Chapter 416 Ye Changning’s Further Studies

Chapter 416 Ye Changning's Training

Lu Hanchuan excitedly scooped Xiao Xiao up in his arms. "Really, baby? You're serious?"

Ye Xiaoxiao braced herself against Lu Hanchuan's shoulders. "Put me down, will you? Do I look like I'm joking?"

Ye Xiaoxiao never went back on her word.

Well, she’s the one who picked him.

This was the best news Lu Hanchuan had heard recently, even better than finding out about his promotion and transfer.

In the following days, Lu Hanchuan didn’t have to dread their impending separation once the holiday ended.

Time flew by even faster.

The week was over before they knew it.

Before leaving Baichuan County, Ye Xiaoxiao brought Lu Hanchuan to see Wang Ying.

Just like Zhang Erni said, Wang Ying was indeed very fashionable now.

Though they hadn’t seen each other for a long time, Wang Ying was just as warm and welcoming toward Xiao Xiao as always.

Time hadn’t weakened their friendship—if anything, it had only gotten stronger.

...

Ye Changning returned to the capital in May.

He’d already heard how Ma Liang’s case turned out—his dreams of going overseas went up in smoke, and he was probably looking at life in prison.

Ye Changning didn’t care about Ma Liang’s fate. He was more interested in someone else.

"What happened to that Hao Yanyan who was doing business with him?"

The general manager had been closely monitoring the situation, so he immediately knew who Ye Changning was referring to.

"Hao Yanyan had to forfeit her illegal profits and was made to pay our company back for some of the losses. She’s already been released."

Ye Changning kept a straight face, but inwardly, he felt this was the best resolution.

If Hao Yanyan had actually been sent to prison, he couldn’t have stomached it.

This way, she got off easy but learned her lesson—just the right balance, in his opinion.

The general manager hesitated, lingering in the office.

Ye Changning noticed his demeanor. "Is there something else you want to say?"

"Only after further investigation did I learn that this Hao Yanyan isn’t just anybody. She’s a military brat, with some military connections in her family.

At first, I was worried our company might face retaliation, but then something unexpected happened—Hao Yanyan’s family got into hot water right after."

"What kind of trouble?"

Ye Changning hadn’t been keeping up with capital news.

"It was the corruption scandal reported in the papers recently. Her family was up to their necks in it. Their home has been seized, and everyone involved got hauled in."

"We don't have to worry about retaliation anymore. Those princelings scared the hell out of me."

The general manager broke out in a cold sweat just recalling the incident.

Though "princelings" was just a nickname, those people wielded power like the crown princes of old—regular people who crossed them would get skinned alive.

The general manager had always assumed their boss was self-made with no connections, which made him especially anxious.

Ye Changning paused for a moment. If he remembered correctly, the Haos really had pull.

After all, anyone who lived in that compound was in a whole different league.

Who knew they'd crash and burn so fast?

"This has nothing to do with us, so no need to pay too much attention. But keep an eye on Hao Yanyan from now on—make sure she doesn't pull any more stunts."

Though momentarily surprised, Ye Changning shook it off fast.

His family had no ties to the Haos. Even if Ye Jianguo had mentioned they were his comrades-in-arms from his youth, Ye Changning didn’t know them personally.

Besides, with such a high-profile scandal all over the news, Ningyuan Group needed to steer clear of this political mess if they wanted to go far.

"Understood, President Ye."

Ye Changning added, "Oh, about what we discussed last time—put me down for that exec program at the Finance University."

The general manager lit up, looking at his boss. "President Ye, you're actually going for this?"

Ye Changning nodded. "Didn’t you say it’s a program geared toward movers and shakers? Besides learning specialized knowledge, I could make some good connections.

And it’s only two days a week—I can swing that."

The truth was, Ye Changning genuinely felt the need to further his education.

He had never studied economics, and as the business expanded, there were inevitably many things that went over his head.

Though a degree isn't everything, he was willing to get smarter about the business.

That way, when the finance guys started jargon-ing, he wouldn’t have to wait for his assistant to explain.

"Great, I'm on it."

The general manager was more than happy—President Ye’s growth meant the company’s growth, and he could confidently follow Ye to bigger paydays.

"One more thing—about Jiang Nan. See if he can attend the same classes with me, or if there’s a suitable program for him. Sign him up too."

Ye Changning stopped the general manager before he could leave.

"But... isn’t Jiang Nan your personal bodyguard?"

Of course, the general manager knew who Jiang Nan was—he ran security for the whole company. But despite holding the title of security department manager, his real job was watching Ye Changning.

Besides, Jiang Nan was hardly ever in the office, and meetings were usually delegated to security chiefs from our branches.

The general manager was drawing a blank on what kind of program would suit him.

At least President Ye had finished high school—that wasn’t too low these days.

But Jiang Nan... he was a complete mystery.

"Yes... So it's best if he can attend classes with me."

Ye Changning said matter-of-factly.

No reason for me to be the only one miserable.

After some thought, the general manager shook his head. "Mr. Ye, the spots for this training program are strictly limited, and it’s not free—it costs a lot of money..."

Other CEOs wouldn’t want to sit in class with a bodyguard.

"What if... I enroll Jiang in a sanda class instead?"

Fits his skill set, at least.

Ye Changning brushed it off with a wave. "Forget it, forget it."

Jiang Nan was an underground fighter—even a sanda titleholder might not be able to take him on.

Other classes? Ye Changning figured Jiang wasn’t cut out for studying.

Once he’d ironed out the improvement plan, Ye Changning suddenly remembered the phone call he received a few days ago.

Xiao Xiao mentioned Wang Sheng’s parents kept showing up at their place to ask about Wang Sheng’s whereabouts.

In truth, Ye Changning had half a mind to haul Wang Sheng back home the first time his parents showed up.

But Wang Sheng was no longer at his old workplace, had changed his residence, and was totally off the grid.

He’d put Yu Gang on it and would act as soon as there was any news.

Ye Changning’s guess? Wang Sheng pissed off the wrong person and was thrown into the sea—or conned into stowing away.

Both were bad news, and both would devastate Wang Sheng’s parents. He held off on telling them yet and waited until there was concrete news.

Meanwhile, in front of Ningyuan Company’s office building, Hao Yanyan hovered outside.

She wasn’t ready to give up on seeing Ye Changning.

But as time passed, hope curdled into resentment.

He could’ve helped her brother, easy, but chose to ignore her plight.

She itched to ask: Did their parents even know what he was doing to her?

Jiang Nan pulled up and was halfway to the door when he noticed Hao Yanyan standing not far away.

Thanks to Ye Changning, he knew exactly who she was.