The Strategy For The Yandere Movie Queen Failed And Was Marked. Chapter 43
byChapter 43 Chapter 43 System Regression
In the next few days, they were almost isolated from the outside world and immersed in their own world.
Ye Qinglan turned down all non-essential work, set her cell phone to Do Not Disturb mode, which limited contact with only a few people, and lived a two-person world with Su Jin at home.
The two of them reviewed all the movies that they had been interested in but had no time to watch.
In their spare time, they clumsily try new recipes in the kitchen, often resulting in a mess that they end up ordering takeout with a smile on their face.
But more often than not, I just hug quietly, do nothing, and feel the ultimate peace and satisfaction brought by the blend of pheromones.
Ye Qinglan’s tenderness almost melted Su Jin. Every look and every touch was filled with cherishment and pampering.
But Su Jin still occasionally caught the flash of solemnity in her eyes when she looked out the window inadvertently, or when the screen of her mobile phone briefly lit up.
At the same time, the atmosphere on the other side of the city was completely different.
In the private room of a secret private club, Zhao Man stirred the cold coffee impatiently, his fingertips turning slightly white from the exertion.
It wasn’t until the box door was pushed open and she saw Song Jing walking in elegantly and calmly in high heels that she stood up suddenly, her voice filled with uncontrollable anxiety: “Song Jing! You’re finally here! The Fang family is completely crazy! Fang Qi’s mad dog bites anyone he sees now. If this continues, sooner or later, she will reveal all the things we did before!”
She took a step forward and lowered her voice, “Ye Qinglan is so obsessed with Su Jin that he can’t hear anything at all and can’t even contact anyone! What should we do? We can’t just watch…”
“Why panic?”
Song Jing sat down calmly and gracefully waved away the waiter.
The box door was completely closed, cutting off all sounds from the outside world. She raised her eyes, and her eyes were as cold as ice blades falling on Zhao Man’s face. With a powerful force, Zhao Man was instantly silenced.
“A barking dog,” Song Jing’s red lips parted slightly, her voice was soft, but every word was venomous, “Just deal with it. Do we have to wait for her to actually bite us?”
Zhao Man felt chills running down his spine when she saw her, and he forced himself to calm down: “Handle it? You said it lightly! Doesn’t Fang Qi have our…”
“That thing in her hand?” Song Jing sneered, interrupting her, her eyes full of condescending sarcasm, “I will soon become worthless with her. She thinks that by making trouble, she can force me or Qinglan to submit? She is so naive and ridiculous.”
She leaned forward slightly, her voice lowered, with a bewitching and dangerous aura, “Zhao Man, our goal has always been the same – to make the person who shouldn’t appear completely disappear from Qinglan. As for the method used in the process, is it important?”
Zhao Man’s eyes flickered.
Of course she wants to break up Ye Qinglan and Su Jin. She thinks she understands Ye Qinglan better than Su Jin and is more qualified to stand by her side.
But what she wants is for Ye Qinglan to choose her willingly, not…
“I’m just worried that if I push too hard, Qinglan will be more disgusted…” Zhao Man tried to express his position.
Song Jing seemed to have read through her thoughts, and a faint sneer flashed across her eyes, too fast for anyone to catch.
She leaned back in her chair again, and her tone returned to its previous laziness, but with unquestionable determination: “Qinglan was just temporarily confused. She needs someone to help her see the reality clearly and make the right choice. When she gets rid of that trouble, she will naturally understand whose arrangement is best for her.”
Her fingertips tapped lightly on the table, but what she was thinking about was how to lock the beautiful bird that had escaped from her control into the golden cage again, so that she could no longer escape.
Zhao Man frowned slightly, then took a deep breath, “Okay, I’ll do as you say!”
She is all for Qinglan’s good, and she always understands her own feelings.
Song Jing was satisfied.
The two discussed in a low voice a few words the details of “dealing with” Fang Qi, and on the surface reached a consensus – to remove obstacles and allow Ye Qinglan to return to “the right track.”
However, when Zhao Man finally stood up and left the box as if he had taken reassurance, the mask of hypocritical cooperation on Song Jing’s face instantly peeled off.
She looked in the direction where Zhao Man’s back disappeared, and her red lips curved in a cold and cruel arc.
“Idiot.” She sneered in her heart and sneered, “You are worthy of Xiang Qinglan? You are just a chess piece that is of some use for the time being.”
She elegantly picked up the teacup and took a sip, her eyes gleaming with coldness.
“When Su Jin’s biggest obstacle is solved, when Qinglan completely belongs to me…” Song Jing’s fingertips unconsciously rubbed on the wall of the cup, “The next thing to clean up is you, a wild dog who tries to get close to the master and overestimates his own capabilities.”
Ye Qinglan can only have her by his side!
In the box, undercurrents surged, and conspiracy fermented silently.
The next morning, as soon as Song Jing sat down in the office, her assistant knocked on the door in a panic and came in: “Mr. Song, Miss Fang is downstairs…”
Song Jing’s eyes turned cold and she put down the documents in her hands: “Where’s the security guard? Take her to the spare bathroom in the underground garage without anyone seeing her.”
“The security has stopped me, but I’m afraid…” the assistant hesitated.
Song Jing frowned slightly, stood up and walked out.
When she appeared in the lobby on the first floor wearing high heels, Fang Qi was being held by two security guards. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes were wild. She was completely gone from her previous arrogance.
“Song Jing! You liar! You said you would protect me!” When Fang Qi saw her, he struggled even harder, his voice hoarse and harsh.
Song Jing winked expressionlessly, and the security guard pressed Fang Qi and walked aside.
“Let me go! Let me go!” Fang Qi shouted, but his mouth was covered the next second.
When the group of people reached the corner, Song Jing asked someone to let her go.
She stepped forward quickly and grabbed Fang Qi’s wrist with such force that it almost crushed the bones. Ignoring her screams of pain, she forcefully dragged her to the nearest employee bathroom.
With a bang, the bathroom door was slammed shut and locked.
“Look at what you look like now,” Song Jing’s voice was as cold as ice, and she shook off Fang Qi’s hand, “You screamed in public because you thought you didn’t die quickly enough?”
Fang Qi leaned his back against the cold tile wall, laughing maniacally, but tears mixed with mascara flowed down: “I’m done! The Fang family is done too! But don’t think about being alone!”
She suddenly came closer and stared at Song Jing with her bloodshot eyes, “You were the one who hinted me to attack Su Jin and said you would deal with the aftermath for me! Now you want to get rid of me? What a dream!”
Song Jing narrowed her eyes and spoke in a dangerous tone: “Where’s the evidence? Just your empty words?”
“Evidence?” Fang Qi grabbed Song Jing’s collar hysterically, “I still have the recording of our call in my phone! If I go in, I will be the first to confess you! We will die together!”
Song Jing’s patience completely ran out at this moment.
She suddenly raised her hand and pinched Fang Qi’s wrist with such force that Fang Qi cried out in pain.
“Do you think,” she leaned close to Fang Qi’s ear, her voice soft but frightening, “do I give you this chance?”
Fang Qi’s pupils trembled, “W-what do you mean…”
Song Jing’s eyes cut open Fang Qi’s last line of defense as accurately as a scalpel.
She released the clamp, slowly took out a silk scarf from her suit pocket, and wiped the finger that had just touched Fang Qi, as if it was stained with something dirty.
“Recordings?” Song Jing’s red lips curled up in a cruel arc, “You mean the ones saved in the encrypted folder of your cloud disk and the backup phone? Oh, by the way, there are also the copies you thought you were smart and sent to a ‘friend’ as a backup.”
The madness on Fang Qi’s face froze instantly, and the blood faded from her face at a speed visible to the naked eye, leaving only paleness and disbelief.
“You…how do you know…”
“How would I know?” Song Jing chuckled and threw the valuable silk scarf into the trash can.
“Fang Qi, you have been transparent from the beginning to the end. The ‘friend’ you found took my money and will naturally do things beautifully. All the ‘evidences’ in your hand, including the originals, are probably… being formatted, or have turned into a bunch of gibberish.”
She admired the despair gradually spreading in Fang Qi’s eyes, just like appreciating a wonderful drama.
“No…impossible!” Fang Qi seemed to have been drained of all his strength. He slid to the ground along the cold tiles and grabbed his hair with both hands. “You lied to me! You must have lied to me!”
“Lied to you?” Song Jing looked at her condescendingly, without any warmth in her eyes. “Do you have any other choice now besides trusting me? Look at yourself, the Fang family has collapsed, you have become a street rat, and the last bargaining chip in your hand is gone. You have nothing now.”
“It’s you! It’s all you!”
Fang Qi raised her head suddenly, with bone-gnawing hatred in her eyes. She struggled to pounce, but was pinned to the spot by Song Jing’s cold gaze.
“It was you who tempted me to attack Su Jin! It was you who promised to settle everything! Song Jing, even if I were a ghost, I would never let you go!!”
“A ghost?” Song Jing leaned slightly, her voice was very low, but it penetrated Fang Qi’s eardrums like a poisonous snake, “Then you have to have a chance. Do you think you can still be free to go crazy here like you are now? What is waiting for you is the iron window. Perhaps, there are more ‘thoughtful’ arrangements for you to shut up inside… forever.”
Fang Qi’s pupils suddenly shrank to the extreme, and his whole body trembled uncontrollably.
She looked at Song Jing’s beautiful yet devilish face and finally understood her situation.
Not only was she finished, but she was not even qualified to fight to the death.
She was like an insect being played with in the palm of her hand, her life and death depended on the other person’s thoughts.
The huge fear and despair were like ice water, flooding her instantly.
Fang Qi sat slumped there, his eyes empty, as if his soul had been taken away, leaving only a broken body.
Tears flowed silently, mixed with the blurred makeup, leaving traces of embarrassment on the face.
Song Jing looked at her complete collapse indifferently, with no pity in her eyes, only a hint of cold pleasure that her plan had succeeded.
She straightened her undisturbed clothes, turned around, and opened the bathroom door without hesitation.
“Take care of it and don’t let her appear in front of me again.” She gave a cold instruction to the bodyguard waiting outside the door. The sound of high heels hitting the ground was clear and decisive, and gradually faded away.
The door slowly closed behind him, cutting off the small space filled with despair and collapse.
Fang Qi huddled on the cold ground, listening to the distant footsteps, like the sound of a death knell.
Her life has ended early.
That afternoon, Song Jing launched her long-prepared plan.
Several influential media outlets almost simultaneously received a complete “dirty package” about Fang Qi—conclusive evidence of tax issues, improper resource transactions, and suppression of peers.
As soon as the news came out, public opinion exploded instantly, and the stock price of Fang Group plummeted.
At the same time, surveillance video of Fang Qi losing control in a private club and suspected of being banned was “accidentally” leaked.
That night, she was taken away by relevant departments for investigation and completely disappeared from public view.
All this happened quickly and harshly, completely suffocating Fang Qi and the Fang family to death, with no possibility of recovery.
By the time Ye Qinglan found out, news of Fang Qi’s arrest had already spread all over the world.
At that time, she and Su Jin were nesting on the sofa in the living room, sharing a soft wool blanket.
Su Jin held the phone and browsed it with gusto, exclaiming a little in surprise from time to time.
“Oh my god…” Su Jin suddenly sat up straighter and slid her fingers quickly across the screen, “Is Fang Qi… completely over?”
She raised her head and looked at Ye Qinglan beside her. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, and she turned the phone screen to her.
“Look, she has three of the top ten trending searches! Tax evasion, unfair competition, and this… suspected of taking contraband? Every piece of evidence is very strong.”
Ye Qinglan’s eyes scanned the sensational titles and blurry photos of the scene on the screen. There was no expression on his face. He just reached out and tucked a strand of hair that had fallen down on Su Jin’s cheek behind her ear.
Su Jin took back her phone and continued to browse.
She was like a turtle jumping up and down in a melon field, reading and reading the hot comments in a low voice:
“‘She has long been displeased with her. She deserves to be domineering because of her family background!’ – This is a very high praise.”
“‘Didn’t you step on our Lan Lan before? Retribution comes so quickly!’ – Eh? Why does this involve you?” She wrinkled her nose, a little dissatisfied.
“‘I heard that the Fang Group is on the verge of death. The stock price has collapsed and all cooperation has been ruined. Has this offended some great master?’ – Everyone below is guessing who did it.”
Su Jin checked for a while and then put down the phone.
She turned sideways to face Ye Qinglan, her knees bent against the sofa, her eyes filled with curiosity and satisfaction after gossip.
“This was too sudden, and it was like a thunderous method. Do you think she really provoked someone she shouldn’t have provoked?”
She paused, as if thinking of something, and approached Ye Qinglan.
She lowered her voice, with a hint of joking, “Could it… have something to do with you?”
Ye Qinglan looked at her searching eyes and shook his head with a smile.
She stretched out her hand and pinched her cheek, and said in a relaxed and natural tone: “How can I have such great ability? It’s normal for the industry to have ups and downs. She acts in a flamboyant way and makes too many enemies. When the wall falls, everyone just pushes her away.”
She spoke calmly, as if she was just commenting on a piece of financial news that had nothing to do with her.
Su Jin tilted his head and looked at her for a few seconds. As if he was convinced, he leaned back to her, picked up the phone and continued to browse, but he was still muttering: “That’s right…she brought it on herself anyway. Thinking of how arrogant she was before, I still think…hum, this ending is really satisfying!”
She was quickly attracted by the new comments and pointed at the screen to Ye Qinglan: “Look at this, it’s so funny…”
Ye Qinglan looked down in cooperation, with a gentle smile on his lips, as if he was completely infected by Su Jin’s emotions.
From an angle that Su Jin couldn’t see, there was a cold calmness deep in her eyes.
Fang Qi’s ending was expected by her, and it could even be said that she was happy to see it happen.
Song Jing’s ruthless attack saved her a lot of trouble.
She stretched out her arms and took Su Jin, who was focused on eating melon, into her arms again, letting her lean on her shoulder, and gently resting her chin on the top of her hair.
“Don’t look at those things,” Ye Qinglan’s voice was gentle, with a hint of imperceptible guidance, “Insignificant people are not worth wasting our Jinjin’s time.”
Su Jin nuzzled into her arms, found a more comfortable position, obediently locked the phone screen and threw it aside.
“Okay, I won’t read anymore.” She raised her face and smiled at Ye Qinglan, “Anyway, evil will be punished, as long as the ending is happy!”
She sighed contentedly, snuggled into the arms of the person next to her wholeheartedly, and soon left Fang Qi behind, continuing to enjoy this rare quiet time.
Ye Qinglan hugged her, feeling the soft body temperature and complete trust of the person in his arms, but his eyes involuntarily drifted to the darkening night outside the window.
This brief silence was broken by a phone call.
Ye Qinglan picked up the phone, and the word “Ye Hui” danced on the screen, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the warmth of the room.
The softness in Ye Qinglan’s eyes instantly faded, and a hint of imperceptible boredom flashed through.
She patted the back of Su Jin’s hand and signaled her to wait a moment, then stood up and walked to the balcony with her mobile phone.
Su Jin looked at her slightly cold back and felt inexplicably worried.
The balcony door was gently pulled shut, blocking out most sounds.
Ye Qinglan picked up the phone, but before he spoke, Ye Hui’s extremely tired and even pleading voice came from the other side.
“Qinglan…that’s enough, stop.” Ye Hui’s voice was hoarse. “The Fang family is finished. Fang Qi has also gone in. It’s time to let go of your anger. For…for my sake, be merciful and let the Fang family go.”
Ye Qinglan’s eyebrows drooped and her tone was calm: “I didn’t do it.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment, and then Ye Hui’s voice was filled with obvious disbelief: “Who else could it be if it wasn’t you? Qinglan, I know you hate Fang Qi, hate the Fang family, and… also hate me.”
Her voice suddenly dropped, and she suddenly became excited, “But things have already happened, haven’t you become a household name now? Why bother to kill them all! They have already paid the price, why can’t you show your favor? Give it to the Fang family, and give it to me! A way to survive?”
“I said, it’s not me.” Ye Qinglan’s voice was a little colder, with a hint of mockery, “If it were me, you would have no chance to call me.”
“Qinglan, this is enough.” Ye Hui’s tone was full of suspicion, and she seemed to believe that Ye Qinglan was the one behind the scenes.
“There is no need for you to fight to the death over your own affairs. Otherwise, or you… you give them money to help them stabilize the situation, even if it’s just temporary…”
Ye Hui hesitated and finally revealed his purpose.
Ye Hui talked more and more smoothly, and finally made arrangements directly, “You must have saved a lot of money in your hands after so many years in the entertainment industry. Anyway, you have no place to use the money now, so if you die, just for the sake of your mother, help them this time. If the Fang family can get back on its feet, it won’t do you any harm.”
Ye Qinglan listened to the natural arrangement on the other end of the phone, and the corner of his mouth curled up with a cold arc.
She could even imagine Ye Hui’s expression at this moment – the kind of gesture that tried to kidnap her with family affection and “for your own good”.
“Ms. Ye,” Ye Qinglan’s voice was calm, but with a biting chill, “How much is your face worth?”
The other end of the phone was silent for a moment, leaving only the sound of Ye Hui’s heavy breathing.
Ye Qinglan continued, speaking slowly but clearly: “When you chose to side with the Fang family, the meager friendship between us has been exhausted. Now, why do you think that your ‘face’ will allow me to spend real money to save a family that wants to harm me?”
“Didn’t that cause no serious consequences?” Ye Hui blurted out, with a kind of anxiety that was eager to separate the relationship, “You are fine now, and you still have Su Jin by your side. Qinglan, you can’t be too strict! When it comes to things in the mall, multiple friends are better than multiple enemies!”
“Absolutely?” Ye Qinglan chuckled, and there was no warmth in the laughter. “Compared to when you teamed up to force me, compared to Fang Qi who was bold enough to drug me, I am not adding insult to injury now, which is already considered merciful.”
She paused, and her tone was decisive, with unquestionable determination: “I won’t pay a penny of the money. The life and death of the Fang family has nothing to do with me. As for you -”
Ye Qinglan’s eyes passed through the glass door and fell on Su Jin who was looking at her worriedly in the living room. His eyes warmed up slightly, but his tone was still cold, “If you still want to maintain the superficial relationship between mother and daughter, don’t come to me again about the Fang family. This is the last time.”
After saying that, she ended the call without giving Ye Hui any chance to argue.
Holding the phone in hand, Ye Qinglan stood in the evening breeze, took a deep breath, and suppressed the anger and disappointment surging in his chest.
She doesn’t need to waste her emotions on unworthy people and things.
When she turned around and pushed open the balcony door, the coldness on her face had faded away, and was once again covered with the gentleness she felt when facing Su Jin.
Su Jin immediately stood up from the sofa, walked up to her in a few steps, raised his head and looked at her expression carefully, gently held the corner of her clothes with his little hands, and asked in a low voice: “Are you… okay?”
Looking at her worried eyes, the last trace of haze in Ye Qinglan’s heart dissipated.
She stretched out her hand to pull him into her arms, and rubbed her chin against the top of her soft hair.
“It’s okay,” her voice returned to its usual calm and soft tone, “It’s just some insignificant phone calls.”
Su Jin leaned quietly in her arms for a while, then raised his head and looked at her with bright eyes: “How about we watch that literary film you said you wanted to watch tonight? I’ll make flower and fruit tea, and we’ll order a crayfish takeout!”
She tried to divert Ye Qinglan’s attention with light topics and comfort her in her own way.
Ye Qinglan’s heart softened as he watched her trying hard to make herself happy.
She lowered her head and pressed a soft kiss on Su Jin’s smooth forehead.
“Okay,” the corners of her lips curved in a gentle curve, “I’ll do whatever you want.”
The night outside the window is thick, and the storm may still be brewing, but at this moment, the warmth and dependence of the person in her arms are her strongest armor.
Ye Qinglan led Su Jin back to the living room, completely shutting out the disturbance from the outside world.
Fang family.
Ye Huigang put down the phone, and her daughter Ye Qinglan’s cold rejection was still echoing in her ears.
She is not begging for mercy for the Fang family, she is just… she is just used to playing a role in maintaining superficial peace at times like this, even if the cost is to wrong her own daughter.
This habit went deep into her bones and became her rule of survival in this abnormal marriage.
She rubbed her brows tiredly, and before she could turn around, she was pulled over by a strong force.
“Pah——”
The crisp sound of the slap was particularly harsh in the empty living room.
Ye Hui stumbled and hit the coffee table, feeling a sharp pain in her waist.
“The call is over?!” His voice was hoarse, with a strong smell of alcohol. He was obviously drinking to drown his sorrows, but he became even more sorrowful. His anger was only fueled by the alcohol. “What did your good daughter say?! Is she willing to take action?! Huh?!”
Fang Zhiqiang was like a trapped beast that was completely angered, his eyes were red and his chest was heaving violently. The pretense of elegance in the past was gone, leaving only the madness and ugliness of being forced into a desperate situation.
Ye Hui lowered her eyes and said in a very soft voice: “Qinglan said she didn’t do it and she wouldn’t take action.”
“Fart!” Fang Zhiqiang roared angrily, spitting almost onto Ye Hui’s face.
“Who else?! Apart from her, Ye Qinglan, who would do this to our Fang family?! Ah?! Is it you! Did you instigate it?! There is no good person in your Ye family! They suck the blood of our Fang family, and now that we are no longer good, they want to kick us away?! What a dream!”
“Zhiqiang, calm down…” Ye Hui tried to comfort her, her voice trembling unnoticeably.
“Calm down? How can I be calm?!” Fang Zhiqiang raised his hand and slapped Ye Hui hard on the face.
“Crack!”
The crisp slap sound was particularly loud in the empty living room.
Ye Hui was beaten so hard that she staggered a few steps and bumped into the book shelf behind her. Several small ornaments on the shelf shook and fell down, falling to the ground.
Clear five-finger red marks instantly appeared on his cheeks, burning and painful, and there was a buzzing in his ears.
But this is just the beginning.
“Bitch! Trash! You can’t even control the daughter you gave birth to! What use do I need from you?!” Fang Zhiqiang’s panic, anger, and humiliation that had been accumulated for many days found the most direct outlet at this moment.
He grabbed Ye Hui’s hair and forced her to raise her head. He made a fist with his other hand and beat her body mercilessly.
Ye Hui curled up on the ground without screaming or begging for mercy, just letting the fists and kicks rain down.
Over the years, she has become accustomed to such treatment.
She was like a puppet that had lost its soul, and even her screams of pain seemed unnecessary.
Fang Zhiqiang beat and cursed at the same time, and the obscene words were mixed with curses on Ye Qinglan.
“…Ye Qinglan, that little bitch! Just like her mother, she is an ignorant white-eyed wolf! If it weren’t for our Fang family… would she be where she is today?! Now that her wings are strong, she dares to bite back! I tell you Ye Hui, if the Fang family is over, none of you will be able to live well! Even if I die, I will drag you to hell with me!…”
His fists and kicks landed on Ye Hui, making a dull sound.
Ye Hui protected her head and face, curled up on the ground, nosebleeds flowed out, staining the expensive handmade carpet red.
Her eye sockets were rapidly bruised and the corners of her mouth were cracked.
She was like an old piece of porcelain that had been beaten randomly by its owner. Although it was full of cracks, she still maintained an eerie silence.
The alcohol and rage consumed a lot of his energy. He gasped and slumped down on the sofa next to him.
He just stared at Ye Hui who was curled up in a ball on the ground with cloudy eyes, still cursing in his mouth.
“Trash! You can’t even control your own daughter!”
Ye Hui lay on the ground for a while before struggling to support her painful body with her arms.
She got up silently, her steps staggering a bit, without looking at Fang Zhiqiang on the sofa, or dealing with the blood and stains on her face, she just limped toward the kitchen.
It was as if the brutal beating had never happened.
She also needs to cook.
This is her duty as “Mrs.” and this set of rules cannot be broken even in purgatory.
Seeing her resigned manner, Fang Zhiqiang became even more angry.
He scratched his hair irritably and suddenly thought of Fang Qi who was still in the detention center.
“No… I have to see Qiqi… She must know something… There must be a way…” He muttered to himself, as if he was grasping the last straw.
He immediately picked up his cell phone, contacted the lawyer, and ordered the other party to arrange for him to meet Fang Qi immediately at all costs in an almost roaring tone.
After some anxious waiting and money management, Fang Zhiqiang finally met Fang Qi in the interview room of the detention center.
In just a few days, Fang Qi has completely changed.
The arrogant and domineering young lady of the past disappeared, and was replaced by a haggard woman with unfocused eyes, greasy hair, and a uniform.
She sat there, digging her fingers nervously at the tabletop, mumbling something.
“Qiqi! Qiqi! Dad is here!” Fang Zhiqiang eagerly picked up the intercom through the glass.
Fang Qi suddenly raised his head and when he saw Fang Zhiqiang, an unusually bright but crazy light burst out in his empty eyes.
She grabbed the intercom and said in a shrill voice: “Dad! Dad! You are here! Get me out quickly! This is no place for people! I want to get out! It’s Song Jing! It was Song Jing, that poisonous woman who harmed me! She lied to me! She took everything away! You have to help me get revenge! Kill her! Kill her!”
She was incoherent and emotional, and she slapped the glass in front of her so hard that the guard on the side immediately stepped forward to warn her.
Fang Zhiqiang suppressed his anger and lowered his voice: “Xiao Qi! Calm down! Tell dad, how did you provoke Song Jing? Why did she deal so cruelly to our Fang family? What is there between you that we don’t know?!”
“Provoke her? Haha… Hahaha…” Fang Qi suddenly burst out laughing crazily, crying, “It wasn’t me who provoked her… it was us… it was us together… retribution! This is all retribution!”
Her eyes became strange and mysterious, and she leaned closer to the glass and lowered her voice, as if sharing a terrible secret.
“Dad…we are finished…we can’t escape…Song Jing will take care of everyone…Su Jin…Ye Qinglan…and me…and you…we will all go to hell…to hell together! Hahaha…”
Her words were logically confusing, full of ominous premonitions and crazy gibbering.
Fang Zhiqiang was frightened when he heard it, but he couldn’t ask any substantive content.
Seeing his daughter’s obviously abnormal mental state, he felt a sense of complete despair and deeper anger.
“Trash! They’re all trash!” He slammed down the phone, ignoring Fang Qi’s more shrill cries and curses behind him, and left the detention center with a livid face without looking back.
Hope was completely dashed.The daughter went crazy, the family business was ruined, and the enemy was at large.
All the negative emotions were like boiling lava, rolling and colliding in his chest, in desperate need of an outlet.
It was almost dusk when he returned to the lifeless villa.
Ye Huizheng silently put the simple meal on the table. Her cheeks were still red and swollen, and there was unwiped blood on the corners of her mouth. Her movements were a little slow because of the pain in her body.
This scene of silence and forbearance, in Fang Zhiqiang’s eyes, became the most ruthless mockery of his failed life.
It was this woman who brought about the disaster of Ye Qinglan!
It was her incompetence that brought her to where she is today!
The old and new grudges, together with the stimulation he received from Fang Qi, instantly overwhelmed his remaining sanity.
He didn’t even say a word. Like a wild beast that had completely lost control, he rushed forward. The moment Ye Hui raised her eyes in fear, he grabbed her hair and knocked her to the ground!
A more violent beating fell on Ye Hui than before.
Fists, kicks, and even an ashtray he grabbed casually… Fang Zhiqiang seemed to be pouring out all his anger at the unfair fate and hatred for all his enemies on this woman who was unable to resist.
Ye Hui initially tried to curl up to protect herself, but soon her consciousness began to blur.
Severe pain swept through her, and what finally reached her eardrums was Fang Zhiqiang’s irrational roar and the crisp sound of bones that seemed to be broken… Then, she fell completely into boundless darkness.
…
Ye Qinglan was having dinner with Su Jin when she received the call from the hospital.
“Are you a family member of Ms. Ye Hui? She was injured and admitted to the hospital. She needs her family members to come and handle the procedures.”
On the other end of the phone, the doctor informed her in a formulaic tone that her mother, Ms. Ye Hui, had suffered severe domestic violence, resulting in multiple soft tissue contusions, rib fractures, and a mild concussion. She was now hospitalized for treatment, and her family members needed to come to handle the procedures.
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.
However, there was no expression on Ye Qinglan’s face, and even his eyes did not waver, as if what he heard was just news that had nothing to do with him.
Only the knuckles of the hand holding the phone tightly turned white, revealing a hint of her inner peace.
Su Jin put away the dishes and came out of the kitchen. When she saw Ye Qinglan’s stiff back, her heart tightened.
She walked over gently, hugged her waist from behind, and pressed her cheek against her seemingly calm but tense back.
“Lan Lan?” she called softly, “What’s wrong?”
Ye Qinglan slowly put down the phone and covered Su Jin’s hand around her waist. Her voice could not detect any emotion: “A call from the hospital. Ye Hui… was called into the hospital by Fang Zhiqiang.”
Su Jin took a breath and hugged her tightly, “What a beast!”
“Are we… going to take a look?” Su Jin raised her head, looked at Ye Qinglan’s cold profile, and asked softly.
She knew that the relationship between Ye Qinglan and her mother was complicated, and it took courage to make this suggestion at this moment, but she did not want to see Ye Qinglan bury all his emotions in his heart and bear it alone.
Ye Qinglan did not answer immediately.
She closed her eyes, and her mind flashed back to her mother’s submissive attitude, the way she had to beg for perfection over and over again and even to herself for the so-called “family integrity”… It also flashed back to her mother’s occasional moments of tenderness that had not been erased by life during her childhood.
After a long time, she opened her eyes, and there was a deep calm in her eyes.
She turned around, hugged Su Jin into her arms, and smelled the sweet fragrance of gardenia in her hair. The scent was like a wisp of breeze, slightly dispelling the gloom in her heart.
Su Jin rolled her eyes, got into her arms, and said coquettishly, “I want to go take a look, why don’t you stay with me.”
Ye Qinglan was silent for a long time and finally said: “Okay.”
She doesn’t need sympathy or support.
But Su Jin was by her side, extending her hand and providing warmth and companionship, which made her feel that facing the unbearable reality was no longer so unbearable.
She didn’t go for Ye Hui, perhaps, just to give a final explanation to the little girl who once longed for warmth from her mother, but was disappointed again and again.
It was also a reassuring response for the lover beside her who wanted to share her weight.
In the dark, the two drove to the hospital.
Ye Qinglan looked out the window at the rapidly retreating night scene, with firm and cold eyes.
What is coming must be faced.
The smell of hospital disinfectant was strong and pungent. As soon as Ye Qinglan and Su Jin stepped out of the elevator, a hysterical roar penetrated the air and hit their eardrums.
“Get out of here! Get out of here! This is my wife! Is it your turn for outsiders like you to interfere in our family’s private affairs?!” Fang Zhiqiang was like a beast trapped in a trap, with a ferocious face and bloodshot eyeballs, and he was furiously attacking several nurses who were trying to dissuade her.
His clothes were disheveled, his tie was askew, and he smelled heavily of alcohol and terminal madness.
“Which person who suffered a thousand stabbings reported it to the police? Huh?! If you meddle in other people’s business, you will die! And you, the hospital, who allows you to treat people at will?!”
Ye Qinglan and Su Jin saw this chaotic scene as soon as they stepped out of the elevator.
As soon as Fang Zhiqiang turned around, his scarlet eyes immediately locked onto Ye Qinglan.
The violence in his eyes found a new focus, almost bursting into flames.
“Ye Qinglan! It’s you! Sure enough, it’s you, the ignorant white-eyed wolf!”
He rushed over in two steps at a time, his fingers making a sound like wind, almost poking the bridge of Ye Qinglan’s nose, “Is it your fault?! It’s not enough to send your mother to the hospital, and now you want to send me to the hospital too?! Let me tell you, no way!”
Stars of saliva flew as he roared.
Ye Qinglan stood there, not moving, but his eyes became colder a little bit, like a lake covered with frost, bottomless and chilly.
Before Ye Qinglan could speak, a petite but firm figure suddenly stood in front of her.
Su Jin opened her arms like a hen protecting her young. Although she was not as tall as Fang Zhiqiang, her aura was not weak at all.
She raised her head, her clear eyes burning with anger, and her voice was clear and sharp, cutting through the noise in the corridor: “Shut up! You are not allowed to say that to Lan Lan! You are the murderer! Domestic violence is a crime! You beat my aunt like that, what is the difference between you and a murderer!”
“Who do you think you are?!” Fang Zhiqiang was completely angered by Su Jin’s public rebuke, especially the word “murderer”, which pricked his sensitive nerves like a needle.
The veins on his forehead popped out, he raised his thick arm, and with a fierce wind, he was about to slap Su Jin’s fair little face, “A despicable actor dares to interfere with my family affairs! I will beat you too!”
Su Jin was so frightened that she closed her eyes and shrank subconsciously, but she didn’t step back even a little.
Just as the slap was about to fall, a steady shout sounded: “Fang Zhiqiang! Stop!”
At some point, two uniformed police officers appeared at the end of the corridor, walking quickly and professionally.
The leader showed his ID and a document with a red seal, and his voice was unmistakable: “You are suspected of intentional injury. The evidence is conclusive. Now you will be arrested in accordance with the law!”
Fang Zhiqiang’s hand froze in the air, and the rage on his face was instantly replaced by shock and disbelief.
“What intentional harm? That’s my wife! It’s your turn to do anything between us as husband and wife…” He struggled and tried to defend, but the cold handcuffs had already “clicked” and locked his wrists firmly.
He was held up by the police on the left and right and dragged toward the elevator.
When he passed by Ye Qinglan, he turned his head sharply, with deep resentment in his eyes, and shouted: “Ye Qinglan! Just wait! I won’t let you go!”
Ye Qinglan just looked at him indifferently, as if watching a farce that had nothing to do with him, until the elevator door slowly closed, blocking out the unbearable curses, and the suffocating silence returned to the corridor.
Su Jin breathed a sigh of relief, her body softened slightly, and a feeling of fear came over her.
She subconsciously squeezed Ye Qinglan’s hand and found that her fingertips were cold.
Ye Qinglan gave her a firm squeeze with his backhand, giving her silent comfort, then took a deep breath and pushed open the door of the single ward.
In the ward, Ye Hui was lying on the snow-white bed, her whole body seemed to sink in.
Her face was so swollen that it was almost deformed, with bruises and bruises covering the corners of her eyes, cheekbones and mouth. One eye was so swollen that there was only a slit left, and her arms exposed outside the quilt were also wrapped in bandages.
Seeing Ye Qinglan, her eyes flickered for a moment, then dimmed again.
The mother and daughter looked at each other, and the air froze, leaving only the regular ticking of medical equipment.
An oppressive silence spread in the ward, so heavy that it made people breathless.
Su Jin carefully observed Ye Qinglan’s expression and broke the silence softly: “Auntie, how do you feel? What did the doctor say?”
Ye Hui seemed not to hear Su Jin’s words, her eyes were always fixed on Ye Qinglan.
After a while, she moved her cracked lips with great difficulty. Her voice was as hoarse as an old bellows: “Why are you here? Have you… figured it out and are willing to help the Fang family?”
She tried to hold her body up, but this simple movement affected the wounds all over her body, causing her to gasp in pain, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
She was breathing heavily and still persuaded in that earnest tone: “Qinglan… listen to mom’s advice… we… we are a family after all. You are an Omega… even if you are famous and become a big star… but there is no Alpha behind you… In the future, I don’t know how many people are waiting to bully you in the circle… What will you do then…”
“Ha…” Ye Qinglan suddenly laughed. The laughter was very light, but with a icy sarcasm that echoed clearly in the ward, interrupting Ye Hui’s unfinished “teaching”.
She took a step forward, walked to the bed, and looked down at her mother’s miserable state. There was no trace of pain in her eyes, only the frozen look of being completely discouraged.
“You still want to rely on men? Look at how you look now, lying in the hospital with a bruised nose and face. Is this the support you want?”
Ye Hui was stung by her words and her whole body trembled, her lips trembled, she wanted to refute but couldn’t make a sound.
Ye Qinglan did not give her a chance, and continued to say in a cold, sentence-like tone: “Fang Zhiqiang has been arrested. The crime of intentional injury, coupled with the crime of duty, is enough for him to stay in prison until death.”
Ye Hui’s expression suddenly changed: “How could you…”
“How could I?” Ye Qinglan interrupted her, and every word seemed to have been tempered with ice. “He deserves it! The evidence for intentional injury is conclusive! Moreover, the police also have evidence of embezzlement of his job and misappropriation of public funds! The combined punishment of several crimes is enough for him to sit in jail!”
She bent down slightly and approached Ye Hui, her eyes burning like fire, as if she wanted to completely burn through her ridiculous and pathetic philosophy of survival.
“Ye Hui, please see it clearly and remember it! This is what will happen if you depend on a man your whole life and cannot live without him! The miserable situation you are in today and every bit of pain you are lying in the hospital are all your own choices. You deserve it!”
After saying this last sentence, which was like a final judgment, Ye Qinglan no longer looked at the body on the bed that seemed to have had all its life taken away in an instant.
She stood up suddenly, pulled up Su Jin who was stunned by the fierce conflict next to her, turned around decisively, and strode towards the door.
The door of the ward was closed heavily behind him, blocking Ye Hui’s desperate gaze.
The cold light enveloped the corridor again.
Ye Qinglan held Su Jin’s hand tightly and walked quickly, as if she wanted to escape from this place as soon as possible.
Su Jin could feel the slight tremor in her palms and the extremely suppressed emotions, and held her back distressedly, trying to convey a hint of warmth.
However, just as they were about to reach the elevator, an elegant and calm figure stepped out of the elevator.
Song Jing was wearing a tailored off-white suit, holding a large bouquet of delicate champagne roses in her hand, with just the right amount of worry and concern on her face.
When she saw Ye Qinglan and Su Jin, she seemed slightly startled, then showed an impeccable and gentle smile, and spoke in a soft voice:
“Qinglan, Miss Su, what a coincidence. I heard that my aunt was hospitalized, and I felt worried, so I came here to have a look. Is aunt… okay?”
Her eyes seemed to sweep across Ye Qinglan’s cold face and their clasped hands unintentionally. Deep in her eyes, an imperceptible undercurrent quietly surged.
Ye Qinglan’s footsteps paused almost imperceptibly the moment he saw Song Jing, and he subconsciously tightened his hold on Su Jin’s hand.
Su Jin immediately felt her suddenly tense nerves, and raised her eyes to look at Song Jing, who was coming towards her, with a hint of vigilance in her clear eyes.
“Ms. Song.” Ye Qinglan’s voice returned to its usual distant and calm tone, without any trace of the intense emotional fluctuations she had just experienced, “I’m interested.”
She didn’t answer Song Jing’s question about Ye Hui’s condition. Her indifference that kept people away from her was like an invisible barrier.
The smile on Song Jing’s face was still flawless.
She took a step forward and handed the champagne rose in her hand to Ye Qinglan, with the right amount of consideration and familiarity in her tone: “I heard that my aunt was frightened, so I specially chose some flowers to soothe the nerves and help sleep. Qinglan, don’t worry too much, my aunt is auspicious and will recover soon. If you need help, just ask.”
Her eyes seemed to fall on Ye Qinglan with concern, but deep down, there was a kind of scrutiny, as if she was assessing Ye Qinglan’s true state at the moment, and how much traces the accident in the Fang family and Ye Hui’s injury had left in her heart.
Ye Qinglan did not pick up the bouquet of flowers, but just glanced at it lightly, her tone still calm: “No need. The hospital environment needs to be quiet, and flowers are not suitable. I appreciate Miss Song’s kindness.”
Her hand still held Su Jin tightly, with no intention of letting go. She even turned slightly sideways to protect Su Jin more naturally by her side.
This subtle movement did not escape Song Jing’s eyes.
Song Jing’s hand holding out the flower stayed in the air for a moment, and then she took it back calmly. There was no trace of embarrassment on her face, but her smile became deeper.
She turned her eyes to Su Jin, and her tone was gentle, but with a hint of edge that was not easy to detect: “Miss Su is here too. She is such a considerate person, and she has always been with Qinglan. I think Qinglan will be relieved to have you by her side.”
Her words sounded like a compliment, but in fact they were implying that Su Jin was only acting as a “comfort” rather than an equal partner.
Su Jin heard the meaning of her words and felt slightly annoyed, but a sweet smile without haze spread on her face. She leaned closer to Ye Qinglan and said in a clear voice: “Sister Song, what are you talking about? Lan Lan is the most important person to me. Her business is my business. Of course I have to accompany her. Miss Song, on the other hand, is really well-informed. You came right after my aunt was admitted to the hospital. You are so… warm-hearted.”
She deliberately bit the word “warm-hearted” a little too hard, and looked at Song Jing with her big clear eyes, with a kind of innocent inquiry, which made Song Jing’s well-prepared concern seem a bit deliberate.
A flash of displeasure flashed in Song Jing’s eyes, but the smile on her face remained unchanged: “After all, the Fang family is an old acquaintance of ours, so we should come and see it both emotionally and rationally.”
She returned the focus to Ye Qinglan, and her tone was a bit solemn, “Qinglan, I know you may not be in a good mood right now. The Fang family’s affairs… and the aunt’s affairs are all too sudden. If there is any need, whether it is legal or other aspects, I can help. After all, we have known each other for so many years, so we are more reliable than outsiders.”
She had something to say, and her eyes once again glanced at Su Jin vaguely.
Ye Qinglan’s patience seemed to have finally run out.
She raised her eyes and looked directly at Song Jing. There was no wave in her deep eyes, only a cold alienation.
“No need to worry.” Her voice was low, but with an unquestionable determination, “I will handle my affairs myself. As for the Fang family, it has nothing to do with me anymore. If Miss Song really comes to visit out of old acquaintance, then her heart has been reached, please come back.”
After she finished speaking, she no longer gave Song Jing any room to maneuver, pulled Su Jin, walked straight past Song Jing, and pressed the down button of the elevator.
Song Jing stood there, holding the bouquet of roses that no one accepted, looking at the backs of Ye Qinglan and Su Jin standing side by side.
Seeing the natural intimacy and mutual support between them, the perfect smile on their faces finally faded away little by little, leaving only a frozen chill in their eyes.
Ye Qinglan’s rejection was so straightforward, even with a hint of impatience.
And that Su Jin, seemingly innocent, could always break the atmosphere she carefully created in an almost innocent and reckless way at critical moments.
“Ha…” A very light sneer overflowed from Song Jing’s lips.
The elevator door slowly opened, and the figures of Ye Qinglan and Su Jin disappeared behind the door.
Song Jing was the only one left in the corridor, and the cold breath of Ye Qinglan’s pheromones seemed to still linger in the air, as well as the unique smell that blended with the fragrance of gardenia on Su Jin’s body.
Song Jing lowered her head and looked at the delicate roses in her arms, her eyes becoming sharp and cold little by little.
“Qinglan, you are still so… disobedient.” She whispered to herself, her fingertips unconsciously pinched a petal, and the juice stained her fingertips red, “Do you think that after getting rid of the Fang family, you can stay and fly with her?”
“The real storm has not yet begun.”
She turned around and threw the large bouquet of expensive champagne roses into the trash can next to her. Her movements were elegant, but with a determination that was like discarding old shoes.
The sound of high heels hitting the ground resounded in the empty corridor. It was crisp and regular, but it conveyed a sense of calculation and the coldness of inevitable victory.
She needed to reassess and plan more carefully.
Ye Qinglan’s armor was stronger than she thought, and the seemingly weak Su Jin might…not just be attached to Ye Qinglan’s vines.
But that’s okay.
What she loves to do most is to dismantle seemingly strong relationships and polish away the unruly treasures.
Ye Qinglan can only belong to her, Song Jing.
The elevator descends smoothly.
In the small space, Su Jin breathed a sigh of relief and gently shook Ye Qinglan’s hand: “That Song Jing, I look at you weirdly, I don’t like it.”
Ye Qinglan looked down at her, the ice in his eyes melting quietly when he came into contact with her worried gaze, replaced by a touch of softness and helplessness.She reached out and gently smoothed Su Jin’s frown with her fingertips.
“Don’t worry about people who don’t matter.” Her tone was calm, with soothing power.
“But she seems… to be very dedicated to you.” Su Jin muttered, with a hint of jealousy that she didn’t even notice, “What about ‘outsiders’ and ‘reliable’…”
Ye Qinglan looked at her like this, and the irritability in his heart caused by his mother and Song Jing magically dissipated.
She held Su Jin in her arms, resting her chin on the top of her hair, smelling the reassuring fragrance of gardenia.
“No one or anything can sway my choice.” Her voice was low and firm, ringing in Su Jin’s ears, “I will only have you by my side.”
Su Jin nuzzled in her arms with peace of mind and put all the unhappiness behind: “Well! Let’s go home!”
“Okay, go home.”
Returning to his familiar home, the warm yellow light dispelled the chill from the outside world, but failed to completely resolve the vague haze between Ye Qinglan’s brows.
She acted as gentle as ever, even a little more meticulous than usual.
She bent down to take out Su Jin’s slippers and hung up her coat, her movements smooth and natural.
“Are you tired?” Ye Qinglan asked softly, combing the broken hair on Su Jin’s cheek with his fingertips, “I’ll go and heat a glass of milk for you?”
Su Jin shook her head, put her arms around her waist, buried her face in her shoulder and rubbed her, “I don’t want to drink, I just want to hold you.”
Ye Qinglan’s eyes were gentle, he held her waist and led her to sit on the sofa, “What’s wrong today? You’re so clingy.”
“It’s nothing, I just want to hug you.” Her voice was muffled and she sounded a little unhappy.
Although Ye Qinglan didn’t say anything, she could feel that she looked calm but was actually sad.
That kind of depression is not as intense as a storm, but like the moisture of the rainy season, it silently penetrates into every corner.
Also, with such a mother, no one will be in a good mood.
Just…
Su Jin raised her head and looked at her, “Fang Zhiqiang and Fang Qi have gone in, and the aunt…”
Speaking of Ye Hui, she laughed, her tone unclear, “Her? She must be looking for another man to continue being her ‘good wife’!”
The word “good wife” was spoken very hard by her, full of sarcasm.
“She has long been accustomed to living on others in her life.” Ye Qinglan’s eyes gradually became empty. “It was like this when my father was still alive, and it became even worse after marrying Fang Zhiqiang. Dignity, self, and even his own daughter can all be compromised and sacrificed in order to maintain the identity of that ‘wife’.”
Ye Hui was cautious in front of Fang Zhiqiang. Fang Qi tried to please Fang Qi in every possible way, but he was so strict with her, his biological daughter, that he was almost indifferent.
I want her to be sensible, to be patient, and to make concessions for family harmony.
“Sometimes I even think that she may have forgotten how to survive alone without relying on a man.”
When Su Jin heard her words, her heart seemed to be tightly clenched.
She hugged Ye Qinglan back harder, trying to dispel the chill in her heart with her own warmth.
“That’s not your fault.” Su Jin said firmly, “You are different from her.”
Ye Qinglan withdrew his gaze and fell on Su Jin’s face full of distress. The frozen eyes finally gradually warmed up.
She gently pressed her forehead against Su Jin’s, absorbing her warmth.
“I know. I just feel…pathetic.”
Ye Hui tried to turn her into that kind of person, and even used her to please her current husband and stepdaughter, just to be what others called a ‘good wife’.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again, the haze in her eyes seemed to be dispelled a little.
“Okay, let’s not talk about her anymore. Are you hungry? What do you want to eat tonight?”
“I want to eat the tomato and egg noodles you cooked.” Su Jin raised her face and deliberately said in a brisk tone, “Put in a lot of chopped green onions.”
Ye Qinglan’s eyes finally filled with warmth, and he pinched the tip of her nose: “Okay, I’ll do it for you now.”
Seeing her back wearing an apron and busy in the kitchen, Su Jin felt sour.
Ye Qinglan was always like this, the more sad he got, the more he had to pretend as if nothing had happened.
Su Jin sighed slightly, his eyebrows drooping.
Maybe she can do something. Although it can’t solve Ye Qinglan’s problem, it can make her happier.
She bit her lip, picked up her phone and started looking at the gifts online. As she was clicking on the gifts, a mechanical sound suddenly sounded in her ears.
【Ding ding——】
[The system upgrade is completed, the host is back!】
Su Jin’s expression suddenly changed and she clenched her phone.
Before she could speak, there was a clang from the kitchen.
Su Jin was startled and ran to Ye Qinglan without paying attention to the system, “Lan Lan, what’s wrong with you? You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
Ye Qinglan looked deeply at Su Jin, her eyes complicated and difficult to distinguish.
The knife fell to the ground and lay at her feet, narrowly missing her.
At that moment, the system prompt sounded clearly in her mind: [The master’s system has returned, and the virus trap has been implanted.Capture starts——】
“Lan Lan? Lan Lan? How are you? Are you not injured?” Su Jin looked up and down and relaxed after making sure she was not injured.
“It’s okay,” Ye Qinglan took a deep breath. After suppressing his emotions, he bent down and picked up the knife on the ground as if nothing had happened. His voice was a little tight, “It’s just that my hand slipped.”
Su Jin observed her expression carefully and felt that something was wrong.
But Ye Qinglan had already turned around and continued cooking noodles, her movements smooth and natural, as if the gaffe just now had never happened.
Ye Qinglan put the chopped tomatoes into the pot, and the hot oil made a sizzling sound when it met the water.
With her back to Su Jin, her voice was as gentle as ever: “There’s a lot of fumes here. Go outside and wait. Your meal will be ready soon.”
Su Jin glanced at her back hesitantly, and finally exited the kitchen obediently.
【Host!I got new permissions with this upgrade!] The system chattered excitedly in her mind.
[And this time I upgraded and got a new emotional shielding program!] The system announced excitedly, [Now we can completely block the emotional interference caused during the task and ensure the smooth completion of the task!】
Su Jin’s fingers tightened unconsciously, and her knuckles turned slightly white.
“This program allows us to remain absolutely rational when performing tasks,” the system continued, “Especially for a highly dangerous villain like Ye Qinglan, we will no longer be fooled by her gentle illusion!】
Then will she lose all her feelings for Ye Qinglan?
Does that mean…no matter what Ye Qinglan does, she won’t take it to heart?
Then Ye Qinglan…
Su Jin’s eyes couldn’t help but glance towards the kitchen.
Ye Qinglan was concentrating on adjusting the heat, and her profile looked particularly soft under the light.
“What does emotional shielding mean?” Su Jin asked softly in her heart.
【That’s the literal meaning!】The system’s tone is excited, “After activation, you will temporarily lose all feelings for Ye Qinglan, so that we can complete the final task without hesitation – force her to become dark!”】
[When the task is completed, the host can leave!】
Su Jin’s heart sank suddenly.
“The noodles are ready, come and eat.”
Ye Qinglan turned around with the noodle bowl in hand and showed a gentle smile when she met her eyes.
Su Jin looked at her blankly and clenched the hands on her knees.
[I reject that broken program.】
The system was stunned and howled dissatisfiedly: [Why?But this is the most efficient way to complete the task!】
[I…I…] Su Jin hesitated and couldn’t speak. Finally, she decided to lie, [I just don’t want that broken program!】
[It took a lot of effort for my relationship with her to be like this, but you… are doing that crap again. What if I change too much and Ye Qinglan discovers me, and she gets annoyed, and my strategy progress is reset to zero?】
[Host, don’t worry!] The system confidently guarantees, [This upgrade also optimizes the emotion simulation function, which can perfectly simulate your deep love for Ye Qinglan!】
Su Jin’s fingertips dug deeply into her palms.
[At that time, you can still greet her on the surface,] and the system will get more and more excited as you talk, [but on the inside, you will no longer be affected by her false feelings.This will ensure that the task is completed without arousing her suspicion!】
[In this case, we can do many tasks in the future without being besieged by emotions!You will be our most powerful attacker!】
The system kept chattering, which made Su Jin extremely annoyed and intolerable.
“Shut up!” she said angrily.
Ye Qinglan and the system were silent at the same time.
Ye Qinglan’s eyebrows darkened, and he asked in his heart: [Can you hear their conversation.】
[No, all my energy is used in the capture program, and I cannot eavesdrop on their conversation.】
Ye Qinglan came over pretending to be ignorant, put the bowl on the dining table, and looked at Su Jin with concern.
“I didn’t say anything, I just asked you to come over for dinner.”
Su Jin suddenly came back to her senses and realized that she had accidentally shouted just now.
She panicked for a moment, then calmed down, “I, I heard it, come right now.”
She stood up, pretended to tidy up the messed up sofa, reorganized her emotions, and then walked to the dining table.
There was only a bowl of noodles on the table. Ye Qinglan sat opposite her, holding her chin in her hand and looking at her.
“Why is there only one bowl and you don’t want to eat it?” Su Jin asked doubtfully.
Ye Qinglan shook his head, “I’m not hungry, you can eat.”
Su Jin hummed and reached out to take the noodle bowl, but her fingertips were trembling slightly because of nervousness.
Ye Qinglan did not expose her clumsy lie, but said gently: “Be careful of the burn.”
Warm white steam rises from the noodle bowl. The sweet and sour tomato blends with the aroma of eggs. It is Su Jin’s favorite taste.
But now, she is a bit confused.
【Host!Calm down!】The system’s voice is urgent, 【The emotion shielding program is for your own good!】
The system gritted its teeth angrily: [Ye Qinglan is a villain!After darkening, pheromones and mental influence are extremely strong. If you continue to indulge like this, if you fail the mission in the end, we will all be punished!】
Su Jin retorted forcefully in her heart: [I won’t indulge!I know what the mission is!But I can’t do it that way… What’s the difference between that and cheating?】
More importantly, she couldn’t imagine facing Ye Qinglan’s tenderness with empty eyes.
Even if it’s just a disguise!
As long as she thought of that scene and Ye Qinglan’s despair and sadness when she faced her emptiness, her heart ached.
【deceive?Host, we are the strategy system, and our core is ‘simulation’ and ‘acquisition’!You did a good job before and successfully gained her trust and love. Now you just add a layer of insurance to ensure nothing goes wrong!】
【I said no!] Su Jin almost yelled, in her mind, [If you dare to secretly start that program, I… I will give up the mission immediately!】
These words had the meaning of breaking the cauldron and silenced the system instantly.
It didn’t seem to expect that Su Jin would be so resistant.
Ye Qinglan sat opposite, seeing the subtle struggle and tension on her face.
She couldn’t see the existence of the system, nor could she hear the fierce argument that took place in Su Jin’s mind, but she could feel the chaotic and uneasy atmosphere around Su Jin.
Is that “thing” forcing her to do something?
Ye Qinglan’s eyes dimmed, and the hands under the table clenched silently.
The “virus” she implanted is lurking, waiting for the perfect moment to catch it, but it will take time.
At this moment, she could only rely on observation and instinct to judge.
“Jinjin,” Ye Qinglan stretched out his hand and gently covered Su Jin’s hand holding the chopsticks. It felt cold to the touch, “Isn’t the noodles delicious? Or…are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?”
Her voice was so gentle that it could drip water, with undisguised concern, which instantly brought Su Jin back to reality from the storm in her heart.
Su Jin raised her head suddenly and looked into Ye Qinglan’s worried eyes. Her heart felt sour and she almost shed tears.
She opened her mouth, and those chaotic thoughts about the system, tasks, and emotional shielding were rolling in her throat, but she couldn’t say a word.
What could she say?
That there was a system in her mind forcing her to leave her?
That their relationship might have been based on the mission from the beginning?
No, she can’t.
Not to mention whether Ye Qinglan would believe it, the ubiquitous system would definitely detect it, and the consequences would be disastrous.
“No, no.” Su Jin hurriedly lowered her head and stirred the noodles in the bowl with chopsticks to cover up her gaffe. “The noodles are delicious, but… I’m just a little worried about what’s going to happen next with Auntie.”
This excuse is lame and weak.
Ye Qinglan did not expose her.
She gently rubbed the back of Su Jin’s cold hand with her fingertips, and her voice was calm and reassuring: “I will handle the matter over there, you don’t have to worry. I’ll be there for everything.”
She paused, looked at Su Jin’s still lowered head, and added: “No matter what happens, I will be by your side.”
These words were like a warm current flowing into Su Jin’s cold and panicked heart, but they also brought deeper guilt and struggle.
【Look!She starts to seduce you with this sweet talk again!] The sharp voice of the system sounded again, [Host, wake up!These are all the methods of the villain!】
【Shut up!] Su Jin roared in his mind, his emotions fluctuating violently.
At the same time, because of the systematic harassment and inner torment, her body reacted subconsciously and suddenly withdrew the hand held by Ye Qinglan.
This action was a bit abrupt and stiff.
The air suddenly became stagnant.
Ye Qinglan’s hand still stayed in the air, and her fingertips curled up slightly.
She looked at Su Jin, a hint of coldness flashed deep in her eyes, but was soon covered with even greater worry.
Su Jin also realized that she had overreacted. She looked at Ye Qinglan’s empty hands, and her heart hurt as if she had been pricked by a needle.
“Lan Lan, I…” She wanted to explain urgently, but she was at a loss for words.
“It doesn’t matter.” Ye Qinglan was the first to break the silence. She retracted her hand naturally, and the corners of her lips even held a gentle curve, “Are you too tired today? Let’s go to bed early after eating.”
The more considerate she is, the more uncomfortable Su Jin becomes.
The meal ended in a subtle and depressing atmosphere.
Su Jin rushed to wash the dishes, as if she wanted to escape the suffocating atmosphere by being busy.
Ye Qinglan didn’t stop him, he just sat quietly on the sofa in the living room, his eyes falling on the slightly hasty figure in the kitchen, his eyes as dark as night.
[When will the capture be completed?] She asked calmly in her heart.
[Estimated time: five days.】
[When the master has a deep connection with you, the capture process will be accelerated.】
Ye Qinglan’s eyes sharpened.
At night, the two of them lay side by side in bed.
Su Jin turned her back to Ye Qinglan, her body stiffened, and she pretended to be asleep, but her mind was quarreling with the system.
[When I come back this time, why do I feel that you are weird?】
Su Jin pretended to be calm, “Where is it?”It’s you who is obviously weird!As soon as I came back, I told you what the program was. You didn’t understand it at all. My strategy progress was made during your absence!】
She raked it over and said, “I even wonder if you came back this time to cause trouble on purpose!”】
[I…] The momentum of the system is gradually weakening, [How can this be asking for trouble?I’m doing this for your own good.】
[For my own good, you should listen to me!】
Su Jin took advantage of the victory to pursue, but she was sweating in her heart, [The relationship between Ye Qinglan and I is very delicate now and is at a critical period.What kind of emotional shielding program you have, if it is self-defeating and makes her notice something abnormal, all our previous efforts will be in vain!】
As she spoke, she carefully felt the movement of Ye Qinglan behind her.
Ye Qinglan seemed to be asleep, breathing steadily and long, and the warm breath brushed the back of her neck, bringing a slight itch and indescribable peace of mind.
[But…] The system is still struggling. [The main system has requirements for task progress…]
[Progress?] Su Jin interrupted it immediately, [Did you know that during the time you were upgrading, Ye Qinglan almost uprooted the Fang family for me!Isn’t this a sign of the success of the Raiders?】
[Her trust and dependence on me have reached an unprecedented level!Any unnatural intervention at this time may cause all previous efforts to be wasted!】
Her words were half-truth and half-false, with strong persuasiveness.
The downfall of the Fang family was a fact, and Ye Qinglan’s protection of her was also a fact. She just cleverly connected these two things with the “progress of the strategy.”
The system was silent, as if it was quickly analyzing the logic and possibilities in Su Jin’s words.
For the strategy system, the “blackening” of the mission target is of course the end point, but gaining the target’s ultimate trust and love in the process is also an important indicator.
Su Jin felt the system was shaken, and immediately softened her tone, with a hint of exhaustion and pleading: “Give me a little more time, believe me, okay?”I am confident that I can complete the task without that cold procedure.I don’t want to… face her like a stranger to myself.】
This last sentence brings real emotion.
Perhaps this truth touched her, and the system finally reluctantly compromised: […Okay, host.I can stop activating the emotional blocker for a while.But I will monitor the progress of the mission closely, and if there are any signs of going off track, I will retain the authority to enforce it.】
【OK!】Su Jin breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, and her tense nerves finally relaxed.
During this period, as long as she could think of a way, she could use it and get through it.
The constant tension and fierce battle in her head drained her energy, and once she relaxed, heavy sleepiness came flooding back.
She unconsciously shrank into the warm embrace behind her, looking for a more comfortable position. Her breathing gradually became long and even, and she truly fell into a deep sleep.
After she fell asleep completely, Ye Qinglan, who was supposed to be “asleep”, slowly opened his eyes.
In the darkness, her eyes were clear and sharp, without any hint of sleepiness.
She clearly felt Su Jin’s stiffness and emotional fluctuations just now. Although she didn’t know the specific details, she could guess that the “system” was exerting pressure again.
And Su Jin is resisting.
This knowledge, like a ray of light, dispelled the chill in her heart caused by Su Jin’s hand withdrawal.
She gently closed her arms and hugged the soft body in her arms tighter. She lowered her head and sniffed the faint fragrance of gardenia in Su Jin’s hair, feeling her completely dependent sleeping posture.
The capture program is running silently, and it takes time and opportunity.
But at this moment, holding this little fool who resisted for her, the cold calculating place in Ye Qinglan’s heart quietly took on a different temperature.
She kissed the top of Su Jin’s hair and made a silent promise.
“Go to sleep, my Jinjin.”
“Soon, nothing will be able to bother you anymore.”