Chapter 24 Trouble
Ren Ye called his mother and was given Deng Jie's contact number, he took a taxi and was driven to the location he had given the driver. The driver drove them further outside the city to the suburbs.
Although the suburbs were more than thirty minutes away from the main city, the regions were largely developed and organized neatly. They were mostly residential buildings, and further away were the industrial zones where Uncle Jie's company was located at.
Ren Ye noticed a large block of buildings one of them being the noticeable one with multiple yellow cars parked in front of it which Ren Ye could determine was Uncle Jie's company.
Ren Ye paid the driver and took Ren Jia into his arms, walking up and lifting his head to look at the large banner on the building.
'JS Co."
"Papa! It's that smelly sir again!"
Ren Ye felt a tug in his arms, casting his eyes on Ren Jia before looking at where she was looking at. He was able to recognize a familiar yet unfamiliar person in front of the building, the young figure had a buzzcut and his chest exposed; it was none other than the young master whom he had met at the restaurant.
"..."
The young man immediately recognized who Ren Ye was and was rendered speechless, he cried out in disbelief, "You!"
"Are you here to insult me again? Why are you here?"
"I could ask the same about you," Ren Ye glanced at him with a deadpan expression.
"This is my father's company, how dare you act frivolously!" The young man's mouth twitched before curling up into a smirk, "This is good! You just put yourself right in front of his doorsteps, I'll teach you a lesson for insulting me-"
"Little Ye, is that you?"
Both of them overheard a soft gentle voice coming from the entrance as they turned to glance toward the source of the voice. The young man pursed his lips tightly.
In front of the door was a middle-aged in his 50s with white sideburns, holding a cup of hot coffee. The middle-aged man pushed his black-rimmed glasses upwards and squinted his eyes, he was wearing a green sweater and brown pants; glancing at the both of them with shock.
The middle-aged appeared much more different, more aged than when Ren Ye had last seen him when he was studying at university.
"Little Ye?"
Ren Ye nodded his head and greeted him, "Good afternoon, Uncle Jie."
He gently nudge Ren Jia to greet him as she spoke up with her crispy voice, "Ren Jia greets Grandpa Jie!"
"Marvelous, I have been waiting for the both of you," Uncle Jie chuckled with joy and gestured them to enter the building, "Come inside and make yourself at home."
"Dad, you know who this man is?" The young man glanced between Ren Ye and Uncle Jie with a nervous expression.
"Of course, he was the person I was telling you about. He's the son of Uncle Shaoqing."
"You! It was you," The young man pointed at him with a stupefied face.
Ren Ye snorted and left the young man standing in shock, going inside and taking off his shoes. Uncle Jie let out a string of laughter and exclaimed loudly, "Shaoqing's twin is here!"
"..."
'Don't compare me to that old geezer…'
Ren Ye entered the spacious building where many cars were parked, he went inside the air-conditioned room and sat down in front of the manager's table, he couldn't help but glance around the room.
He noticed a picture on the table, it was of two young men standing next to each other with the friendly-looking one placing his arm on the grumpy-looking man; smiling widely at the camera while the other one looked dead in his eyes. It was of his father and Uncle Jie.
He assumed it was taken back in his university days.
Uncle Jie gestured to the servant to bring cups and hot tea, to welcome the both of them. Ren Ye refused because the both of them had just eaten, but he still did it anyways.
"Tell me about what has happened at home. How is your mother?"
Uncle Jie poured hot tea and placed it in front of them, glancing at the both of them with contentment and joy.
"She is doing alright," Ren Ye lowered his head and spoke emotionlessly.
Uncle Jie shook his head gloomily and patted Ren Ye on his shoulder, "I apologize to her on your father's behalf. It is a shame a wife has to go through so many things because of the mistakes of her husband."
"Your father has been nothing but a chicken when it comes to facing his responsibilities, he had almost left you as a child once."
"..."
Ren Ye nodded his head, "Uncle Jie, have you found anything regarding my father all these years?"
Uncle Jie rubbed his chin and shook his head, his eyes were filled with complex emotions, "I have gotten a lot of people trying to find him but we weren't able to do so."
"I can only assume the worst and that is your father has chosen to take a new identity. We have been tracing every single thing and everyone that your father has gone to, including his steps."
"We found nothing."
"It's alright, your help is very much appreciated," Ren Ye thanked Uncle Jie, "Although I believe it is my duty instead to figure out where he went. Uncle Jie can relax in peace."
"You are looking for a job, am I right?"
"Yes."
"I have reserved one for you, you can start whenever you want."
"I have a few favors to ask from you, Uncle Jie."
"What is it?" Uncle Jie listened carefully and took a sip of hot coffee.
Unlike his son, Deng Jie has always been a patient and kind-hearted man; it was a bit shocking for outsiders to find out he has a spoiled and arrogant son. Ren Ye knew his temperament extremely well, the kindness he has given to his family when the Ren Family was at its lowest was unmatched.
"I want to have my daughter next to me when I work," Ren Ye spoke with a serious tone, maintaining Uncle Jie's eyes with blank eyes; he knows he won't be able to refuse anyways.
"Hmm," Uncle Jie rubbed the handle of his cup and placed it in front of his mouth, "I think I can make it work."
"There's been a few cases here where fathers work with their children riding in the same car but with more safety requirements than usual so it is nothing," Uncle Jie complied and laughed with a bit of self-entitlement, "Our company is one of the best at hospitality and service."
"With an adorable child like your daughter, it is even easier for you to get five stars in your name."
"Five stars?"
"When your name is registered in the application system and when you complete a ride, the customer is able to rate your service using stars. Five stars are when your service is perfect and will give you a good name in the app."
Ren Ye couldn't help but glance at Ren Jia in a different light, asking the thoughts inside his head with a complicated face,
"Are you saying that Ren Jia will help me gather more customers?"
"Yep!"
Ren Ye continued to stare at Ren Jia with a blank expression, causing the little girl to purse her lips awkwardly and turn her head to the other side.
'Jia'er knows Papa is scheming to use Jia'er to make money,' The little girl humphed with a funny expression.
The little girl's guess was correct as Ren Ye thought inwardly, 'I may have to use this adorable little girl to have the passengers rate me a five star. If I don't, we won't able to pay rent…'
Uncle Jie let out a bitter laugh and cast his eyes onto the little girl in front of him who was glancing at him with adorable glossy eyes, "You must be Ren Jia."
"Grandpa got some candies for you," Uncle Jie grinned mischievously and took out a bag of milk candies, causing the little girl's eyes to be glued to his hand and drooled.
"Dad, we have some trouble," The young man barged inside and spoke with a panicked expression. Uncle Jie immediately stood up from his seat and asked with an angry tone,
"Ming'er, what is it?"
"They are back."
Ren Ye's eyes immediately grew stern and he became alert, sensing there was some incoming trouble. He glanced toward Ren Jia with a hidden worried expression and turned to ask Old Yi for help, 'Old Yi, I sense something is wrong.'
'Could you come out and accompany Jia'er for a couple of minutes?'
'Alright,' Old Yi replied with a serious tone and detached himself from Ren Ye's physical form, bringing a board game alongside him, and glanced at the little girl with a smile.
"Let's play some games while we wait for your Papa to beat some monsters up, hehe!"
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