Chapter 55: Zhang Yantong's Tears

Before long, Zhang Yantong arrived at Xinhai Community. She had been here once before—a visit that had left quite an impression. The memory brought a blush to her cheeks.

She climbed the stairs and knocked on the apartment door. It was Big Shrimp who answered and let her inside.

“I can’t believe you just got out of the hospital and already won several million yuan. That’s really something,” Zhang Yantong said with a smile as she looked at Ye Chen, who was sitting on the sofa.

“Of course. Haven’t you heard the saying? ‘Escaping disaster brings good fortune,’” Ye Chen replied, grinning.

Hearing this, Mouse looked puzzled, glanced at Ye Chen, and whispered, “Boss, I always thought the saying was, ‘Escaping disaster means you’ll get it again next time’?”

“Mouse, what nonsense is that? Did you use pirated textbooks in elementary school?” Big Shrimp retorted, clearly annoyed.

Ye Chen was their leader—how could Mouse talk like that?

“Then what do you think it should be?” Mouse asked, his face flushing as he looked at Big Shrimp.

Big Shrimp pondered for a moment and then said, “In my opinion, it should be, ‘Escaping once means there’ll be a next time.’”

“What are you two talking about? The more you say, the more ridiculous it gets,” Ye Chen said, exasperated. Although Mouse and Big Shrimp were both from Jinshan Corner, they used to be well-educated, especially in science and engineering. How could they be so absurd?

Listening to their exchange, Zhang Yantong couldn’t help but burst out laughing. She looked at Ye Chen and said, “Your brothers are really cultured.”

“Of course. You don’t know—back in the day, I was famous for kicking my way through Jinshan Corner Kindergarten and punching my way through Jinshan Corner Nursing Home,” Mouse said, straightening his back.

“Hahaha, that’s hilarious!” Zhang Yantong couldn’t suppress her laughter. Mouse was a formidable man, but you wouldn’t know it just by looking—he was short, about her height, which made anything he said seem all the more amusing.

“All right, that’s enough. Let’s not fool around,” Ye Chen said. Mouse and Big Shrimp exchanged a smile, glanced at Ye Chen, and then went into the other room. As they left, they each gave Ye Chen a suggestive grin.

“By the way, I brought the contract,” Zhang Yantong said, taking out a document and handing it to Ye Chen.

“No problem. Here’s the money.” Ye Chen nodded, pulling out a black bag and suddenly opening it to reveal neat stacks of hundred-yuan bills.

Zhang Yantong’s eyes widened at the sight, but Ye Chen, feeling proud, said, “Never seen so much money before, have you? Over two million!”

Ye Chen thought her amazement was at the pile of cash, but Zhang Yantong shook her head. “I’m just curious—over two million, and you just leave it under the coffee table? Aren’t you worried someone will steal it? Besides, keeping all that cash at home… you really are a nouveau riche.”

Ye Chen was speechless, a dark line appearing on his forehead. He had wanted to show off, thinking this little policewoman had never seen so much money. He hadn’t expected her to call him a nouveau riche. Did he really seem like one?

“Ahem, I just picked it up,” Ye Chen said, a little embarrassed.

“Picked it up? Why not deposit it in the bank? Or do you withdraw it in stacks just to bring it home? Ye Chen, I never knew you had such a sense of humor,” Zhang Yantong replied with a laugh. Though her family was well-off—her father, after all, was an honest and upright official—there wasn’t much money at home.

However, her uncle, Zhang Xinyang, chairman of Siyang Group, was actually very wealthy.

Of course, due to certain disagreements, her uncle and father had become estranged and no longer had any contact with each other.

“Say what you will. The money’s here—take it with you later and help me count it,” Ye Chen said, shrugging.

“All right. Still, with all this money, you’re still living here? It’s a bit shabby,” Zhang Yantong said, looking around the apartment.

“I’m content. A humble nest of one’s own is better than a golden cave,” Ye Chen replied with a smile.

“That’s true, but three grown men squeezed into a tiny apartment—it’s quite amusing,” Zhang Yantong laughed.

“Well, with this much money, maybe I should buy a place in Jianghuai City. But I don’t know how expensive housing is here… Fifty thousand should be enough, right?” Ye Chen muttered. He hadn’t been in the city long and wasn’t familiar with the housing market.

“Fifty thousand? Forget anything inside the third ring road. Maybe outside the third ring,” Zhang Yantong shook her head. Housing prices in Jianghuai were sky-high—downtown apartments started at over ten thousand per square meter, and there were plenty at twenty or thirty thousand.

“So expensive?” Ye Chen pursed his lips. He still had money in his account, but in his hazy memory, housing prices didn’t seem so high—fifty thousand used to be enough for a decent apartment.

But as he tried to recall further, a sharp pain shot through his head. He clutched it with both hands and slumped back on the sofa.

“Ye Chen, what’s wrong?” Zhang Yantong jumped up in concern. Ye Chen had just left the hospital, after all—his lung had been pierced not long ago and certainly hadn’t healed. That was why Zhang Yantong had come in person, and now his reaction made her heart race with worry.

Though Ye Chen could be a scoundrel, she couldn’t deny he was slowly becoming part of her life—she could even call him a friend.

“It’s nothing. I just thought I could remember something, but my head really hurts,” Ye Chen said after a moment, sounding a bit melancholic.

It wasn’t the pain itself, but the sense of loss at the missing pieces of his memory. Why couldn’t he recall anything? And what had happened during that lost time?

“If you can’t remember, don’t force it. Sometimes, forgetting the past is for the best,” Zhang Yantong said, sitting beside him.

“You’re right. If it’s forgotten, let it be.” Ye Chen nodded, but as he turned, he realized her face was very close—her beautiful features tinged with worry. Looking lower, he caught a glimpse of the deep valley revealed by her slightly open collar.

“It’s really… impressive,” Ye Chen murmured, unable to help himself. That view was already quite something. He suddenly remembered the time at his house when Zhang Yantong had only been wearing lace lingerie, and his gaze turned mischievous.

“What’s impressive?” Zhang Yantong followed his gaze and glanced down—only to realize he was staring at her neckline.

“You jerk!” she snapped. Here she was, worried about him, and he was trying to take advantage.

In her anger, she punched him in the chest—but her fist landed right on his injured side.

This time, Ye Chen felt a surge of real pain and bent over.

“Hmph, you put on a convincing act. All talk, no courage,” Zhang Yantong said, dissatisfied. She’d only hit him lightly, so she didn’t believe he was really hurt.

But Ye Chen looked up from where he leaned on the sofa, his face pale. “I wasn’t faking. You hit my wound.”

“Oh, I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to,” Zhang Yantong said anxiously, realizing she had misunderstood him. That was exactly where he was injured, so she grew worried.

“No, don’t worry. It just pulled at the wound a bit—nothing serious,” Ye Chen said, signaling her not to be concerned. Even so, the pain was unmistakable.

Seeing this, tears welled up in Zhang Yantong’s eyes. She had hit him, and though it was obviously painful, she’d accused him of pretending. Now, after she apologized, he was the one comforting her, saying it was nothing—even though he was clearly in pain.

A strange emotion stirred within her. Ye Chen could be a scoundrel, but he was responsible. Even as just a humble bodyguard, he fulfilled his duties—using his own body to shield his employer when her life was threatened.

Because of that, Ye Chen’s image grew larger in Zhang Yantong’s heart.

“I’m fine now. That really hurt for a moment—I thought the wound had split open,” Ye Chen said with a sigh, the pain already lessening. He was used to being injured and knew it was just a pulled wound, nothing serious.

“I’m sorry,” Zhang Yantong whispered.

“Hm?” Ye Chen looked up and saw a sorrowful face. Her lively eyes were brimming with tears.

“Why are you crying? I’m the one in pain, aren’t I?” Ye Chen said with a smile, understanding that she was worried about him.

“Hmph, I’m not crying—just got some dust in my eyes,” Zhang Yantong said, turning her head and wiping away her tears.

Seeing this, Ye Chen couldn’t help but smile. Though Zhang Yantong could be stubborn and naïve, she truly was a kind-hearted girl.

He remembered once telling her that he wanted to marry her someday—not just because she was beautiful, but also because, deep down, he genuinely liked her.

Just then, Zhang Yantong turned and caught Ye Chen looking at her. She quickly put her hand to her face and said, “What are you staring at?”

Ye Chen laughed. “Officer Zhang, seeing you cry like this—could it be you’re falling for me?”

“Impossible,” Zhang Yantong replied, rolling her eyes. Still, she realized that the Ye Chen she used to dislike was back—always quick with a cheeky remark. Hmph, her tears were wasted on him.

“All right, it’s getting late. I should go. Take care and let me know if you need anything,” Zhang Yantong said, standing up. She put all the cash on the table into her small bag, but with more than thirty bundles there was no way the bag could hold it all.

Seeing this, Ye Chen sighed helplessly, found a larger bag, and put three hundred thousand into it for her.

“All right, I’m off,” Zhang Yantong said, nodding as she picked up the paper bag and left.

After she was gone, Ye Chen finally clutched his chest and called out, “Mouse, Big Shrimp, bring me some hemostatic medicine!”

The pain had never really stopped—he’d just been enduring it. For some reason, seeing Zhang Yantong’s tears, he hadn’t wanted her to worry any more.