Chapter 37: The Atmosphere Is Slightly Subtle

The scene momentarily froze, and the atmosphere was a bit subtle.

A hint of surprise flashed in Ye Zhentian's eyes; after decades of ups and downs in the business world, this little scene could not trouble him.

The wrinkles on his face instantly relaxed, a warm smile blossomed, and he spoke with enthusiasm:

"Mr. Jiang, you're a rare guest—please, have a seat."

He stepped aside, raised his hand to signal, his posture lowered to the extreme.

Jiangnan merely gave him a light glance, his tone flat, revealing no emotion:

"Old Master Ye, no need for courtesy; I am merely here by invitation."

His gaze swept over the crowd and landed on the entrance of the banquet hall.

The crisp clack of high heels struck the floor, drawing nearer like dancing notes, striking the heartstrings of everyone present.

Murong Wan jogged along, her delicate makeup barely concealing her anxiety, but the moment she saw Jiangnan, all restlessness vanished, replaced by a bright smile like winter sunshine.

Mr. Jiang indeed arrived! Moreover… he seemed to be staring at me!

Murong Wan's little heart fluttered anxiously, yet she felt great delight inside.

So Mr. Jiang had been waiting for me all along—was this his way of caring for me?

Being cared for, being watched, this feeling made Murong Wan feel immensely happy, as if the whole world brightened because of it.

She quickened her pace, her skirt fluttering, stirring a fragrant breeze. Reaching Jiangnan's side, she unabashedly slipped her arm around his, a tender gesture tinged with youthful coquettishness.

Then she turned to Ye Zhentian, her smile blooming like a flower, her voice crisp as a oriole:

"Grandpa Ye, hello, I am Murong Wan, long time no see."

"The Murong Family's little girl?"

A trace of surprise flickered in Ye Zhentian's eyes as he examined Murong Wan closely.

Years apart, that once naïve little girl has now grown graceful and poised, every gesture exuding the elegance of a noble lady.

He could not help but exclaim:

"Truly, a girl at eighteen can change so much—she's become a proper young lady! I never expected you and Mr. Jiang to know each other."

A sharp glint flashed in Ye Zhentian's eyes, his mind silently speculating.

That Murong matriarch's clever tactics—she even secured this connection in advance!

Seems I'm still a step behind. This old fellow's insight remains as sharp as ever!

Ye Zhentian sighed silently in his heart, completely unaware that Ye Wan stood nearby, quietly watching the intimate pair.

For some unknown reason, an inexplicable irritation rose in her heart.

She didn't even know what was wrong with herself; the scene before her felt blindingly harsh.

Murong Wan's affectionate arm‑around of Jiangnan only made her heart swell with sour bitterness.

Ye Wan subconsciously clenched her garment's edge, her fingertips paling slightly.

That spot… seemed like it could belong to her too. Yet she acted on impulse and missed it…

Thinking of it, a deep regret flashed in her eyes,

Murong Wan seemed oblivious to Ye Wan's oddity; she smiled brightly at Ye Zhentian, her tone light yet unmistakably serious:

"Grandpa Ye, this time I came with Mr. Jiang mainly to discuss the Xingchen Square commercial project with you. Our Murong Family is very interested in this venture and hopes to cooperate with the Ye Group."

Her voice was soft, yet it reached clearly to everyone present.

Upon hearing this, a glint sparked in Ye Zhentian's eyes; his face remained impassive, he merely gave a light "oh."

His gaze, however, flickered faintly toward Jiangnan, as if wanting to speak but holding back.

Jiangnan, ever so perceptive, instantly sensed the change in Ye Zhentian's expression.

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes landing on Ye Zhentian's face, his tone still calm yet bearing an undeniable authority:

"Old Master Ye, if you have something to say, speak plainly; beating around the bush isn't like your style."

When he spoke, the once noisy banquet hall fell silent instantly.

Everyone's gaze fixed on Ye Zhentian, eager to hear why the illustrious Ye Group's project could not proceed.

Ye Zhentian sighed, his smile vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.

His brows knit, his face showed difficulty, and his tone grew low:

"Mr. Jiang, to be frank, the Xingchen Square plot… has some issues."

His words were like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring countless waves.

The attendees exchanged glances, whispers rising and falling.

"So there's inside information; I knew the Xingchen Square project wasn't that simple!"

"Indeed, with the Ye family's influence, it wouldn't have stalled unless a major problem arose."

"What exactly is wrong with this land, you all say?"

"……"

Listening to the murmurs, Murong Wan's heart suddenly sank, a foreboding feeling surged, her almond eyes widened as she urgently asked:

"Grandpa Ye, what exactly is wrong with this land?"

Her tone was extremely urgent, clearly this mattered greatly to her.

Ye Zhentian paused, then slowly uttered a few words,

"This land… it isn't clean!"

With those words, the temperature in the banquet hall seemed to drop suddenly,

All present were prominent figures; how could they not catch the underlying implication?

What "not clean" surely doesn't refer to the land itself, but to something else!

Murong Wan's delicate frame trembled, her complexion turning pale instantly; she stared at Ye Zhentian in disbelief, her beautiful eyes filled with shock and astonishment.

This piece of land isn't clean??

How could this happen!

This Xingchen Plaza Project, however, is something she poured countless effort into, and it was a hard‑won opportunity she secured from the family.

For this project, she gave far too much, even staking her status and future within the family.

If the project cannot proceed, she could very well have her abilities questioned and be pushed out of the family's core circle.

Murong Wan drew a deep breath, forced herself to stay calm, spoke again, her voice still carrying a slight tremor:

"Grandpa Ye, could you explain specifically? What exactly is going on?"

She fixed her gaze tightly on Ye Zhentian, hoping to obtain a reasonable explanation from him.

Ye Zhentian gave her a complicated look, then glanced at Jiangnan, who had remained silent beside him, and finally spoke slowly, his voice low and weighty:

"That piece of land was originally a chaotic burial ground on the outskirts of the city. Although the graves were later moved and leveled, the lingering Yin energy remains heavy, keeping the place unsettled; many strange incidents have occurred over the years..."

He paused, seeming to hesitate whether to continue.

Murong Wan felt a sudden tightening in her chest, a cold shiver racing from her feet to the top of her head; instinctively she leaned toward Jiangnan, as if only that could give her a hint of safety.

She finally understood why the Xingchen Square project had been unable to move forward for so long.

But… because of this, does the Xingchen Square project simply not go ahead?

Murong Wan refuses to give up, and absolutely cannot give up!