Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 205 The Prodigal Son's Career Upgrade!

As night deepened, the Chen Marquis's residence was brightly lit.

When Chen Ye returned home, his father, Chen Fangshi, was still awake, sitting in his study drinking tea and reading.

Upon seeing Chen Ye return, Chen Fangshi immediately put down the book in his hand, a look of concern on his face.

"Was it going smoothly?" Chen Fangshi's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible tension.

Although he didn't say it, he was actually very worried about his son.

He knew all too well what the Xuanjing Division was, having spent half his life navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom.

That place is His Majesty's executioner's blade, the nightmare of the court officials, where everyone is a ruthless wolf or tiger.

Although her son had made a name for himself at the autumn hunt, he was still young, and his previous reputation was what it was. Suddenly being placed in such an important position would surely attract a lot of jealousy and exclusion.

He was worried that his son wouldn't be able to handle it and would be targeted by others.

"Don't worry, everything is fine." Chen Ye smiled and sat down opposite Chen Fangshi, poured himself a cup of tea, and drank it in one gulp.

"All is well?" Chen Fangshi clearly didn't believe him. "Nobody tried to intimidate you?"

"Yes," Chen Ye said casually, "a bunch of clueless guys tried to embarrass me, but I took care of them easily."

Then Chen Ye briefly recounted what had happened at the household office during the day to Chen Fangshi. Of course, he glossed over the bloody and violent parts, only saying that he had demonstrated his strength and intimidated the group of people.

Even so, Chen Fangshi remained speechless for a long time after listening.

Looking at his son, whose brows exuded both heroism and composure, he was filled with mixed emotions.

Is this still the same troublemaker who only knew how to cockfight, dog racing, and causing trouble?
When did he become so cunning and shrewd?
What followed was relief and joy.

It wasn't because his son had become a high-ranking official, but because Chen Fangshi had witnessed his son's growth and sense of responsibility.

The father and son chatted for a while about the situation in the court. Chen Fangshi shared his experience and connections with Chen Ye without reservation.

"Liu Yuan, the Minister of Revenue, is a man of the Grand Tutor, and Wang Xian, the Vice Minister of Personnel, is very close to the Prince of Wuyang's mansion. When you are handling cases in the Xuanjing Division, you must be extra careful if you get involved with these people. Think things through before you act and never act impulsively."

"I've got it." Chen Ye nodded earnestly.

"Alright, it's getting late. You've had a long day, so go home and get some rest," Chen Fangshi said.

"Okay, then you should get some rest too."

Chen Ye got up to say goodbye and left the study.

Watching his son's departing figure, Chen Fangshi picked up his teacup and took a sip of the now-cold tea, finding it sweet and refreshing.

……

In the south of the city, the main branch of the Xie Family Chamber of Commerce was also brightly lit.

Xie Weining sat in the accounting room, holding an account book in her hand, but she couldn't understand a single number on it.

The image of Chen Ye leaving this morning kept uncontrollably flashing through her mind.

His all-black outfit, his cold and imposing aura, and... the mischievous look in his eyes and the warmth of his fingertips when he pinched his own cheek.

"Young Miss? Young Miss?"

Manager Wang called her several times before she suddenly came to her senses.

"Ah? Manager Wang, what's wrong?" Xie Weining's cheeks were a little hot, and she quickly turned to a page of the ledger to cover it up.

Manager Wang gave her a strange look, but still said respectfully, "Miss, the accounts for that batch of furs from beyond the Great Wall have been checked. You see..."

"Oh, just put it there, I'll look at it later," Xie Weining said absentmindedly.

"Yes," Manager Wang replied and left.

Xie Weining was left alone in the accounting office again.

She finally couldn't help herself, put down the ledger in her hand, and sighed softly.

I wonder how that guy fared at the Mystic Mirror Division today.

With his temper and his penchant for showing off, won't he offend people?

[I've heard the people in the Xuanjing Division are all very fierce. Will he... he won't get bullied?]

[Pah! Xie Weining, what nonsense are you thinking! He's so powerful, who could bully him? It's good enough that he doesn't bully others!]

But my sister also said that it's not a good place...

Her mind was in turmoil; one moment she was worried, and the next she was telling herself not to overthink it.

This unfamiliar emotion made her feel somewhat irritable and at a loss.

So she got up and went to the window, gazing blankly at the moonlight outside.

After a long while, she muttered to herself, "You bastard, please don't let anything happen to you..."

By the time Xie Weining finished processing all the accounts, it was already late at night. She returned to the Chen Hou Mansion and walked back to her own courtyard. When she passed Chen Ye's study, she subconsciously glanced inside.

The dim candlelight shone through the paper window, casting the shadow of a person engrossed in studying at their desk.

He hasn't slept yet?

Xie Weining stopped and stood in the courtyard, quietly watching the figure.

The night breeze was cool, stirring the hem of her skirt and also unsettling her heart.

She stood there for a long time, not even knowing what she was thinking.

"Miss, aren't you going inside to rest? It's chilly outside," Qing'er couldn't help but ask in a low voice.

Xie Weining then seemed to wake from a dream, bit her lip, and was engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

"Should I go in and take a look? That wouldn't be a good idea... He'd definitely laugh at me."

He's still reading so late; he must be working very hard...

I was just delivering a cup of tea, yes, just a cup of tea, nothing special!

After a great internal struggle, she finally made up her mind.

"Qing'er, go to the kitchen and make a cup of calming hot tea."

"Yes, Miss." Although Qing'er was a little confused, she still obediently went to do so.

Soon, a steaming cup of ginseng tea was served.

Xie Weining took a deep breath, as if to encourage herself, and personally carried the tea tray to the door of the study.

With a soft creak, Chen Ye, who was engrossed in reading the case file, looked up.

When he saw Xie Weining appear at the door carrying a tea tray, he was clearly taken aback for a moment, and then a smile appeared on his face.

"why are not you sleeping?"

Xie Weining didn't dare to look Chen Ye in the eye. She walked in with her head down and placed the tea tray on the desk.

"When I came back, I saw that your lights were still on," she said softly, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Oh? So you came here specifically to check up on me, afraid I'm hiding another woman in the study?" Chen Ye teased her deliberately.

"What nonsense are you talking about!" Xie Weining bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her voice rising several decibels. "Qing'er brewed too much ginseng tea, and it would be a shame to throw it away, so I brought it to you on my way! Drink it or not, it's up to you!"

After she finished speaking, she herself felt that her reason was really lame.

Chen Ye's smile deepened.

"Drink, why won't you drink?"

As he spoke, Chen Ye picked up his teacup and took a sip.

The warm tea, with a hint of ginseng sweetness, soothed my throat, dispelling the chill and fatigue of the late night.

"Hmm, good tea."

Xie Weining was overjoyed, but didn't know what to say, so she remained silent.

The atmosphere in the study became very subtle for a moment, until Chen Ye finally broke the silence.

"Still busy with chamber of commerce matters so late?"

"Hmm." Xie Weining responded softly, finally finding a topic to talk about, and her emotions calmed down a bit. "There are some problems with the accounts for that batch of furs from outside the pass, so it took a little longer."

"Have the bandits at Blackwind Pass been dealt with?" Chen Ye asked.

"It's resolved." Xie Weining's tone was filled with confidence when she mentioned this. "I spent a lot of money to hire people from Zhenyuan Escort Agency to escort the goods. Sure enough, the journey was peaceful. Moreover, I also had them deliberately spread the word that it was a shipment to the Wuyang Prince's Mansion. Even if those bandits had the guts, they wouldn't dare to touch anything belonging to the Prince's Mansion."

"Not bad." Chen Ye nodded approvingly.

This woman is indeed intelligent; she grasps things quickly, can apply what she learns to other situations, and has extremely strong execution skills.

Xie Weining felt inexplicably happy to receive Chen Ye's praise.

Her gaze fell on the mountain of files on the desk, and she asked with some curiosity, "What...are you looking at? Why are there so many?"

"Old case files from the Xuanjing Division." Chen Ye pointed to the items on the table. "I had my men find these for me."

"Why are you looking at these?" Xie Weining asked, puzzled.

In her view, these old cases should be of no use except for being covered in dust.

Chen Ye smiled upon hearing this, "Don't underestimate these things." He picked up a file and waved it in front of Xie Weining, "This contains more than just cases."

"What else?"

"There is also the people's hearts, the interests, and the power network of the entire Yunzhou City, and even the entire Great Chen Dynasty."

“Every case handled by the Xuanjing Division, every person arrested, may be connected to a certain faction in the imperial court.”

“Through these cases, I can find out what the Xuanjing Division has done over the years, who it has offended, who its friends are, and who its enemies are! I can also find out which faction my colleagues and superiors belong to, what their style of doing things is, and where their bottom line is.”

Seeing Xie Weining's shocked expression, Chen Ye continued, "Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle. As a newcomer, if I want to survive in a place like the Xuanjing Division, I must figure all of this out as quickly as possible, otherwise I won't even know how I died."

The study was quiet, with only the candlelight flickering softly.

Xie Weining stared blankly at Chen Ye, unable to utter a single word.

She suddenly recalled the scene a few days ago at the dinner table when Chen Ye analyzed the bandits of Black Wind Pass.

He always seems to be able to unravel the mystery from details that others miss, getting straight to the heart of the matter.

So, is the man in front of me really the same person as that playboy who only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun?
Seeing the shock and confusion in Xie Weining's beautiful eyes, Chen Ye knew he had achieved his goal.

To truly win over a woman, especially a smart and proud woman like Xie Weining, sweet words and forceful methods alone are not enough.

You must demonstrate abilities far exceeding hers in her area of ​​expertise and pride, fundamentally inspiring her respect or even admiration for you.

At that time, she will naturally and willingly open her heart to you.

"I...I didn't expect there to be so many intricacies involved," Xie Weining exclaimed after a long while.

"The officialdom is far more complex and dangerous than the business world," Chen Ye said with a faint smile. "Sometimes, one wrong step can lead to utter ruin, so I must act with caution."

Xie Weining nodded, looking at Chen Ye's profile, which appeared particularly composed in the candlelight, and a feeling suddenly arose in her heart.

Perhaps throwing him into the den of dragons and tigers, the Xuanjing Division, wouldn't be such a bad thing for him.

With his intelligence and skills, he might actually be able to carve out his own niche.

Thinking of this, her gaze towards Chen Ye softened unconsciously.

He... seems to have really changed a lot.

[He's no longer the troublemaker he used to be.]

When he gets serious, he's actually quite handsome.

Hearing this familiar sentiment, Chen Ye's smile widened.

Great, the fish are starting to bite.

Xie Weining felt a little embarrassed by his gaze and quickly looked away, saying, "Then... then I won't bother you anymore. You should get some rest."

She felt the atmosphere was far too ambiguous, and if she stayed any longer, her heart would leap out of her throat.

After saying that, she turned to leave.

But as soon as she turned around, her wrist was grabbed.

"Oh, wait."

Xie Weining's body stiffened abruptly as a warm and powerful sensation spread from her wrist throughout her entire body.

She felt her mind go blank, then instinctively turned around and met Chen Ye's eyes, which held a hint of mockery.

"Such a beautiful day, and you're just leaving like this? Don't you think it's a bit of a pity?" Chen Ye said with a half-smile.

As he spoke, he exerted a little force, and Xie Weining uncontrollably fell back into the chair, landing right on his lap, the two of them very close.

A strong masculine scent instantly enveloped her, making her already confused mind even more dizzy.

"What...what are you doing! Let go!"

Xie Weining came to her senses, feeling both embarrassed and anxious; her pretty face turned so red it looked like it was about to bleed.

She tried hard to pull her hand back, but Chen Ye's hand was like an iron clamp, and no matter how much she struggled, it wouldn't budge.

"Let go?" Chen Ye raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"You...you lecher! In broad daylight...no, in the middle of the night, what are you trying to do!" Xie Weining was somewhat incoherent.

[Bastard! Scoundrel! How dare he... how dare he treat me like this!]

My heart is racing... What should I do... Should I call for help?

[But being held by him like this doesn't feel so bad... Ugh! Xie Weining, what are you thinking!]

Hearing these heartfelt words, Chen Ye almost burst out laughing.

This woman may say no, but her body and heart are quite honest.

"My wife, you're wronging your husband with those words," Chen Ye said innocently. "We're husband and wife, isn't it only natural for us to do intimate things? How does that make me a lecher?"

"Who...who is your husband!" Xie Weining retorted stubbornly. "We only have a marriage contract, but we don't...we don't have the de facto marriage!"

"Oh? So my wife is blaming me for not fulfilling my responsibilities as a husband." Chen Ye nodded in sudden realization, then leaned close to her ear, lowered his voice, and said in a magnetic tone, "Then why don't we... make this marriage official tonight?"

The warm breath sprayed onto Xie Weining's sensitive earlobe, giving her goosebumps all over her body and making her feel weak on one side.

"I...I didn't mean that! Let me go!" Her voice was already trembling with tears, sounding more like she was pleading.

"I won't let you go." Chen Ye's attitude was firm. "Unless you promise me one thing."

"What is it?" Xie Weining asked instinctively.

"You're not allowed to be so cold to me anymore, and you're not allowed to call me 'hey' anymore. You have to call me 'husband' instead," Chen Ye stated his conditions.

Should we call him husband?

How could I possibly say that...?

But he won't let go unless I agree... That bastard!

Xie Weining bit her lip, her heart filled with conflicting emotions.

Chen Ye didn't urge her, but just watched her quietly. He tightened his grip on her wrist, and at the same time, his other hand wandered around her slender waist.

Xie Weining's body stiffened again, feeling as if the heat from the large hand around her waist was about to burn through her clothes.

She knew that if she didn't agree, this guy probably wouldn't give up easily.

"I...I promise you! Just let go!" In the end, she gave in, her voice barely audible.

"Agree to what? I didn't hear you clearly." Chen Ye pretended to be stupid.

Xie Weining was both ashamed and angry, wishing she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

"Call out quickly, I'm waiting."

Xie Weining was furious at his smug look.

But with no other choice, she could only close her eyes, take a deep breath, and squeeze out two words through gritted teeth as if she had made a tremendous decision.

"Hu... husband."

"Yes, I'm here," Chen Ye replied, his face beaming with a bright smile.

Although my voice was a bit soft and my attitude was a bit poor, this was the first time after all, and I'll get used to it in the future.

Chen Ye finally let go.

Once free, Xie Weining was like a bird escaping its cage. She jumped away from him and ran towards the door without looking back.

When she reached the door, she still seemed angry and turned back to glare fiercely at Chen Ye.

"You lecherous scoundrel! You shameless rogue!"

After hurling insults, she fled in panic, and Chen Ye smiled without saying a word as he watched her hasty retreat.

Just then, a notification suddenly appeared.

[The Prodigal's profession level has been upgraded to LV2!]

Chen Ye was slightly taken aback, then opened the system panel.

Name: Chen Ye

[Cultivation Realm: Sea Condensation]

[Occupation: Playboy Lv2 – You flit from flower to flower, yet remain untouched. You are a natural darling of the dating scene, a woman's nemesis. Your charm will have nowhere to go, and your tenderness will be an irresistible poison for them.]

[Professional Talent: Hearing Hearts - All lies, reserve, and pretense crumble before you. You can directly hear the true thoughts and feelings of your female targets. Is she playing hard to get, or is she genuinely disgusted? Is she saying one thing but meaning another, or is she deeply in love? For you, the answers are no longer secrets, but bargaining chips to be used at will. In this game, you see the other person's cards beforehand.]

[Skill: Eloquent Tongue Lv2 - Your words have an extremely strong persuasive and infectious power over women, easily gaining their trust and favor! At the same time, your tongue has become exceptionally flexible and powerful on a physical level, bringing unimaginable pleasurable experiences.]

Not only did the Prodigal Son profession level up to level 2, but the Eloquent Tongue skill also leveled up to level 2.

In this way, both the ability to listen to one's innermost thoughts and the persuasiveness and influence of one's words have made great progress, and their power has become increasingly stronger.

So although this profession may seem unorthodox, if used properly, it can be a powerful weapon.

If you level up just by hugging someone, what if you develop the relationship further? Could you directly advance your career level?
Thinking of this, Chen Ye began to ponder seriously.

I'm thinking about whether I should win over Xie Weining as soon as possible.

(End of this chapter)