Chapter 310: Who Wants to Battle

Chapter 310 Who’s Up for a Fight?

Burning with resentment, Hao Yanyan decided to visit Li Deshu at the mental hospital.

At least he’d be good for something if he could annoy Ye Xiaoxiao even a little.

As Mom and daughter were talking, the door suddenly opened, and Xu Jianwen came in.

Hao Yanyan quickly hung up the phone. "Gotta go, Mom. Jianwen's back."

Xu Jianwen was now the deputy director of the news department at the city TV station. His rise had been lightning-fast over just a few years.

Nepotism helped, sure, but Xu Jianwen was competent too.

"Hey, you're home."

Hao Yanyan set down the phone and turned to Xu Jianwen.

Three years had passed, and she wasn’t the wide-eyed rookie she once was. As Mrs. Xu, with her own career, she'd come into her own—mature and confident.

Though her beauty hadn’t changed much, she carried herself totally differently now.

Xu Jianwen had also matured, with that bookish vibe.

Their marriage was harmonious enough, though not particularly intimate.

At his wife’s inquiry, Xu Jianwen gave a nonchalant nod. "Yeah."

Hao Yanyan stepped forward to take his bag. "Wanna go somewhere? I’ve been so busy with the factory site selection lately that I haven’t really spent time with you."

"I’m a bit tired from fieldwork this morning. You go ahead."

Xu Jianwen wasn’t feeling it.

Hao Yanyan felt a twinge of irritation. Why was he so listless the moment he got home? Was he seeing someone?

Of course, the thought only flashed through her mind briefly.

What really ate at her now were two things: the factory and the fact that they still hadn’t had a child after all these years of marriage.

Her mother-in-law had been riding them hard, and she herself was anxious.

Hao Yanyan firmly believed that only a child could keep a man hooked.

Seeing that Xu Jianwen didn’t want to go out, she kept her voice sweet. "Then I’ll run some errands and come back to cook later."

Shortly after Hao Yanyan left, Zhao Hongxia showed up.

Seeing Xu Jianwen alone at home, she complained, "Where’s Yan Yan? Out working again? A wife’s place is at home."

Xu Jianwen replied, "She pulls her weight at home and does well in her career."

Though he wasn’t deeply in love with Hao Yanyan, after so many years together, she was still his wife, and he felt obliged to defend her.

Zhao Hongxia jumped on that. "If she’s so focused on the family, why no child yet? You two should get yourselves checked out. What if there’s a health issue?"

Xu Jianwen let out a tired sigh. "Mom, we've got time."

Zhao Hongxia put down the things in her hands. "You may not be in a hurry, but I am! It's been so many years since you got married. Don't let the latecomers outdo us."

Xu Jianwen asked, "Is Xu Jianli getting married?"

Zhao Hongxia: "Not Xu Jianli— I'm talking about Ye Xiaoxiao. She's going to have a wedding with Lu Hanchuan. Who knew they’d actually make it work?"

Hearing this news, Xu Jianwen frowned.

He hadn’t expected it either.

That young girl who used to always follow him around had ultimately gone her own way.

...

"Achoo!"

At that moment, the very person being talked about, Ye Xiaoxiao, was showing Ye Changsheng and his classmate around her courtyard house.

The shell was already finished, with only the windows and interior decoration left undone.

The sunroom in the backyard hadn’t been built yet, leaving the courtyard feeling bare.

The entire compound was designed in traditional Chinese style, with a two-story main house.

The roof of the east wing remained open as a terrace, great for grilling.

Wan Baonian: "This courtyard would be creepy to live in alone."

Mainly because it was too big and looked barren, with quite a distance from the main house to the gate.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Not at all. Once the sunroom is built, the courtyard won't feel so empty. Friends and family can crash here, and we can keep a dog or two and some cats."

Who would have thought she'd have the whole cat-and-dog package at such a young age?

Ye Changsheng: "You’ve got it all figured out."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Of course! Fourth Brother, when you buy a house later, you should come here too. We can be neighbors."

Although Ye Changsheng was still in school, he had saved some money from working on projects with his advisor. It didn’t get him by, but it covered his living expenses.

Not that he had much chance to spend his own money—his big brothers kept him in more than he knew what to do with.

"I thought Xiao Xiao would also like Third Brother's big villa."

"What’s the big deal about a villa? His place may be fancy now, but give it twenty years, and my little courtyard will be worth more."

Ye Xiaoxiao was beaming.

But to Ye Changsheng, it just sounded like her being childish.

"Your courtyard isn't small either, and it's closer to the city center than Third Brother's villa."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "The city’s still light on shopping areas now, but once the area develops, Third Brother's side will get lively too."

And because many wealthy people had mansions there, the surrounding property prices had shot through the roof.

Since the courtyard wasn’t fixed up yet, the three of them wrapped up their tour.

Wan Baonian and Ye Changsheng were headed to check out nearby sights, with so many museums nearby.

Ye Xiaoxiao paid a visit to Song Guangjing’s place.

"Why didn’t Lu Hanchuan come with you?" Song Guangjing asked.

"Master, I’m surprised *you* brought him up," Ye Xiaoxiao replied.

"You two are married now," Song Guangjing said. "It’s not like I can hold a grudge forever."

"He had to report back to base first," Ye Xiaoxiao explained. "He’ll take his marriage leave in a few days."

Song Guangjing stood up. "Him not coming is just as well. Xiao Xiao, come with me upstairs to the study."

Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t sure what Song Guangjing was up to, but she followed her master anyway.

Song Guangjing retrieved a document from the safe in the study.

"Think of this as a safety net," he said. "When you ever need it, go to the bank and retrieve it."

Ye Xiaoxiao skimmed the document—it was a contract for a safe deposit box at the bank.

What’s inside is confidential, and a key was tucked within the file.

"Master, what’s inside?" she asked.

"Just odds and ends. No use to me," Song Guangjing replied indifferently.

He really didn’t think much of what was inside.

Song Guangjing was quite wealthy, and what was kept in the bank was only a small portion.

Most of his assets were handled quietly by Song Guoxian.

With his apprentice getting married, he was happy to give her some stuff.

The old man was being mysterious, so Ye Xiaoxiao could only hold onto the items.

"Then I'll take them, okay?" she said.

Song Guangjing waved his hand. "Take them, take them. You already have a car and a house—what else can your old master give you as a wedding gift?"

Ye Xiaoxiao said, "Master, we young people should buy these things ourselves. Taking yours would be called sponging off elders."

Song Guangjing didn’t know what "sponging off elders" meant.

"An old man’s stuff ends up with his kids anyway... If you ask me, you shouldn’t do anything—just stay home and hang out with me," he said.

Ye Xiaoxiao said, "Master, you’ve changed. Weren’t you still itching to compete with the other senior disciples from the sect?"

"Compete? Who wants to compete?" Old Man Song looked totally baffled.