Chapter 512 The Child's Father Brings Too Great a Chance of Danger
The banquet officially began with a meal. To showcase the culinary culture of a great nation, dishes from several major cuisines were served.
Ye Shenge was surprised to see that several foreign ladies could skillfully use chopsticks. It seemed these people had put in effort to cooperate with China.
"Ms. Ye, are you free tomorrow?"
Mrs. Guyen, Penny, kept her focus on Ye Shenge even while eating. She even followed what Ye Shenge picked.
"Is something the matter?"
Penny was a blonde beauty, tall and slender. Ye Shenge, at one meter seventy-two, had to crane her neck to reach her shoulder.
"I'd like to go shopping with you and would appreciate it if Ms. Ye could introduce the local customs and culture of Chenghai City, as we've rarely come here."
Ye Shenge put down her chopsticks and smiled at Penny.
"This is also my first time in Chenghai City, so I'm not capable of introducing the local customs and culture, but I can accompany you shopping."
"Really! Ms. Ye, you're too kind."
"We want to go too, don't leave us behind."
Stormy and Averill had been craning their necks, afraid they would miss any topic.
Ye Shenge smiled and nodded. She hadn't expected foreigners, who had always been prejudiced against the Chinese, to be so amicable. Ye Shenge wouldn't normally have accompanied them personally, as Zi Yisheng's status didn't allow her to appear too undignified.
But seeing the attitude of these three now made Ye Shenge feel she could put aside status and walk with them as an ordinary friend.
At this moment, a server brought over a stewed soup. Ye Shenge gestured for the three ladies to try it. But as it was placed in front of Ye Shenge, the stew pot tipped and spilled the soup all over her.
"Madam, I apologize, I didn't do it on purpose."
Zi Yisheng had been very quiet, only listening as Ren Xusheng chatted with the foreigners. But his eyes had been constantly on his wife. Seeing this accident, he immediately stood up and went around to her side.
Arson stepped forward and directly escorted the offending server away. Penny, meanwhile, had immediately grabbed a napkin and was helping Ye Shenge clean the stains on her clothes.
"Oh my goodness, such a perfect dress ruined like this. Ms. Ye, aren't you burned?"
Penny grabbed Ye Shenge's arm and began to check her. Zi Yisheng couldn't bear to watch any longer and pulled his wife up.
"How is it? Are you burned?"
"I'm not burned, I just need to go upstairs and change."
"I'll accompany Ms. Ye, I've eaten enough."
Penny eagerly offered again. Zi Yisheng was already annoyed and looked at Penny with a calm expression.
"No need to trouble you, Madam. I'll take my wife upstairs."
Ye Shenge smiled apologetically at Penny and nodded at the others before leaving.
The moment the elevator doors closed, Ye Shenge let out a sigh of relief, frowning as she touched the red marks on her arm.
"Was it intentional?"
"We'll know if we investigate. The banquet staff are all trained in advance, and such an error shouldn't have happened."
Zi Yisheng tenderly blew on the burn on his wife's arm.
"Is Penny a bit too enthusiastic?"
"Foreigners are all like this, their emotions are more outward."
"Since you're injured, don't go out with them tomorrow. It'll serve as an excuse."
Ye Shenge glanced at Zi Yisheng but nodded obediently. Usually, when out, she was very obedient. She didn't want her disobedience to cause any trouble.
"Okay, my injury is fine, I'll just apply some ointment later."
"We won't go down. We can discuss business at the next banquet."
This investment attraction was very important. China was still too short of capital. If they could secure the cooperation of these few people, it would elevate Chenghai City by several levels and also drive the development of surrounding cities.
"I can skip it, but you must go and hold the fort. Even if you don't say a word, you're their backbone, so you can offer advice if something can't be resolved."
Zi Yisheng stripped Ye Shenge and checked her before leaving. Ye Shenge looked at the white embroidered qipao that had been taken off and felt heartbroken. This dress had been specially made by an old artisan for her grandmother, taking over a month. Now it was ruined.
After showering, Ye Shenge sat on the sofa and applied ointment. She had at least ten small burns on one arm, though they hadn't blistered yet.
Just then, she heard a knock on the door. Opening it, she saw A'Can looking impatient.
"What's wrong?"
"Madam, that foreigner Averill insisted on bringing you ointment and is waiting at the stairwell, refusing to leave. I told her you were resting."
Averill? She was the quietest of the three women, but they had gotten along well.
"Let her in, and you stay here with me."
"Yes."
Ye Shenge put away the ointment on the table and sat on the sofa waiting.
"Madam, we don't need the medicine she brought."
"Alright, I won't use it randomly."
Ye Shenge shook her head helplessly. Did these people still think of her as a child? They nagged like women all day.
Averill walked in with a smile, unfazed by being blocked earlier.
"Ms. Ye, I've brought some excellent medicine for you."
Ye Shenge gestured for Averill to sit, but A'Can took the ointment. One had to be cautious even when accepting items from strangers.
"Thank you, Averill. I've already applied some medicine. I'll try yours tomorrow."
"It's truly my fault, I should have brought it sooner so you could recover faster."
A'Can maintained proper etiquette and even poured Averill a cup of water.
Averill took it with a smile, clearly not intending to leave immediately.
"I heard Ms. Ye studied medicine and you even have your own pharmaceutical factory."
Ye Shenge curled her lips and raised her teacup to shield her expression. When she looked up again, she pretended to be oblivious.
"Yes, these are just my hobbies."
"My family is also in the pharmaceutical business, so I was very interested when I heard you were too. However, I haven't been involved since marrying Beoman."
Averill's face was filled with regret, her expression forlorn.
"Didn't you use your free time to continue your involvement? Giving up a hobby is indeed painful."
"Beoman's family is a very traditional, old family. Ever since marrying into their family, I've had to engage in what they want me to, and even my every word and action had to be relearned.
I came from a much lower background, so after marrying in, I had to abide by the rules, otherwise, I would have harmed my parents and siblings."
Ye Shenge was surprised that there were such rule-abiding women abroad, but it didn't stop her from listening to the story.
"That's a pity."
A'Can listened, fuming. This foreigner spoke in gibberish, forcing Madam to speak along. He didn't understand a single word and wondered when Madam learned it, she spoke so well.
"I wonder if Chenghai City has any pharmaceutical factories or similar places. I really want to visit one during my time here."
"I'm not too familiar with Chenghai City either. However, even if there are pharmaceutical factories, their laboratories are likely inaccessible. My pharmaceutical factory doesn't even allow Zi Yisheng in; it contains core technologies that require confidentiality."
Averill nodded with understanding and regret, then turned to look around Ye Shenge's room.
"The room you're staying in is lovely. Ours is also a suite like this, but it's not as exquisitely decorated as yours."
"This is my grandmother's property, so this is my special treatment."
Ye Shenge didn't want the foreigner to think of it as preferential treatment.
"Wow! Ms. Ye, you're truly fortunate to have a grandmother who dotes on you like this."
"Yes, I'm the only girl in my family, so I'm a bit spoiled."
Averill reached out, holding Ye Shenge's hand and looking her up and down with envy.
"You are a woman favored by the goddess of fortune. You will only have a happy life from now on, truly making most people in the world envious to the point of jealousy!"
Ye Shenge raised an eyebrow and, while picking up her teacup, dodged Averill's touch.
"Do you also get jealous? Your husband is enviably wealthy."
"Hahahaha, there's nothing to be envious about. I have no control over their money, I can only watch with longing."
Ye Shenge was already exhausted. Was this person revealing too much private information on the first meeting? How was she supposed to respond?
Ye Shenge seized the opportunity to put down her teacup and gave A'Can a look. She really didn't want to make small talk anymore.
"Ahem, Madam, you should call the children now. They're still waiting for you, and if you delay any longer, it will affect their bedtime."
A'Can was particularly clever at this moment. Without caring whether Averill understood or not, he blabbered on. As expected, Averill looked at Ye Shenge with a confused expression.
Ye Shenge nodded and smiled apologetically at Averill.
"Averill, I forgot it's time to call the children. So I can't entertain you further. Perhaps we can continue our chat another time."
"It's important not to miss your appointment with the children. I was also too abrupt."
Averill left briskly, but Ye Shenge's heart sank lower and lower.
"A'Can, you were at the banquet hall today. Who among the three of them do you think is the most suspicious?"
"I think they all have issues. Penny was too enthusiastic with you, and Averill's performance just now makes her the prime suspect. Stormy seems alright."
"Do you think they'll invite me out shopping tomorrow?"
"We're not going. I'll have people monitor them later. They're really messing with the wrong person, not knowing their place."
Ye Shenge had already agreed not to go with her child's father. Curiosity was one thing, but what if she was harmed? She was very afraid of death and wouldn't put herself in danger for the sake of curiosity.
"This is so annoying. Go ask Fu Cunxue if she has time tomorrow. Tell her I want her to come and keep me company. That way, I can use the excuse of having a guest to refuse them. At least I won't have to be too harsh before signing the contract."
"Okay, I'll arrange for someone to ask right away."
After A'Can left, Ye Shenge withdrew her thoughts and picked up the phone. She really needed to call her children.
However, the phone at Minhang's house rang for a long time with no answer. Ye Shenge felt uneasy because even if Minhang took the children out, there were still nannies at home, so why wouldn't someone answer?
As a mother, she absolutely could not tolerate any worry about her children. Ye Shenge called the Bai family again. After greeting the elders, she asked her eldest uncle to take the call.
As soon as Bai's eldest uncle heard it was about the children, he hung up and, with a group of people, rushed to Minhang's house.
Ye Shenge's wait became even more agonizing. She picked up the phone again and called her eldest brother to see if he was home.
"Shenggge, is Chenghai City fun?"
"Eldest brother, you're home! Quickly go find Minhang. No one is answering their phone, and I'm worried about the children."
"I'm going now. Don't worry, Minhang has a lot of people with him, so it should be fine."
Ye Shenge hung up and rubbed her forehead. If her children were from an ordinary family, she wouldn't be so worried. The child's father brought too many unknown dangers.
A'Can returned with another medicine box. Ye Shenge glanced at it listlessly.
"What's wrong?"
"No one is answering the phone at Minhang's house."
A'Can picked up the phone and contacted his brothers who were staying in Mingcheng. He made arrangements in just a few sentences.
"Madam, don't worry. Young Master Zi arranged for people to be around Youyou and Mi'er before he left. The news will arrive soon. Please take care of yourself!"
Ye Shenge nodded listlessly, but her eyes were fixed on the phone.
About fifteen minutes later, a call came in. A'Can snatched the phone, fearing that anything might upset Ye Shenge.
"Hello, hmm, wrong number."
A'Can hung up and smiled at Ye Shenge. But Ye Shenge was too sharp, and her heart suddenly ached.
"Tell me the truth!"
Seeing Ye Shenge clutching her chest, A'Can panicked.
"Madam, don't be anxious. It really was a wrong number. They'll send the news right away."
Ye Shenge knew A'Can wasn't telling the truth and was just trying to stall for time. She felt like a deflated balloon, her hands trembling as she picked up the cup. She took the opportunity to add some space well water to the cup. She couldn't afford to have an accident; she had to wait for news of her children.