Ye Zhi: ...
Why is Tang Chuan so talkative?
She had thought Zhan Ruojing was exaggerating earlier, but she hadn't expected it to be so realistic. It was only an afternoon, and even her parents had heard about it.
Ye Zhi pondered for a moment and answered truthfully, "Uh... it's true."
Ye Yongxian was silent for a long while, then he cautiously said, "Xiao Zhi, it's a good thing you want your future partner to contribute to the country, and Dad supports you. But, could you lower your standards just a tiny bit? Launching a whole satellite, the cost is just too high..."
"Then how about launching 0.999 of a satellite?" Ye Zhi said with a smile.
Ye Yongxian: ...
Is there a difference?!
However, he could tell that Ye Zhi had no intention of lowering her standards.
He sighed helplessly, "Xiao Zhi, you don't plan on finding a partner then?"
"Not at the moment, Dad. Just let me handle my personal matters," Ye Zhi said with a playful grin. "I can handle such a large company, surely I can handle my own love life?"
Ye Yongxian: ...
That was hard to say.
But he knew Ye Zhi's personality; no one could sway her once she made up her mind. In this regard, the personalities of his three children were surprisingly consistent.
Ye Yongxian could only say, "Alright, alright. You're still young anyway. We'll talk about this later."
After that, Ye Yongxian hung up the phone. He was truly worried. Ye Zhi had practically welded shut the doors and windows of love, then plastered them with cement! How could he, as a father, not be concerned?
Looking up, Ye Yongxian saw Liu Lingyu staring at him while soaking her feet.
"How did it go? What did Xiao Zhi say?" Liu Lingyu asked with concern.
Ye Yongxian relayed Ye Zhi's words, and he said worriedly, "You tell me, who would dare pursue our Xiao Zhi in the future! We can't have her single her whole life, can we? Wife, what if we recruit a live-in son-in-law for her in the future?"
"Let's not," Liu Lingyu said with great worry. "Live-in sons-in-law are quite frightening these days. What if he smiles crookedly, shouts 'The three-year contract is up, welcome the Dragon King!' and then seeks revenge on us?"
"What kind of nonsense is this?" Ye Yongxian's face darkened.
"That's how it's written in novels. I've read dozens of them, and they all say that," Liu Lingyu said innocently.
"That's all fiction. It's definitely not like that in reality," Ye Yongxian comforted her.
"Reality is even scarier," Liu Lingyu pouted. "Do you remember Old Wang from Jingjun Electromechanical? Wasn't he a live-in son-in-law? He got rich relying on his father-in-law's company and fortune. Then, he found his wife too old, forced her to divorce him, and designed it so that his wife and children left with nothing. Now he's married a young woman the same age as his daughter. Is this Old Turtle of a man decent?"
"Our daughter is different," Ye Yongxian shook his head. "Xiao Zhi is strong-willed and has her own ideas. She wouldn't be bullied."
"Then look at Director Ding from Yuxin Trade. His wife is quite strong, isn't she? But he still cheats everywhere and keeps mistresses and concubines outside! I also heard he even has illegitimate children! Our daughter is focused solely on her career. Does she still have to divide her attention to control a man's waistband?"
"Ah, this..." Ye Yongxian was immediately troubled. "Then what do you suggest? We can't have Xiao Zhi not getting married or having children her whole life, can we?"
"If all else fails, we'll 'abandon the father, keep the child'! Anyway, our family is rich, we can afford to raise a child, and Xiao Zhi won't be mistreated," Liu Lingyu thought for a moment.
Ye Yongxian was dumbfounded. "Where did you learn all this?"
"Zhiwei," she said triumphantly. "It has a Q&A platform. Someone asked a similar question, and I read it. I thought it made a lot of sense."
Ye Yongxian: ...
He felt as if he had been left behind by the times.
"Actually, we don't have to be so pessimistic," Liu Lingyu said with a smile. "Do you remember Xiao Zhi's neighbor? I think that child is quite good. Maybe he has a chance!"
Ye Yongxian froze slightly. How could he have forgotten Qi Xuan?
Indeed, Qi Xuan met all the requirements, and he was also interested in Ye Zhi! He shouldn't be worrying about Ye Zhi; he should be worrying about when Ye Zhi would accept Qi Xuan!
Thinking like this, Ye Yongxian suddenly became happy.
"Why are you grinning like an idiot!" Liu Lingyu chided. "Aren't you going to fetch me some foot-washing water?"
"Coming right up!" Ye Yongxian agreed and happily went to fetch the water.
At Qi Xuan's home, the butler cheerfully said to him, "Young master, have you heard? Miss Ye has declared that anyone who helps Nandou launch a satellite can pursue her!"
Qi Xuan was quite helpless. "How is it that even you know about this?"
"The entire Kyoto is buzzing about this. I have several old friends I exchange gossip with, and they all told me!" the butler explained.
Qi Xuan frowned slightly. He had also heard about the origins of this matter. Although the current outcome was likely what Ye Zhi wanted, Tang Chuan's blatant advertising after being rejected was truly disgusting.
"Actually, this is for the best," the butler sighed. "This way, most suitors will be kept at bay. This is probably the result Miss Ye desired."
Qi Xuan nodded slightly.
"But this doesn't affect you, young master," the butler said proudly. "Young master, the Qi Corporation has always been involved in the Nandou project. Truthfully speaking, over the years, the money the Qi Corporation has invested in the Nandou project is more than just one satellite, isn't it?"
"That's different," Qi Xuan frowned. "The money invested by the Qi Corporation has returns. It cannot be considered a donation to Nandou, let alone counted in my personal name."
The butler was somewhat taken aback. "Young master, do you mean you are prepared to donate a satellite to Nandou in your personal capacity?"
"Isn't this perfect?" Qi Xuan smiled slightly. "Ye Zhi wants a star, so I'll give her a star, and it will also contribute to the country. Butler, don't you think this is very romantic?"
"As long as the two of you are happy," the butler's lips twitched.
The romance was indeed good, but it was a bit expensive. However, since the two parties involved had no objections, what else could he say?
*
The next day, Feng Jie arrived in Kyoto, dusty from his journey, and went to Ye Zhi's office.
"General Manager Ye, good news!" Feng Jie said happily. "The cooperation with Nandou has been settled! And Nandou has even given us considerable discounts!"
"Feng Jie, you're too capable!" Ye Zhi exclaimed in surprise.
"I dare not take credit," Feng Jie said with a chuckle. "This time, it went so smoothly because the person in charge of Nandou heard that General Manager Ye had announced that anyone who wanted to pursue you must first help Nandou launch a satellite..."
Ye Zhi: ...
This wasn't just the entire Kyoto that knew, this was the entire world that knew!