Ye Tiancheng had dreamt of this person before, a girl from Wang Xiaomiao's village named Wang Xiaoniu.
This Wang Xiaoniu was quite pretty, with large eyes, a high nose bridge, and fair skin. The only flaw was that she was a bit plump. Unfortunately, it wasn't the Tang Dynasty, where plumpness was considered beautiful. However, her fuller figure was still quite charming, and she had just come of age. After Wang Xiaomiao got married, Wang Xiaoniu became the most sought-after village beauty, with many men vying for her attention.
"Brother Ye, why don't we go with Wang Xiaoniu? I've sent you her photo. Take a look and see if you think she's suitable."
"Doesn't their village have someone called Black Panther? It seems that man is pursuing her. Why don't you introduce me to someone with fewer complications? I have a feeling this one might cause trouble."
Xiao Pang discussed it further with Wang Xiaomiao before replying to Ye Tiancheng.
Wang Xiaoniu was clearly the most suitable candidate at the moment. If they found someone too ugly, it would be obvious they were just making up the numbers, and no one would believe it.
Ye Tiancheng was a man of his status, now an entrepreneur with considerable wealth and significant online visibility. He could even find a female celebrity. Finding a village beauty was already shocking enough. If he then chose someone plain and unremarkable, it would clearly be a deliberate move to use her as a shield, and no one would believe it.
Xiao Pang really couldn't find anyone else, and Ye Tiancheng was also tired of the hassle and didn't want to search himself. He could only settle on Wang Xiaoniu.
When Wang Xiaoniu heard that she could be Ye Tiancheng's girlfriend, even if it was fake, it was enough to excite her. It was the kind of thing she could brag about.
"Brother Ye, I've always admired you. Do you know you're my idol? That's why you're giving me this opportunity. I feel like I'm dreaming; I still can't believe it."
Wang Xiaoniu spent several hours getting ready for this meeting with Ye Tiancheng, from head to toe, inside and out, changing her hairstyle and outfit. A woman's appearance is for the one she admires, all for the sake of making a stunning impression on Ye Tiancheng.
Wang Xiaoniu was indeed quite sexy and beautiful. Anyway, for a girlfriend, her appearance was more than adequate.
"I'm just using you as a shield. I hope you don't have too many illusions, and I don't want to harm you."
"I know. You're currently being pursued by the Hou family and the Su family, both wanting you to be their son-in-law. That's why you want someone as a shield. It's fine; I can be your shield. I'm doing this willingly."
It seemed this girl was likely trouble-free and understood the situation clearly. Smart people were easier to communicate with. It was likely that she wouldn't pester Ye Tiancheng after they parted ways, which Ye Tiancheng found very satisfactory. Women who weren't troublesome were good women.
"It's good that you understand. However, I won't let you help me with this act for free. I'll give you a certain amount of money as compensation. When I no longer need you, I'll let you know, and we can part ways amicably."
He said this upfront. For Wang Xiaoniu, it was a bit sad, but she was already very satisfied to have had this experience.
"Okay, I wouldn't dare pester you. With just a word from you, I could be ruined. I don't have that kind of courage."
Wang Xiaoniu made a joke, which eased the atmosphere between them. After all, they had just met, and there wasn't much to say. Not only was there not much to say, but the atmosphere was quite awkward. Now, it was much better.
Ye Tiancheng remembered that the man called Black Panther might cause trouble. He wouldn't waste his time on such matters, so he quickly sent a subordinate to bribe him, giving the man money and introducing him to several beautiful women.
Black Panther was still very angry that Wang Xiaoniu had a boyfriend. However, knowing he was no match for Ye Tiancheng and desperately needing money to pay off his online loans, he finally accepted the money and chose not to harass Wang Xiaoniu.
Wang Xiaoniu, his girlfriend, was meant to be shown off. Ye Tiancheng took her everywhere, especially in public places, making everyone believe that Ye Tiancheng was completely smitten by Wang Xiaoniu.
Hou Mingzhu soon heard the news and was inconsolable. After getting thoroughly drunk, she went abroad to travel and clear her head.
Ye Tiancheng continued his act, fearing that Hou Mingzhu might not believe him. He even specifically brought Wang Xiaoniu to a cocktail party. Such events attracted more people, and Ye Tiancheng wanted everyone to know he had a girlfriend, signaling to others to stay away.
At this cocktail party, Ye Tiancheng not only brought Wang Xiaoniu but also Lin Xue.
Lin Xue had been quietly helping Ye Tiancheng with his business and rarely made public appearances. Today, Lin Xue wore a pure white long dress, looking like a fairy. Her appearance immediately captured everyone's attention.
Lin Xue possessed a cool, chivalrous aura. It was precisely this unique temperament that made people unable to resist her charm.
"Good disciple, those scoundrels can't take their eyes off you, as if they want to pluck them out. It's disgusting to watch."
"I shouldn't have come out. I was just bored and wanted some fresh air. I didn't expect to cause trouble for you, Master. It's all my fault."
"It's not your fault. It's just that these scoundrels are too brazen. They clearly know you're my disciple, yet they dare to covet your beauty."
Ye Tiancheng glanced at the cute girl beside him. Wang Xiaoniu was dressed very sexily and boldly in a pink low-cut long dress, which accentuated her curvaceous figure to its fullest.
"So, you're looking at Lin Xue? Help me deal with them, and I'll give you money afterward."
Ye Tiancheng had given Wang Xiaoniu a lot of money recently, and they had reached a tacit understanding. There was no need for further explanation. Wang Xiaoniu, holding a glass of champagne, took the initiative to deal with those men.
Before, it wasn't apparent in the village. After Ye Tiancheng gave Wang Xiaoniu an opportunity and intended to promote her, this girl transformed into a social butterfly, mingling effortlessly among a group of men.
Even if she wasn't his girlfriend in the future, she would be qualified as an assistant or secretary. This girl was very intelligent. Whatever Ye Tiancheng said, she could grasp it quickly. Moreover, her emotional intelligence was high, and she didn't cause trouble for others, which was what Ye Tiancheng liked most about her.
With two beautiful women, one in white and one in red, Ye Tiancheng attracted countless envious glances at the cocktail party. Although Ye Tiancheng wanted to be low-key, capable people could never truly be low-key. Ultimately, he stole the spotlight at this event.
Many people approached Ye Tiancheng to strike up a conversation. Ye Tiancheng, being a farmer himself, didn't want any association with these high-society individuals. Their words were too superficial for him to digest. Ye Tiancheng only wanted to do his own work down-to-earth.
However, he did meet several influential people.
He heard that Ye Tiancheng's bakery and dessert shops were about to open twenty new branches. Everyone urged Ye Tiancheng to hold an opening ceremony so they could all gather and celebrate.
Currently, all matters related to the dessert shops were handled by Li Le, so Ye Tiancheng was not involved. He delegated this matter to Li Le. Li Le felt that it was necessary to build some brand awareness, and this was another form of advertising. Therefore, he decided to hold the opening ceremony.
At the opening ceremony, Lin Xue appeared somewhat unusual. To be precise, this woman had been acting strangely for the past few days. Before, she had been quietly behind Ye Tiancheng, but recently, she seemed eager to step forward.
When a person suddenly changes their ways, there must be a reason, although exceptions exist, but they are rare.
Ye Tiancheng didn't think too much of it. After all, everyone had their own aspirations, and everyone had selfish desires. Although Lin Xue appeared ethereal and detached from worldly affairs, Ye Tiancheng was unsure of her true intentions. Now, Lin Xue expressed her desire to become the vice-general manager of the cake shop, and Ye Tiancheng readily agreed.
"You're currently managing the pharmaceutical factory, and you want to manage the dessert shop too. I'm afraid you'll be overwhelmed. You need to take care of your health and don't push yourself too hard. Feel free to communicate with me about anything."
"Master, I cherish the opportunity to learn from you. I don't feel tired; rather, I have a lot of free time. The pharmaceutical factory is running very smoothly, and I don't need to do much. When I have nothing to do, I get anxious, which is why I want to become the vice-general manager."
As his disciple, it was good that Lin Xue had ambition. Ye Tiancheng thought that he couldn't handle everything himself; it would be too tiring. He would delegate tasks to Lin Xue whenever possible, thus easing his own burden and allowing Lin Xue to grow. This was a win-win situation.
"Alright, Xiaoxue. Although you've changed a lot recently and your ambition has suddenly surged, which I find a little puzzling, it's a good thing. Don't worry, Master will create an excellent platform for you to showcase your talents and will also handle any follow-up work. I guarantee you won't encounter any problems, so go ahead with confidence."
Ye Tiancheng trusted Lin Xue implicitly. Although taking her as a disciple was an accident at the time, Ye Tiancheng had decided that he would never take any other disciples in his life. He was determined to cultivate this one well, and once she gained recognition, it would be enough.
However, what Ye Tiancheng never expected was that at the opening ceremony, Ye Tiancheng drank a few too many glasses of wine and went back to his shack to sleep. When he woke up, he discovered that something very important was missing: his spatial ring.
Ye Tiancheng always wore the spatial ring with him. Unless it was someone very close and with a specific motive, it was impossible for others to notice it.
Ye Tiancheng suddenly thought of someone: Lin Xue. He remembered that he had snatched this spatial ring from Lin Xue's senior brother, so no one was more suspicious than her.
This spatial ring was very important; it could even open another dimension. This dimension could hold many things. Ye Tiancheng had always cherished this treasure, so he was determined to retrieve his lost spatial ring.
When Ye Tiancheng asked Lin Xue, he found that she had disappeared. His previous suspicion was confirmed. It seemed the thief was indeed Lin Xue. It was truly impossible to guard against; the biggest thief was right beside him.
Hou Mingzhu needed to track Lin Xue's location, but the person had vanished, likely into some remote wilderness. Finding her wouldn't be easy.
Ye Tiancheng had no choice but to seek help from Nuwa Stone and the Mountain God, who was the Great Green Snake. These two were usually arguing in the learning space. Ye Tiancheng, tired of their bickering, had deliberately avoided them. It was only today, when he needed their help, that they appeared.