Chapter 34: A Strange Coincidence

All four contracts, both past and present, were clearly drafted by the Celestial Capital Chamber of Commerce. Every detail, every stipulation was based on actual events. Yet at this very moment, the true young master of the Ye family openly claimed he had never sent anyone with those contracts.

Master Su, quick to see himself as shrewd, immediately concluded that things could not be so straightforward. Perhaps this was all an intentional test devised by the young master of the Ye family. Or maybe the young master, not wanting the Ye clan to be prematurely informed of the Su family's current state, deliberately denied involvement in public to conceal the Su family's difficulties. He might intend to reveal everything only after the Su family had risen to prominence. In any case, such a possibility could not be discounted.

Thus, Master Su made a swift decision, signaling to Su Yicai with a meaningful glance.

Su Yicai instantly caught on, affecting a smile as he said, "Brother-in-law, it's only natural for you to deny it. After all, we, the Su family, are the ones aspiring to join your ranks. For my sister to marry you with honor, our family must possess some standing; otherwise, if the Ye clan learns that you paved the way for us, it would be most embarrassing."

Ye Tianlin spread his hands and shook his head. "I truly didn't send anyone with those contracts. I think you've misunderstood. There may be another person behind all this."

"Since you won’t admit it, we won’t press further. Rest assured, whatever tasks you assign, we will do our utmost to fulfill," Master Su replied with a smile, remaining convinced that this meeting was far more complex than it appeared.

Half an hour later, Ye Tianlin entered his Rolls-Royce and departed from the Su company.

Master Su, leaning on his cane, stood at the company entrance, watching the vehicle disappear into the distance. Only when it was finally gone from sight did he turn, his expression stern and commanding. "From this day forth, everyone in the Su family must be on full alert. If anyone makes the slightest mistake, I will show no mercy!"

Su Yicai folded his arms, his manner smug and mocking. "We can't afford to let brother-in-law down. Su Rulan, your proposal had better show some results. If you can't manage, just give it up and sign a private agreement with me. The credit will still go to you in name—consider that a favor!"

Su Rulan’s face flushed with embarrassment. After this meeting, she was more certain than ever that the young man they met earlier was indeed the true heir of the Ye family.

Su Weimin and Gao Yulan, meanwhile, were ashen-faced, their spirits crushed.

Just then, Zhao Qing’s Mercedes slowly approached. As she stepped out of the car, the Su family members were surprised. What happened next was exactly as before: Zhao Qing, holding the fifth contract, handed it directly to Su Rulan.

"Miss Su, this is today’s contract. Please review it," Zhao Qing said.

Su Rulan glanced through the fifth contract, but her heart was heavy. No matter how many contracts she collected, they were meaningless if the company itself was being deliberately hindered from above.

Su Yicai gave a strange, mocking laugh. "Just now, my brother-in-law insisted the contracts weren’t from him—yet here comes another one. He’s certainly going to great lengths!"

"As expected of the Ye family’s young master," Master Su declared with conviction. "His efforts are relentless. Sending contracts every day shows true dedication. But we must remain vigilant and not grow complacent."

Hearing this, Zhao Qing looked intrigued. "The young master was just here?"

Master Su nodded emphatically. "Not only was he here, he sat with us in the office for half an hour!"

"What a pity. If only I had arrived a few minutes earlier, I might have seen what he looks like," Zhao Qing sighed. When the young master had previously visited the Celestial Capital Chamber of Commerce, she had been sent on a business trip and had never seen him in person. In recent days, business had been even more demanding. Even with Zhao Shanhe—her father—as president, she could not simply see the young master whenever she wished.

Master Su, unaware of Zhao Qing’s background, assumed she was merely a manager of one of the Chamber’s subsidiary groups. Straightening his collar, he remarked, "With your position, it’s not so easy to meet the Ye heir. But if you perform well, it’s only a matter of time."

"Thank you for your kind words, Master Su," Zhao Qing replied with a smile. After overseeing the contract process, she departed in haste.

That evening, Su Rulan, exhausted to the point of collapse, returned to her rented apartment. The moment Su Weimin entered and caught sight of Ye Tianlin, he erupted in fury, hurling curses at him. "You idiot! I was a fool to trust you!"

"Father, what’s the matter?" Ye Tianlin was taken aback. Everything had been fine that morning when he left.

"You dare ask? I’m about to be driven mad by you!" Su Weimin snarled, his eyes wide with rage, as though he would devour him.

Gao Yulan, seeing this, grumbled as she explained what had happened that day.

Upon hearing the full story, Ye Tianlin was just as astonished. He could never have anticipated such a coincidence.

The Ye clan, with its long lineage, had many branches. Regardless of whether they belonged to the main line or a side branch, all members were registered in the family’s ancestral records according to their generation names.

Ye Tianlin’s generation all shared the character "Tian" in their names—Tianrui, Tianxiang, Tiancheng, and so forth, even similar-sounding names were common within the Ye family records.

Ye Tianlin explained, "Perhaps you misheard and thought it was Ye Tianlin, when it was actually someone else with a similar-sounding name. Besides, he said himself that he hadn’t sent the contracts, didn’t he?"