018 Mutual Vest Removal

"Fifty million?"

This figure also shocked Zhou Hechen.

Qin Xian had always acted without considering the consequences, and Zhou Hechen had helped clean up quite a few messes for him, costing the Qin Family a significant amount of money in the process.

Indeed, since the Qin Corporation went public, its market value had exceeded nine billion, yet fifty million was still not a small sum that could be handed out at will, after all, market value isn't equivalent to liquid assets.

"Yes," Sheng Yunyi said, puzzled, "Hechen, you've known her for quite a while, why does she need so much money? Did she stay by your side initially because of money too?"

Her words tensed Zhou Hechen's heart for a moment, and the sinking numb sensation came over him again. He rubbed his brows a little irritably, but his voice remained gentle, "Yunyi, you don't need to worry about her, and don't get close to her either, I'm afraid you'll get hurt."

"I understand," Sheng Yunyi said softly, "If you have time, you should still go see her, maybe it would help her get back to normal."

Zhou Hechen did not agree, simply stating, "I'll pick you up for dinner tonight."

The call ended on both sides, leaving everyone with uneasy minds.

"Yunyi, you were also startled today," Madam Qin approached, still with a warm demeanor, "Our Ah Xian would never play with women; he has a bad temper, but he listens to you. Visit the Qin Family more when you're free, your aunt is very welcoming of you."

Sheng Yunyi just smiled, neither nodding nor shaking her head, "Aunt, let's go back first."

**

The Lin Family.

Ye Wanlan closed the door and said softly, "Auntie was frightened; I'm very sorry you almost got dragged into trouble because of me."

"You—" Khor Peiqing looked at her, her eyes slightly stirring.

However, as if she remembered something, her expression turned cold and she entered the bedroom without a word.

"Bang!"

The door shut, isolating everything.

Ye Wanlan stood still. The memories of the past four years surged in her mind.

—Ah Lan, I bought some specialties from South City, do you want some…

—What cake? I only eat cakes from White Swan Bakery; how much is your cake per pound? Pah, take your cheap stuff and scram!

The cake shattered on the floor.

And so did Khor Peiqing's heart, riddled with a thousand wounds.

Ye Wanlan closed her eyes.

Trapped in her own body for four years, she could only listen and watch, unable to speak or move.

For the first time, she experienced what it meant to be "helpless," a word she had long erased from her dictionary.

And to this day, she still didn't know why her body had been occupied by the Transcendent Woman.

Why her, of all people?!

Angry?

Indignant?

There was only pain... pain so intense it felt as though her nerves were seared by raging fire.

A boundless galaxy seemed to appear before her eyes, with orbs flickering and countless numbers floating like some sort of code.

"Ding-dong!"

The message alert brought Ye Wanlan abruptly back to reality, where the illusion also dissipated.

[Rong Yu]: Student Ye, there's a classical musical instrument exhibition at Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School tomorrow, are you interested? You must come, music will be very beneficial for the recovery of your condition.

[Ye Wanlan]: I will be there on time.

She drew back the curtains, letting the sunshine flood in and fall on the Seven-stringed Zither as if the notes were gently hopping.

The fine weather continued into the next day, the morning sun was even softer.

Ye Wanlan wore a fisherman's hat and went to meet Rong Yu as arranged.

Rong Yu and Yan Tingfeng were waiting for her in the counseling room.

She knew Rong Yu was a Rong Family Member, the Successor to the Great Purity Pulse, but why had he come to Jiangcheng No.1 Middle School to be a counselor?

She pondered for a long while.

This member of the Rong Family didn't seem too clever.

"Student Ye, is there someone you like? Tell me about it?" Rong Yu said excitedly when he saw her, "I have professional ethics, I'll keep your secret."

There's a therapy called love healing.

Ye Wanlan said indifferently, "I do have someone I like, but he's already dead."

Using a dead person as a shield, that's not too much, right?

On the road to fighting for dominance, love was to her an insignificant matter, unnecessary.

Rong Yu was stunned, "A dead person? Who?"

Could it be that this young girl already had an unattainable love, the white moonlight she yearned for?

How was he supposed to cure that!

Ye Wanlan casually mentioned someone she had never even met: "Master of Highest Heaven Tower."

Yan Tingfeng suddenly looked up, his beautiful phoenix eyes narrowing.

"You scared me, I thought it was someone else." Rong Yu laughed it off, "My brother here also said that he had a crush on a dead person, Princess Yongning, not long ago."

Ye Wanlan and Yan Tingfeng's gazes met, and he appeared unfazed, smiling at her.

She remained silent.

Indeed, using a dead person as a shield was really too much.

Ye Wanlan got up and went for a walk.

The door of the counseling room closed.

After another quiet two seconds, Yan Tingfeng slowly began, "It's a pity…"

Rong Yu didn't understand, "A pity about what?"

Yan Tingfeng gently caressed his chest, just sighing with a smile, ripples spreading in his eyes.

It's a pity that the person he hated didn't die, and the person he loved was impossible. [Note 1]

He was filled with hate, hating that Shenzhou was completely destroyed three hundred years ago, a million bones fallen.

He hated the shattered mountains and rivers, he was powerless to stop it.

He hated that all his friends from the past had perished in battle, none survived.

He hated that three hundred years later when he awoke from a long sleep, even though he was sustained by the Beiming Arts and the Life-Devouring Gu, he could only drag around a decaying, diseased body.

If only Princess Yongning was still there at that time...

Yan Tingfeng retracted his thoughts, his voice light, "Has there been any response from the International Strategic Studies Institute?"

"No," Rong Yu sighed, "That was something from three hundred years ago, and they don't have clairvoyance. With such limited clues, they couldn't deduce who the enemy was."

Yan Tingfeng closed his eyes, "Let me know if there is any news."

Rong Yu truly couldn't understand Yan Tingfeng's obsession.

Three hundred years have passed, surely the invaders of Shenzhou must have died, life has moved on, what is there left to chase after?

"Brother, take it easy, we don't need to dwell on the past, the future—"

Rong Yu was interrupted before he could finish speaking when Yan Tingfeng suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze slowly shifting towards him.

This moment, it was as if swords and thunder had fallen simultaneously!

Rong Yu was shocked by the murderous intent in his eyes, his body stiffening, unable to move.

Fortunately, at that moment, footsteps sounded, and another aura burst in through the door, resolving all the murderous and bloodthirsty energy from Yan Tingfeng.

Rong Yu turned around in shock to see the girl holding a zither in one hand.

Ye Wanlan nodded, "Borrowed it, want to listen?"

Yan Tingfeng looked at her, the hostility and gloom in his eyes dissipating completely, "I'd be honored to comply."

Ye Wanlan nodded slightly, "Consider it a return gift for those shoes."

Yan Tingfeng paused, then smiled, still in a tender manner, showing no trace of darkness, "Alright."

"Unbelievable, there's actually someone who can heal you." Rong Yu murmured to himself and also sat down, quietly listening to the zither music.

The sound of the ancient zither was graceful and melodious, swirling with the breeze, drifting out of the window.

The familiar melody startled Zhou Hechen, and he lifted his head, looking in the direction of the counseling room.