Chapter 45 Kept as a Mistress

Noticing that Zhao Xinze was in low spirits, I did not continue pursuing the topic.

Zhao Xinze stayed behind at Xushuo to supervise the subsequent progress, while I took a taxi to a shopping mall in downtown Danxi.

One cannot visit empty-handed, but since I had no idea what Ye Wanyin's preferences were, I could only start with An'an.

After wandering around the toy store for a while, I realized I had no clue what a little girl might like either...

Seeing me hesitating and browsing, a sales assistant walked over with a professional smile on her face.

"Sir, are you picking out toys for a child? These models are very popular in sales. You might want to take a look."

After much deliberation, I finally selected a remote-controlled airplane and a set of miniature toys, making preparations for both possibilities.

These two items alone cost me two thousand yuan. Initially, I felt a pang of regret, but thinking that it cost about the same as Zhao Xinze's box of cigarettes, the pain subsided.

I could just swipe a few more of his cigarettes later to break even.

When the agreed time arrived, I stood outside Ye Wanyin's front door, a residence featuring a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles. I pressed the doorbell, and before long, a woman resembling a housekeeper opened the door and politely welcomed me inside.

"You must be Mr. Jiang. President Ye has already given instructions. Please come in."

Stepping inside felt like entering a classical garden, complete with rockeries, ponds, small bridges, bamboo pavilions, and even birds of unknown species flying back and forth.

Walking across a wooden bridge toward the main house, lotus flowers—some blooming, some yet to open—floated on the pond, accompanied by countless koi fish leisurely darting back and forth among them.

Having dealt with all sorts of people in business over the years, my horizons had broadened considerably. Judging by their appearance, a single one of these koi fish must be worth at least tens of thousands of yuan.

These aren't just fish; this is a pond full of money?!

Entering the main house, the housekeeper led me to the reception room. "Please have a seat, Mr. Jiang. I will go invite President Ye and the young miss downstairs. Would you prefer tea or coffee?"

Remembering Ji Leqing's prior advice, I thought for a moment and replied, "Plain water will be fine. Thank you for the trouble."

"Certainly."

The domestic helper placed a glass of water on the coffee table in front of me. "Please let me know if you need anything else."

Once the housekeeper and helper had departed, I finally felt comfortable enough to look around the reception room. It featured all-wood traditional Chinese interior design, worthy of being described as having painted beams and carved rafters. Anyone unaware might think they had time-traveled into the estate of some ancient aristocratic family.

The coffee table in front of me was crafted from a single large, thick piece of golden nanmu wood. Compared to other furniture carved with various intricate patterns, it actually looked rather plain, as it bore no carvings at all, only simple sanding and polishing.

Even so, the golden luster radiating from the tabletop was dazzling enough to hold one's gaze.

Such a massive piece of golden nanmu could not be acquired for less than tens of millions; an ordinary person might not earn enough in a lifetime to afford this single coffee table.

Just as I was marveling at the furniture and interior design of the reception room, Ye Wanyin came downstairs holding An'an by the hand.

Upon seeing me, An'an excitedly ran over. "Uncle Jiang, you've come to see An'an!"

I instinctively rose from the chair, opened my arms, and squatted down to catch her.

Whether due to some destined affinity or not, ever since our very first meeting, An'an had shown an unusual closeness and warmth toward me that she didn't show others.

I handed the packaged toys to An'an. "Unwrap them and see if you like them."

An'an glanced at Ye Wanyin. "Mommy, can An'an open them?"

Ye Wanyin smiled and nodded. "Of course. This is a gift Uncle Jiang prepared for you."

With her mother's permission, An'an eagerly tore open the wrapping paper. Seeing the remote-controlled airplane and the miniature toys, her eyes lit up instantly.

"Wow! Thank you, Uncle Jiang! An'an loves them so much!"

I smiled and patted her head. "As long as you like them, Uncle Jiang will bring you even more fun toys in the future."

Ye Wanyin stood nearby, watching us gently with a look of relief and gratitude in her eyes.

"Mr. Jiang, I'm truly sorry to trouble you with buying gifts specifically for An'an."

I hurriedly waved my hand. "It's no trouble at all. An'an is so adorable, and I'm very fond of her as well."

Ye Wanyin gestured for me to sit down. "Please take a seat, Mr. Jiang, and let's have a chat."

I nodded and returned to my chair, secretly relieved that I had chosen the right gift. It seemed this visit was going smoothly so far.

Ye Wanyin turned to An'an. "An'an, Mommy and Uncle Jiang have things to talk about. Why don't you take your toys back to your room for a while?"

Clutching the toys and reluctant to let go, An'an looked up at both me and Ye Wanyin.

"Okay. Make sure to call An'an when you and Uncle Jiang are done talking, Mommy."

The housekeeper helped An'an carry her toys upstairs, leaving just the two of us in the reception room.

Ye Wanyin sat across from me. Today, she wore an ink-green qipao patterned with bamboo leaves, paired with a pearl necklace. Her long hair was gathered into a bun at the nape of her neck held by a hairpin, with a single strand braided diagonally and resting across her chest.

With her hands folded gracefully in her lap and her back held straight, every gesture carried the poised demeanor of the matriarch of a prominent family.

"Mr. Jiang, what I am about to say might seem rather abrupt. I previously had a failed marriage; my ex-husband was neither a qualified husband nor a qualified father."

"An'an is a very sensible child. Although she has never asked for paternal love, I know she still envies other children who have fathers."

"I have also tried to start new relationships to give An'an a complete family, but An'an has resisted everyone I met. You are the very first person she has liked and grown this close to, which took me by surprise."

I sat quietly beside her, listening as Ye Wanyin expressed her guilt toward An'an, having also wrestled and felt lost over my own decision regarding divorce.

As she spoke, Ye Wanyin covered her face and began to sob quietly. At this moment, she was no longer the formidable business tycoon of the corporate world, but simply a mother deeply devoted to her daughter.

Seeing her shed tears, I was at a complete loss, unsure how to comfort her. I could only pull a few sheets of tissue from the box on the table and hand them to her.

Ye Wanyin took the tissue and wiped her tears. "I apologize for losing my composure in front of you."

"It's, it's quite all right..."

Collecting herself, Ye Wanyin looked at me and continued, "Mr. Jiang, I invited you here because there is a favor I would like to ask of you."

"Please go ahead, President Ye. If it's within my power, I will certainly do my best to help."

I couldn't make any reckless promises, as I had no idea what kind of favor Ye Wanyin could possibly need from me, especially since I couldn't fathom what someone of her stature would require my assistance with.

After hesitating for a moment, Ye Wanyin asked, "I wonder if Mr. Jiang is married, or if you have any children?"

After a brief thought, I decided to be honest. "My wife and I are currently separated and going through divorce proceedings. We don't have children."

Seemingly surprised that I was also practically a divorced man, Ye Wanyin blinked in astonishment, and then a flicker of hopeful light ignited in her eyes.

"Mr. Jiang, would you be willing to stay in Danxi? Consider it as me employing you to pretend to be An'an's stepfather to accompany her and fill the void of paternal love. I will arrange and cover all your living expenses, accommodations, and a generous salary."

Ye Wanyin took out her phone, tapped a string of numbers into the calculator, and slid it across the table toward me. "This would be your monthly remuneration. If it's not enough, we can discuss adding to it."

Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands...

Hearing Ye Wanyin's words, I froze in place. Living in a luxury villa owned by the Ye family with all expenses paid on top of a hefty salary—how was this any different from being kept as a kept man?