Chapter 149: A Beast in Human Skin?

A few minutes later, Miaomiao’s complexion returned to a rosy glow, a complete and utter transformation from her previous critical, near-death state!

"Miaomiao, how are you feeling?" Zhang Yanhong asked, crying tears of joy.

Hugging her mother tightly, Miaomiao nodded and said, "Mom, I feel much better."

"I was so cold and hungry before, but now my body feels all warm and cozy. It's been a long time since I felt this comfortable."

"Miaomiao, you aren't fully recovered yet, so you need to rest quietly."

At that moment, Ye Wushang spoke up and instructed, "Later on, I'll write you another prescription. Take the medicine on time, and in half a year, you will be completely healed."

Hearing this, Wang Gang was overjoyed. He scooped Miaomiao up in his arms and dropped to his knees, saying, "Miaomiao, quickly."

"Hurry and bow to Mr. Ye! It was he who saved your life!"

Although young, Miaomiao was sensible. She followed her father's lead in kneeling and said gratefully, "Thank you, Uncle Ye, for saving me..."

"Get up quickly."

Ye Wushang hurried to help the father and daughter to their feet, waving his hand as he said, "I told you, I am a doctor. Treating illnesses and saving lives is my duty."

"Even if I had no personal stake in this, running into such a situation means I could not simply stand by and watch."

"Miaomiao has just recovered and her body is still very weak. She shouldn't move around too much."

"Besides, she needs complete rest. I suggest we take our conversation outside."

Shortly after, guided by Wang Gang, Ye Wushang and Master Tu entered the living room, chuckling softly as they coaxed the two newly awakened babies.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yanhong, having settled her daughter in bed, walked out with a sense of apprehension.

Facing Ye Wushang, she felt a mixture of guilt and self-reproach.

Regardless of any past grievances between them, the fact remained that he had stepped forward to save her daughter's life, making him her family's benefactor!

Thinking back on her own previous behavior, she had no idea how to face him.

"Mr. Ye, I am so sorry."

Lowering her head and blushing deeply, Zhang Yanhong said, "You saved my daughter, yet I spoke so rudely to you."

"I, I really am..."

"Director Zhang need not reproach herself."

"Given my reputation in the Lan family over the past few years, not just you—anyone else would have thought the same."

Ye Wushang waved his hand, motioning for her to sit down, and asked, "However, I am curious."

"You are an expert in the pharmaceutical field, Director Zhang. You must have saved up quite a bit of savings over the years."

"And Wang Gang fights in matches everywhere; his martial arts are actually quite good, and he can earn a tidy sum per bout."

"Logically speaking, you shouldn't be short on money. How did things end up in such a state?"

The couple exchanged glances, sighed, and replied helplessly, "To tell you the truth, Mr. Ye,"

"Although our joint income of a million a year is not bad, every single cent has gone toward paying off debts."

"Years ago, we were terribly cheated by a scoundrel. To this day, we still owe ten million in external debts."

"And he even sabotaged us, causing the deaths of two close friends of ours. These two babies are their children."

At this point, Wang Gang’s emotions suddenly flared up. He looked at Ye Wushang and earnestly pleaded, "Mr. Ye, please extend a helping hand!"

"Help us exact revenge and secure justice!"

Ye Wushang glanced sideways, deep in thought, and said, "So you're saying your enemy is the very person who forced you into debt and drove your two friends to ruin?"

"That's right," Wang Gang nodded. "This man's name is Lü Zhengfeng. He used to be in business with us. Later, he claimed to have discovered a lucrative project and persuaded us to invest. But in the end, he secretly transferred all the funds and shifted the entire debt onto our shoulders. Yanhong and I had the earning capacity to barely keep our heads above water."

"However, our other two friends were completely destitute. They tried every possible means to track him down, but he flatly denied everything. Eventually, he framed them, violated one of their wives, and had them thrown into the precinct. In the end, unable to bear the humiliation, they committed suicide..."

"Bang!"

Master Tu slammed the table and stood up, burning with rage as he shouted, "That bastard! He defrauded them of their money and ruined their lives!"

"He's no human! He's a beast!"

"Mr. Ye, I can't even bear to listen to this anymore! Please step in and help them!"

Wang Gang chimed in, "Yes, Mr. Ye! I want revenge not just for myself, but for my two friends as well!"

"If you won't agree..."

***

"Whether I agree or not depends entirely on your wife's wishes."

Ye Wushang waved his hand, looked at Zhang Yanhong, and said, "Director Zhang, you know very well that without the core data, I cannot develop the new medicine."

"I am not relying on your help; I can handle the rest myself. But the core data—you must give it to me."

"I have no desire to get involved with your enemy's business, but I..."

"I can't do it."

Before he could finish, Zhang Yanhong interrupted him, her face flushed with frustration, words failing her at the tip of her tongue.

Wang Gang grew anxious. Seeing that Ye Wushang was about to relent, he was utterly baffled as to why she was still holding her tongue.

"Yanhong, what unspeakable difficulty do you have? Just spit it out."

"You've seen Mr. Ye's capabilities. He can help us get our revenge and deal with Lü Zhengfeng!"

"We have to seize such a golden opportunity..."

"It's Xue Kainian!"

Bursting into tears and sobbing uncontrollably, Zhang Yanhong cried out, "Mr. Ye wants the core data to research the new medicine."

"And the source of the medicinal materials for that new medicine belongs to Xue Kainian. Tell me, how can I possibly give it to him?"

"What?"

Hearing this, Wang Gang felt as if he had been struck by a bolt from the blue. His body trembled, and he collapsed onto the floor.

Master Tu looked on skeptically, asking, "What's going on here? What on earth did this Xue Kainian do to you two to make you hold such a grudge?"

"I'd like to know the answer to that as well," Ye Wushang inquired. "Director Zhang, what exactly is your relationship with Xue Kainian?"

"He raped me!"

Zhang Yanhong shrieked in furious rage, "Years ago, when I went to interview at their company, he arranged a banquet."

"He got me drunk during the event and then violated me!"

"Furthermore, he claimed my research results as his own. Medicine King Pharmaceuticals owes its entire existence today to my hard work!"

"Otherwise, I could have sold my research findings for a fortune. By now, our debts would probably have been paid off long ago, and my husband and I wouldn't be living in such misery!"

"You could say my hatred for Xue Kainian is no less than my hatred for Lü Zhengfeng. Tell me, how can I possibly give you the core data?"

Boom!

Hearing these words, Ye Wushang felt as though he had been hit over the head with a club, finding it hard to believe!

Yet, looking at Zhang Yanhong's resolute and absolute expression, she was certainly not joking!

Still, based on his own understanding of Xue Kainian, the man wouldn't sink low enough to commit such a beastly act, would he?

Could it really be that one never truly knows a person's heart beneath their smiling face?

"How could it be him?"

Wang Gang looked utterly dejected, casting a helpless and heartbroken glance toward Ye Wushang, completely at a loss for what to do.

"Then let's just go crush that Xue Kainian!"

Not knowing the inside story and always intolerant of evil, Master Tu holered, "The scoundrel! He raped someone and then stole her life's work!"

"Using that as a foundation to build his empire into what it is today."

"Hmph, so what if he's worth a fortune? If his character is rotten, he deserves to die!"

With that, he turned to Ye Wushang and said earnestly, "Mr. Ye, we have to understand Director Zhang's feelings."

"I think if we want to get the core data, we first need to sever his connection with Xue Kainian."

"And we have to drag that Xue Kainian over here..."

"I have it under control."

Ye Wushang shook his head, took a deep breath, and said, "Director Zhang, my relationship with Xue Kainian is not bad."

"I will give you an explanation regarding this matter."

"I won't force you to hand over the core data right now. Give me a day; tomorrow I will go see Xue Kainian myself."

"I'll arrange for you to come over then so we can clear this up face-to-face."

***

Zhang Yanhong was grateful to him for saving her daughter.

To be honest, given her temperament, she never wanted to see Xue Kainian again for the rest of her life!

However, since he was her daughter's savior, she had no choice but to nod in agreement. "Alright, I'll give you face."

"Tomorrow I will wait for your news and meet with Xue Kainian."

"As for the Pei family, I understand."

"Until this matter is resolved, I won't go to work."

Once everything was agreed upon, Ye Wushang wrote out the prescription and handed it to Wang Gang.

Noticing the man's hesitant expression, Ye Wushang smiled and said, "Wang Gang, you don't need to worry."

"Even without this business with Xue Kainian, I would definitely help you get your revenge!"

"Go find this Lü Zhengfeng fellow and set a date with him. I will step into the ring for you and settle the score!"

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Wang Gang nodded respectfully and said, "Thank you, Mr. Ye. Your great kindness is something I, Wang Gang, can never fully repay."

"Yanhong, come."

"Let's both bow to our benefactor."

Zhang Yanhong nodded, and the couple bowed deeply to Ye Wushang.

After exchanging a few brief pleasantries, the two left the courtyard.

"Master Tu, you should head back and rest."

"Focus entirely on preparing for the culinary ingredient competition. As for the rest, I will handle it."

Hearing this, Master Tu nodded and reminded him, "I'm heading back then, Mr. Ye."

"However, since the matter of the core data is still unresolved, and you've agreed to fight in the ring for Wang Gang's revenge—"

"Not to mention the precarious state of the An and Lan family businesses—please take good care of yourself."

Ye Wushang smiled faintly and said, "Rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

With that, Master Tu departed.

Ye Wushang hailed a cab and headed over to the small noodle restaurant.

At that moment, it was precisely ten o'clock in the evening.

It was peak business hours for the noodle shop.

His younger sister's culinary skills combined with Zhang Long and Taohong's hospitality made for a seamless team.

Almost every seat was filled, and the restaurant enjoyed a stellar reputation, with customers vying for the chance to ask his sister for cooking tips.

Seeing this scene, Ye Wushang was quite satisfied. If things continued this way, the noodle shop's name would spread far and wide very soon.

Once the culinary ingredient competition concluded, according to his established plan, he would turn his sister's noodle broth into seasoning packets and distribute them across the globe!

Even a small seasoning packet could achieve great things!

"Bang."

Just as Ye Wushang intended to step in and help, a sharp sound rang out as a customer, thoroughly drunk, collapsed onto the floor.

Ye Wushang hurried over to support him, but upon seeing the person's face, he froze in shock. "Lanlan?"

"Why is it you?"