Chapter Fifty-Eight: Better to Provoke the Southern Tiger Than to Offend the Northern Sheep

Seeing that he had already crushed Ye Qian’s arrogant spirit, Long Fei pressed his advantage, “There’s something you still haven’t understood—that is, I’m just your bodyguard, not your possession. Even if you like me, I have the right to choose for myself, don’t I? What right do you have to interfere in my life?”

Ye Qian’s heart suddenly ached. Yes, he was just her bodyguard; he had his own choices. How was she any better than Yang Danni? Not to mention other things—just in terms of appearance, temperament, and capability, was she superior to Yang Danni in any way?

A sudden urge to cry welled up, but Ye Qian forced herself to hold back, staring at Long Fei and retorting with difficulty, “Who would like you? Hmph, don’t flatter yourself. You’re my bodyguard—I can’t interfere in your private life, but you should at least tell me beforehand. Last night I was on edge the whole way. What if another group of kidnappers showed up? And haven’t you already gotten together with Liu Ruoyi at school? How could you do this to her?”

This was a classic attempt to divert Long Fei’s attention, using someone else’s affairs to make her own point. Even if she had a bit of goodwill toward Liu Ruoyi, she wasn’t truly speaking up for her, but rather voicing her own grievances from the depths of her heart.

Long Fei saw that his strategy was working and didn’t want to truly offend Ye Qian. If she spilled the beans about him and Yang Danni, he’d be in trouble—not just from social pressure, but the Yang family patriarch wouldn’t let him off, and most importantly, Yang Danni would face even greater pressure than he would. Although she was prepared for it, Long Fei didn’t want her to face it so soon. Some things a man should handle more thoughtfully.

“Let’s drop it. Don’t leave now that you’re here. Stay for dinner tonight; I’ll take you home afterwards. Danni should be back soon. But you must not mention any of this to her, understand?” Long Fei warned.

Ye Qian told herself firmly that this matter had nothing to do with her; she was just an enthusiastic spectator. Yet, hearing that Yang Danni would soon arrive, she still felt uncomfortable inside.

But the opportunity to taste Long Fei’s carefully crafted dishes was too tempting to leave. She began to consider the evening—should she stay overnight? Not only could she disrupt Long Fei’s plans, she might even ask about enhancing her bust. At this thought, her cheeks flushed, and she sneaked a glance at Long Fei, leaving him puzzled.

“All right, since you’re so sincere, I’ll give you the honor and stay,” Ye Qian said, as if she’d really come to terms with it, nodding.

Long Fei was stunned. Damn, I really am a fool—should’ve never invited her to dinner. Couldn’t she tell I had zero sincerity, just being polite?

Just as Long Fei slipped into the kitchen, the doorbell rang. Before he could come out, Ye Qian darted to answer it.

The door opened, and Yang Danni stood face-to-face with Ye Qian. For a moment, neither spoke. Yang Danni looked surprised; Ye Qian’s gaze was tinged with hostility.

The two women sized each other up for at least half a minute, then both smiled. Yet their smiles lacked true warmth. Both raised in prominent families and well educated, they maintained proper decorum—even if neither was pleased to see the other in such circumstances, the appearance of peace was necessary.

“Hello, Yang Danni.” Yang Danni was the first to extend her hand.

Ye Qian thought, This woman’s skin is so fair.

She reached out and shook hands with Yang Danni, smiling, “Ye Qian.”

“Of course, I know you.” The two spoke in unison, then laughed and walked into the living room together.

At the kitchen door, Long Fei wiped his cold sweat and quickly retreated. Good, their current state was satisfactory. Still, he sneered inwardly—these heiresses were truly odd, able to smile even when unhappy, as if it wasn’t exhausting.

Hearing the sound of stir-frying, Yang Danni went to help in the kitchen, and Ye Qian, not knowing her place, followed. She wanted to help too.

Long Fei was startled and, adopting a commanding tone, ordered both women back to the living room to chat. He felt this was his moment to assert himself—at least, he couldn’t let men lose face. Seeing both women obey, Long Fei’s vanity was more satisfied than ever.

He knew they disliked each other, but insisted they communicate.

The two women sat on the sofa. Aside from smiling, they seemed to find no common topics. Luckily, there was television to watch; otherwise, boredom would have been unbearable. But at this time, TV was nothing but commercials, which held no interest for Yang Danni. Unable to bear it, she reached out to chat with Ye Qian.

“Your Ye family’s development these years has been remarkable. I’ve heard Miss Ye has a high talent for business as well.” This not-too-subtle flattery instantly made the atmosphere much more amicable. As the saying goes, flattery never fails, and both Long Fei and Yang Danni knew how to use it.

Ye Qian wished for the atmosphere to ease; though she recognized Yang Danni’s words as somewhat hollow, she still smiled, “Danni, you flatter me. That’s just rumor, not to be believed. But the Shanghai News Channel you host is our favorite—not just mine, my mother loves it too. She says you possess both beauty and wisdom!”

Nonsense. She never watched that program, and as for her mother, she might have seen it, but never said those compliments.

Ye Qian’s flattery was even more pronounced, and she took the initiative to call Yang Danni “sister,” which moved Yang Danni. No matter what, this was a gesture of goodwill. If she didn’t respond appropriately, she wouldn’t deserve the title of “beauty and wisdom combined.”

Both women exchanged insincere compliments until their faces felt flushed. Suddenly, Ye Qian asked, “Danni, are you a native of Shanghai?”

Yang Danni was taken aback. She hadn’t realized Ye Qian didn’t know her background. No wonder Ye Qian always carried herself so proudly—perhaps she thought being the sole heir of the Ye Group was truly something special.

“Oh, I’m not from Shanghai. I’m from Beijing,” Yang Danni replied, her smile hinting at something.

Ye Qian sensed something off in Yang Danni’s smile and suddenly thought of a question, quickly asking, “Right, since you were born in Beijing, are you familiar with the so-called ‘big families’ there?”

“Oh, I’ve heard of them, but I’m generally not interested, so I rarely interact with them.” Yang Danni spoke the truth. Though her brother was the absolute core of the “big families,” she herself had little contact with them—except for her brother.

Ye Qian wasn’t reassured and probed, “You’re from Beijing, your surname is Yang—do you know anyone from the Yang family?”

Yang Danni laughed, “Which Yang family do you mean? I don’t know, but my family has lived in the west of the city for generations.”

Since the mid-Ming Dynasty, Beijing has had the tradition of “wealth in the east, nobility in the west.” Decades of reform hadn’t erased this tradition; many elders still followed this rule. The east was home to the wealthy, the west to high-ranking officials and aristocrats.

“The west?” Ye Qian’s heart skipped. Generations? The west? Could Yang Danni really be related to that Yang family?

“Ye Qian, I know what you’re trying to ask. Let me be direct—my brother’s name is Yang Batian.” For the first time, Yang Danni revealed her identity. When she finished, Ye Qian trembled.

Suddenly, Ye Qian felt dejected. If earlier she was confident about finding a chance to deflate Yang Danni’s pride, now she was completely intimidated by her background. She hadn’t known Yang Danni was from the Yang family in Beijing’s west, but she did know some rumors.

Among the younger generation in China, aside from the princes of Beijing, the Five Tigers of Guangdong, and the Four Young Masters of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, there was also the saying “Southern Tiger, Northern Yang.” The Southern Tiger referred to Hu Biao of Chengdu’s Hu family, and the Northern Yang to Yang Batian of Beijing’s Yang family. Of course, the phrase was a play on words, but behind it lay another saying: “Better to provoke the Southern Tiger than to offend the Northern Yang.” This alone showed Yang Batian’s influence in Beijing, and indeed, across China.

In fact, there was much Ye Qian didn’t know. For example, the Hu family was the first family in Chengdu and the absolute power in the southwest. Yet Hu Biao’s grandfather, the famous general of the Chengdu Military District, had personally instructed Hu Biao that even if Yang Batian were to humiliate him, he must not resist. It wasn’t just because Yang Batian’s grandfather was a member of the political advisory committee, nor because Yang Shangwu had once saved him on the battlefield, but because the Hu family could never compete with the Yang family on any front.