Ye Chen, slow to pick up on emotional cues, didn’t grasp the true reason behind Xiao Churan’s breakdown.
He only thought that, after enduring Ma Lan’s values and behaviour for so many years, Xiao Churan might have finally reached a breaking point, and perhaps Ma Lan’s earlier words were the final straw.
So, he pulled Xiao Churan into his arms, silently patting her back.
After crying for a while, Xiao Churan’s emotions calmed slightly. Wiping away her tears, she said to Ye Chen, “Walk with me along the beach.”
“Alright,” Ye Chen agreed readily, taking her hand as they strolled onto the sandy shore, walking slowly through the waves, neither speaking, enjoying a rare moment of just the two of them.
By now, the Spring Festival Gala was nearing its end.
Many guests had left the restaurant and returned to their rooms.
Meanwhile, at the base island of the Po Qing Society.
Wu Feiyan watched the gala in silence, a cold smirk on her face as she said to Wu Tianlin beside her, “Ever since the Ye and An families reconciled, their moves have grown bolder. This Changying Automobile they’ve set up is like a thorn in my side!”
Wu Tianlin immediately replied, “Leader, Changying Automobile is still in its development phase. Should we send some agents to cause some trouble?”
Wu Feiyan waved her hand, “I know the An family is in China. Sending the three elders would likely wipe them out completely, but I haven’t acted for two reasons: one, I don’t know the depth of that mysterious enemy in the shadows, and two, An Qishan, that old fox, is heavily investing in China right now. If I touch him, let alone wipe out his entire family, the Po Qing Society’s end would come.”
Wu Tianlin asked, “Leader, if we don’t do something, the An and Ye families are acting so high-profile. I’m worried their antics will disturb your peace…”
Wu Feiyan gritted her teeth.
What Wu Tianlin said was exactly the thorn in her heart.
Her eyes filled with murderous intent, her expression dark as she said, “For years, after An Chengqi and Ye Changying’s deaths, the An and Ye families kept a low profile. I always suspected An Chengqi was still alive, so I didn’t exterminate them completely and sent a scholar to the An family to gather information. But for twenty years, there’s been no sign that An Chengqi is alive…”
She frowned, her voice cold, “Anyone else would think they were overthinking, or that An Chengqi died at Changsheng Bo’s hands. But I’ve never let my guard down, always feeling she’s alive, plotting revenge against me in the shadows! I twice planned to wipe out the An family to force her out, but she didn’t show, and instead, a powerful mysterious figure appeared. This chess game is getting more and more complicated…”
Wu Tianlin knelt on one knee, respectfully saying, “Leader, if An Chengqi never shows and we have no leads on that mysterious figure, I boldly suggest we go all out and fight them to the death!”
“Hm?” Wu Feiyan countered, “Why do you say that?”
Wu Tianlin clasped his fists above his head, loudly declaring, “Leader! I know An Chengqi and Lin Wan’er may hold the secret to your thousand-year longevity. I dare say something deserving of death: if An Chengqi delays your thousand-year life, why care about the Po Qing Society’s four-hundred-year legacy? Why not go all in and fight them to the end? Even if it provokes those great powers, so what? At worst, we abandon this base. With your strength, who in this world could stop you?”
Wu Feiyan looked at Wu Tianlin, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
