C9 Open the Door!

The Bentley's light bathed one side of Tang Ye, and he instinctively dipped his chin when he noticed Shen Chuxue in the passenger seat. He had a clear view of her, but she likely couldn't make out his face.

Inside the car, Shao Yaodong leaned in close to whisper something to Shen Chuxue, who slightly furrowed her brow and instinctively distanced herself from him. It was apparent that she wasn't entirely comfortable with Shao Yaodong's closeness.

Tang Ye's gaze lingered on his former wife. The moment he was incarcerated, he had cut off all emotional ties with the Shen family. Over the past three years, they had lived without a care in the world. But soon, they would experience the bitter consequences of those years.

Deep down, Tang Ye still felt a twinge of pity for Shen Chuxue. During her time with the Shen family, she had treated him with courtesy. Yet, the relentless barrage of newspaper headlines and gossip had extinguished any remaining empathy he had for her.

The divorce had been the Shen family's decision, not his. "Until I have the divorce papers in hand, you, Shen Chuxue, are still my wife," Tang Ye thought bitterly. "A married woman stirring up such scandal with another man, and you still have the audacity to show your face?"

The Bentley zoomed by.

"There's no need to rush. The time hasn't come yet," Tang Ye murmured, watching the Bentley disappear into the distance.

He had visited Rosewood Estates the day before, and Shen Yuanshan was almost certainly aware of his return. Knowing Shen Yuanshan's ways, he would surely take action to sidestep any trouble.

Shen Chuxue turned away, peering through the tinted glass to catch a glimpse of the Lamborghini's taillights fading into the night.

That silhouette... it was achingly familiar, stirring something in Shen Chuxue's heart and leaving her restless.

Was he back?

"Ah Xue, what's the matter?" Shao Yaodong asked, sensing Shen Chuxue's disquiet.

She simply shook her head.

"It must have been a mistake," he mused. He was supposed to still be in prison; it was impossible for him to be driving a luxury car around here.

"Are you still thinking about him?" Shao Yaodong asked, unbothered. "If you're feeling cooped up, how about I take you out for a bit of relaxation?"

"I've been swamped with wedding preparations lately. It's been exhausting. Don't worry about me, I'm okay. Maybe I just haven't been getting enough rest."

But it wasn't just a few days of poor rest; for the past three years, she had been plagued by near-constant insomnia.

"You shouldn't be so preoccupied with someone who doesn't matter."

Shao Yaodong moved in closer to Shen Chuxue's lips, but she subtly shifted away, offering a gentle apology. "I'm a bit worn out today. Would you mind taking me home?"

On Serene Way in the East District, a blue Maserati was nonchalantly parked at the curb, its key swinging freely in the ignition.

In that moment, Tang Ye lay silently on his bed, staring at the ceiling where ropes crisscrossed like a spider's web, adorned with simple newspaper clippings and photos of Shen Chuxue.

"Thump, thump, thump."

The following morning, Tang Ye was abruptly awakened by a persistent knocking at his door. Prison life had conditioned him to spring out of bed at the slightest provocation.

The knocking was quickly followed by Lyi Banruo's stern command. "Tang Ye, open the door!"

Stretching languidly, Tang Ye climbed out of bed and ambled into the living room to pour himself a glass of water.

"Tututututu."

The resonant sound of gulping water reverberated through the quaint house, as if answering the relentless assault on the frail door by Lyi Banruo's fury.

"Tang, come out! I know you're in there."

"And what if I don't come out? What will you do then?"

Lyi Banruo huffed, flinging her high heels into the hallway. The bodyguard, frozen with fear, didn't dare move a muscle.

Was Director Lyi on the verge of a meltdown?

With her long black hair pulled back into a ponytail, sleeves rolled up, and her refined face lifted, Lyi Banruo, the celebrated CEO of BioAesthetics and a beauty idolized by thousands, paid no heed to her expensive business suit as she performed a series of simple stretches outside Tang Ye's door.

"I know you have your ways, but we'll see whether your tricks or mine are more effective after today," Lyi Banruo said, her voice cool and tinged with a hint of breathlessness.

Tang Ye peered through the peephole at the woman outside.

Impressive figure.

In his opinion, a makeup-free Lyi Banruo was easily a nine out of ten.

Much of this was due to her distinctive aura.

She was untamed, bold, and even bore a slight resemblance to her Irish grandmother.

Indeed, Lyi Banruo's Irish heritage was one of the reasons the Lyi family had remained influential in the capital for over a century.

"Not a bad figure at all. She's definitely among the top in Zluftin," Tang Ye remarked from behind the door.

Jerk!

Lyi Banruo clenched her teeth and narrowed her eyes.

"I've kicked down my fair share of old-fashioned doors in the past. It's not often I get the chance these days; I wonder if I still can."

Lyi Banruo wasn't bluffing about her martial arts training with her master in her youth, something Tang Ye had come to know during his time in prison.

As Lyi Banruo prepared to kick, Tang Ye's lips quirked up in amusement, and he swiftly opened the door. Caught off guard by her own force, she couldn't stop her kick in time.

As Lyi Banruo let out a startled cry, Tang Ye, quick as lightning, caught her by the waist.

She was soft and smelled wonderful.

Her perfume was a unique, custom blend from France.

Their eyes locked, and a flush of red spread across Lyi Banruo's cheeks—not from shyness, but from indignation.

"I'm going to kill you!"

The murderous look in Lyi Banruo's eyes was intense. She swung to slap Tang Ye, but he was faster, seizing her wrist. With a gentle push, he created distance between them.

"The nickname 'Thunder Empress' really does suit you."

Lyi Banruo took a moment to collect herself, her breathing steadying and the flush fading from her cheeks. She was known as the "Thunder Empress" in Zluftin's circles, a moniker she bore without resentment.

"I've given you the whole night to think about it. Now, come with me."

Unfazed by Lyi Banruo's imperious command, Tang Ye made his way to the kitchen and began preparing breakfast as though he hadn't heard a word.

The fridge was in working order, stocked with some bread and water he had picked up the day before.

"Name your price. Since you're aware of the issues with my assembly line, you must realize that there's nothing I can't obtain." Lyi Banruo's demeanor was grave.

"I recall last year, someone tipped you off about a mole in your company. That very night, the informant vanished. Did your henchmen feed him to the fishes, or did your brother, Lyi Tianzhao, ship him off to Thailand to become a ladyboy?"

"State your terms. I'm sure you're after more than just ten million yuan."

"You have a knack for reading people. Why don't you try guessing what I want?" Tang Ye said, taking a satisfying bite of his bread.

"Before the accident with the sanitation worker, you were the Shen family's son-in-law," Lyi Banruo said, locking eyes with Tang Ye—a conversational tactic she often employed. "My sources tell me it wasn't you who caused the death. It was your niece, Shen Chuqing, and her boyfriend. The Shen family cast you out as the fall guy. You've been stirring up trouble since your release from prison yesterday. Aren't you worried I might just send you back?"

"If you truly intended to send me back to prison, you wouldn't be here, would you?"

Lyi Banruo paused, a flicker of admiration appearing in her eyes.

"You're very clever. I enjoy doing business with intelligent people."

"I've finished eating," Tang Ye said, wiping his mouth with a napkin before rising to address Lyi Banruo with due seriousness. "I know far more than you imagine. So, shall we discuss it here, or would you prefer to go somewhere more private?"