“Ye Ye! Let me do it!” Si Yan whispered.
“Sister!” Shao Ran and Shao Yi exclaimed in concern. Qiu Yu and Qiu Jing also looked at her with questioning eyes.
“Thank you, Si Yan, but if you fight, they won’t accept the outcome! Don’t worry, I’m Ye Xingfeng’s daughter, so I won’t lose!” Ye Ye comforted her friends while also boosting her own morale. She clenched her fists, closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them with a gaze as bright as the stars, full of determination and confidence, captivating everyone present!
“Si Yan, Qiu Yu, protect Shao Ran, Shao Yi, and Aunt Xiong!”
“Okay! Be careful!” Qiu Yu whispered.
“Let’s begin!” Ye Ye stepped forward, shedding her outerwear, revealing a sleek black outfit, and confidently walked down the stage to stand proudly before A Wu. Si Yan still held Ma Likun tightly; Qiu Yu and Qiu Jing pulled Shao Ran and Shao Yi back, while the bodyguards surrounded Aunt Xiong. Everyone stepped aside, hearts pounding, as they watched the impending duel… Ma Likun and Fourth Master exchanged a secretive glance… seemingly plotting their next move…
“Wow, a woman against a man, and it’s A Wu…”
“Can she really do it?”
“A Wu is the second best fighter in Chinatown, after Long Yu!”
“I think… she’s in danger!”
The guests were astounded by the sudden turn of events, yet they were also eager to see how this beautiful girl, claiming to be Ye Xingfeng’s daughter, would perform…
France—Paris, 1:35 PM
While Ye Ye faced her formidable opponent, at the Verken Castle, Jones entered Dean’s study with a report in hand.
“Sir, the test results for the Dowager’s milk are in,” Jones said respectfully.
“Hmm—go on,” Dean said coldly, twirling a golden pen, his gaze piercing Jones, gesturing for him to sit opposite and report.
“The sample analysis shows that the milk contained a small amount of a special virus that can trigger gastroenteritis. This virus remains in the body for a very short time but acts very quickly. An average person would show symptoms of acute gastroenteritis within 10 to 20 minutes of ingestion, indistinguishable without testing,” Jones explained.
“Hmm, Jones, what do you think?” Dean’s pen rhythmically tapped the desk’s edge, his demeanor like a leopard ready to pounce…
“Your subordinate believes the perpetrator’s motive is unclear, and the attack was not severe. It doesn’t seem like business rivalry or family discord,” Jones was equally puzzled by this sudden and mysterious incident.
“Have you identified the perpetrator?” Dean asked.
“We’ve begun a secret investigation into everyone from the castle’s daily food suppliers to the maids attending to the Dowager. To avoid alerting the culprit, the progress is slow.”
“Jones, hand this matter over to Xi; have him follow up. Tell him no more mistakes are allowed!”
“Yes, I’ll communicate with Beitang immediately!”
“Prepare the plane, we’re departing for Rome in half an hour.” Dean put down the pen, stood up, his tall figure blocking the sunlight streaming through the window. He looked out at the azure sky, where his little cat—perhaps already in a frenzy—awaited.
“Yes!”
“Grandmother, are you feeling better?” Misha asked, looking at the elderly woman in bed, her heart filled with guilt. This was certainly not her intention! Yet, indeed, it was her fault… She couldn’t apologize to her grandmother because she didn’t have the courage to face the consequences of revealing the truth! So, she could only silently care for her.
“I’m fine, you don’t need to keep checking on me. Huo Nan is at the castle; go spend time with him!” The old lady said faintly, her complexion much improved. Although she didn’t particularly like Misha, finding her too weak, she couldn’t dislike her entirely, as she was a good girl, devoted to her grandson.
“Grandmother…” Misha wanted to say more but was interrupted by the sound of the door opening…
“Grandmother, are you feeling any better?” Dean’s deep voice echoed as he gracefully entered the room. He glanced at Misha, who was dutifully by the bed, gave her a faint smile, then leaned over to kiss his grandmother on both cheeks.
“Grandmother isn’t that frail! Young man, all dressed up, are you going somewhere?” The old lady asked kindly, her tone light. Misha’s face changed—couldn’t he stay a few more days even now?
“Yes, Grandmother, there’s a significant investment in Shengshi; I need to keep a close watch on it!” Dean explained, thinking about the lake island he promised Ye Ye. If it weren’t for Misha’s sudden arrival, construction might have already started. This time, he was determined to expedite the project!
“Go, a man’s career comes first!” The old lady patted Dean’s hand softly, her words mostly for Misha’s benefit. She was well aware of the dynamics between the young couple, and Dean’s affairs outside were clear to her. It wasn’t that she favored her grandson intentionally; it was just that since this woman hadn’t managed to keep her grandson’s heart for two years, in her eyes, she wasn’t the one to truly bring him happiness! Therefore, she, who dotes on her grandson, naturally can’t consider Misha in comparison… “Yes! Grandmother, take care! I will call you.” “Hmm!” “Darling, you…” Misha interjected excitedly, wanting to persuade her to stay, but suddenly met Dean’s icy gaze… She abruptly fell silent. In those proud, cold imperial eyes, Misha suddenly felt so insignificant that she couldn’t utter any words of retention, as if she were just an outsider with no standing… As a wife, reaching this point, she had reached her limit! She trembled slightly — only able to mock herself in her heart.
“Misha, take good care of the elders at home! Don’t be willful and run around anymore!” Dean said indifferently. Willful? So, he still remembered her sudden trip to Rome! Realizing what Dean was referring to, the bitterness in Misha’s heart grew. It seemed that in Dean’s eyes, she, his wife, was merely a decoration to be kept at home! Except for showing filial piety to the elders and attending certain occasions, she had no other uses or rights! “Alright!” Gritting her teeth, Misha lowered her head, avoiding those deep eyes that she both loved and hated. A surge of unwillingness and pain rose within her…
“I’m leaving!” Dean nodded to his grandmother once more, then turned around, leaving Misha with a resolute back, departing without any hesitation…
PM 2:08 The private jet of the Facken family soared through the European skies, destination — Rome! Dean rested against the chair back, taking a nap. Soon, he would see Ye Ye… Wondering how her wound was healing… He hadn’t called her in seven days; would she be angry… The cabin was very quiet. On one side, Jones meticulously went through documents, while behind, Simon Xu and Nangong Xun meditated with their eyes closed. The intercom in the cabin signaled an incoming call. Jones recognized it as a satellite phone and pressed a button. A large LCD screen slowly descended in front, displaying a black screen with a cluster of flickering red flames, gradually morphing into an abstract totem of a Qilin. After a “beep,” the screen showed a close-up of a man.
“Leader!” The young man on the screen, around twenty-three or four, had long black hair tied in a ponytail falling over his left shoulder, with a pair of black hoop earrings. His handsome, almost otherworldly face featured a pair of strange heterochromatic eyes, one purple, one blue. He looked more like a mythical creature than a human!
“Qilin, what’s the matter?” Dean’s lake-blue eyes met those bizarre eyes, his tone authoritative yet cold.
“The head of the Roman branch of Thousand Night Gate, Xiong Ping, died suddenly yesterday, and the funeral is today.”
“Do you need to report such a matter personally?” Dean raised an eyebrow.
