The Young Lady is a Bit Unruly [Fragrant Harbor] - Chapter 33 Not Just Biting, But Sucking Too!

Chapter 33 Not Just Biting, But Sucking Too!

After Ye Huaizhang finished saying that he knew she had been in and out many times, Ye Baoling’s brain froze for a few seconds.

Was he talking about the secret chamber?!

So, he had known all along that she was entering and exiting the secret chamber!

Aww.

It felt like being caught red-handed by the owner while stealing.

And she had been putting on an act in front of him, pretending she hadn’t stolen anything.

No, she couldn’t show any guilt.

If she appeared guilty, she would be at a disadvantage in terms of momentum.

She pretended to be nonchalant and said, What safe? In that shabby secret chamber? There’s only a statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva.

That just shows your skills aren’t deep enough yet.

Ye Huaizhang stood up and walked ahead.

Ye Baoling quickly followed.

How come she hadn’t noticed any safe after entering and exiting the secret chamber so many times?

Arriving at a row of mirrors in the walk-in closet, Ye Huaizhang opened the wardrobe door behind the center mirror.

Inside the wardrobe were small wooden compartments for ties and socks. She watched as he pressed firmly on the upper and lower wooden boards of the fifth empty compartment on the left.

After the two palm-sized wooden boards slowly closed together, he pulled outward, and the wardrobe’s baseboard opened outward like a door.

Ye Baoling immediately saw the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva in the secret chamber.

From this angle, the Guanyin statue happened to be positioned right in the center.

So there was another door here!

He said, You don’t need to crawl through that hole anymore. That’s a backup entrance.

Ye Baoling: !!!

He might as well have said that place was a dog hole.

You’re the one who crawls through holes.

He turned back to look at her: I never have, but you probably have quite a few times.

Then he immediately added praise: But you’re already quite impressive. No one else has ever discovered there’s a backup entrance there.

Inside the secret chamber, he reached out and turned the second Vajra statue next to Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Immediately, the statue lit up – it was a lamp!

She had really wasted all those visits to this place.

After the light turned on, he removed two thick red English books from the middle bookshelf, revealing a wall made of black and white lacquered steel panels.

She knew about this.

The first time she came in, she had taken these books out to look at them and knew the wall surface consisted of a row of steel panels with black and white backgrounds, like piano keys.

Ye Huaizhang extended his right hand fingers and simultaneously pressed four keys on the wooden board.

He reminded her: Watch my hand position carefully. The left first key uses the index finger, the left second white key cannot be pressed, and the three keys on the right are pressed simultaneously with the other fingers…

So it really worked like piano keys.

Ye Baoling stretched out her own hand, gesturing, My hands aren’t that big.

You can use both hands together.

Then you could have just said not to press the left second white key. Why did you have to specify using the index finger for the left first key?

Ye Huaizhang: …

He applied pressure with his hand, and the bookshelf slowly moved apart, creating a two-foot wide opening.

Using the same five keys, this time the right second white key cannot be pressed.

Ye Huaizhang pressed again, and the black and white steel panels on the wall rolled up to both sides like curtains, revealing three safes inside, arranged vertically.

So the safes were hidden in the wall.

Ye Baoling asked: Was that Ugly King Jade Pendant of yours previously hidden here?

Yes.

The thing she had been looking for was right under her nose back then, and she actually hadn’t found it.

Remembering that Guan Lao Taijun hadn’t found the Ugly King Jade Pendant either, she couldn’t help but ask: Does Grandma and the others not know there are safes here?

Grandfather probably only told me, they don’t know.

So if she hadn’t barged into the secret chamber herself, he likely wouldn’t have told her about this safe either.

Ye Huaizhang pointed to the central safe: I’ve cleared this one out for you to use. You can reset the password.

He taught her how to use this old-fashioned combination lock.

While ordering him to fetch the jewelry box, Ye Baoling quickly changed the password.

If that’s the case, then wouldn’t the tunnel wine cellar also be known only to Ye Huaizhang?

Hah!

He had previously told her with a straight face that there was no wine cellar at home.

Liar!

After locking away the jewelry and restoring the bookshelf, Ye Baoling tentatively asked: Are there any other mechanisms here?

None. Just this one.

Ye Baoling fell silent, secretly giving him ten thousand mental curses.

After tidying up and returning to the bedroom, facing the nuptial wine on the table, Ye Huaizhang hesitated momentarily.

Last time this wine had tormented him terribly – he’d developed some PTSD, but didn’t want to show it, so he could only pick up the glass and down it in one go.

Ye Baoling drank boldly, though this time it seemed spicier than before. After drinking, she felt dizzy and somewhat feverish.

Are you hot? she asked.

Ye Huaizhang shook his head: Not hot.

Strange – the wine didn’t burn his throat at all, and he felt no heat after drinking.

Had he developed tolerance after last time’s torment?

Seeing his wife’s flushed pink cheeks, he countered: Are you hot?

Ye Baoling wouldn’t admit it: I’m not hot.

Let’s sleep early. I need to meet a client first thing tomorrow. After speaking, he pulled up the covers, rested his head on his arm, and quietly settled down to sleep.

Ye Baoling: …

Not doing it tonight?

She had planned to bite him back tonight, leaving a mark on his chest.

Yet he was calling it off!

She’d noticed last time – this man had this awkward sense of restraint.

Perhaps the first time was an exception due to the nuptial wine’s effects – they’d done it three times consecutively.

That Saturday, despite being in excellent form, he’d only used one small square before ending things amid intense passion.

So how long did he plan to make that drawer-full last?

Fortunately, the nuptial wine’s effects weren’t too strong, and she soon fell asleep.

*

Knock knock knock!

Someone was at the door.

Zhang Laichi quickly retracted his feet propped on the office chair, Come in!

Ye Baoling pushed open the office door, Manager Zhang, you wanted to see me.

Zhang Laichi gestured for her to sit, then said: There have been complaints about the men’s restrooms on floors 7 and 9 – often not cleaned promptly, urine stains everywhere; cigarette butts behind the fire door on floor 15 haven’t been handled for two days. Find out who’s responsible – their salary will be docked this month.

Okay. Ye Baoling acknowledged, then asked: How much will be docked?

Zhang Laichi shrugged: That depends on their attitude toward correction. Less deduction if they improve well, more if they don’t improve properly.

What’s the standard for ‘improving well’? Ye Baoling opened her notebook, waiting for Zhang Laichi’s instructions, planning to take notes.

Zhang Laichi paused, surprised by Ye Baoling’s detailed questioning.

How would he know the standard for improvement? Wasn’t it all up to the supervisor’s mood?

He chuckled: Figure it out yourselves.

Ye Baoling repeated: The standard for improvement is for us to figure out ourselves?

Smart people can figure it out. If you can’t figure it out, have them figure it out.

Idiot supervisor.

Ye Baoling cursed under her breath but maintained a faint smile as she continued asking, What if they don’t understand and the corrections aren’t good enough? How much will be deducted from their wages?

Was she determined to get to the bottom of this?

Zhang Laichi grew irritated. Does the cleaning department not have work standards? Deductions will follow the standards.

Having long memorized the cleaning department’s guidelines, Ye Baoling replied, The cleaning department has work standards, but there’s no clause about wage deductions in them.

Suppressing his anger, Zhang Laichi snapped, Just have them make the corrections first! We’ll discuss deductions if they still don’t meet standards afterward. Can’t you handle this properly?!

After successfully provoking him, Ye Baoling smiled and said, Understood. I’ll explain the situation honestly to everyone. If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.

Zhang Laichi thought to himself: Just two more days of putting up with you.

He waved her away. Get out.

Returning to her seat from the supervisor’s office, Ye Baoling asked Sister Mei, Has anyone in the cleaning department ever had their wages deducted before?

Sister Mei shook her head. No. Why? Who’s getting deducted? These are all low-level workers—they’d fight over even ten or eight yuan. Who would dare deduct their wages?

What happens if cleanliness standards aren’t met?

This isn’t a hotel; our hygiene requirements aren’t that strict. If someone doesn’t do well, you just scold them and they’ll fix it. For those who repeatedly refuse to improve, we can only find excuses to fire them. But that rarely happens. In all my years here, I’ve only encountered one case—an ex-convict who was lazy and difficult to communicate with. We fired him after two months.

Ye Baoling roughly understood: this was indeed Zhang Laichi deliberately making things difficult for her.

Sister Mei asked what was going on.

Ye Baoling briefly explained the hygiene complaint.

Sister Mei frowned slightly. In the past, when there were complaints, the admin department would just briefly notify us and that was it. They never made such a big deal out of it.

Wang Simin, who had been listening nearby, quietly pulled Ye Baoling aside and whispered a warning: Be careful they don’t create problems out of nothing and turn minor issues into major ones.

Ye Baoling nodded. I can feel it.

She took out the cleaning department’s work guidelines, preparing to review them again.

Uncle Yuan asked, Why haven’t we seen A’Nan at work these past two days?

A colleague replied, He took a week off.

Recently, A’Nan has been acting strange—all mysterious and not focusing on his work. His wife still needs medical treatment. He should be careful not to end up starving his wife and rotting his home, Uncle Yuan lamented, shaking his head.

Others also felt his recent behavior was unusual and began discussing it among themselves.

Ye Baoling pretended not to know anything, silently flipping through the documents in her hands.

During the noon break, she skipped lunch and went directly to Lihua Securities to find Liu Haonan.

Chen Yulan was already waiting for her at the entrance of Lihua Building. Cousin, have you eaten? I brought you a sandwich.

Perfect. I was worried I wouldn’t have time to eat later. Which floor?

19th floor, Room 1903.

Each holding a sandwich, they took the elevator to the 19th floor.

Liu Haonan was already waiting in the 1903 office with the property owner.

They were there to rent office space and officially register their company.

Ye Baoling put away her unfinished sandwich.

Mr. Zeng, the property owner, glanced at her, surprised that the boss was such a young woman.

This is your boss?

Yes, my boss, Miss Gu.

Ye Baoling always wore niche brands to work and carried mass-market handbags, showing no signs of being wealthy.

Mr. Zeng introduced the property with slight disappointment: 300 square feet, rent is 52 dollars per square foot per month, with a 10% annual increase.

That meant the monthly rent would be over 15,000 dollars!

So expensive?!

Even Ye Baoling, who had remained unfazed by a million-dollar check, was startled by this amount.

Sensitive to business expenses, she couldn’t help but ask, What’s the cheapest option?

Mr. Zeng shook his head. The surrounding areas all have similar prices; there’s no room for negotiation.

It’s too expensive. We can’t afford it.

Liu Haonan had initially thought Ye Baoling wouldn’t mind the rent, given the 20 million dollars in their account and their plans to expand into a large investment firm. But in his view, the boss was always right—if she said it was expensive, then it was expensive.

He suggested, How about we look elsewhere? The Northern District has cheaper office buildings, closer to my home, though it’s a bit farther from the financial center.

The main advantage of this location was its proximity to Lihua Securities, making it convenient for placing orders at any time.

Ye Baoling still preferred this area.

But she said, Sure, we can take a look.

Seeing this, Mr. Zeng didn’t try to persuade them to stay, only casually asking, What about the 18th floor? I have a 260-square-foot unit there, in the corner. It’s a bit out of the way, but it’s only 10,000 dollars.The lower price on the 18th floor wasn’t mainly due to its location but because of its unfavorable implication (implying bad luck), which made it less popular among tenants.

Let’s take a look.

Since waiting for the elevator would take time, they decided to take the stairs down one floor.

This unit was 1806, facing east with a view of the mountains—an unbeatable panorama.

Ye Baoling liked it at first sight.

Mr. Zeng said, Facing south, you get the sea view; facing east, the mountains. It’s up to your preference.

Compared to the sea, she preferred the mountains.

Chen Yulan pulled her aside and whispered, Cousin, the 18th floor is like the 18 levels of hell. Better not take it.

If I don’t enter hell, who will?

Ye Baoling wasn’t afraid of such superstitions.

She was only concerned whether the significantly lower price came with other issues, such as property disputes.

Liu Haonan knew the real reason for the cheap rent. He said, Last week, a man in unit 1803 on the same floor committed suicide by jumping off the building over a relationship.

Suicide over love…

This was something Ye Baoling couldn’t comprehend.

She went back inside and said to Mr. Zeng, I heard there was a death next door. This unit must be hard to rent out, right?

Mr. Zeng smiled awkwardly. It was next to the next unit, not mine. And the person died by jumping; it didn’t happen on our floor.

But the feng shui is still bad. There’s resentment and negative energy.

Miss Gu, I see you have a fortunate aura that can suppress such negative energy.

Ye Baoling smiled faintly. 8,000 dollars! No rent increase for three years. If you agree, I’ll sign the contract with you right now.

Mr. Zeng refused. 10,000 is already the lowest. Units 1802 and 1804 are also mine, rented out in May for about 50 dollars per square foot.

That was the price in May, not now. With the bad floor and a death case, it’s been hard for you to rent this out in the past two months. Isn’t it better to get whatever rent you can rather than leave it empty? Only small startups like us, short on funds, would be willing to consider it. Ye Baoling’s tone remained very gentle.

Since they were haggling and the other party would be at a disadvantage, it wouldn’t be right to push them further on pride.

Mr. Zeng hesitated repeatedly before finally gritting his teeth and saying, 8,000 is acceptable, but with a 10% annual increase. This is the absolute lowest price—it can’t go any lower. If you prosper in the future, this place will be your lucky ground.

The unit was small, and Ye Baoling wasn’t sure if they would renew the lease next year. She nodded with a smile and said, I appreciate your kind words. Let’s sign for one year first. If we renew after a year, the rent will increase by 10%. Is that acceptable?

Mr. Zeng waved his hand. Fine, fine. I thought you’d rent for at least three years.

It’s already quite good that we can help you through this toughest year.

They quickly signed the contract, and Ye Baoling paid three months’ rent upfront.

There were two keys—one was with Liu Haonan, and the other was given to Chen Yulan.

After the landlord left, Ye Baoling took out a sandwich and continued eating. Nan Ge, have you eaten?

An old colleague bought me a three-dish meal. I’ll go downstairs to eat in a bit.

Ye Baoling said, Yulan will stay here to assist you. We can buy the office desks and chairs in the next couple of days.

Liu Haonan noticed Ye Baoling’s frugal style and suggested, How about we buy second-hand ones? A company on the 15th floor has gone bankrupt, and they’ll likely be disposing of their office furniture. I’ll go ask about it later.

Sounds good.

As for registering the company, I’ll ask a friend to help. It’s not too complicated, but we need to decide on the company name first.

Ye Baoling had already looked it up in the dictionary and had an idea. Let’s call it Qiyuan Investments.

Yuan, meaning the origin of all things, also subtly implied being first.

That name works—simple and grand.

After discussing these matters, Chen Yulan accompanied Ye Baoling downstairs. She said, Cousin, my brother is looking for you. He asked you to call him back when you have time.

As soon as Ye Baoling returned to the office, she called Wei Zaiqiang.

Holding the receiver between her ear and shoulder, she took a pen from the pen holder and quickly jotted down the data Wei Zaiqiang provided on a sticky note.

After hanging up, she frowned slightly at the numbers on the note and immediately went upstairs to the Leaf Pure Tea product department to verify the information with the relevant person in charge.

The herbal tea product department was on the 6th floor. Instead of taking the elevator, she took the stairs.

The product department office was quite spacious, and since work had just resumed after lunch, there weren’t many people around.

Coincidentally, a man in his thirties was struggling with the photocopier, looking flustered as he tried to make copies.

Ye Baoling went over to help. How many copies do you need?

Three, thank you.

After making the copies, Ye Baoling asked him, Is Uncle Yang, the warehouse manager, here?

The man looked up. He’s not here—probably stepped out for something. Which department are you from?

I’m Gu Baolin from the logistics department. I wanted to check some data with Uncle Yang.

I’ll let him know when he returns and ask him to find you on the fourth floor.

Ye Baoling smiled. Thank you. How should I address you?

My surname is Lu, and my name also has the character ‘Bao’—I’m Lu Baohua.

Ye Baoling had carefully reviewed the lists of mid-level and senior managers from various departments.

She remembered that Lu Baohua was the product department manager and smiled. So it’s Manager Lu. Thank you for your help.

Not a problem. It’s my duty.

Just as Ye Baoling was about to leave, Lu Baohua called out to her, Miss Gu, Uncle Yang is back. Uncle Yang, a colleague from the logistics department is here to see you.

Uncle Yang, around 50 years old, held a thermos cup in his hand with a large bunch of keys hanging from his waist. At a glance, it was clear he had already entered retirement mode ahead of time.

After hearing Ye Baoling’s inquiry, he waved his hand and said, All those cardboard materials were given to your cleaning department to offset wages. We never kept track of the exact quantity.

Ye Baoling asked, Roughly how much raw material does Warehouse No. 2 consume each month?

By estimating the raw material consumption, they could roughly calculate the amount of cardboard.

Uncle Yang spread his hands, I have no idea about that.

Lu Baohua passed by them again and happened to overhear their conversation. He said, I have the data here. Let me check it for you.

That’s great.

Ye Baoling took out a pen and paper and copied down the relevant data.

In the afternoon, she called the two team leaders of the cleaning group to a small meeting room to discuss work matters.

After verifying from multiple sources, the reason the company hasn’t raised your wages in two years is that all the cardboard and other recyclables from Jade Dragon Mansion and Warehouse No. 2 have been handed over to you for recycling and selling. The proceeds are then distributed among the cleaners as compensation for the low wages. Is that correct?

Team Leader A, Liao Zhihui, smiled and nodded, That’s about right.

Ye Baoling asked, If that’s the case, why didn’t you just tell me the reason earlier?

Liao Zhihui brushed the dust off his sleeve and chuckled, The income from selling cardboard is very unstable—sometimes more, sometimes less. Everyone wants something more stable and a pay raise. There’s nothing wrong with that.

How much is it each month?

It varies every month. I can’t remember exactly. I’d have to go back and tally it up.

Roughly how much?

I really can’t recall.

Ye Baoling pressed further, You can’t even remember a rough estimate?

Liao Zhihui had no choice but to answer, Around 2,000. Sometimes it’s less than 2,000. Right, Xiaofeng?

Qi Xiaofeng nodded, That’s about right. Our team gets less.

This remark displeased Liao Zhihui, who immediately retorted, How is your team getting less? Think about it—are you really getting less?

Ye Baoling looked at Qi Xiaofeng.

The question Are you really getting less? carried a clear undertone of intimidation.

Qi Xiaofeng visibly hesitated. She hadn’t expected Liao Zhihui to contradict her so directly in front of Ye Baoling. She forced an awkward smile and said, Oh, well, none of us in the cleaning department get much. Of course, it would be best if we could get a pay raise.

Ye Baoling continued, Around 2,000 per month, divided among 22 people in the cleaning department, averages less than 100 per person?

Liao Zhihui replied, That’s about right.

For the past six months, you must have kept records of how much each person received monthly, right? Please provide me with the list.

Liao Zhihui spread his hands, We did have everyone sign when they received the money, but the ledger was lost recently. I’m not sure if we can find it.

The ledger is lost?

Lost.

What a coincidence.

Could she believe it?

She didn’t.

Ye Baoling smiled and said, Then have everyone report how much they received each month.

Who would remember that? What’s the point of doing this?

So that management understands that the Cardboard Money the cleaners receive is not enough to make up for a wage increase.

Liao Zhihui had no grounds to object. He exchanged a glance with Qi Xiaofeng. The most urgent task now was to quickly coordinate with the cleaners from both teams privately and agree on how much each person should report.

That way, the numbers wouldn’t contradict each other.

Alright. Miss Ye, if there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave now.

Ye Baoling knew they were in a hurry to leave, but she deliberately called out to stop them. There’s one more thing. Over the past couple of days, we’ve received several complaints.

She relayed the instructions Zhang Laichi had given her that morning to them.

Revise it first. If the revisions aren’t satisfactory, more wages will be deducted. As for how to revise it, management wants you to figure it out yourselves. Also, give a suggestion on how much wage deduction you can tolerate.

Wage deduction?

Liao Zhihui shook his head. Wage deduction isn’t appropriate, is it? The wages aren’t much to begin with.

Go convey the message first and have them make corrections as soon as possible. We’ll discuss the wage deduction in detail later.

Just then, Wang Simin knocked and entered. A-Lin, the registration is done.

All registered?

All of them. Take a look. Wang Simin handed a folder to Ye Baoling.

Ye Baoling quickly glanced through it. Wang Simin was a senior employee, and even the most troublesome and slippery ones in the cleaning department gave her face—they had all honestly registered the Cardboard Money they had received over the past few months.

Liao Zhihui’s expression shifted slightly. He hadn’t expected this Miss Gu to use a diversion tactic—holding a meeting with them while having someone else conduct the registration.

So cunning at such a young age!

She clearly hasn’t faced real consequences and doesn’t know how tough things can get!

He and Qi Xiaofeng exchanged another glance. This time, they had to get rid of this insolent girl who didn’t know her place!

Ye Baoling had no mind to dwell on their complicated feelings at the moment.

She checked her watch. It was almost time to clock off, and the cleaners still had work to do. She said, There’s not enough time today. We’ll organize a meeting for everyone tomorrow.

After leaving the meeting room, on their way home, Ye Baoling took Gu Man’er and Wang Simin to an ice parlor near the subway station. She treated Wang Simin to ice dessert as a thank you.

Returning from the Gu residence, Ye Baoling chatted with Guan Lao Taijun for a while before heading to her room to bathe.

Half-lying in the bathtub, she recalled last night’s experience of opening the neighboring safe with Ye Huaizhang.

Suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind.

Could it be that Ye Huaizhang didn’t know there was a wine cellar on the third underground level? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have told her that day about how his grandfather opposed building a wine cellar.

Was that possible?

Otherwise, if it was just a wine cellar, why wouldn’t he tell her about it when he had even shared the safe with her?

Unless there was an unspeakable secret in the wine cellar.

As she pondered, the lights suddenly went out!

Damn it!

This time, thankfully, there were no eerie water pipe sounds.

Ye Baoling groped her way to her feet, careful not to bump and injure herself like last time.

She felt for the bathrobe on the rack and had just draped it over herself when a light approached from outside.

Ye Huaizhang called from the doorway, Are you bathing?

Ye Baoling replied, Yes.

The bathroom door opened, and the flashlight beam happened to fall on her. Half-wrapped in the bathrobe, her upper curves surged like waves, while the lower folds layered like distant peaks.

His breath caught instantly.

Twice a week—he cherished every opportunity.

Like today.

The ceiling light flickered on just in time. He stepped forward, placed the flashlight on the counter, and slipped his arm around her waist.

Leaning close to her ear, he whispered, Another round?

Ye Baoling shivered slightly, her chest brushing against his button.

She was compelled to bathe once more.

Half an hour later, the power went out again.

Though only two of them were present, the atmosphere felt intensely alive.

They moved like two partners in a task—back and forth, lacking much experience yet perfectly in sync.

In the darkness, their senses heightened remarkably.

Every subtle exchange of emotion and every keen sensation amplified in their minds.

Ye Baoling felt her breath growing labored. She tried to turn her head away, but he gently guided it back…

The lights came on again.

The glare was piercing. She closed her eyes, taking a long moment to regain her composure.

Ye Huaizhang grabbed a tissue to wipe her sweat. Fresh out of the shower, and now she needed another one.

She asked, Didn’t you say the wiring was going to be fixed? When will that happen?

It’s being done. You were at work during the day, so you didn’t notice. It’ll be finished in a couple of days.

While he was distracted by talking, she lifted her head and bit his chest.

Not just a bite—she also sucked! And nibbled!

The tingling sensation was intense.

After succeeding, she flashed a sly, satisfied smile.

Author’s Note:

Ye Huaizhang: So it turns out I’m the wet nurse.

Ye Baoling: [kisses]