The Beautiful Boss's Personal Bodyguard
Chapter 278

Chapter 278: 278

I must admit, the art of obfuscation does indeed become far more potent in the hands of Chen Pingrui. Ye Tian reflected that if he had enough money and a heart set on showing off, he would definitely come here to join the bustle. What he sought was not the wealth that could provide for a lifetime, but the prestige associated with Yalan; it was this face-value he craved.

"Mr. Ye, would you like to take a look at other places?"

Nangong Cheng, a rare double-surnamed individual, had been with Yalan since the days of Chen Pingrui and was considered a veteran here. He stayed on during the time of Sun Jiande, always serving as the project manager. Ye Tian remembered Zheng Xinru mentioning him, describing him as, "scheming at heart, with a face as expressionless as an old pig."

He was a fair and plump man, with an innocent face and a bit of a lisp, speaking haltingly, which made him seem even more harmless.

Ye Tian turned to look at him and said with a smile, "Since the moment I walked in, you’ve been of great help, Mr. Nangong."

"Hehe, Mr. Ye, you’re too kind. It’s nothing more than my duty."

Ye Tian nodded, then turned back to gaze out the window at the scenery, the blooming red flowers and green willows by the banks of Qingshui River, and said, "Mr. Nangong, you’ve been here for quite some time, haven’t you?"

"Indeed. All things considered, I’ve been with Yalan for about ten years now. May I know why you ask, Mr. Ye?"

"Yalan was Mr. Chen’s life’s work. Naturally, its creator would not want to see it decline. What I can do now is ensure its preservation and help it flourish. You’ve also worked under Sun Jiande’s people. If I say they’re just a fart, would you be offended?"

Nangong Cheng remained silent, his expression towards Ye Tian changing.

Discussing such matters at a first meeting is admittedly a bit rude. However, Yalan is now mine, and I will not allow anyone to harm it. I’m like a dog when it comes to food; I’m fiercely protective. Anyone who tries to snatch my food will get bitten, fatally so!

Running a private fund is always tougher than managing a public fund. The biggest difference is that one fights alone, while the other has strong backing. Even if mistakes happen, there’s a substantial cushion waiting for you, and your extensive financial reserves will forgive the errors you make. They also afford you second chances; but in private fund management, one mistake could spell irredeemable doom.

Tang Su couldn’t offer much advice. All she could do was drape a coat over Ye Tian’s shoulders or brew him a cup of coffee for a boost when he was tired from reading. Beyond that, she could only sit quietly by his side.

"If you’re tired, you can sleep first. These documents are quite important; I’ll need them tomorrow." Ye Tian looked up at Tang Su, who was sitting nearby.

"Is it still about the private fund?"

"Yes."

Tang Su held her chin in one hand, pondered, and said, "Why not ask Zuo Zhengyang for advice? He’s been here for decades. He certainly has a thorough grasp of the economic and political situation here. You might learn something useful from him."

"I’ve thought of that, but should I keep it confidential from him? After all..."

"Ye Tian, remember, here, he’s the boss. No one can outdo him. Since he’s given you the reputation of a godson, he’ll naturally lend you a hand, and how much he helps is certainly up to him. You’re still not firmly established; it’s only right to seek his counsel. Silence is the last thing you should maintain. If I were him, whether I genuinely wanted to help you or it was just an unwilling choice due to circumstances, the last thing I would want to see is this person not even telling me what they wanted to do."

Ye Tian nodded, realizing that this was indeed the case.

Tang Su stood up and poured him a cup of tea. She didn’t want Ye Tian to drink too much coffee. After all, caffeine isn’t very good for the body in excess; it can cause harm.

"What do you think of Shen Xuepei?"

"Her? She’s alright. That jade Buddha pendant I gave you last time was from her."

Tang Su nodded, "That’s the one. I also recognize some knowledge about jade, and the material of that piece is indeed pure and high-value old pit jadeite. Being passed into your hands shows that Mrs. Shen has quite a good impression of you. I should tell you some news. It might be an opportunity for you."

Ye Tian furrowed his brows, "What news?"

"Did you see any children at Zuo Zhengyang’s house?"

"Children?" Ye Tian gave it some thought, then shook his head.

"Everyone knows that outside, Zuo Zhengyang has the final say. But at home, it’s definitely Shen Xuepei who’s in charge. This low-profile woman is one of the few people Zuo Zhengyang respects the most. People say he fears his wife, under her thumb, but it’s actually because of their child. Many people know the Zuo family once had a son, named Zuo Cheng. But he committed suicide at the age of twenty, and nobody knows why. Dying of illness, cardiac arrest, AIDS, suicide by lying on the tracks – speculations abound, yet few truly know."

"The child’s death is related to Zuo Zhengyang," Ye Tian seemed to understand.

"Smart," Tang Su praised Ye Tian for the first time, "Zuo Zhengyang has struggled his whole life on his career path. It’s been a tough journey, but he’s reached his current position. With his considerable power, he could elevate anyone to significant status if he wished. Everyone has their selfish desires, especially those wielding immense power. Zuo Zhengyang naturally intended to place all his accumulated resources and influence onto his son. But to everyone’s surprise, Zuo Cheng started secretly drawing manga since high school and, after three years of high school, he got admitted to the Film Art College."

At Beiping Film Art College, whether they had artists or not, Zuo Cheng didn’t know. He only knew he had made the choice he felt was right. However, this touched a nerve with Zuo Zhengyang, who had always demanded Zuo Cheng to attend Renmin University to become the next generation’s political successor within this cradle of politics. But Zuo Cheng didn’t, not only that, but he also went against Zuo Zhengyang’s wishes without telling him.

In a fit of rage, Zuo Zhengyang effectively disowned him and got him sent to the United States for study abroad. Shen Xuepei tried to persuade Zuo Zhengyang, but he was adamant, not relenting until he saw Zuo Cheng boarding the plane.

The outcome was similar to the cliché points of criticism found in all TV dramas. Just two months after Zuo Cheng arrived in the United States, he was involved in a car accident. After fighting for his life for three days and nights, he eventually passed away, unable to be saved.