The next day, Ye Chen woke up early.

First, he went to the market and bought fresh ingredients like pork intestines, lean meat, pig liver, bacon, spring onions, cilantro, and more.

Then, he carefully washed, chopped, and cooked everything.

By the time Chen Yinuo and Youyou woke up, a steaming hot breakfast of noodles was ready.

"Daddy!"

As soon as she saw Ye Chen taking off his apron, Youyou ran over and hugged him tightly.

"Hey, Youyou, be good and wash up with Mommy. After breakfast, Daddy will take you to school, okay?"

Ye Chen lovingly picked up Ye Youyou and laughed heartily.

"Yay! Mommy, I want Daddy to take me to school today!"

Youyou turned to Chen Yinuo and exclaimed excitedly.

"You went to buy all this and made noodles so early in the morning?"

After nodding absently at Youyou's excitement, Chen Yinuo looked at Ye Chen with a hint of disbelief.

"I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep, so I thought I might as well go to the market to get some ingredients and make breakfast. Go wash up and eat while it's hot before heading to work!" Ye Chen chuckled.

"Oh!"

This time, Chen Yinuo didn't reject Ye Chen's efforts.

After washing up, the family of three sat around the dining table to eat noodles.

"You... you gave my mom the bank card yesterday. Do you still have money left?"

Her voice was soft, and her emotions were complex as she asked the question.

"Yinuo, don't worry about that. I still have enough," Ye Chen replied.

"Can I ask where all this money comes from? First, you paid off high-interest loans, then my mom took thirty or forty thousand. You previously mentioned earning thirty thousand from antique hunting, but you used ten thousand to settle with Yihao, paid for Youyou's school fees, and dealt with the loans. Now you gave my mom thirty or forty thousand more. This adds up to hundreds of thousands!"

Chen Yinuo held back from outright asking if he had been gambling.

In just ten-odd days, Ye Chen had gone from penniless to spending hundreds of thousands.

If not gambling, she couldn't think of any other possibility.

"You think I've been gambling again, don't you?" Ye Chen asked with a wry smile.

When Chen Yinuo remained silent, he continued, "Have you heard that the housing prices in Jinlin Mansion have skyrocketed?"

"What does that have to do with this?" Chen Yinuo asked in surprise.

"I happened to learn some insider information about upcoming redevelopment near Jinlin Mansion. So I placed deposits on two properties there, at ten thousand each. Back then, the houses weren't in demand, so they agreed to a price guarantee contract with me. Three days later, the redevelopment was announced, causing the prices to soar and the houses to sell out. I then sold those deposit contracts!"

Ye Chen explained.

"And sold them for two million each, making four million in total!" he added.

After hearing this, Chen Yinuo froze, seemingly petrified.

Using thirty thousand earned from antique hunting, Ye Chen had flipped it into four million in just a few days?

No, that wasn't quite right.

He had also taken out ten thousand for Yihao's settlement fee at the time.

Which meant that if it hadn't been for Yihao's incident, he could have earned another two million?

"If you hadn't taken out ten thousand for Yihao's settlement, could you have placed a deposit on another house and earned another two million?"

Her voice trembled as she asked, almost unable to process the amount.

To her, two million was an astronomical figure.

Yet Ye Chen had willingly sacrificed that much to help her brother avoid a criminal record?

"That's true, but it doesn't matter. The important thing was keeping Yihao from having a criminal record. As for money, I can earn it again later," Ye Chen said with a light laugh.

"What are your plans next?" After hesitating for a moment, Chen Yinuo dropped her cold demeanor and timidly asked.

"How do you feel about the Wuxia Cream?" Ye Chen asked, seemingly changing the subject.

At the mention of Wuxia Cream, Chen Yinuo's expression showed disbelief as she recalled its miraculous effects.

"I've only used it for two days, and it already shows obvious results in fading scars. Did you really develop it yourself?"

Ye Chen smiled and replied, "Who else could it be?"

Even though she knew the answer, hearing his confirmation still caused a wave of shock in her heart.

She knew too well what kind of impact such a miraculous product would have if it hit the market.

"Are you planning to focus on producing the Wuxia Cream?"

"Absolutely! The current market is full of ineffective products under the guise of scar removal. Truly effective ones are rare. Once the Wuxia Cream is launched, it's sure to dominate the market. I can't miss this opportunity!" Ye Chen said confidently.

"If that's your plan, this is undoubtedly the most capital-intensive stage for you. How could you give my mom thirty or forty thousand? No, I must go and get that money back for you!"

Flustered, Chen Yinuo seemed to forget how disillusioned she had previously been with their marriage.

But that's how women are.

As long as a woman still has even a sliver of feelings for someone or the faintest hope for a marriage, she might be willing to rekindle a seemingly extinguished love.

"Yinuo, don't. Let my mom keep the money. Consider it compensation for the years I failed to be filial. As for startup funds, I have my ways. Don't worry about it!" Ye Chen quickly reassured her.

In a few days, the stock of Sihai Group would plummet, and his short-selling strategy would yield at least another twenty million in profits.

Starting production for the Wuxia Cream wasn't a financial concern.

"Filial piety isn't done this way. No matter what, I'll think of a way to get it back!"

Shaking her head firmly, Chen Yinuo emptied her bowl of soup.

"It's getting late. You take Youyou to school. I'm heading to work!"

She grabbed her bag and rushed out.

"Yinuo, come back here after work tonight. Don't take Youyou to the place you rented, okay?"

Hearing Ye Chen's words, she paused for a moment, hesitated, then nodded before leaving.

Ye Chen was so delighted he almost jumped for joy.

"Youyou, hurry up and finish. Daddy will take you to school soon!"

"Okay!"

Half an hour later.

At the gates of Purple Jasmine Kindergarten, Ye Chen watched Youyou walk into the school until she disappeared from view.

For the first time in his two lifetimes, he had sent his child to school.

A mix of emotions surged within him, along with an unprecedented sense of fulfillment.

Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang.

"Brother Ye, are you free now? If you are, I'll come pick you up!"

Ye Chen checked the time—it wasn't even 8:30 yet.

Feeling slightly exasperated, he replied, "Alright, I just dropped my daughter off at school. I'm at the Purple Jasmine Kindergarten gates. Come over!"

"Got it, I'll be there in twenty minutes!"