Volume 1, Chapter 125: I Want Her Reputation Destroyed

After Huo Mingting moved, he had expected to see Ye Sheng frequently, but he found himself seeing Huo Lindong far more often instead. Even when he did catch a glimpse of Ye Sheng, she was either with Wan Sandao or with Huo Lindong.

According to his observations over the past few days, Ye Sheng’s life was more disciplined and fulfilling than he had imagined—she was even busier than he was. By day, she was the "Dr. Ye" who walked among the living in a white lab coat, working at the hospital, attending various pharmaceutical and medical symposiums and seminars, and juggling two ongoing research projects. By night, clad in high heels and evening gowns, she was the glamorous "Young Lady of the Ye Family," a constant presence at auctions, charity galas, business cocktail parties, and entertainment extravaganzas.

Her photos were everywhere. One particular candid shot of her profile, taken as she turned her head at the same moment as film star Zhong Yan, set the entire internet ablaze. Huo Mingting didn't know about other things, but it was clear that there were significantly more cocktail parties held in the capital this year than in previous years. Furthermore, any party Ye Sheng attended was exceptionally well-attended, with single scions and young gentlemen flocking to them en masse.

Ye Sheng remained the constant, while her male companions flowed like water. Another discovery was that the elusive Ninth Master of the Huo family had also begun attending banquets.

His first public appearance was at the tenth-anniversary celebration of Tan Jing, the daughter of the Tan family, and Chen Shaowei, the president of a manufacturing giant. Although an invitation had been sent, neither Tan Yao, who had delivered it in person, nor the couple themselves had expected the Ninth Master to actually show up. The honor was so great that they were practically overwhelmed. Boss Tan and Chairman Chen were beaming, feeling a great sense of prestige.

As the powerful elite exchanged greetings, Ye Sheng and Tan Jing shared a look. Seeing the couple, Ye Sheng smiled radiantly. "Congratulations. You’ve finally reached a happy ending."

Tan Jing and Chen Shaowei had been teased so much by their inner circle lately that they had developed thick skin, yet they still blushed at Ye Sheng’s sincere congratulations. In the past, Tan Jing had been quite a handful. The Tan family’s upbringing was strict, and Chen Shaowei was equally stern with her; she wouldn't go to disreputable places, so when she was angry, she would just go to karaoke to belt out songs.

She was a terrible singer, and when she got drunk and started wailing, her friends couldn't stand it. Only Ye Sheng would stay with her, waiting in the private room until Chen Shaowei and Huo Mingting finished work to come and collect them. In truth, Ye Sheng could have sent Tan Jing home, but Tan Jing would refuse, insisting that Chen Shaowei had to be the one to pick her up. She would claim that since he tormented her like a madwoman, she would treat him like a donkey to be ridden.

But Tan Jing was a terrible drunk; when sober, she would curse Chen Shaowei like a dog, and when drunk, she would grab him, hugging and biting him. Once, she had even nearly had her way with him right there on the spot. These awkward scenes had all been witnessed by Ye Sheng.

Yet, Tan Jing and Chen Shaowei were grateful to Ye Sheng—the former for her companionship, and the latter because Ye Sheng was incredibly discreet. Such embarrassing matters were known only to them; Chen Shaowei had never heard a word of it from anyone else, not even Huo Mingting. Chen Shaowei often remarked that Ye Sheng was a reliable and trustworthy person.

On the other hand, if a couple didn't even have the habit of gossiping about others behind their backs, it meant their relationship wasn't particularly close. Tan Jing and Chen Shaowei had spent years going back and forth, breaking up and getting back together, precisely because they were so perfectly aligned in whom they liked and whom they despised. Sometimes they would be intimate until midnight, and spend the rest of the night until dawn badmouthing others. Of course, they had frequently mocked Huo Mingting under the covers, calling him a scumbag who remained entangled with his ex-wife even after marriage, declaring that he was completely unworthy of Ye Sheng.

Not far away, Qin Minshu sat with a group of young ladies. As she watched Tan Jing laughing and chatting with Ye Sheng, eventually pulling her into her own inner circle, expressions of jealousy and envy flickered across their faces. Even among the wealthy elite, there were cliques and hierarchies. Their group consisted mostly of those with less prominent maternal backgrounds who had failed to secure better marriages, huddling together for mutual support.

In contrast, the other group was comprised of "old money"—scions with impeccable family lineages. Previously, Ye Sheng had been an outcast, a marginalized figure, but now she had transformed into an honored guest.

"Did you see that? The Ye family’s daughter walked in on the arm of the Ninth Master today," someone whispered. "It’s the Ninth Master of the Huo family. Could it be that Ye Sheng is going to remarry President Huo? Ye Sheng is no longer who she once was; the Huo family must be regretting it now."

"Forget President Huo regretting it, even I regret it!" another lamented. "How could I have been so blind as to miss a diamond in the rough? If I had known earlier that Ye Sheng was the daughter of the Ye family, I would have made sure to get on her good side..."

Someone poked her, and Qin Minshu downed a glass of wine, slammed it onto the table, and walked away with a dark expression.

In a corner, Qin Minshu lit a cigarette and took a fierce drag. A tall figure approached, half-hidden in the shadows. He reached out and took the cigarette from her, his voice deep and calm. "Don't smoke so much. It's bad for you."

"Brother, I just can't swallow this." Qin Minshu stared at Ye Sheng, who was surrounded by admirers, and said viciously, "I can't stand seeing her so smug. I want her to make a fool of herself in public. I want her to be completely disgraced!"

The man revealed a pair of hawk-like eyes and remained silent for several seconds. "Fine."