Chapter 34: Was it your intention to seek my counsel first, or to pick me up?

With the matters of Zhuang Ruyin and Zhuang Qingchun settled, Yan Ye decided to treat herself to a five-day break. She planned to travel to the neighboring city for a few days.

After booking her high-speed rail ticket, she threw a few clothes into a small leather suitcase and set off. Behind her, Jin Yuanbao wailed at the top of his lungs.

"Mean Yan Ye, you're not taking me again! I hate this!"

His protest could still be heard from across the alleyway. Once he tired of his dramatic performance, Jin Yuanbao returned inside to rest. Glancing at the desk in the main hall, he noticed a piece of paper held down by a pen. It was a handwritten gift list, filled with all sorts of mouth-watering snacks and a few toys.

The dramatic Jin Yuanbao immediately retracted his mental insults. Yan Ye’s chat box quickly lit up with a new message:

"Love you! Mwah! I also want..."

Followed by a long list of items.

Passing by a convenience store, she saw Xiao Chen on the roadside, unloading goods and moving them inside.

"Leaving so early? Going on a trip?" Yan Ye usually only appeared in the middle of the night, so seeing her out this early was a rare occurrence.

"Just going for a walk."

"Since you're on vacation, you should go have fun. Your work schedule is so inverted—it's too hard on your health."

Yan Ye smiled and agreed. Xiao Chen had always assumed she was a regular corporate employee, and Yan Ye didn't bother to correct that misconception. This dynamic suited her perfectly.

"Moving all these goods by yourself? Where's your boyfriend?"

At the mention of her boyfriend, Xiao Chen’s posture faltered. "Him? He's been busy with other things lately."

They exchanged a few more pleasantries. Yan Ye was in a hurry to catch her train, but just as she was about to leave, a gasp rang out from behind her. She turned to see Xiao Chen, who had been carrying items inside, accidentally bump into the driver who was helping her. It should have only been a minor brush against the arm, but Xiao Chen dropped her load in pain, clutching her arm with a grimace.

The driver was startled and repeatedly asked if she was alright.

"I'm fine, it's my fault. I didn't hold onto it properly. You go ahead and get back to your work!"

There are some things that, if the person involved won't speak up about, others cannot help with.

The Jing City High-Speed Railway Station is currently the largest in the country, covering a vast area; just walking across the main hall took quite some time. Yan Ye moved through the crowd, drawing many eyes. She found a seat near the boarding gate, and no sooner had she sat down than a trendy, cool-looking boy approached her.

"Big sister, I lost a game of truth or dare. Could I add your WeChat?"

Afraid she wouldn't believe him, he gestured toward his group of mischievous friends, who were peeking over and whispering to each other. The boy had a sweet, innocent face, his sunglasses pushed up onto his forehead, dressed in a black windbreaker, jeans, and sneakers.

"Is that okay?"

"Sure! Go ahead and scan," Yan Ye said, presenting the QR code. Once he scanned it, she put her phone away.

"Where are you going for your trip, big sister?"

"Changyang."

"What a coincidence! We're heading back to Changyang too. The mountains and waters there are world-famous; you should definitely take your time exploring."

The young man left a rather good impression on Yan Ye; his eyes were clear and untainted, and he was polite. Under the urging of his companions, Yuan Ze walked away reluctantly.

She had looked like a stunning beauty from afar, but up close, she was even more breathtaking.

"Did you get it? Did you add her? You lucky dog! That woman is clearly wealthy—do you know how much that bag she's carrying costs? If it's real, it's over half a million. I thought she'd reject you; I can't believe you actually pulled it off. Share her WeChat with us, let us experience what it's like to be with a rich woman too."

A woman nearby spoke up with a sour tone. "She's carrying a half-million-dollar bag and sitting in a standard class seat on the high-speed rail? You guys clearly don't know quality; that bag is obviously a fake."

Yuan Ze felt uncomfortable with their comments. He had only asked for her WeChat because he lost a game of truth or dare. He had fully expected to be rejected, and he hadn't anticipated that she would be so kind. He wasn't even close with these people; if it weren't for the mandatory club activity, he wouldn't have wanted to be here at all.

But now, looking at the contact sitting quietly in his phone, his grip tightened until his palms were damp. He couldn't help but steal a glance at Yan Ye, noticing her focused on her phone. He wondered if he would have another chance to run into her on the train.

Yan Ye had only been sitting for a short while when three or four people in neat uniforms hurried toward her, weaving through the bustling hall.

"My apologies, Miss Yan. We only just found out you were here. We've been neglectful."

Yan Ye had been watching a video, and it had just stopped to ask for a payment to see the rest. She was debating whether or not to pay a few yuan to finish it when these men stood before her, treating her with profound respect.

Could she not even travel with a bit of low-profile privacy? She had specifically chosen to avoid the business-class corridor.

"This is a private trip. I don't need any assistance. Thank you." After politely declining, she went back to tinkering with her phone. A moment later, a text message appeared out of thin air. Only a handful of people could communicate with her through this special channel, and the most active among them lately was Xu Zhiting.

The message was bold and impossible to ignore. Xu Zhiting asked if she was busy and if she wanted to grab a meal. Yan Ye casually replied that she was traveling.

The men standing before her did not leave, and countless gazes from the surrounding crowd were, to varying degrees, sizing her up. The man in the lead spoke:

"He said that we must ensure your safety."

"I am quite safe."

"But..."

"Go back and tell him: no. Not now, and certainly not in the future."

"The Sixth Master said that unless you go and tell him yourself..."

"Are you forcing my hand?"

When had Zhou Shiyue become so unreasonable and overbearing?

"Fine! Tell him to let me know the day he dies. I will personally go and see if he's actually dead."

"Miss Yan, if the Sixth Master hears you say that, he will be heartbroken."

"Oh, then next time I'll try to be even harsher so he can be even more heartbroken."

The PA system announced that boarding for the train to Changyang had begun. Yan Ye stood up, grabbed her small suitcase, and moved with the crowd. She happened to end up right behind the student who had approached her earlier.

Seeing that the men were still trying to follow her, Yan Ye’s expression turned cold. She stepped out of the crowd, presented her identification at the express gate, scanned it, and disappeared quickly up the escalator.

Yuan Ze witnessed the entire scene. He watched all the way as Yan Ye entered the exclusive business-class area, while he headed toward a coach car much further back.

Yan Ye received a reply from Xu Zhiting. Her previously icy expression softened slightly. He was asking her where she was going. Yan Ye decided to be coy and gave him a call instead. Xu Zhiting answered quickly.

"Team Leader Xu, do I need to report my whereabouts to you now?"

"I was just asking as a friend out of courtesy. If you don't want to say, I won't ask." Xu Zhiting was sitting in front of a mountain of files. The former director’s disappearance remained a mystery, and a pile of historical issues left behind were waiting for him to resolve. He had very little time to spare to see Yan Ye. Hearing that she was traveling—and knowing she was unpredictable—he didn't know how long she would be gone.

"When are you coming back?"

The train had already begun to move, and the scenery on both sides was gently receding. Yan Ye held her phone to her ear, making his voice sound clearer. The noise of the outside world was shut out; on this line, it was just the two of them.

"If it's fast, five days. If I'm late, a week."

"Then can I come to pick you up?" Xu Zhiting blurted out, then immediately added, "I wanted to ask your advice on a few things."

The corners of Yan Ye’s lips curled upward. She drew out the word "oh" for a long time.

"May I ask, Team Leader Xu, is it your intention to ask for advice first, or to pick me up first?"