Chu Mubai actually received the news as soon as she left the West Garden. Of course, it wasn't someone he arranged, but rather Li's maid.
His birth mother, Lady Li, went straight to the East Garden to find Chu Mubai after leaving the West Garden. She was no longer gentle with her son, but instead spoke to him in a commanding tone: "Since you have already taken a liking to her, why do you insist on getting the Old Madam to agree to let her stay in the West Garden? Now that you are in good health, it is time to consider having offspring."
Before leaving, Madam Li specifically instructed her maid to secretly keep an eye on the West Garden, hoping that there would be some activity in those two courtyards tonight.
Originally, Madam Li hoped that Chu Mubai would take the initiative.
Unexpectedly, it was Xia Yixin's side. The maid who was keeping watch secretly slipped the item to Chu Mubai as instructed by Madam Li and then went to report to Madam Li.
Chu Mubai looked at the medicine packet in his hand that Li Shi had claimed would "definitely enhance the mood," and felt both amused and exasperated. Just as he was about to throw it away, there was a knock at the door. He panicked and casually pressed the medicine packet under a paperweight.
He smoothed out non-existent wrinkles on his clothes, making sure they were neat and tidy before saying loudly, "Please come in."
When the door opened, Chu Mubai saw the woman in her smart outfit, looking dashing and heroic, and he finally understood the true meaning of "a day apart feels like three autumns".
He unconsciously raised the corners of his lips and walked closer to her. "You've come."
Looking at the incomparably handsome man in front of her, Xia Yixin felt that his smile was a bit silly and cute, and she couldn't help but smile as well.
"Same as always, let me check your pulse first." Xia Yixin stretched out her hand to him, and he obediently let her check his pulse.
His pulse was much steady and strong, which put Xia Yixin at ease.
She let go of my hand and reminded me, "Next time you want to go hiking or horseback riding, it's best to postpone it for a while, otherwise it might recur. However, I still want to thank you for going so far to plead with the old lady for me and for letting me stay in the West Garden. Thank you."
She handed over the bamboo basket she was carrying in her other hand.
Chu Mubai did not accept the reply, "This is what I should do for Madam."
"Let's keep things separate. You also sent over so much furniture." Xia Yixin said, forcefully stuffing the small bamboo basket into his arms. "You can usually mix these six kinds of herbal teas with tea leaves. You drank one of them this morning. All six are suitable for strengthening the body recently."
She gave a brief introduction, and after the other party took it, she took out the pile of silver notes and land deeds from her bosom and placed them on the table. "And these, I'm returning them to you. I almost tore them up before, so you must keep them safe."
When Chu Mubai saw what she had slammed on the table, his eyes darkened slightly, and the smile on his lips gradually faded.
"Does Madam always calculate everything so precisely?"
On the other side.
Xiaoman made the bed, then folded it again, and then made it again. She went back and forth several times before finally managing to make the bed neatly and properly.
She was so distracted that she realized almost half an incense stick's time had passed. Just as she was blushing and her heart was pounding as she guessed that Xia Yixin wouldn't be back tonight, she heard Xia Yixin yawning outside.
"Xiaoman, is the bed ready?" Xia Yixin didn't care about Xiaoman's disappointed look. She just wanted to wash up and go to sleep. She peeked into the room and saw that the bed was made. She then turned around and went to the bathroom. She quickly washed up, changed her clothes, and lay down on the bed.
Her mind was now filled with Chu Mubai's previous conversation.
His words actually exposed her inner thoughts. She knew him so well that not wanting to take advantage of him actually meant she didn't want their relationship to be too ambiguous.
However, Xia Yixin certainly couldn't say this to his face. She could only use the excuse that "the previous bet is null and void, and he should naturally return what he 'lost' to her."
Chu Mubai seemed to have anticipated her response, and said calmly, "Regardless of the outcome of the bet, consider these as payment for the medicine you provided for the Seven Deadly Poisons Dispelling Information. Moreover, these have all been transferred to your name. How can you take back something you've given away?"
Helpless, she had to compromise. "Since you insist, then consider it as buying out this prescription from me. But it would be a waste to sell the shop and all that. How about we cooperate and split the shop's future profits 30/70, you get 70% and I get 30%?"
Unexpectedly, Chu Mubai still refused.
"These shops are already under your name, so why should I forcibly take away the money they earn?"
Xia Yixin was truly at a loss for words. Was this man really going to be the ruthless regent in the future?
After much persuasion, Chu Mubai finally agreed to a 70/30 split, with Chu Mubai's people managing everything from staff to operations, while she would only be responsible for the general positioning of the stores.
With her management experience in the modern Xia Group, Xia Yixin quickly set her sights on something that none of the people in Nanyu dared to touch at the moment—franchising.
The original owner, Mary Sue Zi Linglong, opened Tianfu Pastry Shop only for her own appetite and didn't have much money-making skills. Later, these shops were just small-scale operations, only famous in the capital. But the shops she now owns are all carefully selected by Chu Mubai in the most prosperous areas of major towns in Nanyu.
Therefore, it would be perfect to use these vacant shops for franchising. Anyway, following the lead of the original female lead will definitely not be a loss.
Chu Mubai was also shocked by her idea and found the concepts of "franchising" and "investment" novel. Xia Yixin then shared her later plans for the store and her modern marketing strategies.
Chu Mubai is very intelligent; he often understands things quickly and can apply what he has learned to other situations.
Before long, the two of them talked until their throats were dry, and she found herself holding many other things in a daze.
For example, Chu Mubai gave her the key to his private vault, saying, "Anyway, she is his wife in name only, and also his partner, so he trusts her."
Furthermore, Chu Mubai entrusted her with the safekeeping of his other properties and land deeds.
Only then did she realize that this man, who had appeared sickly for over a decade, possessed wealth, both openly and secretly, that was no less than that of the Nangong family, the richest family in Nanyu.
He even had a dedicated network of contacts in Beiming.
No wonder the Grand Tutor's position has remained unshaken for so many years.
It wasn't until Chu Mubai started coughing again due to prolonged excitement that she realized it was already late at night.
Before she left, Chu Mubai reminded her that the two of them should go to Nanyuan to pay their respects to the old lady early the next morning, and that they should go every three days thereafter, as this was the rule of the manor.
Outside the window, the distant sound of the night watchman's gong could be heard.
Xia Yixin, however, was unusually sleepless.
She rolled around in bed, clutching the blanket, and the image of the man solemnly saying, "The old lady is rather conservative, so tomorrow, when you come to the palace, it would be best if you changed into a long opera dress; red is appropriate for a wedding," flashed through her mind.
His eyes were full of doting affection.
In her mind, the system asked mischievously, "Host, you haven't fallen for the male supporting character, have you? Don't give me another 'I'll change my mind' warning."
"I wouldn't say I like him, I just think he's a nice person, and I feel a bit familiar with him..." Xia Yixin frowned in thought, then suddenly realized something. "System, what do you mean by 'again'?"
"..." The system, which had let slip the secret, was pretending to be dead.
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