84: Daddy, there's a Superman!

Ye Chen's steps halted abruptly, his expression turning cold as he stared at Wen Yating: "Was that you?"

Wen Yating's heart skipped a beat under Ye Chen's sudden, sharp gaze, and she quickly waved her hands in explanation.

"Mr. Ye, please don't be angry! I meant no harm!"

"I was just passing by at the time, and I happened to film it. I thought it was... too incredible, so I uploaded it."

"I never expected it to go viral like this, and I certainly didn't mean to cause you trouble!"

Her face was full of genuine apology, but a hint of irrepressible excitement was hidden in her eyes.

"I sought you out because I truly want to discuss a partnership!"

"You have such martial arts skills and excellent image and demeanor. If you are willing to cooperate with me to shoot some positive kung fu short videos or do interviews, you will definitely explode across the entire network and become a top influencer!"

"We can split the profits according to the most favorable ratio. I guarantee..."

"No need." Ye Chen interrupted her, the coldness on his face still present.

Since it was already posted and had gone viral, getting angry at this woman now was indeed useless.

It was better to guide than to block, but guiding didn't require working with her.

He shook his head.

"I have no interest in becoming an internet celebrity, and even less in cooperating."

"The matter of the video ends here."

"Don't follow me anymore, and don't bother me or the people around me."

After speaking, he didn't spare Wen Yating another glance, turning and walking straight toward the building where he lived.

Wen Yating grew anxious and jogged to catch up behind him.

"Mr. Ye! Mr. Ye, please reconsider! This truly has no downsides for you!"

"We can focus only on high-quality content and won't expose your privacy!"

"Or... you can name any conditions you have!"

Ye Chen ignored her completely. He reached the unit door but didn't press the elevator button. Instead, he pushed open the nearby emergency exit door and flashed into the stairwell.

Wen Yating chased him to the stairwell entrance, only to hear the sound of rapidly retreating footsteps heading upstairs, vanishing instantly.

Leaning on the door frame, she caught her breath. Staring at the empty stairs, she stomped her foot in frustration.

"Running so fast... is he born in the Year of the Rabbit?"

She bit her lower lip, a stubborn glint flashing in her eyes.

"I don't believe it..."

"That you can stay cooped up at home forever?"

"I am definitely following this lead!"

Having said that.

She turned around and, feeling somewhat frustrated, walked away from the unit door, her high heels clicking "da da da."

But in her mind, she was already calculating how to "accidentally" run into this mysterious "Martial Arts Master" next.

In the stairwell, Ye Chen stood at the corner of the next floor up, listening to the sound of high heels fading below, and shook his head helplessly.

What an unexpected disaster.

He sighed softly, then slowly continued walking up.

It seemed that in the future, he really needed to be more careful when going out.

Ye Chen had just reached his front door, and before he could insert the key into the lock, the phone in his pocket vibrated.

He pulled it out and saw it was an unfamiliar number.

Ye Chen frowned and immediately hung up.

A strange call coming at this crucial moment was likely a spam call... but

Just as he inserted the key into the lock, the phone relentlessly started vibrating again.

"Tsk, this is endless..."

Ye Chen impatiently answered, giving a grumpy "Hello."

On the other end of the line, a slightly excited young male voice replied: "Master Ye? It's me, Zhang Wuji!"

Ye Chen froze, his key stopping mid-air.

"Zhang Wuji? It's you... What is it?"

"Master Ye, um... are you... famous online?" Zhang Wuji's voice was cautious, yet held a barely contained laugh.

Ye Chen's face darkened: "I was secretly filmed."

"Hahaha, I saw it!"

"Breaking a sword with bare hands—that was too cool!"

Zhang Wuji chuckled twice on the other end, then his tone became serious.

"However, Master Ye, my grandfather and I found out something."

"The group that ambushed you today, the old man leading them is nicknamed 'Ghost Old Man.' He is a Retainer Zhao Tiangang has kept for many years, specializing in dirty work."

"I guessed as much." Ye Chen pushed open his door and walked inside.

"Since the Zhao Family suffered a hidden loss this time, they definitely won't let the matter rest."

Zhang Wuji paused, lowering his voice.

"My grandfather plans to host a small, private banquet at home in a couple of days, inviting a few old friends to gather."

"The old man would like to request your presence. The guests who attend... might be able to help you shoulder a lot of pressure."

Ye Chen's heart stirred.

Was Zhang Sansheng trying to introduce him to connections and give him a protective talisman?

Damn it!

This old man is a good person!

And he had to accept this favor.

"Elder Zhang has gone to great lengths." Ye Chen took a deep breath. "Send me the time and location. I will be there on time."

Zhang Wuji on the other end clearly relaxed and said happily, "That's great! I'll send you a WeChat message right away! Well... I won't disturb Master Ye's rest then!"

After hanging up, Ye Chen walked into the living room.

He found that.

Yi Yue and the others had already returned.

As soon as they saw Ye Chen return, they all stood up from the sofa simultaneously.

Seeing that he was completely unharmed, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"You scared me to death!"

Yi Yue quickly stepped forward and looked him up and down. "Those people didn't follow you, did they?"

"It's fine, I shook them off." Ye Chen waved his hand.

Aunt Zhang brought over a cup of water, her face showing both lingering fear and pride.

"Little Ye, you are simply amazing!"

"I just spoke to my grandson on the phone, and he excitedly told me there was a Martial Arts Master online. I realized, hey, that's you!"

Ye Chen's eye twitched: "Aunt Zhang... you didn't expose me, did you?"

"How could I do that!"

Aunt Zhang puffed out her chest, but couldn't suppress the urge to boast. "I just said... my employer is the person in the video! My grandson immediately yelled over the phone that his grandma was the 'Heaven-Chosen Working Grandma'!"

Ye Chen: "..."

Yi Zhengtian sat on the sofa, his expression still serious, and spoke in a deep voice: "Little Ye, allow me to say one more thing: those people mean trouble. It's easy to dodge an open spear, but hard to guard against a hidden arrow. You must be extremely careful."

Ye Chen nodded.

"Don't worry, Uncle, I know what I'm doing."

The moment he finished speaking... "Oh dear!" Sophie suddenly gasped softly, covering her mouth.

Everyone's gaze simultaneously turned toward her.

They saw two patches of embarrassed red bloom on Sophie's baby face. She blinked her large eyes and mumbled softly.

"I, I think... I forgot to pay for lunch..."

Everyone: "..."

Good heavens!

They got a free meal!

...In the afternoon, Ye Chen took a shower, washing away his exhaustion.

He closed his eyes, but the photo Bing Lan had sent involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

Purple gauze, breathtaking curves, and a rare blush on her cold face... His Adam's apple bobbed. He quickly shook his head and turned off the showerhead.

"Calm down, calm down..."

Drying himself and changing into clean casual clothes, he casually ruffled his hair in the mirror, picked up his car keys, and prepared to go out.

Just then, a WeChat notification sound came through.

[Bai Wanqing: The gift, do you like it?]

A gift?

Ye Chen paused, replying with a question mark.

[Ye Chen: ?]

[Bai Wanqing: The invitation to the Zhang Family banquet.]

Ye Chen suddenly understood, his fingers rapidly tapping the screen.

[Ye Chen: So Madam Bai pulled the strings? Thank you very much!]

[Bai Wanqing: I just went with the flow and made a suggestion, but... since I helped with this favor, isn't Mr. Ye going to thank me?]

Ye Chen rubbed his nose.

This woman certainly wasn't lacking a meal; she probably had ulterior motives.

Tsk tsk tsk!

It was the first time he had been so clearly propositioned by a widow.

He replied helplessly.

[Ye Chen: How about I treat Madam Bai to a meal sometime?]

[Bai Wanqing: Good, it's settled then.]

Ye Chen: "..."

He had been clearly manipulated again.

He put away his phone, slipped the car keys into his pocket, and walked to the entrance.

He placed his hand on the doorknob, but just as he was about to turn it, he paused.

He suddenly realized.

That short video blogger named Wen Yating... might still be waiting outside.

Being cornered in the restaurant once was enough.

Ye Chen pondered for a moment. Instead of going downstairs, he walked straight toward the stairs leading to the rooftop.

On the top-floor rooftop, the view was wide, and the night breeze was cool.

Ye Chen walked to the edge of the rooftop and scanned the area below.

Sure enough, near a tree not far from the community entrance, he could vaguely make out a short-haired figure carrying a camera bag, occasionally looking toward his building.

She really was persistent... Ye Chen twitched the corner of his mouth, stepped back a few paces, and looked toward the rooftop of the residential building across the way, about ten meters distant.

Taking a deep breath, the Power of Inheritance within his body quietly began to circulate.

The mysterious trajectory of the Tiangang Step flashed beneath his feet and disappeared, and his entire body, like a fully coiled spring, suddenly shot forward!

He took one step onto the edge of the rooftop, and his body soared into the air!

The night wind whistled past his ears, and the streets, vehicles, and pedestrians below rapidly shrank.

The ten-meter distance was crossed in the blink of an eye!

Ye Chen's figure cut an elegant arc through the air, like a bird flying at night, lightly landing on the rooftop of the building opposite.

His landing was silent, stirring up only a little dust.

He glanced back toward his original building, then turned and headed toward the stairwell entrance on the opposite side.

Almost at the same moment.

On the balcony of a home on a certain floor of the opposite building, a small boy playing with a toy car inadvertently looked up, staring blankly at the rooftop across the way.

He blinked his large eyes, his small mouth slowly opened, and then he forcefully tugged at his father, who was scrolling on his phone on the sofa.

"Papa, look quickly! There's a Superman on the opposite rooftop! He can fly!"

The young father was engrossed in what he was reading. Pulled by his son, he impatiently looked up: "What nonsense are you talking about? There's no Super—"

Before he finished, his sight subconsciously followed the direction his son pointed, just in time to see a dark figure lightly descend onto the rooftop of another building.

"Wha... what the heck..."

He rubbed his eyes. When he looked again, the rooftop was empty. "Did... did I really just see Superman?"