CHAPTER 122: CHAPTER 122: GROWING PAINS

Li Qingqing left in a hurry with her assistant.

She was more worried about the crisis in her career than Zhan Hanjue’s cold treatment of her.

Having crawled out of that quagmire, reaching where she is today wasn’t easy, and she couldn’t fall into the mud again.

Ye Ningwan watched her retreating figure, her beautiful eyes devoid of any emotion.

Lin Yue called; it was still night on Lin Yue’s side.

"Sister, I miss you, miss Ye Shao, miss home," Lin Yue’s voice was choked with sobs when he spoke.

Ye Ningwan already knew that Zhan Hanjue had sent him to America.

He was sent to the best private high school in America, with a nanny, a driver, and a bodyguard assigned to him, truly a little master’s study abroad setup.

Knowing these details, Ye Ningwan wasn’t as angry with Zhan Hanjue for forcibly sending him abroad.

Actually, Zhan Hanjue wasn’t wrong.

Lin Yue is the future heir of Lin Group, and he doesn’t have the luxury of acting on whims.

"Lin Yue, do you want to become strong?" Ye Ningwan didn’t cry with him; instead, she calmly asked.

Lin Yue was stunned and stayed silent for a long time.

Ye Ningwan said, "If you want to protect your sister, want to protect Ye Shao, want to become someone who can control your own fate, then you must become strong. You are the heir of Lin Group, but if you don’t know how to manage, Lin Group will eventually collapse. Only when you truly become strong, truly master Lin Group, can you do what you want and protect who you want."

"But, sister..."

"Being alone outside is indeed tough. But compared to those who worked their way through school, you’re much happier. Zhan Hanjue wasn’t entirely wrong; if you stay here, you might become a painter, but you would never become an heir of Lin Group. Sending you abroad isn’t completely to your disadvantage."

"Sister, you agree with him too?" Lin Yue asked, saddened.

Ye Ningwan said, "I don’t agree with him; I just think he has a point. If you don’t want to stay there and just want to be a painter, under Ye Shao’s and my protection, it’s not impossible. We..."

"I want to protect my sister, protect Ye Shao, and not just be someone under your protection. Sister, I understand now. Wait for me, wait for me to become strong and return." Lin Yue suddenly said with determination.

After speaking, he hung up the phone.

Ye Ningwan held her phone and sighed softly.

Growth is always painful; only by shedding the skin can one emerge as a butterfly.

"Ye Ningwan, what are you doing looking for that child?"

On the way back, Wen Jianan blocked Ye Ningwan’s way and asked her with a stern face.

Ye Ningwan said in surprise, "Do you have any news?"

"No, I’m just asking why you’re looking for him?" Wen Jianan said.

Ye Ningwan said, "Since you have no news, come to me when you have some."

"I want to know now. Last time you said he is Wen Daofu’s illegitimate son? What do you mean?" Wen Jianan asked.

Ye Ningwan said, "An illegitimate child is just that, what else could it mean? Instead of wasting time talking with me here, you might as well support Zhou Yun’s family. Maybe you could avenge Li Weiluo."

"This matter doesn’t concern you. Do you think Zhou Yun’s family alone could create public opinion? I want to know now, what do you mean by illegitimate son, the child taken in? Shouldn’t he be his wife’s child?" Wen Jianan asked, clenching his fists.

"His wife?" Ye Ningwan raised an eyebrow, looking at him curiously.

Shouldn’t his wife be your mother?

Wen Jianan’s face stiffened, perhaps realizing his wording was wrong.

Just as he was about to say something more, Wen Daofu suddenly appeared.

"Wen Jianan, go hand out today’s homework," Wen Daofu said.

Wen Jianan turned to look at him, his eyes full of hatred, snorted coldly, and turned to leave.

Wen Daofu shook his head.

This son of his, never had a good expression for him, but he was used to it.

Ye Ningwan looked suspiciously at the father and son.

For a father and son to reach this state, it was truly a fateful entanglement.

"Ye Ningwan, let me apologize. He didn’t bully you, did he?" Wen Daofu asked.

Ye Ningwan smiled slightly, "Professor Wen, you’re joking. The class president has always been nice; why would he bully me?"

"Are you two close?" Wen Daofu asked.

Ye Ningwan said, "Not very close, just ordinary friends. He has some prejudices against me, so don’t misunderstand, Professor."

Wen Daofu laughed, "Don’t worry; I don’t misunderstand. Actually, I have no opinion on what kind of girl he likes. As long as he likes her, I’ll accept it."

"You’re so good to the class president, Professor," Ye Ningwan marveled.

Wen Daofu gave a bitter smile, "Unfortunately, he can’t see this. He just thinks I’m not good to him. Since you and Jianan are friends, when you’re free, please help guide him. I would be very grateful."

"Don’t worry, Professor, I’ll guide him," Ye Ningwan promised.

Wen Daofu seemed like he wanted to say something but ultimately didn’t and turned away.

Ye Ningwan frowned. This father and son were peculiar enough.

"Professor Wen."

Ye Ningwan suddenly called out to Wen Daofu.

Wen Daofu had walked some distance away but stopped when he heard Ye Ningwan’s call.

"Ye Ningwan, do you have any other questions?" Wen Daofu asked.

Ye Ningwan took a deep breath.

Since even Wen Jianan couldn’t dig up any information, breaking the silence might be better by asking directly.

"Professor Wen, do you know Zisu?"

Wen Daofu was taken aback, his face turning pale.

But quickly, he spoke in a flustered tone, "Of course, I know it. Zisu is warm in nature, it dispels cold, promotes qi circulation, and has a stomach-calming effect, often used in..."

"Professor, I’m not talking about the medicinal zisu; I’m talking about a person, a woman’s name," Ye Ningwan said.

Wen Daofu’s facade finally crumbled, his expression collapsing instantly. His eyes filled with terror, and his voice trembled uncontrollably.

"Who... who are you exactly?"

"It seems that Professor Wen indeed knows her. She is an elder of mine. Before she died, she entrusted me with a task, to find a man called Wen Beisang at all costs and ask him where he took her son," Ye Ningwan said coldly.

Wen Daofu staggered back, swaying as if Ye Ningwan’s words hit him too hard to stand straight.

"She...?"

"Is she dead?"

"If she weren’t dead, she would have come to find you herself," Ye Ningwan said coldly.

Wen Daofu shed two lines of tears, "I’m the one who’s wronged her."

"Don’t speak such useless nonsense. If you want to repent, do it in the afterlife with her. Telling me is pointless. I only want to know, where is her son?"

"You’ve already met him," Wen Daofu said with a bitter smile.

Ye Ningwan’s eyes widened, "It’s Wen Jianan? Isn’t he your wife’s..."

She hadn’t completely ruled out Wen Jianan, but when Wu investigated, the ages didn’t match, plus he was the son of Wen Daofu’s wife.

"I’m the director," Wen Daofu said.

So it was easy for him to pretend the child was born to his wife.