Chapter 29: Sickness

Besides the OEM business, she also wanted to inspect the companies and factories here. After all, when the boss is far away, the people below might forget about the head office and her authority.

The second reason was the factory building. As mentioned earlier, the garment factory’s capacity was outdated, so a new factory building was needed. This was why the headquarters wanted to take over the OEM factory directly.

A company’s reputation is hard to earn, and Wen Ya would never risk ruining her company’s image for a small amount of money.

Xiaoya Garment, a medium-sized enterprise in Guangzhou, is supported by Wen’s Group. They have clearly refused to take over the factory. After the victim reported the incident to the police, the authorities cannot force the company to accept their demands.

Whether the factory is sold or mortgaged to the bank is none of Wen Ya’s concern.

Yangcheng is a bustling city, no less impressive than Nancheng, and a haven for food lovers. After Wen Ya and Assistant Wang finished inspecting the factory, they thought it was safe to explore since they were not in Nancheng. They decided to visit the night market they hadn’t seen in a long time. Wen Ya felt a surge of excitement.

But soon, she noticed something felt off.

Wen Ya is naturally beautiful and used to attending high-end events. While people would glance at her, they never acted inappropriately. However, at the night market, her elegant dress and refined demeanor made her stand out. She felt like a panda in a zoo, drawing everyone’s attention.

She had planned to enjoy some kebabs, but now it seemed impossible. She ordered some local snacks instead and decided to head back to the hotel.

Despite the crowded night market, Wen Ya felt a pair of eyes piercing her back, making her uneasy. This sense of danger grew stronger, a feeling she always had before something bad happened. As she neared the exit, she stopped, turned around, and re-entered the night market.

Better safe than sorry. She had worked hard to change her life and didn’t want anything to go wrong.

This time, she paid closer attention and noticed a man occasionally glancing at her. When she reached a noodle shop, she saw him through the glass door.

She entered the shop, thinking it was safer with people around. But she needed a way out. The night market wouldn’t stay open forever.

“Boss, a bowl of pork chop noodles, please. Also, where’s the restroom?”

After asking, she hurried to the restroom and called Assistant Wang. No answer. She scrolled through her contacts, unsure who to call in Yangcheng.

Then she remembered Ji Ming. She dialed his number, and after two rings, his familiar voice calmed her.

“Ji Ming, I’m at the night market near the hotel. I think someone’s following me.”

“Send me your location. I’m on my way,” Ji Ming said, grabbing his coat.

Wen Ya quickly shared her location. When she returned, the man she suspected was sitting nearby, ordering the same noodles. She pretended to play with her phone and messaged Ji Ming.

“He’s sitting next to me now.”

Ji Ming replied, telling her to stay calm and eat slowly. He was already on his way.

Though Wen Ya had learned self-defense as a child, facing danger was different. She was genuinely scared.

After half an hour of slowly eating her noodles, she noticed the man growing impatient. He checked his phone and sent a message.

“There’s an accomplice,” Wen Ya texted Ji Ming.

She worried Ji Ming might not handle it alone and end up in danger.

“I’m here, outside the noodle shop,” Ji Ming called.

Wen Ya quickly left. Seeing Ji Ming, she felt relief and surprise.

Ji Ming had brought four strong men—two bodyguards and two from the hotel. With them around, she felt safe.

“You’re here,” Wen Ya said, her hands trembling slightly.

Ji Ming held her hand, his warmth calming her. “Don’t worry. Let’s go back to the hotel.”

Wen Ya nodded. She didn’t want to stay any longer.

As they headed back, several cars blocked their path. Over thirty men with sticks and iron bars surrounded them. Without a word, they started smashing the cars.

The four bodyguards fought back, but they were outnumbered. Someone smashed the car window.

“It’s okay,” Ji Ming said calmly. He took off his coat, stepped out, and kicked the most aggressive thug to the ground. He grabbed an iron bar and struck hard. Wen Ya heard the thud and saw blood on the thug’s face.

Ji Ming quickly took down seven or eight thugs. The bodyguards handled the rest.

“Boss, these are just ordinary thugs. But those two over there seem different,” one bodyguard said.

“Let someone handle this. We’re going back to the hotel,” Ji Ming said, prioritizing Wen Ya’s safety.

Back at the hotel, Ji Ming’s team discovered the thugs were from a local gang. Someone had paid them 100,000 yuan to teach Wen Ya a lesson. The other two had a different agenda.

Wen Ya sat on the sofa, feeling a bit scared. She thought this business trip to Yangcheng wouldn’t be a big deal, so she didn’t bring Ah Yong along. But now, she realized even if he had come, it wouldn’t have helped much. Two fists can’t fight against so many hands, especially when there were over thirty people. With her being a burden, she worried Ah Yong wouldn’t even be able to protect himself.

“Mr. Wen,” Assistant Wang hurried over after hearing the news.

“I’m fine. Don’t tell anyone, especially my mom. Keep this quiet,” Wen Ya instructed, then turned to Ji Ming. “Thank you so much. If it weren’t for you… I don’t know what would’ve happened.”

It’s still unclear if the people at the night market were part of the same group as the gangsters. If not, then there were three separate groups involved. Wen Ya didn’t know what they wanted, but it was definitely nothing good. Without Ji Ming’s help, she might not have made it out alive.

“I’m glad you thought of me when you were in danger. Don’t go out alone next time. Go rest and take a shower. I’ll handle the rest,” Ji Ming said, his eyes narrowing. He knew something bigger was at play for someone to act so boldly in the heart of Yangcheng.

Ji Ming had a team skilled in dealing with such situations. After some digging, they found out the two men were hired by a former senior executive of the Wen family. The executive had made a small mistake in the past, paid compensation, and was released after half a month in detention. But his reputation was ruined, and no company would hire him. He held a grudge and wanted to teach Wen Ya a lesson. Hearing she was in Yangcheng, he hired thugs to attack her.

The other two men claimed they were hired by the former branch company’s general manager. The employer also paid to teach her a lesson, but upon seeing her, they were captivated by her beauty and decided to kidnap her instead.

Their stories made sense, but Wen Ya felt something was off. Things didn’t seem that simple.

The environment in Yangcheng was very different from South City. The sudden change in weather, combined with the shock, made Wen Ya fall ill.

Ji Ming kept a close eye on Wen Ya. When he found out she was sick, he rushed to her room, touched her forehead, and asked Assistant Wang, “What did the doctor say?”

“They said the fever will go down after the drip. It’s not serious,” Assistant Wang replied, noticing Ji Ming acting like he was in charge. He felt his boss might be in trouble.

Ji Ming nodded, then headed to the kitchen. “Go rest. I’ll stay here and watch over her.”

Assistant Wang glanced at Ji Ming, then at the unconscious Wen Ya, his face twisted with worry.

“She’s already this sick. What else could I do to her?” Ji Ming said while washing rice to cook porridge.

Wen Ya woke up past one in the morning. Her head felt heavy as she stared blankly at the ceiling.

“You’re awake? Are you hungry? I’ll get you some porridge,” Ji Ming said, touching her forehead. The fever had gone down. She just needed to rest.

“Ji Ming? Why are you here?” she asked, confused. She remembered returning to her room. Had she sleepwalked to his place?

“You had a fever and slept all day. Eat some porridge to fill your stomach,” he said, placing a small plate of pickled radish next to the bowl.

Wen Ya obediently took a sip of the porridge, then bit into the radish. The sour-sweet taste made her mouth feel less bitter, and she took another bite.

The radish tasted familiar. She had eaten it at Jiaren Club before. How did Ji Ming have it here? Did the hotel serve it too? She made a mental note to buy some to take back to South City.