spring bite mark

Chapter 229 The storm is coming
When Jiang Manman arrived home with her child, the aloof and beautiful Yan Meiren was sitting lazily in the living room, her long legs crossed, looking listless, holding the antique hairpin that Xie Yuheng had given her.

"I put it away, why did you take it out?" Jiang Manman asked, puzzled. "And you're acting like a wronged woman, who upset you this time?"

"Does Madam know what kind of hairpin this is?" Yan Changye asked in a low voice. "I heard it has been used by more than a dozen empresses. In ancient times, it was considered a symbol of the principal wife, so it's quite precious."

Jiang Manman glanced at him with her almond-shaped eyes: "I don't know what kind of hairpin it is, but I didn't originally plan to accept it. I was in a bit of a dilemma at the time. If you feel uncomfortable, I will donate it to the Hong Kong Museum tomorrow."

“I’m not such an ungenerous person.” Yan Changye lowered his head and sent her a map on his phone. “I’ve sent you the location of the museum, and I’ll also give you the curator’s phone number.”

Jiang Manman: "...So impatient?"

“Madam may not understand my feelings,” Yan Changye said slowly. “As the true legal wife, this hairpin is pricking my heart.”

"Is the museum open at night?" Jiang Manman sighed softly. "I'll go donate after dinner."

"Open it." Yan Changye nodded decisively. "How could we not open it when we're sending such a precious treasure?"

He carefully put away the hairpin, sealed it, and handed it to Jiang Manman, saying, "Not only the hairpin, but recently, whenever Xie Yuheng is involved, don't accept anything or see him."

Jiang Manman was slightly taken aback when she saw Yan Changye's rather serious expression: "Okay."

Having been appeased, Yan Changye finally had the mind to inquire about other matters: "Madam, did you find anything worthwhile at the art exhibition this afternoon?"

"I bought more than a dozen paintings, five of which are works by world-renowned masters, and the rest are by emerging artists." Jiang Manman had her bodyguard take the paintings out of the trunk. "Take them to the studio, and I'll see how to hang them later."

In the evening, Li Ke personally drove to pick them up.

Yan Changye was nestled on the sofa in his art studio, gazing tenderly at the paintings hanging on the walls of his beloved children's walls. In the highly artistic studio, Yan Yu and Jiang Manman were completely absorbed in their art, while Xie Jian wandered around like a headless fly, utterly oblivious to the art.

Li Ke respectfully addressed Yan Changye: "President Xie, those financial experts will arrive at Jiangyue Mansion at 7 PM tonight. My boss has instructed me to pick up the two young masters now."

“Alright, go ahead and pick him up.” Yan Changye paused. “I’ve been busy with projects all day and haven’t had a chance to recharge myself in a long time. I’ll go and listen in too.”

Li Ke: "...Okay."

Wasn't President Xie the one who hated going to Jiangyue Mansion the most, and the one who avoided expert gatherings the most?
Li Ke was puzzled, but he had already taken the two children with him and followed Yan Changye out the door.

“Madam.” Yan Changye walked to the door, turned around abruptly, and raised the corner of his lips slightly. “You can eat dinner by yourself. I’ll probably be back very late. Remember to go to the museum after you finish eating.”

"Okay, go ahead," Jiang Manman replied perfunctorily, engrossed in the painting.

Jiangyue Mansion Reception Room.

The air was filled with the aroma of tea, and various exquisite Hong Kong-style dim sum were laid out on the table. Several financial experts gathered together, chatting in a relaxed manner.

Xie Yuheng sat in the head seat, with Yan Yuhe and Xie Jian seated on his left and right respectively.

This wasn't the first time the two children had experienced something like this, so they were quite used to it. They sat obediently, Xie Jian looking blankly as if listening, but his mind had long since wandered off somewhere else. Yan Yu was able to take in some of the information and would humbly ask for help when he encountered unfamiliar words.

Yan Changye sat in the corner, not uttering a word from beginning to end, his eyes fixed on Xie Yuheng, seemingly lost in thought.

The party ended at 9 p.m.

The experts took their leave.

The large reception room was now empty except for the four members: the uncle, nephew, and niece.

Xie Jian had already fallen asleep, hypnotized by the financial jargon, and was being held in Xie Yuheng's arms, who was patting his back intermittently. Yan Yu, on the other hand, was awake and drinking the milk that the butler had brought.

"How about the children stay overnight at Jiangyue Manor tonight? There are still three days left, and they can continue listening tomorrow night. If I'm not busy during the day, I can help them with their homework—or would you like to take them back and tutor them yourself?"

Xie Yuheng's voice was indifferent, but he was quite patient when the topic turned to children.

Yan Changye said "Oh," and then Xie Yuheng got up, carried Xie Jian back to the room, changed into a bathrobe, and took Yan Yu to the bathroom to take a shower.

Yan Changye simply sat lazily on the sofa and watched without saying a word.

After Yan Yu finished washing up, Xie Yuheng carried him to the bedroom. When everything was arranged and they came out again, Yan Changye was still in the living room.

"You scrutinized me all night," Xie Yuheng said coldly. "What did you see?"

Yan Changye scoffed, "What are you saying, Uncle? I just suddenly felt like taking a good look at you, how did that become an examination?"

"Look at yourself instead of me," Xie Yuheng said, dismissing him. "It's late, and there are no rooms available for you at Jiangyue Mansion."

Yan Changye gave him a deep look, picked up his car keys, stood up, and drove away.

When they arrived at Yushui Bay, Jiang Manman was already in bed.

Yan Changye hugged the person tightly, blanket and all, and gently called out, "Madam."

Jiang Manman stared at him without saying a word.

Yan Changye kissed her hard on the cheek again: "Madam?"

Jiang Manman struggled out of his cuddly embrace, casually opened a drawer, took out a donation certificate, and handed it to him:
"Are you satisfied?"

A smile filled Yan Changye's peach blossom eyes. He hummed in agreement and finally stopped teasing her.

While Yushui Bay was warm and inviting, Jiangyue Mansion was inexplicably chilly.

In the study, Xie Yuheng was still wearing the bathrobe that Yan Changye had left in. He sat quietly in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his deep and unfathomable eyes gazing at the dark night sky.

Li Ke walked in quietly, holding a glass of wine.

"Boss, President Xie has sent quite a few people to investigate you these past few days." Li Ke hesitated. "You haven't made up your mind yet?"

Xie Yuheng didn't speak, but picked up the wine and took a sip. His hands, with their jade-like knuckles, gripped the stem of the glass with what seemed like excessive force, and the veins on the back of his hands became visible.

Obviously, he was not at peace.

Li Ke said tactfully, "Boss, Xie Yunxi is an extremely shrewd person. If you delay any longer, you may lose the initiative."

Xie Yuheng closed his eyes briefly: "Bring over all the proposals."

Li Ke went to the safe in the study, entered the triple password, took out a few thin sheets of paper, and returned to Xie Yuheng's side.

"Boss, here are three plans we've prepared, with a success rate of 80% to 96%. Which one would you like to activate?"

Xie Yuheng pressed his temples, his voice icy: "Is the funding all ready?"

"Yes, it can be rolled out at any time, and the relevant personnel have been coordinated." Li Ke's heart beat faster. "As long as you give your approval."

A moment of silence.

"Let's talk about it in three days." Xie Yuheng's gaze gently fell on the direction of the children's room. "The child is too young; it's not advisable for him to be exposed to blood."

After saying that, he downed the red wine in one gulp and casually handed the glass back to Li Ke:

"Think of a reason to send Xie Jian and A Yu back to the capital after the financial gathering."

(End of this chapter)