Chapter 431: Chapter 202: The Advantage Was Clearly Mine, So How Did I Lose?

For Xue Ning, it was difficult to adapt to a newcomer.

Especially when she basically had no other needs now, she just wanted everyone to smoothly get through these years.

The next day, she quietly moved all her luggage back from the hotel, although it seemed that Li Yang was still not very satisfied.

Until the fourteenth of the first lunar month.

That day Li Yang was going home, and early in the morning, he handed Xue Ning three keys.

"These three keys, one is in Sanya, another in the Capital City, and the last one in Jiangbei. You can stay wherever you want."

Li Yang had been looking to buy properties these days, both in the Capital City and Sanya, registered under the company name. Jiangbei, though, had no purchase restrictions, so he freely bought one directly under Xue Ning’s name.

Xue Ning couldn’t keep staying in Xiangnu’s house. Once Li Yang left, the house would have nothing to do with Xue Ning.

"Then could you not be angry anymore? If you’re still angry, I’ll just go back with you."

Xue Ning was well aware that going back was a very difficult decision. Once she returned, she would have to face the matter.

Li Yang asked, "If you go back, how would you explain the boyfriend stuff?"

"I... I’ll just say I tricked them then..."

Compromise, Xue Ning was used to it. After all, she was mentally prepared when she decided to come back.

For Li Yang, she could get rid of anything, not to mention compromise.

Li Yang said, "Forget it, forget it, you’ve worked hard these past few days. I can’t let you go back to be scolded. I’ll be quite busy in the near future; why don’t you go out and play for a while. When you plan to go to the Capital City, then contact me."

Xue Ning’s eyes lit up, "Really?"

"Really, I won’t let you face such great pressure. With me here, the biggest pressure in your life should be my hundred-something pounds."

Xue Ning blinked her eyes.

...

Li Yang was actually just bullying Xue Ning, bullying her for escaping reality, bullying her timid nature.

Returning home for the Lantern Festival, at the dinner table Wang Cuiping kept asking about Xue Ning’s boyfriend, while Li Yang rambled on the other side.

After eating, he took Bai Qing to watch the fireworks.

The Lantern Festival fireworks were plentiful, lasting from six in the evening till two in the morning.

Anywhere with a view, you could see the fireworks in the sky.

There were far fewer on New Year’s Eve.

Since he couldn’t properly accompany Bai Qing on New Year’s Eve, Li Yang could only come out now.

The weather was still cold, and Li Yang had Bai Qing put her hands in his down jacket pockets as they walked slowly by the river.

"Honey, Ye Bingcheng said he wants to meet you."

"What’s up?"

"Not sure, he said he wants to treat you to a meal, and also introduce someone to you."

"Then let’s schedule it for tomorrow noon, and then we’ll go together."

"Huh? With outsiders there."

"What’s there to be afraid of with outsiders? If he dares to introduce, we dare to meet."

"What do you mean?"

"Means you are my wife."

...

Noon on the sixteenth of the first lunar month, Li Yang met Ye Bingcheng and also saw another young man in his thirties.

"President Li, pleased to meet you. I’m Feng Jianhui, looking forward to more interactions in the future."

"Nice to meet you, nice to meet you..."

The two exchanged a brief greeting.

Ye Bingcheng saw Li Yang came with Bai Qing and introduced Bai Qing’s identity, feeling at ease.

He was most afraid of Li Yang coming alone.

He was about to leave for Jiangbei. Although it was a nominal lateral transfer, in reality, it was a change of scenery.

Within a year and a half, he changed two positions consecutively, which certainly was good for him.

But this time he fought for it; in the environment of undercurrents, he didn’t stay prudent but chose to support Li Yang, thus obtaining Yan Shengping’s position.

He was betting on Li Yang. If Li Yang had trouble, he’d definitely be done for too.

Not fatal, but pretty close to it.

Initially, his prospects weren’t small. After all, at thirty, he already held power in Jiang City, not comparable to those top-notch ones, but he was in the second echelon.

Following the proper steps, the future wouldn’t be poor, especially since his family wasn’t a minor role.

If his family were ordinary, it wouldn’t have been possible to enter the echelon.

For those from ordinary backgrounds, even if they excel, entering the fourth echelon is already like a stroke of good luck. Most ordinary people spend their lives at the rank of sectional staff, and those who retire as deputy directors are rare gems.

Ye Bingcheng initially was considered in the third echelon, estimating that at over forty, he could move from county level to ting level, then no further.

With some luck, he squeezed into the second echelon, but among its lower ranks.

Now, he succeeded in moving to the upper middle ranks of the second echelon.

He brought Feng Jianhui to showcase his stance, and likewise, Li Yang bringing Bai Qing showed his stance as well.

After all, everyone knew Li Yang’s relationship with Jiang Banxia; now Li Yang brought Bai Qing, which equated to giving others leverage.

Although it’s just minor leverage, for Ye Bingcheng it’s enough.

One cannot expect others to hand over their lives easily; he himself didn’t have that much face.

Li Yang had already shown weakness.

When two wild beasts meet on the prairie, certainly one must lie down first, exposing their belly.

Ye Bingcheng, bringing Feng Jianhui, was exposing his belly; similarly, Li Yang bringing Bai Qing was as well.

Otherwise, neither side would lower their guard nor truly accept the other sincerely.

They had a meal, even drank a cup of wine.

Exchanged a few simple words, and the meal was finished.

Ye Bingcheng was leaving for Jiangbei tomorrow.

After Li Yang and Bai Qing left, Feng Jianhui squinted and said, "Old Ye, you’re betting so much on a twenty-year-old young man?"