After Bankruptcy, the Billionaire Asked Me to Marry Him!
Chapter 384: You Are Not the Little Fairy at All

Chapter 384: Chapter 384: You Are Not the Little Fairy at All

"Ye, Lizi..."

In the hallway, Wan Mingyi’s stuttering voice echoed.

Ye Li got up and walked outside the door, also stunned, "Xie... Xie Chenlu?"

A smoky gray shirt.

Black dress pants.

The long, flowing knotted hair had been trimmed into a neat short style.

There was a pair of silver-rimmed glasses perched on his nose.

Compared to last night, Xie Chenlu looked like a completely different person.

And the vagrant from last night seemed merely an illusion of him, descending to the mortal world, experiencing distress.

In a blink, Xie Chenlu had transformed back into the gentle and elegant artist-designer from years ago.

If five years ago, Xie Chenlu was brimming with talent.

Then now, he exuded a calm demeanor carried by the passage of time.

Even the anxiety and nervousness of yesterday had faded considerably, Xie Chenlu looked at Ye Li apologetically, "I need to reciprocate your kindness, I can’t continue being as muddled as before."

"Ye Li, thank you for giving me this opportunity!"

Nodding towards Ye Li, Xie Chenlu glanced at the glazed door of the studio, "Am... am I late?"

Raising her wrist to check the watch, Ye Li nodded, "You’re indeed late. But, you don’t have a salary either..."

Upon hearing Xie Chenlu had no salary, Wan Mingyi looked at him in surprise.

Only to see Xie Chenlu’s calm demeanor, as if Ye Li’s willingness to have him was already enough.

Ye Li laughed, "Then it’ll be deducted from your bonuses."

???

Xie Chenlu and Wan Mingyi were both stunned.

In the spacious and bright workspace, Ye Li’s smile was radiant, "If not for that accident five years ago, with my small studio, I’d never be able to invite a great talent like you. Offering a salary—too much, I can’t afford it, too little, it wouldn’t do you justice. So, I’ve decided..."

Ye Li slid the drafted agreement in front of Xie Chenlu, "You focus on creating designs, reviving your former glory. I’ll handle all other affairs with President Wan and the studio. In the future, income from your works will be split: seventy-thirty. You take seventy, the studio takes thirty."

"So..."

Ye Li smiled sweetly, "In the future, any late or early leaves will be deducted from your bonus. Is that okay?"

"Sure, sure..."

Nodding repeatedly, then realizing something was amiss, Xie Chenlu shook his head, "Wait, Ye Li, seventy-thirty, I’m okay with it. Did you misspeak? The studio should get seventy."

Back at Dane, it was like that too.

He just didn’t expect Dane to be unreasonable enough to not give him even thirty percent. Eventually, they burned bridges, with brutal contract tactics, tricking him into signing many unfair agreements.

It led to an all-out conflict, to the point of no return.

"No mistake here, you seventy, the studio thirty."

Ye Li laughed, "This contract was drafted with the help of the Fu Family’s legal department, see if you find any issues, otherwise, sign it later."

Later?

No, no later!

He signed it on the spot.

Trusting completely that Ye Li wouldn’t deceive him, Xie Chenlu quickly flipped to the last page, picked up the pen, and signed his name in a swift, flourishing style.

"..."

Ye Li laughed, "That’s why Dane was able to fool you, idol!"

"Because I’m too naive and trusting?"

Xie Chenlu shook his head, "It was wrong then, but I trust Chang Chuan, I trust you, and I trust myself. Ye Li, I believe this time, my luck won’t be so bad!"

Enhancing the beauty when it’s already there is easy, but providing help in dire situations is difficult.

Ye Li’s Studio was undoubtedly a handful of snow delivered by Luo Changchuan and Ye Li to him during the sweltering summer.

The snow was cold enough to calm his burning heart, which had been simmering for five years.

And the summer was hot enough to gradually warm his nearly cold blood.

Even if facing death, he believed that with his hands, and his brain which no one could steal, he could stand dignified before he died.

That’s enough!

After signing a few more times, he handed it to Wan Mingyi for a seal.

Ye Li pointed at the storyboard on the wall and said to Xie Chenlu, "Next month, the Radiant jewelry exhibition in Paris will have our studio participating. I’ve already registered our names, but you’ll join me. There’s a jewelry exhibition in Mo Du in August, and we’ll compete together by then. We only have about two months idol, time is tight!"

Xie Chenlu nodded, then said with a somewhat embarrassed expression, "Call me whatever, but please, don’t call me idol..."

"Then, Shieh?"

Ye Li corrected herself.

Xie Chenlu was startled.

He had an English name, Lu.

But that was in the past; all his designs carried the signature "Lu."

Xie Chenlu thought Ye Li would call him Lu; unexpectedly, she used his surname instead, not even mentioning Lu.

Only now did he fully understand why Luo Changchuan mentioned Ye Li and Ye Li’s Studio to him time and time again. Looking at Ye Li, he felt deeply moved, "Alright."

After discussing the upcoming competition itinerary for the studio.

And focusing on their individual tasks.

Ye Li looked at Xie Chenlu with a sly gleam in her eyes, "Idol, did you forget something?"

"What?"

Pausing for a moment, he recalled one of the three conditions Ye Li mentioned—bringing five apprentices.

Xie Chenlu shook his head, smiling, "I’ve already spoken to them; the soonest will be tomorrow, or by next Monday. Rest assured, I’ve promised, I’ll never deceive you."

Ye Li smiled, "Then I’m relieved."

Looking at that seventy-thirty contract underneath.

And then at Ye Li, laughing as if she’d gained some great advantage.

Wan Mingyi simply couldn’t understand.

Seeing Xie Chenlu enter his private workroom, Wan Mingyi nudged Ye Li.

Ye Li laughed, "The apprentices nurtured by the idol are absolutely superb. Just wait and see!"

Wan Mingyi raised an eyebrow.

Ye Li was six years younger than her.

But often, Wan Mingyi felt that Ye Li’s judgment of people was far more accurate than hers.

"Lizi, I can tell you’re not a little fairy at all. You’re a demon in disguise. Tell me, what kind of spirit were you in your past life?"

"Me, I might have been... a Pear Blossom Spirit?"

"Heavens, it’s so unfair. Weren’t they supposed to ban demons after the founding of the country? Why did you still manage to take form?"

"Perhaps I’m a fish that slipped through the net in God’s palm?"

"..."

When Ye Li returned to Imperial University, she just made it in time for the second class of the day.

Wan Mingyi was immersed in a new day’s work.

Only occasionally, when back pain flared, would she think back to last night’s indulgence, nearly crazed, and feel her cheeks heat uncontrollably.

A ding from her phone caught her eye, and she saw Luo Changchuan’s name on the screen.

Taking a look at her phone, Wan Mingyi’s face grew even hotter.

[Home door code, 202020.]

[There’s a social obligation tonight; you go home first.]

[President Wan, don’t run around; wait for me in bed!]

Proclaiming she should be reserved.

Yet couldn’t help but quickly reply: [Okay]

With a snap, Wan Mingyi placed her phone back on the desk. Her heart was like a drum, pounding incessantly.

Trying to calm down, Wan Mingyi focused all her attention on the design drafts in front of her.

The glass door was knocked, and Wan Mingyi looked up, seeing Xie Chenlu with an expression of admiration, "President Wan, it’s already dark; aren’t you going home?"

Turning around, she only then realized it was indeed dark.

With a smile, Wan Mingyi stood up, "Got so busy, I forgot; I’m heading out now."

Efficiently packing up, Wan Mingyi and Xie Chenlu took the elevator together.

They parted ways as they exited.

Having gone through the whole day, Wan Mingyi already worked out her thoughts: they’re all adults, no point in being pretentious.

Luo Changchuan clearly expressed his affection for her.

She likes him too.

Given this, there’s no need for coyness.

Deciding to pack a few changes of clothes from her apartment and spend a few sweet, intimate days with Luo Changchuan, even her steps seemed filled with joy.

Ding.

As she stepped out of the elevator, the corridor was quiet.

Wan Mingyi’s heart inexplicably started racing.

As she opened the door, a familiar scent wafted in, threading through. Her tired brain cells rapidly connected the dots in that moment.

Wan Mingyi turned to run.

"Hel..."

A shadow behind her lunged forward, grabbing her, covering her mouth, and dragging her inside the house.