Chapter 194: Ye Zhen and Ye Fuli's Duet
The Liu parents had arranged to meet at a newly opened farmhouse restaurant.
Bai Ruoting didn't make an appearance, instead staying in a private room on the third floor. He feasted on seasonal fruits while delightedly watching the beautiful dancers perform.
The dancers found it rather uncomfortable to perform for a guest like him.
However, after Bai Ruoting tossed out a thick wad of cash, their attitude visibly warmed considerably.
Bai Ruoting snorted.
Women who were so easily swayed by money were the kind he wouldn't have given a second glance before!
But now, he had no choice but to make do.
By then, Ye Zhen and the others had already entered the private room on the second floor.
"Here you are, Weiwei? And these ladies are…"
Liu Wei's mother's gaze swept quickly over Ye Zhen and the others, as if assessing whether her daughter had been associating with the wrong crowd or picking up bad habits.
That scrutinizing gaze made Ye Fuli and Zhao Mengde both frown simultaneously.
What a truly unpleasant look.
"Mom, this is my boss! Don't look at her like that." Liu Wei quickly stepped in front of Ye Zhen and the others, gently guiding her mother to a seat nearby.
She then turned back, pulled out a chair for Ye Zhen, and invited her to sit.
Unaccustomed to being waited on, Ye Fuli and Zhao Mengde each found seats on their own.
While ordering, Liu Wei's father broached the subject of her becoming a teacher. His tone held no room for discussion—it was pure command.
"This excellent job opportunity is all thanks to Mr. Bai! You must do well, don't cause him any trouble, and don't embarrass us either."
The old man said this, then shot Liu Wei another stern look.
"You haven't been working on any game designs lately, have you? I've told you before—that sort of thing is unreliable. Don't waste your time on it."
Hearing this, Ye Zhen knew immediately that this wasn't the first time Senior Liu had clashed with her family over game design.
Liu Wei lowered her head, her fingers clutching the tablecloth weakly as she let out a soft sigh.
One thing was undeniable: her parents' love for her.
If they didn't love her, they wouldn't have gone to such great lengths to save her life.
But this all-encompassing, controlling love felt suffocating.
Liu Wei had originally planned to balance her studies and game development, but now that the game was gaining momentum and promising a bright future, her heart was inevitably drawn more toward the career she loved.
The exam questions…
…she hadn't touched them in ages.
"Dad, I'm already preparing for the exams," Liu Wei's voice sounded weak—she clearly wasn't good at lying—"Could we put the teacher thing on hold for a bit?"
Her mother's face darkened instantly at those words.
She said nothing, but her expression alone was terrifying.
Ye Zhen even noticed Liu Wei's shoulders tremble slightly.
"We're not discussing this with you—we're informing you," Liu Wei's father said, his expression even harsher and his tone less polite. "Liu Wei, you're our only daughter. We'd never harm you."
Liu Wei's mother added, "We've devoted most of our lives to you. Few parents cherish and love their child as deeply as we do. You should know how to be grateful."
Liu Wei had heard these words countless times before.
Her ears buzzed, and her mind went blank.
Just then, Ye Zhen smiled and turned to Liu Wei's elderly father. "Uncle Liu," she asked, "may I ask why you insist Liu Wei must become a teacher?"
"Our Liu family is just a humble household. All we want is stability."
Old Liu didn't hide anything, voicing his thoughts directly.
He clearly saw nothing wrong with his way of thinking.
"She's a girl—she doesn't need to earn much money, nor should she be out in public dealing with all sorts of people!"
Hearing such old-fashioned views, Ye Zhen was utterly speechless.
What era was this, still clinging to such feudal ideas?
Zhao Mengde couldn't help but ask, "From what you're saying, you've probably already arranged a marriage for Liu Wei, right? Like a betrothal or something…"
"Not exactly," Liu Wei's mother sipped her tea and added casually, "But once she's been in her job for a year, we'll start setting her up on blind dates."
Matchmaking?!
Though Liu Wei had mentally prepared herself, hearing it spoken aloud weighed heavily on her heart.
The words "I refuse" were on the tip of her tongue, but she forced them back down.
Seeing Liu Wei's timid demeanor, her mother snorted. "Finish your meal and we'll leave. Pack your things too. I'll take you to rent a place near the Bai residence—it'll be convenient for your commute."
The dishes were brought to the table one by one.
The table was laden with home-cooked dishes, all looking quite appetizing.
Unfortunately, Liu Wei had no appetite whatsoever.
With a helpless and apologetic look, she glanced at Ye Zhen, gave a pale smile, and said, "Boss, I'm really sorry…"
She still lacked the courage to persuade her parents.
Even sitting here, a single glance from her own father and mother was enough to intimidate her.
"I understand your desire for a stable life," Ye Zhen said, forcing a light tone. "But are you certain you want your daughter to be with a boss of such poor character, one who's constantly on the brink of bankruptcy?"
The Liu parents' expressions shifted slightly.
This news was something they hadn't known.
After all, they were just ordinary workers at the bottom of the ladder.
Likewise, they dared not believe such rumors.
After all, the Bai family was immensely wealthy—rumored to be a fortune rivaling that of a nation!
How could such a boss possibly go bankrupt?
"This is Ye Fuli, the eldest daughter of the Ye Group," Ye Zhen immediately pointed at Ye Fuli. "She can vouch for the truth of my words."
Suddenly called upon, Ye Fuli visibly froze.
Still sporting her bandaged-up look, she felt somewhat insecure.
Moreover, she found it hard to believe that Ye Zhen would ever need her…
The sudden wave of happiness made her cheeks flush, her thoughts spinning.
Zhao Mengde promptly nudged her arm, grinning broadly. "Miss Ye, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and tell them about your glorious achievements!"
…
Watching the negotiation unfold in the private room through the surveillance feed, Bai Ruoting could no longer sit still.
"Absurd! This is utterly absurd!"
The singing and dancing in the room suddenly became unbearably loud.
Bai Ruoting swept his arm, sending all the fruits and pastries crashing off the table.
"Get out! All of you, get out!"
Now, Ye Fuli not only presented a well-reasoned analysis of the Bai family's current predicament but also produced evidence of Bai Ruoting's past indiscretions.
The Liu parents, seated in the private room, turned ashen-faced.
What kind of situation was this? What kind of situation!
Was Bai Ruoting even human? A man who showed no self-respect was no better than a rotten cucumber.
A man like this—claiming he dislikes his daughter's looks—is likely just after her!
Disgusting. This man is utterly disgusting.
The mere thought of such a man potentially defiling their daughter made them feel as if ants were crawling all over their bodies.
"Unstable. This is far too unstable." Liu Wei's mother shook her head repeatedly, sighing deeply. "Honey, we really need to reconsider this matter."
Liu Wei's father nodded in agreement. "You're right. We must think this through carefully! This concerns our daughter's entire future—we can't be careless."
Hearing her parents speak like this, Liu Wei froze in shock.
She hadn't expected her parents, who were usually so hard to persuade, to be swayed—and by such a simple method at that.
Of course, Liu Wei understood this was only a temporary solution.
Her parents would undoubtedly keep searching for jobs for her! She could only seize every remaining minute and second to finish her current tasks and deliver results worthy of her boss, Loli.
The meal ended.
Bai Ruoting stood on the third-floor balcony, watching the Liu parents depart, his teeth clenched in frustration.
"You distrust the Bai family, you distrust me—it doesn't matter! There are more schools in this world than just the Bai Academy. Just wait until I give you more opportunities…"