Chapter 15: Mr. Zhan, the Unscrupulous Businessman

Ye Ningwan hurriedly covered her neck and coughed hard, taking a deep breath, to calm herself down. She thought her neck must be red. Her skin was so delicate that even the slightest touch could change its color. It’s no wonder it turned red after being gripped like that by him. However, she soon thought of something else. This man... just now... could he have done it on purpose, with the aim of making her agree to help him find Bai Zhi? Ye Ningwan bit her lip, realizing that there really is no businessman who isn’t sly. The man, whose plot had succeeded, was already sitting upright as the car started, driving them home. After Zhan Hanjue returned to his room, Housekeeper Wu found Ye Ningwan: "Young Madam, the Lin Family sent over the jade pendant." Ye Ningwan was surprised and hurriedly accepted the brocade box delivered by Housekeeper Wu. She opened it, and sure enough, inside was the carved peony jade pendant. She hadn’t seen it for years, but she could instantly recognize that it was her mother’s jade pendant. "The Lin Family... why would they suddenly send it over?" Lin Yuyang and Ye Xuan didn’t seem like people who would have a crisis of conscience and voluntarily return the jade pendant. "It was the young master who sent people to retrieve it, and the Lin Family dared not refuse," Housekeeper Wu replied. Ye Ningwan pressed her lips together. Was that person... offering her compensation? Compensation for choking her? But no matter what, she was still very grateful to Zhan Hanjue. This jade pendant was her mother’s relic. After her parents passed away, her parents’ belongings were taken by her uncle and aunt. She didn’t care much about other things, but she definitely wanted to get this jade pendant back. "Knock, knock, knock." "Come in." Ye Ningwan pushed the door open and went in, seeing Zhan Hanjue sitting at the desk listening to a report. She lightly coughed and said, "I got the jade pendant, thank you." "It’s rightfully yours," the man said coldly. Ye Ningwan said, "I will keep my promise to you and help you find Bai Zhi as soon as possible. However, Bai Zhi has a rule. When she practices medicine and saves people, she asks for compensation." "I will certainly prepare a generous payment." "It’s not about payment," Ye Ningwan said. "The compensation Bai Zhi asks for might be money, might be a piece of information, or might be an item from the patient. It’s all uncertain. If you want her to treat you, you have to be prepared for any compensation." "As long as she can heal my eyes, any compensation is acceptable," Zhan Hanjue promised. Ye Ningwan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, saying, "Then I’ll go make some calls, ask relatives and friends back home if there’s been any news about her recently." With that, she turned and left. After Ye Ningwan turned away, Zhan Hanjue lifted his head to watch her figure, his faint pupils slightly deepening. "Young Madam, the Old Madam asks for you." Ye Ningwan had just come out of Zhan Hanjue’s room when she ran into Mrs. Chen who had come to find her. What did the Old Madam want with her? Ye Ningwan was a bit surprised, but still smiled slightly and followed Mrs. Chen. Old Mrs. Zhan was in her room sorting through her jewelry. Seeing Ye Ningwan arrive, she smiled and waved: "Come here, come quickly. I’m just sorting through these. See if there’s anything you like, pick a few." Ye Ningwan glanced over with her big eyes; they were all precious jewels and jewelry. She quickly smiled and said, "Grandma, these are your prized possessions. You should keep them for yourself!" "Child, select something, they will all be yours sooner or later," Old Mrs. Zhan said warmly. Ye Ningwan thought, that’s not necessarily true; I won’t be in the Zhan Family forever. However, she didn’t want to turn down Old Mrs. Zhan’s goodwill, so she casually picked up a bracelet that appeared to be the least noticeable and least valuable, and said, "Just this one, thank you, Grandma." Old Mrs. Zhan was delighted: "Ningwan, you really have an eye for picking. This bracelet was bought by Hanjue to give to me on his fifteenth birthday. He said it looked very pretty, so he bought it for me." "Ah, it’s actually... since you said Hanjue gave it to you, then I can’t take it." Ye Ningwan returned the bracelet hurriedly as if it were hot. Old Mrs. Zhan pushed it back into her hands: "Take it, take it; a bracelet like this is not suitable for someone my age. Leaving it here, it just collects dust. You two are indeed made for each other, even having the same taste." Ye Ningwan felt awkward. Old Mrs. Zhan sighed again: "It’s a pity, ever since then, Hanjue hasn’t been able to see. He can’t see beautiful things, and he hasn’t given me gifts again. It would be wonderful if he could regain his sight someday and see you, to know what a beautiful bride he has married." "Grandma, Hanjue is currently searching for the divine doctor Bai Zhi. Luckily, I know where Bai Zhi might be. Once we find Bai Zhi, she will surely heal his eyes." Not wanting to see the Old Madam so sad, Ye Ningwan softly reassured her. Old Mrs. Zhan’s face lit up with joy, and she eagerly held Ye Ningwan’s hand asking: "Really? You know where Bai Zhi is? Hanjue has been looking for a long time but never heard anything about her." Ye Ningwan explained: "Bai Zhi used to live in our countryside; she was the one who healed my face." "Her medical skills are truly superb, just look at your face, not a trace of a scar," Old Mrs. Zhan marveled. Then she couldn’t help but remark: "You and Hanjue really are meant to be. Fate brought you into this family, satisfying both me and Hanjue, and now you can even help Hanjue find the divine doctor. Once Hanjue’s eyes are healed, how perfect you two will be together." Ye Ningwan forced a smile and nodded. Old Mrs. Zhan continued to share some private words with her. Ye Ningwan suddenly recalled Leng Linglong’s words and said softly: "Today, Hanjue took me to see Mrs. Leng, but I feel like Aunt doesn’t quite like me." Old Mrs. Zhan’s expression stiffened, and she slowly released her hand, saying: "That’s just her nature. Don’t take it to heart. She doesn’t like anyone, except her own son." Ye Ningwan furrowed her brow; Old Mrs. Zhan’s reaction didn’t seem quite right. She was Mrs. Leng’s mother, yet they didn’t seem close. Was it due to those rumored reasons? Ye Ningwan was full of doubts. After leaving Old Mrs. Zhan’s room, she remained silent for a while and then suddenly said to Mrs. Chen, who was seeing her out: "Mrs. Chen, I just mentioned to Grandma that Aunt doesn’t seem to like me much. I noticed Grandma’s face fell; did I upset her?" Mrs. Chen was momentarily stunned but quickly laughed and said: "No such thing. The Old Madam adores you. How could she be upset with you?" "But I said Aunt doesn’t like me, and since Aunt is Grandma’s daughter, it’s like speaking ill of Aunt, so naturally, Grandma would be unhappy." Ye Ningwan lowered her head, appearing deeply remorseful. Her inherently soft and fragile look now appeared even more pitiful, stirring people’s compassion. Mrs. Chen, unable to bear seeing her like that, quickly comforted her: "Young Madam, you’re overthinking. The Old Madam wouldn’t be upset with you because of Mrs. Leng. Mrs. Leng... she’s not Old Mrs. Zhan’s biological daughter, and they haven’t seen each other for more than ten years."