[Hi, old classmate... 😁😁😁]

It was none other than Lin Mengxi, a classmate Ye Chen had reconnected with after a decade apart.

Frowning, Ye Chen had no intention of replying.

Just as he was about to put down his phone—

Ding!

Another message popped up in the chat window.

[Old classmate, are you free tonight? It's been ten years since we last met. How about dinner to catch up? Also, I'd like to thank you for helping me earn that commission from the house sale. 🥰🥰🥰]

Ye Chen hesitated for a moment.

Finally, he replied.

[I'm quite busy lately and really can't make time.]

But almost instantly, Lin Mengxi sent a reply.

[I see, I understand. Let's find another time to meet, then! If you ever need anything, just message me anytime.]

[Mm.]

After a short, lukewarm response, Ye Chen turned off his phone, set it aside, and began driving his G-Wagon.

On the other end, in the lounge of the Shanshuijian sales office, Lin Mengxi bit her rosy lip gently.

Her thoughts wandered back over her life's journey so far.

Until now, she had never regretted rejecting Ye Chen's advances back in school.

Even though his looks ranked among the best of her suitors.

Even though he had scored nearly 600 on his college entrance exams and gained admission to a top university.

Even though she was later dumped by the district governor's son after he got bored with her.

She had never regretted rejecting Ye Chen.

After entering the real world, moving between several big cities, she had been kept as a "trophy girlfriend," dated a number of wealthy second-generation heirs, and even endured casting couch scenarios for her dream of stardom.

But alas, fate was unkind. She ended up with nothing but a pile of designer goods and a heap of empty promises.

Even so, she never once thought about the boy who had confessed to her all those years ago. Even when classmates made fun of him in group chats, she felt nothing. She didn't even consider herself lucky for not choosing him—it was as if he had been a transparent figure in her life.

Over the years, she had countless opportunities to engage in normal relationships, but she didn't, because she knew a regular romance couldn't fulfill her ambitions. When her dream of becoming a star shattered, she turned to real estate.

She avoided working in luxury districts with properties priced at over ten million per square meter, as she couldn't handle those "old foxes."

She also avoided low- and mid-tier districts, as those buyers didn't meet her standards.

Shanshuijian, priced at 60-70 thousand per square meter, became her ideal fishing ground for wealthy prospects.

In her half-year in the industry, many clients had shown interest in her, but older men or playboys weren't her type. She wasn't even willing to play hard to get for them.

What she wanted was a diamond bachelor—or at least a married man under 45. Having witnessed countless mistresses rise to power, she didn't mind being the "other woman" to overturn the status quo.

Morality? Ethics? To her, they were irrelevant. All that mattered was breaking into high society and reaching the pinnacle of life.

Unfortunately, in over six months, she hadn't found the right target.

Just as she was contemplating settling for less, Ye Chen and Zhang Jingshan appeared.

Initially, she planned to use Ye Chen to get closer to Zhang Jingshan.

But when Ye Chen paid 20 million upfront for a house and the general manager revealed Zhang Jingshan's identity, her plans changed. The Jiangzhou secretary-general's family was clearly beyond her reach.

However, Ye Chen, who casually paid 20 million in cash and drove a G-Wagon, reignited her dreams.

Even though she knew he had a wife and daughter, it didn't matter. What mattered was that Ye Chen perfectly met her standards—and had once pursued her.

With those two factors, the spark of her ambition was lit.

Even Ye Chen's lukewarm "Mm" at the end of their chat didn't dampen her spirits.

She refused to believe any man could resist temptation—especially someone who had once pursued her. Despite the passage of ten years, she was confident in her looks and charm.

Loosening her bite on her lip, she murmured seductively to herself, Old classmate, are you playing hard to get? No worries. Ten years ago, you chased me. Now, it's my turn to chase you.

Unaware that the woman he had once longed for had now set her sights on him, Ye Chen returned to his rental apartment and began packing.

He packed what he thought was necessary for their move to the new house—not only his belongings but also those of Chen Yinuo and Yoyo.

Everything was loaded into one large and one small suitcase.

Time flew by.

The setting sun cast its orange glow into the well-lit rental apartment.

Before leaving, Ye Chen gazed around the place where they had lived since before Yoyo was born.

As someone who had lived two lives, he felt a wave of emotions.

"Goodbye!" he murmured softly before dragging the suitcase outside.

After loading it into the G-Wagon's trunk, he drove off, leaving behind the city's village where they had lived for five or six years.

First, he picked up Yoyo from Purple Flower Kindergarten.

Then, he headed to Huaxing Trading to pick up Chen Yinuo from work.

Finally, he timed it perfectly to arrive at a private dining restaurant just in time for dinner.

At Chen's Private Dining, a trendy spot in Jiangzhou, Chen Yinuo remarked in frustration, "We could've just eaten at home. Why did you insist on coming here? The food isn't that great, and the prices are ridiculous—78 yuan for just a few pieces of pork ribs!"

Ye Chen chuckled. "I saw you liked a video about this place on Douyin, so I thought I'd bring us here! As for the cost, it's fine. It's just the three of us. We won't spend much."

Hearing this, Chen Yinuo's heart softened.

She never expected Ye Chen to choose this place just because she had liked a video about it on Douyin.

Still, she playfully teased, "If I like a Rolls-Royce or Bentley video on Douyin, will you buy one too?"

"If you like it, I definitely will!" Ye Chen replied earnestly.

"Oh, please. You should focus on building your Wuxia Cream business first. Startups always face tight finances. Save where you can. You can splurge after the business takes off and you've built a solid foundation."

Chen Yinuo shook her head dismissively and began lecturing him, leaving Ye Chen slightly embarrassed.

The Wuxia Cream project already had more than enough funding—one or two hundred million, to be exact.

Even after setting aside two hundred million for the business, he still had over two hundred million left.

Not to mention the upcoming deal that would net him tens of millions in profit.

Pretending to be poor really wasn't his style.

But facing her stern words, he could only nod with a wry smile. "Yes, yes, wife, you're absolutely right."

Unbeknownst to him, his agreement made Chen Yinuo feel both embarrassed and a little shy. Her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Stop being so glib!" she scolded, shooting him a glare.

Then, regaining her composure, she added seriously, "By the way, there's something I need to discuss with you."