Chapter 44: The Arrival of the Beautiful CEO

Throughout the journey, all the bodyguards remained highly vigilant. In the leading BMW, Mouse and Big Prawn took charge of the situation. At present, the security team was essentially Ye Chen’s domain, and Mouse and Big Prawn were his trusted right and left hands. Anyone who dared challenge their authority would first have to defeat the two of them.

“Boss, everything ahead is clear, no issues!” Mouse reported from the front BMW. The entire convoy was arranged in a high-level defensive formation, with Mouse and Big Prawn anchoring the lead cars, and Ye Chen overseeing the rear. Everything proceeded in perfect order.

“Good, keep a close watch,” Ye Chen ordered simply. “It’s half an hour from Tianya Group to Jiangnan One. In these thirty minutes, not a single mistake can be allowed.”

“Yes, sir!” Mouse nodded.

The convoy moved out, BMWs at the front, a Lincoln sandwiched in the middle, and Ye Chen trailing in a Mercedes. The Mercedes’ driver was Deputy Captain Jin, who had become obedient after Ye Chen gave him a severe beating. As the saying goes, a horse is tamed through training, a dog through discipline—how true it was. Ye Chen chuckled and instructed, “Deputy Captain Jin, make sure to stay alert.”

“Understood!” Jin Guoyou nodded.

The motorcade sped along the highway toward Jiangnan One. Jiangnan One was the beacon signaling Tianya Group’s foray into the real estate business. When Tianya Group first began developing the Jiangnan One site, it drew the attention of real estate tycoons from Jianghuai City and all of Province Z. With such a massive conglomerate entering the industry, the market could only cry, “The wolves are coming!” Yet, back when Li Tianya was still in charge, he had publicly announced that Tianya Group’s move into real estate would not harm other companies or groups.

“Ziwen, how are the preparations for the opening ceremony coming along?” Li Ruo had been with Tianya Group for less than a year and had only just taken the reins of power. Today marked her first time attending such a major formal event, and it was only natural that she felt a touch of nervousness. After all, she was only twenty-three years old, fresh from her studies in America. The first thing her father had entrusted her with, after exhausting himself for the company, was to hold Tianya Group’s position and not let opportunists take advantage.

“President Li, everything is ready!” Lin Ziwen responded solemnly. “Vice President Chen is already greeting guests at the venue, and the ceremony is halfway through. If we head over now, we’ll make it in time for the speeches.”

“Alright,” Li Ruo nodded and glanced back at the Mercedes, where she could just make out Ye Chen chatting and laughing in the passenger seat. That sight gave her some comfort. Remembering how Ye Chen had chased down three criminals alone, she still felt grateful to him.

The convoy soon arrived at the venue.

The opening ceremony was set on the mini golf course of Jiangnan One Garden Estate, a new, modern residential area equipped with every imaginable amenity. Ye Chen couldn’t help but praise it as he entered—the air was fragrant with flowers. The security guards at the entrance, employees of Tianya Group’s property management company, stood tall in their dark blue uniforms, plastic batons at their waists.

Inside, the roads were laid out to a high standard, with pathways crisscrossing the estate without compromising the lush landscaping. The greenery was impressive, with ornamental trees and foliage everywhere. It was said that over fifty percent of Jiangnan One was green space, a rarity among developers, who seldom invested so much land and money in landscaping.

The estate boasted advanced public address systems, with cleverly placed speakers in every corner. On holidays, the management office played soft, relaxing music and extended heartfelt greetings to residents.

As they walked, they passed sports facilities—basketball and badminton courts—and an artificial lake rumored to be stocked with fish for residents to enjoy a leisurely afternoon of angling.

“What a fantastic neighborhood!” Ye Chen couldn’t help but marvel at the surroundings.

“Of course!” Deputy Captain Jin grinned. “When I first started working with Chairman Li, he made a bold move and invested a billion in this land, building what’s now the most advanced estate in Jianghuai City. Looking at it now, the old chairman had real foresight!”

“No doubt,” Ye Chen agreed. “If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have been chairman, right?”

After a brief tour, they reached the mini golf course, which was already packed with people. Most had come for the opening, and more continued to arrive. The underground and open-air parking lots were filled with all kinds of cars—from luxurious black Lamborghinis to ordinary Volkswagens.

“Out of the car!” Ye Chen waved, jumping out first. He scanned the area—everything looked normal. Mouse and Big Prawn also got out, their hands habitually resting near their waists where their privately owned pistols were concealed. For Li Ruo’s safety, Ye Chen had insisted on arming them both, while the other bodyguards were licensed to carry firearms.

“President Li, we’ve arrived!” Ye Chen personally opened the car door for Li Ruo. She glanced at him, nodded, and stepped out, with Lin Ziwen following. At Ye Chen’s signal, Mouse and Big Prawn formed a protective formation around Li Ruo, while Deputy Captain Jin and the other bodyguards patrolled the perimeter. The core duty rotated between Ye Chen and his two lieutenants.

Among the audience were both undercover police and security staff, ensuring nothing went awry. Nearly fifty police officers and over a hundred security guards from Tianya Group were present. After all, the people buying homes in Jiangnan One were wealthy; any incident would ruin the company’s reputation. Ye Chen’s gaze swept the crowd and spotted a familiar face: Zhang Yantong, with Fang Qin just behind her, both looking alert.

A massive stage had been set up on the mini golf course, with professional singers and dancers performing to capture the audience’s attention. As the program ended, Vice President Chen, already informed of Li Ruo’s arrival, prepared for the opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by Li Ruo’s speech and her public promises on pricing and quality.

“Ladies and gentlemen…” Vice President Chen, a man in his forties with a receding hairline, took the microphone, smiling as he walked on stage. “Dear friends and guests, please welcome our new president to say a few words!”

A wave of excitement swept through the crowd. Everyone had heard of Li Ruo, the president of Tianya Group and its future heir. Of Li Tianya’s two children, she stood out as the most remarkable. Many were here just to catch a glimpse of her in person.

Li Ruo smiled and walked confidently onto the stage, followed closely by Ye Chen, Mouse, and Big Prawn. Their formation was unique—Ye Chen led, Mouse and Big Prawn close behind, with Li Ruo moving toward the microphone. Ye Chen maintained a three-meter distance, ever vigilant as her personal bodyguard.

“So that’s Li Ruo?”

“Wow, she’s even more beautiful in person—talented and attractive!”

“What a shame…”

“What’s a shame?” someone asked.

“A shame she can’t be bought with money. If I could, I’d spend ten million just to make her my wife!”

The guests below the stage were full of admiration, gazing at Li Ruo in awe. For the ceremony, she’d worn light makeup, perfectly highlighting her delicate features—rosy cheeks, slender brows, jewel-like eyes, a dainty nose, and tender cherry-red lips. Her fitted professional attire accentuated her tall, graceful figure.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Li Ruo began, her lips parting in a gentle smile.

A wave of applause erupted before she even finished her sentence. Her presence alone commanded the audience—men were enthralled, women inspired. No one envied her; after all, her talents, wealth, and beauty were beyond compare, putting her in a league of her own.

Li Ruo’s smile was as delicate as a pear blossom and as enchanting as a poppy, mesmerizing everyone present. She spoke, “Thank you all for coming to the grand opening of Jiangnan One Garden Estate. On behalf of Tianya Group, I express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you!”

“Haha, President Li, with such a beautiful estate and environment, of course we support you!”

“That’s right! We’ve already placed orders for several units!”

The crowd’s enthusiasm was palpable, all eyes drawn to the remarkable woman standing before them.