"What are you still standing there for? Waiting for them to retaliate? Hurry back already!"

Ye Chen scolded impatiently, glaring at Chen Yihao, who stood frozen in shock.

Hearing the harsh tone, Chen Yihao nearly lost it.

Ye Chen used to never dare to speak to him this way!

But little did Chen Yihao know-Ye Chen, now living his second life, wouldn't think twice about reprimanding or even hitting him.

"Ye Chen, don't think that just because you know some captain or other, you're invincible. If you dare to bully my sister again, I'll deal with you myself!" Chen Yihao gritted his teeth.

But his bravado wasn't what it used to be-it lacked the sharpness or intimidation to back it up.

"Fine. If I bully your sister, then take your time dealing with me. For now, go home!" Ye Chen said.

Chen Yihao snorted, turned around, and left with his friends in their car.

Watching his retreating back, Ye Chen felt a wave of complicated emotions.

Truth be told, if it weren't for Chen Yihao, Ye Chen and Chen Yinuo might never have been able to get their marriage certificate. Without it, even little Youyou's household registration might not have been possible.

Back then, Chen Yihao had defied his parents' authority, rummaging through the house to find and secretly take the household registration book. Thanks to him, Ye Chen and Chen Yinuo were able to legally marry.

Even before Ye Chen's failed business ventures changed him, when he had nothing to offer, Chen Yihao had treated him genuinely as a brother-in-law. He even helped mediate the strained relationship between Ye Chen and his in-laws.

Later, when Ye Chen spiraled into alcoholism and gambling, Chen Yihao still gave him chances. At one point, when Ye Chen was cornered by loan sharks, Chen Yihao borrowed money to pay off a high-interest debt of 30,000 to 40,000 yuan for him-a deed no one else, not even Chen Yinuo or her parents, knew about.

It wasn't until Chen Yihao had been disappointed and hurt time and again that he began to resent Ye Chen. Ye Chen remembered all of this clearly.

So no matter how much Chen Yihao scolded or looked down on him over the years, Ye Chen never held it against him.

Because he owed him.

After reminiscing in silence for a moment, Ye Chen called for a designated driver and returned to his home in Shanshuijian.

It was late by the time he arrived, but Chen Yinuo was still awake, waiting for him on the couch.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Ye Chen asked, his heart warmed.

"I was waiting for you," she replied, before asking, "You didn't drink too much, did you?"

"No, not at all. Just some chatting."

Then Ye Chen joked, "You know, we've got connections in high places now!"

Chen Yinuo playfully scolded him, "Don't get so full of yourself. You helped someone; at most, they owe you a favor. And favors are tricky-owing one is fine, but once it's repaid, that's it. Don't bother people unless you really have to!"

Ye Chen chuckled. He wasn't too concerned about favors or debts-someone like Qi Quan, with his personality, would probably feel indebted for life.

"Alright, since you're back, I'll head to bed. You should sleep early too. Tomorrow, I'll call you when the wedding's about to start. Just head over then," Chen Yinuo said.

"Alright, you get some rest."

Ye Chen decided not to tell her about his earlier encounter with Chen Yihao.

That night, the group chat for Class 7 of Jiangzhou No. 7 High School's senior year remained lively, buzzing with messages well into the night as some female classmates chatted away.

In a few days, the class reunion funds had reached 58,000 yuan, finalizing the arrangements for the event. Once everything was confirmed, the former class teacher and other faculty members were added to the group.

In the middle of the lively chatter, the rarely late-sleeping class teacher sent a message:

"Ye Chen, are you there? 😊😊"

"Teacher, he's not in this group! He left a long time ago!"

"Teacher, why are you looking for Ye Chen?"

"Oh, nothing much 😊😊😊... I just haven't seen him since graduation and was wondering how he's doing."

"Teacher, Ye Chen? He probably ran off somewhere! I heard he's now a gambling alcoholic, often chased down by loan sharks!"

"What a pity. He used to be the top student in our class. Talk about wasting your potential."

"Honestly, he only has himself to blame. He destroyed his own life."

Out of respect for their teacher, the classmates held back somewhat. Otherwise, their comments would have been even more harsh.

"😲😲😲 How could that be? That doesn't sound like the Ye Chen I knew. Can anyone give me his WeChat or phone number?"

"Sorry, Teacher, I don't have it. He deleted all of us ages ago!"

"Teacher, it'd be tough to track him down now!"

Unbeknownst to Ye Chen, he had become the subject of gossip among his former classmates, who now saw him as a cautionary tale to avoid. He also had no idea his former class teacher still remembered and cared about him.

The next day was Chen Yihao's wedding.

Since little Youyou was to be a flower girl, Chen Yinuo left early with her, though she still prepared breakfast for Ye Chen before heading out.

While eating, Ye Chen suddenly recalled something from his previous life.

In his memories, he'd never heard about Chen Yihao getting married. Even after Ye Chen had made his fortune and reconnected with his brother-in-law, Chen Yihao was still single.

This time around, the marriage to Wang Qian was only happening because Ye Chen's mother-in-law, Liu Xueqin, had borrowed 300,000 yuan from him to meet Wang Qian's demands.

In other words, this marriage was only possible because of Ye Chen.

But considering Wang Qian's character, could this union really be a good thing?

Frowning, Ye Chen realized he couldn't just ignore this. If the marriage ended in unhappiness, no one else might blame him, but Ye Chen himself would feel deeply guilty.

Still, with everything already set in motion-Chen Yihao stubbornly clinging to his choice, and his parents-in-law eagerly welcoming Wang Qian-there was nothing Ye Chen could do to change the outcome.

He could only hope for the best.

Shaking off these thoughts, Ye Chen drove his Mercedes G-Wagon to visit the Qianlong Games office to pass some time.

Around 2 PM, he received a call from Chen Yinuo, informing him that the wedding motorcade was about to return to the hotel where the ceremony would be held.

With that, Ye Chen left the office and headed to the Carlton Hotel.