Chapter 147 — The Long-Awaited...

"Ha, that's impossible. I'm not a dumbass like Song Hang," Yang Hengye said. "Of course I want all you classmates to see how happy you are now. Otherwise, I'm sure there'd be plenty of people jealous of your looks who'd be gloating over your misfortune."

Indeed, what Yang Ce had said earlier was meant to be passed on through her lips, so that all of Xiao Qing's old friends would know that Xiao Qing was happy now.

Xiao Qing nodded. She understood Yang Ce's intent and said nothing more, though she was secretly delighted. After all, when Song Hang had vanished at their wedding all those years ago, many of her friends had looked at her with strange eyes. Now, if Zhang Yue spread the word that she had married again and was very happy, those old judgments would probably melt away.

"By the way, Yang Ce, didn't you start a jewelry company? Is your company taking part in this jewelry exhibition?" Xiao Qing asked.

"We are. That's why I decided to stop by the exhibition venue on the way and see whether we've reserved a display case. If not, I'll just reserve one on the spot," Yang Yanzhou said.

"Then let's go have a look together," Xiao Qing said. "Godfather has been keeping an eye on you too. If not for that recent business, he'd probably be attending the exhibition himself."

"Yes, Godfather hasn't been in the best mood lately. But I'll do my best to help him find Brother Tianqi," Yang Yanzhou said. Yang Ce had already sent Liu Yan's file to Xia Yan. After all, why let the identity of Yang Moyi go to waste? Just because the police were helpless didn't mean the Mysterious Investigation Bureau had no options.

Yang Ce had personally experienced the wonders of the Mysterious Investigation Bureau. They had even investigated some of his own private affairs down to the last detail. Such power was truly not to be underestimated.

So the night before, while Xiao Qing was in the shower, Yang Ce had sent Liu Yan's file to Xia Yan over the computer network. Xia Yan could hardly fail to take seriously a task personally entrusted to Heng by Yang Ce. He would need favors from Heng in the future, and he was already worried about owing Yang Ce too many personal debts—Yang Yongjin might be willing to help him then. Now that Yang Ce had taken the initiative to contact him and ask for help, Xia Yan naturally agreed without hesitation.

This was also what suddenly came back to Yang Ce the night before when, undressing for his shower, he had discovered the credentials Xia Yan had given him.

Yang Ce still had confidence in Xia Yan's ability to get things done. But if even Xia Yan was helpless, then hope was truly slim.

"By the way, do you have the urge to pee yet?" Yang Ce suddenly thought of something crucial—the ultimate purpose of his and Xiao Qing's trip.

"Not yet," Xiao Qing said, blushing a little and squirming. "Probably soon."

That sort of thing was a physiological response—you couldn't hurry it even if you wanted to. So Yang Shuoxuan had no choice but to wait quietly. But sometimes things were just like that: the more anxious you were, the less it came. That was the so-called conditioned reflex.

"All right, then we'll wait a bit longer," Yang Yanzhou said. Then something seemed to occur to him, and his expression turned a little lewd. "By the way, I've got a surefire trick. If you're interested, we can give it a try."

"What trick?" Xiao Qing asked, startled.

While waiting at a traffic light, Yang Ce leaned close to Xiao Qing's ear and whispered a few words. Xiao Qing's face instantly turned crimson. "Hey, Yang Ce, what are you saying?"

"I'm only stating facts," Yang Ce said with a chuckle.

Xiao Qing glared at Yang Puqi. But after a moment, curiosity got the better of her. "You're saying that every time Lan Ling does that with you, she—"

"Yep. And I have to change the sheets before we can sleep at night," Yang Ce said with a sigh. "How about we give it a try too?"

"Hmph, I'm not trying it," Xiao Qing said, a little shyly. But then she added, "And if we were going to try, it couldn't be now anyway."

"So tonight would be fine?" Yang Xutang caught what seemed like an opening in her words and asked eagerly.

"We'll talk about tonight when it's tonight," Xiao Qing said lazily. "Right now, just drive and stop letting your mind wander—otherwise we'll never get a chance to try it."

Xiao Qing was always like this. When it came to Heng's requests, she might be shy, but she never refused. That was one of the reasons Yang Ce was so infatuated with her.

Yang Ce had never been to the jewelry exhibition venue, nor did he know where it was being held. Zhao Sisi had been handling all of it, and this was his first time going.

Not that it mattered. With Bao Shuping's car leading the way, Yang Ce could simply follow behind. He didn't need to find it himself.

Before long, Bao Shuping's car was nearing the parking lot of Songjiang's largest convention center. Yang Shuoxuan followed it in, one car behind the other, found empty spaces, parked, and then each got out of their cars.

By this time, the way Zhang Yue looked at Xiao Qing and Yan had changed completely—it had turned somewhat envious. Originally, among their cohort of classmates in university, Zhang Yue had been considered to have landed a fairly good match. Bao Shuping was young and accomplished, owned a jewelry company, and was the envy of many classmates. But compared with Xiao Qing now, there was naturally a gap.

Although a BMW and a Mercedes were about the same class and cost about the same, the difference showed in the license plates. Remembering how she had boasted in front of Xiao Qing and Yan earlier, Zhang Yue felt her face burn.

Led by Bao Shuping, the four of them arrived at the reception room of the exhibition. The last time, Bao Shuping had negotiated with a mid-level executive of Mingyang Entertainment who was in charge of the exhibition—the same man who was the venue manager for this exhibition.

Bao Shuping had had a falling-out with him, so today he went straight in and had the staff notify the man in charge, asking him to come over for a talk.

Before long, the man in charge arrived. Bao Shuping hurriedly stood up and was about to say something, but the man acted as if he hadn't seen him at all, walking straight over to Yang Ce and saying respectfully, "Brother Yang, what brings you here in person?"

The man's behavior stunned everyone present. Bao Shuping and Zhang Yue had never expected the usually arrogant manager to be so humble and even-tempered today.

Even Yang Shuoxuan was baffled. He pointed at himself in surprise. "You know me?"

Yang Ce hadn't known that the exhibition venue was entirely managed by Mingyang's side; he had assumed they only handled security for the venue. So when the manager recognized him, he was puzzled.

"Yes, yes," the manager said, nodding briskly. "I used to be President Hou's secretary. I've seen you several times, though you probably don't remember me."

Yang Ce broke out in a cold sweat. How on earth was he supposed to remember Hou Lin's secretary? Besides, his face had practically become that of a celebrity—there was hardly anyone in the Mingyang organization who didn't know him.

"Why is this place under your management?" Yang Moyi asked in surprise. "Isn't it only the security work that belongs to Mingyang?"

"No, that's not right. The operation of the exhibition and the allocation of display cases are all handled by Mingyang," the manager explained. "President Hou sent me to take charge of matters here."