spring bite mark

Chapter 232 Antique Shop

Jiang Manman noticed that Yan Changye had been feeling insecure lately.

The most direct manifestation of this is that he likes to take her with him wherever he goes. Even if he doesn't take her with him, he will stick to her very much through phone calls and WeChat. Even in bed, they are inseparable.

Jiang Manman finally couldn't take it anymore and suggested that she go back to the capital to work at Mu Chan.

“Wait a few days, I’ll go back with you.” Yan Changye refused.

Jiang Manman asked with slight doubt, "You seem a bit tense lately, for some reason."

Yan Changye's suspicions about Xie Yuheng were based entirely on his intuition, without any direct evidence, so it was not appropriate for him to bring them up in front of Jiang Manman.

He gave a faint "hmm": "The work pressure is a bit high, which is why I need to seek comfort from my wife from time to time."

His definition of 'comfort' has always been simple and direct. After being bothered by him for two consecutive nights, Jiang Manman didn't want to leave her room, let alone go back to the capital.

Recently, Yan Changye has been meeting with many people in Hong Kong privately, and occasionally even holding private meetings at his home. Jiang Manman saw him once from afar, and he didn't seem to be a high-ranking member of the Xie Group, but rather a professional manager and some kind of trust institution.

Shen Zongqian also appeared at Yushui Bay every day, bringing a pile of documents for Yan Chang to sign at night. After signing, he would lock them in the safe at home, keeping them very secret and not revealing a single thing to Jiang Manman.

Jiang Manman simply stopped paying attention to him and opened the Muchan backend to select a few orders that interested her to design.

Jiang Rong sent over a photo of an invitation, her tone very excited:
"Madam, Mu Chan has received an invitation to participate in the international HSY exhibition."

HSY is the most authoritative international fashion design exhibition, featuring emerging international design brands and renowned high-end luxury brands. Mu Chan, in theory, wasn't yet at that level. Jiang Manman and Jiang Rong had discussed it, and based on Mu Chan's current momentum, they thought they could barely make a run at HSY next year. Who knew the surprise would come so suddenly?

"Madam, are you going?" Jiang Rong asked.

Jiang Manman nodded decisively: "Of course I'll go! What a great opportunity! You prepare some works for the exhibition first, then contact the organizer to inquire about the precautions, and also check the airfare and book it for me in advance."

Jiang Rong had clearly made preparations long ago: "Madam, the exhibited works are ready. You can make some adjustments when you return. The main issue is that you are still in Hong Kong. Are you able to come back? I have also checked the airfare. Because the time is very tight, it is only two days away, and it has already sold out. I was just about to discuss it with you."

Jiang Manman didn't care: "I'll see if I can go back to the capital tomorrow. If I can't book a plane ticket, I'll have Yan Changye arrange a private jet."

But she clearly underestimated the extent to which Yan Changye had become paranoid lately.

"Stay by your husband's side lately and don't go anywhere." Yan Changye wouldn't budge. "It's just an HSY exhibition, right? Can it be more important than your husband, huh?"

Jiang Manman glared at him: "I never thought you could be this clingy. Mu Chan rarely has such an opportunity to step onto the international stage, and I hope you will support my work, not hinder it."

Yan Changye was a little annoyed: "Let me check the situation first."

This matter then fell on Shen Zongqian, who was already extremely busy.

Two hours after receiving the instructions, Shen Zongqian brought the investigation results:
"The HSY international exhibition was planned at the beginning of the year, and we have not yet found any private dealings with Chairman Xie Yuheng."

Yan Changye looked at the documents and hit the nail on the head: "Mu Chan wasn't on the invitation list at the beginning of the year. She was added two months ago. Don't you think the timing is a bit too coincidental?"

"This is all thanks to you, Boss." Shen Zongqian said with a hint of helplessness, "Originally, this exhibition didn't include Mu Chan. Your endorsement photos were all the rage in China for a while and even spread overseas. Many people in the organizers were quite enamored with those two photos of you. So, on this Mu Chan invitation, they specifically requested that Mu Chan's spokesperson attend as well."

Jiang Manman, who was listening nearby, spoke softly, "So it's all thanks to your beauty. So, would you like to come with me?" Yan Changye remained silent.

Shen Zongqian was fully aware of Yan Changye's schedule: "Madam, the HSY exhibition overlaps with a very important equity integration meeting of the Xie Group, so the BOSS may not be able to accompany you."

Jiang Manman looked at Yan Changye and suggested, "Then I'll go back to the capital tomorrow, taking Jiang Rong with me. We'll have bodyguards with us at all times. I'll come back to be with you after the exhibition."

Yan Changye was still uneasy, and kept his thin lips tightly pressed together, refusing to let go.

Jiang Manman was a little annoyed and pinched Yan Changye's waist lightly: "Say something!"

Yan Changye's composed demeanor instantly crumbled, and he softened his tone, conceding, "Alright, as you wish."

Jiang Manman stood up: "I'll go pack my luggage."

Yan Changye watched her enter the bedroom, gently touching the spot where she had pinched him. His expression relaxed slightly, and he whispered an instruction to Shen Zongqian:

"I'll keep an eye on Xie Yuheng's side. You keep an eye on Li Ke's movements. If you find anything amiss, cancel my wife's flight immediately."

The return trip to the capital was scheduled for the following afternoon.

The next morning, Yan Changye went out to discuss a project, and Jiang Manman was woken up by a phone call.

It was a phone call from the museum director a few days ago during the donation banquet for the royal hairpins:
"Hello Ms. Jiang, the set of ancient artifacts you donated is of great research value, but we have limited historical documents. We would like to ask if you have any documents or materials related to it."

Jiang Manman thought for a moment and said, "I'll send someone to deliver it to you this afternoon."

The museum curator was overjoyed: "Thank you so much, Miss Jiang!"

Jiang Manman got up to change her clothes, recalled what the antique shop owner who gave her the hairpin had said last time, and instructed her bodyguard: "Go to No. 268 Taigu Street."

Several bodyguard vehicles escorted Jiang Manman as they slowly drove towards Taikoo Street.

Aside from the chance encounter with Xie Yuheng's 'reshuffling' game at Taikoo Street, which is a mix of elements, I also visited it once more with Huo Mingcai and the others. At that time, it was bustling with people and extremely prosperous, with artistic atmosphere and everyday life blending together, gradually changing Jiang Manman's initial impression of it as cold and austere.

Due to the large crowds on Taikoo Street, roadblocks were set up. Jiang Manman parked the convoy in the parking lot, turned around, and whispered to her bodyguard:
"Keep a distance that's not too close or too far from me, just make sure I don't leave your sight, and don't scare the shopkeepers."

After saying that, he looked at the house numbers all the way to the entrance of the antique shop.

Compared to the surrounding milk tea shops, snack shops, and craft shops, the antique shop is much quieter, and most of the people coming and going are wealthy businessmen. In Huo Mingcai's words, the antique business is a money-burning thing.

Jiang Manman paused at the entrance of the antique shop, then stepped into the lobby of the antique shop with a light touch in her high heels, where she met the antique shop owner she had met in Jiangyue Mansion before.

The antique shop owner was stunned.

Jiang Manman spoke gently, "Boss, I'd like to discuss the Yan royal hairpin with you. Do you have time?"

The antique shop owner glanced reflexively at the tightly closed tea room inside.

(End of this chapter)