Chapter 90: Do You Like Si Yechen?

At 11:30 in the evening, Ou Yan finally returned to the Lakeside Villa.

"Sister, you're back?"

Li Yusha, who was about to go downstairs, saw Ou Yan stepping upstairs. A gust of wind happened to blow, revealing the kiss marks on Ou Yan's neck, catching Li Yusha's eyes.

Li Yusha's heart felt as if it had been struck by a blunt object, and the pain hit her, unbelievably.

"Sister, why are you back so late? Were you out with Brother-in-law?"

Even though she knew that Ou Yan was likely with Si Yechen, seeing the kiss marks on her neck made it difficult for Li Yusha to accept.

Si Yechen, such a restrained person, how could he passionately kiss a woman like this?

"It doesn't matter whether we have a curfew at home or not. You should come back early. If it gets out, people will say our family has no discipline."

Ou Yan raised her eyes and casually asked, "Do you like Si Yechen?"

"I, I certainly don't like him..." Li Yusha lowered her head, denying, unable to meet Ou Yan's gaze.

Not that she was afraid of this person, but she was afraid that Ou Yan would complain to her parents. Even if she liked Si Yechen, she wouldn't admit it in front of Ou Yan.

"In that case, keep your distance from him," Ou Yan's tone was indifferent, showing no emotions. "Mind your own business."

"Sister..."

Li Yusha watched Ou Yan go upstairs step by step, unable to help clenching her fists.

Just a wild girl, grown up in a small place, why did she dare to speak to her like this? Does she think she's impressive just because she's the legitimate daughter returned to the Li family?

Ou Yan returned to her room, and her phone suddenly vibrated. It was Da Hei calling.

"Boss, the matter with the S Gang has been resolved. Also, you asked me to check the cause of the fire at the Sanjiang Hospital on September 10 eighteen years ago. Now there's some progress."

"The janitor Yun Xiang, who picked up Bai Muyao, once told her good friend that on that night, it was pouring rain, and due to the poor roads and heavy rain, many areas were prone to flooding and needed drainage assistance."

"Around two in the morning, Yun Xiang and a few janitors were cleaning the streets and garbage near the manhole covers, helping with drainage. After a while, they suddenly heard a deafening explosion."

"Subsequently, the explosions continued one after another. Initially, Yun Xiang dared not approach. When they later went to rescue people, they discovered that several unmarked black cars were leaving in the opposite direction."

"In that era, in that place, very few people had cars. I guess that the arson incident should be related to those cars."

Ou Yan's eyes deepened. "Who could it be and for what reason did they destroy the entire hospital?"

"I find it strange too... At that time, Yun Xiang was only concerned about saving people and didn't pay much attention. If she had noticed who was in the car or any distinctive features, it would have been better for the investigation."

"But now, Yun Xiang is not in a good situation."

"Huh?" Ou Yan raised an eyebrow.

Isn't she Bai Muyao's adoptive mother?

Although Bai Muyao has returned to the Bai family now, Yun Xiang, who has raised Bai Muyao for so many years, how could she end up in a miserable state?

"Bai Muyao recognized her roots, and the Bai family gave Yun Xiang a hundred thousand. Yun Xiang refused and only wanted to see Bai Muyao when she had free time. However, Bai Muyao didn't recognize her and didn't want to have anything to do with her."

"And Yun Xiang has been to the Bai family several times, but the Bai family's servants drove her away. Now her health is not good, she has no income, and she has no children or relatives to take care of her. She is quite pitiful."

"Raised a white-eyed wolf." Ou Yan knew Bai Muyao's character. In the past, her identity might have embarrassed her. She would rather kick Yun Xiang away and climb up the social ladder.

"There's another strange point. The high-level personnel of the hospital at that time are all missing, and the archive room is gone."

"Now we can only investigate further from Yun Xiang and other rescuers to find useful clues. But boss, be prepared; it may not yield results quickly."

"Understood." As Ou Yan spoke, her phone vibrated again. She glanced at it and saw a call from Si Ye Chen. "I'll hang up."

After a brief conversation with Si Yechen, Ou Yan took a shower and went to bed.

In her dreams, she seemed to return to the Bai family, where she saw a little girl holding Xu Aiqin's hand, tearfully asking, "Mom, when will you come back next time?"

"Bai Ouyan, have you had enough? Your dad and I are busy all day long. Do you think we have time to spare? You had a fever of 39 degrees, and you want us to come and see you?!"

The little Ouyan felt a bit wronged, quietly sobbing, "I didn't..."

"If it weren't for you telling your grandmother, would your grandmother have called us, forcing us to come back? Do you know that our trip back caused the project to fail again!

Seeing Xu Aiqin leaving after opening the door, Bai Zhenhai hurriedly followed, "Wife, don't be like this... She's just a child who misses us."

"What child!" Xu Aiqin was angry. "Have you ever seen a child at such a young age using elders against us? Look at how my mom is biased towards her! Bai Ouyan, I tell you, the more you do this, the more I dislike you! Crying and sobbing all the time is annoying!"

The little Ouyan wiped away her tears, as if she had made a decision in her heart. If she became more outstanding, helped the family make money, would her parents still have to work so hard?

Would they like her more?

With the help of several grandfathers, she became outstanding, and only then did she realize that the relationship between Grandma Bai and Xu Aiqin was not good. Because of the equity issue, it had caused some unpleasantness...

Xu Aiqin didn't like Grandma Bai, and every time Grandma Bai favored Ouyan, Xu Aiqin disliked Ouyan even more...

Xu Aiqin even felt that Ouyan was an ominous star. Every time she returned, there would be mistakes at work. So she became less and less willing to return to this family.

Over the years, Bai Zhenhai and Xu Aiqin's return home was rare, and the affection between them and Ouyan was very thin.

In the past, Xu Aiqin didn't like to hear Ouyan cry. Slowly, Ouyan became a child who didn't cry. In the eyes of outsiders, she even appeared a bit icy, lacking in human emotions.

She didn't know how long it took in her dream, but Ou Yan opened her eyes again, and the sky outside the window was already bright.

Her heart felt empty.

Picking up her phone to check, it was only 6:30, and there were a few unread WeChat messages on the screen from Si Yechen.

【Yan Yan.】

【Miss you so much, can't sleep.】

【Want to hold you while sleeping.】

The empty feeling in Ou Yan's heart just now seemed to be filled with something. The sense of loss disappeared, replaced by a faint happiness.

 Chapter 89: Already Quite Restrained

Like today, kissing a girl so passionately and intensely, it was the first time in history!

After an unknown period, Si Yechen released her, "Indeed not bad."

"..." Ou Yan felt a bit annoyed. She wanted to know something, and there was still another cup of floral tea there, right?! This guy brought her here, couldn't it be for the convenience of doing something bad?

"If you touch me again, I won't come next time." Ou Yan warned.

"Hmm?"

"I won't dine with you anymore." Ou Yan knew that this guy's habit of being handsy couldn't be changed, so it had to be cut off at the source.

Try to reduce the number of meetings, minimize alone time...

Hearing this, Si Yechen assessed her eyes, "Are you angry?"

Seeing Ou Yan not responding, Si Yechen asked softly again, "Was the kiss just now not good, making you angry?"

"You..." Si Yechenpressed his lips against hers again, savoring the sweet taste bit by bit.

On the side, Qiu Yue was truly enlightened. It seemed like the master really liked this girl, liked her to the bone...

Words like these flowed so naturally from the master's mouth...

And it didn't seem out of place at all!

After being kissed by him, Ou Yan felt a bit embarrassed, "Si Ye Chen!"

There was still a housekeeper standing nearby, and the posture was too ambiguous. She really wanted to get down!

"Was this kiss not good enough? Hmm?" Si Yechen's nose touched hers, and his mesmerizing eyes still carried lingering deep affection.

Ou Yan didn't want to answer this question.

Si Ye Chen kissed her again, and after an unknown period, he stopped and asked, "Will you come next time?"

"..."

"Hmm?" Si Ye Chen started to peck her lips again, "Will you still dine with me?"

"..." Ou Yan was truly enlightened, "Si Yechen, you're becoming more shameless."

"Only shameless in front of you." Si Yechen continued to kiss her bit by bit, "And I want to be even more shameless..."

"..."

"Will you come again? Hmm?" Si Yechen insisted on getting the answer he liked.

Ou Yan said a bit irritably, "Depends on my mood."

"How's your mood then?" Si Ye Chen asked while kissing, "What can make it better?"

"Let me down first."

Si Yechen seemed to understand, "Looks like you don't like it here."

"You finally figured it out!"

Si Yechen lifted her up and walked upstairs step by step, "Then let's change the place."

"Where are you taking me?"

"Sightseeing."

Ou Yan was taken to his room. The room was clean, tidy, and spacious. Before turning on the lights, the large glass wall outside revealed a crescent-shaped moonlit lake, as beautiful as a fairyland in a fairy tale.

"Yan Yan..." Si Ye Chen's voice was especially charming, "I want you to adapt to married life in advance."

"..." Ou Yan pushed against his sturdy chest, "If you act like a hooligan again, I'll be really angry."

"Then give me a little sweetness first?" Si Yechen kissed her again bit by bit, "The days are long, and waiting is hard."

"..." After being kissed by him for quite a while, Ou Yan finally said, "Let me down."

Her feet hadn't touched the floor of his house today!

"You still haven't answered my question just now." Si Ye Chen held her and didn't let go, "Will you come in the future?"

"..."

"Hmm? Will you come or not?"

Ou Yan gritted her teeth, "I will."

"Will you still dine with me? Hmm?" Si Yechen insisted on getting an answer.

Ou Yan could only endure and said, "I will dine with you."

Si Yechen smiled and finally let her down, "Look outside the window."

Ou Yan had noticed the crescent-shaped lake earlier. Under the moonlight, she could also see flowers and plants near the lake, as beautiful as a fairyland.

"What kind of flowers do you like?" Si Yechen, holding her from behind, admired her beautiful profile, "I want to make every flower, tree, and plant here into what you like."

"Qing Mu said that girls like roses." Si Ye Chen's gaze fell on the scenery outside, "I originally wanted to plant ninety-nine different varieties of roses before you came, but I was afraid you wouldn't like it."

Ou Yan's heart seemed to be touched, like a bud quietly opening.

"Our home, you naturally decide what flowers and plants to have." Si Yechen asked, lowering his head, "Tell me what you like."

Ou Yan thought for a moment and said, "I don't have a particular favorite flower. If I have to choose one, it should be the Gesang flower."

Not the charming rose, not the proud plum blossom, not the pink cherry blossoms, and not the blue lavender...

"Do you know the flower language of Gesang flowers?" Si Yechen asked softly in her ear.

"Hmm?"

"Pity the person in front of you." Si Yechen whispered softly, "Gesang flowers represent happiness and beauty."

Living in a home surrounded by happiness and beauty, their feelings would surely be even better.

"What about this home?" Si Yechen continued to ask, "Is there anything that needs to be changed?"

"You." Ou Yan looked at him, "Be more restrained in the future, okay?"

"I'm afraid it's not possible." Si Yechen wrapped his slender waist even more greedily, and his voice fell softly in her ear, "I'm already quite restrained."

"..."

After an unknown period, Qing Mu finished eating outside, returned to the villa entrance, and waited left and right. He still didn't see Master and Miss Ou Yan coming out.

He checked the time; it was already nine o'clock at night!

Master, when he's with Miss Ou Yan, always forgets about time. He also couldn't rush it, so he kept waiting outside.

"Assistant Qing." Qiu Yue walked out of the gate with a kind smile, "Come inside for a hot tea; Master and Madam might not come out so soon... This time, I think the old master's knot is going to be untied, and there's hope for Master's marriage!"

In the past, no matter how the old master tried to match Master with Miss Yusha, Master always ignored it.

Now, he seemed to really like Madam.

"Uncle Qiu, you don't know. The old master is very satisfied with Miss Ou Yan. He even gave her the necklace." 

"You're talking about one of the dowries of the old lady back then, the crown necklace?" Qiu Yue was shocked. He didn't expect the girl to be recognized by the Si family so quickly.

Entering the Si family's gate is not so simple...

"Yes." Qingmu followed Qiu Yue into the house and smiled, "Master Chen personally said that he won't marry anyone in his life except Miss Ou Yan."

Qiu Yue was even more surprised, "What about the Li family..."

"Oh, you mean Miss Yusha?" Qingmu didn't expose her identity as a fake rich woman but said, "Master Chen doesn't like her."

"Well, that's good, that's good..." Qiu Yue was worried that the two families would tear their faces because of this. Fortunately, they are still one family in the end. This is fate, fate...

 Chapter 153: Saving Lives Takes Priority

Next Chapter ▶▶

Chapter 609: Are You Afraid of the Pain of Soul Tearing?

A158's ordinary facial features twisted into a sinister expression, filled with intense malice.

Staring into his fearless and calm eyes, Qin Ruan chuckled softly.

She patted his face mockingly, "Are you the one who wants to kill me?"

In a disadvantaged position, A158 coldly sneered at Qin Ruan, "As long as I don't die, I'll definitely kill her."

Anyone who dares to hit him will be killed!

Qin Ruan's voice turned ice-cold, her deep and chilling eyes showing murderous intent, "You're not afraid of death or pain, are you?"

As she finished speaking, she pushed A158 to the ground.

She stepped on his ankle.

A crisp sound followed.

A158's ankle made a clear cracking sound.

Yet, his face remained calm as if he didn't feel any pain.

He turned his head, those cold and vicious eyes glaring disdainfully at Qin Ruan.

Those eyes seemed to say, "Is that all? It's not worth mentioning at all!"

Qin Ruan continued to step on A158's ankle.

Seeing his seemingly indifferent reaction, curiosity flickered in her clear eyes.

This man truly couldn't feel pain.

Qin Ruan applied force, cruelly pressing down on the already broken ankle.

If it were a normal person enduring such pain, they would have been screaming long ago.

But A158 didn't even make a sound, his expression so calm that it seemed like he was just an observer, not the one being tortured.

Hou Chuan, Hou Zhi, and the members of the Punishment Hall looked unsurprised by all this.

They knew A158 was a dangerous individual, the only one capable of enduring various forms of torture from the Punishment Hall without revealing any valuable information.

Neither physical nor mental torment, nor hypnotic methods, could make him speak.

Seeing Qin Ruan's endurance test on A158's pain, Huo Chuan showed a curious expression and approached.

"Madam, this man has undergone professional training. He can withstand specialized torture used to extract confessions by shutting down his body's pain response through sheer willpower."

Qin Ruan's cold gaze shifted to A158's restrained hands.

His hands were spread open, the ugly joints relaxed.

He truly couldn't feel pain.

Not even a bit.

Qin Ruan withdrew her foot and raised her chin to Huochuan, "Lift him up."

Huo Chuan walked forward and roughly lifted A158 in front of Qin Ruan.

Looking down at A158 from a higher position, Qin Ruan's eyes showed curiosity, "Are you really not afraid of pain?"

A158 sneered, "Guess if I am or not."

Qin Ruan's clear eyes seemed innocent, but they held unfathomable depths.

She leaned down closer to A158, her lips curved into a faint smile.

Then, in a cool tone, she said, "So, are you afraid of the pain of soul tearing?"

A158's expression slightly froze, but then he burst into laughter, "Come on, I'm not afraid of you!"

He thought Qin Ruan was talking about mental torment, like hypnosis.

Qin Ruan sneered lightly, her eyes sharp as a blade.

Placing her hand on A158's head, a faint golden light flashed in her palm, invisible to the naked eye.

At that moment, when her hand made contact, A158 felt a terrifying chill.

An oppressive feeling that he couldn't describe.

It was like the breath of death gradually closing in on him.

If it really was death, then so be it.

His keen intuition told him that things weren't that simple. In the hands of this woman, he might really end up worse than dead.

In that instant, a change occurred.

Feeling something more terrifying than death, A158 quickly broke free.

He shook off the handcuffs, and the shackles on his feet were also broken.

A series of actions completed almost in an instant.

A158, seemingly unaffected by the pain in his ankles, dragged his broken foot and charged towards Hou Zhi.

Hou Zhi had decent skills, but she had just recovered from a serious illness and was no match for him.

As she attempted to dodge, she realized it was too late and had no choice but to engage in a struggle with A158.

They exchanged blows, but A158 easily overpowered Hou Zhi.

He grabbed her neck tightly, using considerable force, and his hand's tendons bulged.

Hou Zhi couldn't breathe, and in an instant, she was suffocating, unable to resist.

"Xiao Zhi!"

As A158 almost broke free, Hou Chuan immediately stood in front of Qin Ruan.

Seeing Hou Zhi being controlled, having a close encounter with death, he couldn't forget who was standing behind him.

Even though his companion was in distress, it wasn't as important as Madam's safety.

Suddenly, A158 sniffed something from Hou Zhi's body. He leaned closer to her neck and took a close whiff.

Eventually, he smelled a faint scent of blood at her chest.

He probed at the wound in her heart, pressing down with force, causing the pungent smell of blood to fill the air.

The pale-colored clothes Hou Zhi was wearing today had been stained with a faint blood-red hue.

A158's actions caused a secondary injury to Hou Zhi's wounds.

He brought his blood-stained hand to his nose, deeply smelling the scent on his fingertips.

Under the furious gazes of the others in the room, he put his fingers into his mouth.

The sweet and bloody taste spread in his mouth.

A158 looked sinisterly at Hou Zhi, "This taste is really nice, she's just a little chick."

His gaze on Hou Zhi was like that of a predator eyeing its prey, eager to devour her.

Qin Ruan pushed Hou Chuan aside, confronting A158 face to face.

A hint of coldness appeared in her eyes, and her disdainful expression had long turned into a sharp line.

She coldly said, "I advise you to let her go. Maybe I'll give you a quick death."

"Do you think I'm stupid?!"

A158 seemed to enjoy the blood on Hou Zhi's body, as he once again touched her wounds and tasted the blood.

The dark guards in the room surrounded A158 when he captured Huozhi.

Seeing their hands reaching for something behind their backs, A158's eyes filled with murderous intent.

He hoarsely warned, "Don't even think about controlling me with those things. If you dare to bring out any sedatives, I'll break this woman's neck!"

After his bold declaration, fearing they wouldn't take him seriously, A158 tightened his grip on Hou Zhi's neck.

At this point, Hou Zhi was barely able to breathe.

Hou Chuan tightly clenched his fist, and the other dark guards around also had grim expressions.

Hou Zhi was one of the leaders of the dark guards, and her death was no less important than Madam's safety.

Feeling the suffocation, her consciousness became blurry.

With half-opened eyes, she saw the cold and sinister expression on Madam's face and the anxious and worried look on Hou Chuan.

Suddenly, a surge of powerful energy erupted from her body. She reached out and grabbed A158's other arm, twisting it. When he tried to counterattack, she used a shoulder throw to slam him to the ground.

A158 was not an easy opponent, but Hou Zhi caught him off guard and tightly gripped his neck.

The two of them fell to the ground together in a desperate struggle.

Even in death, she wouldn't let him off easily.

A158 applied force, intending to break Huozhi's neck.

In a swift motion, he felt an inexplicable force enveloping his body, causing his grip to gradually loosen.

His body floated upward slowly, feeling an uncontrollable emptiness, unable to grasp anything, which filled him with panic.

Qin Ruan extended her hand in the air, releasing the power of the Grim Reaper, incapacitating A158.

Hou Zhi escaped danger and got up from the ground, coughing in a disheveled state.

There was a red mark around her neck, clearly visible on her fair skin.

"Bang!"

A loud noise rang out as A158 fell beside Hou Zhi.

He wasn't affected by pain, reaching out toward Hou Zhi at close range.

Qin Ruan's hand in the void did not retract, and the power of the Grim Reaper still wrapped around A158.

Seeing him reaching for Hou Zhi, she once again controlled his body, making him float up and collide with the roof.

"Bang!"

Another loud noise.

"Bang bang!"

A158's body repeatedly collided with the roof.

His body was like a sack, continuously crashing against the roof.

Having had enough fun, Qin Ruan grabbed A158 to her in mid-air.

Chapter 608: You Will Cry and Beg to Tell Me Everything

Every day, Hou Chuan repeats these words several times to Qin Ruan.

Everyone around her keeps reminding her that she can't be restless while pregnant and needs to take care of the child in her belly.

Though she worries about the safety of her unborn baby, it's not as fragile as a porcelain doll.

Being constantly scrutinized in her actions and behaviors puts Qin Ruan in a delicate mood.

"I understand," Qin Ruan responds coldly and continues walking.

Hou Chuan steps forward again to stop her and says, "Madam, let me handle this."

Knowing that Qin Ruan wants to see the faces of the three men, he approaches them first.

Hou Chuan roughly removes the black hoods from their heads, revealing three pale and unhealthy-looking faces.

Qin Ruan gazes at the three men, eventually locking her eyes on the man kneeling on the left.

He appears to be the most harmless among them.

With ordinary features and a weak aura, he doesn't seem to fit in with the other two ferocious criminals kneeling there.

Qin Ruan senses an indescribable sense of incongruity about him.

Standing beside the man, Hou Chuan's expression turns exceptionally serious.

His eyes blaze with anger, and a chilling resentment radiates from him.

Without a doubt, this seemingly average and unremarkable man is the dangerous individual behind the attempt to assassinate Hou Yirong.

Qin Ruan chuckles lightly, a mocking expression on her face. "Is it him?"

"Yes, Madam," Hou Chuan confirms, his muscles tensing and his eyes fixed on A158, who looks just like an ordinary person.

That face is highly deceptive, making it his most advantageous disguise.

Otherwise, five of Hou Chuan's brothers wouldn't have fallen victim to him.

Of course, A158 possesses considerable abilities himself.

Qin Ruan signals Lin Hao to come forward, and he promptly approaches her.

She extends her hand to Lin Hao, who hands over the detailed information about the three men that the Judicial Hall had brought.

Qin Ruan smiles, her charm and allure captivating, but the smile doesn't reach her eyes.

She reviews the information, finally confirming that there are no traces of A158's identity.

She bites her lip and points her delicate jade finger at A158, saying, "Then let's start with him."

With her words, Qin Ruan determines A158's fate.

Hou Chuan has countless thoughts in his heart, but he dares not intervene at this moment.

Qin Ruan had no intention of giving up the interrogation today, so he can only go about his duties and present A158 before her.

Qin Ruan closes the information in her hand and teases Hou Chuan, "There is no record of any torture involving him in the files. Just tell me directly, what do you want to find out from him?"

Hou Chuan throws the man to the ground, a glint of bitterness in his eyes, and says in a low voice, "Madam, this man is very tight-lipped. The Punishment Hall has tried various torture methods for months, but they couldn't make him talk."

"So, he's tough?" Qin Ruan's gaze flickers as she scrutinizes A158, who is still kneeling on the ground.

The Punishment Hall has many difficult cases, but this one seems to be the most challenging.

Huo Chuan clenches his lips, seemingly struggling to express something.

On the other hand, A158 raises his head abruptly.

He doesn't have the ordinary and honest look, but his eagle-like eyes lock onto Qin Ruan with contempt, disdain, and evident mockery.

Qin Ruan doesn't think she said anything wrong, but A158's expression suggests that he really isn't afraid of pain, and he seems proud of it.

Seeing his arrogance annoys her, and she desires to witness him beg for mercy on his knees.

Qin Ruan tuts softly.

She feels that she's becoming increasingly cold-blooded these days, as she can't help but want to see someone in a miserable state.

Her gaze lowers slightly, focusing on A158's legs and feet, restrained by chains.

There's also a sophisticated electronic ring around his neck, looking high-tech.

Qin Ruan points at the electronic ring on A158's neck and asks Huo Chuan, "What is that?"

Hou Chuan explains that anyone imprisoned in the Purse Hall wears an anti-suicide sensor on their neck. If they attempt suicide, the sensor injects anesthesia to prevent them from succeeding.

Qin Ruan finds it the first time she hears about such a precautionary device and looks curiously at the compact sensor.

A158 meets Qin Ruan's gaze and grimaces in displeasure.

If he could move, he would definitely attack her and tear her apart.

Seeing his change from the previous submissive demeanor, Qin Ruan couldn't help but scoff, "An eagle with broken wings is equivalent to being abandoned by nature. And you're even worse than an eagle. If you want to die, you better behave and grovel properly. Who knows, the master might show mercy and let you have a quick death."

Her words are ruthless, hitting A158 hard.

He gradually loses his arrogance, staring coldly at Qin Ruan.

"Little girl, don't waste your time trying to get anything out of me. I won't tell you a single word," A158 says with a hoarse, unpleasant voice.

Qin Ruan smiles, a touch of icy coldness in her eyes. "So confident?"

A158 smirks wickedly, "Call me 'daddy,' and maybe I'll consider telling you something."

His eerie smile makes his ordinary features look disgusting.

Qin Ruan's beautiful face is shrouded in frost.

She slightly opens her red lips and says coldly, "You'll beg and cry, telling me everything."

A158 bursts into mocking laughter, and the sound is full of derision.

After laughing, A158 fixes his eerie gaze on Qin Ruan, especially her slightly swollen belly, and licks his lips.

In his coarse voice, he speaks again, "Little girl, I see you have some looks. If you serve me well, I might tell you something."

The others, including Hou Chuan and Lin Hao, glare at A158 like sharp blades.

Suddenly, a slender figure flashes by.

"Smack! Smack!"

A158 is faced with a thin and weak woman who rushes over and fiercely slaps him.

"Smack! Smack! Smack!"

With just a glimpse of her back, Qin Ruan and Hou Chuan recognize her as Hou Zhi, who had recovered from a serious illness.

She showed quite the skill when she rushed over.

As she continues to strike A158's face, it swells up significantly.

Hou Zhi, though still not stopping, is soon stopped by Hou Chuan.

"Enough, Madam will be interrogating him later. Don't tire him out and prevent him from speaking," Hou Chuan intervenes.

Hou Zhi turns around and bows to Qin Ruan, "Madam, I overstepped."

Qin Ruan appraises Hou Zhi and smiles genuinely, "It seems you have recovered quite well. Why are you here?"

Huo Zhi respectfully replies, "Master knew about the situation here and sent us to protect Madam."

Hearing that Hou Yunjiao knew about the sudden change here, Qin Ruan's expression slightly changes, revealing contemplation.

From her previous conversation with Hou Chuan and the dark guards from the Punishment Hall, she learned some information.

The three people supposed to be brought here were all harmless, with no dangerous factors.

Some mistake must have occurred for a highly dangerous individual like A158 to end up here.

Does this mean that Hou Yunjiao deliberately arranged all this?

A158 spits out some blood.

With no raised eyebrows or fierce expressions, he calmly stares at Hou Zhi.

"I will kill you."

It's a simple statement, without much emotional fluctuation in his voice.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ruan's calm expression instantly freezes, turning dark and terrifying.

Her cold and intense gaze seems capable of devouring everything, sending chills down one's spine.

Qin Ruan walks up to A158, grabs his hair with her bare hands, and forces him to look up.

 Chapter 54: Boyfriend Not Angry?

The woman came out from the next room, took off her sunglasses, revealing a pair of slightly enchanting eyes with a seductive charm.

She was stunningly sharp and generous.

Seeing Jiang Chenchen, her eyes raised in a teasing manner, "Oh~."

"Staff?" Jiang Chenchen shook her head.

The woman continued, "A guest on the show? This is a love reality show. Are you here to participate in 'Boyfriend Not Angry'?"

"Boyfriend?" Jiang Chenchen asked.

The woman looked her up and down, making a noncommittal sound.

Is she pretending to be clueless?

But for those who want to become famous, any means can be employed. Participating in a show while concealing her identity is nothing.

Jiang Chenchen just didn't expose her.

She shrugged and walked away.

Lu Fang came over, watching the beautiful and charming figure walk away, asking, "What did she say to you?"

Seeing her shake her head, Lu Fang whispered, "That's Chen Fangman, a popular actress in the circle. Her popularity has declined significantly due to childbirth in recent years. She wants to make a quick comeback and gain fans through this variety show."

"You can make friends, but don't trust others too easily."

After a couple of reminders, Lu Fang patted her shoulder. "Come on, let's go meet the director and the others. We'll start shooting in the afternoon."

This time, the Heartbeat Love program invited four celebrities and four ordinary people. Among the celebrities were famous actress Chen Fangman, rising star in singing and dancing Lu Su, actor Jiao Weiyun, and actress Zhan Momomo.

The ordinary participants included two men and two women. Although labeled as ordinary, the two men were accomplished figures in their respective fields. One of the women was a dance teacher, and the other was Jiang Chenchen, a freelancer.

Due to her age, the program set her age as 22, a recent graduate and a freelancer.

Although the program had a script, it was only a preliminary arrangement, providing some guidance. The interactions between participants were unpredictable. Sometimes, a casual look or remark could lead to subtle relationships.

In any case, it all depended on the chemical reactions between the participants.

When the director saw Jiang Chenchen, his eyes lit up. Just standing there without doing anything, she was captivating. Her unique temperament, clean and cold, not icy, had a hint of softness. Because her expression didn't change much and was somewhat wooden, she lacked vividness but had a mysterious freshness.

Such a appearance stood out even in the entertainment industry, where beautiful women were abundant.

Without speaking, just being a vase would attract a bunch of fans who appreciated her looks.

No wonder she filled out her profile so perfunctorily but still got selected. It turned out she had the capital.

In the afternoon, shooting began at a seaside restaurant. All the guests gathered, drank some beverages, introduced themselves, and were observed by a male host. Then, based on their personalities and interactions, emotional analyses were made.

The first one to speak with a strong presence was undoubtedly Chen Fangman. "To be honest, I came here. You all should recognize me. I've been through a divorce, actually an unhappy marriage for both parties.

I've been out of the public eye for more than a year, and I've become numb and anxious in life. But this is not good. I know that, so I came here to relax on vacation, find the feeling of heartbeat, and hope that we can all treat each other sincerely and become friends."

Others in the room found her quite bold. First, she got divorced, but she had never even had a wedding ceremony. Although the media had rumors about the child's father, it was unconfirmed until now.

Given Chen Fangman's years of national foundation, openly discussing this in a program would undoubtedly spark another round of speculation.

The program's popularity and topics were not a concern.

Others also introduced themselves, and when it came to Jiang Chenchen, she kept it brief with just a couple of sentences.

Lu Su was quite curious about her.

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Chapter 138: Pain and Joy

"You dare to lay a hand on me; if you harm the child in my belly, Wang Hao will surely not let you go!" 

Even though Chen Chunli was losing in momentum, she still threatened harshly.

Bai Lu coldly snorted, "You know that if something happens, you should look for Wang Hao. Without Wang Hao, you are nothing."

"You constantly criticize others as useless, but when trouble arises, you can only hide behind a man. Who is the useless one in the end? Do I need to give you examples one by one?" 

Chen Chunli gritted her teeth but couldn't utter a word.

Bai Lu, not wanting to meddle in other people's affairs, initially refrained from commenting on private matters. However, due to Chen Chunli's repeated provocations, she decided to set aside propriety and be stern with a pregnant woman.

Is Wang Hao useless? 

From the time he dared to collect debts with Xiao Cheng at the age of thirteen, it was evident he wasn't. He fought and struggled to earn every penny through blood and sweat.

When he brought wine to Xiao Cheng's doorstep, knocked on the door but hid, afraid to face Xiao Cheng, it showed that he still regarded Xiao Cheng as his elder brother, holding that position even before betraying him.

In his past life, Wang Hao did ultimately choose his family over his brothers. At the moment before betraying Xiao Cheng, he pulled back from the edge, choosing to escape everything by jumping off a cliff.

Bai Lu couldn't imagine how dire the family situation must be to force a fearless and upright man to such desperation.

Now it seemed that Chen Chunli was the catalyst, at least responsible for half of the main reasons.

"It's none of your business!" Chen Chunli retorted defiantly. "Wang Hao is my husband, and whatever he does for me is his duty. Whether he is useless or not is for me to decide! When does it become your business to meddle in our affairs!"

"Then don't come to Xiao Cheng's house and tarnish Xiao Cheng's reputation," Bai Lu said angrily.

"You can't stand certain stalls on the street, so you overturn their stands, curse and fight in public, embarrassing the Xiao Cheng brothers. It damages Xiao Cheng's reputation."

"Those vendors tolerate you not because of you but because of Wang Hao's status as Xiao Cheng's brother. They give face to Xiao Cheng, not to you, Chen Chunli."

"You've been arrogant and bullying for so long, avoiding retaliation only because you're Wang Hao's wife, and Wang Hao is Xiao Cheng's brother. With the reputation of the Xiao Cheng brothers protecting you in the new town, no one dares to touch you."

"Do you think being pregnant makes you untouchable? Based on your actions, if it weren't for Xiao Cheng and Wang Hao, you would be beaten by others the moment you step out. If you don't believe it, just release the news that Wang Hao and Xiao Cheng have severed their brotherly ties and see if you can crawl back home."

Chen Chunli was rendered speechless by the scolding.

The facts laid out by Bai Lu, word by word, were exposed in broad daylight. Even if Chen Chunli didn't want to admit it, she had to. Some people need a good scolding to wake up.

Without making things clear, pretending to be ignorant, she clung to her delusions, thinking the world should revolve around her. Accustomed to being pampered, she believed everything should be handed to her.

Chen Chunli felt a chill as Bai Lu stared at her, unable to refute the accusations.

Not understanding when Bai Lu became so imposing, she used to be timid and unwilling to cooperate on the first two visits. She never spoke harshly, let alone scolded her.

Chen Chunli pressed against the wooden door, a cold sensation permeating her entire body. Her lips felt cool: "Don't come over..."

"I can just stop cooperating with you in selling chestnuts!"

People tend to bully the weak and fear the strong. After being scolded, they become obedient.

The seemingly reprimanding words, when heard from outside the door, made Wang Hao's eyes well up with tears.

Before today, Wang Hao's perception of women was like Chen Chunli—irrational, aggressive, and quick to anger over minor issues.

Or like Wang Cuihua—fragile and pitiful, unable to carry a burden, needing a man's help for everything, crying at the slightest inconvenience.

Wang Hao never thought that there was another type of woman in the world—like Bai Lu. She understood others' hardships, comprehended their bitterness, sympathized with their difficulties, and appreciated every drop of sweat earned by the laborers. She never belittled any worker.

Wang Hao finally understood why Xiao Cheng was willing to give up the knife, abandon a life steeped in blood, and opt for a modest existence on the construction site in the small town—just for ordinary days of shopping, cooking, and living with ordinary people.

Because Xiao Cheng had Bai Lu at home.

Because of Bai Lu, it was worth it for Xiao Cheng.

Having said what needed to be said, Bai Lu opened the door, pulling Chen Chunli, who was still in shock, removing the latch, and letting her leave.

Outside the door, Wang Hao still maintained the posture of raising his hand, as if he had just hurriedly run from a distance, ready to knock on the door.

Bai Lu's cold expression instantly turned into a smile. "Chen Chunli came to talk to me. We just finished chatting, and she might have been sitting for too long; her legs are a bit weak. Hurry and help her back to rest."

Wang Hao stepped forward to support the weakened Chen Chunli, stepping over the threshold. Unable to resist turning back, he said, "Thank you, sister-in-law."

Thank you for giving me a dignified exit.

Bai Lu smiled, "No need to thank me. You and Ah Cheng are brothers, and we are all family."

Wang Hao nodded solemnly, his departure steps steady and firm. His back was straighter than when he arrived.

The brilliant sunlight bathed the earth, never forgetting which corner to warm, even if it couldn't reach it directly.

When the returning Xiao Wei saw Chen Chunli from afar, he quickly turned into a little whirlwind and flew to Bai Lu's side.

"Why did Chen Chunli come to find you?"

His little eyes scanned Bai Lu like X-ray vision.

Bai Lu pointed at his small forehead with a smile, "It's nothing. She came to look for Chen Dafu. When she couldn't find him, she left."

"Did she find out about Chen Dafu selling chestnuts?" Xiao Wei's face suddenly became sympathetic.

Bai Lu shook her head lightly, "I don't know. Chen Chunli only suspects, she probably hasn't found out yet."

"Oh." Xiao Wei immediately withdrew his sympathy, took off his school bag, and pulled out a small burlap bag.

He handed it to Bai Lu, "I picked some honeysuckle on the way back."

Bai Lu took it and looked at it. The small flowers, alternating between yellow and white, were quite beautiful. "So you like to drink honeysuckle tea?"

Xiao Wei wanted to deny it, but it came out as, "Yes, I like to drink honeysuckle tea."

Bai Lu was reminded of his big brother. Lately, she had started stir-frying chili peppers again. Although not too much, eating them every day was unbearable. It was a mix of pain and joy.

He had to find a way to cool him down.

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Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 53: The Girlfriend is Very Beautiful

"Ah-si..."

Jiang Chenchen instinctively sought help but remembered that he had forbidden her to call him that. So she corrected herself, "Mr. Sheng."

Sheng Mingsi stood outside the door, his eyelids twitching at the first call. Then, his mouth twitched slightly at the second call.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"There are no pants in my bag."

"...Long pants?"

"Yes, do you have any? Can I borrow them?"

"..." What clothes did he bring for a day trip? But eventually, he let her borrow them.

It was a pretty lady wearing sunglasses who willingly lent them to her. "Mister, your girlfriend is very beautiful. You don't need to return the clothes."

Sheng Mingsi didn't bother to explain to a stranger that she wasn't his girlfriend.

Jiang Chenchen emerged, finding that the sunglasses lady had good taste, and the clothes fit perfectly.

"Beauty, your figure is better than mine, especially there."

She raised her chin, teasing slightly.

Jiang Chenchen looked down, confused. "?"

Sheng Mingsi upgraded Jiang Chenchen to the first-class cabin, sending Wu Bi, the assistant, to the back.

"Why are you alone? Where is Miss Xia?" Sheng Mingsi started questioning after they sat down.

Jiang Chenchen had forgotten about this. She only realized when he asked, but her expression remained unresponsive.

"She's sitting in the back; our seats are not together."

That situation did happen, and Sheng Mingsi didn't pay attention to Xia Changli at the time, so he didn't inquire further.

Checking the time on his watch, Sheng Mingsi said, "Will you be able to find someone after landing? I'll have Wu Bi take you. I'll arrange for someone to pick you up later."

Jiang Chenchen hesitated. No, that wouldn't work. She shouldn't reveal anything now.

"No need, I'm an adult."

Adding a sentence, she said, "I've arranged transportation."

Seeing her serious response, Sheng Mingsi didn't insist.

Jiang Chenchen had wanted to ask him if he was a doctor. During the wound dressing and the recent medical emergency, he seemed very professional. The equipment in the basement of the residence also suggested he might be a CEO moonlighting as a doctor. But he lowered his head to look at some documents.

She still couldn't bring herself to ask.

Jiang Chenchen felt a bit reluctant about this time. Although she didn't say a word, sitting next to him was nice. He worked diligently and focused during his work, and his side profile was handsome.

She had been staring at him for quite a while.

Unable to withstand her direct gaze, Sheng Mingsi sighed, "You recite poetry when you're idle."

Jiang Chenchen thought for a moment, humming and reciting, "Delicate clouds playing tricks, stars conveying sorrow. Across the vast Milky Way, hidden in the dark. The union of the golden wind and jade dew, surpassing countless encounters in the mortal world. Tender affection like water, the moment of meeting is like a dream. Enduring the separation on the magpie bridge's return journey. If this love can last forever, why care about morning and night?"

She paused, looking at Sheng Mingsi.

Sheng Mingsi closed his eyes.

She finally remembered and continued, "If it lasts for a long time, it doesn't matter if there are mornings and nights."

Sheng Mingsi closed his eyes.

Did she even know what she was doing with this...

The plane landed, and it finally arrived.

Jiang Chenchen got off first. She couldn't fall behind them, and she had to find her artist manager, Lu Fang.

Finally, she managed to contact her and took a car to the location for the show.

All the way, Lu Fang wanted to ask how she knew Mr. Sheng, who provided the change of clothes, and other questions. However, she didn't answer.

In the rooms arranged by the program team, Jiang Chenchen put down her luggage and other items first.

This was a resort with a warm temperature, so she didn't need to wear thick clothes.

When she came out, she saw the pretty lady with sunglasses.

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  Chapter 18: Collapse

"Zhao Guang, how about I perform a magic trick for you?"

Zhao Guang: "..."

"A magic trick? I see you're quite good at changing faces!"

Zhao Guang inwardly scoffed at this, but then suddenly, he saw servants from the Chen family emerging, shielding Chen Xue and her father behind them. Then, he watched as Chen Xue extended her hand, waving it in front of him, her hand as white as jade.

Zhao Guang didn't understand what was happening until he heard a familiar voice.

"Are you sure you'll join forces with us to take out Guo Qiang?"

"Absolutely!"

"I also know Guo Qiang's weakness. Dealing with him is simple!"

The dialogue sounded extremely familiar. Weren't these the exact words he had just said? What was going on?

Why...

Zhao Guang couldn't comprehend. How could the words he had just spoken be heard again? Wasn't speech like water poured out, unable to be retrieved? How did Chen Xue manage this?

Zhao Guang couldn't fathom this mysterious and unpredictable method, so while his face turned ugly, he also felt a bit afraid.

Afraid of the unknown method.

That his words, once spoken, could be grasped and easily reproduced, was it something a human could do?

No wonder she suggested performing a magic trick for him.

This wasn't just a trick!

This was downright miraculous!

As Zhao Guang was struck with shock, Chen Xue satisfactorily put away her recording device. It wasn't in vain that she had spent some silver to acquire it.

"What do you think Guo Qiang's reaction would be if he heard this?"

Upon hearing Chen Xue's words, Zhao Guang's legs gave way, and he plopped down to the ground, his face turning deathly pale.

He didn't know what Guo Qiang's reaction would be because by then, he would be dead.

"Let's talk nicely, we're on the same side, there's no need to be so decisive!" Zhao Guang quickly recovered, grinding his teeth.

"Weren't you just thinking of taking the money and not doing anything, and even plotting against us?" Chen Xue accused.

Zhao Guang's heart skipped a beat. How did she know? Did she have mind-reading abilities? Well, she could even reproduce past conversations; mind-reading wasn't impossible.

"I'm sorry, I was just joking earlier, got a bit too excited."

Zhao Guang was scared.

Chen Xue was too mysterious, too terrifying. She could even reproduce voices; there was nothing she couldn't do.

He could only try to please them first and think of other ways later.

......

"Um, are you two hungry? Let me fetch you something to eat..."

Zhao Guang immediately put on a sycophantic expression.

This sudden change astonished the nearby prisoners. Just yesterday, they had witnessed Zhao Guang roaring, threatening to kill Chen Yuan. Today, he was bowing and scraping before Chen Yuan, showing such a stark contrast that they couldn't comprehend.

"We don't dare to eat the food you provide!" Chen Xue waved her hand. "As long as you don't cause trouble for us on the journey, and maybe help us out a little, that'll be enough!"

"No problem, count me in," Zhao Guang promised, relieved as long as he didn't have to go kill Guo Qiang.

"Really? I feel like you're not being sincere."

"How could that be? I can swear..."

"Forget about swearing. Yesterday, you injured several of our servants. Shouldn't you compensate us for our losses..."

Zhao Guang's face darkened. So this was what they were waiting for. Money was his lifeline; how could he...

"I know Guo Qiang's weakness. Dealing with him is simple..."

As soon as the familiar voice sounded, Zhao Guang's legs gave out, and he fell to the ground, pale-faced, crying out, "I'll compensate, I'll compensate!"

Now he regretted it. If he had known he would end up in trouble, he wouldn't have said anything. But at the time, Chen Xue had offered him too much...

Now it was too late.

He only hoped to buy his way out of trouble. Now that he had pleased them, once this matter was over, he would make them pay back double.

With a mournful expression, Zhao Guang took out the money he had and handed it to Chen Yuan. "That's all I have..."

Chen Xue signaled for the servant to take the money pouch and then hinted, "Do you feel unwell now?"

Furrowing his brow, Zhao Guang wondered what she meant. As he pondered, he did indeed start to feel uncomfortable, but he couldn't pinpoint where.

"This is the antidote!" Chen Xue suddenly produced a bottle, poured out a black pill, and had a servant bring it over.

"Are you poisoning me?" Zhao Guang's eyes widened in disbelief. "When did you poison me?"

Before they could respond, he already felt an itch spreading over his body, extremely uncomfortable. Most likely, he had been poisoned, and the pill in the servant's hand was the antidote.

Thinking this, he hastily snatched the antidote from the servant and swallowed it. If the pill was poisonous, then he had ingested two kinds of poison?

"Not two kinds?" Chen Xue kindly clarified, "You weren't poisoned before..."

Relieved, Zhao Guang heard her continue, "But, since you took the poison, you've been poisoned now!"

Zhao Guang: "..."

In the end, wasn't I still poisoned?

Thinking of this, Zhao Guang felt a stomachache. What kind of mess was this? Now, not only had they caught him in their trap, but he had also been poisoned. Was there anyone more miserable than him?

Waaah, Mom, I want to go home, I don't want to play anymore!

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