Chapter 138: There's an Assassin!

"Wait a moment." Shao Meiyun took out pen and paper, scratching her head awkwardly. "You know your cousin doesn't understand sign language, so let's write it down!"

Nalan Ruyue smiled slightly, took the pen and paper, and wrote in beautiful handwriting: *I only want to be his sister because a sister can be cherished by her brother for a lifetime, while a wife will have endless arguments with her husband. I don't want to argue with him.*

After reading Nalan Ruyue's words, Shao Meiyun chuckled and asked, "Have you thought about this? If you are Menglong's sister, you will have to marry someone else someday."

Nalan Ruyue shook her head gently and wrote on the paper: *I want to stay with my brother for a lifetime, until he no longer wants me.*

"Silly girl," Shao Meiyun's eyes showed a hint of affection, "Such a silly girl."

Nalan Ruyue shook her head and wrote a long passage on the paper: *When I gave up on life, it was my brother who saved me. At that time, I was homeless and just wanted someone to rely on, so I followed my brother to Tianfu. The more time I spent with him, the more I realized he is a truly good man. Although he has the common vice of men, he is kind-hearted and cares for me, teaching me many things. From that moment, I decided to stay with my brother for a lifetime. If one day he sees me as a burden and no longer wants me, I will leave on my own.*

After reading this, Shao Meiyun gently hugged Nalan Ruyue, rubbing her face against her soft hair. "Ruyue, stay with Menglong. Although he will have a wife in the future, as long as you don't mind the title, I will do my best to keep you together, okay?"

A blush appeared on Nalan Ruyue's face. She shook her head gently and wrote on the paper: *I am satisfied just being his sister.*

"Silly girl, how can a woman be without a man!" Shao Meiyun spoke with the tone of someone who had been through it all. "Your cousin is over thirty, and although I don't have a man, I also feel lonely late at night and want someone to rely on. Honestly, if it weren't for the deep hatred between Menglong and Long Zongheng, I might have accepted Long Zongheng's proposal."

Nalan Ruyue blinked and wrote: *Does cousin like Long Zongheng?*

"It's not about liking or not. It's just that as I get older, the need becomes stronger. Long Zongheng is quite good in many ways, and I'm satisfied with him, capable of living with him."

Nalan Ruyue didn't understand: *Without a foundation of feelings, can you be happy together?*

Shao Meiyun laughed. "Silly girl, in ancient times, men and women also married first and then fell in love! In a big family like the Liu family, unless they are unimportant branches, young people cannot decide their own marriages."

Nalan Ruyue seemed thoughtful and wrote: *No wonder my brother doesn't like being the head of the Liu family. His personality is very carefree and he doesn't like being restrained.*

"Exactly!" Shao Meiyun nodded. "There's no helping it. Menglong grew up without the family's control and received no benefits from the family, so he's naturally free. But a woman like your cousin has been favored by both the Liu family and the Shao family since childhood, with the best education and everything one could ask for. Ordinary people pursue these things for a lifetime. Since your cousin received these, she must make sacrifices for the family because nothing in this world comes without a cost."

Nalan Ruyue was deep in thought.

Shao Meiyun smiled. "Ruyue, you said you once gave up on life. Why was that?"

Nalan Ruyue came back to her senses and shook her head gently: *I don't want to recall my past self. I'm really sorry, cousin.*

"It's okay." Shao Meiyun had never felt any malice from Nalan Ruyue, and that was enough for her.

Shao Meiyun said softly, "Everyone has a past they don't want to recall. But as you said, you have abandoned your past life. From the day Menglong saved you, your life, everything, is new, given to you by Menglong. So, cherish your life and cherish the one who gave you life. Understand?"

Nalan Ruyue nodded gently and wrote: *I will repay my brother with everything I have.*

"That's right." Shao Meiyun smiled, hugging Nalan Ruyue tightly and kissing her cheek. "That's my good sister-in-law."

Nalan Ruyue blushed.

"What are you talking about?" At this moment, Li Nianlong walked in. Seeing the two women embracing with disheveled clothes and Nalan Ruyue's flushed face, he was slightly stunned, looking at Shao Meiyun with a strange expression. "Cousin, I see… don't worry, I won't tell anyone about your preferences."

"What preferences?" Shao Meiyun understood immediately from Li Nianlong's look, feeling a bit embarrassed and annoyed. She let go of Nalan Ruyue and grabbed Li Nianlong's collar. "Tell your cousin, what preferences do I have?"

"Uh..." Seeing Shao Meiyun's reaction, Li Nianlong knew he had misunderstood and coughed. "Nothing. I mean, cousin's biggest hobby is helping others. Thank you for taking care of Ruyue. I'm very grateful."

Shao Meiyun narrowed her eyes, and Li Nianlong started sweating, lowering his head. "I was wrong."

Shao Meiyun chuckled, tidying Li Nianlong's collar. "What was wrong? I think it's fine!"

"Cousin is magnanimous. I admire you."

"Haha, I thought I hid it well, but Menglong, you still discovered it."

"…"

Nalan Ruyue covered her mouth, laughing softly. She walked over and gestured: *Brother, did you finish talking with Grandpa Liu?*

Li Nianlong nodded and was about to speak, but Shao Meiyun pouted. "Bullying me because I don't understand sign language! Menglong, what did Ruyue say just now?"

Li Nianlong chuckled. "She asked if I finished talking with Grandpa."

"Oh, I see." Shao Meiyun smiled. "You must have finished talking; otherwise, you wouldn't be back."

"Yes." Li Nianlong nodded with a smile. "It wasn't a big deal, finished in no time. What were you two doing just now?"

"Women's talk. Do you want to know?" Shao Meiyun smiled slyly.

"Uh... forget it." Li Nianlong shook his head, then chuckled. "There was only Ruyue at home before, and I had to work, leaving no time to accompany her. Now with cousin here, Ruyue won't be lonely."

Shao Meiyun looked at Nalan Ruyue and smiled. "Don't worry. I'll treat Ruyue like my own sister and find a good wife for Menglong, making the house lively."

Li Nianlong smiled. "No rush for a wife. I need to retreat and rest for a couple of days. Cousin, please take care of Ruyue."

"Oh?" Shao Meiyun's eyes flashed with doubt. "I understand retreating and resting, but why do you need to retreat to rest? Is there some secret?"

Nalan Ruyue's face also showed some confusion.

Li Nianlong coughed. "It was a poor choice of words. Just think of it as a retreat for cultivation."

"Now I understand." Shao Meiyun nodded. "Good, the stronger you are, the stronger the Liu family will be." She paused. "Assassins might come tonight. Why not go to the secret room now? Even if they come, they won't find you."

Li Nianlong shook his head. "I'll stay in the open tonight. If the assassins don't come, that's fine. If they do, I'll have them send a message for me."

"Send a message?" Shao Meiyun and Nalan Ruyue were surprised.

Li Nianlong smiled slightly. "Let them tell the world that the head of the Liu family is very strong."

"I see." Shao Meiyun chuckled. "Even Long Jingtian was forced to self-destruct by you. Even if the assassins come, I doubt they're a match for you."

Shao Meiyun patted Li Nianlong's shoulder. "Absolute power renders any schemes useless. I didn't believe it before, but now I do."

Li Nianlong smiled and turned to Nalan Ruyue. "Ruyue, go to bed early tonight."

Nalan Ruyue nodded gently: *Brother, be careful.*

"I will." Li Nianlong nodded, thinking to himself: those two assassins are my people, there's nothing to worry about.

As the night deepened, the tension at the Liu residence increased. Every post kept in frequent contact, and even a fly entering would make them nervous.

At this moment, many people were waiting to see the Liu family's embarrassment, especially the forces opposed to them. They all wanted to witness how the new head of the Liu family, who had made bold declarations at noon, would handle the assassins and what a mess he would make of it.

The tense atmosphere did not affect Li Nianlong's mood. In the brightly lit main hall of the Liu residence, he was playing chess with the elderly Liu patriarch, locked in a challenging game.

"Checkmate," Li Nianlong said with a slight smile as he moved his knight. "Grandpa, you've lost."

The elderly Liu patriarch saw the inescapable checkmate and smiled wryly. "Alas! Despite my sixty years of experience in this game, I am no match for you, a young man in your twenties. If this gets out, I will lose all face."

"You were distracted," Li Nianlong said as he rearranged the pieces. "No need to be so tense. Don't you trust my skills?"

"It's not that I don't trust you, it's just… sigh! Let's stop playing." The elderly man shook his head and stood up. "Meiyun, you play a couple of games with Menglong."

Shao Meiyun smiled slightly. "Alright."

Sitting opposite Li Nianlong, Shao Meiyun narrowed her eyes with a smile. "Menglong, my chess skills are average. You should go easy on your cousin."

Li Nianlong chuckled. "Cousin, don't be modest. If we really play, I'm sure I'm no match for you."

"Such a sweet talker," Shao Meiyun laughed softly. "I'll start then. Cannon to the front."

An opening cannon move?

Li Nianlong looked at Shao Meiyun, moved his knight, and smiled. "Cousin, no wonder you managed to keep the Liu family well-organized during times of crisis. You're quite the hawk."

Shao Meiyun moved her knight as well, smiling with narrowed eyes. "I just don't like being passive."

Li Nianlong was about to make his next move when his expression suddenly changed. He leaned back just as a flashing ice dart whizzed past his nose, shattering the sturdy mahogany chair into pieces.

"Assassin!"