired and respected by everyone."
Watching Hou Mingzhu's impassioned speech, Ye Tiancheng had only one feeling: this woman might be possessed. She had looked down on him before, and now she had suddenly changed her tune and was praising him excessively.
"No, no, no, Hou Mingzhu, haven't you heard of the term 'praise to kill'? I don't have that big of an appetite, and I don't eat that kind of food. Don't talk about farmer entrepreneurs. I'll be lucky if I don't go bankrupt."
Seeing Ye Tiancheng's humility made Hou Mingzhu like him even more. After all, humility was the ultimate form of showing off. Those men who constantly bragged and drank were all just sitting at home, beating their wives and scolding their children, unable to earn a penny. Hou Mingzhu wouldn't even glance at such men, fearing she might get styes in her eyes.
"Don't talk about yourself like that. Behind every successful man, there is a great woman. You just haven't had anyone to support you. The start of any business empire requires strong economic backing. You can't do it alone. Even if you use a cheat code, someone has to copy it."