Chapter 56 Finally Meeting
"Ye Xingguo, how dare you hit me? I'll fight you to the death today!"
Li Xiuzhen was not one to be trifled with, having been bossy for over a decade at home. She had a stubborn streak, the kind that thought, "If I can't beat you, I'll endure it, but I'll fight you anyway."
People on the same floor came out to listen to the commotion, some even eating while they eavesdropped. In those days, a good show was always a welcome sight.
Ye Laopo also chipped in with a few scratches from time to time, venting her own frustrations.
Ye Shenggge could now hear the commotion at the Ye family's place without headphones; the tenement buildings were that poorly soundproofed. She casually took out a fruit salad as a post-meal dessert and waited in her chair.
The farce finally ended with the help of neighbors who couldn't stand it anymore. Ye Laopo had completely forgotten about asking Ye Shenggge anything and left, clutching a pile of good things she'd managed to pilfer from her son's house during the chaos.
What excited Ye Shenggge, however, was that only a few minutes after Ye Laopo left, Ye Xingguo also stormed out in anger, slamming the door. It was so late, and he was clearly upset; there was no doubt where Ye Xingguo would go.
Ye Shenggge knew her chance had come. She maintained a five-meter distance from Ye Xingguo, following him. It was completely dark, and she walked quietly, not afraid of being discovered. The only downside was the need to remember the route; she wasn't familiar with this city, let alone at night.
Ye Xingguo walked further and further away, nowhere near the factory district. After about twenty minutes, he slowed down.
Ye Shenggge didn't know the street names, so she scanned for any distinctive buildings. She was in luck; she spotted a few three- or four-story buildings, a place she’d never been. Every time Ye Xingguo turned a corner, Ye Shenggge would draw a mark on the wall at the intersection. This way, even if she only remembered the general area for the night, she could revisit it in the daytime to find the exact location.
Finally, Ye Xingguo stopped. Hearing the knock on the door, Ye Shenggge stopped at the alley entrance, peeking out with her eyes to count which house it was.
"Why are you here again?"
The disdainful words made Ye Shenggge want to laugh. This Ye Xingguo couldn't find any comfort anywhere.
Hearing the door close, Ye Shenggge immediately walked over and drew marks on both sides of the main door. She walked a few more steps into the alley and sat by the entrance of a house, listening to the conversation through her headphones.
Wan Qiong looked at the bruised man with disdain. The bloodstains on his face were clearly from a woman's scratches. A man who couldn't even control his own woman was useless, let alone one who had only managed to climb to a foreman position at the coal plant over a decade.
"What are you doing here at this hour?"
Ye Xingguo had thought his injuries might at least earn him a concerned question, but he realized he was being greedy. A wave of frustration washed over him. He suddenly felt that the money he'd earned over the years wasn't worth it; he hadn't even touched this woman's hand, and his own home was a mess.
"Ye Shenggge already knows she's not my child. She went to the factory today and threatened me, demanding I give her 3,000 yuan."
Ye Shenggge hadn't expected Ye Xingguo to try and drive up the price, which added a new layer to her plans.
Wan Qiong was very surprised. The Ye Shenggge she knew was a very reserved and timid girl; she couldn't imagine her threatening anyone.
"How did she find out about her background? Did you reveal it to her? And what power does a little girl have to threaten you?"
When Wan Qiong heard Ye Xingguo's account, she felt like cursing. Such a clumsy ploy had made the grown man crumble?
"Do you think I'm stupid, or are you? You, a foreman, and her father, were taken down by a few words from a little girl? Heh, who are you guys fooling?"