Chapter 497: Chapter 497

At 4 p.m., Yishen Group Building.

With the press conference an hour away, the first floor lobby was already packed to the brim, until a sedan pulled up at the steps.

"Here they come, move it, move it!"

Someone shouted, and a crowd rushed outside, each person moving faster than the last. Fresh chapters posted on noⅴelfire.net

The lobby suddenly felt much more spacious.

"Manager Chen, will Mr. Li Zishen personally attend the 5 p.m. press conference?" a reporter asked, rushing up to Chen Xin.

"Don’t worry, you’ll find out when the time comes, everyone has their own tasks."

As he spoke, a swarm of journalists gathered around him.

"We’ve heard Mr. Li Zishen’s mother is unwell, is there any truth to this? Can you comment?"

"Is that so? That’s news to me."

"8028 was once hailed as a conscience medicine, can you explain why its production was suddenly halted and how, upon its return to the market, it will perform as expected?"

"Thank you for your interest in 8028, I believe the feedback from the patients will be the best answer."

One tough question after another, each closely related to the press conference and Yuan Min’s health, became increasingly tricky.

But Chen Xin wasn’t one to be easily ruffled.

He maintained a smile, courteously answering every question without giving away any information.

Meanwhile, in Huang City.

Ye Wanhua had arranged for a few ladies who were regulars at her business to gather at the Yelan Xiang Club.

The private room was booked by Wang Junchen for Ye Wanhua, still his favorite themed after "December," luxurious yet cozy.

They started talking about the Leng Family’s press conference.

"It’s been suspended for so many years, why bother stirring things up again!" a slender woman said.

"My old man said... 8028 is coming back on the market as a final wish from Li Zhenshan to Li Zishen; they’ve been preparing all these years."

"The market feedback for 8028 was pretty good back then, then it just abruptly stopped."

"Clearly, something went wrong, no need to ask!"

Ye Wanhua slowly lifted her teacup, took a gentle sip, and slightly curved her lips upward when she set it down, yet her bright eyes revealed extreme complexity.

Zhenshan, are you still blaming me?

Do you still believe... it was me who tampered with the medicine, who stole the formula? It wasn’t.

"Speaking of Li Zhenshan... he was quite the romantic, his fiancée has been dead for so many years, yet he still s to Jin City University in her name every year."

"Exactly, it must irritate Yuan Min to no end, so embarrassing! Not sparing her any dignity."

"It’s Yi Xiaodan if I remember right."

"The impact of a first love is strong, even in death, she remains the first love."

"Yuan Min had it coming, scheming her way up through pregnancy."

"But... the woman knows how to bear children! The eldest son takes after his father, a promising business prospect, and the younger son might be a bit frivolous, but he’s popular with the girls! That’s the knack, no denying it!"

Hearing this, Ye Wanhua’s heart became tumultuous, her hand subconsciously touching her lower abdomen.

You have children with her, could you not love her?

Donations made in my name, ’late wife’? You’re just crafting the image of a good man.

Cherishing the old love? You’ve probably forgotten it long ago!

Perhaps... there’s more hatred... than anything else.

Though Li Zhenshan had passed away years ago, he was still her former lover.

Years ago, Wanhua Jewelry’s entry into Yishen Mall was a nod to their past relationship, only at that time, she didn’t realize her own tragic fate was intertwined with that of Li Wanshan and Yuan Min.

"Excuse me, I’m off to the restroom," Ye Wanhua said, picking up her purse and nodding apologetically.

Everyone responded with congenial smiles.

But just after Ye Wanhua stepped out, a young woman with a coffee in hand asked in surprise, "Isn’t there a bathroom in here?"

"Oh dear, such a youngster, can’t bear to see someone take a walk, maybe make a phone call or something."

"Oh, so that’s what it was."

"Her family seems to have been quite lively lately," a somewhat plump woman remarked, raising her eyebrows.

Everyone nodded in heartfelt agreement.

Then, she smiled as she picked up her coffee and gave a knowing look to the young woman she had been speaking with.

After making sure the door was closed, the gossip began.

"I never understood why her husband used to be called Tang Jun. It turns out he took his mother’s surname. Oh dear, it’s all become clear now."

"The one who just got his certificate... he’s surnamed Tang, isn’t he? His biological mother wouldn’t happen to be her, would it?"

Everyone nodded again, each taking a sip of their coffee.

"That one who married into the Leng family, Tang Mei’s granddaughter Tang Xiaowan, she wouldn’t happen to be Wang Junchen’s daughter, would it?"

"Yeah, how did I not think of that!"

"Mrs. Wang used to say she lost her, but I bet she gave the girl to that old lady, hoping to give birth to a boy next time but her body couldn’t handle it."

"Oh, when you put it that way, it really does make sense."

"Not necessarily, it could also be that her husband had a mistress or two on the side, and while the granddaughter is legitimate, she might not be the lost one."

The private room was buzzing with lively chatter, but at this moment, on the couch in the lobby, Ye Wanhua was anxiously making a phone call.

It seemed that the other party wasn’t picking up.

She kept dialing, occasionally glancing at the screen as if she were afraid of dialing the wrong number.

Ring ring ring, ring ring ring, ring ring ring...

But still, there was no response.

What’s going on, haven’t they finished the exam yet?

Just as she was about to get up in a hurry and head towards the club’s main entrance, her phone suddenly lit up.

It was a callback – from Tang Xiaowan.

Ye Wanhua, eyes filled with concern, asked, "Tangtang, where are you? Are you done with your exams?"

"I just got out of the exam hall. Is something wrong?"

In fact, she had missed several calls but, for some reason, she had chosen to return Ye Wanhua’s call first.

"I’ve been busy with exams these past few days. Don’t go wandering around Jin City, alright? You’re friends with Li Zishen, aren’t you? But now..." Ye Wanhua hesitated, then, after glancing around, quietly asked, "Is Ling Xiao picking you up? Are you going straight back to where you’re staying after this?"

"Yes, Huahua is picking me up. What’s up?"

"That’s good. It’s not safe for a girl to be out at night, especially in places where there aren’t many people around. Even if someone you know invites you, don’t go... For example..."

"Sister Wan Hua!" Tang Xiaowan bit her lip hard and interrupted with a smile, "Don’t worry, I won’t go to Li Garden anymore, and I definitely won’t go to Nanjiang Courtyard, even if Yuan Min invites me."

Upon hearing this, Ye Wanhua’s tears suddenly spilled over, a complex feeling welling up inside her.

Indeed, the purpose of her call had been to remind Tang Xiaowan not to go to Li Garden, and certainly not to Nanjiang Villa, and to stay as far away as possible from Yuan Min.

She feared a repeat of a tragedy, feared the malice in people’s hearts.

"Sister Wan Hua, if there’s nothing else, I should hang up now; Huahua is waiting for me."

"Don’t say ’hang up’... it’s not good."

"Oh, got it. Bye, Sister Wan Hua!"

After ending the call, Tang Xiaowan stood dazed for a while before she ran towards the entrance of the Foreign Language College.

Although it was peak time for students to leave campus and the area below the teaching building was crowded, Tang Xiaowan dashed through the crowd like a wild horse freed from its reins.

She moved quickly, her speed increasing all the time.

By the time she saw the familiar figure, she was panting, beads of sweat dotting her forehead.

"Mmm... My Tangtang really is as serene as a maiden but moves as swiftly as a scared rabbit, which touches my heart." Leng Lingxiao’s lips curled slightly, throwing Tang Xiaowan a flirtatious glance.

However, the praise didn’t have the desired effect, and instead, it brought tears to her eyes.

Leng Lingxiao couldn’t help a twinge of concern.

"Tangtang, what’s wrong?"

Tang Xiaowan shook her head, her eyes brimming with tears and a smile: "She’s really worried about me... afraid that I’ll go to Nanjiang Courtyard."