Although Ye Jinghuai had kept emphasizing at the dinner table that there was no such person, the other brothers in the Ye family were still not at ease. Thus, they dispatched the most available member of the family, Ye Jingzhi, to investigate.
Ye Jingzhi, having received the orders of the patriarchs, marched proudly towards Ye's Corporation.
Fortunately, there were no more muddled employees, and Ye Jingzhi smoothly reached the top floor.
"Why are you here, Fifth Young Master?" Han Rui asked, surprised to see Ye Jingzhi.
The other young masters of the Ye family were not interested in business and never came to Ye's Corporation. Even with shares in hand, they simply collected dividends at home, never getting involved in company affairs. This was the most harmonious wealthy family he had ever encountered.
"Assistant Han, I have something to ask you," Ye Jingzhi said, walking up and putting an arm around Han Rui's shoulders.
"What is it?" Han Rui, seeing Ye Jingzhi looking so mysterious, also grew curious.
"I'm asking you, has my second brother had any woman named Lu around him recently? Someone he's close to?" Ye Jingzhi glanced around the office and asked quietly.
"Fifth Young Master, why do you ask that? When has the President ever had any close female friends?" Han Rui found it a bit far-fetched.
"Really not? Usually, you handle things for my second brother. Haven't you ever helped him order flowers, send gifts, or anything like that? Someone named Lu."
"There really isn't. The President doesn't have the brains to send flowers! Even if he did, it would be for the Eldest Young Lady," Han Rui said with a helpless pout.
"Is there someone named Lu Linlang in the company?" Ye Jingzhi was persistent.
"No, we don't even have anyone surnamed Lu on the top floor. All the high-level executives and department heads surnamed Lu are men. Other employees have no chance to interact with the President."
"Fifth Young Master, has the President started dating?" Han Rui, seeing Ye Jingzhi constantly asking about women, felt something was amiss and became curious.
"You're asking me? I came to ask you!" Ye Jingzhi released him and rolled his eyes.
"I really don't know. Even if the President has something going on, he wouldn't tell me everything!" Han Rui spread his hands in helplessness.
"Did you find out?" A voice suddenly cut in from behind.
They both turned to see Ye Jinghuai standing at the office door, his expression grim.
"Heh, Second Brother, the patriarchs at home were worried, so they sent me to check! I'm not gossiping; I'm here on a mission." Ye Jingzhi walked over subserviently and explained to Ye Jinghuai with a sly grin. Han Rui, seizing the moment Ye Jingzhi was speaking, slipped away tremblingly.
"Then did you see anything?"
"No! Nothing at all! That Lin Anning must be out of her mind." Ye Jingzhi immediately stood at attention and reported the results of his investigation.
"You know she's talking nonsense, and you still came to investigate me? Also, who told Mom about this?" Ye Jinghuai was full of anger thinking about the phone call he had just received. In the call, Liu Ruhua had emphatically stated that if he was dating, he could bring the person home to meet them. She also expressed her desire to have Nuannuan live with her, so as not to disturb him in settling his life's major events. Thinking of this, Ye Jinghuai had nowhere to vent his anger and had to painstakingly explain to Liu Ruhua that it wasn't true. Just as he hung up, he heard the receptionist say Ye Jingzhi had arrived, and he knew without a doubt why he was there.
"It must be Third Brother, that big mouth!" Ye Jingzhi decided to let Ye Jingming take the blame, seeing as he was usually so cunning.
"You dare let Jingming take the blame for you? You have quite the nerve!" Ye Jinghuai shot him a sideways glance.
"Ah, this... Second Brother, you already know and you're still asking me!" Ye Jingzhi grumbled softly.
"Hmph~" Ye Jinghuai said nothing, let out a cold snort, and turned back into his office. Ye Jingzhi also hurried to follow.
"Why are you coming in? Aren't you going back?" Ye Jinghuai asked irritably upon seeing Ye Jingzhi follow him in.
"Cough~ Second Brother, I'll stay for a bit! Just looking around our company." Although he hadn't found anything, Ye Jingzhi decided to follow his second brother for a few days.
"Why haven't I seen you so diligent before? How about you come help me at the company for a while?"
"No, no, no. I'm studying military science. You're the capable one, Second Brother. Our family relies on you to make money, hehehe!" The thought of working at the company made Ye Jingzhi's head ache.
"If you want to follow, then follow. It will put your brothers' minds at ease." Ye Jinghuai knew his intentions; otherwise, he wouldn't be his second brother. Ever since Nuannuan arrived, Ye Jinghuai had often been late and left early, even skipping overtime. He preferred to bring his work home, and if he weren't the boss, he would have been fired long ago. Tonight was special; Ye Jinghuai had an important business banquet to attend and couldn't decline. Ye Jingzhi happily followed him. It was essentially a high-class dinner gathering, drinking and eating, discussing business, and of course, no one dared to pressure Ye Jinghuai with drinks. Seeing Ye Jingzhi at the table, everyone assumed the young master of the Ye family was about to join Ye's Corporation, and they all politely came over to shake his hand. Ye Jingzhi, bewildered, shook hands with them all, unable to even match faces to names, sitting on the side like a decorative mascot with unfocused eyes. While Ye Jinghuai was talking with them, Ye Jingzhi sat beside him, fidgeting as if he had nails on his backside, wanting to escape.
When the drinks were finished and people began to disperse, Ye Jingzhi let out a long sigh of relief and urgently urged Ye Jinghuai to leave.
"How was it? Did you find anything after following me all day?" Ye Jinghuai asked, watching him with amusement.
"Second Brother, your days are just too boring. It's much better for me to stay home and play with Nuannuan," Ye Jingzhi complained.
"I didn't ask you to follow me. And stop playing around with Nuannuan." Ye Jinghuai refused to admit he was jealous.
"But Nuannuan is happy! Seeing her smile makes me incredibly happy." Ye Jingzhi's face radiated joy whenever Nuannuan was mentioned.
"Are you still following me tomorrow?" Ye Jinghuai did not want to see his silly expression when he talked about Nuannuan.
"Yes, I am. Just because I didn't find anything today doesn't mean I won't tomorrow. I can endure it for Nuannuan," Ye Jingzhi clenched his fist.
"As you wish." Ye Jinghuai was too lazy to explain further.
As they walked out the door, they saw Lin Anning. The moment Ye Jinghuai saw her, his entire demeanor changed, and his expression turned terrifyingly grim. Lin Anning, since clearing things up that day, had wanted to indulge herself and do things she had never done before. Today, she had been brought to a bar by a friend, and coincidentally, the hotel where Ye Jinghuai was dining had a bar on its top floor. The bar was owned by the hotel owner himself, not the type with loud music and dancing. The bar was elegantly decorated, with a well-crafted atmosphere and high prices. It was a popular haunt for the young masters and ladies of the capital, famous throughout the city. In her past life, Lin Anning had always chased after Ye Jinghuai and would never have gone to such places, not wanting him to have a bad impression of her. Things were different now; she had let go. She wanted to liberate herself and only today realized how colorful such a life could be.