142: Ten million, be my driver!

Huang Tian was truly furious.

He had finally managed to secure such a lucrative job, only to have it ruined by some punk!

That's right!

It was lucrative!

Now, for the Huang Family to reach the next level, they needed not only their own strength but also external aid.

And clearly... the widow who controls the Tianyao Group was the best choice.

What a pity.

It was ruined by Ye Chen!

A deep, steady male voice came from the other end of the phone: “What are you checking?”

Huang Tian gritted his back teeth, forcing the words out.

“Check on a punk named Ye Chen!”

“I want all his information...”

“Identity! Background! Lineage! Strength level!”

“And what exactly is his relationship with Bai Wanqing?”

An immediate response came from the other end of the phone.

“Yes, sir!”

“I will mobilize my authority for a deep investigation and report the results to you immediately.”

Huang Tian violently hung up the phone and slammed his fist onto the steering wheel.

Punk... you ruined my plans. Don't think that just because you can fight, I'll let this go!

Just wait!

You'll get what's coming to you!!!

...Inside the restaurant.

The atmosphere returned to normal.

Bai Wanqing smiled sweetly, looked at Mr. Ye, and said playfully, “Thank you, Mr. Ye. Now my ears can finally have some peace for a while.”

Ye Chen shook his head helplessly and gently set down his teacup: “Madam Bai, you didn't ask me for help; you clearly found trouble for me.”

Bai Wanqing blinked her eyes, her smile deepening.

“Mr. Ye, that's being too formal. Who told you to owe me a favor?”

“Besides, I saw you make your move just now—you handled it with ease, while he was scrambling away.”

Ye Chen snorted and didn't reply.

Bai Wanqing knew Ye Chen was annoyed; after all, no one liked being used as a disposable tool.

She wasn't in a hurry. Instead, she took a pure black card from her handbag, held it between two fingers, and gently slid it across the table toward Ye Chen.

“There are ten million in this card. Take it for now. Consider it a small token of my appreciation and payment for solving my problem.”

As soon as she finished speaking.

Yi Yue and the other two women nearby were stunned, their eyes involuntarily drawn to the black card.

Ten million... just given away like that?

Yi Yue was shaken. She suddenly remembered Ye Chen's casual remark about how easy it was to earn money; only now did she truly grasp the reality of it.

He just hit one person and ended up getting ten million?

Even being kept wouldn't yield money this easily... However, Ye Chen merely glanced at the card without touching it and refused: “No, I can't take this.”

What was she thinking?

He had just managed to repay the previous favor; if he took this money, wouldn't he be indebted again?

This woman was cunning; he couldn't fall for it.

Bai Wanqing seemed to have seen through his thoughts, and a knowing curve appeared at the corner of her lips.

“Mr. Ye, you worry too much. The favor was already repaid when you treated me to this meal.”

“This ten million isn't meant to settle any debt of gratitude.”

“This is the advance salary for hiring you as my private driver.”

“This was also our agreement from before.”

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow: “Madam Bai, I recall the price we negotiated initially wasn't this high.”

“There are reasons for it.”

Bai Wanqing rested her chin on her hand and smiled gently.

“After all, the person you offended for my sake just now wasn't an ordinary Bodyguard, but someone from the Dragon Group.”

“I must add some extra compensation for this additional risk, or I wouldn't feel right about it.”

“Dragon Group?” Hearing the term again, Ye Chen grew curious. “What exactly is this organization? Judging by Huang Tian's tone, they must be significant.”

Bai Wanqing dropped her joking expression slightly and explained.

“They are indeed significant.”

“The country has its own system of power.”

“Above ordinary Special Forces soldiers is the Dragon Group.”

“Their members are generally one-in-ten-thousand martial artists, possessing formidable strength and special authority to handle unusual incidents and dangerous individuals that regular military or police cannot manage.”

“And above the Dragon Group, it is said there is an even more mysterious and powerful department, code-named ‘Bureau 749.’ The people there... are truly unfathomable.”

After Ye Chen heard this.

He was silent for two seconds, then rubbed his temples, feeling somewhat speechless.

“So, I accidentally stirred up quite the hornet's nest?”

Although he wasn't afraid, trouble was still trouble.

“That's one way to look at it.”

Bai Wanqing nodded, then changed the subject, her tone full of cunning.

“But you don't need to be too nervous.”

“As long as you accept my official employment and become the Tianyao Group CEO's exclusive driver...”

“In a sense, you will be my person, protected by the Tianyao Group.”

“No matter how special the Dragon Group's operations are, they must follow rules and procedures. They won't easily target someone with legitimate identity and background.”

“Especially not the driver of me, the person in charge of the Tianyao Group.”

“If they want to touch you, they have to consider whether it's compliant first.”

Ye Chen looked at the light flickering in her eyes and suddenly understood her deeper intention, giving a wry smile.

“Madam Bai, you went around in such a big circle...”

“First getting me to act, then hiring me with a massive salary—are you determined to tie me to your ship?”

Bai Wanqing smiled without speaking, but the meaning was already clear.

Ye Chen also fell silent.

Given the current situation... agreeing to become her driver seemed like the path of least resistance.

Firstly, the Tianyao Group has a profound background, backed by the state. Becoming its CEO's exclusive driver is equivalent to having an extra layer of officially recognized identity cover, which will make future actions much easier and save him trouble from “hornet's nests” like the Dragon Group.

Secondly, although Bai Wanqing is a bit calculating, she acts appropriately and is relatively honest with him. Temporary cooperation presents more benefits than drawbacks.

Thirdly, he genuinely needs more information and resource networks at the secular level, and the Tianyao Group platform can undoubtedly provide many conveniences.

The weighing of pros and cons took only an instant.

Ye Chen looked up, met Bai Wanqing's expectant gaze, and nodded: “Alright, I accept.”

Bai Wanqing smiled happily.

“That's the right choice.”

“In that case...”

“After we finish eating, will you drive me back to The Group?”

“I drove here myself, coincidentally.”

Saying this, she flipped her delicate hand, produced an electronic car key, and gently placed it on the table in front of Ye Chen.

Ye Chen casually picked it up.

“Alright.”

The meal was nearly finished.

Yi Yue stood up, preparing to clear the dishes, but Bai Wanqing preemptively stopped her, saying with a smile.

“Boss Yi, I thoroughly enjoyed this meal today; your cooking truly is exceptional.”

“Next time I have a chance, I'll bring some friends to try it.”

The friends Bai Wanqing would introduce would likely be wealthy and influential.

With her endorsement, the restaurant's business would likely not suffer in the future.

Yi Yue smiled gently: “I'm glad Madam Bai enjoyed it. You're welcome anytime.”

Bai Wanqing then turned to Sophie, her tone gentle.

“Store Manager Su, feel free to proceed with the 4S store. If you encounter any difficulties, you can contact me directly.”

“Since the Tianyao Group has taken over, we won't allow our subordinates to be wronged.”

Sophie was overwhelmed, quickly nodding: “Thank you, Madam Bai!”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Bai Wanqing picked up her handbag and looked at Ye Chen: “Shall we go?”

Ye Chen stood up and said to Yi Yue: “Yueyue, I'll drive Madam Bai first, and I'll be back later.”

“Okay, be careful on the road.” Yi Yue gently instructed.

The two left the restaurant and got into Bai Wanqing's Maybach.

Ye Chen started the car and drove toward the Tianyao Group headquarters building.

Bai Wanqing pursed her lips and chuckled: “That Yi Yue... seems quite interested in you.”

Ye Chen didn't say anything.

He couldn't exactly say that Yi Yue wasn't just “interested”—she was fundamentally his woman, could he?

Seeing his silence, Bai Wanqing raised an eyebrow and continued.

“But I suppose it makes sense.”

“A man like you—young, good-looking, astonishingly capable, mysterious background, and yet sometimes radiating a maddeningly carefree indifference...”

She paused, then gave a soft laugh.

“Who wouldn't be attracted?”

Ye Chen felt a little uncomfortable with her words, glanced at her, and retorted: “What, Madam Bai, do you like me too?”

It was meant as a casual remark to shut her up.

Unexpectedly, Bai Wanqing stared straight at him, her red lips parting slightly.

“Yes, I do.”

Ye Chen: “...”

This woman... her husband only died a few months ago, and she dares to say something like this now?

However.

Before he could speak.

Bai Wanqing had already pressed him with a curious question.

“What about you?”

“Don't they say men are most attracted to other men's women, especially someone like me...”

“A widow?”