Chapter 212: The Start of a World Tour
Some mining district in Africa.
The scorching sun beat down overhead.
As far as the eye could see stretched a vast expanse of earthy yellow, punctuated only by scattered patches of green that offered no shelter from the sun.
Jiang Nini, who had been hiding behind a mound of dirt to slack off, was kicked awake.
She instinctively clutched her head, repeatedly shouting "Sorry!" as she scrambled to her feet, ready to resume mining. But her own voice—one she loathed—stopped her in her tracks.
"Jiang Nini, long time no see."
It was Ye Fuli's voice!
After being stuck in this godforsaken place for so long, Jiang Nini even wondered if she was hearing things. Otherwise, how could that woman named Ye Fuli possibly come here to see her!
Even if she wanted to mock her, it could only happen in her dreams, right?
She turned her head, squinting against the harsh sunlight, and saw Ye Fuli dressed in casual clothes before her.
Beside Ye Fuli stood Ye Zhen, wearing a straw hat and holding an umbrella, looking like a little princess.
In Ye Zhen's hand was an ice cream bar.
Not far away, several SUVs were parked, clearly waiting for the two members of the Ye family.
Jiang Nini stiffened, tears welling up instantly.
After enduring so much hardship in Africa, she had lost a significant amount of weight, but she had also darkened from the sun. Her body was covered in wounds, her hands calloused, and her soles were covered in blisters that kept forming and healing, making her look utterly miserable.
Still, Ye Fuli hadn't lied to her…
Here, she could earn nearly fifty thousand dollars a month in steady income. If she could endure it, she could indeed save a considerable sum.
But!
In this godforsaken place where not even birds shit, she couldn't even buy an ice pop. Where could she spend the money she saved?
Without exaggeration, the thing she hated most right now was money!
Her dignity had been torn off, crumpled, and repeatedly trampled by those Ni brothers—it was utterly beyond salvaging.
All she wanted now was to leave this place, return to her homeland, and check herself into the best rehabilitation center to heal the pain in her body and soul.
"Ye Fuli! Miss Ye Fuli, for the sake of our past friendship, please let me go! Please take me back to China! I can't… I can't take it anymore!"
Jiang Nini clung to her legs, sobbing uncontrollably.
Then, thud, thud, thud, she began banging her head against Ye Fuli's legs.
"Don't you like money anymore, Jiang Nini?" Ye Fuli gently held her forehead, stopping her from bowing further. "I remember you loved money and men most of all. This place should be your paradise."
"No! No, no, no… I'll never dare again, Miss Ye Fuli! I dare not!"
Jiang Nini shook her head frantically, denying Ye Fuli's words.
Seeing her utterly desperate state, Ye Fuli released her grip and looked down at her from above. "I've already bought you a ticket to leave this place."
"Really?!"
The immense surprise nearly made Jiang Nini faint.
But the next second, Ye Fuli shattered her hopes.
Ye Fuli never believed a dog could change its ways, nor would she keep a venomous snake within reach.
Therefore…
"Next stop, I'll send you to Siberia."
After dropping that bombshell, Ye Fuli took Ye Zhen back to the car.
Having witnessed the entire scene, Ye Zhen lost all desire to continue eating her ice cream.
She didn't feel much sympathy for Jiang Nini.
She had seen with her own eyes how Jiang Nini had destroyed someone else's happy family and how she had schemed relentlessly against the Ye family, against Ye Dad and Ye Fuli.
If not for Ye Fuli's "main character" immunity, she might have already died at Jiang Nini's hands, her eyes wide open in death.
Ye Zhen didn't believe someone like Jiang Nini could genuinely reform.
But forgiving Jiang Nini was God's business, not hers.
"This entire mining area belongs to the Ye family."
As the SUV drove on, Ye Fuli took Ye Zhen on a tour of the empire she had built.
"Now I'll take you to see the cotton fields."
…
Before nightfall.
Ye Fuli led Ye Zhen into the luxury hotel they had booked long ago.
Their journey in a foreign land had only just begun.
"Is this really work?"
Ye Zhen slipped into the pajamas Ye Fuli had prepared for her, stood on the balcony sipping air-freighted coconut juice, and sighed contentedly.
"Miss Ye Fuli, you're not just accompanying me for fun, are you? Am I interfering with your work…"
"Are you worried about delaying my work?"
Ye Fuli had also changed into her nightgown, though not the cute lace princess dress like Ye Zhen's, but an extremely sexy silk halter dress.
Yes, the kind that barely covered her thighs.
She was gradually discovering Ye Zhen's preferences and always seemed to cater to them, whether intentionally or not.
Ye Zhen snorted dismissively, feigning disinterest.
"I couldn't care less! Anyway, even if every company you own here goes bankrupt, you'd still be a billionaire tycoon."
"Huh, is that so?"
Ye Fuli wrapped her arms around her waist, caressing her lower abdomen.
Whispering into Ye Zhen's ear, she murmured, "This is what they call saying one thing and meaning another, right?"
"No, it's speaking the truth."
Their eyes locked, the atmosphere growing increasingly intimate.
Just then, Ye Dad sent a video call invitation. Startled, Ye Zhen immediately pulled away from Ye Fuli's touch and quickly smoothed her hair and skirt.
As for Ye Fuli, she calmly draped a long, loose bath towel around herself.
The call connected.
"Hey kid, how's work going lately? When are you coming home? Dad wants to take you fishing."
Ye Fuli glanced at Ye Zhen nearby and couldn't help but chuckle. "Work's going great, but I won't be home for a few more months."
Meanwhile, Ye Zhen was busy pretending to be occupied, wiping the table one moment and washing cups the next.
Oh, right—is Zhenzhen with you? I snuck over to her school to look for her but didn't see her. That girl named Cao Cao said she went on your honeymoon with you…
This remark was so absurd that even Ye Fuli, who usually excelled at controlling her expressions, nearly lost her composure.
She took a deep breath and explained slowly:
"Dad, that guy's name is Zhao Mengde, not Cao Cao."
"Also…"
"We're not on a honeymoon either—we're here for work."
As she spoke, she discreetly motioned to Ye Zhen to come over.
Ye Zhen cleared her throat softly and walked toward Ye Fuli, greeting Ye Dad on camera: "Hello, Uncle."
The word "Uncle" stung Ye Dad a little, but he still smiled and nodded.
Ye Fuli naturally wrapped her arms around Ye Zhen's waist and lifted her onto her lap.
This detail was lost to the camera.
"Dad, I'll bring you back some local specialties. Get some rest early."
"Alright, alright. Take good care of yourselves out there…"
After ending the video call, Ye Fuli reached out and lifted Ye Zhen's chin. "How long do you plan to keep calling him 'Uncle'?"
"He's your biological father, not mine…"
Before she could finish, Ye Fuli pinched Ye Zhen's waist with just the right amount of force.
Yet Ye Zhen grimaced in pain.
This startled Ye Fuli, who hurriedly rubbed the spot for her.
But Ye Zhen, her face pale, struggled to get off Ye Fuli's lap and hurried toward the bathroom.
Through the glass door, Ye Zhen's weak voice came: "I… I think I'm bleeding… down below…"
"Here, take this."
Ye Fuli retrieved sanitary pads from her suitcase and slipped them through the door crack.
"Put this on first, get dressed, and I'll take you to the hospital to get checked."