Chapter 699

After seeing off Zijin, Li Heng turned to Song Yu and said, “We just finished eating—let’s take a walk to Xin Weilai.”

Song Yu readily agreed.

Li Lan beside them said, “I’m coming too.”

So the three of them got into a minivan and headed for Xin Weilai Training School.

On the way, Li Lan said, “Younger brother, you should buy a car in Jingcheng—it’ll make traveling with your wife easier, and I can use it too if there’s an emergency.”

Li Heng thought it made sense: “Alright, I’ll ask someone about it later.”

An hour later, the three arrived at Xin Weilai School. Classes were in session, with eleven classes running simultaneously.

Li Heng first inspected each classroom from outside, then finally headed toward Wang Ye’s office.

Wang Ye was on the phone, discussing matters with the head of the Xi’an branch.

Li Heng stayed silent, poured two cups of tea for Song Yu and his second sister, then sat aside to wait.

After about ten minutes, the call ended. Wang Ye stood and came over: “Mr. Li, you’re here.”

Li Heng looked up and smiled at her.

After a moment of eye contact, Wang Ye smiled, “Alright, the moment you and Song Yu stepped onto campus, I got the notification. But I was busy and wanted you to experience the school’s atmosphere firsthand, so I didn’t disturb you.”

Li Heng nodded and pointed to the sofa beside him: “Don’t stand—sit down.”

Wang Ye sat as instructed and greeted Song Yu and Li Lan.

Sipping tea, Li Heng asked, “How’s the enrollment this session?”

Wang Ye summed up her joy in one sentence: “New student enrollment is full—this session, all twelve schools together enrolled over fifty thousand students, with revenue exceeding sixty million yuan, and the overseas advanced classes still contributed more than half.”

Li Lan had long known Xin Weilai School was unstoppable, but hearing this staggering income, she couldn’t help silently whistling.

Song Yu was fine—she was close to Yang Yingwen and had heard some things about Xin Weilai, so she was mentally prepared.

Still, even with preparation, the terrifying figure of sixty million yuan left her lost in thought for a long while.

Li Heng continued, “How are the supplementary teaching materials selling lately?”

Wang Ye listed the figures effortlessly: “Since their nationwide release on April 1st, nearly five months have passed—and results have been equally impressive. As of this past Tuesday, total revenue reached 93.06 million yuan.”

Li Heng was stunned: “That high? Over ninety million?”

Wang Ye stood, picked up a stack of documents from her desk, and handed them to him: “These are the financial statements prepared by Liu the accountant. Take a look, Boss.”

After giving him the files, Wang Ye sat back down and said, “I originally planned to wait until revenue hit one hundred million before surprising you. Didn’t expect you’d come today.”

For the next half hour, Li Heng reviewed various reports, then closed the files and sighed, “Well done. Choosing you to lead Xin Weilai School was one of the wisest decisions of my life.”

For no reason, Wang Ye felt a surge of emotion inside. For someone who didn’t lack money, thousands of words and a hundred million in revenue meant nothing compared to Mr. Li’s single highest praise.

Li Heng asked, “How are Professors He Wen and Zhao Li performing?”

Wang Ye replied, “He Wen’s Tianjin branch leads all branches in revenue and enrollment. Zhao Li’s abilities are outstanding—she deserves primary credit for the six new branches opened. Mr. Li, I’d like to groom them both as successors.”

“Groom as successors” meant choosing a successor.

Li Heng understood her implication and asked, “What about Yingwen?”

Wang Ye glanced instinctively at Song Yu, then said, “If Mr. Li permits, I intend to take her with me someday.”

Li Heng thought for a long while, then waved his hand: “Not yet—let Yingwen graduate first. Between He Wen and Zhao Li, who do you favor more?”

Wang Ye chose her words carefully: “If you personally take over Xin Weilai, either could work. But if there’s another arrangement, I’d recommend Zhao Li—she’s steady and composed, yet still possesses drive. More than that, I admire her character.”

Well, Wang Ye’s words were too obvious—she was essentially telling him: If Xin Weilai is meant for Song Yu, Zhao Li is the better fit.

Li Heng asked, “If Zhao Li takes over someday, what about He Wen?”

Wang Ye said, “Easy—if you’re keeping Yang Yingwen, then He Wen comes with me.”

Li Heng laughed and decided: “Alright. Handle He Wen’s mindset when the time comes.”

Wang Ye agreed readily: “No problem.”

For the next hour and a half, they discussed Xin Weilai’s personnel changes and management until past four in the afternoon, when he finally asked, “Where is Professor Zhao Li now?”

Wang Ye said, “She just returned from a business trip to Wuhan. I gave her two days off—she’s probably home with her kids today.”

Li Heng instructed, “Call her. Ask if she’s free tonight for dinner.”

Hearing this, Wang Ye glanced again at Song Yu, stood, walked to her desk, and picked up the white receiver to dial.

Soon, the call connected. Wang Ye said bluntly: “Professor Zhao Li, Mr. Li is here. He invites you to dinner—do you have time?”

Wang Ye’s style was always this direct—fortunately, Li Heng was used to it.

On the other end, Zhao Li froze, her heart skipped. She hadn’t expected the boss to personally invite her to dinner. She glanced at her half-grown child playing on the sofa, then at her husband simmering porridge in the kitchen—suddenly uneasy, hesitant.

She considered herself decent-looking, but surely not attractive enough to catch the boss’s eye?

She’d seen Song Yu—such a breathtaking beauty. Mr. Li wouldn’t possibly have designs on her.

She couldn’t blame herself for such thoughts—during her year of traveling for work, she’d heard countless stories of bosses exploiting female subordinates, and had even faced direct advances from local bosses, all of which she’d refused.

Once bitten by a snake, afraid of ropes for ten years.

Especially now, with her status and power in Xin Weilai growing daily—could the boss be thinking of controlling Xin Weilai better by targeting her?

Should she go to dinner or not?

She’d resigned from Renmin University, devoted herself entirely to Xin Weilai—she couldn’t afford to lose this job, nor did she want to.

But if the boss did have designs, what should she do?

As she wrestled with these thoughts, Wang Ye’s voice came again: “Professor Zhao Li, are you there?”

Zhao Li snapped back: “Yes. Which restaurant?”

Wang Ye named a high-end restaurant, then added, “Room 302—you’ve been there before. Just come directly. And come quietly—don’t tell anyone.”

Zhao Li was dazed. She wanted to ask more, but the line had already been cut.

Come quietly—how exactly?

Don’t tell anyone? Not even her husband?

Hesitating, Zhao Li finally stood, walked to the kitchen door, and said, “Xin Weilai has an emergency—I need to go. I might be late.”

Her husband, considerate, asked, “When will you be back? I’ll come pick you up.”

Zhao Li said, “Wang’s call came suddenly—I don’t know. If I’m not back by eight, go ahead and put the child to sleep. And don’t lock the door—let me open it myself when I return.”

Her husband had no suspicions and agreed.

Zhao Li went to the bedroom, chose her clothes, and dressed carefully. Looking at her alluring reflection in the mirror, she hesitated, then grabbed a pair of scissors and slipped them into her bag.

Hurrying to the restaurant Wang Ye named, she went upstairs to the second floor, standing before Room 302.

Staring at the door, she grew suddenly tense—her hand reached out several times before finally trembling as she knocked.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

“Knock, knock, knock!”

Then the door opened—it was Wang Ye.

“Manager Wang.” Seeing Wang Ye, Zhao Li exhaled—so it wasn’t just dinner with the boss.

When she entered the room and saw Song Yu and Li Lan there too, Zhao Li couldn’t help but laugh at herself—how ridiculous she’d been. The boss had Song Yu, a beauty of unparalleled grace, always by his side—how could he possibly want her?

Besides, what kind of man was Li Heng?

A literary master, legendary musician, talented, handsome, wealthy, in his prime—the dream prince of countless women. Even if he wanted to play around, he wouldn’t choose a married woman like her.

Thinking this, Zhao Li looked at Li Heng and couldn’t help wondering: If such a man truly asked her for a one-night stand, could she refuse?

Wang Ye gestured for her to sit: “We’ve already ordered. Check the menu—anything you particularly want?”

Facing Li Heng, Zhao Li was slightly stiff, smiling and waving her hand: “No need—I love all these dishes. No need to order more.”

Then Li Heng spoke: “Don’t be polite—order two more. We’ve ordered plenty.”

Hearing this, Zhao Li couldn’t refuse. She picked one dish at random, then quietly observed the others at the table, thinking: Song Yu is the boss’s girlfriend, Li Lan is his second sister, Wang Ye is his loyal subordinate—why did they suddenly summon me?

She thought and thought but couldn’t figure it out. She had no choice but to wait cautiously.

But unfortunately, after three rounds of drinks, the boss still hadn’t said anything unusual—making her even more confused.

Just as she was baffled, Wang Ye said, “Come with me to the restroom.”

Zhao Li didn’t think twice and followed.

At the corner of the hallway, Wang Ye asked, “Are you puzzled why we called you alone, out of all the people in the company?”

Zhao Li met Wang Ye’s gaze briefly, then nodded.

Wang Ye teased, “Did you bring a knife or something in your bag?”

Zhao Li was startled, guilty, but smiled without answering.

Wang Ye seemed to see through her pretense, smiling: “I deliberately phrased it that way—you’ve been agonizing all the way here, haven’t you?”

Zhao Li, having seen some of the world in her time, quickly calmed down: “Why, Manager Wang?”

Wang Ye dodged the question: “Do you know why I left Hong Kong, where things were good, and came to the mainland?”

In this era, objectively speaking, the mainland still lagged far behind Hong Kong. Her decision to come here was incomprehensible to Zhao Li and others—and even Wang Ye’s own family had strongly opposed it.

Zhao Li wasn’t foolish. After thinking a moment, she ventured: “For the boss?”

Wang Ye didn’t answer directly: “He doesn’t lack beautiful companions—each one more stunning than the last.”

Zhao Li was stunned: “Each one? There are… more?”

Wang Ye brushed her hair aside, reminding: “That’s not the point.”

Hearing this, Zhao Li laughed wryly, finally understanding—Manager Wang was clearly drawn to the boss himself, but hadn’t succeeded.

At last, Zhao Li’s tension vanished completely.

Both women were intelligent—many things needed only to be hinted at. Wang Ye didn’t speak randomly—everything she said had purpose.

After all, if someone tells you their deepest secret, it means: You’re someone I trust. We’re on the same side.