C111 Wen Shixing's Greed
This Sunday, as an intern, Yuvyuv finally got a day off. She eagerly hailed a rickshaw to head back to her family home. With Huo Lingxiao recently stationed at the military base, he couldn't keep tabs on her. Yuvyuv felt like a bird set free, joyfully flying back home.
As the rickshaw neared her house, just a few yards away, Yuvyuv suddenly called out, "Stop."
"Miss, do you want to get off here? I can take you the rest of the way," the rickshaw driver, an honest man, offered kindly. The young lady had generously paid him upfront, and he didn't want her to feel shortchanged.
"Shh, don't say anything. We'll move in a bit," Yuvyuv gestured for silence.
The driver, perceptive and experienced from years of work, followed her gaze to the front of the house. There, a young man with a refined appearance was chatting and laughing with a graceful young woman.
The driver, who often transported people, could sense the situation. He positioned himself to shield Yuvyuv from view, thinking she might be about the same age as his daughter—smart and charming. He figured there must be a reason she didn't want to be seen just yet.
Yuvyuv had excellent hearing, a skill honed from her past when Huo Lingxiao trained her in shooting. He always said, "To be a good shot, you need keen hearing, sharp eyesight, and heightened senses."
He trained her rigorously, even leaving her alone in a graveyard to distinguish the eerie sounds of ghostly flames. It nearly drove her mad, but eventually, she learned to identify the chilling sound, like a ghost standing behind you, tugging at your hair.
Even now, thinking about it makes Yuvyuv's teeth chatter with cold, and every hair on her body stands on end. Huo Lingxiao is a complete psycho! As her instructor, he was even more of a twisted demon.
"Nianci, I brought a small gift to visit your father. It's Sunday, so he should be home, right?"
Wen Shixing was dressed in a well-tailored suit and pants, with a shirt and matching vest underneath, complemented by a stylish blue tie and a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He looked clean and mature, exuding a refined demeanor.
If he were to visit an average family, the parents would likely be impressed by his appearance and attire. This young man seemed well-educated and carried himself with a gentle elegance, making a favorable impression.
When Wen Shixing smiled, he had the charm of a graceful gentleman, which was quite appealing to young women, sparking both joy and a bit of anticipation. Just like now with Yuvyuv's older sister.
Ye Nianci's cheeks flushed slightly, her light blue dress highlighting her fair skin and beauty. Her eyes, like autumn leaves, looked warmly at Wen Shixing.
Remembering something, Ye Nianci's expression turned apologetic. She parted her lips slightly, her voice soft, "Mr. Wen, I'm sorry, my father is busy today and isn't home, so we can't invite you in."
After speaking, her delicate hands clasped together awkwardly. Her eyes flickered, as if she couldn't bring herself to look up, feeling guilty for the little white lie. Her father was actually home. However, her sister had suggested meeting at a tea house, and their father had agreed.
Ye Nianci thought for a moment, then looked up slightly, her voice gentle, "Mr. Wen, since my father isn't home today, how about I treat you to tea at a tea house?"
Wen Shixing's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't answer right away. Instead, he gestured with the gifts in his hand and suggested, "What should we do with these? They were meant for your uncle, so it wouldn't be right to take them back. How about I bring them inside for you?"
He was testing the waters, hoping to gain entry into the Ye family home. He was curious to see if it was as grand as he imagined, considering their close ties with Great Marshal Huo. He also knew that the head of the Ye family, Ye Mingyuan, was the Finance Secretary of Haicheng, the one who held the keys to the city’s treasury. Holding the keys to such wealth meant access to untold riches, and the thought of it made Wen Shixing's eyes gleam with excitement. He was determined not to miss this rare chance to assess the Ye family's wealth.
Deciding to take the initiative, he suddenly stepped closer to Ye Nianci, his voice soft as he leaned in, almost brushing against her flushed cheek. "Nianci, may I have the honor of visiting your home?"
Ye Nianci seemed startled, having never been this close to a man before. She frowned slightly, feeling an inexplicable resistance to this proximity, and instinctively wanted to step back.
Wen Shixing mistook her reaction for shyness and felt pleased with himself, reaching out to make another move.
From a distance, Ye Yuvyuv's sharp amber eyes flashed coldly, like a blade glinting with icy resolve. She saw Wen Shixing's filthy hand about to touch her sister and could no longer stand by. She was ready to intervene.
Suddenly, Ye Nianci snatched the gifts from Wen Shixing's hand and darted towards the house. "Mr. Wen, my father isn't home, so it's not convenient to invite you in. I'll take your gifts inside and let him know they’re from you."
After speaking, Nianci turned and ran back to her family home. Wen Shixing was left standing there, a bit dumbfounded. In the distance, Yuvyuv almost burst into laughter. She never realized how endearing her older sister could be when she acted unpredictably.
"Ha! Look at that fool Wen Shixing, just standing there like an idiot," Yuvyuv thought, feeling like applauding her sister's antics.
The driver stood in front of Yuvyuv, occasionally glancing back at the young girl in the carriage, a bit puzzled, but he chuckled along good-naturedly. Soon, Nianci returned from the house and, together with Wen Shixing, hailed a rickshaw and left the family home.
Yuvyuv quickly jumped out of the carriage and handed the driver an extra two dollars. "Hey, miss, that's too much. You already paid the fare when you got on," the driver said, an honest man who, despite the challenges of making a living, wasn't greedy.
Yuvyuv turned back with a bright smile. "Sir, that was for borrowing your carriage earlier. Please, take it." Without waiting for the driver to respond, she ran off.