456. IT SEEMED LIKE HE WAS AIMING FOR GIRLS WHO WERE TOO YOUNG FOR HIM
********
She had guessed it correctly. Qiao Nian was at the Imperial Mansion!
However, unlike Fu Ge's Nirmal private room, Ye Lan's VIP private room was further inside.
When Qiao Nian and the rest arrived, Ye Lan was already in the private room, making a call.
Seeing that her guests had arrived, she spoke briefly into the phone and then hung up. She stood up, looked behind him, and asked in surprise. ''Where's Nian Nian?"
''She went to the washroom.''
Liang Bowen also went to the washroom together with her. It seemed like he wanted to ask Qiao Nian more about her examination results.
''Okay.'' Seeing that Qiao Nian had yet to enter the room, she looked at them angrily. ''Why are you guys so late? I have been waiting for a long time.''
''We went to pick someone from the airport.''
Ye Wangchuan walked into the room first and took off his coat. He hung his khaki coat at the back of his chair. Wearing only a white T-shirt, he looked very prosperous. He had a pair of deep and profound eyes. He was tall, had wide shoulders, and a narrow waist. His white T-shirt gave him a clean and refreshing image. When he put his hand on his coat, the contrast allowed his slender fingers to be seen. His nails were also trimmed neatly and roundly. He looked flawless. His casual way of speaking only made him seem cooler!
Ye Lan was used to her nephew's charming appearance. Naturally ignoring the visual impact he had on other people, she stared at him and realized that he was in a different style today. ''You're wearing a very youthful and refreshing style today. Have you decided to change your fashion style?"
Gu San could barely hold in his laughter, but he still let out a chuckle.
Ye Wangchuan glanced at him faintly.
He immediately covered his mouth and shrunk back, trying to make his presence smaller.
However, he praised Ye Lan inside. Ye Lan was so admirable. She said the exact same thing as Qiao Nian!
''No, I just casually picked a shirt.'' Starting to get a headache, Ye Wangchuan pinched the center of his eyebrows. Seeing the dishes on the table, he pulled out his chair.
''Oh, I see.'' Ye Lan squinted at him. She focused on his unexpectedly youthful-looking T-shirt and said, ''In fact, you actually look good in this style. You're still considered young, but you always wear those dark and dull-colored clothes. It's good to try brighter colored clothes occasionally.''
Ye Lan didn't finish saying what she thought.
The other half of what she wanted to say was hidden in her heart.
Her neohew liked Nian Nian. It was obvious to everyone around him. Ye Wangchuan would turn 25 this year and wasn't considered very old. But Qiao Nian was only 18 this year. Although he wasn't considered old, it still seemed like he was aiming for girls who were too young for him.
However, both of them were extraordinarily good-looking and couldn't be compared to the ordinary level of good-looking people. Standing together, they looked to be a good match for each other!
''You said you went to pick someone up from the airport. Who is it?"
Ye Wangchuan took a cup and rinsed it with warm water. He then poured it out and poured himself a cup of green tea.
The tea served at the Imperial Mansion was the Bamboo Leaf Green, and naturally, the quality of the tea served in the VIP room would be of the highest grade.
The tea leaves' price was calculated by the gram, much like gold.
He took the blue and white porcelain teacup in his fair hand and skimmed the foam off the top with the lid. He watched as the tea leaves floated to the bottom of the tea cup and then said casually, ''We went to pick up Nian Nian's classmate.''
''Is her classmate a boy or a girl?" Ye Lan's reaction was similar to Gu San's initial reaction.
Ye Wangchuan spike concisely. ''You have met this classmate before.''
Ye Lan couldn't remember the faces of Qiao Nian's classmates she saw before. Deciding not to think too much about it, she looked at him lightly but meaningfully. ''Your grandfather wanted to come today, but I didn't let him. When will you take Nian Nian to visit him? Since you've decided on things, you should have brought her to meet our family already. This is not something you should hide or avoid.''
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457. YOU'LL HAVE MORE CHANCES TO TRY AGAIN IF YOU'RE REJECTED EARLY ON
*******
Ye Lan really liked Qiao Nian and made plans for her wholeheartedly. Naturally, she also hoped that Old Master Ye would also like her.
''She only came to Beijing this time only for her examination. She won't be staying here for a long time. Let's talk about that next time.'' Ye Wangchuan looked at the time. Qiao Nian had been gone for five minutes and hadn't returned yet. His eyes were deep as he sent her a message, telling her the private room number.
Qiao Nian was obviously looking at her cell phone. He received a reply from her a few seconds after seeing his message.
[QN: I'll be there shortly.]
Ye Wangchuan put his cell phone away and looked at the dishes that Ye Lan had ordered. He called the waiter over and ordered a few Sichuan dishes. He then casually said, ''Don't appear too anxious, else you might scare her.''
Ye Lan only chose to dine at Imperial Mansion because she didn't know Qiao Nian's preferences. Seeing him order some Sichuan dishes, she made a mental note of Qiao Nian's preferred food and the few dishes he ordered. She raised her eyes and said, ''You have been like this ever since you were young. You were always relaxed about everything. I'm becoming worried for your sake, even if gku aren't. When a girl as beautiful as Nian Nian goes to college, there will be many guys trying to woo her. If you still take things so slowly, you can just wait to attend her wedding with another guy in the future!"
Gu San also felt that Master Wang was too calm. As someone beside him, he was also worried for him. He didn't understand why Master Wang didn't seem to be worried.
''That's right, Master Wang. What Miss Ye Lan is saying makes sense. When will you confess your feelings to Miss Qiao? What if I look for an opportunity and try to test out Miss Qiao's feelings? In case she rejects you, we will still have more chances to woo her in the future.''
He spoke the words ''in case she rejects you'' quite smoothly. It seemed like this wasn't the first time he had thought this.
Ye Wangchuan glanced at him coldly. He said, ''You seem to be very free recently. Are you free enough to be concerned about other people's private matters now?"
Gu San understood the threat in his gaze and shook his head vigorously. ''No, I'm not free. I'm in the wrong. Sorry, Master Wang.''
Ye Lan couldn't stand to see this anymore. She glared at him and said angrily, ''Why are you threatening Gu San? He didn't say anything wrong. All you do is stand beside her and look, not doing anything. If you continue to only look, someone will steal her away from you one day. You'll regret it, then!"
Countless people were trying to pursue Ye Wangchuan. She wasn't worried about him finding a partner.
She knew how attractive and charming her nephew was.
However, she was worried about what would happen if Qiao Nian rejected him.
Nian Nian always looked indifferent on the surface. Maybe she had no intentions of dating at all. On that note, Ye Wangchuan would most likely get rejected. She would have to look at him more gently and have more sympathy for him now.
Just as she was thinking of this, her cell phone rang.
Ye Lan looked at the caller ID and then picked up the call. She spoke briefly and then hung up in a hurry.
Then, her well-maintained and elegant face showed urgency as she spoke to the people in the private room. ''The Old Master from the Wei family is almost dying. It seems like he is suffering from cerebral congestion. They're searching everywhere for a doctor, but no one is willing to take on the risk. If this drags on, it seems like he won't make it.''
Few families were on the same level as the Ye family.
The Shen family wasn't comparable to the Ye family, and the Wen family could barely be considered to be on the same level. Only the Wei family could be said to be on the same level as them, the Ye family.
However, ever since Old Master Wei's health deteriorated, the Wei family was in a mess. Everyone just hung around him like ghosts, trying to put on a show to maximize their personal interests before Old Master Wei took his last breath.
He was old sick, but he still needed to watch his children and grandchildren quarrel selfishly in front of his hospital bed.
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458. IT CAN'T BE A DIAMOND, RIGHT?
******
Ye Lan's heart hurt when she considered how Old Master Wei must be feeling. She pursed her lips and said, ''Wei Mingxuan called me just now, asking if I knew any foreign brain surgeons and if I could introduce one to him. But the problem is Old Master Wei is already over 80 years. Not many doctors would dare to operate on him. Who would take the risk if he passes away on the operating table due to some complications?'' Ye Lan sighed and looked helpless. ''That's also why I didn't introduce any doctors to him. The Wei family is so messy now, and the family members keep fighting among themselves. It's not my place to step in, lest I accidentally offend someone with my kind intentions.''
She thought for a moment and said, ''This time, Wei Ling and her daughter from the branch family were the best. They even involved the Shen family in their search for a doctor. What good intentions could they possibly have! They cannot wait for the Old Master Wei to pass away, just so that the Shen family can take the advantage of the mess and reap some benefits. Wei Mingxuan was probably in a tough spot and had not choice but to call me. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do to help him.''
Beijing was very big, but those living in the upper circles always stayed in contact with each other. Interaction between everyone was inevitable. When Ye Wangchuan heard her mention Old Master Wei, he thought back to the times when Old Master brought him to Chang'an Street when he was a child. His lips drew into a straight line. He held his teacup and said nothing.
He sighed from the bottom of his heart.
''In China, there's some called Liang Lu who specializes in brain surgery, right?"
Ye Lan was silent for a few seconds, and her eyes were helpless. ''Yes, but Liang Lu is not a fool. She doesn't dare to operate on Old Master Wei. She's also afraid that this will hurt her reputation if she fails.''
When she spike of this, she continued sadly, ''Not everyone can bear the responsibility of treating all the wounded and dying in the world. Many people are more concerned about their own reputation. If they aren't confident about the operation, they won't even think of taking it on. Take Chen Chen's case as an example. When he was ill, do you really think all the doctors we had consulted had no clue as to how to help him? Of course, they had a way. But they just didn't dare to try, in case their idea failed. They were all afraid that the failure would affect them, and also afraid of the repercussions from our family.''
In fact, when she had watched her child walk with a limp, she felt so guilty that she didn't want to leave the house. As long as a doctor was willing to help Chen Chen, she would have been so grateful. Who would even think of taking a revenge of they failed? The worse that could happen was that he would lose a leg. When that happened, Chen Chen would be no different from a cripple.
Fortunately, Ye Wangchuan brought him to Rao City and they met Qiao Nian. Ye Lan thought of this and felt relieved. She took out a velvet satin brocade box from her bag and put it on the table. She then said with a smile, ''Nian Nian did so well for her examination this time. I specially brought a gift for her.''
Gu San looked at her as she took out the box. Curious, he looked closer and said, ''Miss Ye Lan, what did you buy? Looking at the size of this box, is there a diamond inside?"
''I'm not so tacky!" Ye La tutted and said, ''I thought about buying necklaces and bracelets for her, but I changed my mind after a while. I don't think she will like presents like those. Even if I bought those things for her, it would only be a waste.''
There was another reason why she didn't buy jewelry. The jewelery looked too expensive, and she was afraid that Qiao Nian wouldn't accept her present.
Ye Lan was very satisfied with the gift she bought this time. She smiled and said, ''I thought for a long time before buying this. It may looked ordinary, but I believe it will suit her.''
Seeing her speak so confidently, Gu San was even more curious. He couldn't turn his eyes away from the box, hoping that she would open it and show him what she had bought. ''So, what did you buy in the end, Miss Ye Lan?"
Ye Wangchuan also looked over. His eyes glinted as he put his tea aside. ''What did you buy?"
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459. MISS QIAO HAS A LOT OF THIS!
******
''You guys might not have heard of this before.''
She said and opened the small box. In the brocade box, a white pill could be seen inside. It was the size of a tablet. White in color, it was placed in the center of the box. It was placed neatly and looked familiar.
It was at this moment that the waiter served the dishes.
There were dishes like spicy diced chicken and boiled fish. Plates of red-colored Sichuan dishes were severed one after another. People who didn't know better would have assumed they were in the wrong place.
When did the Imperial Mansion's chef change his profession and start to cook Sichuan cuisine!
Gu San didn't care about the dishes. He stared at at contents of the brocade box so intently that his eyes looked like they were going to pop out. He then looked at Ye Lan helplessly and asked, ''Miss Ye Lan, could you possibly have gotten this from the black market?"
Ye Lan was surprised that he knew so much and raised her eyebrows sharply. Everyone in the Ye family had deep and black eyes, and Ye Lan was no exception. ''You even know of the black market? Yes, you're right. This is a pill from the black market.'' She admitted this readily.
''This pill wasn't available in the black market for last two months. I also had to go through a middleman to get my hands on it. This pill even cost me a price that had eight figures in it.''
An eight-figure price tag showed how expensive the pill was. Ordinary people may not even earn this amount in their lifetime, but the Ye family and Ye Lan were rich.
Things that cost eight figures wouldn't be considered overly expensive or too cheap in their eyes.
At least, this showed that she genuinely cared about Qiao Nian.
Ye Wangchuan picked up the pill in the brocade box with an inexplicable expression. His eyes were deep as he turned to look at her. Not being able to discern her mood at a glance, he said, ''You didn't need to spend so much money buying this pill.''
She waved her hand casually and didn't think much abut it. ''We earn money just so we can spend it.''
''That's not what I man.'' Ye Wangchuan put the box down and rubbed the center of his eyebrows. He had a headache.
Ye Lan didn't understand what he meant, ''Then, what do you mean?"
Caught in the middle of their conversation, Gu San tried to explain her, ''Miss Ye Lan, you've misunderstood Master Wang. He's not saying that you shouldn't buy Miss Qiao a gift. He only meant that Miss Qiao already has a stock of this pill.''
Ye Lan was confused.
She exhausted her efforts and contacts looking for this pill, and she even paid a huge sum for it, but he actually said that she had a stock of this pill?
''Are you joking with me?"
Gu San scratched his head. He didn't know how to explain this to her. ''I'm speaking through truth, Miss Ye Lan. Miss Qiao has a lot of this pill. I often see her eating it like a candy. She keeps a few in a candy bottle that she carries around in her school bag.''
Ye Lan thought that he had misunderstood the situation.
She crossed her arms and said angrily, ''Do you know how much this pill costs?"
She ate it like candy?
She still kept a few in a candy bottle?
Who wouldn't cherish a pill that was so hard to come by? Hey would have to utilize all their resources to get it and wouldn't even dream of taking it unless it was a last resort, and yet he was talking about this pill so lightly.
Ye Lan didn't belive him, and there was nothing Gu San could say to convince her. He turned his head around and asked the man sitting opposite to him for some advice. ''Master Wang, can I tell her?"
Ye Wangchuan looked at Ye Lan. He covered the box and put his hand on the table, then leaned back and said casually, ''It's okay to tell her. She won't casually tell this to other people."
''What are you guys talking about? I don't understand.'' Ye Lan was starting to get annoyed when she saw them talking in riddles in front of her. Unhappy, she interrupted their conversation, ''If you have something you want to tell me, just tell me directly. Otherwise, please just keep it to yourself. Don't tell me half of the story and stop. You will only upset me.''
Gu San felt uncomfortable. Finally, finding an opportunity to speak, he looked at Ye Lan in the eyes and said concisely, ''Miss Qiao has a lot of this pills because she's the one who made it!"
It felt so refreshing to tell a secret!
Otherwise, he would be the only one aware of how amazing Miss Qiao was!
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460. YE LAN WAS SPEECHLESS!
*******
Ye Lan was speechless.
Her mind was blank. She looked at Gu San in amazement and then at Ye Wangchuan. She couldn't find her voice for a long time. ''Are you saying that all these pills in the black market were made by Nian Nian?"
''Yes.''
Gu San emphasized once again. ''It was all made by Miss Qiao. If it was not the case, how could Miss Qiao have cured Young Master Ye's leg?"
Ye Lan's mouth opened slightly. She was speechless. Looking at the medicine she spent so much on, her expression fell apart!
...
Qiao Nian was waiting for Liang Bowen to come out of the washroom.
She leaned against the wall, with her long legs slightly bent. Wearing a baseball cap, she was playing with her cell phone with her head down, revealing a good-looking chin.
Looking casual, she stood with a relaxed posture and a wild aura around her.
Wei Luo had sent her a message asking when her flight was.
She had just replied to him.
Not long after, he sent her another message. Wei Luo's message was concise and simple. He wouldn't be able to see her off at the airport tomorrow because his grandfather was ill.
Qiao Nian's eyelids hung down as she tapped on the cell phone screen. The light from the screen was shining faintly. After she replied to Wei Luo, she bent her knees slightly and straightened her body, then looked towards the direction of the washroom. A little anxious, she frowned.
Liang Bowen had already been in the washroom for twenty minutes. Did he really fall into the toilet?
Qiao Nian had a headache. She was just wondering whether she should call him when Liang Bowen finally came out of the washroom with his cell phone in his hand.
''Sister Nian.''
Qiao Nian lifted her eyelids and looked at him. Her temples trembled as she said, ''Don't tell me you've been on your phone for the past half an hour.''
''Well, you saw through me so easily.'' Liang Bowen scratched the back of his neck and said helplessly. ''Our classmates were all waiting for me to send them a news about you. I initially wanted to wait till I got back to the hotel, but they kept sending me messages. I didn't have a choice but to give them a call. I got a little too caught up in the conversation and didn't notice the time. I'm sorry, Sister Nian.'' He admitted his mistake and apologized sincerely.
Qiao Nian didn't blame him anymore. She straightened her legs and stopped pursuing this matter. She said, ''Let's go. They're already waiting for us in the private room.''
''Okay.'' Liang Bowen followed behind her and suddenly thought of something. ''By the way, there's something I'm not sure if I should tell you. I don't think it's important, but Shen Qingqing has been worrying about it.''
Qiao Nian looked down at the room number Ye Wangchuan had sent her. She didn't left her head and asked simply, ''What's the matter?"
As Liang Bowen followed behind her, he frowned and said, ''It's nothing much. Just something about Chen Yuan.''
Qiao Nian stopped walking, turned around, and looked at him. Her eyes were very black, and it was obvious that she cared about this matter. ''What's wrong with Chen Yuan?"
Liang Bowen was stunned by her reaction. He regretted not clearing things up before bringing this topic up. Touching his nose, he said, ''It's nothing. Shen Qingqing said that Chen Yuan didn't come to school yesterday, and he was not present today as well. The teacher also called him, but he didn't pick up. No one knows what he's doing.''
Skipping classes was a normal thing for students. Who never skipped a class or two when they were students?
In his freshmen year of high school, he was in a rebellious phase. He skipped classes regularly, and even his family members couldn't stop him. It was only after a while when the school set up a study group and paired him up with Shen Qingqing that he changed. Shen Qingqing was more serious than him. She took the teacher's words seriously about how students in the same group should help each other out and those who were having trouble studying. She dragged him along to study everyday. Once she even went to the bar and watched him as he completed his homework, almost getting harassed.