140: People from the Dragon Group?

Ye Chen looked at the caller, not the least bit surprised.

After all.

He had just used the influence of Tianyao Group to knock Qian Youcai down a peg and flexed his muscles a bit.

With Bai Wanqing's information network, she should have caught wind of it by now.

He swiped to answer and put the phone to his ear: "Madam Bai."

Bai Wanqing's voice came from the other end of the line, lazy and charming, like a cat that had just woken up.

"Mr. Ye, I just heard... that some blind fat man offended you?"

"Do you need me to 'handle' him for you? I guarantee it will be clean, with no loose ends."

Ye Chen's expression was calm: "No need, it's already been resolved."

"Oh?"

Bai Wanqing laughed softly.

"In that case, I won't meddle."

"But come to think of it..."

"Mr. Ye, you still seem to owe me a meal, don't you?"

"We agreed last time in Shanyao Town that you would make it up to me once we were back in Xiamen City."

"It's been a few days now, how... did you forget about me?"

Ye Chen gave a wry smile: "Madam Bai, you're joking. Someone of your status, why would you be short of a meal from me?"

"I am short of it."

Bai Wanqing replied as if it were only natural.

"I don't lack meals from others, but I've been keeping this one you owe me in mind."

"Why not today?"

"How about today?"

Ye Chen pondered for a moment and agreed: "Alright, if you don't mind, I'll wait for your arrival here at the Min-style restaurant, how about that?"

Bai Wanqing said without hesitation.

"Alright."

"It just so happens I haven't tasted home-style cooking for a long time."

"Wait for me for half an hour."

"Beep —"

The call ended.

Ye Chen put away his phone.

"Is it... Madam Bai?" Sophie asked in a low voice.

If it weren't for Ye Chen and that Madam Bai, she would probably have been fired by now and forced to change careers again, right?

"Yeah." Ye Chen nodded and pushed open the restaurant door, "She's coming over to eat in a bit, we might as well eat together."

The two walked into the restaurant.

Yi Yue happened to be coming out of the kitchen with a plate of freshly stir-fried greens, and when she saw Ye Chen bringing Sophie back, a gentle smile appeared on her face.

"You're back? The food is just made, sit down quickly... Sophie is here too? Perfect, let's eat together."

She placed the dish on the table and wiped her hands.

Ye Chen walked over to the dining table and said: "Yi Yue, add two more dishes and set another pair of chopsticks; Bai Wanqing is coming over in a while."

Yi Yue nodded: "Okay, I'll go prepare a few more of my specialties."

She didn't ask any more questions and turned back into the kitchen.

Sophie sat down, looked at Ye Chen, then looked toward the kitchen, and said softly: "Ye Chen, will Madam Bai... think this place is too simple?"

Although this home-style restaurant was clean and cozy, compared to those high-end restaurants that cost thousands per person, it really couldn't be considered impressive.

Ye Chen smiled and poured her a cup of tea.

"If she minded, she wouldn't have agreed."

"Don't worry, Bai Wanqing isn't that particular."

Sophie took the teacup, but still felt a bit uneasy.

Instead, Xiaoya poked her head out from the kitchen, her eyes shining: "Brother Ye, is the Bai Wanqing you mentioned the Madam Bai from Tianyao Group?"

Bai Wanqing was the person in charge of Tianyao Group and was quite famous on TV.

Ye Chen nodded: "It's her."

Xiaoya let out a "Wow" and pulled her head back; soon, excited whispering between her and Yi Yue could be heard from the kitchen.

Ye Chen shook his head with a smile and took a sip of his tea.

About twenty minutes later.

The restaurant door was gently pushed open.

A slender figure walked in.

Bai Wanqing was wearing an orange Chanel tweed suit today, her long hair loosely tied up, revealing her slender neck.

Her curvaceous figure was displayed to the fullest.

At first glance, she looked very noble and elegant.

But as soon as she stepped into this down-to-earth home-style restaurant, there was no sense of incongruity at all.

"Mr. Ye, am I late?"

She smiled beautifully.

Ye Chen stood up: "No, Madam Bai, please sit."

Bai Wanqing walked over and sat in the seat opposite Ye Chen, her eyes sweeping over Sophie, and she nodded slightly: "Store Manager Su is here too?"

Sophie quickly stood up.

"Hello, Madam Bai!"

"No need to be so restrained."

Bai Wanqing chuckled, "Since we are eating at the same table today, just treat it as friends hanging out."

"Okay!"

Sophie let out a small sigh of relief and sat back down, though she still seemed a bit reserved.

Yi Yue and Xiaoya came out of the kitchen with the last two dishes.

One was golden, tempting fried pork with vinegar, and the other was a steaming oyster omelet.

Both were authentic Minnan home-cooked dishes, aromatic and appetizing.

As soon as the dishes were on the table, the atmosphere seemed to liven up.

Bai Wanqing didn't stand on ceremony either; she picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of the pork, and took a small bite. Her eyes then widened with delight, and she praised: "Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sour and appetizing. Great craftsmanship."

Hearing this, a gentle smile appeared on Yi Yue's face.

"I'm glad you like it, Madam Bai."

Xiaoya was secretly observing the legendary female CEO from the side. Seeing her elegant manners and natural conversation, without any of the airs of a big shot as imagined, her tension dissipated by more than half.

Ye Chen poured a cup of the shop's homemade osmanthus tea for Bai Wanqing: "Simple fare, Madam Bai, please bear with it."

"This is the best."

Bai Wanqing took the teacup, her peach-blossom eyes rippling with a faint smile, "I eat delicacies of the mountains and seas too often, so I actually miss this home-cooked taste. Mr. Ye's place is always full of surprises."

The group chatted while eating, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Bai Wanqing seemed to appreciate Yi Yue's cooking skills quite a bit, asking in detail about how to make a few of the dishes, and then chatting about some dietary health tips.

Sophie occasionally chimed in and gradually relaxed.

Just as the meal was coming to an end, the dishes on the table were nearly empty, and the group was chatting over their teacups —

"Screech!"

The sound of brakes came from outside.

Immediately after, a black SUV stopped at the entrance of the restaurant.

The car door opened.

A man in his early thirties stepped out.

He was nearly 1.85 meters tall, wearing a dark gray suit, with distinct facial features and sharp eyes, giving off a very special feeling...

He pushed open the door and walked straight in.

As soon as he stepped in, he locked onto the table where Ye Chen and the others were sitting.

Yi Yue habitually stood up to greet him and asked with a smile: "Hello, sir, what would you like to eat? Here is the menu..."

The man, however, seemed not to have heard her, not even glancing at her.

He walked straight to Bai Wanqing's side and stopped, speaking with displeasure.

"Madam Bai."

"You ran out without a word; why didn't you tell me?"

Everyone was stunned for a moment, their gazes turning in unison toward this uninvited man.

Was the other party looking for Bai Wanqing?

And that tone...

How weird was that?

Sophie and Xiaoya, who had read novels, couldn't help but think of two words in their minds...

Domineering CEO?

Bai Wanqing frowned, put down her teacup, and said unhappily: "Huang Tian, what I do when I go out, does that have anything to do with you?"

Huang Tian's expression remained unchanged, his tone firm.

"I am the personal Bodyguard sent from above to protect you; caring about your whereabouts and ensuring your safety is my duty..."

"Is there a problem?"

Bai Wanqing's eyes turned colder.

"Protect?"

"But your 'protection' has far exceeded the scope of your duties; it's more like constant surveillance."

"Do I need to report to you wherever I go and whoever I see?"

"For a Bodyguard, isn't that a bit too overstepping?"

After her husband had an accident abroad, the higher-ups, out of concern for the safety of this widow of Tianyao Group and also to stabilize this behemoth, had specially sent Huang Tian over from a mysterious national organization — the Dragon Group — a few days ago.

Nominally, it was for personal protection.

But Bai Wanqing disliked this person immensely; he appeared to be doing his duty, but in his eyes and behavior, there was always an uncomfortable sense of dominance and possessiveness.

As if...

She was already some kind of possession of his.

Huang Tian straightened his back slightly and said coldly.

"Madam Bai, these are extraordinary times; the interior of Tianyao Group is unstable, and there are many people outside eyeing you!"

"Naturally, 'special treatment' is required."

"I am also doing this for your safety."

Frost covered Bai Wanqing's exquisite face.

"For my safety?"

"My safety does not need to be exchanged for the restriction of my freedom."

"Huang Tian, I am now notifying you —"

"Leave here immediately."

"I will count to three. If you are still standing here being an eyesore, I will immediately call your direct superior and demand that you be replaced!"

Her words paused.

She held up a slender finger.

"One."

Huang Tian frowned slightly but remained unmoved.

"Madam Bai, calling won't help."

"My mission is a top-level directive. Unless the mission is rescinded, or I confirm that you are absolutely safe, otherwise..."

"I will not leave your side."

"Two." Bai Wanqing's voice had already turned to ice.

Huang Tian was still unfazed, completely unbothered by Bai Wanqing's threat.

Bai Wanqing laughed out of anger.

"Good, very good!"

"Huang Tian, do you really think that I, Bai Wanqing, have no way to deal with a member of the Dragon Group?"

Huang Tian smiled noncommittally.

Are you kidding?

The Dragon Group was the most mysterious national organization in the East!

Things the police could manage, they could manage.

Things the police couldn't manage, they could still manage.

They were like the Western Depot of the Ming Dynasty, possessing the power of life and death!

Bai Wanqing's little threat...

To him, it was simply painless!

Bai Wanqing took a deep breath, her eyes rolling.

The next second.

She looked at Ye Chen and said coquettishly: "Mr. Ye, this person is disturbing our meal and is also being insolent. I really don't like him. Could you help me deal with him, please?"

Yi Yue, Sophie, and Xiaoya felt goosebumps all over, their faces full of astonishment.

Wait...

That Madam Bai, who was so noble a second ago, why did she turn into a coquettish little woman the next second???