49: The 4th Noble Male Supporting Character 10

Although autumn had not yet arrived in Baijin City, a cool breeze had been blowing all night, bringing with it a chill that cut many to the bone.

They say the final countdown before an execution is enough to scare a person to death. Ye Zhiming was currently not far off from that state.

The cold wind was biting, and the office was as quiet as a tomb. At this moment, his eyes were wide open, bloodshot, and he hadn't slept for two days.

Projects interrupted, partnerships terminated, partners pulling out capital, banks recalling loans... He knew these things all too well; life and death could be decided in an instant.

And he didn't even know why he was dying.

"Old Jin, do you still remember the favor owed to my Ye Family?"

This was the Ye Family's most powerful trump card, yet now, there was only silence on the other end of the line.

After a long while, Ye Zhiming still stared fixedly at his phone, refusing to hang up.

"Sigh, why must you do this? I really cannot help you."

"Wait, Old Jin, I only ask for an answer so I can die knowing the truth. Did my Ye Family block someone's path, damage someone's interests, offend someone, or is this an old grudge?"

"Don't ask anymore. I cannot say."

The call was disconnected.

Ye Zhiming leaned back in his chair, his teeth grinding audibly.

What a terrifying enemy; there wasn't even a verdict. How could this be?

He couldn't figure it out. After decades of ups and downs in the business world, he considered himself tactful and had never made enemies with any truly important figures.

Recently, the Ye Family had been peaceful, without any warning signs. Except for his daughter, Ye Youyou...

In an instant, a detail he had overlooked exploded in his mind like a thunderclap.

That was it. Previously, when Ye Youyou caused trouble at school, the principal of Tianhai University had warned him. Thinking about it now, that old guy hadn't bared his fangs in years.

As if struck by an electric shock, Ye Zhiming sprang up from his chair.

"Come here."

"Mr. Ye." The assistant's voice trembled.

"Arrange a car back to the Ye Family home. You go to the school and bring the young miss back, as fast as possible!"

He instructed his assistant in a voice so hoarse he didn't recognize it himself.

Not long after.

"Dad, why did you suddenly call me home? I had plans to go shopping today!" Ye Youyou walked in impatiently.

"What could possibly be so important that you couldn't say it over the phone?"

"Smack!" A crisp, loud sound rang out. This slap used up all of Ye Zhiming's fear and fury, striking Ye Youyou hard across the face.

The immense force caused her to fall to the floor, and half of her cheek visibly swelled up.

"Dad, why did you hit me?" Ye Youyou was stunned; she clutched her face, about to protest.

But Ye Zhiming's crazed appearance was like a beast ready to devour someone. She was so scared her lips trembled, and she even forgot to cry.

"Speak, who else did you offend last time?" Ye Zhiming's eyes were bloodshot as he rushed over and grabbed Ye Youyou by the collar.

"Have you done anything else stupid at school recently? Tell me everything, one by one! Don't leave out a single word!"

Her father's ferocious face and unprecedented violence completely broke down Ye Youyou's psychological defenses.

She trembled all over, sobbing until she was out of breath, and haltingly confessed all the trouble she had caused at school recently.

The more Ye Zhiming heard, the more his heart sank. For the first time, he realized what a stupid creature his daughter was. Finally, Ye Youyou cried as she told him about Sun Hao.

Ye Zhiming's face turned deathly pale, and he shook like a leaf.

"Smack!" Another loud slap.

Ye Youyou was knocked to the ground again, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, dizzy and disoriented.

"It was you, it was you!!!" Ye Zhiming bit his teeth until they bled.

He staggered back two steps and collapsed onto the sofa.

"How did I give birth to such an idiot like you!"

"Do you know that the Sun Family was destroyed just yesterday?"

Ye Youyou had already lost the ability to think, but Ye Zhiming didn't expect her to understand anyway. His temples throbbed, and he finally understood the cause.

There is no such thing as a coincidence in this world. The Sun Family, the Ye Family. All of this was because of Qiao Chuxia.

So that was it... so that was it! A wild girl his daughter had bullied since high school must have climbed up to some major figure.

Ye Zhiming felt the world spinning, barely managing to stay upright.

Immediately after, a fear more suffocating than before engulfed his entire being. The person the Ye Family and the Sun Family had offended was the same; the Sun Family was already finished, so could the Ye Family be far behind?

In a sense, his daughter, Ye Youyou, was the culprit.

Ye Zhiming could feel it at every moment: the Grim Reaper's cold scythe was already pressed against the Ye Family's neck. Everything was over.

No! Perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope! Ye Zhiming suddenly snapped back to reality and grabbed the still-trembling and sobbing Ye Youyou from the floor, gripping her so hard it felt like he would crush her bones.

"Get up! Come with me!"

"Dad... where to... it hurts..."

Ye Zhiming said nothing, dragging Ye Youyou forcefully. Throughout the ride in the back seat of the car, Ye Zhiming was making calls frantically.

He was preparing compensation; he was going to take Ye Youyou to the Qiao Family to apologize. This was the only chance for survival.

As long as Qiao Chuxia was willing to grant a way out, his Ye Family could survive. He didn't know who was behind Qiao Chuxia, but that didn't matter.

As long as Qiao Chuxia was willing to let it go, that major figure would naturally be willing as well.

Meanwhile, in the girls' dormitory at Tianhai University, Qiao Chuxia was completely unaware of the storm engulfing the Ye Family.

Several days had passed, and while the lingering fear remained, there was more of a sense of shock and clarity after having the door to a new world forcibly pushed open for her.

Hearing about something is different from experiencing it, after all. The power of Meng Zhu to turn clouds and rain had taken root in her heart.

This had caused her to desperately want to become stronger recently. But blindly studying and reading could not bring her that kind of power.

Obviously, the only person who could help her was Meng Zhu. However, she didn't want to owe him, nor did she want to trouble him.

Deep down, she actually longed to interact with him as an equal. She took a deep breath and opened WeChat, looking at that bamboo avatar, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to press it.

Just as she was struggling with her indecision, her phone rang abruptly, interrupting her thoughts. On the screen was a number both strange and familiar.

Qiao Chuxia's heart sank for no reason. After hesitating for a few seconds, she swiped to answer.

"Hello?" On the other end of the line was a cold and impatient voice. It was her nominal older brother, Qiao Yuze.

"Qiao Chuxia, it's me. Return to the Qiao Family immediately. Something has happened at home; hurry up."

The tone of command was indisputable, offering no explanation. After saying this, he hung up directly.

Qiao Chuxia was already used to it and couldn't even be bothered to get angry. She thought about it for a moment, then packed her things, preparing to make a trip home.

She didn't know that at this very moment, hundreds of thousands of live-stream viewers were gathered at the Qiao Family, waiting for her.

She knew even less that Meng Zhu had just planted the seeds of ambition for her, and someone was already impatiently watering them to make them sprout.