Chapter 31: Confirmation of Relationship

Assistant Wang followed Wen Ya into the car and whispered, “I’m sorry, President Wen. I went out to eat with my classmates last night and didn’t hear my phone ring.”

God knows how scared he was when he got the news. Thankfully, nothing serious happened. If something had gone wrong, he wouldn’t have been able to make up for it even with ten lives.

“It’s fine. It’s your personal time,” Wen Ya replied. She understood the difference between right and wrong. There was no rule requiring employees to be on call after work hours. Ultimately, it was her own fault, and there was no reason to blame others.

Still, Assistant Wang felt guilty. He hadn’t slept all night, using all his connections to find out who was behind the attack. He was determined to catch the mastermind. These people dared to cause trouble and rob others in broad daylight. They were bold and lawless. Who knew what they might do next? How could you guard against thieves every single day? How could anyone live peacefully like this?

“It was my own mistake. It has nothing to do with you,” Wen Ya said with a smile. “Did you find anything?”

At this, Assistant Wang became excited. “Boss Ji shared their findings with us, and we followed the lead. It pointed to Boss Lin and Xu Jiancheng. Ah Yong thought it was a setup because Boss Lin, being a sly old fox, wouldn’t come up with such a simple plan. But then I thought, maybe Boss Lin expected us to think that way and wanted us to overcomplicate things. So I kept digging into him and Xu Jiancheng, and I found some clues. The contact number was indeed theirs, and while they didn’t hire anyone to target you, they knew about it and let it happen.”

In other words, they didn’t directly hire anyone to harm Wen Ya, but they were aware of the plan and chose to stay silent, benefiting from the situation.

Wen Ya chuckled softly. These people were something else. Did they expect her to stand still and let them harm her? If she fought back, would that make her the villain? It was a clear mockery of her earlier kindness.

She instructed Assistant Wang to inform headquarters and call the police to arrest the man immediately. Boss Lin and his team had plenty of evidence against them, but she decided not to pursue them fully. As long as they quietly accepted their share of the profits, she wouldn’t bother them. However, this man wouldn’t stop until he hit rock bottom. If that’s what he wanted, she’d let him fall hard.

The real challenge, though, was Bai Yunzhu, who was hiding somewhere unknown.

Before coming to Yangcheng, Wen Ya had asked someone to investigate Bai Yunzhu. Unfortunately, she was abroad, making the investigation difficult. There was no news for a while. She also looked into the details of the disfigurement incident and the people involved. It would be great if she could find out what they were up to now.

Years had passed, so digging deep was tough. But those involved, with clear names and identities, were easier to track. She believed they’d have news soon.

As they talked, the two arrived at the industrial zone. They had already eyed a factory a few days ago. It turned out to be a clothing factory owned by a Hong Kong businessman whose family was abroad. He had fallen seriously ill this year, and his children wanted him to close the factory and join them overseas to recover. He agreed. Wen Ya, who was looking for a factory, got connected through a mutual contact.

The factory was well-equipped and fully staffed, ready to operate immediately. Most importantly, the land was owned by the boss. The factory building, along with some vacant land outside, covered four acres. If a long-term lease could be signed, the other three factories could be moved here and merged.

As the agent said, the owner was sincere about transferring the property and agreed to rent instead of sell, which was perfect for Wen Ya.

The agreement was signed smoothly, and Wen Ya turned down Mr. Zhang’s offer. She had promised Ji Ming to have dinner at the hotel that evening as a thank-you for the previous meal.

Still on the top floor, at the same table, they ordered Chinese food again, but the atmosphere was entirely different from last time.

“If I didn’t know the chef from Azure Villa wasn’t here, I’d think the dishes were made by the same person,” Wen Ya remarked. The food at Azure Villa had left a lasting impression, and the taste felt familiar.

Ji Ming paused, then took a bite. “They’re from the same culinary school, so it’s natural they taste similar.”

Wen Ya nodded in understanding. No wonder the flavors were so alike and equally delicious.

“Can the chef at Azure Villa also pickle radishes?” she asked.

Ji Ming laughed. “Out of all the dishes, you’re obsessed with the radishes?”

“Not really. It’s just that radishes can be preserved and eaten anytime. Other dishes can’t be stored, and I can’t expect the chef to cook for me often,” she explained. Every time she ate the chef’s food, everything else tasted bland for days.

“If…” Ji Ming hesitated, then said, “I’ll ask the chef to prepare more radishes for you.”

Wen Ya smiled warmly. “Thank you.”

Once an opportunity arose, there would be more. Ji Ming used the excuse of worrying about Wen Ya’s health to stay in the outer room. He even asked Xiao He to bring over all his luggage, planning to stay permanently.

Wen Ya leaned against the doorframe, watching Xiao He busy himself. She didn’t object. “You can stay, but you’re paying the rent,” she said before heading back to the bedroom and closing the door.

Ji Ming’s eyes sparkled with amusement, and a soft laugh escaped him. “Xiao He, cancel the flight. I’ll be staying in Yangcheng a few more days.”

Xiao He hesitated, thinking about the important work abroad. But after a glance at the bedroom door, he kept quiet. Of course, nothing was more important than the boss’s wife.

He quietly left the room and found Assistant Wang outside, looking troubled.

“Isn’t this moving too fast?” Assistant Wang muttered. Before leaving, Mrs. Wen had repeatedly warned her to keep an eye on Wen Ya. What if she lost her on this trip? How would she explain it back home?

“Too fast?” Xiao He glanced at her. Others might not know, but he was well aware that Ji Ming had always treated Wen Ya differently. He’d never seen the boss so attentive to anyone else.

Assistant Wang sighed, looking at the door, before Xiao He pulled her away.

“Relax. Your boss isn’t someone who’ll let anything slip.”

Everyone around them assumed they were dating, but Ji Ming and Wen Ya hadn’t made it official. They were waiting for the right moment.

“Are you busy today?” Ji Ming asked over breakfast the next morning.

“Not really. I have a meeting at the branch office this morning and plan to return to South City in the afternoon,” Wen Ya replied, wiping her mouth. “When are you heading back?”

“Since you’re free, can you spare some time for me?” Ji Ming asked with a smile.

I didn’t realize Ji Ming had attended middle school and university in Yangcheng. No wonder I never heard any rumors about him in the high school department. Otherwise, with his looks and family background, there would have been just as much buzz about him as there was about Gu Chengze.

They were now walking through the park next to Jiming High School.

“See that bridge? It’s the famous Lover’s Bridge nearby. They say if lovers walk across it together, they’ll stay together forever,” Ji Ming stopped and pointed to an old arch bridge, explaining it to Wen Ya.

“You believe that? It’s just a story for kids, isn’t it? I’m sure all the high school couples here have walked across it. But how many of them actually stay together after going to college?” Wen Ya wasn’t convinced by the bridge’s supposed magic.

“It’s still nice to walk across,” Ji Ming said, taking Wen Ya’s hand and leading her onto the Lover’s Bridge. “After we cross this bridge, we’ll be together for the rest of our lives,” he said seriously. His solemn expression and determined eyes were more romantic than any bouquet of roses.

“Okay,” Wen Ya replied with equal seriousness.

Ji Ming’s face immediately lit up with joy. Wen Ya had never seen him smile so brightly before, and she couldn’t deny how happy it made her feel.

On their way back, they stopped at a small restaurant Ji Ming recommended. The food was delicious and suited Wen Ya’s taste perfectly.

“In the future, I’ll take you to try delicacies from all over the world,” Ji Ming said with a smile, noticing Wen Ya’s delight.

“You can be the chef at home, and I’ll be your biggest customer,” Wen Ya teased. She didn’t know if his cooking would be good, but she said it anyway. If it turned out to be bad… well, he was probably too busy to cook often.