Chapter 68: A Bet
The words had barely been spoken when Bai Xue walked in, carrying a small bundle and glaring daggers at Xiao Ye.
"This is all your fault! If it weren't for you, the Bai Family wouldn't have run into so much trouble, and Bai Meng would never have been kicked out!"
'Bai Meng?'
'Who was that again?'
Xiao Ye thought for a moment before finally recalling a girl who looked similar to Bai Xue.
'Her methods were just a bit tasteless.'
He couldn't be bothered to be nice to Bai Xue and sneered, "That's your Bai Family reaping what they sowed. What does it have to do with me!"
"You!"
Bai Xue was about to continue, but Song Hanlin cleared his throat. "Bai Xue, Xiao Xiaoyou is my guest right now."
Bai Xue didn't dare show disrespect to Song Hanlin. "Grandmaster Song, please don't be fooled by him. Even if he knows medicine, he's still a con artist."
If Xiao Ye hadn't pulled that Golden Saber scam, the Bai Family wouldn't have lost so much money.
They wouldn't have resorted to that substitution scheme. The whole reason Bai Meng suffered this disaster was, in the end, all because of Xiao Ye!
'This brat, calling me a con artist all the time. She must really think I have no temper.'
Xiao Ye stepped in front of Bai Xue. "And what if I really can read faces?"
"Then I'll apologize to you!"
Bai Xue didn't believe in such things. Looks were determined by genetics and bone structure; it had nothing to do with the idea that one's face reflects their character.
"Apologizing alone isn't enough." Xiao Ye said, looking at her indignant little face. "You call me a con artist every other word. That has already damaged my reputation."
"You have a reputation? Fine. If you can really read people from their faces, I'll not only apologize, but I'll also make a detour whenever I see you from now on!"
"But what if you can't do it? What happens then?"
Bai Xue's retort didn't anger Xiao Ye. On the contrary, it made him smile confidently. "If I can't do it... then I'll restore the Bai Family's assets!"
Bai Xue was stunned. She hadn't expected Xiao Ye to make such a huge wager.
The Bai Family had already donated countless assets, which added up to at least seven or eight hundred million.
"Are... are you serious?"
"Of course." Xiao Ye looked at Song Hanlin. "Elder Song, you can be our witness."
"Good!"
Song Hanlin's voice boomed like a great bell. "With me here, no one will dare to go back on their word! To ensure fairness, I will provide the test subject."
He waved his hand, and a bodyguard who had been hidden in the shadows stepped out.
The man's expression was grim and his face unremarkable, but his eyes were like a wild beast's. Meeting his gaze sent a chill down one's spine.
"Xiao Xiaoyou, he is one of my men. He has always been by my side, but very few outsiders know of him. His identity is also top secret."
"If you can read things from his face and get everything right, we'll consider it your win!"
After speaking, Song Hanlin turned to Bai Xue. "Young lady of the Bai Family, what do you think?"
"I trust Grandmaster Song." Bai Xue glared at Xiao Ye. "What are you standing around for? Get started already!"
Xiao Ye only glanced at the bodyguard a few times before speaking. "His parents are both deceased, but he has a younger sister. He was married once but is now divorced and lives alone."
"He is extremely loyal. If his master is a bad man, he is a bad man. But if his master is a good man, he can be considered half a good man."
Song Hanlin's eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected Xiao Ye to actually get it all right!
The man beside him had been sent by the higher-ups to protect him. His identity was an absolute secret.
No one knew this besides him. It was impossible for Xiao Ye to know!
Bai Xue immediately looked at Song Hanlin. "Grandmaster Song, was he right?"
Song Hanlin ignored her, his eyes still fixed on Xiao Ye. "How did you know?"
Bai Xue was shocked. 'Could he really have been right?'
'How is that possible!'
Xiao Ye explained point by point, "The Parents Palace on his face is low, and the Sun and Moon Corners are askew and dim. This indicates that his parents have passed away."
"A thick left eyebrow marks him as the eldest son, while a slightly sparse right eyebrow indicates he has sisters."
"The Spouses Palace is dim, yet shows faint traces, which means he was married once but has since parted ways with his wife."
Song Hanlin's eyes brightened. "What about me? What can you see?"
"A straight nose like a mountain peak signifies a high-ranking official. With a face suited for princes and generals, you, Elder Song, must be from the military, and in a high position at that."
"Incredible!"
During his time in the military, Song Hanlin had rarely appeared in public. His coming here to recuperate was also a covert affair.
This time, the way he looked at Xiao Ye was different.
If before it was mere appreciation, now it was genuine respect!
"Xiao Xiaoyou, I hear the new City Lord of Jiangcheng has been causing trouble for the Lin Family. Do you need my help?"
If Xiao Ye hadn't demonstrated his talent for physiognomy, Song Hanlin would not have offered to help; otherwise, he would have mentioned it earlier.
Asking now showed that he had taken a keen interest in nurturing such a talent.
Xiao Ye waved his hand. "No, thank you. I can handle it myself."
Standing nearby, how could Bai Xue not understand? This clearly meant Xiao Ye had been right.
Her cheeks puffed out in disbelief.
But she knew Song Hanlin wouldn't lie, much less conspire with Xiao Ye to fabricate such a story.
"I... All right. I apologize. I'm sorry."
Bai Xue didn't try to weasel out of it and honored the bet.
But Xiao Ye turned his head and snorted. "Your voice is too quiet. I can't hear you."
Bai Xue glared at him. "I'm sorry! Was that loud enough for you!"
Xiao Ye finally nodded in satisfaction. "You also said you'd make a detour whenever you see me from now on."
"Fine, I will!"
Bai Xue spun around in anger, but then stopped in her tracks as if she'd remembered something. "Oh, right... Divine Doctor Kong. I think I'll stay at your place for a while."
With that, she quickly walked out of the room.
But beneath her seemingly calm facade, a storm was raging in her heart.
'This Xiao Ye... he can tell a person's entire past just by looking at them.'
'That business with the Golden Saber... Could it have been real?'
「Meanwhile.」
「At the Lin Group.」
Lin Chuyue looked at the thing in her hands with exasperation. "Grandpa, can't I just have someone else deliver this to Xiao Ye? I still have work to do at the company!"
"No."
Lin Aoshan said, "These are the medicinal herbs Xiao Ye needed. They're extremely important, so nothing can go wrong. You must deliver them yourself!"
After speaking, he leaned back on the sofa, clearly intending to watch her.
Lin Chuyue had no choice. She called Xiao Ye, found out where he was, and rushed over with the items.
「An hour later.」
Her car arrived at Jiangpan Villa.
She wasn't a resident, so she couldn't drive in. She had to park at the entrance and walk.
Jiangpan Villa consisted of five villas in total, numbered one to five.
'The thought that Chu Yan had bought this for Xiao Ye irritated her.'
But remembering Lin Aoshan's stubbornness, she could only suppress her frustration and keep walking.
"Well, well, who do we have here?"
A shrill, malicious voice came from behind her.
Lin Chuyue's expression changed slightly. She turned to see Han Jing and the City Lord approaching arm in arm.
Han Jing looked at her haughtily. "Jiangpan Villa isn't a place for people like you. The Lin Family couldn't possibly afford a house here."
"TSK TSK, Lin Chuyue, don't tell me you're here to sell your body?"
"Then again, it's not like you have anything left to sell besides your looks."
With that, Han Jing leaned against the City Lord. "I told you she was a slut. She's probably here to see that old man!"
Currently, only two of the Jiangpan Villa properties were occupied.
One was Villa #1, but Xiao Ye rarely came, so almost no one knew it was his property.
The other was Villa #3, where a sick old man lived.
Jiangpan Villa #5 was reserved for the City Lord and was considered Jiangcheng property.
The City Lord laughed coldly. "Lin Chuyue, don't forget, tomorrow is the final day. Four hundred and fifty million. Not a cent less!"
"Otherwise... just wait for the Lin Family to be destroyed!"