He Chuyan's mind was often in a state of confusion. It had to be said that this time it was working relatively quickly. On the other side, Du Guo was still completely puzzled, thinking that Shen Mofu was just joking.
However, being called "uncle" repeatedly by He Chuyan really annoyed Shen Mofu. Even if he wasn't a paragon of grace, he was still a man in his prime.
Immediately, Shen Mofu's face darkened.
Thanks to He Chuyan's reminder, Du Guo's eyes widened in shock. He couldn't understand how they had suddenly brought up the wife of the He Group.
"What did you say? Xiaoxi is... she's the daughter of Mr. He and Mrs. He of the He Group?" Du Guo's mouth hung open for a long time, looking utterly incredulous. "Is this for real?"
Ye Yanxi remained silent and didn't answer his question right away, which made the two of them silently confirm their speculation.
Watching Ye Yanxi's reaction, Du Guo felt that life was just like a play.
"I never thought you were really the daughter of the He Group. Then... doesn't that make you and He Man sisters?"
He Chuyan glared at him. "What sisters? If you don't have anything good to say, keep your mouth shut."
"But He Man is also from the He family. So isn't that what they are?"
"Xixi is nothing like her!" He Chuyan immediately got angry. "You can imagine what kind of person He Man is. She must have taken Xixi's place back then. Don't you remember? She always followed Xixi around and deliberately imitated her preferences and habits."
"Because she pretended to be so much like Xixi, the He family misidentified her. She was taken away by the He family and became the eldest daughter, while Xixi..."
Ye Yanxi was taken away by Ye Junze and had suffered at the hands of Lu Manwen since childhood. Her living conditions were worlds apart from He Man's.
All along, He Man had occupied Ye Yanxi's identity and enjoyed the treatment of a noble young lady. It was all stolen.
When the truth came to light, Ye Yanxi remained expressionless throughout as she listened to their discussion.
Finally, feeling a bit irritated, she frowned and interrupted them. "Yanyan, Guoguo, stop talking."
Du Guo just shrugged nonchalantly.
"Xiaoxi, what are you still worried about? Now that you've found your parents, you can go home soon. Isn't that something to be happy about?"
He Chuyan noticed that Ye Yanxi's face darkened when she heard the word "home". She immediately gave Du Guo a look and pinched him.
Du Guo, who was always rather carefree, didn't have a woman's delicate feelings. He thought it was only natural, so he managed to escape He Chuyan's clutches. "What are you doing? Am I wrong?"
He Chuyan gave him an annoyed sideways glance. "I told you to shut up, and you still talk."
Du Guo pointed at his own nose defiantly, not feeling that he had said anything wrong. But He Chuyan's gaze was so sharp that he had no choice but to keep his mouth shut. Otherwise, it would be him who would suffer.
"Xiaoxi, if you don't want to talk about it, don't. But you can't just disappear like this no matter how big the problem is. Let's leave here first, okay?" He Chuyan comforted her softly.
After a while, Ye Yanxi sighed and said "okay".
Not far away, Xiao Yu was talking to Black Hawk. The people Black Hawk had brought were now all subdued by Xiao Yu's men, and there were also some of his men standing around. Black Hawk, who had been so arrogant just now, was now begging for mercy.
Ye Yanxi didn't go over. She just glanced at Xiao Yu and then left with He Chuyan and the others.
As if sensing Ye Yanxi's gaze, Xiao Yu looked up in this direction. Seeing Ye Yanxi's back getting farther and farther away, he couldn't help but frown.
Shen Mofu watched Ye Yanxi leave so straightforwardly. He also noticed the look in Xiao Yu's eyes when he looked over. He couldn't help but feel anxious for the two of them. In his anxiety, he blurted out towards Ye Yanxi's back, "Miss Ye, are you just going to leave like this? Yu came all the way back from Rome to save you. Don't you have anything to say?"
It had to be said that Shen Mofu's voice was quite loud. Ye Yanxi heard it, but she just paused for a moment.
He Chuyan also seemed to think that she should say something. So she pulled Ye Yanxi's arm, indicating that she should go over and see Xiao Yu. But Ye Yanxi didn't move at all. She just said calmly, "Let's go."
Seeing Ye Yanxi continue walking without looking back, Shen Mofu couldn't help but shout again, "Did you hear me? You surely have time to say a few words."
Unfortunately, no matter how much he shouted, Ye Yanxi didn't stop this time.
So the rather dejected Shen Mofu walked up to Xiao Yu. He had no idea what these two were up to.
"Hey, Yu, I said..." Shen Mofu looked at Xiao Yu seriously. "You didn't break up with Miss Ye, did you?"
"Why do you ask?" Xiao Yu's eyes darkened a bit as he stared back at Shen Mofu.
Shen Mofu cleared his throat and answered seriously, "Although it might seem a bit inappropriate, if you really did break up with Miss Ye, just tell me. You know, I actually like her a lot. If you two are over, then I'll go after her."
After all this talk, it turned out that this was Shen Mofu's real intention.
Jiang Ye glared at him and even gave him a light slap in annoyance. "Are you tired of living? What are you talking about?"
Shen Mofu looked at Jiang Ye innocently.
"Why did you hit me? I'm serious."
"Serious about what?" Jiang Ye waved his hand and tapped Shen Mofu on the forehead, right where he had hit it earlier. Shen Mofu gasped in pain. "Don't you know the saying 'a friend's wife is off - limits'? You're openly trying to go after a brother's woman. Aren't you just a shameless scoundrel?"
"Once they break up, she's not anymore!" Shen Mofu covered his forehead aggrievedly. "You're really misunderstanding me. When they were together, I was very well - behaved and didn't do anything."
"You're just all talk. You're so pathetic. By the way, why do you like her? Aren't you still the playboy Mo Shao who's always flirting with women?" Jiang Ye clicked his tongue in disbelief.
Shen Mofu immediately replied with a grin, "I can't help it. She left the deepest impression on me. She's the only one who has ever knocked me down in the street!"
As he spoke, Shen Mofu subconsciously rubbed his back.
It had been a real fall. Just thinking about that scene made his back ache faintly. How could he not have a deep impression?
Hearing this, Jiang Ye looked at Shen Mofu with a complex expression. Finally, he seemed to suddenly understand and patted Shen Mofu on the shoulder. "I never would have thought that you're actually a masochist."
"What masochist? You're the one!" Shen Mofu immediately reacted and angrily slapped Jiang Ye's hand away.
"Didn't you just admit it yourself? You got beaten by Ye Yanxi, and yet you still fell for her. What else could you be but a masochist?" Jiang Ye clicked his tongue a few times as if in admiration.
"Stop causing trouble." Shen Mofu immediately got back to the point and looked at Xiao Yu. "I said, Yu, you and Ye..."
Xiao Yu's cold gaze interrupted his unfinished words. Before turning away, he left behind a sentence, "You'll never have that chance!"
Shen Mofu didn't understand the meaning in Xiao Yu's eyes. He just felt cold, so he immediately chased after him. "What do you mean? Have you broken up with her or not?"
Jiang Ye kicked him angrily.
"Why did you kick me again?"
Jiang Ye gave him a sideways look. "Looking at Yu like this, you'd better not get involved. Even if they really did break up, he'll do everything he can to win her back. You don't stand a chance!"
"Not..."
Jiang Ye waved his hand casually and left the rest of the mess for Xiao Yu's subordinates to clean up.
"I'm warning you, mind your own business."
"Hey." Shen Mofu chased after Jiang Ye, muttering dissatisfiedly, "You're supposed to be my buddy. Why are you only helping Yu and not me? Hey, why are you walking so fast? Wait up."
After everyone had left, a car in the shadow beside the orphanage slowly drove away.
The morning sun shone into the car. He Man was looking angrily in the direction where Ye Yanxi had left.
Once again, she had let Ye Yanxi escape. Time and time again, Ye Yanxi had managed to survive. It was the same sixteen years ago as it was now.
Black Hawk was useless, more of a hindrance than a help. He had been given the opportunity, but he still failed.
It would probably be even more difficult to make a move next time.
Ye Yanxi followed He Chuyan and returned to her apartment. The two bodyguards sent by Xiao Yu were still dutifully following her.
The two bodyguards were on high alert at the slightest sign of trouble. They had lost Ye Yanxi once before, almost causing her to be captured by the Black Hawk Gang. They had already been derelict in their duties once. If they made a mistake again this time, they might not live to see the next day.
Ye Yanxi didn't care if someone was following her, so the two bodyguards continued to trail behind her.
When they reached the downstairs of He Chuyan's residential area, one of the bodyguards took out his phone and respectfully said, "Boss."
His voice wasn't very quiet, so Ye Yanxi heard it. She instinctively thought it was Xiao Yu calling.
Just as she had thought, it was Xiao Yu on the phone.
Unconsciously, Ye Yanxi slowed down a bit and listened to the bodyguard talking to Xiao Yu.
She didn't know what Xiao Yu had told the bodyguard. All she heard was the bodyguard saying "yes" repeatedly and assuring, "Boss, don't worry. We've already arrived at Miss He's residential area. The journey was safe."
Suddenly, the bodyguard glanced at Ye Yanxi. Then he hesitated and walked over. He asked carefully, "Miss Ye, the boss wants to know if you'll take his call?"
Ye Yanxi looked hesitant. The bodyguard thought she wouldn't answer, but just as he was about to take the phone back, Ye Yanxi reached out her hand.
Seeing this, the bodyguard immediately handed her the phone.
Ye Yanxi softly said "hello".