《After I Became Famous, the CEO Wants Remarriage》


 Chapter 1 - 1 After Divorce, Taking the Twins and Blowing Up the Whole Scene

    Chapter 1: Chapter 1 After Divorce, Taking the Twins and Blowing Up the Whole Scene


    "Li Lingyang, have you lost your mind? Look carefully, I''m your wife Ning Yichu, the Ning Yichu you despise the most..."


    "Help me, I can give you everything you want!"


    His voice was low, but his actions were violent and brutal, giving her no chance to resist...


    The buzzing vibration of the phone tore through the silence of the room.@@@@


    Ning Yichu woke up from the dream once again.


    It had been a month since that night, but it felt as if she could still vividly sense his heavy breathing and his burning body temperature.


    After two and a half years of marriage to Li Lingyang, their union was in name only, like strangers.


    The only time was that drunken mistake that night.


    She didn''t even dare let him find out the woman was her, so she left quietly before he woke up.


    What she hadn''t expected was, after that night, her womb would be carrying two little lives.


    Having experienced a cold family affection since childhood, she had always longed for a child of her own, let alone twins...


    The chances of having twins worldwide are only 1%, maybe just 0.5% in our country.


    A woman''s motherhood seems innate, and the moment she knew she was pregnant, she couldn''t help but imagine whether they will look more like her or more like Li Lingyang when they grow up?


    "Madam, President Li has returned..." caught up in her fantasies, the knocking of the servant interrupted her.


    Ning Yichu said she would be right down, her heart trembling slightly with nervousness in her eyes.


    Would he want the children if he knew she was pregnant?


    As she descended the stairs, she saw Li Lingyang sitting on the couch with his legs crossed, a cigarette between his slender fingers, his handsome face cold and distant, emanating an icy aloofness.


    Ning Yichu clenched her hands that hung by her legs, took a deep breath, and after much deliberation, finally spoke, "Li Lingyang, I went to the hospital yesterday, the doctor said..."


    "Here''s the divorce agreement, sign it." Li Lingyang didn''t let her finish, laying out a document on the table.


    The white smoke swirled, blurring his profile, hiding any excess expression, but his words were like ice, piercing right through Ning Yichu!


    Ning Yichu''s lips trembled as she wanted to ask something, but found herself speechless.


    Li Lingyang slowly stood up, blowing out a ring of smoke, "Jiangqing is back, I want to give her a status."


    Was that an explanation?


    A surge of fury welled up in Ning Yichu''s chest, and she almost subconsciously countered, "You can''t bear to see her suffer, so what am I? What about our two and a half years of marriage?"


    "Of course, they mean nothing." Li Lingyang sneered, walking up to her, his fingers lifting her chin, his cold gaze narrowing, "You haven''t forgotten how you married into the Li Family, have you?"


    Ning Yichu froze all over, yes, to Li Lingyang, she was always the scheming woman who calculated her way into a marriage!


    The release of a new drug by Universal Medical, under the Li Group, was imminent.


    The ground was covered with a long red carpet that stretched to the end of the road, flanked by rows of stern bodyguards.


    Li Lingyang stepped out of his Maybach, his suit immaculate, his demeanor icy, exuding natural-born authority and regal presence!


    Journalists swarmed around him.


    "President Li, it''s said that Universal Medical has spent a fortune on a special drug for heart disease because of your fiance?e Miss Shen''s condition, is that true?"


    "President Li and Miss Shen, a truly talented and beautiful couple, a match made in heaven."


    "If it weren''t for the malicious actions of Ning Yichu five years ago, you and Miss Shen would''ve been married long ago, right?"


    Li Lingyang''s handsome face showed a trace of impatience as he suddenly turned to the last journalist who spoke.


    Ning Yichu...


    It had been a long time since he heard that name!


    Seven years ago, to marry him, she went so far as to kidnap and drive away Shen Jiangqing, and even during his grandmother''s party, she climbed into his bed, causing a scandal that forced him to marry her.


    Five years ago, they finally divorced, and only after did he discover she was pregnant.


    So it wasn''t just him moving on; she had cheated during their marriage!


    He immediately sent people to find her, but she had vanished like vapor...


    Later on, Shen Jiangqing gave birth to twins, but she developed serious complications postpartum, worsening her heart condition.


    He had established Universal Medical specifically to treat her illness.


    Yet it was like trying to extinguish a fire with a cup of water.


    Only the world''s leading heart disease expert, Dr. Chen, could offer a solution.


    Unfortunately, he received news that Dr. Chen had retired from the medical field last year, apparently leaving behind a mysterious disciple named Doctor Majesty...


    "Heart disease is a worldwide challenge, and our group''s new drug can only provide some relief. As for my personal affairs, I have nothing to offer."


    Li Lingyang concluded coldly, redirecting the attention to the group''s new drug.


    The press conference officially began.


    Li Lingyang strode towards the podium when suddenly, a crisp child''s voice disrupted all the arrangements.


    "Daddy, waaa, I finally found you!"


    A cherubic child of about four squeezed through the journalists and wobbled up the red carpet, latching onto Li Lingyang''s leg!


    "It''s been a year and eight months since you''ve given us any child support, Mommy and I can hardly survive, waaah, please help us..."

 Chapter 2: The Cute Baby Extorts the Scumbag Dad

    Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Cute Baby Extorts the Scumbag Dad


    The paparazzi waiting on site for coverage, and the guests invited to the press conference, were suddenly shocked and abuzz.


    President Li and Miss Shen were known as a deeply in love couple, yet it was all a fac?ade¡ªPresident Li actually had an illegitimate child out there!


    Li Lingyang thought this was a mischievous child causing trouble from who knows where, but when he saw the kid''s tender face clearly, his heart skipped a beat in shock¡ªthe child looked so much like him!


    He grabbed the child''s tender arm, "Who is your Mommy?"


    Chen Bao, unable to wiggle free with his small arms and legs, gave up struggling and just looked at him with big eyes, full of grievance and innocence.


    "Daddy, I never imagined you would be so heartless. Although Mommy was just a humble maid, she was with you for many years and even bore me, your big son. But now that you have someone new, you cast us aside and never bothered to check on us."


    "Now Mommy is seriously ill, and I can no longer afford to go to school. I might as well take my broken bowl and go begging under the overpass..."


    The little one''s eyes were brimming with tears, his accusation choking up, crying like a little kitten, immediately arousing the sympathy of the paparazzi.


    Li Lingyang could clearly feel that the way people looked at him had changed, filled with scrutiny and disdain.


    The hand gripping the child''s arm tightened slightly as he picked up the little guy horizontally.


    The sudden feeling of being lifted into the air stunned Chen Bao, who looked at him in horror.


    "Didn''t you say I''m your daddy? Since we haven''t seen each other for so long, we should catch up properly," Li Lingyang said, sporting a thin, dangerous smile as he strode toward the room on the second floor.


    "President Li, the new drug press conference is about to start..." Special Assistant Xu reminded him in surprise.


    "Postpone it!" Li Lingyang didn''t look back, his eyes colder than ever, as he ordered, "Clear out the venue. I don''t want this incident leaked."


    The bodyguards went around collecting everyone''s cameras, but nobody noticed that in an inconspicuous corner, a little girl around four years old was sneakily hiding the phone she had finished taking photos with...


    Ningning slung her little yellow duck backpack over her shoulder, wearing a cute child''s face mask, and swaggered past the blockade.


    "Uncle, Ningning needs to go to the restroom," she said, flashing a charming smile.


    The bodyguard, busy collecting phones and maintaining order, let her through upon seeing she was just a harmless child, and warned her, "Hurry up and go. Things are a bit chaotic here, don''t come back after you go."


    Ningning blinked her big eyes, as beautiful as the crescent moon, "Thank you, uncle."


    She paused at the restroom entrance.@@@@


    Carefully recognizing the male and female signs.


    Li Lingyang''s voice lowered slightly, authoritative without rage, "Are you threatening me?"


    Chen Bao snorted lightly, "I''ll give you half an hour to think it over."


    Li Lingyang found it unbelievable that a child could infiltrate the press conference and display such meticulous logic, but finding out who was behind him was key.


    "Alright, I''ll give you one billion!"


    Chen Bao was not surprised; to his trash father, worth tens of billions, one billion was nothing.


    Soon after, Chen Bao received a bank card from Li Lingyang with a billion in it, no PIN, withdrawable at any counter.


    Chen Bao blew a kiss and disappeared with the card.


    Li Lingyang watched his receding figure, his thin lips slightly curving up, instructing Xu, "That kid must have someone behind him. Send someone to follow him immediately, see where he eventually ends up."


    He wanted to see who had grown tired of living, concocting a child to scheme against him.


    Even as he thought this, Ning Yichu''s face involuntarily flashed through his mind.


    Five years ago, when she left, she was pregnant¡ªand the child...


    Could he be related to her?


    But he remembered very clearly, he never touched her!


    Half an hour later, Li Lingyang received a call from Xu.


    "President Li, that kid is especially clever, had us running in circles seven or eight times, but luckily, we placed a tracker on him beforehand. It''s showing he''s entered the Guangpu Building, there seems to be some activity here today, it''s very busy. I think he''s probably meeting with the person behind this here."


    The Guangpu Building wasn''t far, just a couple of kilometers away. Li Lingyang glanced at the address, "Have someone keep watch, I''ll be right there."


    ...


    Inside the Guangpu Building, where the crowd surged.


    Ning Yichu was holding a book signing event here today, but just before it started, she found that her two kids were missing!


    What was going on, she went to use the restroom and the siblings vanished?


    Five years ago, after her divorce, she chose to further her studies in Europe, and later gave birth to a pair of twins prematurely.

 Chapter 3: The Years When My Ex-Husband Couldn’t Cut It

    Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Years When My Ex-Husband Couldn''t Cut It


    When she had just given birth, a fire broke out in the hospital, and the two children cried loudly, choking on the smoke. She fought desperately to save them!


    Later, when the children grew up and became sensible, deep down she still hoped to bring them back to their homeland. Plus, she recently received a call from the nursing home; Mrs. Ning''s condition was getting more serious, and as a family member, it was best for her to come to visit. With no choice left, she had to bring the children back to the country.


    Today''s book-signing event is in the form of a live broadcast.


    Chen Bao''s little face is almost an exact copy of Li Lingyang''s. She originally didn''t want the little guy to come, but they insisted on not missing the big day and resolutely followed her. But now, in the blink of an eye, where did he run off to?


    "Sister Ning, the signing event is about to start, please hurry to the hall with me..." The host found her in a hurry and urged.


    Ning Yichu asked anxiously, "Did you see two children here just now?"


    "It seems that all the participants today are adults, I didn''t see any children..."


    "Strange, where did they run off to?" Ning Yichu couldn''t think about starting the live broadcast without finding the children, "Wait for me a moment, I need to make a phone call! Will five minutes be okay, just five minutes?"


    On the corridor outside the restroom, Ning Yichu dialed Chen Bao''s phone, her mind filled with thoughts of the unreliable little guy.


    Thankfully, after a few calls, it finally connected!


    As soon as it connected, she couldn''t wait to ask, "Where did you two run off to? Mommy''s live broadcast is about to start, you''re almost driving me mad..."


    "Mommy, you do your thing, don''t worry about Ningning and me, we''re at the restroom." A childish voice came from the receiver, gasping for breath as if someone was chasing him.


    Ning Yichu became puzzled, "I am right outside the restroom, and I didn''t see you. Also, why do you sound so out of breath?"


    "That''s because we were playing in the playground downstairs for a long time, now it''s very hot!" The little one smartly replied.


    The host kept urging Ning Yichu, who whispered sternly, "Take good care of your sister and come back quickly," then hung up the phone and appeared on the live book-signing event.


    She wore a blue, intellectual-looking long dress today, slowly appearing in front of the camera, shedding the naivete? of five years ago, looking more confident and composed.


    "Lady Ning, hello, I never imagined you''d be so young in person..."@@@@


    "Thank you."


    The host held a white-covered book in one hand and a microphone in the other and said, "What I have here is your breakout work, ''My Husband''s Useless Years,'' which vividly paints the story of a scumbag husband ditching his wife and children for a mistress, and ultimately dying in a car crash. It sounds melodramatic, but rumors say that it''s adapted from real events in your life?"


    "Yes, the character Mo Ran in the book is based on myself." Ning Yichu faced the camera unflinchingly.


    He had a dangerous thin smile on his lips, like a beast that had firmly set its sights on its prey.


    Ning Yichu looked at the approaching man, and her brain buzzed for a moment as if it had exploded!


    Five years, almost two thousand days and nights, and he still looked as handsome and frosty as she remembered.


    She knew that returning to Imperial City she would inevitably meet him, but she hadn''t expected it would be this soon.


    "Ning Yichu, we haven''t seen each other in five years, and you''ve become braver, huh? Mocking that I''m not up to par? Hm?" Li Lingyang''s cold voice contained a bit of vicious provocation.


    In full view of everyone, Ning Yichu''s face flushed red in an instant; she felt like she had been slapped in the face. She had just thought he wouldn''t bother about her, yet within five minutes of the live broadcast, he had shown up.


    Taking a deep breath, she replied with a forced smile, "Hi, President Li, long time no see. Should we count, in the two and a half years of our marriage, how many times did you touch me? Women have needs too. If that''s not being ''unable,'' then what is it?"


    Li Lingyang''s forehead vein throbbed, and he narrowed his eyes. He never imagined that his reunion with Ning Yichu would be in such a setting.


    Even less did he expect that the woman who once admired and loved him so deeply would slander him in such a way!


    He pinched her chin, "A man reluctant to touch a woman might not necessarily mean the man is incapable; perhaps the woman just turns his stomach. Maybe I should also write a book titled ''The Years My Wife was Promiscuous.''"


    Ning Yichu tried to break free, but she couldn''t, so she could only glare at him furiously.


    Who was promiscuous!


    This dog of a man, he thought just because he cheated, everyone in the world was like him?


    Disgusting!


    "Where''s the child?" he suddenly asked sharply.


    Ning Yichu''s heart jumped to her throat; why did he suddenly ask about the child? Did he know something?


    She feigned ignorance, "What child?"


    "Stop playing dumb. He extorted a billion from someone and then headed straight to you, could it be such a coincidence? Hand the person over!" Li Lingyang glared at her with an icy gaze. His pure black suit made him look even more noble and chilly.


    Ning Yichu''s eyes widened in astonishment; he had been swindled by a child, and was he now following that child here?


    How old was that child? Was it Chen Bao? Or some other child?


    In that moment, countless thoughts flashed through Ning Yichu''s mind, all converging into one sentence, "I don''t know what you''re talking about! We''re divorced, you were scammed by a child and you come asking me, your ex-wife?"

 Chapter 4 - 4 Entering the Room

    Chapter 4: Chapter 4 Entering the Room


    "What if I said that child was born by you, his ex-wife?" Everything was too coincidental, he couldn''t help but suspect she was up to something.


    Ning Yichu desperately suppressed her wildly beating heart, looking at the man''s face that was growing darker by the second, "I''m afraid I''m going to disappoint you, you couldn''t do it, how could you get me pregnant? Asexual reproduction?"


    Li Lingyang contained his rage, biting his cheek to keep from strangling her.


    His icy gaze swept across the venue, with its huge crowd and the building being extremely difficult to search.


    "So you refuse to talk, do you? No matter, I have ways of making you tell the truth."


    Ning Yichu''s heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition looming.


    The next second, Li Lingyang released her chin and instructed his bodyguards, "Please invite Lady Ning to visit my home."


    As several bodyguards approached Ning Yichu, her entire body tensed defensively, and she took two steps back, saying coldly, "Li Lingyang, what are you trying to do?"


    Li Lingyang didn''t respond to her, instead turning to direct a meaningful look at the few remaining staff members, "Ning Yichu is in my hands. If you want her safe, have that child bring the billion he extorted over to meet me in Imperial City''s Long Bay."


    It took Ning Yichu a couple of seconds to realize, he was planning to use her to threaten Chen Bao!


    "Getting flustered?" Li Lingyang noted the momentary panic in her eyes, his dark pupils shifting, "It seems that child really does have something to do with you."


    Ning Yichu''s anger flared, "You''ve really got the wrong person, there''s no child here you''re looking for. If I had orchestrated all of this, I would have taken the billion and made a clean getaway by now. Would I still be here waiting for you to catch me?"


    Seeing her adamant denial, Li Lingyang''s eyes grew darker, "Whether there is or not isn''t up to you to decide. It''s my call. Take her away!"


    Ning Yichu was frantic, regardless of whether Chen Bao had scammed Li Lingyang or not, the most important thing right now was that she didn''t impulsively come forward and "recognize" Li Lingyang!


    Worried about Chen Bao and Ningning losing control, Ning Yichu deliberately spoke aloud to the host, "Tell my best friend to keep an eye on my fish tank at home, it''s time to change the water."


    The host agreed repeatedly, clearly terrified by the spectacle.


    Meanwhile, in the children''s playground downstairs, Chen Bao and Ningning had blended into a group of kids, seamlessly fitting in, and no one could tell they had just done something earth-shattering.


    Ningning blinked her big eyes, "Brother, did you check if there''s really that much money?"


    Chen Bao maintained his cool expression, "I''ve already checked, and there''s a billion."


    The security guard opened the carved iron gate, the luxury car passed through several paths and finally came to a stop.


    Ning Yichu was escorted out of the car by Li Lingyang, looking at the luxury villa in front of her, she felt as if she had stepped into another world.


    During the more than two years of her marriage, she had lived here, with every blade of grass and tree seemingly still holding her shadow, but five years had passed, and everything had changed.


    However, now was not the time to dwell on the past; she had been taken away, and the children must be terribly worried!


    She needed to contact the children immediately to prevent them from doing something irreversible!


    "Choose a room for yourself. Whenever you''re ready to come clean, that''s when I''ll let you go." Li Lingyang, who had apparently followed her down from the car, stood by her side and spoke elegantly.


    Ning Yichu broke away from him and followed the servant to choose a room.


    At this moment, a door in a bedroom on the second floor was pulled open, and a woman wearing a languid camisole dress stepped out. The moment she saw Li Lingyang, a smile immediately curved at the corners of her mouth.


    But before her smile could reach its most perfect arc, she suddenly saw a woman following behind Li Lingyang.


    Her face filled with disbelief, "Lady... Lady Ning?"


    Ning Yichu also recognized the woman instantly, Li Lingyang''s ex-girlfriend¡ªShen Jiangqing.


    Back then, it was because of her that Ning Yichu was mistaken for a kidnapper, ultimately leading to her dismal divorce!


    "It''s me. Your boyfriend insisted on inviting me to stay for a few days, you don''t mind, do you?"


    Shen Jiangqing''s face flashed through shock, horror, disgust, and numerous other emotions.


    She remembered clearly how she had framed Ning Yichu and how she had moved into Imperial Dragon Bay, and suddenly, in a panic, she looked towards Li Lingyang, "You guys..."


    Li Lingyang''s brows furrowed deeply, he could clearly hear that Ning Yichu was trying to drive a wedge between them!


    But the more she wanted to leave, the less he would let her succeed.


    "I invited her back because there are a few things I need to clarify, don''t overthink it," Li Lingyang spoke indifferently.


    Shen Jiangqing, lacking confidence, still feigned cheerfulness, "I will definitely take good care of Lady Ning. The third floor is under renovation recently, so how about I take you to the second floor to choose a room?"

 Chapter 5 - 5 Dr. Majesty

    Chapter 5: Chapter 5 Dr. Majesty


    Was she asserting her dominance?


    Ning Yichu disdainfully said, "No need to be polite, I can go by myself. After all, I was the first lady of this place, I am more familiar with it than you!"


    Shen Jiangqing was choked up and tried hard to maintain her generosity, "By the way, Aling, how was the new drug launch today? It must have been tough for you. I have a heart condition, and you established a research institute and spent a fortune on this new drug; I am really touched."


    Li Lingyang thought about what had happened at the launch and his tone became much colder, "There was a bit of an accident, and the conference was postponed."


    "It''s okay, as long as you''ve attracted the attention of Dr. Chen''s closed-door disciple, Dr. Majesty, the conference can take place any day..." Shen Jiangqing didn''t seem to feel any regret, instead she turned her head to look at Ning Yichu.@@@@


    "Lady Ning, I''m sorry for making you witness such a farce. I have heart disease, and only the world-renowned Dr. Majesty can save me. Unfortunately, I heard he''s quite mysterious, so Aling thought of using this method to lure him."


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yichu was immediately shocked and looked toward Li Lingyang, then felt sad.


    Just look at what he could do for Shen Jiangqing!


    To find a doctor whose whereabouts are unknown and mysterious, he wouldn''t hesitate to spend billions on researching a new drug!


    But what about when they got married back then?


    He wouldn''t even spare her an extra glance...


    "If President Li also thinks this way, then I suggest you don''t waste your effort."


    Li Lingyang stared at Ning Yichu with an inscrutable look, "What do you mean?"


    "It means, no matter what you do, Dr. Majesty will not treat Miss Shen!"


    Li Lingyang sneered as he parted his lips, "Oh, you know him?"


    "I don''t, but I''ve been in Europe these past few years, and I''ve heard quite a few things about Dr. Majesty, like, he has a golden rule, which is not to treat any mistresses, not even those from royal families."


    Li Lingyang''s pupils contracted slightly, frowning, "I wasn''t aware of such a rule."


    Dr. Majesty, as a world-leading expert on heart disease, indeed has many peculiar requirements, but never had he heard that he wouldn''t treat mistresses!


    "You don''t know a lot of things," Ning Yichu glared back at him.


    "It seems you haven''t realized your situation; making such grand claims is not beneficial for you at this point." Li Lingyang just took Ning Yichu''s words as if she was messing with him.


    Ning Yichu shrugged, "If you don''t believe it, so be it. I''m tired, I''m going to rest."


    With that said, she walked away proudly like a queen.


    Despite having much to say, the two kids found it difficult to continue.


    They should trust Mommy!


    But they also resolved that if Mommy couldn''t escape, they would not sit idly by.


    After hanging up the phone, Ning Yichu tried to call the police hopelessly, only for them to dismiss it as a family dispute upon hearing the specifics.


    Ha, Li Lingyang really dominates everything.


    Fortunately, Li Lingyang hadn''t arranged bodyguards to watch her around the clock.


    She remembered there was a hole in the corner of the backyard wall, not sure if it had been repaired.


    If not, she could escape from there...


    Meanwhile, after leaving the villa, Li Lingyang went directly back to the corporate office.


    The CEO''s office, decorated in a low-key, minimalist style with black, white, and grey tones, seemed even more stark.


    He was flipping through Ning Yichu''s new book, but the more he read, the darker his expression became.


    Many small snippets in the book overlapped with his life, yet it portrayed him as a cheating scum who died in a car accident!


    She just wrote about how he neglected her, the complications with his ex-girlfriend. Why didn''t she write about why they got married in the first place?


    If she hadn''t schemed her way into his bed, forcing Grandma to pressure him into marrying her, would he have disliked her that much?


    Bang.


    He threw the book into the trash can.


    Knock, knock.


    Special Assistant Xu entered.


    "President Li, I found out that Lady Ning moved to Europe after their divorce five years ago and wrote a novel under the pen name Ning Chu named ''The Incompetence Years of My Ex-Husband,'' which unexpectedly became viral online."


    "There are also several platforms abroad planning to buy the rights and adapt it into a TV series."


    Li Lingyang, with a displeased face, emitted an overwhelming oppressive aura that was almost suffocating.


    "Who asked you to check what book she wrote? I want to know if that child is related to her!"

 Chapter 6 - 6 A Nighttime Break-in

    Chapter 6: Chapter 6 A Nighttime Break-in


    Special Assistant Xu awkwardly lowered his head, "We don''t have many people in Europe right now, and the specific situation is still under investigation, but... didn''t you say, President Li, that the child Lady Ning bore five years ago was a bastard?"


    As his words fell, Special Assistant Xu clearly felt the atmosphere in the office instantly turn cold.


    Li Lingyang glared at him coldly.


    Special Assistant Xu shrank his neck.


    Two seconds later, Li Lingyang spoke again, his words laced with an awkward struggle as if he himself found it a bit inconceivable, "Don''t you think the timing of her and that child showing up is too coincidental?"


    "It is coincidental, but would Lady Ning have agreed to a divorce so readily if the child she was carrying was yours?"


    Li Lingyang''s eyes darkened further, and for a moment, he felt like he was going crazy. He had never touched Ning Yichu, so why did he feel that the child could be hers?


    "If her child isn''t mine, I want to know who the adulterer was who impregnated Ning Yichu five years ago!"


    Special Assistant Xu felt even more ashamed; five years had passed, and many things aren''t so easy to investigate. Moreover, at that time Ning Yichu was still Mrs. Li; even if she had been having an affair, it would have been very discreet...


    "What''s the matter, you seem to have an opinion?"


    "No, I will continue the investigation right away, including Lady Ning''s maternity records from five years ago. I will give you a satisfactory answer for sure!" Special Assistant Xu guaranteed, thumping his chest.@@@@


    "Hold on." Li Lingyang spoke unhurriedly, though his tone was full of danger, "Go to the publishers and buy out all the copies of the book Ning Yichu published! If I see one more physical book, you can go home and eat yourself."


    Special Assistant Xu was on the verge of howling; it was just a book, was it necessary to be so petty?


    But seeing the pitch-black face of Li Lingyang, the words at his lips turned into flattery, "President Li is wise and valiant. Such a book that tarnishes your reputation should have been banned long ago! I''m on it right now..."


    ...


    Ning Yichu spent half a day wandering around the garden, and she indeed found that broken hole in the wall from those years ago which had been patched up now, but the location was so remote and the repair work over the years had not lasted.


    All she had to do was figure out a way to mess it up here, and she could absolutely make a getaway!


    Thinking this made her mood improve.


    However, to escape, she first needed to rest well. That evening, Ning Yichu ate dinner then went to rest early.


    Li Lingyang looked at her relaxed and comfortable demeanor and felt infuriated.


    He didn''t know if it was because too little time had passed or if the child hadn''t received word of Ning Yichu being in his hands, but for now, no suspicious individuals had approached the villa...


    "I''ve told you, there''s nothing to come clean about, I don''t know the child, and I didn''t plan to blackmail you!"


    Li Lingyang spoke slowly, yet his tone carried an unavoidable threat, "It''s fine if you don''t want to talk, after all, I have plenty of time to spend on this."


    Seeing his stance, Ning Yichu boldly pushed open the door and walked in, calmly sitting down on the couch, crossing her legs, and looking at Shen Jiangqing.


    "Since you two are shameless, you wouldn''t mind if I enjoy a live erotic show, right? It would be a good chance to confirm whether President Li is capable or not."


    Shen Jiangqing''s face changed, and she looked like she was about to cry.


    Li Lingyang''s pupils shrank, his eyes darkening instantly, feeling an urge to severely punish Ning Yichu for her words, to show her whether he was truly capable or not!


    A friendly reminder to President Li, getting angry often affects your ''performance'', and could lead to being even less capable, so please, stay calm and peaceful," Ning Yichu said, seeing Li Lingyang''s almost murderous expression and forcing out an especially innocent smile.


    Li Lingyang felt a surge of frustration in his chest, stepped forward, grabbed Ning Yichu''s wrist, and dragged her into the hallway, pinning her harshly against the wall with a dangerous edge to his contours¡ª


    "Ning Yichu, are you looking for trouble?"


    The impact against her back hurt Ning Yichu a bit, but her blood boiled with defiance as she met his gaze, "Who told you to leave the windows open in the middle of the night?"


    Li Lingyang''s gaze dropped for a moment, inadvertently catching sight of her slightly open neckline; his dark eyes narrowed slightly.


    She had just crawled out of bed, her hair messily draped over her shoulders, and her dark V-neck nightgown accentuated her skin, pale as snow.


    There wasn''t a trace of makeup on her face, yet she had no visible imperfections.


    This appearance made her even more sensual and tempting than she was five years ago, almost impossible to look away from.


    Ning Yichu followed his gaze and looked down, then her eyes widened in embarrassment and anger, as she pushed him away, "Bastard, what are you looking at? Isn''t Shen Jiangqing enough for you?"


    Taking advantage of his momentary distraction, Ning Yichu quickly ran back to her room.


    Li Lingyang, realizing he was attracted to her, darkened further in his expression.


    Returning to the bedroom, Shen Jiangqing deliberately shook the medicinal alcohol she hadn''t finished applying.


    "Miss Ning suddenly burst in just now, and I didn''t finish applying the medicinal alcohol; my foot seems to hurt even more. Aling, could you look at it for me?"


    Li Lingyang''s deep eyes fell on her pale ankle, "I''ll have the maid bring some ice for you to apply."


    "That''s not necessary..." Shen Jiangqing''s heart fluttered, she stood up, wrapping her arms around his muscular waist, her full chest rubbing against his lower abdomen, emitting a subtle seduction, "Having you look at it for me is enough."

 Chapter 7 - 7 The Truth of That Year

    Chapter 7: Chapter 7 The Truth of That Year


    She had made a point of wearing light makeup today and had even spritzed on some seductive perfume.


    When her soft body pressed against his, it was like a bewitching water snake entangling him.


    Under the warm lighting, her features all seemed much more delicate.


    For some reason, despite Shen Jiangqing''s beautiful face before him, the image that flashed through his mind was Ning Yichu''s mocking expression, and he coldly pushed her away, "It seems your foot is fine now."


    "Aling, don''t go!" Shen Jiangqing grabbed him, "Please don''t leave tonight? For five years, you haven''t touched me, even the servants are laughing at me for being an abandoned wife..."


    "The doctor has said, you are not suited for strenuous exercise, rest early."


    Shen Jiangqing was nearly infuriated to death, she had a heart disease, but that didn''t mean she couldn''t do any exercise at all!


    "Then kiss me, just like ordinary lovers do..."


    Li Lingyang grew a bit impatient, "Jiangqing, stop making a fuss."


    "Are you still blaming me? Blaming me for using such methods to have a child back then?" seeing that he continued to resist her, Shen Jiangqing suddenly spoke with a feeling of grievance.


    Li Lingyang furrowed his brows, his voice turning icy, "What nonsense are you talking about again?"


    Shen Jiangqing choked up.


    "I''m sorry, I stole your sperm and went through artificial insemination at that time, I truly just wanted to keep your child, I didn''t expect it to lead to your divorce with Yichu."


    Li Lingyang had fallen into a ravine due to a car accident when he was young, and it was Shen Jiangqing who saved him.


    Later, when they reunited in college, he didn''t have anyone he liked, and Shen Jiangqing assumed the role of girlfriend, both intentionally and unintentionally. He was grateful for her saving his life, and thus accepted the status quo.


    Then when he and Ning Yichu got forced into marriage because of a scandalous photo in bed, Shen Jiangqing had also been unexpectedly kidnapped, though it was later proven to be a mix-up. Nonetheless, there were rumors that the kidnappers were arranged by Ning Yichu.


    Two years later, Shen Jiangqing suddenly got pregnant!@@@@


    He had never touched her, so naturally did not believe the child was his.


    The result was that he learned Shen Jiangqing had someone steal his sperm for artificial insemination, and it was even twins!


    "Let''s not talk about the past anymore. If I blamed you, I wouldn''t have let you give birth to the child," Li Lingyang''s deep dark eyes showed a flicker of emotion. Speaking indifferently, he told her to rest early and turned back to his own room.


    For these five years, they slept in separate rooms, living together, but only to take care of the twins.


    Recently, Granny Li had started to miss the children, and so she had taken them over¡ªotherwise, he wouldn''t have brought Ning Yichu here.


    Shen Jiangqing watched the man''s tall figure with a resolute gaze.


    This man was the youngest Night Emperor of Imperial City, controlling the livelihood of myriads of people, and she would not allow anyone to take him away!


    The next morning, Ning Yichu slept in quite a bit. When she came downstairs, Shen Jiangqing was languidly lying on a divan, being massaged by a maid.


    With no time to deal with her, Ning Yichu pushed the window open, successfully climbed down the drainpipe, then sprinted to escape through a hole in the back garden.


    Not until she entered the small path downhill did she resume her conversation with Chen Bao.


    At that moment, an old, beat-up Polo stopped at a secluded little path on the mountainside.


    A handsome little chap jumped down, accompanied by a cute little girl. Both wore matching yellow duck masks, their big eyes rolling around as if surveying the environment.


    Next to exit the car was a tall, curvaceous, and sexy woman, also wearing the same mask, revealing only her full, smooth forehead and similarly rolling eyes.


    This was Ning Yichu''s best friend, the controversial darling of the entertainment industry, Fan Yuke!


    She seemed like a mature woman, but one word revealed her ditzy, sweet innocence.


    "Oh my, look kiddos, that up there is the super luxurious Imperial City Dragon Bay, supposedly one villa is worth over a billion, your scumbag dad owns several, such a capitalist tycoon..." she pointed and said at the end of the road.


    "Godmother, think bigger, you''re at least a celebrity in the entertainment world."


    "Chen Bao, babe, you don''t know, out of a hundred fans I have, 88 are haters, all the hype, no money coming in."


    Chen Bao''s forehead nearly twitched with three black lines as he said helplessly, "Infamy is still fame, though."


    "Look, sweetie, here''s your laptop, quick, see how your mommy''s doing..." Fan Yuke handed over a kawaii laptop to Chen Bao.


    Chen Bao opened it, and his little hands tapped away so quickly that they seemed to leave afterimages on the keyboard.


    Then, Fan Yuke saw the laptop screen divided into eight segments, each corresponding to different surveillance areas.


    Pointing at the screen, she excitedly informed Ning Yichu through the Bluetooth earpiece, "Chu Chu, I see loads of bodyguards moving out in the villa, they must''ve realized you''ve escaped..."


    Ning Yichu understood that Shen Jiangqing must have started looking for her after noticing she was missing.


    "Tell me the safest escape route."


    Chen Bao looked at the map for a moment, "The road ahead is too open, you''d be exposed too easily."


    "Then I''ll find a corner to hide. You guys come in the car to pick me up."


    Ning Yichu finished speaking and found a hidden spot in the roadside bushes to hide herself.


    Every so often, she heard black luxury cars going up and down the road, probably thinking she had escaped via the main road and searching for her.


    Ning Yichu held her breath and waited patiently, knowing people tend to think predictably. Realizing she had escaped, the bodyguards'' first reaction would be to think she had fled down the mountain, neglecting that the most dangerous place could indeed be the safest.


    As long as she hid for a while longer, and the bodyguards all went down the mountain, she''d be safe.


    However, just then, she heard a rustling sound behind her, accompanied by very light footsteps.


    Ning Yichu''s nerves tensed up instantly, thinking a bodyguard had found her, but when she turned around, she saw a cute little girl with a ponytail sticking up on her head, holding a transparent little bag, looking at her perplexedly¡ªas if questioning why she was hiding there.

 Chapter 8 - 8 Kidnapping a Little Baby

    Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Kidnapping a Little Baby


    Ning Yichu was shocked. How could there be a little girl here?


    If she attracted the bodyguards, she herself would have no means of escape!


    "Hey kid, why are you here all by yourself? Did you get separated from your Daddy and Mommy?" Amidst the critical moment, Ning Yichu whispered urgently.


    Doudou shook her head at her, recognizing that this was the aunt from the cherished group photo with Granny Li.


    Granny Li often held that photo, staring at it for minutes on end.


    This made Doudou curious about the aunt before her.


    "Auntie is playing hide and seek with the adults outside right now, so you must be good and not shout, okay? Once Auntie is safe, I''ll help you contact your family."


    Doudou nodded her head earnestly.


    Ning Yichu thought she was very well-behaved and asked her name.


    Doudou twiddled her tender fingers, not speaking.


    It was almost less than ten minutes before Fan YuKe arrived.


    "Ah, my precious Chu Chu, you finally escaped! Chengcheng, Ningning, and I were all terrified to death, let me have a look at you, are you hurt?" She hugged Ning Yichu tightly and frantically checked her over.


    Her mask slid down as she talked, revealing a round baby face.


    "I''m fine. Let''s leave this place first,"


    "Okay, into the car."


    After a moment of thought, Ning Yichu decided to bring Doudou along as well.


    Although it was a high-end community, it was still located on the mountainside. Since Chen Bao had disconnected the surveillance on the mountaintop, if something were to happen to the child, it would be an unforgivable error...


    Even though they had only been separated for a few days, the mother and her two children felt as if they hadn''t seen each other for a century.


    Ning Yichu held one in each arm, affectionately rubbing her cheeks against them, then suddenly put on a stern face¡ª


    "You two are really too bold, daring to provoke Li Lingyang? Do you know how many bodyguards he has? What if they had detained you at the scene and not let you go? Do you want to scare Mommy to death?"


    Chen Bao touched his nose, feeling quite guilty.


    Of course, he wasn''t guilty about what he had done, but he was annoyed that he hadn''t handled the aftermath properly, which led to Li Lingyang''s people tracking them and causing trouble for Mommy!@@@@


    "Sorry, Mommy. I was careless this time. It won''t happen again."


    "And you, Ningning?"


    Ningning also hurriedly promised in a childlike voice, "I''ll listen to Mommy just like brother."


    Ning Yichu snorted softly, then gave the two little ones a kiss and curiously asked, "How did you extort a hundred million from him?"


    For some reason, seeing the little one''s pale face stirred an unwillingness in her heart...


    "Let''s do this. We''ll take little sister to have some food first, then bring her to register at the police station in the afternoon."


    Ningning also thought the little sister was adorable and said sympathetically, "That''s right. It would be so lonely for her at the police station by herself, and the police officers are very busy too. We''ll go after she''s eaten!"


    Chen Bao glanced at Ningning with irritation ¨C such a big fool, utterly lacking caution!


    But seeing that Mommy didn''t comment, he tacitly agreed.


    Li Group.


    Li Lingyang had just finished a call with Granny Li.


    Granny Li planned to go to Qingcheng Mountain to offer prayers in the next few days and had arranged for Chengcheng and Doudou to be sent back to Imperial City Long Bay.


    Li Lingyang pinched the bridge of his nose. Granny Li still didn''t know Ning Yichu had returned. Would the children feel uncomfortable seeing a strange woman in the house?


    It might be fine for Chengcheng, the boy, but Doudou, being frail, might...


    Just as he thought this, he received a call from the villa''s bodyguard, "President Li, something terrible happened! Lady Ning has fled..."


    Li Lingyang was in disbelief, "What did you say?"


    "Lady Ning... she evaded all the security personnel, smashed through a broken wall in the back garden, and then made her escape over the wall..."


    "Idiots!"


    Li Lingyang''s expression darkened abruptly. Suddenly, he recalled how she vanished into thin air after their divorce five years ago. She wasn''t trying to pull another disappearing act, was she? No, five years later, he couldn''t let her get away again, no matter what.


    Besides, they had yet to determine the whereabouts of the child.


    "How did she escape with so many bodyguards at the villa?"


    "The mountaintop security system suddenly came under attack, rendering all surveillance footage unusable. We couldn''t pinpoint her exact escape route..."


    Li Lingyang narrowed his cold eyes, "Was someone there to pick her up?"


    The bodyguard shook with fear, "It seems likely."


    "Lock down the airports, high-speed trains, and bus stations immediately. Don''t tell me she''s backed by a hacker; even if she''s the president, I''ll have her trapped in Imperial City. Do you understand?"


    "Yes."


    After hanging up, Li Lingyang was slightly dazed. Five years had passed, and Ning Yichu was completely unlike the gentle, timid woman in his memory.


    Imperial City Long Bay''s security system was among the top in the country, not easily breached.


    Yet Ning Yichu managed to find a capable hacker...


    At that moment, his phone rang again.


    Thinking it was the bodyguard with more news, he answered, only to hear the old servant say, "President Li, I''ve let you down, and I''ve let the old madam down too. I was just taking Little Miss and the little young master back to the villa. On the way, Little Miss said she needed to use the restroom, and then in the blink of an eye, she was gone..."

 Chapter 9: Wonderful Fate, Adorable Twins

    Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Wonderful Fate, Adorable Twins


    On the other side,


    Ning Yichu knew that although she had escaped, the danger was far from over; if Li Lingyang ever suspected that Chen Bao was her child, he might have someone follow and investigate her.


    Therefore, she had to send Chen Bao away!


    And the best choice was Baili Orphanage.


    Mommy Zhuo had adopted many orphans and was the most suitable place to hide Chen Bao''s identity, especially since Chen Bao had provoked Li Lingyang for the sake of raising money for the orphanage.


    Thus, Fan Yuke directly drove to Baili Orphanage.


    "Lady Ning, have you arrived? I have prepared all the documents you requested," warmly welcomed Mommy Zhuo, handing a file to Ning Yichu.


    Ning Yichu opened it and glanced inside; it was all about Chen Bao, including birth certificates, orphan certifications, and so on...


    Most importantly, Chen Bao''s birth date had been changed to six months later, now four and a half years old.


    In this way, even if one day Li Lingyang found Chen Bao, he would have no evidence that Chen Bao was her birth child, nor would he connect Ningning and Chen Bao.


    "Baby, do you remember what mommy told you?" Ning Yichu lowered her head and cradled her son''s cute little face.


    Chen Bao nodded slightly, "I remember, the next time I encounter that crappy dad, even if he catches me, I must say I am an orphan and don''t know who mommy is, but I saw on TV that we look alike, so I tried to blackmail him."


    Ning Yichu nodded, "Also, your birthday isn''t in February, it''s in August..."


    Chen Bao, seeing Ning Yichu so worried, a trace of annoyance appeared on his childish face, "Mommy, did I cause you a lot of trouble?"


    "Children are always imaginative. Your intentions were good; mommy won''t blame you."


    Chen Bao hummed softly in a muffled tone.


    "Alright, you stay here with Grandma Zhuo, and I''ll take Ningning to the nearby market to buy some groceries for a delicious dinner tonight," Ning Yichu said tenderly.


    Ningning loved going to the supermarket with Ning Yichu the most. After thinking, she turned her head and asked Doudou, sitting quietly and obediently on a small stool, "Little Miss, do you want to go to the supermarket with us?"


    Doudou''s big eyes curved as if to say, "Can I?"


    "Mommy, let''s take Little Miss with us¡ªshe doesn''t talk much and is bored; she also doesn''t know the other kids in the orphanage and would be bored," Ningning eagerly looked at Ning Yichu.


    Considering she had to send her away anyway, Ning Yichu happily agreed, "Alright, let''s all go together."


    Chen Bao glanced at the kitchen and estimated that it would be a while before dinner. He then put on his big brother authority, "Stop forcing yourself, go to Little Yudian''s room and sleep for a while."


    Doudou was extremely embarrassed.


    Chen Bao took her to a little girl''s bedroom and thoughtfully tucked her in.


    "Sleep now, when it''s time to eat, I and your sister will call you."


    Doudou took a deep breath, the scent in the blanket was comforting, she sweetly smiled, snuggled the pillow, and fell into a peaceful sleep. She just wondered, would Daddy be angry that she sneaked out on her own?


    In fact, far from being angry, Li Lingyang was like a tempest.


    At Yudu Longwan, Li Lingyang sat on a leather sofa like an ice sculpture, surrounded by undisguised concern and fury.


    "Is this the explanation you give me? If something happened to Doudou, a dozen of you couldn''t compensate!"


    The old servant''s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, "President Li, please spare my life, I... I really did tell Little Miss not to leave my sight..."


    Li Lingyang listened to her excuse, his anger intensified, "How old are you, and how old is she? I told you to take good care of her, is this how you do it?"


    Though Doudou was four, she was introverted, didn''t speak, and was also underweight.


    He had hired a specialized nutritionist to take care of her diet, and even tailored nutritional milk powder for her body, which the little one drank every day, yet she was still as thin as a little kitten.


    If she encountered danger, the consequences were unimaginable!


    "How could Doudou get lost? I knew it, I should have gone to the old house to pick her up myself, woohoo..." Shen Jiangqing covered her face in grief.


    "Daddy, Mommy, don''t panic. I believe sister is just momentarily playful and didn''t go far; the bodyguards will soon bring her back," Chengcheng said earnestly and adorably by their side.


    Li Lingyang, hearing his son''s words of comfort, didn''t feel reassured but became even more irritable. Doudou was never playful, nor would she go with strangers, unless it was an accident!


    "I, as her brother, didn''t take good care of her, I am also at fault, Daddy, punish me," Chengcheng said again, guiltily, but thought to himself, if that mute kid was lost, so be it, having a mute sister was embarrassing!


    Li Lingyang''s brow furrowed, he said faintly, "It''s not your fault, go upstairs and rest."


    Chengcheng didn''t want to keep up the pretense with Daddy, so he went upstairs led by Shen Jiangqing.


    Just as the mother and son had left, Special Assistant Xu brought good news.


    "President Li, there''s news. A passerby took a photo of a woman holding Little Miss at the supermarket, look¡ª"

 Chapter 10 - 10 Kidnapper? Police at the Door

    Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Kidnapper? Police at the Door


    Li Lingyang took the tablet and glanced at it, only for his pupils to suddenly constrict...


    After they had finished their meal, Chen Bao and Ningning stayed in the orphanage, while Ning Yichu took Doudou to the police station.


    Doudou was reluctant to part with her siblings, especially Brother Chen Bao. Seeing his face, a miniature version of their father''s, gave her a sense of security.


    Even though he didn''t seem very welcoming.


    Ning Yichu also liked her and promised to invite her over to play again.


    However, on their way to the police station, several black Bentleys suddenly rushed onto the road and stopped them, and then a gray-haired servant got out of one of the cars.


    "Little Miss!" Nanny He, crying with tears and snot, rushed over and tightly embraced Doudou, "You almost scared Granny He to death, how could you run away leaving Granny He behind?"


    Doudou blushed, her chubby little hands patted Granny He''s back to comfort her, her big eyes blinking awkwardly and apologetically.


    Ning Yichu saw they knew each other, "Hello, may I ask who you are?"


    "Little Miss, did this woman abduct you?"


    Nanny He immediately glared at Ning Yichu warily.


    Ning Yichu, "Abducted??"


    Doudou hurriedly waved her hands to explain that she had not been abducted.


    "Little Miss, don''t be afraid, your daddy has already called the police! The police will soon catch this kidnapper!"


    No sooner had Nanny He finished speaking than a police car drove up.


    Before Ning Yichu could make any explanations, the cold handcuffs of the police clamped around Ning Yichu''s wrists, "Lady Ning, right? We''ve received a report that you are involved in a child kidnapping case. Please come with us for assistance in the investigation."


    In the interrogation room of the police station, the atmosphere was somewhat somber.


    The empty room, only with cold air blowing in from the window, felt somewhat bleak.


    Ning Yichu sat on a chair, feeling very helpless; she had already emphasized repeatedly on the way here, but they still wouldn''t believe her!


    She should have listened to Chen Bao earlier and gone to the police station to register; that way, she wouldn''t have been misunderstood by the parents.


    Then, as she looked at the photo presented by the police, her pupils suddenly shrank!


    "I recognize him, Li Lingyang, my ex-husband. Is there a problem?"


    "Rumor has it that when you two divorced years ago, it ended very unpleasantly, leaving you in dire straits. So, you bore a grudge and deliberately kidnapped his daughter, didn''t you?" the officer suddenly asked coldly.


    Ning Yichu''s face changed slightly, "Are you saying... that Doudou is Li Lingyang''s daughter?"


    "Lady Ning, stop pretending. You''ve even been attacking President Li online, showing you''ve been keeping an eye on him. This kidnapping wasn''t an accident."


    "I told you it wasn''t a kidnapping!" Ning Yichu never imagined that Doudou was actually the daughter of Li Lingyang and Shen Jiangqing.


    And she had even brought her to meet Chen Bao and Ningning. Would she tell Li Lingyang?


    No wonder she encountered her at Imperial City Dragon Bay. Such attire and demeanor, she even thought she had a special connection with Doudou...


    She forcibly calmed herself down and suddenly stood up, startling the officer across from her, "What are you doing? Sit down!"


    Ning Yichu, however, ignored him and slowly walked up to the male officer. Leaning forward slightly, half-reclining in front of him, she blinked her eyes coquettishly, "Did Li Lingyang send you to interrogate me? I accused him of incompetence, and he felt his male dignity was challenged, so he wanted you to make my kidnapping charge stick?"


    She was too close. As soon as she spoke, the officer could smell the faint scent of gardenias on her.


    Lowering his head, he could almost see her perfect body curves.


    "Li... President Li would never..."


    Inside the room, Li Lingyang''s face was beyond ugly. At this point, Ning Yichu was still saying he was incompetent!


    With rage swirling inside him, he clenched his teeth and stormed towards the interrogation room.


    The next second, Ning Yichu''s eyes gleamed cunningly. Suddenly, she grabbed the officer''s hand and dragged it towards her face, and at the same time, she briskly took out her phone and captured this critical moment.


    The officer hadn''t even realized what had happened when Ning Yichu had already let go of his hand, shaking the photo inside her phone teasingly, "Go get Li Lingyang to come see me, or I''ll post this photo online for everyone to see how you harass and insult female suspects."


    The officer was nearly kneeling; he hadn''t done anything¡ªit was all her coercion!


    But the photo looked as though he was really molesting her...


    Just then, the interrogation room door was suddenly opened, and a large hand reached over from behind Ning Yichu, accurately snatching her phone away.

 Chapter 11 - 11 Prove Myself at the Hotel

    Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Prove Myself at the Hotel


    ¡°Who is there?¡± Ning Yichu turned around in shock, meeting the man¡¯s cold, piercing gaze.


    Li Lingyang, dressed in a sharp suit, had a gloomy face with profound and resolute features. He glanced at her twice and directly clicked to delete the photo, she actually flaunted it in front of him!


    ¡°Li Lingyang, you were indeed monitoring me just now...¡± Ning Yichu glared at him furiously, ¡°On what grounds do you accuse me of kidnapping your daughter? Do you even know where I found her? It was halfway up the mountain!¡±


    Li Lingyang cleared the photo, returned the phone to her, and then said coldly, ¡°All I know is that you took her away without my permission.¡±


    This made Ning Yichu even angrier, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to take her away either, but how do you guys watch a child? There wasn¡¯t even a nanny around, I was worried something would happen to her, which is why I planned to bring her to the police station.¡±


    ¡°Oh? So should I thank you?¡±


    ...


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary, but you could sign a letter of understanding, drop the case, I... Hey! What are you doing, where are you taking me?¡±


    Before Ning Yichu could finish her sentence, the man suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her outside. She was stunned for several seconds before reacting, her face flushed red with both anger and annoyance.


    ¡°Hotel!¡± Li Lingyang said expressionlessly.


    Ning Yichu was instantly stunned, ¡°Hotel? What are you taking me to a hotel for?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been insisting that I¡¯m impotent, right? Today I¡¯ll stoop low and let you experience for yourself whether I¡¯m a man or not!¡± Li Lingyang dangerously narrowed his dark eyes, yet they concealed towering rage.


    Actually saying he was impotent to everyone, today he was going to let her thoroughly see what being impotent really meant.


    Ning Yichu was utterly shocked!


    Li Lingyang forced Ning Yichu into the passenger seat, then drove his luxury car straight to the nearest six-star hotel.


    The sky outside the window was darkening, indicating that a colorful nightlife was about to begin.


    Ning Yichu, looking at the dark and chilling face of the man, had no doubt that he was joking.


    She deliberately leaned closer, with a mocking smile, ¡°I suppose Shen Jiangqing must be sick, failing to satisfy you these five years? So now you¡¯re setting your sights on me, your ex-wife?¡±@@@@


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes instantly darkened deep and black as ink, scoffing coldly, ¡°What now, scared? Didn¡¯t think about the consequences when you provoked me?¡±


    He suddenly remembered, it is said that women develop a second time after giving birth.


    He grabbed her waist in one move, ¡°Five years ago, the child you were carrying, whose was it?¡±


    Ning Yichu feigned calmness, ¡°Definitely not yours.¡±


    Li Lingyang stared at her deeply, her clear black and white eyes were full of stubbornness, reflecting two tiny images of him, long stripped of the affection he had five years ago.


    Suddenly feeling irritable, he let go of her abruptly, ¡°Get out of the car!¡±


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t have wished for more, hurriedly crawled off his knees, and fled from the passenger side.


    After running a few steps, she suddenly thought of something, ¡°Those two ladies might be arriving soon, do you want to change the location and continue?¡±


    Li Lingyang, holding back the impulse to strangle her, raised the car window, then stepped on the gas pedal and drove off.


    Ning Yichu watched the car vanish into the distance, sniffled, and felt a tightness in her chest. The child was his, yet not his.


    He already had Shen Jiangqing and Shen Jiangqing¡¯s twins, so why come to bother her?


    Five years had passed, and she thought she had moved on, but seeing him again, she still lost control, memories, both good and bad, flooding back...


    The early summer night already heralded the stifling heat.


    She walked alone on the street, aimlessly, suddenly longing for a drunken escape.


    ¡°Mommy, have you dropped off the little sister?¡± Chen Bao suddenly called.


    Ning Yichu concealed the truth, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s done.¡±


    ¡°Oh, when will you come back?¡±


    ¡°Very soon.¡±


    ¡°Okay, then Ningning and I will go buy some toys for our friends.¡±


    ¡°Be careful.¡± Chen Bao and Ningning always brought gifts for the orphanage every time they visited, and Ning Yichu didn¡¯t think much of it, except, thinking of Doudou made her somewhat anxious.


    Not because she was the daughter of Li Lingyang and Shen Jiangqing, but because she had met Chen Bao and Ningning.

 Chapter 12: Extracting Clues from Doudou’s Mouth

    Chapter 12: Chapter 12: Extracting Clues from Doudou¡¯s Mouth


    If she told Li Lingyang that she had seen Chen Bao at her house, then all her lies would be exposed all at once¡ªit was agonizing just to think about it.@@@@


    Baili Orphanage, though called an orphanage, was actually a somewhat dilapidated quadrangle courtyard. It had been repaired once in the middle, but from the outside, it still looked a bit rickety.


    The yard wasn¡¯t big, housing only seven or eight rooms, yet it managed to squeeze in nearly forty children. One could imagine how difficult the conditions were.


    After hanging up the phone, Chen Bao and Ningning went to a nearby mall and bought a large pile of children¡¯s toys to donate to the kids at the orphanage.


    ¡°Wow! It¡¯s the Barbie doll I wanted...¡±


    ¡°And my Transformer!¡±


    ...


    ¡°So many toys...¡±


    The children swarmed around them.


    Ningning¡¯s little face was tender pink, and her youthful voice was milkily sweet, ¡°Don¡¯t fight over them, there¡¯s enough for everyone...¡±


    ¡°Line up, everyone, one at a time, no cutting!¡± Chen Bao also spoke when he saw the scene.


    Even though there were several eight- or nine-year-old boys surrounding him, as soon as they heard him, they instantly shut their mouths, as if he were a born leader whom everyone was willing to listen to.


    Mommy Zhuo stood not too far away, looking at Chen Bao¡¯s natural leadership with incessant gratification.


    So capable from such a young age, he was sure to be a remarkable man when he grew up.


    ¡°Grandma Zhuo, come over and have some fruit with us...¡± Ningning waved to Mommy Zhuo.


    Mommy Zhuo walked over smiling, ¡°You two have worked hard.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not hard.¡± Chen Bao pursed his lips, youthful yet not losing composure.


    The one billion he had extorted from that scumbag dad was still in his bag, but since the money hadn¡¯t been laundered, he didn¡¯t dare hand it over to Grandma Zhuo. If that scumbag dad traced it back, the entire orphanage could be ruined.


    After all, that scumbag dad was no simple character!


    ¡°Grandma Zhuo, didn¡¯t you say last time that you had found a suitable relocation site? How is the negotiation with the owner going?¡±


    ¡°Oh...¡± Mommy Zhuo¡¯s smiling face gradually solidified, showing a bit of helplessness and desolation, ¡°The owner of that place went abroad, and now it¡¯s his son taking charge, who¡¯s asking for three and a half million. I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s no way to negotiate it down.¡±


    Ningning was surprised, ¡°Eh, but wasn¡¯t it three million last time? And they were even covering the tax.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s probably because they¡¯ve seen how desperate we are and have started to hike up the price.¡±


    ¡°What a shameless seller!¡± Ningning exclaimed angrily, ¡°Then we won¡¯t buy from him, let him keep raising his prices and sell to someone else...¡±


    Listening to Mommy distort the truth, labeling Auntie as a downright bad person, and forbidding her to see Auntie again, Doudou frantically waved her little hands wanting to explain but was dragged away to the garden by Chengcheng.


    Doudou lost her balance and fell awkwardly to the ground. Ignoring the pain in her knees, she scrambled up, ¡°Brother, let me go back, I haven¡¯t finished speaking...¡±


    ¡°What are you gesturing for? I don¡¯t understand!¡± Chengcheng was most annoyed by her sign language. ¡°Were you just now trying to help that bad woman?¡±


    Doudou was hurt by the disgust in his eyes, and tears of grievance welled up.


    She didn¡¯t understand, why was it that Brother Chen Bao and Ningning were twins and their relationship was so good, yet Chengcheng always seemed to dislike her?


    ¡°I¡¯m warning you, that woman is a homewrecker, she almost caused Daddy and Mommy to be separated. If you dare to help her, see how I¡¯ll deal with you!¡± Chengcheng continued to warn.


    Doudou¡¯s little body shivered.


    Chengcheng threatened, ¡°You¡¯re crying again? Be careful, or I¡¯ll hit you!¡±


    Doudou helplessly wiped her eyes with her hand, looking timidly at him, her mouth shut tight, and stopped gesturing. But in her heart, she was convinced Auntie was not a bad person, and Chen Bao and Ningning were good people, too!


    It was Mommy and brother who had misunderstood!


    Doudou had been sent to the old house for several days, and Li Lingyang hadn¡¯t seen her for a while. He made a special trip to the children¡¯s bedroom to accompany Doudou tonight.


    He keenly noticed that Doudou¡¯s eyes were a bit red and there was a hot sweat on her forehead, and he immediately became wary.


    ¡°Doudou, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Doudou¡¯s tender arms suddenly wrapped tightly around Daddy¡¯s neck, burying her face in his neck, struggling to hold back her voice.


    Li Lingyang, reminded of the hours she was taken away by Ning Yichu, immediately asked, ¡°Did Ning Yichu scare you when she took you today?¡±


    Doudou shook her head.


    ¡°Did Nanny He say you got out of the car willingly?¡±


    Doudou hesitated for a moment, then nodded.


    ¡°Why did you go with her?¡±


    Doudou pursed her tender pink lips and gestured with her hands.


    ¡°Are you saying you saw her in grandma¡¯s photo album and were curious about her?¡±


    Doudou¡¯s big eyes twinkled, she nodded, and then continued gesturing, ¡°Auntie was very gentle, she took me to the supermarket, we bought lots and lots of food, she¡¯s not the bad Auntie Mommy said.¡±


    Li Lingyang, relieved that his daughter was not hurt, slightly knitted his brows and said warmly, ¡°She and Daddy had a bit of an unpleasant time, Mommy misunderstood.¡±


    Doudou stretched out her little stumpy hands, placing them on Li Lingyang¡¯s chest, gently smoothing it twice, as if comforting him, advising him not to be angry.


    Li Lingyang was healed by his daughter, truly a heartwarming little cotton-padded jacket. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly asked sharply, ¡°After Ning Yichu took you away, did you see any other children in her house? Especially a little boy who looks a lot like Daddy?¡±

 Chapter 13 - 13 The Unwinnable Custody Lawsuit

    Chapter 13: Chapter 13 The Unwinnable Custody Lawsuit


    Doudou¡¯s pretty little brows twisted in a tangle of conflict. She was simple but not stupid, especially since mommy seemed to particularly dislike the auntie, yet she didn¡¯t want to deceive daddy by saying she hadn¡¯t seen her.


    So, the little girl opened her big eyes wide, waving her small hand, signaling that she didn¡¯t know.


    ¡°You really haven¡¯t seen her?¡±


    Doudou¡¯s big eyes were resolute as she continued to wave her hands.


    Li Lingyang couldn¡¯t tell if he was disappointed as he ruffled the little one¡¯s hair, ¡°You need to rest early, tomorrow daddy will take you to school.¡±


    Watching Li Lingyang¡¯s lonely figure leave, Doudou¡¯s heart clenched. Should she tell daddy the truth? But... what if mommy caused trouble?


    ...


    Ugh, forget it, she couldn¡¯t let anyone hurt her big brother and big sister.


    They were good people.


    That evening, Ning Yichu took Ningning away from the orphanage, leaving Chen Bao temporarily at the institution.


    The next morning, as she was making breakfast in the kitchen, a series of urgent knocks sounded at the door.


    Ning Yichu opened the door, and a sprightly figure dashed in, a face full of shock, ¡°Chu Chu, did you hear that Doudou is Scumbag Li¡¯s daughter?¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    ¡°I have an acquaintance who¡¯s a paparazzo. Just yesterday, he was near the police station for work and knowing you¡¯re my best friend, he told me. My god, when I heard you kidnapped Scumbag Li¡¯s daughter, I nearly lost my soul. I almost thought he was talking about Ningning!¡±@@@@


    Ning Yichu¡¯s eyes dimmed, ¡°Ningning is mine alone.¡±


    Fan Yuke could see her anxiety and concern, ¡°The mess you both had before was so big, even if Scumbag Li finds out about Ningning, he wouldn¡¯t think she¡¯s his. Don¡¯t worry.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m actually more worried about Doudou slipping up and revealing that she¡¯s met Chen Bao.¡±


    Fan Yuke¡¯s eyes widened as she exclaimed in a rush, ¡°No way? If Doudou had said anything, Li Lingyang would probably have come knocking on your door by now, demanding the child. He hasn¡¯t come yet, which means Doudou hasn¡¯t said anything. Don¡¯t scare yourself...¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s expression showed a hint of helplessness; she feared this might be the calm before the storm. For a moment, a daring thought crossed her mind¡ª


    To take Chen Bao and Ningning and flee back to Europe immediately!


    Li Lingyang surely couldn¡¯t chase her to Europe for the children, right?


    In the CEO¡¯s office on the top floor of Beiji Group¡¯s Imperial City branch,


    A mature and elegant man held Yichu Ning¡¯s resume, his gaze deep and gentle.


    ¡°Yes, sir. The one who performed your heart surgery five years ago was her. She¡¯s also the internationally renowned jade sculptor M. She returned to the country this time because, reportedly, her mother¡¯s mental illness worsened, and also...¡±


    The man slowly lifted his head, revealing a handsome face that made countless women fall head over heels, ¡°And also what?¡±


    ¡°And also, according to the latest investigation, she is the ex-wife of Imperial City¡¯s wealthiest man, Li Lingyang!¡±


    The hand holding the resume paused slightly, a flash of sharpness and pity crossing the man¡¯s profound eyes, ¡°Since he doesn¡¯t know how to cherish her, naturally someone will protect her.¡±


    ...


    In the afternoon, under Yuke Fan¡¯s insistence, Yichu Ning changed into an OL suit that greatly flattered her figure.


    The thin white blouse highlighted her creamy skin, with the hem tucked into her black skirt, outlining her slender waist.


    She waited in the conference room for her interview along with several other designers.


    She noticed a smudge on her lipstick and decided to go to the restroom to reapply her makeup.


    Just as she reached the conference room door, she encountered a female assistant carrying paper cups to deliver drinks to everyone. They bumped into each other, and the juice from the assistant¡¯s cup spilled over, staining her white blouse!


    The female assistant¡¯s face changed as she repeatedly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss, it wasn¡¯t intentional...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯ll go clean it up.¡± Yichu Ning frowned slightly and prepared to head to the restroom.


    The female assistant stopped her, ¡°I just came from the restroom; it¡¯s being repaired, so it might not be convenient. Maybe I can lead you to our leader¡¯s private rest room. It¡¯s more private there and even has a hairdryer. He¡¯s in a meeting right now and probably won¡¯t return...¡±


    Looking at the disastrous juice stain on her chest, realizing she definitely wouldn¡¯t have time to change clothes, Yichu Ning didn¡¯t refuse the help, ¡°Please, that would be great.¡±


    The female assistant breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Please follow me this way...¡±


    Reaching the door of the rest room, Yichu Ning pushed the door open and entered. Inside was quiet and evidently empty.


    Yichu Ning hurried to the restroom, took off her white blouse, and began to scrub it under the tap.


    After washing, she was just about to use the hairdryer to dry it...


    Click.


    Suddenly, the restroom door was flung open from the outside, and a tall and imposing figure stood at the doorway. Through the mirror, their gazes collided with a crash, and then he froze.

 Chapter 14 - 14 The Half-Concealed Allure, Provocatively Tempting~

    Chapter 14: Chapter 14 The Half-Concealed Allure, Provocatively Tempting~


    Ning Yichu still maintained the motion of blow-drying her clothes when she unexpectedly caught sight of the handsome man behind her. Realizing her current disheveled state, she panicked and covered her chest, her cheeks instantly flushed with embarrassment!


    Weren¡¯t they saying the boss was in a meeting? How come he¡¯s suddenly returned!


    The deep gaze of Mo Baiyou shifted away from the mirror, but her smooth white back was deeply imprinted in his vision, along with her slim and sexy figure that didn¡¯t look at all like someone who had given birth to a child.


    He turned his back to Ning Yichu, his thin lips curving slightly, ¡°Miss, it seems you¡¯ve walked into the wrong place.¡±


    In a flash, Ning Yichu quickly put her wet clothes back on, grinding her teeth, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I just got my clothes dirty and had no choice but to borrow your break room!¡±


    Hearing the rustling sound, the man slowly turned around and saw Ning Yichu had put on her wet clothes, which clung to her skin in a sticky cover yet revealing manner.


    ...


    Being stared at in such a way, cold and yet thrilling against her skin, Ning Yichu hung her head to hide the awkward expression on her face, ¡°I¡¯ll leave immediately; sorry for the disturbance.¡±


    ¡°Just a moment,¡± the man suddenly spoke, halting her.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s feet were already poised to step out, she turned around perplexed, looking at him¡ªsurely he wasn¡¯t going to trouble her further? With this thought, she asked with trepidation, ¡°Is there something else?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re sure you want to go out looking like that? It might really affect your image.¡±


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t want to, but the thought of brazenly continuing to impose was out of the question. The next instant, she heard the man¡¯s pleasant voice say, ¡°I have a clean coat here; if you don¡¯t mind, you can borrow it and wear it for a while.¡±


    Mo Baiyou took off his camel-colored suit coat, hung it on the hook, then strode out of the break room.


    Ning Yichu stood dumbfounded, not expecting such kindness from a stranger.


    Checking the time, only five minutes were left; she had no choice but to wear the man¡¯s coat and quickly returned to the meeting room.@@@@


    The coat seemed to still carry a hint of the man¡¯s fiery body heat, accompanied by the subtle fragrance of bergamot.


    When it was her turn for the interview, she pushed open the office door and walked in.


    Upon seating herself, several interviewers stood up as if to welcome her arrival.


    Ning Yichu thought they were impressed by her resume from Europe.


    It was clear without guessing; Fan Yuke was the one who had smashed the bald man¡¯s head.


    Fan Yuke¡¯s beautiful, doll-like face was swollen, and although she looked serious, the slight tremor in her hands betrayed her fear...


    Ning Yichu deliberately knocked on the door, drawing everyone¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Oh, another one has come?¡± the bald man glared at Ning Yichu with malice. The eyes of the other men and women in the room on Ning Yichu were like those of wolves looking at a lamb that had fallen into their den.


    Ning Yichu quickly walked to Fan Yuke¡¯s side, gently patting her shoulder and cooing, ¡°It¡¯s okay now, give me the bottle.¡±


    Fan Yuke¡¯s tense nerves seemed to find an outlet all at once, ¡°Chu Chu...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here.¡±


    Ning Yichu slowly took the bottle from her hand.


    Fan Yuke¡¯s legs went weak, ¡°Sob, I didn¡¯t mean to do it just now, did you call the police? I had just separated from my agent when these guys dragged me in here, and they even said they wanted to chop me into pieces...¡±


    ¡°Little sister, do you even know how to speak? How is that dragging? We just invited you in for a sit-down!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, you dress so sexy and come to a place like this; it¡¯s clear you¡¯re looking for men to play with, right? We are just fulfilling your wishes!¡±


    Ning Yichu clenched the bottle in her hand. Yuke¡¯s figure was sexy and alluring, and whatever she wore seemed like a temptation, but that didn¡¯t mean she was a bad girl!


    But as they were in the bald man¡¯s territory, she had no choice but to say, ¡°Sorry, my friend drank too much, it really wasn¡¯t intentional. Let¡¯s do this, we¡¯ll pay for the medical expenses, and for the emotional distress, we will also compensate.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the bald man suddenly burst into laughter, malevolent and chilling, ¡°You think you can settle this with money? Guys, do I look like I¡¯m short on cash?¡±


    The others laughed uproariously, ¡°No shortage.¡±


    ¡°What do you want, then?¡± Ning Yichu gritted her teeth.


    ¡°Ha-ha, of course, you girls need to give us a good time, and if we¡¯re happy, naturally this matter will be wiped clean...¡± the bald man sniggered.


    Ning Yichu realized these people were not to be trifled with and was no longer polite, ¡°I¡¯ve already called the police; they will arrive in ten minutes.¡±


    The bald man didn¡¯t speak, just squinted his eyes at her like a venomous snake.


    Someone had approached them, offering a million for a video of Ning Yichu messing around with them, a piece of fat so big it was impossible to spit out now that it had reached their lips.

 Chapter 15: Go Home or to the Hotel?

    Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Go Home or to the Hotel?


    Lady Ning thought they didn¡¯t believe her, so she shook her phone, which clearly displayed the emergency call number.


    Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have dared to come alone to face the danger.


    The most important thing for her right now was to buy time until the police arrived.


    The bald man¡¯s face darkened, ¡°I hate people who always run to the police at the drop of a hat!¡±


    ¡°If you let us go, I¡¯ll call and drop the charges.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve been in the underworld, after all. How could I just let you go and save my face?¡± the bald man scoffed, giving a signal to his men, and someone immediately opened a bottle of liquor and handed it to Lady Ning.


    ...


    The intention was clear¡ªto force her to drink.


    Yuke immediately said, ¡°I¡¯ll drink it¡ªit has nothing to do with Chu Chu. It was me you¡¯re after...¡±


    Lady Ning was inwardly anxious; Yuke was already unsteady from too much drinking, how could she let her drink more?


    She snatched the liquor bottle and began to pour it into her mouth.@@@@


    The strong spirit burned her throat.


    Two minutes later, she threw the empty bottle back at the bald man, her body burning up.


    ¡°Can we leave now?¡±


    The bald man was stunned, looking at the brassy and efficient Lady Ning, he suddenly found her quite appealing.


    Perhaps it was because most women who came here were scantily clad, aiming to hook up with rich men or with other impure intentions, so encountering someone like Lady Ning, who had come to help her friend after a simple phone call and dressed casually, she seemed both righteous and intellectually charming.


    ¡°Leave? I haven¡¯t even started handling my business, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡±


    Lady Ning realized something was wrong, her complexion slightly changed, and she quickly supported Yuke.


    But just then, a man closest to the door suddenly lunged towards her, attempting to pull Yuke away and strangle Lady Ning.


    Relying on the courage from the alcohol, she kicked the man in the chest; unprepared, he staggered back.


    The other men, seeing that Lady Ning hadn¡¯t fallen, swarmed around her, pinning her arms and rendering her unable to move. Yuke fell awkwardly and struggled to get up.


    The bald man approached Lady Ning with a sinister smile, his gaze predatory and lustful, ¡°I didn¡¯t see it coming, a hot pepper like you. But refusing a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit is going to be bitter...¡±


    It was quite amusing; still so protective even after the divorce.


    ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding... it¡¯s all a misunderstanding, I didn¡¯t know Miss Ning was a friend of yours, Young Master Mu,¡± the bald man stammered in fear.


    Mu Bailang¡¯s lips curled into a smile. ¡°Old Li, how do you think we should deal with these guys?¡±


    The bald man instantly dropped to his knees and began knocking his head on the floor. ¡°President Li, please spare us! We were blind, we¡¯ll roll out immediately, please let us live...¡±


    Li Lingyang thought about what could have happened to Ning Yichu if he had arrived even later, and his eyes hardened, ¡°Break an arm from each of them and throw them out of Imperial City.¡±


    The bodyguards immediately complied, and after a series of ghastly screams like the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves, the room fell quiet again.


    Only then did Li Lingyang approach Ning Yichu and was just about to speak to her when, alcohol taking its toll, her body swayed, and with the crisis averted, her nerves, which had been tightly wound, suddenly relaxed, as if the breath she had been holding was suddenly let go, and she stumbled and fell straight down.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s reflexes were quick as he caught her slender waist and drew her into his arms.


    Upon touching his solid chest, Ning Yichu felt as if she had found a cool new haven and couldn¡¯t bear to let go.


    She wanted to...


    Strip off his clothes and touch him more intimately.


    Ning Yichu was startled by her own thoughts, but before she could react any further, Li Lingyang scooped her up horizontally.


    ¡°You dare to drink so much without a tolerance? If I hadn¡¯t come, what were you planning to do to end the night, huh?¡±


    Ning Yichu, smelling the crisp pheromone scent on him, desperately burrowed into his embrace.


    Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow, never having seen her act so bonelessly clingy before. Startled for a moment, his lips curved into a slight smile, and he turned to Mu Bailang, ¡°There¡¯s one more on the floor, take her home.¡±


    After saying that, he left with Ning Yichu in his arms.


    Mu Bailang expressed his disgust, ¡°Damn it, you could at least thank me for calling you over to play the hero, but no, you just leave and make me run errands?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s response was to walk away without looking back.


    Li Lingyang thought Ning Yichu was just drunk and needed a place to rest and sober up.


    But as soon as he carried her out of the club, the cool breeze hit them, and Ning Yichu¡¯s wandering mind cleared up a bit. She instantly realized just how dangerous it was to be in Li Lingyang¡¯s arms at that moment.


    ¡°Li... Li Lingyang...¡±


    Li Lingyang looked down at the woman in his arms, his eyes dark, ¡°Home or a hotel?¡±


    Ning Yichu was so startled by his words that she was beside herself, her face flushed, biting her lower lip, and emitting a low murmur almost like a sleep talk, ¡°You... you put me down first.¡±

 Chapter 16 - 16 A Fragmented Night

    Chapter 16: Chapter 16 A Fragmented Night


    Li Lingyang saw her flush cheeks and the sweat covering her body, raised an eyebrow, and said, ¡°You¡¯re this drunk, and you think you can walk on your own?¡±


    As he spoke, accompanied by a faint mint fragrance, it was as if he had a fatal attraction, tempting her to do something, no, no, she couldn¡¯t continue like this!


    She desperately wanted to get away from him!


    ¡°I¡¯m fine... really fine, just feeling a bit uncomfortable...¡±


    Li Lingyang instantly felt something was off, covered her forehead with his large palm, ¡°How much exactly did you drink?¡±


    The moment his hand touched her, Ning Yichu felt that chill again.


    ...


    Almost reflexively, she slapped his hand away and stumbled back a large step, finally steadying herself by clinging to a nearby tree, yet out of her mouth came, ¡°Stay away from me, better if you¡¯d just disappear right now.¡±


    A slight pain transmitted from the back of his hand, Li Lingyang¡¯s whole body emitted a cold chill, ¡°You want me to leave that badly?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± As soon as she spoke, it came out fragmented, ¡°I can manage on my own...¡±


    ¡°Your reaction tells me you can¡¯t.¡± Li Lingyang calmed down, realizing something, and suddenly asked with a dangerous tone, ¡°Was there something in that drink?¡±


    Ning Yichu bit her lower lip hard, remained silent, worried that if she spoke, it would come out as a whisper.


    Li Lingyang knitted his brows, regretting not having had that bald man taken care of earlier, took a deep breath, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡±


    Ning Yichu was very afraid, afraid that if she couldn¡¯t control herself, she¡¯d do something she¡¯d regret, and her consciousness was still gradually blurring, continuing like this, the consequences would be unimaginable!


    ¡°No need! I can just take a taxi...¡±


    She said, holding her breath, and staggered to the curb to hail a taxi.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyebrows furrowed deeply, his complexion ominously dark and terrifying.


    Even like this, she still thought about keeping her distance from him?


    Just then a vacant taxi passed by, Ning Yichu without a word waved it down, tried to bend to get in, but the moment the car door was half-opened, Li Lingyang scooped her up by the waist, ¡°Haven¡¯t you caused enough trouble? What if you lose control in the car?¡±


    ¡°What are you doing? Let me go, don¡¯t touch me, I really can¡¯t hold back much longer...¡± Ning Yichu felt she was reaching her limit, and yet Li Lingyang was holding her.


    That discomfort made her outburst carry a hint of a sob.


    A glint of darkness flickered in the depths of Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes, suddenly blurting out, ¡°If you can¡¯t hold back, then don¡¯t.¡±


    Ningning called her godmother.


    Oddly, the phone was not answered either.


    Today, Mommy went to Beiji Group for an interview for the Chief Jade Sculptor position. Given Mommy¡¯s skills, it should have been a sure thing. Could it be that she and godmother are doing something ¡°not suitable for children¡± after a successful interview?


    With her little mouth pursed, the little girl called her brother.


    ¡°Mommy hasn¡¯t come home yet?¡±


    ¡°Uh-huh, I can¡¯t get through to godmother either. Brother, I¡¯m home alone, and I¡¯m scared...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a taxi home immediately. Make sure to lock all the doors and windows and turn on all the lights in the house. Don¡¯t let anyone know you¡¯re alone,¡± Chen Bao immediately assumed the role of the protective older brother, gently placating his sister.


    Ningning wasn¡¯t actually that scared, she just wasn¡¯t used to being home alone. The company of her brother was naturally the best.


    In less than half an hour, Chen Bao arrived at Junyue Mansion with a stern face.


    ¡°Did Mommy act unusually before she left today?¡±


    Their dear Mommy had never failed to notify them before staying out all night; even when she had to travel far in the past, she would hire a nanny to take care of them.


    Ningning blinked her large eyes, ¡°Mommy went to look for a job, to apply for Chief Jade Sculptor at Beiji Group.¡±


    Chen Bao pursed his delicate lips, pondered for a short moment, then whipped out his personal laptop and rapidly typed away, pulling up information about Beiji on the web.


    A traditional luxury brand from Europe, which, in recent years, has expanded its operations into Asia with quite aggressive growth.


    ¡°There doesn¡¯t seem to be anything suspicious about this group,¡± Chen Bao knitted his handsome brows in confusion.


    Ningning puffed out her cheeks, pondering thoroughly before piping up, ¡°I remember, I was half asleep when I heard godmother and Mommy talking. They said the little sister who visited that day seemed to be Trash Dad¡¯s daughter, our half-sister from the same father! Mommy was worried she might reveal our secrets...¡±


    Hearing this, the childish innocence on Chen Bao¡¯s face vanished, replaced by an instant coldness!


    He never expected that the half-sister they thought was kindred could turn out to be the daughter of the mistress!


    That mistress had forced Mommy to live in exile for more than five years...


    From this standpoint, they should naturally be enemies.


    Feeling the shift in Chen Bao¡¯s emotions, Ningning tugged at the hem of his shirt, speaking softly, ¡°Brother, I think the little sister is a good person, she probably won¡¯t betray us...¡±


    ¡°People¡¯s faces are known, not their hearts, and besides, haven¡¯t you heard the saying ¡®like mother, like daughter¡¯?¡±


    He made up his mind, he had to warn Doudou not to expose their secrets!

 Chapter 17: Trapped in the Hotel

    Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Trapped in the Hotel


    Chen Bao didn¡¯t want to suspect his little sister with bad intentions, but he was the only little man in the house and had to protect Mommy and his sister as much as he possibly could.


    After listening, Ningning¡¯s eyes widened in alarm and she excitedly said, ¡°That scumbag of a dad is looking everywhere for you. If you go looking for your little sister now, what if you get caught?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can disguise myself well.¡±


    ¡°Aiyo, I¡¯ll go with you then. I have some questions for little sister too,¡± Ningning begged, looking at Chen Bao with hopeful eyes.


    Chen Bao thought for a moment, having an extra person might be a good idea, and ultimately agreed.


    ...


    ...


    The next day.


    The first rays of the morning sun snuck through the gaps in the curtains, pouring into the room and spilling over the messy bed.


    Ning Yichu woke up with a start when she saw the unfamiliar surroundings.


    Struggling to sit up in bed, her body ached as if she had run a marathon.


    The bedsheet slid from her chest, revealing her naked body!


    And at first glance, the bedsheet was so messy it looked as if a battle had taken place.


    Ning Yichu almost subconsciously held her breath, annoyed, knocking her head as she slowly recalled a few fragmented moments.


    In a haze, she drank spiked liquor and was about to be bullied by those hooligans when Li Lingyang arrived...


    What happened next? What happened after that?


    How could she not remember...


    She couldn¡¯t have lost control of herself and pounced on Li Lingyang, could she?


    Ning Yichu instantly turned pale, feeling as if the world was crashing down around her, and with her not having returned home all night, Ningning must be terribly worried too...


    She forced herself to calm down and was about to find some clothes and get out of bed when suddenly, the bathroom door opened at this very moment.


    Ning Yichu looked up and met the gaze of a man wrapped in a loose bath towel.


    Li Lingyang had just finished a shower, his hair wet, with water droplets tracing down his honey-colored skin into his secret territory, holding a towel in his hand and wiping the moisture from his handsome face.


    ¡°Awake?¡±


    Ning Yichu really admired his strong mentality; five years ago, when he and Shen Jiangqing betrayed her, was he as composed as he was now?


    ¡°It seems you don¡¯t like Shen Jiangqing that much...¡±


    Upon hearing this, Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze on her grew profound, and a few seconds later, he suddenly said, ¡°What happened between her and me is not what you think.¡±


    ¡°No need to explain to me. I¡¯ve had nothing to do with you for a long time.¡±


    Li Lingyang knitted his brows tightly, took a sip of milk from his glass, and said no more.


    Ning Yichu gritted her teeth and reminded him again, ¡°Whatever happened last night, once we step out of this door, neither of us should ever bring it up again!¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s pupils shrank slightly, his eyes suddenly grew cold and cutting, ¡°What happened between us last night?¡±


    That tone of voice, as if it was all matter-of-fact, clearly, all the guilt and panic had always been hers alone.


    This cheating scumbag felt no psychological burden at all!


    ¡°You¡¯re right, nothing happened between us.¡± Ning Yichu said with a sarcastic smile, pulling out a stack of red banknotes from her bag and placing them on the bedside table.


    Li Lingyang narrowed his eyes with a dark expression, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°This room probably costs a few thousand a night; I didn¡¯t see the bill, nor do I know the exact amount, so consider this money as splitting the room fee. Anything extra, think of it as payment for hiring a gigolo last night. Now, enjoy your breakfast; I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s grip on the glass tightened suddenly, and a layer of gloom seemed to fill his eyes.


    Great, not only did she dare to order him a call girl in the middle of the night, but now she had the audacity to treat him like a gigolo?


    After deducting the room fee, there would be no more than five hundred left!


    Was he not even worth five hundred for a night?


    Ning Yichu had just reached the door and was about to open it when it was knocked again.


    She thought it was the waiter, but the video phone screen lit up, revealing the face of a familiar woman ¨C it was Shen Jiangqing!


    What was she doing here?


    Could it be... she was here to catch an adulterer?


    The possibility sent Ning Yichu into a panic.


    ¡°Aling, it¡¯s me; are you awake?¡±


    The composure vanished from Ning Yichu¡¯s face in an instant, and she turned to look at Li Lingyang, ¡°What floor are we on?¡±


    ¡°If you want to become disabled, feel free to jump out,¡± Li Lingyang said without lifting his head, then stood up and approached the door, his large hand reaching for the doorknob.


    Ning Yichu, as if by reflex, pressed hard against the back of his hand, her heart leaping to her throat as she asked nervously, ¡°You¡¯re not going to tell me you¡¯re going to open the door for her, are you?¡±

 Chapter 18: Can’t You Show Your Face?

    Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Can¡¯t You Show Your Face?


    Li Lingyang admired the panic on her face, sarcastically asking, ¡°What else should I do? Do I have to make my girlfriend wait outside for you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re insane! How could she see us like this?¡±


    Li Lingyang wore a cold, thin smirk, ¡°Are you ashamed to be seen?¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°... ¡±


    He did it on purpose!


    Such a vindictive jerk!@@@@


    ...


    Seeing that Li Lingyang was already opening the door, Ning Yichu¡¯s anger surged, but she had no choice but to hide in the closet at the last moment. She moved so forcefully she almost banged her shoulder.


    Li Lingyang caught a glimpse of the closet door closing from the corner of his eye, the corners of his mouth rising imperceptibly, and then he opened the door to the woman outside.


    Shen Jiangqing was obviously dressed up, even wearing thick jasmine perfume.


    But Li Lingyang didn¡¯t like the scent, and he said indifferently, ¡°How did you get here?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing spoke with concern, ¡°I had a hospital check-up appointment this morning, and I saw your car downstairs as I was passing by, so I came up to see how you were. Young Master Mu took you out for drinks yesterday, you must be feeling dizzy now, right?¡±


    She lifted the thermos in her hand, ¡°I brought you some hangover soup, would you like to try some?¡±


    Li Lingyang often rested here after getting drunk with Mu Bailang, as this hotel had his stake and the penthouse was reserved for him year-round.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s expression remained indifferent, ¡°No need, I didn¡¯t drink much last night.¡±


    ¡°I saw you didn¡¯t come home last night and thought Young Master Mu had kept you out all night,¡± Shen Jiangqing said with a hint of reproach, as if she quite disliked the way Mu Bailang dragged Li Lingyang out.


    Li Lingyang was still cool and distant, ¡°I didn¡¯t stay out all night, I just didn¡¯t drive because of the alcohol, and I didn¡¯t want to disturb the kids.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing looked subtly into the suite, biting her lip, ¡°Are you busy this morning? Can you accompany me to the hospital for a follow-up? I¡¯m a bit scared to go alone...¡±


    ¡°I have things to do later, I¡¯ll have Special Assistant Xu go with you,¡± Li Lingyang said, picking up his phone to make a call.


    Shen Jiangqing, ¡°...¡±


    Does he even understand her hints?


    But she didn¡¯t want Li Lingyang to think she was being troublesome, so she smiled and said, ¡°With Special Assistant Xu, your right-hand man, by my side, I¡¯ll feel much more at ease. I¡¯ll leave now.¡±


    ¡°Chen Bao came home last night?¡±


    Ningning spoke with a dumbfounded tone, ¡°I couldn¡¯t get through to you or godmother¡¯s phone, and I didn¡¯t want to be alone at home, so I told brother.¡±


    Ning Yichu instantly gasped, ¡°Put your brother on the phone.¡±


    Rustling sounds came from the receiver, followed by Chen Bao¡¯s cool voice, ¡°Mommy.¡±


    ¡°Did you, in the middle of the night, run home from the orphanage all by yourself? How could you be so bold? What if you encountered bad people? My phone was not reachable; if something had happened, no one could have saved you in time!¡± Ning Yichu said, both regretful and frightened.


    Last time they went to extort Li Lingyang was already a stretch, though it was broad daylight and the risk was smaller.


    In Junyue Mansion, Chen Bao swayed his short legs, sitting on the sofa, quietly listening to his mother¡¯s scolding, waiting for her to finish panicking before saying, ¡°I took a photo of the taxi driver and the license plate for Ningning. If she couldn¡¯t reach me within half an hour, she would call the police.¡±


    Ning Yichu realized she had seriously underestimated the twins!


    Compared to her, not waiting for the police to arrive but going to find Fan YuKe, she felt more foolish.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s also my fault for not being able to return on time last night and leaving Ningning unattended at home.¡±


    Chen Bao blinked his big eyes, looking innocently guileless, not at all mentioning his and Ningning¡¯s next plan, but asking, ¡°Mommy, when are you coming back?¡±


    ¡°Right away.¡±


    ¡°Okay, see you in a bit.¡±


    ¡°Mm-hmm.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Ning Yichu thought about buying some breakfast nearby to bring back for her two babies.


    She was about to cross the street when suddenly a sharp female voice came from behind, ¡°Ning Yichu, is that really you?!¡±


    Ning Yichu froze, the voice was too familiar; she had just heard it.


    Turning around, she indeed saw a face full of resentment.


    Shen Jiangqing was glaring at Ning Yichu.


    She wore a high-end Chanel-style dress, her long hair slightly messy, unpainted, giving her a naturally beautiful appearance.


    ¡°The dress you¡¯re wearing is limited edition, not everyone can buy it even with money, how do you have it? And you came out of the hotel, did you stay here last night?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing originally didn¡¯t feel like just walking away, so she hid in a dark place and waited for a while, and sure enough, she caught a sneaky woman!


    At first glance, it was Ning Yichu!


    Almost subconsciously, she linked Ning Yichu¡¯s overnight absence to Li Lingyang.

 Chapter 19 - 19 Caught Taking Birth Control Pills by Him

    Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Caught Taking Birth Control Pills by Him


    Ning Yichu was no fool and could naturally detect the subtext in Shen Jiangqing¡¯s words. She raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Are we that close? Do I need to report my schedule to you?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face soured, ¡°Last night, my fiance? was here too.¡±


    ¡°Really? That¡¯s even stranger. Why didn¡¯t he go home and instead came to stay at a hotel?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing had never expected Ning Yichu to be so shameless, turning the tables on her.


    She sneered, ¡°It¡¯s the fault of some cheap, loose women outside. They always cling to these powerful men, thinking they can rise to the top just like that. But in reality, men just play with these women and treat them like prostitutes, mere objects of relief; in the end, they¡¯ll return to their families.¡±


    A cold glint flickered through Ning Yichu¡¯s beautiful eyes.


    ...@@@@


    But she quickly regained her composure and sneered, ¡°As far as I know, you two aren¡¯t married yet, right? Then how are you any more noble than those other women? In the past, at best, you would just be a nameless concubine.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s chest heaved slightly, her tone suddenly turning eerie as some thought crossed her mind.


    ¡°Aling loves me, and we have a lovely pair of twins. We¡¯ll get married sooner or later. Speaking of which, you¡¯ve met Doudou, right? She¡¯s so cute, with big eyes, a high nose bridge, and little cherry lips. The first thing Aling does when he comes home is to hug her and kiss her. As for you? I heard that when you got divorced, you were pregnant with a bastard child. I wonder what¡¯s the situation now?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing couldn¡¯t be absolutely sure if the fire set by her brother years ago had killed Ning Yichu¡¯s illegitimate child, so she deliberately said this to gauge her reaction...


    Unexpectedly, Ning Yichu¡¯s eyes briefly flashed with chilliness, but then nothing.


    Could the child really be dead?


    Otherwise, why would Aling be indifferent?


    Thinking this, Shen Jiangqing couldn¡¯t help feeling a rush of malicious glee.


    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry. I forgot. This seems to be a tradition in the Ning Family? Your mentally ill mother also got knocked up by some unknown man and had you! I heard she went insane after giving birth to you and was even expelled from the family¡¯s records. I don¡¯t know if your bastard is a son or a daughter? If it¡¯s a daughter, I really must be careful not to let her cling to my son...¡±


    ¡°Slap¡ª¡±


    Before Shen Jiangqing could finish her sharp and malicious words, Ning Yichu lifted her hand and fiercely slapped her.


    She originally didn¡¯t want to make a scene in public with this ¡°pitiable yet despicable¡± woman, but every word of hers touched her raw nerves, insulting her baby as a bastard and her mother!


    A surge of rage coursed through her chest, and she slapped with all her might.


    Shen Jiangqing covered her swollen cheek, unbelievingly glaring at her, ¡°Ning Yichu, you dare to hit me?¡±


    Li Lingyang didn¡¯t believe that Ning Yichu would curse Shen Jiangqing for no reason.


    After all, when they divorced, she wasn¡¯t full of resentment.


    But it had been five years, and her sharp-tongued nature had also changed.


    He frowned lightly and in a soft voice said, ¡°You should not get too agitated with your medical condition.¡±


    ¡°Wuwu, I also want to calm down, but as soon as I think about Ning Yichu¡¯s arrogant attitude, I can¡¯t keep calm.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll have Special Assistant Xu take you to the hospital and get your injuries treated.¡±


    ¡°What about you...¡±


    ¡°If Ning Yichu really is that vicious, I will give you an explanation.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s face remained expressionless, which made Shen Jiangqing slightly elated.


    It was good to know he still sided with her.


    However, as Shen Jiangqing got onto Special Assistant Xu¡¯s car, she accidentally saw her own hideous and disgusting appearance in the rearview mirror. Her eyelids flipped, and she almost fainted!


    Was this how she looked when she was crying to Li Lingyang?


    Why didn¡¯t she check the mirror beforehand?


    ...


    Ning Yichu bought breakfast and took a taxi home.


    She didn¡¯t regret slapping Shen Jiangqing.


    Even if her mother had a mental illness, she was her dearest mother, and no one could denigrate her in front of her.


    When the taxi stopped at a traffic light, Ning Yichu saw a pharmacy by the roadside. She suddenly sat up straight, almost forgetting the most important thing.


    Two minutes later, Ning Yichu walked out of the pharmacy, holding a box of contraceptives and a bottle of mineral water.


    She found a bench in a park, took a white pill out, uncapped the water bottle, and was about to swallow the pill when suddenly, a dark shadow loomed nearby, overshadowing her.


    Then, a man seized her wrist.


    Ning Yichu looked up and saw the tall figure against the light, robust and imposing, staring at her intently.

 Chapter 20 - 20 You Owe Me a Child!

    Chapter 20: Chapter 20 You Owe Me a Child!


    Ning Yichu hadn¡¯t expected him to be so persistent, her heart skipped a beat.


    ¡°What is this?¡±


    Li Lingyang suddenly spoke, his tone indiscernible between joy and anger.


    But inexplicably, Ning Yichu felt a chill.


    She even felt momentarily panicked, as if she had been caught doing something...


    Then she confidently shook the medicine box in her hand, ¡°These characters are so big, can¡¯t you see them?¡±


    ...


    ¡°I¡¯m asking you, what is this?¡± Li Lingyang emphasized his words, as if he insisted on her saying it out loud.


    Ning Yichu was speechless, ¡°Levonorgestrel, also known as birth control pills.¡±


    Li Lingyang narrowed his cold eyes, slightly bent over, his handsome face gradually approaching her, ¡°Why are you taking this?¡±


    Covered by his imposing presence, the warmth spread to her face, tingling her, and her breathing tightened slightly, ¡°If I don¡¯t take it, what if I get pregnant? Do you still want me to have your child?¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s lips slightly downturned, displaying his displeasure, ¡°When we got divorced, you owed me a child!¡±


    Ning Yichu was truly angry now, her beautiful eyes emitting strong ferocity.


    ¡°What do you mean I owe you a child? Don¡¯t joke about that here!¡±


    ¡°Firstly, you always claimed our marriage was forced, and now that it¡¯s ended peacefully, no one owes anyone anything. Secondly, even if I were pregnant with your child, I wouldn¡¯t give birth, because that would make him a bastard! Do you know how painful it is to be a bastard?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s expression turned colder, ¡°You seem to particularly sympathize with bastards, so just hand over that child, don¡¯t let him be one.¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s heart suddenly started pounding fiercely; had she been too agitated just now, causing him to become suspicious?


    ¡°How many times do I have to tell you? I don¡¯t know any child, and I haven¡¯t extorted you! But you opened my eyes¡ªaside from Shen Jiangqing, you actually have other children out there?¡±


    Her disdainful tone successfully plunged Li Lingyang into silence.@@@@


    Ning Yichu took the opportunity to pull her hand out of his palm.


    Always pinching her arm, damn it!


    The birth control pills had fallen to the ground earlier, and she reluctantly picked up two more.


    Just as she was about to take them, Li Lingyang suddenly extended his long arm, snatching away both the pill and the bottled water, leveraging his height to throw them into a roadside trash can.


    Logically, he should have ruled her out a long time ago!


    Returning to Junyue Mansion with breakfast,


    ¡°Babies, I¡¯m back, I brought breakfast for you...¡±


    ¡°Shh.¡± As soon as Ning Yichu spoke, Chen Bao stepped out of the children¡¯s bedroom, his young face slightly stern, and said, ¡°Ningning has had breakfast and is now asleep.¡±


    Ning Yichu instinctively glanced towards the children¡¯s bedroom and then realized, coming back so late must have prompted Chen Bao to order takeout.


    She instantly felt a bit embarrassed.


    Chen Bao sniffed slightly, detecting a faint smell of alcohol.


    And...


    Mommy had changed her clothes!


    The little guy immediately furrowed his pretty brows, his tone very serious.


    ¡°Mommy, I have to talk to you about this, hangovers are a very bad habit. What if you encounter danger? Also, you and Auntie, you¡¯re two young and beautiful women, those disgusting flies love to swarm around you.¡±


    Ning Yichu felt scrutinized under her son¡¯s chilly gaze, as if stared down by a miniature Li Lingyang, her heart fluttering.


    ¡°Cough, last night was an accident...¡±


    ¡°How many dangers arise from accidents?¡± Chen Bao pouted, continuing his questioning.


    Ning Yichu was on the verge of tears; she was lecturing her son yesterday, and today he turned around and lectured her.


    Being a mother had never been this challenging for her.


    ¡°Mommy knows she was wrong, I won¡¯t be so impulsive again! Baby, how about I make your favorite dish, beef stew with potatoes, for lunch?¡±


    Chen Bao grunted, his round face adorably accepting her promise.


    Seeing this, Ning Yichu¡¯s heart melted. She kissed his little face, then went back to the bedroom to change clothes.


    Meanwhile, she continued her call with Fan YuKe.


    Fan YuKe was also slow in returning.


    She lived just above Ning Yichu¡¯s apartment, initially planning to buy two adjacent units on the same floor, which could be combined later for more space and privacy.


    But when they went to buy, the units on that floor were sold out, so they had to settle for one upstairs.


    Ning Yichu made a lavish spread for lunch.


    Fan YuKe, lured by the aroma, came down to scrounge for food, her delicate doll face sweating profusely, nostrils flaring, nowhere near the elegance of a female celebrity.

 Chapter 21 - 21 The Kindergarten Database Got Hacked!

    Chapter 21: Chapter 21 The Kindergarten Database Got Hacked!


    Ningning¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Godmother, you¡¯re so different from the people on TV.¡±


    ¡°TV is all about deceiving kids, who puts on airs like that when eating in private? Hehe, Chu Chu¡¯s cooking skills are truly exceptional. Come on, Ningning, eat more of these potatoes!¡±


    Ningning gulped down a mouthful and her cheeks puffed out like a little mole, extremely cute.


    Yichu couldn¡¯t help but laugh and turned to Yuke, ¡°Yuke, do you know any reliable nannies? I want to hire someone to help me take care of Ningning on a regular basis.¡±


    ¡°No problem, leave it to me,¡± Yuke agreed in one breath, and added, ¡°By the way, it¡¯s about time for the two babies to start kindergarten.¡±


    Yichu nodded, even though the two babies, especially Chen Bao, were super smart and already knew everything taught in kindergarten, she still hoped they could meet peers and make more friends.


    ...


    ¡°I know a big shot who said he can secure spots at Saint Peter Kindergarten!¡±


    Yichu had heard about Saint Peter Kindergarten.


    It was an elite kindergarten with extreme privacy. Importantly, it¡¯s an educational brand that offered bilingual education from kindergarten to college and even had partnerships with Ivy League colleges abroad.


    Apart from the expensive tuition, there were no issues.


    Yichu also wanted the best for the two children, and was immediately interested, ¡°Really? That¡¯s great.¡±


    Then, she looked at the two little ones, ¡°Quick, thank the godmother. She¡¯s so amazing, she even managed to get spots at this kindergarten.¡±


    Chen Bao and Ningning slowed their eating, both staring at Yichu with big eyes filled with resistance.


    Thinking they didn¡¯t want to go to kindergarten, Yichu said earnestly, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that, kids need to go to school, and you¡¯re already starting late.¡±


    ¡°Change the school,¡± Chen Bao said, barely opening his beautiful lips and interrupting Yichu.


    ¡°You might not know much about this school, let mommy tell you about it. It¡¯s the oldest educational brand in Imperial City, with a history dating back over two hundred years to the Qing dynasty, educating countless elites. It has weathered many storms and perfectly adapted to the times with reforms. I heard other kids have to go through many interviews to get in...¡±


    Chen Bao of course knew Saint Peter was a good kindergarten and that many people couldn¡¯t even get in.


    But...


    A trace of darkness flickered in his dark eyes.


    ¡°Did you find any clues about the hacker?¡±


    ¡°This...¡± the principal stuttered, ¡°The hacker is very skilled. If it weren¡¯t for our technicians¡¯ careful detection, we wouldn¡¯t have noticed their intrusion at all. Their login IP was even layered through cybercafe?s like peeling an onion. We spent half a day only to trace it back to the cybercafe?...¡±


    ¡°So they stole your students¡¯ information, and you can¡¯t do anything about them?¡± Li Lingyang asked sharply, his dark eyes sweeping through, expressionless.


    The principal¡¯s legs trembled; even through the phone, he was nearly on his knees!


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, President Li...¡±


    ¡°Enhance the kindergarten¡¯s security. If you spot any suspicious individuals, inform me immediately!¡±


    Li Lingyang hung up coldly, determined not to allow any mishap with Doudou and Chengcheng. He then called Special Assistant Xu, instructing him to arrange more people for picking up and dropping off the children.


    He then sunk into thought. Since having children, he had retracted much of his sharpness and wasn¡¯t as ruthless in business as before.


    It had been years since anyone dared provoke him. What did this hacker intend by accessing Doudou and Chengcheng¡¯s information?


    ...


    ¡°Achoo!¡±


    Elsewhere, Chen Bao sneezed several times throughout the afternoon. Ningning, worried she might have caused him to catch a cold by calling him back the previous night, hurried to get him tissues.


    Chen Bao, who usually had good health, pulled out a tissue and sniffled, his voice lowered, ¡°I¡¯ve already taken a photo of Saint Peter Kindergarten¡¯s uniform and have placed an order for a custom version online.¡±


    Ningning blinked her large eyes, excitement bubbling, ¡°With the uniforms, we can sneak in to find little sister!¡±


    ¡°But we absolutely can¡¯t let mommy know about this.¡±


    ¡°The delivery arrives, I¡¯ll handle it!¡± Ningning clenched her little fists, exuding dominance.


    Chen Bao nodded thoughtfully, ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave it to you. I¡¯m heading back to the orphanage soon.¡±


    ¡°No problem.¡±


    Ning Yichu, completely unaware of the little duo¡¯s plan to sneak into Saint Peter Kindergarten, was browsing a website and saw a high-end clothing brand featuring handmade suits costing upwards of ten million.


    Upon closer examination, she realized it was the brand of the coat borrowed by the man she met yesterday at Beiji Group.


    My god, this garment actually costs over a hundred thousand!

 Chapter 22: The Twins Meet, A Warning from Chen Bao

    Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The Twins Meet, A Warning from Chen Bao


    Her clothes were slightly dry yesterday, and she urgently went to the club to find Fan Yuke. Later, the jacket went missing...


    She thought that since she would be working in Beiji from now on, she would definitely run into him again. Why not buy an identical jacket and return it to that kind-hearted man, but only now did she realize it was a niche luxury brand!


    Even though it was painful financially, Ning Yichu still had the brand custom-make a set for her.


    Counting the not-so-much balance in her card, Ning Yichu made up her mind to work hard to earn money!


    Nowadays, a good kindergarten charges hundreds of thousands a year just for tuition, not to mention miscellaneous fees and the expenses for various extracurricular activities. If she didn¡¯t work hard, she really wouldn¡¯t be able to afford it...


    Two days later.


    ...


    Ning Yichu went shopping with Fan Yuke, instructing Ningning to stay well at home alone.


    Ningning nodded like a little pecking chicken but as soon as Mommy left, she immediately called Chen Bao, ¡°Brother, I saw the uniform has been put in the Cainiao station downstairs, I¡¯ll fetch it now and meet up with you.¡±


    Chen Bao, who often took taxis alone to roam around, was still worried about his sister roaming by herself.


    You know, there are too many psychopaths and pedophiles in this world!


    ¡°Stay at home, I¡¯ll come to you.¡±


    As he spoke, Chen Bao had changed his shoes and set off, wearing a cool black face mask and putting on a denim jacket from the hanger, looking like the coolest kid on the block.


    Having picked up Ningning, the two changed into Saint Peter Kindergarten uniforms, and anyone who saw them would believe they were students of that kindergarten.


    They took a taxi to the front of the kindergarten and were surprised to find that the security was several times stronger than before!


    Not only were strangers not allowed to enter, but even the school¡¯s utility staff had to undergo strict ID checks.


    Chen Bao rubbed his chin with his short hand, feeling a new challenge before him.


    Ningning¡¯s eyes darted around and she said, ¡°Brother, it¡¯s my turn to make a move this time, you keep watch outside. After all, you look too much like a scumbag dad. If the security catches you, we¡¯ll be done for!¡±


    Chen Bao was also frustrated, as their last recon had been way more lax...


    ¡°Put on the Bluetooth earphone, tell me immediately if there¡¯s any trouble.¡±


    ¡°Come on, I¡¯ve been doing mischief with you since I was little. I can handle such a small problem!¡± Ningning¡¯s eyes sparkled brightly, already imagining herself as a formidable spy.


    Chen Bao couldn¡¯t help but facepalmed.


    After the call connected properly, Ningning, with a little yellow duck backpack, authentically arrived at the gate¡¯s security booth.


    ¡°Uncle, I am late, I forgot to bring my campus card. Could you please open the gate for me?¡±


    ¡°Let go.¡±


    Doudou didn¡¯t let go, instead gripping tighter.


    Ningning¡¯s mouth opened and closed in anger.


    For some reason, every time she saw Doudou, she felt an indescribable fondness, even though she knew her mommy was the other woman, the bad person, she still couldn¡¯t be harsh!


    ¡°Don¡¯t waste words on her, warn her not to disclose my existence,¡± Chen Bao¡¯s voice came through the earpiece.


    Only then did Ningning remember she hadn¡¯t yet spoken her main point, cleared her throat, and changed her tone, ¡°I can not dislike you, and not be your enemy, but you have to promise me one thing.¡±


    Doudou nodded without thinking, like a pecking chick.


    Ningning said, ¡°You mustn¡¯t tell your daddy and mommy that you¡¯ve seen my brother!¡±


    Doudou paused in surprise, her little hands gesturing.


    Ningning couldn¡¯t understand, her head was spinning.


    Doudou¡¯s eyes roved, and seeing her notebook on the desk, suddenly pulled her back.


    Ningning wondered what she was doing but then saw her scribble a string of characters in the notebook, somewhat crooked, but Ningning understood immediately.


    Her mouth fell open in shock!


    ¡°Are you saying, your daddy already asked you?¡±


    Her little heart leapt to her throat, ¡°Then what did you answer?¡±


    Doudou¡¯s little face blushed, she stood straight and proudly waved her hands, indicating she hadn¡¯t betrayed them!


    ¡°Seeing how smart you are, I guess I should still be nice to you,¡± Ningning¡¯s heart finally settled, she knew the little sister was still very kind.


    Doudou¡¯s eyelashes quivered, and she gestured excitedly, as if she had endless words to share with Ningning.


    Just then, the teacher noticed Doudou hadn¡¯t come out to eat and came to call her, unexpectedly seeing Ningning.


    ¡°Which class are you from, little one? I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve seen you before?¡±


    Ningning fluttered her big eyes, ¡°I¡¯m from the East Area classroom!¡±


    ¡°Then come with Doudou and me to the cafeteria...¡±


    From the Bluetooth earpiece, Chen Bao¡¯s voice sounded again, ¡°Leave quickly, don¡¯t let more people see your face.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, teacher, but my classmates are waiting for me, I¡¯ll not go eat with you.¡±


    After saying that, Ningning stuffed a piece of paper into Doudou¡¯s hand and dashed away.


    Doudou opened the paper curiously and saw a string of phone numbers!

 Chapter 23 - 23 Ning Yichu’s Production Records

    Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Ning Yichu¡¯s Production Records


    She immediately smiled so broadly that her eyes curled up like crescent moons.


    The teacher was shocked!


    Doudou was a loner and didn¡¯t play with classmates. She had almost never seen her smile!


    ...


    Ningning ran out of the kindergarten and met up with Chen Bao.


    Without waiting for Chen Bao to speak, she spilled the beans about everything that had just happened.


    ...


    ¡°...I just knew little sister and that bad woman are not the same. She didn¡¯t betray you! Scumbag dad asked her, but she didn¡¯t tell, she¡¯s still trustworthy!¡±


    Chen Bao¡¯s cool little face twisted slightly, ¡°Even so, she is still the enemy¡¯s daughter.¡±


    ¡°Oh, brother, why do you have such great hostility towards little sister? A bad woman is a bad woman, and little sister is little sister. Anyway, I left her my contact information if she contacts me, I will be friends with her,¡± Ningning argued firmly.


    Chen Bao looked at Ningning with frustration, too angry to speak for a long while.


    Ningning ran over to hug his arm and coo pleaded in a soft and tender voice, ¡°Brother, are you angry? Actually, I think little sister is very pitiful. Everyone in our class went to have lunch, and nobody was there to play with her.¡±


    Chen Bao suddenly grasped the key point and frowned, ¡°Doesn¡¯t she have a twin brother?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t see him.¡±


    With that said, Chen Bao didn¡¯t say much else. If Ningning really became friends with her, perhaps he could extract some information about their scumbag dad, which might help him in the future.


    ...


    When Ning Yichu got home, she saw Ningning obediently staying at home. She had no idea she had gone out, much less that the little ones had secretly made contact.


    The next day, the nanny, Aunt Wang, whom Fan Yuke had recommended, came for an interview.


    Aunt Wang had previously taken care of a female celebrity¡¯s child but took a long leave due to illness. After the child grew up, she was no longer needed.


    Ning Yichu asked her a few questions, and Aunt Wang answered them all fluidly. She seemed very simple and honest, so she was hired.


    There was a one-month trial period with regular salary set at six thousand yuan, with the option to occasionally stay over.


    ¡°My mom has already cut ties with them, how are they considered relatives? Next time they come, please have security throw them out. Don¡¯t let them agitate my mother again...¡±


    It was also her fault, since the Ning Family had never shown up before, she hadn¡¯t specifically warned Doctor Zhao.


    Doctor Zhao understood immediately, ¡°With your words, I¡¯m reassured. Go and pay this quarter¡¯s care fees now.¡±


    Ning Yichu nodded, thanked Doctor Zhao, and went downstairs to make the payment.


    ¡°The total is eighty-seven thousand three hundred twenty dollars. Will you be paying by card or cash?¡±


    Ning Yichu paused for a moment as she reached for her card, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it just seventy thousand last quarter?¡±


    ¡°Doctor Zhao recently switched your mother to an imported tranquilizer. Also, the hospital¡¯s bed fees have increased. If you find it too expensive, you can ask Doctor Zhao to switch the medication back.¡±


    ¡°No need to switch, I¡¯ll pay the money!¡± For a medicine beneficial to her mother, Ning Yichu wouldn¡¯t hesitate.


    However, spending over two hundred thousand consecutively, her savings wouldn¡¯t last much longer.


    After making the payment, Ning Yichu returned to the ward to be with her mother.


    An hour later, Mrs. Ning woke up, and her first reaction was to search for a worn-out cloth doll, then she held the doll and softly called out ¡°Chu Chu,¡± smiling contentedly like a child who had gained the whole world.


    Ning Yichu remembered that cloth doll¡ªit had been the only toy they took when they were driven out of the Ning Family.


    Her mother treated that cloth doll as her.


    Tears almost escaped Ning Yichu¡¯s eyes again.


    She could treat critically ill heart patients, but she couldn¡¯t cure her own mother.


    In fact, during her college years, she majored in psychiatry, but her professor said she was too obsessed and wasn¡¯t suited for the field, advising her to switch to cardiac surgery instead.


    Later, when she moved abroad and had to take care of two children, she couldn¡¯t continue to work as a demanding doctor, so she self-taught herself in jade sculpture design.


    Unexpectedly, without much intention, she gained a notable reputation.


    ...


    As the evening lights came on, Li Lingyang stood in front of the vast floor-to-ceiling windows of his large study.


    His silhouette was tall and stately, like a solitary, majestic eagle.


    The phone rang, carrying Special Assistant Xu¡¯s voice, almost tearful, ¡°President Li, news came back from Europe; we couldn¡¯t find any birth records for Lady Ning, not only that, but there isn¡¯t even a single basic medical record, as if someone deliberately blocked her information!¡±

 Chapter 24: Li Lingyang Invites Ningning to Dinner

    Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Li Lingyang Invites Ningning to Dinner


    Li Lingyang held a cigarette in his hand, its scarlet glow flaring and dimming intermittently, a trace of darkness flickering across the depths of his eyes, ¡°Someone¡¯s helping her from behind?¡±


    ¡°It seems to be the case,¡± said Special Assistant Xu, ¡°According to our investigation, Lady Ning is a famous top-notch jade sculptor in Europe, and she has good relationships with many socialites in the fashion circle. It might be them who are helping.¡±


    ¡°If there¡¯s no trickery, why would she conceal her delivery records? Keep digging!¡±


    ¡°Cough, President Li, what if the investigation reveals that the child is indeed Lady Ning¡¯s, the one she had for you, then what about Miss Shen?¡± Special Assistant Xu boldly asked, bringing up a quandary for the century.


    The color in Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes deepened, ¡°I think you¡¯ve received too much bonus this year, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Ha, the moon is really nice tonight. Good night, President Li, I didn¡¯t say anything!¡±


    ...


    Special Assistant Xu swiftly hung up the call.


    White smoke swirled, blurring Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face.


    He turned back to his desk, pinched out the cigarette butt, and with a resolute look in his eyes, he was determined to unveil Ning Yichu¡¯s secrets bit by bit, regardless of whether the child was hers or not.


    Yet the thought that news of Ning Yichu¡¯s pregnancy had long been public, and she still chose to hide her delivery records, suggested she didn¡¯t want anyone to know she had a child.


    Could this mean that the child really could be one she had secretly borne for him?


    Like Shen Jiangqing, had she used technological means?


    At this thought, aside from the rage of being duped, there was also an indescribable sense of secret delight in his heart.


    Crazy...


    He was truly losing his mind.


    ...


    In the middle of the night, Ning Yichu suddenly woke up with a start.


    She dreamt that Li Lingyang was chasing her to kill her!


    She and Chen Bao had fled abroad, but he relentlessly pursued them with assassins, even locked up the mother and son duo and set a fierce blaze, which was strikingly similar to the scene when she woke up in the delivery room, surrounded by a sea of flames!


    Thankfully, upon awakening, she realized it was just a terrible nightmare.


    Checking her phone, she saw it was already midnight. Sweating profusely, and planning to wash her face before returning to sleep, a WeChat page suddenly popped up.


    A stranger was requesting to add her on WeChat.


    The profile picture was pitch black, and the remark read, ¡°Li Lingyang.¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and she nearly dropped the phone. Why was he adding her?


    The nightmarish scenes from her dream were still vivid before her eyes. She immediately rejected the request and went to wash her face.


    Ten minutes later, when she lay back down, she thought she could pretend not to have seen the friend request and ignore it, but then her phone received another push notification¡ªit was Li Lingyang requesting to add her as a friend again!


    Ning Yichu was speechless. She picked up her phone and typed two words, ¡°Not close!¡±


    She quickly comforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t lose heart, mommy said she¡¯d take us to the amusement park this weekend. If you want to meet her, you could also ask the bodyguards to take you there.¡±


    Doudou thought the idea was great, typically every weekend, Daddy would send her and Chengcheng to Grandma Zeng¡¯s house.


    Grandma Zeng would do anything for her and Chengcheng. They could ask Grandma Zeng to accompany them to the amusement park then.


    As if she could see Aunt Ning already, Doudou¡¯s face beamed with a brilliant smile.


    She wasn¡¯t usually very fond of smiling, but once she did, it was irresistibly cute. Aunt Wang was so infected by it that she subconsciously took out her cheap smartphone, wanting to sneak a few pictures to cherish.


    But just as she turned on the camera, a bodyguard beside her reached out to block the lens, saying with an impassive face, ¡°Sorry, but our Little Miss refuses to be photographed!¡±


    Aunt Wang hadn¡¯t seen such a grand display before and could only sullenly put her phone away.


    The next second, she saw the assassin-like bodyguard receiving a call and then his expression turned respectful; he stood in the direction they came from.


    Aunt Wang was puzzled about the change in the bodyguard¡¯s demeanor and looked over suspiciously.


    Two rows of bodyguards stood straight and cleared a path, welcoming a tall and proud figure.


    The cut of the handmade suit outlined the man¡¯s perfect and robust waistline, like a god walking into the light, surrounded by a powerful aura, so handsome it could be none other than Li Lingyang.


    Ningning also noticed the commotion and a flash of amazement sparkled in her wide eyes.


    The last time at the press conference, she was squeezed into a remote corner and could only take pictures of him from a distance. Now that he was getting closer, she realized he was even more handsome and imposing than she had imagined!


    But she quickly puffed up her cheeks, jerk!


    Li Lingyang heard from the bodyguard that Doudou had made a new friend at the water park and came to play with her every day after school, becoming particularly clingy, and he had specifically taken time out today to see for himself.


    He stopped by the edge of the pool, looking down at the two little ones, ¡°Doudou, is this your new friend?¡±


    Doudou hadn¡¯t expected Daddy to suddenly appear. In a fluster, she ran over to protect Ningning, much like a little chick guarding its food.


    Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow in surprise and coaxed in resignation, ¡°What do you take Daddy for? Daddy just wants to say hello; I won¡¯t harm her.¡±


    Distrustfully, Doudou loosened her grip. Lately, she had been hearing the uncles of the bodyguards say that bad people were targeting her, each of them as vigilant as if facing a great enemy, afraid that Daddy would consider Ningning a bad person too.


    Fortunately, Li Lingyang was supremely graceful and noble as he slightly lifted his thin lips and bowed slightly, ¡°Hello, I am Doudou¡¯s father, pleased to meet you.¡±


    Ningning met Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze and pouted disdainfully, ¡°Hello, stern-faced uncle.¡±


    Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow, feeling that he had already particularly restrained his coldness.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±


    Ningning cocked her head to the side, refusing anyone¡¯s approach!


    ¡°How did you and our Doudou become acquainted?¡±


    Of course, Ningning couldn¡¯t say she sneaked into school to meet her, fearing that he might continue to investigate, so she hummed and hawed, ¡°We met at the water park.¡±


    Li Lingyang sensed the little girl¡¯s vague resistance and chuckled lightly, ¡°Looks like you two are tired from playing. I¡¯ll take you to eat.¡±


    Ningning replied haughtily, ¡°I don¡¯t want to have dinner with you.¡±


    Li Lingyang looked at her, his tone lazy and noble, ¡°That¡¯s a pity, I¡¯ve booked a spot at the Huacheng Hotel. I heard they have hired a few famous chefs who are best at making slippery shrimp with scrambled eggs, beef with celery, spicy diced chicken, Japanese grilled chicken, spinach egg rolls, Italian fusilli...¡±

 Chapter 25 - 25 My Dad and the Little Fairies Ascended to Heaven Together

    Chapter 25: Chapter 25 My Dad and the Little Fairies Ascended to Heaven Together@@@@


    Ningning couldn¡¯t help swallowing her saliva¡ªshe was a little foodie, why did they have to tempt her with delicious food!


    Her deadbeat dad was really too bad!


    ¡°I eat a lot. I¡¯m going to eat you out of house and home!¡± she said fiercely.


    ¡°If you can eat me out of house and home, that¡¯d be quite the feat,¡± Li Lingyang found the little girl¡¯s bold words quite novel. His own two kids, one was restrained and mature, the other was timid and well-behaved, none were like her, so mischievously clever.


    That made him quite fond of her.


    At the restaurant on the top floor of Huacheng Hotel, Li Lingyang had booked the place.


    ...


    The hotel manager came over with the menu, a very careful smile on his face.


    Li Lingyang handed the menus to both Doudou and Ningning.


    ¡°Order whatever you like.¡±


    Looking at the prices on the menu, Ningning wondered, was the green vegetable made of gold? A simple dish of greens cost hundreds, with this money, shouldn¡¯t it better go to buying new clothes and toys for Little Yudian?


    ¡°Can I order anything?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Then I want this, and this, and this...¡±


    Ningning was determined to make Li Lingyang bleed money, specifically choosing the most expensive dishes.


    Li Lingyang didn¡¯t show any extra emotion on his face and instructed the chef to make the dishes lighter and softer.


    When Ningning ordered the Brav oysters, the manager suddenly became a bit awkward, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, but we just ran out of the Brav oysters today. How about replacing it with Australian lobster?¡±


    Ningning deliberately pouted her little face and said regretfully, ¡°Bad uncle, didn¡¯t you say I could order anything?¡±


    ¡°Have someone go to the nearest seafood market to stock up,¡± Li Lingyang instructed the manager without hesitation, ¡°I want to see this dish on the table in an hour.¡±


    The manager hurriedly closed the menu to make a phone call.


    Ningning was momentarily stunned, marveling internally, is this what they call financial power?


    Her dad was handsome and rich, if only he weren¡¯t such a scumbag...


    She quickly shook her head.


    Had she forgotten how her mommy used to secretly cry while looking at his photo?


    She couldn¡¯t let herself be bought off!


    Li Lingyang noticed her rich little expressions and suddenly became curious, ¡°Where are your daddy and mommy? Is it usually the nanny who takes you out to play?¡±


    Two minutes later, the bodyguard sent a message confirming they had gotten into the car and left.


    The girl was quite spirited.


    He looked at Doudou affectionately, ¡°Have you eaten enough?¡±


    Doudou nodded, feeling a bit uneasy, um, it seemed like the little sister didn¡¯t like Daddy much, maybe it¡¯d be better not to disturb them again.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home too then.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s strong arm gently pulled Doudou into his embrace, making her sit in the crook of his arm, then they left by car.


    ...


    While waiting for Aunt Wang and Ningning to return, Ning Yichu had thought it over thoroughly, she had been busy going to the sanatorium these past few days and had neglected Ningning. So, when Aunt Wang brought Ningning back, she couldn¡¯t wait to ask a lot of questions.


    ¡°How did you end up having dinner with Li Lingyang? What exactly happened?¡±


    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s not what you think,¡± Ningning kicked off her little shoes, climbed onto the couch, and said in her milky voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t deliberately go looking for that jerk dad, it happened while Doudou and I were playing at the waterpark, and he came and invited me to dinner...¡±


    Ning Yichu had never told them that Doudou was Li Lingyang¡¯s daughter; after all, the world of children is very simple.


    But she would never have expected that someone with Doudou¡¯s background would run into Ningning.


    Shouldn¡¯t she be playing in some private, fancy playground?


    ¡°When did you play with Doudou again? Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡±


    Ningning, feeling guilty, didn¡¯t dare admit that she and her brother had gone to find Doudou.


    ¡°It was just a chance encounter, Mommy, don¡¯t panic. I told that jerk dad that my daddy went to heaven, and he believed it completely, with his dumb look, he¡¯ll never guess we¡¯re related.¡±


    Ning Yichu almost rolled her eyes to the ceiling; only this little girl would dare call Li Lingyang a fool¡ªso many people in the business world are terrified of him?


    It was both funny and frustrating.


    ¡°Mommy¡¯s fragrance.¡± Ningning, like a little kitten, rubbed her face against Ning Yichu¡¯s.


    Ning Yichu comforted herself, after all, it wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    With Imperial City being so vast, they were bound to run into each other eventually, and even if Li Lingyang found out Ningning was her daughter, so what? Ningning didn¡¯t look like him anyway; she couldn¡¯t afford to lose her composure.


    Soon, it was the weekend.


    First thing in the morning, Ning Yichu took Ningning to Baili Orphanage to pick up Chen Bao.


    So many days had passed and Li Lingyang hadn¡¯t shown up at her door, she desperately hoped he had given up searching for Chen Bao.


    Ningning was most excited about going to the amusement park, chattering nonstop all morning.


    Chen Bao, on the other hand, was very indifferent; to him, it didn¡¯t matter where they went to play.


    Meanwhile, at the Li Mansion, Li Lingyang, as usual, brought Doudou and Chengcheng to visit Granny Li; he would normally have left after dropping them off, but today he unexpectedly stayed for breakfast.


    Seeing that it was getting late, Doudou hastily proposed going to the amusement park.

 Chapter 26 - 26 Trip to the Amusement Park

    Chapter 26: Chapter 26 Trip to the Amusement Park


    ¡°Amusement park?¡± Granny Li was shocked for a moment. Doudou had never liked crowded places, let alone noisy and chaotic places like amusement parks.


    Doudou blinked her big eyes, indicating she had never been to one and would like to see it.


    That look of anticipation made it impossible for Granny Li to utter a word of refusal.


    ¡°I heard our Doudou made a new friend, and she¡¯s become more cheerful because of it. All those quack doctors saying Doudou has autism¡ªI think she just hadn¡¯t found the right playmate.¡±


    Li Lingyang also noticed the change in Doudou¡¯s mood, ¡°Daddy has a meeting today, but I¡¯ll take you to play tomorrow.¡±


    Doudou shook her head like a bobblehead toy. A bodyguard taking her to play was fine; she didn¡¯t need him to follow.


    ...


    She certainly hadn¡¯t forgotten that big brother and big sister didn¡¯t like daddy.


    Li Lingyang obviously didn¡¯t feel reassured, ¡°Then I will have your mommy accompany you.¡±


    Since mommy and brother didn¡¯t care for her anyway, all she needed was to find a way to slip away, thought Doudou, nodding her head.


    Granny Li was not pleased and glared at her grandson with a face full of disdain, ¡°Doudou finally wants you to take her to the amusement park, and you¡¯re still talking about what meeting? How many meetings do you have every day, can you even finish them all? If Shen Jiangqing could take care of the children properly, would Doudou have ended up like this?¡±


    Li Lingyang knew Granny Li didn¡¯t like Shen Jiangqing. Even when Shen Jiangqing was pregnant, she wouldn¡¯t let her enter their home, bluntly telling her to rent a place to stay outside.


    Even after Shen Jiangqing gave birth to the twins, she had someone monitor them for a paternity test.


    Only when the paternity test came back did she reluctantly agree to let Shen Jiangqing move into Imperial Dragon Bay to care for the children.


    However, even so, Granny Li still did not accept Shen Jiangqing. Today, Shen Jiangqing didn¡¯t come because she knew she would only be disdained by Granny Li.


    Doudou certainly did not want her daddy to change his mind and quickly gestured to persuade Granny Li that going with mommy was fine too!


    As a result, Granny Li was even more resentful toward Li Lingyang, ¡°Look at how well-behaved and understanding Doudou is. How can you bear to miss her growing up? Where is the qualified and competent father in you?¡±


    A hint of gloom appeared on Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face.


    In fact, Doudou was very smart when she was little. She started speaking before she was one year old, several months earlier than Chengcheng.@@@@


    When she called out to him in her cute, milky voice, he felt like he was the happiest man in the world with the cutest little princess, wishing he could give her all the best...


    ¡°Daddy, I want to ride that roller coaster!¡± Chengcheng despised such a childish game.


    Shen Jiangqing hugged Chengcheng and said, ¡°Let¡¯s accompany your sister on the ferris wheel first.¡±


    Chengcheng could only pout unwillingly, ¡°Alright then.¡±


    The family headed toward the ferris wheel.


    Once in the ferris wheel, Doudou started texting Ningning, ¡°I accidentally brought daddy along, what should I do?¡±


    Meanwhile, Ning Yichu had also brought Ningning and Chen Bao to the western part of the theme park, which was the forest section, with a little train, elephants, and a dense forest filled with rocks and trees.


    Ningning loved riding the little train the most. Just after getting off it, she saw a message notification. When she opened it, her little mouth formed into an irregular ¡®O¡¯.


    Chen Bao whispered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Brother, little sister brought that scumbag dad to the theme park too.¡±


    Chen Bao frowned, glanced at Ning Yichu not far off in line, and said, ¡°Ask them which section they¡¯re in? The theme park is huge, we just need to be careful to avoid them.¡±


    Ningning thought it made sense and promptly sent the message.


    On the ferris wheel, when Doudou saw the message and checked the location, thankfully they were in different sections¡ªone in the east and one in the west, quite far apart.


    ¡°Will you be mad at me?¡±


    Of course, Ningning wasn¡¯t mad anymore; it wasn¡¯t something she could control, but she said regretfully, ¡°Ah, it¡¯s just that with you and your daddy together, it probably won¡¯t be convenient to meet my mom.¡±


    Seeing the message, Doudou instantly deflated like a punctured beachball, head drooping lifelessly, nothing like the energetic appearance when they first arrived at the theme park.


    Li Lingyang noticed his daughter looking at her children¡¯s phone and said gently, ¡°Kids shouldn¡¯t always play with phones; your eyes aren¡¯t fully developed yet, it could affect your vision.¡±


    Doudou looked at daddy, then at mommy and Chengcheng, and secretly made up her mind!


    After getting off the ferris wheel, she held her little belly indicating she needed to use the restroom; naturally, Li Lingyang couldn¡¯t follow her into the women¡¯s restroom, so Shen Jiangqing volunteered to accompany her.


    The restroom at the theme park was crowded and the air was stale, so Shen Jiangqing didn¡¯t go in but waited outside.


    Doudou used this opportunity, with the advantage of her small stature, to scurry away quickly to the side.


    By the time Shen Jiangqing realized Doudou was missing, several minutes had already passed.

 Chapter 27 - 27 Shen Jiangqing Bumps into Chen Bao!

    Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Shen Jiangqing Bumps into Chen Bao!


    Shen Jiangqing was anxiously wondering, where did this damn girl run off to?


    Li Lingyang had asked her to accompany her, and if anything were to happen, it really would be adding trouble!


    In the forest module, Ningning got off the small train, tired from playing. Pointing at a street stall, she said, ¡°Mommy, they¡¯re selling little grilled sausages there, I really want some...¡±


    Ning Yichu glanced at the surroundings. Although they looked clean on the surface, with so many people in the park, there must be plenty of unseen dust. She usually didn¡¯t let her children eat these kinds of things, and coaxed them, ¡°Street food isn¡¯t very sanitary. Wait a bit, and I¡¯ll buy you some tasty food at the restaurant.¡±


    Ningning asked without hesitation, ¡°Can we also buy some ice cream?¡±


    ¡°You just had some yesterday, not today.¡±


    ...


    Ningning bargained pitifully, ¡°But yesterday I only had a little bit, Mommy...¡±


    Ning Yichu tapped her daughter¡¯s nose and said, ¡°Even that¡¯s not okay, eating too much ice cream is bad for you, and you¡¯re still a child! But, I can buy you an extra cup of juice. What flavor would you like?¡±


    ¡°You always replace ice cream with juice!¡± Ningning pouted grumpily.


    Ning Yichu playfully asked, ¡°So, you don¡¯t want the juice this time either?¡±


    ¡°I do, I do, I want strawberry juice!¡± There was no ice cream already, how could she even think about cutting her juice?


    Ning Yichu revealed a triumphant light smile, then looked towards Chen Bao.


    Chen Bao was much easier to deal with. He wasn¡¯t greedy for ice cream, and his tender face already showed signs of an old soul. He raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯ll have watermelon juice.¡±


    ¡°Okay, you guys wait here. Don¡¯t run around, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡±


    The restaurant Ning Yichu was headed to wasn¡¯t far ahead, and considering their higher-than-average intelligence and it being broad daylight, she confidently walked away, estimating nothing would happen shortly.


    But unbeknownst to her, shortly after she had left, Ningning and Chen Bao spotted Doudou sprinting their way!


    Doudou, lacking good stamina and endurance, was stumbling and sweating profusely but had a determined look in her eyes. The twins were utterly stunned when they saw her!


    ¡°Little sister, how did you run over here? Where are your daddy and mommy?¡±


    Still catching her breath, Doudou gestured with her hands, indicating she had slipped away and come here alone, with no one accompanying her.


    Her little short hands clenched even tighter, psyching herself up.


    But before her wish could come true, it was shattered by Shen Jiangqing.


    Shen Jiangqing didn¡¯t dare tell Li Lingyang that she had lost Doudou right under her eyes, so she searched alone. Fortunately, she had followed the trail here and found Doudou.


    But then, she also noticed the little boy next to Doudou.


    She yanked Doudou over, giving Chen Bao a malevolent glare.


    ¡°You little wretch, I was waiting for you in the restroom and you ran off with some wild kid? And you, where are your daddy and mommy? I need to have a stern talk with them, have they not taught you any manners? So young, and already learning to kidnap other children...¡±


    Chen Bao recognized Shen Jiangqing and glared back at her coldly, his presence not diminished by his shorter height.


    Facing his gaze, Shen Jiangqing felt a twinge of unease. ¡°Why are you staring at me?¡±


    Chen Bao turned to Doudou and said, ¡°Your mommy¡¯s here, so I¡¯m going to leave.¡±


    Doudou knew that Chen Bao didn¡¯t want to see her parents; disappointed as she was, she could only accept his departure, her lips pouting enough to hang two buckets.


    But suddenly, Shen Jiangqing grabbed Chen Bao¡¯s arm, ¡°Hold on, what is your relationship with my daughter?¡±


    ¡°Let go of me.¡±


    ¡°Bold as brass and still wearing a mask, can¡¯t you be seen by people?¡± Shen Jiangqing felt something wasn¡¯t right and, while Chen Bao was distracted, quickly pulled off his mask!


    With that action, her entire body stiffened, her eyes wide in disbelief, staring at the downsized version of Li Lingyang in front of her!


    ¡°Your... your face...¡± Her tongue was all tied up; she couldn¡¯t even speak clearly.


    Chen Bao felt a coolness on his face, realizing his mask had been removed, panic flashed across his face; he couldn¡¯t be exposed!


    The more he struggled to break free, the harder Shen Jiangqing gripped him.


    A bad premonition intensified within her.


    This had to be Li Lingyang¡¯s son, yet he was known for his indifference to women.


    Except... five years ago!


    Thinking about what she had done to Ning Yichu five years ago, Shen Jiangqing¡¯s mind nearly exploded, demanding, ¡°Is your mommy Ning Yichu? Are you her illegitimate son?¡±

 Chapter 28: He Grasped Her Shoulder Firmly

    Chapter 28: Chapter 28: He Grasped Her Shoulder Firmly


    Chen Bao didn¡¯t dare delay any longer, he bit down hard on the back of her hand and, taking advantage of the moment Shen Jiangqing winced in pain, he pushed her away and sprinted off.


    Shen Jiangqing sucked in a cold breath from the pain, her eyes fiercely glaring at Chen Bao¡¯s retreating figure. Just as she took a step to chase after him, she was hugged around the thigh by Doudou, whose large watery eyes seemed to hold countless words she wanted to say.


    Where did Shen Jiangqing have the time for her?


    But seemingly soft and weak Doudou, for some reason, exhibited inexplicable strength, clinging tightly to her so that all she could do was watch helplessly as Chen Bao ran further and further away.


    Angry, she grabbed Doudou by the collar and demanded, ¡°You little brat, who on earth gave birth to you? Tell me, how do you know that wild kid? What¡¯s your relationship, do you know who her mommy is?¡±


    Doudou was startled by Shen Jiangqing¡¯s resentful expression, her hands gesturing non-stop, explaining that she had gotten lost and the kind big brother was helping her find her mommy.


    ...


    Of course, Shen Jiangqing didn¡¯t believe her, ¡°You think I¡¯m a fool? He¡¯s helping you find your mommy, then why is he wearing a mask? Spit it out, who is he really!¡±


    Doudou¡¯s lips quivered, and then the tears started to flow out in torrents, Shen Jiangqing couldn¡¯t get another word out of her.


    With gritted teeth, Shen Jiangqing retreated to a secluded corner and took several deep breaths before calling Li Lingyang, ¡°Aling, there¡¯s something... I don¡¯t know if I should tell you.¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t know how to say it, then don¡¯t,¡± came the reply from Li Lingyang¡¯s end amidst some noise, probably accompanying Chengcheng in line for a ride.


    Shen Jiangqing steadied herself and tentatively said, ¡°I just saw a little boy who looks almost exactly like you?¡±


    If that child really was Ning Yichu¡¯s son with him, Li Lingyang would definitely snatch him away, and then, she could slowly plan to kill him later; only Li Lingyang would be able to catch him quickest.


    ¡°Are you saying that this child is at the amusement park now?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s indifferent tone changed instantly, his voice becoming cold.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s heart skipped a beat; his tone seemed as though he already knew of the child¡¯s existence!


    She quickly changed her approach, ¡°Yes, he almost knocked down Doudou just now, but luckily I was quick to hold on to her. I feel the kid is up to no good, could he be deliberately stalking us...?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s grip on the phone tightened, his gaze as deep as a black hole, yet his voice inexplicably sent chills down one¡¯s spine, ¡°Send me your location, I¡¯ll have someone lock down the entire amusement park immediately.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing quickly sent over a location.


    After hanging up the phone, she still felt uneasy. After thinking it over, she decided to call her older brother, Shen Jun, ¡°Hello, Brother, I¡¯m in trouble! Li Lingyang has an illegitimate child outside, I suspect it¡¯s Ning Yichu¡¯s son. Are you sure you killed both of those bastards in the fire five years ago, or did one survive?¡±


    All those years, she had had Shen Jun take care of everything for her, including stealing the child and conducting DNA tests.


    The fire in the hospital was also started by Shen Jun as a cover for snatching the child.


    ¡°Bad woman?¡±


    ¡°She and the scum dad are also in the amusement park today.¡±


    ¡°What??¡± A myriad of furious thoughts raced through Ning Yichu¡¯s mind. She had carefully chosen the day only to run into the very last person she wanted to meet, ¡°The announcement on the speaker, is it also because they¡¯re looking for you?¡±


    ¡°I guess it mostly is,¡± Chen Bao said, his beautiful eyelids slightly drooping as he forced a smile.


    Ning Yichu drew in a sharp breath, instinctively scanning their surroundings. She hadn¡¯t spotted any bodyguards coming over yet, but if they stayed put, it was only a matter of time before they would be found.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Ningning? We need to leave here immediately.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already called Ningning, told her to stay in a restaurant and not to run around. Mommy, I think it¡¯s best we separate from her now because the scum dad doesn¡¯t know her relationship with us.¡±


    Ning Yichu thought for a moment. After all, Li Lingyang was currently targeting Chen Bao. First, she could take Chen Bao away and come back later for Ningning.


    She scooped up Chen Bao in her arms, and the two quickly headed towards the amusement park¡¯s main gate.


    But they were a step too late. The exit had already been controlled by Li Lingyang¡¯s bodyguards.


    The crowd formed long lines with stern and serious bodyguards on both sides, strictly checking IDs, and someone was even taking photos, not letting any clue slip by.


    Under such circumstances, not even pets could escape, let alone people!


    Ning Yichu thought about how she had been relieved that morning that Li Lingyang had not found Chen Bao for so long, and now she felt like her face was being slapped hard.


    Sensing Mommy¡¯s panic, Chen Bao gently patted her, biting his lip, ¡°Mommy, let me down. If I run alone and get caught, the scum dad won¡¯t know I¡¯m your son.¡±


    ¡°No, we can¡¯t give in until the last moment. If only we could fly...¡±


    Right then, there was a commotion from behind them.


    Escorted by bodyguards, a tall and straight man strode in their direction, his presence seemingly quieting the bustling crowd as if they were subdued by his aura.


    Li Lingyang was as handsome and elegant as ever, his well-tailored suit outlining a fit and perfect figure.


    He moved through the crowd, heading straight to the entrance control.


    The bodyguards on either side bowed and greeted, ¡°President Li.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s piercing eyes surveyed the chaotic crowd, ¡°Have you found that suspicious child?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re still checking. But since the park is sealed off, he won¡¯t be able to escape even with wings.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s fingertips rubbed together as his deep eyes grew dark and focused. Suddenly, he noticed a familiar woman in the crowd carrying a child on her back. His eyebrows furrowed, he quickly strode over, and grabbed the woman¡¯s shoulder.

 Chapter 29: Escape by the Skin of One’s Teeth

    Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Escape by the Skin of One¡¯s Teeth


    The woman, holding the child, turned around in confusion, revealing a face he didn¡¯t recognize.


    ¡°Do you need something?¡± the woman asked with wide eyes.


    Li Lingyang withdrew his hand, his gaze cold, ¡°Wrong person, you can go now.¡±


    ¡°Crazy.¡± The woman cursed and disappeared.


    Not far away, Ning Yichu had just barely escaped Li Lingyang¡¯s surveillance range. Her mind was a blank slate; she had almost been discovered by that bastard with his piercing gaze.


    She dared not take the main roads anymore and had to turn onto smaller paths, running this way and that, with no idea where she ended up.


    ...


    Just as she decided to study a map, she suddenly heard someone behind her calling out.


    Instinctively hugging Chen Bao tighter, she peered to the side and saw a young man in a suit emerging.


    As he approached, Ning Yichu realized it was the kindly man she had encountered at Beiji Group.


    ¡°I thought I was mistaken, but it really is you.¡± The man, with one hand in his pocket and an elegantly casual pose, smiled a warm and gentle smile.


    Ning Yichu asked, puzzled, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    ¡°Inspecting the amusement park.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re an executive here?¡± Ning Yichu expressed her surprise.


    ¡°Something like that, I have a small share.¡± The man, dressed in a silver-grey suit that heightened his already tall stature, his gaze falling on the child in her arms, asked, ¡°Is this your son?¡±


    Ning Yichu wanted to deny it, but the words wouldn¡¯t come out.


    The man scrutinized her expression carefully, just as an announcement looking for a child came through the broadcast. Seeing something in her demeanor, he smiled and said, ¡°Why is it that every time I meet you, you¡¯re in such a mess?¡±


    Ning Yichu, exasperated, said, ¡°Sir, since you¡¯re an executive here, you must be familiar with the layout. Do you know any passages that can get me out of here quickly?¡±


    ¡°The amusement park has been reinforced; only the four main gates are accessible. However, I¡¯ve heard that the President of Li Group had something important stolen by a child and has now got his bodyguards strictly investigating at all the gates. Nobody can leave.¡±


    Ning Yichu gritted her teeth in frustration. Stolen? That bastard had quite the imagination!


    ¡°Isn¡¯t there any other way?¡± she asked, desperate and sweating profusely.


    ¡°Do you really want to leave that badly?¡±


    Isn¡¯t that obvious? Ning Yichu nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Doudou, let¡¯s go pester Daddy so he won¡¯t have the energy to look for brother,¡± Ningning¡¯s mischievous mind whirled, and she suddenly said to Doudou.


    Doudou¡¯s doe-like wet eyes fluttered, and, grabbing Ningning¡¯s hand, they went to find Li Lingyang.


    At this moment, Li Lingyang stood by the main gate like a stoic deity of death, scrutinizing each kid in line, creating an exceptionally frosty atmosphere all around.


    In fact, a bodyguard had noticed a helicopter taking off earlier and, after asking, learned that the park¡¯s mysterious big boss had come for an inspection today. No one would have thought that child was connected to the park¡¯s boss, so they didn¡¯t report it up the chain.


    Li Lingyang was growing impatient from not being able to find Chen Bao, but just at that moment, Doudou came trotting in her little shoes, hugging his leg tight, demanding he play with her.


    ¡°Bad Uncle, hello there. We meet again.¡± Ningning also came out at just the right moment, greeting him.


    She had concocted a perfect story about coming specifically to play with Doudou.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze flickered but he did not press further, assuming the two kids had made private plans. He was just surprised to see Ningning with no nanny beside her.


    ¡°Doudou, Daddy has very important things to do right now. Let Mommy and brother play with you.¡±


    Doudou¡¯s little mouth turned down plaintively, looking as if she might cry at any moment.


    Li Lingyang continued to gently soothe her, ¡°Daddy really has something to do.¡±


    Doudou pretended to be angry and let go of his leg, rubbing her eyes with her little chubby hands, looking as innocent as can be, as if accusing Li Lingyang of promising to play with her and then leaving her all alone!


    Li Lingyang felt helpless, when had Doudou started being so ¡°lively¡±?


    Special Assistant Xu saw this scene and fully exercised the adaptability of an exceptional subordinate, ¡°President Li, it¡¯s rare for you to bring Little Miss out to play. Why don¡¯t you go ahead and I¡¯ll keep a lookout here? As soon as I find that child¡¯s whereabouts, I¡¯ll inform you immediately.¡±


    Li Lingyang was tough with everyone else but soft when it came to his daughter.


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave this to you then.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    After giving instructions, Li Lingyang left to play with the two kids.


    It was strange, in the past Ningning never let him carry her. He¡¯d touch her little braids and she¡¯d wear a displeased expression on her face.


    But today, she was...


    ¡°Bad Uncle, Doudou and I want to ride this little spaceship. Come with us, won¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Ahh, walking is so tiring. Carry me...¡±


    ¡°My tummy is a bit hungry; I want some juice.¡±


    Had he not been sure it was still that little girl, Li Lingyang would have almost suspected Doudou had found a new friend.


    While led astray by the two little girls and moving further and further away from the main gate, Li Lingyang felt a chill in his brow, and that¡¯s when he received a call from Shen Jiangqing.

 Chapter 30: Don’t All Fox Spirits Have Body Odor?

    Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Don¡¯t All Fox Spirits Have Body Odor?


    ¡°Aling, why didn¡¯t I see you at the east gate?¡±


    ¡°Doudou was not having enough fun, so I was accompanying her,¡± Li Lingyang replied succinctly.


    Shen Jiangqing was speechless; how could that bratty girl run faster than her and cling to Li Lingyang again? She couldn¡¯t let her monopolize Li Lingyang¡¯s affection. Chengcheng also needed to have a place.


    She immediately said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll bring Chengcheng over to find you.¡±


    Upon hearing Li Lingyang¡¯s phone conversation, Ningning knew that the terrible woman was coming. Her lips protruded sulkily, and her little chubby hands each grabbed a cheek of Li Lingyang, ¡°Hmph, hmph, hmph!¡±


    Li Lingyang, dignified and not to be provoked, pulled down the little girl¡¯s hands with both amusement and irritation.


    ...


    A milky little bundle, still with a faint scent of milk.


    When Shen Jiangqing and Chengcheng arrived in a sightseeing car within the garden, what they saw was Li Lingyang dotingly accompanying two little girls. Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face changed abruptly, shocked beyond belief.


    ¡°Aling, this little girl is...¡±


    ¡°Doudou just made a new friend. It¡¯s her,¡± explained Li Lingyang, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.


    Shen Jiangqing wished Doudou would be a loner forever, with no friends so her mental illness would worsen. Yet unexpectedly, in just the few days she hadn¡¯t kept an eye on her, Doudou had made a bunch of friends.@@@@


    She forced herself not to say that Doudou might also know that illegitimate child, and with a smile hiding her malicious intent, she reached out to touch Ningning¡¯s cheek.


    ¡°So it¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it? You look really cute. Did you come here today especially to play with Doudou?¡±


    Looking at her smiling face, Ningning felt utterly disgusted and forcefully turned her face away, ¡°Vixen, don¡¯t touch my face!¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s expression stiffened for a moment.


    Chengcheng jumped out, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to my mommy like that! You¡¯re so rude!¡±


    Ningning quickly realized that this was her half-brother and felt her anger rising, then asked earnestly, ¡°Isn¡¯t a woman with body odor a vixen?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face turned like a painter¡¯s palette, ¡°Little friend, you¡¯re mistaken, this is jasmine perfume...¡±


    Ningning dramatically waved her little hands, ¡°Such a disgusting smell. My mommy never sprays such suffocating perfume, only the subtle scent of gardenias, which is truly pleasant!¡±


    ¡°Bring her here first!¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s emotions began to surge. Once could be coincidence, but what about two or three times? Why was Ning Yichu always spotted where the child was?


    Could the child really be hers?!


    In less than five minutes, two bodyguards brought Ning Yichu before Li Lingyang.


    She didn¡¯t know if it was anger or something else, but her cheeks were flushed, and there seemed to be a fine sheen of sweat on her forehead...


    Li Lingyang¡¯s suspicion deepened as he watched her.


    ¡°Let go of me, I can walk by myself!¡± Ning Yichu shook off the bodyguard pushing her forward and suddenly became aware of Li Lingyang¡¯s intense gaze, as if he wanted to see right through her.


    Damn it, she had just approached the amusement park¡¯s entrance and hadn¡¯t even had the chance to send a message to Ningning before the bodyguards intercepted her...


    Who said she was sneaking around?


    She was completely out in the open!


    Fortunately, Li Lingyang didn¡¯t know Ningning was her daughter and hadn¡¯t been coerced in any way.


    Seeing Ningning about to rush over and recognize her, she quickly coughed lightly and stealthily gave her daughter a knowing look!


    Ningning immediately understood and pretended not to know her.


    ¡°President Li, what is this supposed to mean? Have you moved from imprisonment to illegal kidnapping now?¡±


    ¡°I should be asking you that question,¡± Li Lingyang said with a cold and stern face, his voice imposing. ¡°Where have you hidden my son?¡±


    Ning Yichu seemed stunned for a moment, then responded astonishingly, ¡°My goodness, are you crazy from longing for your son? Coming again to ask your ex-wife for the child? I already told you very clearly last time¡ªI don¡¯t know, and I am not interested!¡±


    ¡°Stop feigning ignorance. Every time that child is around, you are there too; I don¡¯t believe it¡¯s all a coincidence!¡±


    Ning Yichu shrugged her shoulders, ¡°I¡¯m telling the truth, and there¡¯s nothing I can do if you don¡¯t believe me.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already had people check the park surveillance,¡± Li Lingyang said, staring at her unfazed demeanour, his handsome face growing ever colder.


    Ning Yichu feigned calmness, ¡°As long as you¡¯re happy.¡±


    Li Lingyang hadn¡¯t expected that, even with the evidence right before him, Ning Yichu could still feign ignorance and play dumb. His large hand suddenly reached out, grabbing her smooth, delicate wrist.


    A layer of warmth covered her wrist. Just as Ning Yichu thought to pull away, Li Lingyang forcefully yanked her, causing her to lose her balance and stumble into the man¡¯s embrace.


    The strong, powerful rhythm of the man¡¯s heartbeat echoed in her ears, and she heard the gritted teeth above her head, ¡°I¡¯m asking you one last time, where is my child?¡±

 Chapter 31 - 31 Privacy, No Comment

    Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Privacy, No Comment


    Thump, thump, thump...@@@@


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t tell if it was her own heartbeat racing out of control. Visions of that drunken night¡¯s tangled scenes flashed through her mind, and she blurted out without thinking, ¡°How many times do I have to tell you, I¡¯ve never had your child, and now I seriously suspect that you¡¯re getting so close to me just to take advantage of me!¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s breath caught, a furious fire swirling in his eyes as he tightened his grip on her wrist. ¡°Then tell me, why did you appear at this amusement park?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s my privacy, none of your business!¡±


    Shen Jiangqing looked on in disbelief. Was this really the cold and proud Li Lingyang she remembered?


    He had never taken the initiative to hold her hand, not even when she had just given birth to their child. He had never embraced her, merely helping her into a wheelchair. But now, their distance was almost negative.


    ...


    Jealousy grew wildly in her heart like vines. She reminded him, ¡°Aling, the children are watching. Since Lady Ning claims it¡¯s not her, we should just wait for the surveillance from the entrance, and it will be clear who came in with the child.¡±


    With a cold expression, Li Lingyang let go of Ning Yichu and shook out his crisp black coat, ¡°Then we wait.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll wait, so you can give up hope,¡± Ning Yichu said calmly, pointing to a bodyguard and instructing, ¡°Hey you, I¡¯m thirsty. Go get me a juice.¡±


    The bodyguard was embarrassed, as Ning Yichu spoke to him as if she were the one paying his salary.


    But seeing that Li Lingyang, despite his unhappy face, did not stop her, the bodyguard resigned himself to getting her the juice.


    The atmosphere turned awkward, tensely suspended.


    But the children were completely unaware of what the adults were discussing, especially Doudou.


    She had come to the amusement park today hoping to see Ning Yichu. Now that she saw her aunty, she scampered over to curry favor, her big eyes watery and innocent, her little mouth rosy, filling anyone who saw her with affection.


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t bring herself to push her away and was just about to squat down and chat with her when Shen Jiangqing suddenly rushed over and swept Doudou up into her arms.


    ¡°Doudou, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to ride the carousel? Mommy will take you,¡± she said.


    Doudou was held so tightly by Shen Jiangqing that her little face was turning red.


    ¡°Ning Yichu doesn¡¯t have that ability, and besides, Doudou needs to interact with more people to quickly come out of her shell. Since she¡¯s willing to interact with Ning Yichu now, I respect that.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°But what if Ning Yichu hurts Doudou...¡±


    ¡°The bodyguards will be watching at all times, if she dares to hurt Doudou, I will make sure she regrets it!¡± The threatening undercurrent in Li Lingyang¡¯s deep tone was clear, it was not a matter for discussion, but a decision made.


    Shen Jiangqing, who had meant to say a few words to belittle Ningning, swallowed her words hesitantly, ¡°If you think it¡¯s good for Doudou, then I have no objections.¡±


    ¡°Rest assured, I won¡¯t take Doudou¡¯s safety lightly. When she wants to find Ning Yichu, I will personally keep an eye on her.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing felt as if she was choking on blood in her throat, that was even worse than the bodyguards watching!!


    Doudou really enjoyed playing with Ning Yichu and her daughter, her smile barely ever stopping.


    From a distance, Li Lingyang could hear the children¡¯s laughter and cheers drifting over the silent park.


    He had the photographer capture a few photos.


    Watching his daughter¡¯s beaming face, Li Lingyang thought, as long as Ning Yichu was willing to help Doudou out of her shell, even if she did have ulterior motives against him, he could let her off the hook.


    Likewise, Ning Yichu was also secretly observing Li Lingyang, always aware of his movements.


    After all, the park¡¯s surveillance footage wasn¡¯t available yet...


    In such a mutually suspicious atmosphere, Special Assistant Xu finally delivered the security footage from the park entrance.


    ¡°President Li, the surveillance footage has been retrieved.¡±


    Li Lingyang had been waiting for a while, took the iPad swiftly, and clicked play. After watching, his eyes, previously resolute, suddenly froze, turning incredulous.


    Ning Yichu also came over upon hearing the sound, her heart constantly on edge. Seeing the disappointment on his face, she guessed¡ª


    Chen Bao had successfully altered the surveillance footage!


    ¡°President Li, the child wore a mask the entire time, we compared it for a long time before we found him. The surveillance shows that he didn¡¯t come with Lady Ning, but alone, and once he entered the park, he wasn¡¯t accompanied by any adults,¡± Special Assistant Xu explained, trembling and frightened by the man¡¯s imposing aura.


    Good heavens, are children turning into little devils these days? At just four or five years old, to dare to come to an amusement park alone!!

 Chapter 32: 32 Ningning Meets Grandma Zeng

    F{h*F5(/	V	hapter 32 Ningning Meets Grandma Zeng


    Ning Yichu also unafraid of death, raised her eyebrows and said, ¡°President Li, now you can finally believe that I don¡¯t know your illegitimate child, right?¡±


    ¡°If that child isn¡¯t yours, then where is the child you gave birth to initially?¡± Li Lingyang suddenly raised his crimson eyes, staring at her intensely as if clusters of flames were dancing.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s heart skipped a beat harshly, and for a moment, she felt he might care deeply about her having had an affair back then.@@@@


    But in the next second, she brutally extinguished that thought!


    How could he care about her? He clearly cared about his own reputation and couldn¡¯t accept the fact that she had cuckolded him!


    ¡°Sorry, that¡¯s personal privacy. I have nothing to disclose!¡±


    ...


    Anger was spreading wildly in Li Lingyang¡¯s chest.


    One second ago, he was confident he could find out that the child¡¯s mother was Ning Yichu, but the next second, reality told him that the child was not related to Ning Yichu at all!


    He had even foolishly harbored feelings for so long!


    ¡°You bore a child without a known father during your marriage, and am I not even allowed to ask?¡±


    Being suffocated by his anger, Ning Yichu burst out resentfully, ¡°As a woman, being foolish once is enough. During the two and a half years we were married, you treated me as thin air, so why should I bother waiting for you in the same place? You don¡¯t need to mock me for cuckolding you or whatever. Didn¡¯t you have a child with Shen Jiangqing during the marriage? Let¡¯s not criticize each other when both are equally to blame. Now that the misunderstandings are cleared up, we can both be at peace. Goodbye!¡±


    After saying that, Ning Yichu directly took off.


    It was clear she couldn¡¯t take Ningning with her in this situation, but she didn¡¯t force it. After all, with Doudou present, Ningning wouldn¡¯t be mistreated.


    Li Lingyang was so infuriated his chest heaved violently. Chengcheng and Doudou were not the result of him sleeping with Shen Jiangqing, yet she did indeed have an affair, how could the two situations compare?


    His fists clenched tightly at his sides, and had it not been for a sliver of remaining rationality, he would have definitely dragged Ning Yichu back and demanded a severe explanation!


    Taking a deep breath, he continued to instruct the bodyguard to search for Chen Bao.


    Of course, the result ended in failure.


    ¡°Heh, what a country bumpkin, amazed by the smallest things.¡± Chengcheng suddenly spoke up with disdain for Ningning¡¯s lack of sophistication.


    Befriending Ningning was bringing down her own status.


    ¡°I grew up in Europe since I was young. Although I have not seen these, I have seen the Eiffel Tower, Vienna¡¯s Scho?nbrunn Palace, the Parthenon, Erechtheion...¡±


    Upon hearing this, Chengcheng scowled, unwilling to be outdone, ¡°The buildings you mention may be classic, but they¡¯re not yours, whereas this is my granny¡¯s house and it will be passed down to me in the future.¡±


    Unperturbed, Ningning made a face at him, ¡°Your daddy seemed to be looking for another son today. What if he decides to pass it on to him instead of you?¡±


    Chengcheng immediately bristled as if struck in a vulnerable spot, rushed forward, and pushed Ningning with a harsh palm, ¡°You brat, stop talking nonsense! Daddy only has one son¡ªme! The Li Family estate will be mine to inherit!¡±


    Ningning nearly lost her balance from the push, nearly taking an embarrassing tumble, but she steadied herself with the help of a nearby ornamental tree and gave a look of disdain, ¡°Wow, aren¡¯t you the heir? Resorting to violence because you can¡¯t win an argument with words? That¡¯s quite unbecoming.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Chengcheng was so angered he couldn¡¯t speak but subconsciously looked around.


    He always presented himself as an elegant little prince in front of Daddy; if Daddy knew he had a bad temper, he would definitely be upset. He snorted and said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you off the hook today, but my home doesn¡¯t welcome you. Doudou, I don¡¯t like your new friend. If you keep playing with her, don¡¯t blame me for being rude!¡±


    Having delivered his threat, Chengcheng trotted away in his little shoes.


    Ningning huffed and glowered. She couldn¡¯t stand this half-brother from another mother.


    Back at the amusement park, she had already noticed how Chengcheng despised Doudou because she was mute and didn¡¯t want to play with her. But it wasn¡¯t Doudou¡¯s choice to be mute, so why look down on her?


    Even if she were mute, she was still his own sister. If it were Ningning¡¯s real brother, he would definitely protect Doudou without hesitation.


    Doudou, hearing Chengcheng¡¯s threats, trembled her long eyelashes but continued to like her new sister. Even if her brother threatened her, she would not cut ties and continued to show Ningning around the other buildings...


    Unwittingly, the two little girls had spent a good half-hour playing and were then escorted to the living room by a servant.


    ¡°What a lovely little girl¡ªcome here to Granny Li,¡± Granny Li beckoned to Doudou and Ningning, holding hands as they entered, unable to help feeling delighted.


    Ningning, not shy at all, stepped forward boldly and called out crisply, ¡°Hello, Granny Li.¡±


    ¡°Good, all good...¡± Granny Li eyed the little girl¡¯s features, her lips curving slightly upwards.


    So adorable at such a young age, surely she would grow up to be a great beauty, but this little face looks somewhat familiar, like she¡¯d seen it somewhere before?

 Chapter 33: 33 Growing Suspicion, Could Ningning be Chu Chus Daughter?

    F{h*F5(.	V	hapter 33 Growing Suspicion, Could Ningning be Chu Chu¡¯s Daughter?


    ¡°Sweetie, what¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°My name is Ningning.¡±


    ¡°Ningning...¡± Granny Li suddenly thought of Ning Yichu, who once said if she had a daughter, she would nickname her Ningning, hoping her life would be peaceful and joyful.


    But after Ning Yichu and Li Lingyang divorced, she left, how could it possibly be the mother of the little girl in front of her?


    Granny Li hid the bitterness in her heart and continued to smile, ¡°Our Doudou is shy, it¡¯s rare to find a playmate who can play freely. You should come over to play more often.¡±


    Ningning knew, she probably wouldn¡¯t come often, and sweetly said, ¡°I also really like the little sister.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Where¡¯s your daddy and mommy?¡±


    Ningning sneaked a glance at Li Lingyang, just about to say her daddy had gone to heaven, when Li Lingyang, sensing her glance and thinking she was seeking help, softly spoke up, ¡°Granny, this child¡¯s situation is a bit complicated, let¡¯s have dinner first. They¡¯ve played all day, they must be hungry.¡±


    ¡°Right, right, right, look at me, I¡¯d forgotten...¡± Granny Li patted Ningning¡¯s head while instructing the servants to serve the dishes and handed a piece of small sugarcake to Ningning.


    The small sugarcake was much more exquisite than the ones sold outside, clearly delicious at first glance.


    ¡°Thank you, Granny.¡±


    ¡°What a good child, I wonder which parents taught such an adorable daughter...¡±


    The dining room in Li Mansion was also meticulously arranged, bigger than an average household, with a tablecloth embroidered with complex gold patterns on cotton and linen, and white jade vases with flower arrangements, delicate and beautiful.@@@@


    To cater to the children, the chef prepared foods that especially fit their tastes.


    The little ones stuffed themselves and quickly became full.


    After the meal, Ningning and Doudou watched antiques in the living room, while Li Lingyang showed the day¡¯s photos to Granny Li.


    Besides the initial family photo of four, there were also many solo shots of Chengcheng and Doudou.


    When Granny Li flipped to a photo of Doudou and Ningning sitting on the time tunnel ride, her entire being stiffened, repeatedly saying, ¡°This... this person is... Chu Chu?¡±


    In the corner of the photo, a woman¡¯s partial face was captured, and though it was not the full face, Granny Li recognized her former daughter-in-law at a glance!


    Li Lingyang followed Granny Li¡¯s gaze to the photo¡¯s corner; he had specifically instructed the photographers not to capture Ning Yichu, yet she was inadvertently exposed, and he knit his brows slightly.


    ¡°Is it really Chu Chu? She¡¯s back, why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?¡±


    Once they got to the garage, Ningning didn¡¯t want Li Lingyang to drive her, looking up with big, round eyes, ¡°Mean Uncle, you see how busy you are with work, just let some driver uncle take me home.¡±


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you still asking me to hold you high up in the amusement park?¡± Li Lingyang leisurely countered, feeling that this kid was a bit double-faced, sometimes cold, sometimes warm.


    Ningning thought that she had to divert his attention, but seeing that he wasn¡¯t easy to provoke, she still climbed into the back seat with her little bum sticking out and buckled her seat belt obediently.


    Li Lingyang slid into the driver¡¯s seat, his thin lips faintly pursed, ¡°Where do you live?¡±


    Ningning¡¯s eyes flickered, and she said with a beaming smile, ¡°You can just drop me off at Golden Sun Kindergarten.¡±


    She definitely couldn¡¯t let him take her all the way home¡ªwhat if Mommy got frightened?


    Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow and entered Golden Sun Kindergarten into the navigation¡ªit was a kindergarten at the entrance to a residential area.


    In less than half an hour, the man¡¯s car stopped in front of the kindergarten.


    He looked around and subconsciously thought that Ningning¡¯s house was the residential area in front of him, unbuckled his seat belt, opened the door, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you upstairs.¡±


    ¡°No need, I can do it by myself!¡± Ningning hopped out of the car and dashed into the residential area as if someone was chasing her.


    Li Lingyang chuckled, confirming that Ningning had entered the residential area before turning his car around to leave.


    This little girl seemed clever, with quite strong defenses.


    He became a bit curious about her mother.


    In reality, Ningning had entered the front gate of the residential area and slipped out the back gate immediately.


    She often came here to buy fruit and was very familiar with the security uncle, so she simply ran back to Junyue Mansion.


    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m home...¡±


    Ning Yichu had been waiting for her, not daring to call for fear of giving themselves away. Seeing her little girl, she hugged her tightly as though they hadn¡¯t seen each other in a long time, ¡°Why have you been gone so long? It¡¯s already dark.¡±


    ¡°Mm, after playing in the amusement park, the lousy dad took me to see Granny...¡±


    ¡°Granny?¡± Ning Yichu thought of the kind old lady from years past and asked eagerly, ¡°You saw Granny? How is she? Is she still well?¡±


    After the divorce from Li Lingyang, in order to keep her child, she chose to go abroad and then moved between several cities.


    In the rush, she hadn¡¯t had the chance to say goodbye to Granny Li; five years had passed in the blink of an eye. She had wanted to call Granny several times but felt too ashamed to do so.


    C

 Chapter 34: 34 Disabled People Are Not Qualified to be the Heirs of the Li Family

    F{h*F5()	V	hapter 34 Disabled People Are Not Qualified to be the Heirs of the Li Family


    ¡°Granny Chen was in good health; she even held me, Mommy. Granny Chen¡¯s house is so huge, with fountains and ponds...¡± Ningning excitedly shared her day¡¯s experiences with Ning Yichu.


    Ning Yichu lightly tapped the little girl¡¯s nose tip, ¡°You weren¡¯t naughty, were you?¡±


    ¡°No! Granny Chen really likes me and even invited me to her birthday next week.¡±


    Ning Yichu suddenly realized, yes, Granny¡¯s birthday was coming up, and it had been exactly five years since her divorce from Li Lingyang.


    ¡°That¡¯s good, you can represent Mommy and show some filial respect to Granny Chen, but tell me honestly, why was Doudou with you today? Did you and Chen Bao do something behind my back?¡±


    The more Ning Yichu thought about it, the more something seemed off. It was strange enough running into Doudou last time at the water park. How could they bump into each other at the amusement park too?


    ...


    Ningning pretended to be dumb, ¡°Ah, I ate so much today, I¡¯m going to wash up and go to sleep now. Goodnight, Mommy!¡±


    The little girl sprinted toward the bathroom like an 800-meter runner, causing Ning Yichu to laugh and get frustrated at the same time. She rushed over and grabbed the little girl, ¡°No running. Confess now, or I¡¯ll spank you...¡±


    ...


    Unlike the playful atmosphere at Junyue Mansion, a gloomy air filled Yudu Longwan where Shen Jiangqing was huddled up.


    She was on the phone with her older brother, Shen Jun.


    ¡°How¡¯s it going? Did you find out if Ning Yichu¡¯s child is dead or not?¡±


    ¡°That doctor from five years ago has retired; I don¡¯t know which country he¡¯s in now. I¡¯m still looking for other nurses, but it might take some time to find anything...¡±


    ¡°Idiot! Drop everything and make this your top priority!¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, I know. Don¡¯t get angry, I have some explosive news for you.¡±


    ¡°Speak.¡±


    Shen Jun¡¯s voice was laced with anger, ¡°The child you saw at the amusement park is bad news. He had already met Li Lingyang before at the new drug release event and even blackmailed him for a billion!¡±


    ¡°What? He appeared so early?¡± Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face darkened. Li Lingyang had never mentioned this to her!


    Shen Jun spoke bitterly, ¡°Apparently, he ran to the event and called Li Lingyang ¡®Daddy,¡¯ shocking all the journalists. Li Lingyang issued a gag order afterward, forbidding anyone from mentioning the child! Sister, I¡¯ve seen internal videos; that child looks almost exactly like Li Lingyang, even more so than Chengcheng. You better plan early...¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need your reminder to make plans!¡±


    That¡¯s when he found out Ning Yichu was pregnant with triplets!


    But she herself thought she was having twins...


    She immediately devised a plan, kidnapped Ning Yichu¡¯s daughter, and used her to pass Old Madam Li¡¯s inspection.


    She thought the daughter wouldn¡¯t compete with Chengcheng for the inheritance, considering raising her as one would a dog, but this damn girl turned out to be much smarter than Chengcheng. After only a few months, she was calling out ¡°daddy,¡± endearing herself to everyone in the Li family.


    She had to make her disappear again, hiring a gang to scare her, causing her to develop a psychological block, and stop speaking, which redirected the Li family¡¯s focus back onto Chengcheng.


    Now, with five years passed, she was about to marry Li Lingyang, when suddenly a bastard child appears.


    No, she had overcome immense difficulties to get this far and couldn¡¯t let her efforts be in vain!


    ...


    Ning Yichu put Ningning to sleep and came out of the children¡¯s bedroom, her smile slowly fading.


    She had thought perhaps Li Lingyang had given up searching for Chen Bao after such a long silence.


    But coincidentally, they bumped into each other at the amusement park.


    Now he was definitely searching the world for Chen Bao...


    Chen Bao was already pitiful for not being able to return home, and now had to hide everywhere, shying away from the light.


    Even though he was such a brilliant little genius, he shouldn¡¯t have to cower because of her and Li Lingyang¡¯s mess!


    Yuke had recently taken a new role and was staying in the neighboring city¡¯s film studio. She had an event tomorrow, rushed back overnight, and brought many gifts for the babies.


    Because it was late at night, she was extra careful not to wake the children, tiptoeing around.


    Unexpectedly, as she turned the doorknob, she found Ning Yichu sitting in the living room with a distressed look.


    ¡°Chu Chu, look what I¡¯ve brought you?¡± Yuke excitedly shook her shopping bag.


    With resignation, Ning Yichu said, ¡°Yuke, I think, before long, I¡¯ll have to take the kids back to Europe.¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Yuke was alarmed, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just come back from Europe a few days ago?¡±


    ¡°Today in the amusement park, Li Lingyang almost caught Chen Bao.¡±

 Chapter 35: 35: Seeing Mo Baiyou Again

    Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Seeing Mo Baiyou Again


    Fan Yuke¡¯s eyes widened as she jumped up in alarm, ¡°What!¡±


    ¡°Shh, keep it down, don¡¯t wake up Ningning.¡±


    ¡°How could this be such a coincidence?¡±


    ¡°It was only when I fled with Chen Bao today that I realized I simply couldn¡¯t accept the possibility of Chen Bao being snatched away by Li Lingyang, not to mention that Li Lingyang would definitely make Shen Jiangqing his stepmother...¡±


    Originally, she had been considering looking for a job, prepared for the worst to fight a custody battle, but today, in such a large amusement park, Li Lingyang said it would close, and his power was simply not something she could withstand. The chances of winning the custody case were too slim; it was a gamble she couldn¡¯t afford.


    Fan Yuke was also very clear about the conflicts between Ning Yichu and Shen Jiangqing. If Shen Jiangqing became Chen Bao¡¯s stepmother, there was no telling how much suffering Chen Bao might endure.


    ...


    ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other for years, and now that we¡¯ve finally reunited, you want to leave again? What about your mother?¡± Fan Yuke asked, her eyes reddening.


    A more than ten-hour flight to Europe, plus waiting time during the trip¡ªif Mrs. Ning had an attack, there would be the added risk of traveling with two children.


    Ning Yichu had considered this as well, which was why she didn¡¯t plan to leave immediately, ¡°I¡¯ve inquired at the nursing home. If my mother doesn¡¯t get stressed, she might be able to stabilize in a month or two. I¡¯ll take her with me when that time comes.¡±


    ¡°Wuu, Chu Chu, I really can¡¯t bear to let you go!¡±


    Ning Yichu also felt deeply reluctant to leave Fan Yuke, but Li Lingyang¡¯s presence loomed over her like a sharp blade, ready to fall at any moment, and she couldn¡¯t bear it even more.


    Now that she had decided to return to Europe, the job at Beiji was naturally out of the question.


    Ning Yichu called the HR department and apologetically expressed that she couldn¡¯t accept the job.


    The HR department tried to retain her, ¡°Lady Ning, do you think there¡¯s something unsatisfactory about the position? We can discuss it again...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of compensation.¡±


    ¡°Is it because another company is poaching you? What terms did they offer you? We can match them,¡± HR persisted.


    Ning Yichu replied with embarrassment, ¡°That¡¯s not it either, I¡¯m planning to return to Europe after a while.¡±


    Seeing that she was determined to leave, HR said reluctantly, ¡°But your contract has already been sent to the boss. If you must leave, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll need to talk to him.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Mo Baiyou¡¯s lips curved slightly upward, his eyes flashing quickly with a dark gleam as he watched her cheeks flush with embarrassment.


    He then took out Ning Yichu¡¯s resume, saying, ¡°I heard from HR that you intend to break the contract before even starting?¡±


    Ning Yichu felt even more embarrassed; after all, this was someone who had helped her twice, and she still owed him for a set of clothes worth over a hundred thousand.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t anticipate needing to return to Europe so soon and found myself unable to take on the position.¡±


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s long fingers flipped through her resume with a look of regret, ¡°Does it have to do with the day the president of Li Group was looking for your son?¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s expression shifted slightly.


    ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand, I¡¯m not trying to pry into your privacy. It¡¯s just hard to let go of a talent like you.¡±


    Ning Yichu sighed, ¡°It¡¯s a factor, I suppose. But honestly, there are more excellent talents in jade sculpting within the country. Your company will surely find someone more suitable.¡±


    ¡°If you really must leave, I won¡¯t force you to stay. However, before you do, there¡¯s the matter of the breach of contract fee and the cost of renting the helicopter,¡± Mo Baiyou said lightly, leaning back in his chair.


    Ning Yichu recalled the penalty fee stated in the contract was six months¡¯ salary.


    And the cost of renting a helicopter¡ªthat would certainly be astronomical...


    ¡°I keep business and personal matters separate. I only helped you because you were an employee of my company. If you had no association with me, why would I let you take advantage, Lady Ning? I hope you can understand my position.¡±


    Ning Yichu quite agreed with his professional attitude, but felt the pinch of financial strain, ¡°Could you give me a bill? Could I pay in installments?¡±


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s smile slightly faded, ¡°How about this. You still have two months before going back to Europe, right? Come work for my company for those two months, and we¡¯ll waive the penalty fee and the cost of the helicopter rental.¡±


    Ning Yichu blurted out, ¡°Why do you insist on me working here?¡±


    ¡°I really like your style of jade carving, and the interviewers all gave you an S.¡±


    Mo Baiyou took out an interview document, and indeed several interviewers had given her an S.


    ¡°But that¡¯s not the most important thing,¡± Mo Baiyou said, pointing at the divorce section on her resume, his eyes narrowing, ¡°You¡¯re divorced, and that¡¯s what I value the most.¡±


    Ning Yichu was dumbfounded. What kind of person was this¡ªwanting to hire someone because they were divorced?


    ¡°I transferred here from the head office in Imperial City because I wanted to get away from some inextricable troubles back there. A woman who is divorced and has children knows all about boundaries, and for the sake of her children, she will work the hardest.¡±

 Chapter 36: 36: Tsk tsk, so domineering now?

    Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Tsk tsk, so domineering now?


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry. She¡¯d never imagined that her terrible marriage to Li Lingyang would actually endear her more to her boss.


    Only two months on the job and the penalty for breaking the contract wouldn¡¯t apply¡ªan idiot would refuse!


    Mo Baiyou quietly gazed at her, without urging her to make a quick decision; he believed she would choose wisely.


    Seconds later, Ning Yichu gave her answer, ¡°When can I start working?¡±


    ¡°Now.¡±


    Ning Yichu completed the onboarding process and became a Jade Sculpture artist at the Beiji Group, under the umbrella of the Jewelry Department¡¯s Jade Sculpture Studio.


    ...


    Currently, there were only a few ordinary staff members in the studio, and being the most experienced, she naturally became the supervisor.


    Though it was just a two-month engagement, she still took her responsibilities seriously and earned high praise from Mo Baiyou.


    That day, after work, her department decided to hold a welcome event for her over dinner.


    Ning Yichu happened to have a document that was stuck, so she let them go ahead.


    After dealing with the document, she quickly made her way to the gathering¡¯s location, which she assumed would be a restaurant. To her surprise, it was the Jiangnan Club.


    Wasn¡¯t this the club where Li Lingyang had taken her from after she¡¯d had too much to drink last time?


    Just thinking about that embarrassing day made her want to crawl into a hole and hide.


    It was rush hour, and there was an endless stream of cars, causing chaos on the roads.


    At a traffic light, Ning Yichu called Aunt Wang to ask her to stay a little longer that evening to look after Ningning; she might be back late.


    After hanging up, feeling a bit stuffy in the car, she rolled down the window to get some fresh air and unexpectedly saw an old lady, nearly eighty years old, sitting in a Bentley parked next to a taxi.


    She was dressed in luxurious clothes and sat lazily on the cushion, talking to the driver about something...


    Ning Yichu recognized her at first glance¡ªit was Granny Li, whom she hadn¡¯t seen in five years!


    So many years had passed; the wrinkles on her face seemed to have multiplied, yet her eyes remained as kind and amiable as ever.


    Deelia, with a smile that was not really a smile, said, ¡°There has never been a precedent for Beiji to specially recruit an Asian female designer. Who knows what kind of backdoor Miss Ning went through. A few bottles of wine are nothing compared to that, right, Lady Ning?¡±


    ¡°A few bottles of wine surely aren¡¯t much, but it also depends on whether the person drinking it is worth it.¡±


    Ning Yichu was no pushover, Deelia was clearly looking for trouble, and she wasn¡¯t about to let herself be exploited willingly¡ªthat¡¯d be madness.


    Deelia¡¯s smile instantly stiffened, ¡°Bitch, what did you say?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t understand Mandarin? Oh, sorry, I forgot, you¡¯re a European designer, English is your first language.¡± Saying this, Ning Yichu repeated her earlier words in English.


    Deelia turned an angry shade, glaring furiously at Ning Yichu.


    She had long harbored a crush on the president and heard he was coming to Imperial City to explore new markets; she had decisively given up her base in Europe to follow him.


    She had imagined the president would make her head of the jewelry department, but no such order had come, and instead, they¡¯d brought in an impressive Jade Sculptor.


    ¡°...We¡¯re all colleagues here, let¡¯s not take jokes too seriously.¡± Someone attempted to defuse the tension.


    ¡°Deelia, please, calm down. She¡¯s just a lowly oriental woman, all talk. Ultimately, it¡¯s the work that will show who¡¯s best, and the boss will surely see who is the most outstanding,¡± Deelia¡¯s assistant tried to soothe her.


    Deelia¡¯s eyes flickered as if she¡¯d thought of something and sat back down with a cold snort.


    Ning Yichu simply smiled and continued to greet others.


    Inside a neighboring private room, a waiter had just told Mu Bailang about the incident.


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, Xiao Chuchu¡¯s become so assertive after a few years,¡± Mu Bailang¡¯s thin lips curled, turning to ask Li Lingyang, ¡°I remember when she was married to you, she was as meek as a lamb, wasn¡¯t she?¡±


    Li Lingyang downed his wine in one go, a shadow crossing his handsome brow. Ning Yichu had long ceased to be the same person she was five years ago.


    Mu Bailang smirked and raised his eyebrows, ¡°I heard the illegitimate child who looks so much like you, isn¡¯t his mother Xiao Chuchu?¡±


    Li Lingyang was in a foul mood and replied dismissively, ¡°If you say it¡¯s not, then it¡¯s not.¡±


    ¡°Phew, you¡¯re really a scumbag. I might have gone through my share of romances, but at least I never left a woman with a baby. You¡¯ve got Shen Jiangqing, and now this mysterious woman...¡± Mu Bailang said disdainfully.


    Li Lingyang glared at him coldly, almost ready to have him thrown out, ¡°Is your grandmother setting you up on too few blind dates, making you this idle?¡±


    Fearing that Li Lingyang would complain to the old lady, Mu Bailang squinted like an ancient fox, ¡°I¡¯m just helping you analyze, aren¡¯t I? That woman had a child and never came to you; suddenly she appears out of nowhere. What does she want?¡±

 Chapter 37: 37 Strong... Strong Kiss?

    Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Strong... Strong Kiss?


    Li Lingyang, feeling annoyed and agitated, tugged at his tie. What else could it be but money?


    ¡°Do you think it could be that woman who had your child years ago? She wanted to find you at first, but when she saw Shen Jiangqing by your side, she disappeared. Now, after a few years, she notices you and Shen Jiangqing never got married, so she starts fantasizing again and makes the child come looking for you?¡± Mu Bailang quickly concocted a melodramatic love story in his head.


    Li Lingyang scoffed at the idea, but upon further contemplation, he realized there was some logic to it. He silently pulled out a cigarette, his expression somber.


    By all accounts, Shen Jiangqing was his lifesaver and had given birth to twins. He really should have married her long ago.


    But every time he thought about her stealing his sperm to have the twins, he felt somewhat uncomfortable.


    Back when he had a car accident and fell off a cliff, becoming blinded, he couldn¡¯t see her face, but he could sense that she was a kind-hearted person, who wouldn¡¯t resort to using a child to better her position.


    ...


    ...


    The private room was dazzled with lights and animated with laughter; Ning Yichu and everyone else gradually warmed up to each other.


    Noticing it was getting late, she made the excuse of going to the restroom and slipped out to call Aunt Wang¡ªit was time for Ningning to go to bed.


    Ningning had recently gotten obsessed with a cartoon, which was bad for the eyes when watched too long, especially before bedtime.


    After hanging up the phone, she prepared to head back to the private room, but as she rounded the corridor and passed near a small balcony, a shadow slowly rose behind the curtains...


    Ning Yichu hadn¡¯t yet made out who it was when her arm was abruptly seized, and before she could resist, she was pulled onto the balcony, her back pressing tightly against his chest.


    The night was a blur of intoxicating lights and colors.


    ¡°Ah! Who is this...¡± Ning Yichu, frightened out of her wits, barely got the words out of her throat when her mouth was covered tightly by the man¡¯s hand.


    Her whole body bristled with fear, and without thinking, she viciously elbowed towards the man¡¯s chest...


    The man narrowly avoided the blow, and his low, husky voice followed, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±


    Hearing the deep male voice, Ning Yichu was taken aback, turning her head in disbelief to stare at Li Lingyang, ¡°Please, scaring someone to death is not funny. Can¡¯t you be a little less like an unyielding spirit?¡±


    ¡°If you haven¡¯t done anything guilty, why fear a ghost knocking at the door?¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s eyes widened in shock, unsure if it was the alcohol taking effect, but she seemed unable to muster any strength. She could only try to avoid his intrusion, ¡°It hurts... let go...¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s fingertips squeezed her chin harder, not allowing her to struggle, his icy lips once again swallowed her voice, forcing her to retreat step by step.


    Ning Yichu had a disquieting illusion, as if he wanted to devour her whole.


    Air was being slowly drawn out of her lungs, she was having difficulty breathing, her face flushed red, suffused with a light hue of drunken redness, she yelled in panic, ¡°Li Lingyang, you bastard, let go... Shen Jiangqing... she...¡±


    Most of her voice was intermittent, and she herself did not know what she had managed to say.


    On the contrary, the more she resisted, the more domineering and aggressive his kiss became.


    By the end of the kiss, it was unclear how much time had passed.


    Her whole body hung limply from his, like a puddle of water...


    Li Lingyang was likewise breathing unevenly. Ning Yichu pushed him away in panic, only to stagger against the wall, trying to steady herself. The scene was embarrassingly akward.


    She angrily swung at his handsome face, but he deftly blocked it.


    Li Lingyang spoke with a thin smile, ¡°When we first married, a mere glance from me would delight you for a long time. Only a few years have passed, and you¡¯ve come to despise me so much? Or is it that your feelings have always been so cheap?¡±


    ¡°Who hasn¡¯t fallen for trash when they were young?¡± Ning Yichu, too, was furious, her chest heaving with scorn, ¡°What about you? Five years ago, I let you touch me for free, and you remained chaste as a jade. Now that I have a new love, you come buzzing around like a pest, what¡¯s the deal? Is the gentle and weak Shen Jiangqing not satisfying you? Got an itch you can¡¯t scratch?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face turned slightly angry, and his piercing eyes narrowed, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, until you give a clear account of what happened five years ago, don¡¯t think I¡¯ll let you off!¡±


    Ning Yichu vigorously wiped the corners of her mouth, disdainfully saying, ¡°What a shame, I¡¯ve seen my fair share of men. Someone like President Li, with such poor and rough skills in bed, you couldn¡¯t even compare to a gigolo. I¡¯m not interested!¡±


    Li Lingyang, upon hearing this, felt his rage skyrocket, ¡°Dare you repeat that?!¡±


    ¡°I dare not.¡± Ning Yichu replied very honestly, ¡°Some people are petty, speaking the truth can lead to vengeful assaults!¡±


    Although she didn¡¯t repeat her words, how was this any different from indirectly mocking him?


    Li Lingyang¡¯s pupils contracted. After all these years, their one and only time was when they slept together drunk at Grandma¡¯s banquet. After drinking so much, who the hell still remembers whether it was tender?


    In fact, if she would just soften up a bit, even if she truly had a child with some other man, he wouldn¡¯t harm her...

 Chapter 38: 38: The Most Vivid Memories

    Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Most Vivid Memories


    After all, he had had an affair.


    But this woman was as stubborn as a mule, and softening up was harder than taking her life!


    Li Lingyang left in anger, and Ning Yichu didn¡¯t even know how she returned to the private room.


    ¡°Sister Ning, are you okay? Why is your face so red?¡± Xiao Ai, her assistant, asked with concern.


    ¡°My face gets red when I drink too much; it¡¯ll be fine in a bit.¡±


    ¡°Sister Ning, shall we sing a song together?¡± A shy male designer handed her a microphone and selected a love song from the last century on the screen.


    ...


    Ning Yichu sang the entire song absentmindedly but ended up giving it a unique flavor, earning applause and praises for both her beauty and sweet voice.


    The noisy party finally ended, and Ning Yichu called for the waiter to settle the bill.


    However, the waiter said, ¡°Lady Ning, your bill has already been taken care of.¡±


    Ning Yichu was stunned, looking at her colleagues with confusion.


    Everyone denied it in succession.


    Ning Yichu asked the waiter, ¡°Who paid for it?¡±


    The waiter checked the billing records and told the truth, ¡°We can¡¯t see the specific person; the bill was put on the boss¡¯s account.¡±


    The club was owned by Mu Bailang¡ªcould it be Li Lingyang?


    Deelia didn¡¯t speak Chinese very well, but upon hearing the word ¡°boss,¡± her gaze toward Ning Yichu filled with even more jealousy.


    The Jiangnan Club was a renowned high-end club in Imperial City frequented by many celebrities and tycoons.


    Without some connections, it would have folded a long time ago¡ªhow could she know such wealthy people?


    After leaving the club, Ning Yichu sent a text message to Li Lingyang, ¡°Send me your bank card number.¡±


    The bill given to her by the waiter showed a total of over three thousand nine hundred, and she knew that Li Lingyang wouldn¡¯t care about a few thousand, but she didn¡¯t want to owe him anything.


    Five years ago, in her most difficult times, she hadn¡¯t taken his money, let alone now.


    ¡°I don¡¯t have my card on me, and I don¡¯t remember the number,¡± came a quick reply.


    Ning Yichu, ¡°You must have an Alipay or WeChat, right?¡±


    Li Lingyang, seeing that the woman was determined to maintain a boundary between them, sent her a string of gibberish.


    ¡°Here will be fine.¡±


    The chauffeur didn¡¯t dare ask if President Li hadn¡¯t had his fill, simply waiting in the car.


    This shop was run by a couple; as the wife was tidying up other tables, she asked, ¡°Young man, you look familiar. Were you a student at Imperial University before?¡±


    Li Lingyang glanced at her and heard her say in confusion, ¡°You look just like that outstanding alumnus from the university, Li... Li Lingyang?¡±


    Li Lingyang had donated money to the university a few years back, and his name was placed among the outstanding alumni. He said evenly, ¡°You¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else; I live nearby and just wanted to try the taste.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. I apologize for my confusion; right, Mr. Li is a big boss; why would he come to eat at our small roadside stall...¡±


    Beiji Long Bay.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s call went unanswered, prompting a frown.


    The company people said he had left work; why wasn¡¯t he taking her calls?


    Could he have gone to see that child?


    Just then, she heard voices outside the door. She walked quickly out, only to see Li Lingyang had returned, holding a small box in his hand.


    ¡°Aling, where have you been so late, and why didn¡¯t you answer your phone?¡±


    ¡°Mu Bailang has a new project; we discussed a collaboration,¡± Li Lingyang said simply.


    Shen Jiangqing smiled, seemingly surprised to notice the box in his hand, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°Biang Biang noodles. I had a bowl on the roadside and thought they were quite good, so I packed some for you.¡± Li Lingyang placed the box on the coffee table; the noodles and toppings were entirely separate, but the packaging was quite plain.


    A flicker of distaste crossed Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyes as she bit her lip and said, ¡°But I¡¯m on a diet these past few days and don¡¯t plan on having supper. Besides, such roadside stalls might not be sanitary, and my heart isn¡¯t good; I probably can¡¯t enjoy it.¡±


    Li Lingyang merely grunted, showing no additional reaction.


    ¡°Just give it to Nanny He then, I remember she likes this flavor.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re such a considerate boss.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s lips pursed as he watched her flawless smile. Without saying a word, he handed his coat to the servants and went upstairs to wash.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s family background was quite ordinary before she and he got together, and most of the places they frequented were street stalls...


    ...


    Two days later.


    Granny Li held a business card and arrived at the foot of Beiji Building.

 Chapter 39: 39 Granny Lis Invitation

    Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Granny Li¡¯s Invitation


    ¡°Chu Chu works here, doesn¡¯t she?¡±


    Aunt Tong nodded with a smile, ¡°Yes, Old Madam Li, I asked around, and I heard that the Young Madam had just joined a short while ago.¡±


    ¡°Is it a bit abrupt for me to come looking for her like this?¡±


    Aunt Tong, seeing Old Madam Li getting as nervous as a child, comforted her, ¡°Not at all, the Young Madam will definitely be very surprised.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good, go ask which floor the Beiji Design Department is on...¡± Old Madam Li shook her long coat and said to Aunt Tong.


    Aunt Tong responded and was about to ask the security guard when she saw a woman with blond hair and blue eyes approaching.


    ...


    Deelia asked with a smile, ¡°Madam, I just heard you mention the Beiji Design Department, are you here to have jewelry custom-made?¡±


    This old lady was dressed expensively, the imperial green jadeite on her right ring finger surely made her an important client!


    Old Madam Li looked at Deelia with uncertainty, ¡°We do intend to, and you are?¡±


    ¡°Let me introduce myself, I am Deelia, a senior designer at Beiji, here is my business card.¡± Deelia handed over her business card.


    Granny Li realized she was Chu Chu¡¯s colleague and toned down her imposing air, appearing amiable as she said, ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°Madam, as Huaxians say, ¡®a meeting is predestined,¡¯ why don¡¯t I take you upstairs to see my work? Our design department has many excellent designers, all dispatched from Europe to the Asian market...¡±


    Granny Li, not knowing which floor the design department was on, found it even better to be guided by a designer and complied.


    Deelia, seeing this, became even more eager, pulling her along to the design department reception room.


    Talking eloquently about the major awards she had won in Europe.


    Granny Li tried several times to say she already recognized a designer, but Deelia interrupted her each time. Gradually, Granny Li grew impatient, just listening without responding.


    Yichu came out to use the restroom and saw a familiar figure inside the reception room, thinking she was seeing things.


    Granny Li choked up, holding her hand. ¡°Granny always knew you were a good child. But what kind of colleagues are these, slandering you so easily? Why don¡¯t you quit? I¡¯ll find you a more relaxed and easy job.¡±


    ¡°There are crazies everywhere; I actually quite like this job,¡± Ning Yichu gently refused.


    Granny Li led Ning Yichu to chat in the reception room for a long while, asking about her experiences over the past five years and how she was doing now. Eventually, the conversation looped back to her past divorce.


    Granny Li lamented, ¡°If I had known that jerk was going to divorce you, I would have stopped him.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the past now.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s that jerk who had no fortune. To leave a good wife like you and choose that white lotus!¡± scolded Granny Li, then tentatively added, ¡°But I never agreed to let that mistress into the family. If you¡¯re willing, I can try to get you two back together...¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s breath hitched, and she quickly interjected, ¡°Granny, times have changed. We are not who we were anymore. I¡¯m doing well now, and besides, don¡¯t they have children now? Please don¡¯t do anything foolish.¡±


    Granny Li felt even more distressed seeing her still considerate of others.


    If it were that white lotus, would she care about the children?


    But thinking of her little great-grandchildren, Granny Li couldn¡¯t be too harsh.


    Although she disliked Jiangqing, Doudou and Chengcheng were, after all, the Li family¡¯s blood.


    After the twins were born and Chengcheng suffered complications in the ICU, she had someone take Doudou to test for DNA, confirming their parentage.


    The newborns naturally couldn¡¯t be away from their mother, so she couldn¡¯t drive Jiangqing away either.


    ¡°All right, that jerk doesn¡¯t deserve you, having cheated during the marriage. Granny will find someone better for you. By the way, do you have someone now?¡±


    Ning Yichu was taken aback by Granny¡¯s sudden change of subject, her cheeks blushing slightly. ¡°Not at the moment.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s okay. Granny¡¯s having a birthday next week. I¡¯ll invite some young, handsome men to the party. You can take your time choosing. If you like someone, Granny will handle it.¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s eyelids twitched. ¡°Granny, I¡¯m not thinking about dating right now.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I know that jerk hurt you deeply, but there¡¯s no rush with love. We¡¯ll take it slow. That¡¯s settled then...¡± Granny Li handed her an invitation embroidered with golden threads, insistently saying, ¡°You must come, okay?¡±

 Chapter 40: 40 Ive Noticed You for a Long Time

    Chapter 40: Chapter 40 I¡¯ve Noticed You for a Long Time


    Ning Yichu looked at the extra invitation in her hand, wanting to cry but unable to shed a tear. Weren¡¯t they just supposed to catch up?


    How did it turn into finding her a partner?


    After chatting a bit more, Ning Yichu escorted Granny Li downstairs.


    On her way back to the office, she suddenly recalled that Granny Li had also invited Ningning to her birthday. This was a bit tricky; she couldn¡¯t always pretend not to know Ningning, could she?


    As noon neared, Ning Yichu took out the suit she had prepared, planning to return it to Mo Baiyou.


    Upon reaching the top floor, she noticed that the door to the CEO¡¯s office wasn¡¯t fully closed. She heard Mo Baiyou¡¯s deep voice calling, ¡°Vincent?¡±


    ...


    His voice carried a hint of urgency, unlike his usual calm demeanor. Ning Yichu gently pushed the door open. ¡°Mr. Mo, are you looking for Assistant Wen? I think he¡¯s gone to the cafeteria.¡±


    Mo Baiyou, surprised, looked up with a flicker of astonishment crossing his deep, dark eyes. ¡°Lady Ning?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve already cleaned and pressed your coat.¡± Ning Yichu shook the bag in her hand; she had cut off the label, making it unrecognizable from the original.


    Mo Baiyou pondered for a moment and then pointed to the sofa next to him. ¡°You can just put it there.¡±


    Ning Yichu set down the bag but didn¡¯t leave right away because she noticed that Mo Baiyou looked unusually pale and was clutching his stomach, seemingly in discomfort.


    ¡°Mr. Mo, are you feeling unwell?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just an old problem. I¡¯ll feel better after resting for a while.¡± Mo Baiyou replied, standing to get some hot water, but he gasped and staggered after only a few steps, nearly dropping the cup.


    Quick to react, Ning Yichu rushed to support him. ¡°Careful!¡±


    A faint scent of gardenia drifted between them, and as Mo Baiyou pressed a hand against his abdomen and turned to meet her gaze, he saw a flicker of concern in her eyes and said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You should sit down. I¡¯ll get the water for you.¡± Ning Yichu helped him back to his large office chair, ran to get a cup of hot water, and after hesitating, decided to ask, ¡°Is it a stomach problem? Do you have any medicine?¡±


    ¡°I just ran out of medicine. I was about to ask Vincent to buy some...¡± Mo Baiyou¡¯s voice was weak, and he was visibly sweating.


    Ning Yichu glanced at the time ¨C it was just past twelve. Unsure of where Assistant Wen was and seeing Mo Baiyou¡¯s distressed state, she knew he couldn¡¯t wait for the assistant to come back and get medicine.


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s deep eyes shifted before he suddenly smiled, ¡°You make me feel like you¡¯re not a jade sculptor, but rather a doctor I hired.¡±


    Ning Yichu paused, then walked over, took the documents from his hand, and smiled, ¡°Then I¡¯ll play the doctor for a moment. Let¡¯s go eat first, stomach issues can¡¯t wait.¡±


    Mo Baiyou looked at her lovely face and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll heed Doctor Ning¡¯s advice.¡±


    It had been a long time since anyone had called her ¡®doctor.¡¯ Caught off-guard, she suddenly looked at Mo Baiyou, ¡°Have we met before?¡±


    Mo Baiyou remained composed, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve noticed you for a long time.¡±


    Ning Yichu thought to herself that with Mo Baiyou¡¯s handsome looks, if they had met, she would surely have remembered¡ªunless she had seen too many good-looking mixed Central-European faces, all looking similar.


    They went to a famous congee place, Congee Mister and Missus. Even at noon, the flow of people was endless.


    After ordering, Ning Yichu specifically asked the waiter to make the dishes lighter.


    Mo Baiyou spoke gently, ¡°It¡¯s hard to imagine, with your gentleness and thoughtfulness, that your ex-husband divorced you. He must be a jerk.¡±


    Ning Yichu paused while pouring water, her expression slightly stiff.


    ¡°Sorry for bringing up something that upset you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    Mo Baiyou noticed the unresolved thorn from her past marriage and changed the topic, ¡°How do you like Beiji after these few days? Getting used to it?¡±


    ¡°So far, so good. The colleagues are welcoming and the atmosphere is harmonious. By the way, I wanted to discuss with you incorporating traditional Chinese elements into next season¡¯s jade sculptures...¡±


    ¡°I had reserved this private room in advance. How could you give it to someone else?¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s conversation was interrupted by a questioning female voice from behind, drowning out her words.


    The voice sounded familiar, and with a glance from the corner of her eye, Ning Yichu indeed saw a familiar figure.


    Mo Baiyou raised his eyebrows slightly, following her gaze. A barely noticeable chill crossed his eyes.


    Oh, it¡¯s them.

 Chapter 41: 41 Running into the Ex-Husband at Dinner

    Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Running into the Ex-Husband at Dinner


    Li Lingyang wore a deep blue suit with a white shirt underneath, without a single wrinkle, as if it were ironed at all times. His tall and imposing figure was wrapped tightly, accentuated even more when he stood silently, radiating an aura of aristocracy, naturally becoming the focus of the crowd.


    By his side stood Shen Jiangqing in a radiant red dress, looking exceptionally pretty, the pair appearing as a perfect match of talent and beauty.


    The manager was sweating profusely, apologizing continuously, ¡°Miss Shen, I¡¯m sorry. Since nobody answered when we called you earlier, we thought you weren¡¯t coming, so...¡±


    ¡°You could have called a few more times, in case I didn¡¯t see it?¡± After Shen Jiangqing finished her barrage towards the manager, she covered her chest and said to Li Lingyang, ¡°I just had a check-up and truly couldn¡¯t walk anymore.¡±


    Li Lingyang looked at her slightly pale face, a flash of impatience crossed his dark pupils as he spoke to the manager, ¡°You have ten minutes to clear a spot.¡±


    When Ning Yichu heard this, thinking of how he¡¯d forcibly kissed her not long ago made her stomach churn.


    ...


    Mo Baiyou felt her grip on the spoon tighten, with a slight furrow forming between his brows.


    Just as the manager was busy saying they would clear a spot, Mo Baiyou suddenly stood up, his handsome face bearing a thin smile, ¡°President Li, what a coincidence, you¡¯re here for a meal as well?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze instantly fell on Ning Yichu sitting opposite Mo Baiyou, his eyes deepening as he looked straight at her.


    His gaze, like his personality, was cold, sharp, and dominant. Ning Yichu pretended to fiddle with her spoon, not looking at him, but she could feel the chilliness pressing on her like a thorn in her back.


    Shen Jiangqing was still by his side, and yet he kept staring at her??


    It took a while before Ning Yichu felt the man shift his gaze away. She slowly raised her head and saw Li Lingyang and Mo Baiyou exchanging idle greetings.


    ¡°Mr. Mo, hello.¡±


    Beiji Group had recently risen to prominence in Imperial City and had launched a series of jewelry collections favored by society ladies. They had only met at a business summit not so long ago.


    Shen Jiangqing hadn¡¯t expected Beiji¡¯s president to be so young and handsome, and to be involved with Ning Yichu no less.


    ¡°I suppose this lady must be Mrs. Li, right?¡± Mo Baiyou showed a friendly smile, ¡°Nice to meet you.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing had always dreamed of being called Mrs. Li, her smile crawling up her cheeks, ¡°Hello, Mr. Mo!¡±


    Without changing his demeanor, Mo Baiyou said, ¡°Beiji Group¡¯s theme for next season¡¯s new products happens to be ¡®Eternal Love.¡¯ With President Li and Mrs. Li so affectionate, wearing a set of custom-themed jewelry would be the icing on the cake.¡±


    After Ning Yichu left the restaurant, she went straight to a mushroom soup hot pot place across the street, ordered a meal, and casually added dishes for Mo Baiyou.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Mo, I suddenly felt that a change of environment might be better and took the liberty to decide,¡± she apologized.


    Mo Baiyou, who was well aware of the situation, agreed, ¡°I also think changing the restaurant is much better. It¡¯s a joke in Imperial City that Li Lingyang, for the sake of his mistress, left his ex-wife, even though the Li Family claims to have strict family values.¡±


    His tone was very sincere, giving off a righteous indignation that made Ning Yichu feel an indescribable warmth in her heart.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize that you, Mr. Mo, were so righteous. Many men think that such a matter is not a big deal.¡±


    ¡°Maybe I am not one of the many men. If I have someone I love, I will treasure and cherish her and never let her get hurt in any way.¡±


    ¡°Then I wish you to meet your beloved soon,¡± Ning Yichu said with a smile. Her marriage to Li Lingyang was without love, so it¡¯s no wonder it ended this way.


    A faint, nearly imperceptible smile appeared on Mo Baiyou¡¯s lips, along with a determined gleam, ¡°I¡¯ll take your good wishes.¡±


    ¡°The dishes are ready, let¡¯s eat. After we¡¯re done, you¡¯ll need to rest a bit before you can go back to work.¡±


    ¡°At your command, Doctor Ning.¡±


    ¡°Ha-ha, you saying that almost gives me the illusion that I really am a doctor.¡±


    Mo Baiyou pretended to stroke his chin, ¡°I¡¯m picturing you in a white coat with a surgical cap, holding a scalpel; you¡¯d probably look very capable and impressive.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking me into believing it myself, but what I¡¯m holding now is not a scalpel but a carving knife.¡±


    The mushroom soup tasted quite good, and Mo Baiyou ate quite a bit.


    When it came time to pay the bill, Ning Yichu tried to beat him to it, but Mo Baiyou, taking advantage of his height and long legs, handed over his card first, ¡°I¡¯m not in the habit of letting a woman pay. That would be quite impolite in Europe.¡±


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t argue any further and silently thought to work even harder!


    Having eaten quite a bit, the two walked back to the company.


    Since it was break time and to avoid unnecessary trouble, Ning Yichu used the excuse of needing to go to the bank to withdraw money and parted ways with Mo Baiyou at the intersection ahead of time.


    What the two of them didn¡¯t know was that not far down the street, a black Maybach had been following them all along.

 Chapter 42: 42: The Amusement Parks Surveillance was Tampered by Hackers

    Chapter 42: Chapter 42: The Amusement Park¡¯s Surveillance was Tampered by Hackers


    From dining at the restaurant to walking back to the company, everything was observed by a man in the car.


    Li Lingyang clenched his teeth as he watched the woman, whose relentless smile filled him with a gloomy aura.


    When she was with him, it was nothing but sarcasm or insults, never a good word, but now with a new boss, she was smiling so happily, damn woman!


    All of a sudden, the phone rang. Li Lingyang answered it and heard Special Assistant Xu¡¯s voice on the other end, ¡°President Li, when we were analyzing the surveillance from the amusement park that day, we noticed something fishy, it seems like someone tampered with it!¡±


    Li Lingyang frowned, ¡°I¡¯ll be back at the company right away.¡±


    Fifteen minutes later, at the Li Group¡¯s president¡¯s office on the top floor, Li Lingyang with a stern expression on his handsome face pushed open the door, where Special Assistant Xu with a notebook and materials was already waiting by.


    ...


    ¡°What happened?¡±


    Special Assistant Xu opened the laptop to play the surveillance video of the park. The computer screen was split into two sections, synchronously displaying footage, with the times in the bottom right corner showing Saturday and Sunday.


    But the surveillance footage was exactly the same, even the angle at which a plastic bag was blown away by the wind was identical!


    ¡°With the emergent situation back then, we hadn¡¯t thought to compare it to the previous day¡¯s surveillance. Now it looks like a hacker hacked into the amusement park¡¯s system, replacing the weekend¡¯s footage with that from the day before. No wonder we couldn¡¯t find any records of that child¡¯s activities after entering the park...¡±


    Li Lingyang looked thoughtful and lifted his gaze, ¡°I remember when Ning Yichu fled, there was also a hacker who hacked the security system of Imperial Dragon Bay?¡±


    Special Assistant Xu, ¡°From the attack techniques, it could be the same person.¡±


    ¡°Ning Yichu...¡± Li Lingyang snorted coldly, ¡°I underestimated her!¡±


    Special Assistant Xu, ¡°Now that it¡¯s proven the surveillance was tampered with by a hacker, our previous conclusions are unreliable, and Lady Ning might not necessarily be uninvolved.¡±


    ¡°Can the surveillance be restored?¡± Li Lingyang asked in a deep voice.


    Special Assistant Xu embarrassed, ¡°The tech department worked overnight and only managed to find a few segments with obvious tampering signs. Fully restoring it might not be possible.¡±


    ¡°Get someone to watch Ning Yichu twenty-four hours a day, I don¡¯t believe she won¡¯t slip up.¡±


    Special Assistant Xu seemed to recall something and suddenly proposed, ¡°Cough, President Li, I actually have a small, somewhat immature suggestion.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s hear it?¡±


    Now, she could only say to Ningning, ¡°Granny Wang¡¯s birthday is coming up soon. Have you forgotten that you promised to go with Doudou? Be good. After the shot, once you¡¯re better, you can go and play.¡±


    Ningning, feeling wronged, puffed up her cheeks, resigned to her fate, her little mouth pursed as much as it was pitiful.


    Pretending not to see, Ning Yichu pulled her daughter over and led her to lie on her lap before pulling down her little panties.


    ¡°My little tush, I can¡¯t protect you, waaah...¡± Ningning muttered mournfully feeling the cold on her behind.


    And as Ning Yichu could hardly hold back her laughter, she covered her daughter¡¯s eyes, tempting her, ¡°Think about the feast at Granny Wang¡¯s party, so many tasty things, mango sago, coconut milk sponge cubes, mango sago, French macarons...¡±


    Ningning, on hearing this, almost drooled, ¡°Ahh, I want to eat them right now.¡±


    Just then, the needle precisely entered her skin.


    When Ningning felt the pain, the nurse had already withdrawn the needle, and Ning Yichu pressed a cotton swab on the injection site, ¡°My brave girl, the shot is done, see, it wasn¡¯t so painful, was it?¡±


    Ningning, a bit slow on the uptake that it was painful, cried out, ¡°Wah!¡± Though the pain wasn¡¯t as bad as she had imagined, leading her to hold back real tears and just cry out loud, akin to a child who exaggerates crying to get parental sympathy.


    ...


    At the Imperial Dragon Bay, Doudou sat on the living room mat playing with LEGOs.


    She had learned this from her Brother Chen Bao. It just seemed especially effortless when he did it, but she could never seem to get the pieces to fit.


    Suddenly, she felt a strange pain in her chest.


    Her face turned pale instantly, and she anxaciously placed a hand on her chest...


    ¡°Little Miss, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Nanny He, tidying the living room, saw Doudou¡¯s pallor and rushed over immediately.


    Doudou¡¯s small hands forcefully pressed against her chest. She couldn¡¯t express exactly what she was feeling because the pain lasted only a brief second or two; now, it was just stuffy and uncomfortable.


    ¡°Is this another attack? I¡¯ll notify Miss Shen right away,¡± Nanny He said, panicked as she usually was. Little Miss often experienced heart palpitations and dizziness, but medical checks always turned up nothing.


    Despite this, each incident was still treated like a major emergency at home.


    Shen Jiangqing hurried over, accustomed to Doudou¡¯s condition. She looked at Doudou, ¡°Doudou, tell mommy where you feel uncomfortable?¡±


    Doudou didn¡¯t see any concern in Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyes, only impatience.

 Chapter 43: 43 Twin Telepathy

    Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Twin Telepathy


    Doudou bit her tender little mouth and silently shook her head.


    ¡°But didn¡¯t Nanny He say you were feeling unwell?¡± Shen Jiangqing asked with a smile that did not reach her eyes, slowly tightening her grip on Doudou¡¯s arm. ¡°Look at you, you¡¯re even breaking out in a cold sweat?¡±


    Doudou¡¯s shoulder was in pain as she broke free from Shen Jiangqing¡¯s grasp and turned to run upstairs.


    Watching her retreating figure, Shen Jiangqing said to Nanny He, ¡°Nanny He, Doudou can be willful at times, acting pitiful for attention. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve been fooled by her.¡±


    Nanny He felt uncomfortable and wanted to say that Little Miss did not seem to be pretending, but Shen Jiangqing was the mistress of the house, so she dared not contradict her.


    Shen Jiangqing then said, ¡°From now on, you¡¯d better focus your attention on Chengcheng.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    That damn girl used to be as docile as a kitten, not causing any trouble, and that was fine. But now with Ning Yichu and that wild child showing up one after another, the more she saw of her, the more displeased she felt.


    The night deepened, descending like a curtain unfurling slowly.


    Li Lingyang had just finished an important meeting. When he returned to his office, there were several thick stacks of documents on his desk, like small mountains.


    ¡°President Li, the urgent batch is the one on the right,¡± Special Assistant Xu reminded him.


    Li Lingyang glanced at the documents and flipped through them unhurriedly.


    The moon hung on the branches, and its pure light spilled through the glass windows, mixing with the warm glow of the light bulbs, casting a faint silver light on his handsome face.


    The buzzing vibration of his phone broke the silence of the office.


    He saw it was Doudou¡¯s number and thought a servant was conveying a message from her. When he answered, there was silence; it was clear that Doudou herself was on the other end.


    ¡°Baby, why aren¡¯t you asleep so late?¡± Li Lingyang soothed softly.


    ¡°Um...¡± Periodic painful grunts could be heard through the earpiece.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s expression changed slightly. ¡°Doudou, are you not feeling well?¡±


    Thud.


    It seemed the children¡¯s phone was not held steady as it slipped from Doudou¡¯s hand and smashed, and the sound that then reached Li Lingyang was the shrill noise of an electrical current.


    Doudou buried her head deep into Li Lingyang¡¯s shoulder, consenting with her silence.


    Li Lingyang carried Doudou and hurried to the hospital.


    Meanwhile, Shen Jiangqing felt her heart sink with anxiety. Could there really be a telepathic connection between mother and child?


    Everyone thought Doudou and Chengcheng were twins, and Old Lady Li had accepted Chengcheng only because of Doudou¡¯s paternity test, but the truth... Shen Jiangqing was clearer on it than anyone.


    A cold glint flashed in Shen Jiangqing¡¯s cool eyes as she immediately went to wake Chengcheng to have him accompany Doudou to the hospital.


    ¡°Mummy, it¡¯s really late. I still have to go to school tomorrow,¡± Chengcheng said, rubbing his sleepy eyes impatiently.


    ¡°Chengcheng, Doudou is your little sister. She¡¯s sick and feeling very unwell now. As her brother, you should spend more time with her to make her like you more. That way, Daddy will also think you¡¯re sensible and will be more likely to hand over the Li Group to you sooner...¡± Shen Jiangqing coaxed with earnestness.


    Chengcheng pouted, ¡°That mute girl is no fun; I don¡¯t want to play with her.¡±


    ¡°You go with her tonight, and I¡¯ll reward you with the model you like the most.¡±


    In the end, under the temptation of the model, Chengcheng got dressed and went with Shen Jiangqing to the hospital to accompany Doudou.


    At the private hospital, the doctor, as always, gave Doudou a full-body examination.


    Li Lingyang waited in the corridor and saw Shen Jiangqing and Chengcheng arrive, his brows slightly furrowed, ¡°Why did you come?¡±


    ¡°Daddy, is sister all right? I¡¯m really worried about her,¡± Chengcheng said, showing concern.


    Li Lingyang patted Chengcheng¡¯s head, ¡°With Daddy here, your sister won¡¯t have any problems. Go back home now; children shouldn¡¯t stay up late.¡±


    ¡°No, I won¡¯t go.¡± Chengcheng¡¯s young face was scrunched up, his gaze fixed on the examination room, ¡°Doudou and I are twins; I can feel that she¡¯s very uncomfortable right now. I want to stay with her.¡±


    Seeing his determination to wait for Doudou, Li Lingyang felt gratified and said no more.


    Half an hour later, Doudou had finished her examination and was wheeled by the medical staff into the ward to rest.


    A doctor in a white coat, while taking off his mask, approached Li Lingyang, ¡°President Li...¡±


    ¡°How is Doudou?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s voice, edged with concern, was cold and stern.


    The doctor, appearing helpless, said, ¡°We¡¯ve done all the examinations, and just like before, according to the results, the Little Miss is very healthy. There is no problem at all.¡±

 Chapter 46: 46 Inside and Outside the Door

    Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Inside and Outside the Door


    Upon obtaining the exact ward number, Li Lingyang hung up the phone and stood waiting for the elevator.


    This hospital was somewhat old, equipped with only two elevators and a dense flow of people moving back and forth.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s hand was pocketed, and his facial expression was obscure and inscrutable; it was impossible to discern what he was thinking.


    Suddenly, as if realizing something, Li Lingyang turned sharply to look towards the payment window.


    He saw a fleeting glimpse of a child¡¯s figure.


    Slowly, his brows furrowed, but the elevator arrived and he didn¡¯t delve deeper. He stepped into the elevator and headed straight to the sixth floor.


    ...


    In the ward upstairs, when Ning Yichu received Chen Bao¡¯s phone call saying that Li Lingyang had arrived, it was already too late for her to hide.


    She was nearly scared out of her wits, okay?


    Was it just a few hours since she had made the morning call?


    And he had already rushed to the hospital...


    If scrutinized closely, Ningning¡¯s relationship with her could not be concealed!


    Clack, clack.


    The glossy leather shoes tapped against the floor, emitting a dull thudding sound¡ªeach step seemed to press down on Ning Yichu¡¯s heart.


    She quickly gave Ningning a couple of instructions and, with a flash, ducked into the restroom!


    Separated by a door, she clearly heard the strong, forceful knocking from outside.


    Ningning confirmed that Ning Yichu was well hidden before sweetly saying, ¡°Come in.¡±


    Li Lingyang, carrying a fruit basket, entered the ward and, unexpectedly, did not see any adults but only Ningning on the bed looking at him, ¡°Bad Uncle, what are you here for?¡±


    Ningning¡¯s breathing was somewhat unstable, her voice slightly tense, but fortunately, she was in the hospital for being sick, so Li Lingyang didn¡¯t think much of it.


    ¡°Your mommy told me you had a fever, so I specifically came to see you.¡± Li Lingyang looked around; the hospital was rather old and the ward fairly simple, lacking even a water boiler.


    Looking through the glass window across to the low stairwell building, he frowned, ¡°Where are your mommy and the nanny? Why are you alone?¡±


    Ningning was on the verge of a breakdown, couldn¡¯t he tell she was trying to shoo him away?


    Angrily glancing at him, she grabbed the blanket, lay down on the bed, and turned her back to him, ¡°I¡¯m going to rest now! You should leave quickly!¡±


    Li Lingyang curved his lips slightly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll just use the restroom and then I¡¯ll leave.¡±


    Ah? Restroom? No, that can¡¯t happen!


    ¡°You can¡¯t go to the restroom!¡± Ningning, like a carp bouncing off, suddenly flipped over and jumped off the bed.


    Li Lingyang had already reached the restroom door, his large hand on the doorknob, but he found it was locked from inside. He frowned, looking down at the little figure, ¡°Is there someone inside?¡±


    ¡°No... no one¡¯s inside,¡± Ningning stammered.


    ¡°Then why can¡¯t I go in?¡±


    ¡°Because this is my room, and I don¡¯t like bad strangers using my restroom!¡± Ningning, with her hands on her hips, blocked the restroom door.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s shrewd eyes moved past the little girl, staring straight at the restroom, unable to see inside through the frosted glass door, but he had a hunch that someone was definitely there.


    ¡°Mr. Li, why have you come?¡± Suddenly, Aunt Wang¡¯s voice came from outside.


    Li Lingyang turned casually and smiled, ¡°I heard Ningning was ill, just came to visit. What about it, did Ningning¡¯s mom not come with you?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s been in the hospital with Ningning this whole time,¡± Aunt Wang said, puzzled.


    Ningning¡¯s heart pounded. She quickly gave Aunt Wang a look, explaining, ¡°Granny Wang, have you forgotten? Mommy said she was going to buy some daily necessities and left with you.¡±


    Aunt Wang couldn¡¯t remember at all.


    Ningning looked sincerely at her.


    ¡°My memory is getting worse; I¡¯m really sorry, Mr. Li. Let me pour you a glass of water,¡± Aunt Wang genuinely thought she had forgotten, setting down the thermos, she offered politely.


    ¡°No need, when Ningning¡¯s mother returns, please give this to her and tell her my intentions were sincere,¡± Li Lingyang spoke in a low, seductive voice, his eyes glancing briefly at the closed restroom door before he left.


    Through the frosted glass door, Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t see Li Lingyang¡¯s expression but hearing the door close, she felt a huge relief.


    Her tensed nerves relaxed, and she accidentally hit the shelf inside the restroom, causing a noise that caught the attention of Aunt Wang in the room, ¡°What was that noise?¡±


    The next second, Ning Yichu slowly slid open the door and walked out.


    ¡°Lady Ning? Weren¡¯t you going out to buy some daily necessities?¡± Aunt Wang was shocked.

 Chapter 47: 47 Explosive! Ningning is actually Ning Yichus daughter?

    Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Explosive! Ningning is actually Ning Yichu¡¯s daughter?


    Ning Yichu wiped the sweat from her brow, speaking, ¡°Actually, I was in the restroom the whole time.¡±


    ¡°Why did Ningning say...¡±


    ¡°Because Li Lingyang is my ex-husband, and he doesn¡¯t know Ningning is my daughter.¡± Ning Yichu¡¯s explanation was simple and concise, and perhaps the restroom was too cramped¡ªher cheeks were flushed, and the thin sweat didn¡¯t stop.


    Aunt Wang suddenly realized why the atmosphere between Ningning and Li Lingyang had been so strange earlier.


    She didn¡¯t need to ask whose child Ningning was.


    As a nanny, her biggest responsibility was to take care of the child, there was no need to know what she shouldn¡¯t ask.


    ...


    ¡°I understand what you mean, Lady Ning, and I can empathize with your situation now. I can¡¯t promise much, but I can keep a secret,¡± Aunt Wang reassured.


    Ning Yichu had chosen Aunt Wang precisely because she had experience as a celebrity nanny and wouldn¡¯t gossip, ¡°I trust you.¡±


    To prevent Li Lingyang from returning, Ning Yichu called for the chief physician to come and examine Ningning.


    The examination results showed that Ningning¡¯s vital signs had returned to normal, but the seasonal change was a period of high frequency for children to fall ill, so the chief physician prescribed some immunity-boosting medicine and approved Ningning¡¯s discharge.


    Ning Yichu carried Ningning while Aunt Wang followed behind, carrying some daily necessities, and the three of them went straight to the roadside to hail a cab.


    Unknown to her, across the road under a locust tree, the window of a black Maybach rolled down, and a tall man¡¯s piercing gaze cut through the air, taking in the whole scene.


    Li Lingyang watched as a woman held Ningning and got into a car, his expression clouded with uncertainty.


    He drove off, tailing the taxi.


    The car turned left and right, entering a small road beside a shopping center and finally pulled up smoothly in front of Junyue Mansion¡¯s gate.


    Ning Yichu paid the fare, got out of the car with Ningning, greeted the security guards familiarly, and they all entered in single file.


    Li Lingyang randomly tapped his map a few times, and just like that, Golden Sun Kindergarten was right next to Junyue Mansion.


    He watched as the group disappeared from his view, his chest heaving for a while before he suddenly laughed.


    So, Ning Yichu¡¯s biggest secret wasn¡¯t Chen Bao¡ªit was Ningning!


    She had been deceiving him all along!


    Li Lingyang¡¯s icy gaze narrowed slightly, ¡°Mr. Mo, when on someone else¡¯s turf, it¡¯s best to tone it down a bit. Even a mighty dragon won¡¯t suppress the local snake, not to mention you¡¯re not even close to being a mighty dragon.¡±


    ¡°President Li, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I simply wanted to make amends for my mistake.¡±


    ¡°No need. I¡¯ve got plenty of cars. Mr. Mo, if you enjoy driving around in fixed-up second-hand cars, that¡¯s your business¡ªI¡¯m not interested!¡±


    The double entendre in ¡®second-hand cars¡¯ was mocking Mo Baiyou for picking up his divorced woman, the air heavy with gunpowder, but Mo Baiyou simply smiled lightly, ¡°I¡¯m rather thankful she had a blind ex-husband, otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have met someone as wonderful as her.¡±


    Seething with rage, Li Lingyang left and returned to the People¡¯s Hospital where Ning Yichu had just been discharged.


    Such a hospital would store samples between one and three days.


    He went straight to the specimen room and successfully obtained Ningning¡¯s blood sample.


    Since severe fever often requires considering a viral infection, a blood test might be necessary, and betting on Ning Yichu¡¯s concern for Ningning, essential tests would be indispensable. Indeed, his gamble paid off.


    He immediately handed over Ningning¡¯s blood sample along with a sample of his own hair to Special Assistant Xu.


    ¡°Keep a close watch on this, I want to see the results in the shortest time possible.¡±


    Special Assistant Xu was shocked as he looked at the two samples, exclaimed, ¡°Boss, you can¡¯t have found that little boy and his mom, could you?¡±


    Li Lingyang shot him a cold look, ¡°Your imagination could be even wilder.¡±


    ¡°Then these two samples...¡±


    ¡°Ningning is Ning Yichu¡¯s daughter. I need to know if she¡¯s related to me!¡±


    ¡°What? Your ex-wife erased the birth records, and the child she bore was actually a daughter? And Ningning... She¡¯s actually Lady Ning¡¯s daughter, and she gets along so well with Doudou...¡± Shocked beyond belief, Special Assistant Xu was speaking in a confused manner.


    A chill struck Li Lingyang¡¯s heart. Yes, judging by Ningning¡¯s attitude, she must have known that he was her mommy¡¯s ex-husband, and yet she played so well with Doudou?


    Normally speaking, given Ningning¡¯s protective nature, shouldn¡¯t she despise Doudou by association?


    Meanwhile, Doudou had also been discharged from the hospital and returned to Imperial City¡¯s Dragon Bay.


    She had only suffered a sporadic chest discomfort, which could have allowed her to return home last night, but it was Li Lingyang who had insisted on having the doctors observe her overnight.


    Granny Li brought over a particularly exquisite starry princess dress.


    ¡°Doudou, do you like this princess dress?¡±

 Chapter 48: 48 Ning Yichu, wont you come clean?

    Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Ning Yichu, won¡¯t you come clean?


    Doudou¡¯s little head bobbed up and down like she was pounding garlic, her little pigtails bouncing with the motion, which, matched with her fair and tender little face, made her look just like a sprite left behind in this world.


    Granny Li smiled, ¡°This is a dress specially custom-made for you by Grandma. When you put it on, you will certainly be the cutest little baby at the birthday party.¡±


    The cutest little baby...


    Doudou¡¯s eyes moved swiftly, clutching the princess dress and not letting go. Chengcheng was just about to mock her pettiness when she saw Doudou staring eagerly at Granny Li, gesticulating and asking, ¡°Can I give this princess dress to Ningning?¡±


    There would certainly be many important people at Granny¡¯s birthday banquet. If one wore something too ordinary, one would be laughed at.


    Old Madam Li froze, then bent down to rub Doudou¡¯s puffy cheeks, ¡°Our Doudou is such a kind-hearted little baby, you can give this little dress to whoever you want to give it to.¡±


    ...


    Unable to help herself, Doudou tilted her head and began to giggle, just like a child who had stolen some candy.


    At that moment, Li Lingyang walked in through the main entrance with a stern face.


    Old Madam Li called out to him, ¡°Aling, didn¡¯t you go to see Ningning? How is she doing?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s deep gaze inadvertently fell on Doudou, who was hugging the princess dress and laughing. He then thought of Ningning¡¯s little face, which, from a certain angle, did bear some resemblance to the two little girls, but Ningning looked more like Ning Yichu, while Doudou resembled more a concentration of his own good qualities.


    ¡°She has also been discharged from the hospital.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good to hear she¡¯s been discharged,¡± Old Madam Li said as she put the starry princess dress into a gift box and handed it to him, ¡°Doudou is worried Ningning doesn¡¯t have a suitable dress, so she gave this little dress to Ningning. You can take it to Ningning later.¡±


    Li Lingyang absentmindedly acknowledged with a hum.


    ¡°By the way, take a look at this list for me,¡± Old Madam Li added, pulling out two pieces of paper from beside her.


    Li Lingyang glanced at it; it was filled with information about single, unmarried, high-quality men, including ID photos, ages, family backgrounds, and current positions.


    ¡°Chu Chu is such an excellent girl; she should also find a boy who is a worthy match. Help me figure out, which ones from this list are the key candidates to cultivate?¡± Granny Li said deliberately.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face darkened as he silently sneered inwardly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid this list of yours won¡¯t be of any use.¡±


    ...


    When the doorbell rang, Ning Yichu had just finished chopping the filling, ready to make dumplings.


    Hearing someone knock on the door, she was stunned for a moment.


    Who could be visiting her this late?


    Could it be Yuke coming back?


    But doesn¡¯t she have a key?


    Ning Yichu washed her hands and, puzzled, opened the door, ¡°Who is it, this late at... Li... Li Lingyang?!¡±


    When she saw the man standing before her, immaculately dressed in a suit, she froze.


    The suit was perfectly tailored, enveloping Li Lingyang¡¯s proud figure, giving off an imposing aura. His stern face was grave as he looked at her, causing her voice to stutter as she was overwhelmed with shock, ¡°You... how did you find out my address?¡±


    Oh no! Ningning was inside...


    She quickly left the door ajar and glared at Li Lingyang with caution.


    Li Lingyang, seeing her defensive expression, curved a chilling, thin smile on his lips and leaned in close to her with a hand bracing against the wall, ¡°Ning Yichu, at this point, isn¡¯t it time you explained some things to me?¡±


    His heated and dominating presence overwhelmed her, and Ning Yichu, not knowing if he¡¯d discovered something, spoke with a trembling and frightened voice, ¡°Explain what? I have nothing to explain!¡±


    ¡°Pretend, keep pretending. Do I need to go in and drag Ningning out before you admit your relationship?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s voice was almost leaping out of his throat, furious that even in the face of death, she was still acting as though nothing had happened!


    Ning Yichu was horrified, staring at him in disbelief, ¡°You know it all?¡±


    ¡°The woman hiding in the bathroom this afternoon, that was you, wasn¡¯t it? Ning Yichu, you liar! Who exactly is Ningning¡¯s daughter?¡± Li Lingyang pressed her fiercely, his heart feeling clawed at.


    From what Mo Baiyou had said, he was not the father of the child. Moreover, five years ago, Mo Baiyou and Ning Yichu had no interaction whatsoever in Europe.


    ¡°She is mine alone, I warn you, don¡¯t even think about taking her!¡± Fearing Li Lingyang would take the child, Ning Yichu reflexively spoke out, but immediately regretted it, wasn¡¯t she hinting that the child had something to do with him?


    Indeed, Li Lingyang¡¯s sharp gaze intensified as he speculated, ¡°You guard against me so cautiously, could it be she is...¡±

 Chapter 49: 49: How it Ends is Up to Me

    Chapter 49: Chapter 49: How it Ends is Up to Me


    ¡°Of course not! She has nothing to do with you!¡±


    The more she refuted, the more Li Lingyang¡¯s emotions surged, and a sliver of expectation emerged, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, why did you two pretend not to know each other at the amusement park?¡±


    Ning Yichu calmed down, ¡°Please, precisely because she is not your daughter, I was afraid that you would hurt her if you knew her background, so I hid it everywhere. As a mother, I won¡¯t allow anyone to harm her.¡±


    ¡°There has to be a limit to lying!¡± Li Lingyang felt a heaviness in his heart and stared at her intensely, ¡°If it¡¯s really like you said, that the child is the result of a one-night stand, and you don¡¯t even know who the father is, what made you decide to give birth to her?¡±


    ¡°Ha, this is all thanks to you, I was disillusioned with men, I just wanted to have my own child!¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s straightforward attitude was like a bucket of cold water pouring down, and Li Lingyang felt an uncontrollable rage bubbling inside, his gaze growing darker as he stared deeply at her.


    ...


    Overwhelmed by his powerful presence, Ning Yichu¡¯s heart was in turmoil, ¡°If President Li came just to question me about these things, then now that you¡¯ve finished asking, you can leave... Ah!¡±


    Just as she made a gesture inviting him to leave, her wrist was suddenly grasped by the man.


    Her world spun for an instant, and Ning Yichu cried out in alarm, only to find herself pressed into a corner by Li Lingyang.


    She angrily swung her fist towards his chest, but Li Lingyang caught her fist with precision, his tall frame leaning forward, and with his other hand, he provocatively lifted her chin, his tone filled with danger.


    ¡°Even if Ningning isn¡¯t my daughter, what¡¯s your purpose in letting her get close to Doudou?¡±


    Ning Yichu looked up in surprise, ¡°You think I¡¯m instructing Ningning to cling to Doudou with ulterior motives?¡±


    ¡°What else?¡± Normally, when couples divorce, the child¡¯s status becomes particularly delicate. Any other ex-wife would probably want to take her child and stay far away, yet she does the opposite.


    ¡°Could I interpret this as you still not being over our past, trying to use the child to get close to me? Hmm?¡±


    Ning Yichu felt like laughing out of anger.


    Could this bastard be any more narcissistic?


    She took a deep breath and said scornfully, ¡°President Li, I think you¡¯re misunderstanding. We¡¯ve been divorced for so long, I don¡¯t see what¡¯s so appealing about you that I can¡¯t get over you. In fact, the two children becoming friends was completely accidental! If you think it¡¯s inappropriate, I won¡¯t let Ningning see Doudou anymore...¡±


    But even if Ningning liked it, she didn¡¯t accept it right away, instead looking towards Ning Yichu.


    Thinking about how the two little girls would probably part ways after the birthday party, Ning Yichu silently agreed to let Ningning take it.


    Ningning held the delicate starry dress, cherishing it in her arms.


    Li Lingyang watched her cute cheeks puff and deflate, involuntarily wanting to reach out and rub her little head.


    Sensing his intention, Ningning quickly turned her head to avoid him, eyeing him with wariness, as if he was up to no good.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s hand paused mid-air, not feeling the slightest bit awkward, he casually withdrew it and pondered to Ning Yichu, ¡°When grandmother¡¯s birthday comes, I¡¯ll send someone to pick up Ningning ahead of time. I hope you¡¯ll have her dressed up.¡±


    It was too late to go back on her word now, Ning Yichu replied, ¡°Okay.¡±


    After Li Lingyang left, Ning Yichu almost reflexively slammed the door shut and locked it, then leaned against the door, breathing heavily. Damn it, how did Li Lingyang find out about her and Ningning¡¯s relationship?


    Was it at the hospital?


    Damn it!


    Li Lingyang¡¯s intuition was so sharp; she had shown just a tiny slip, and he¡¯d followed the trail and caught on. Thankfully, she had already sent Chen Bao away, otherwise things would be even worse!


    However, looking at it from another angle, Ningning¡¯s exposure could serve to distract Li Lingyang¡¯s attention. That way he wouldn¡¯t have much energy to chase after Chen Bao, and might even stop suspecting that Chen Bao was her illegitimate child, which wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing.


    All night long, Ning Yichu was a mess of emotions and did not sleep well.


    After returning to her room, Ningning couldn¡¯t sleep either and quickly called up Chen Bao.


    She told him about Li Lingyang coming to their door that day.


    Chen Bao wasn¡¯t surprised, ¡°I knew that you were living with mommy, it couldn¡¯t be hidden for long, just didn¡¯t expect it to come out so soon.¡±


    ¡°Brother, do you think Trash Dad will investigate my relationship with him now that he knows I¡¯m mommy¡¯s daughter?¡± Ningning asked seriously.


    Even though mommy had repeatedly denied any relationship with him, Trash Dad didn¡¯t seem like the type to take your word for it.


    Chen Bao pursed his lips, speaking seriously, ¡°You¡¯re right, you need to be more careful these days. If he approaches you, wants to get a sample of your hair, you mustn¡¯t give it to him.¡±

 Chapter 50: 50: Dead ghost, are you still angry?

    Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Dead ghost, are you still angry?


    Hair samples are generally the most convenient for paternity tests and are the most commonly used type of comparison sample. Ningning muttered about protecting her hair.


    ¡°I definitely don¡¯t want to be acknowledged by him and watch him show off his love with his mistress every day.¡±


    ¡°Especially since you and Mummy are going to Granny Li¡¯s birthday banquet in a few days. You need to be extra careful.¡± After a pause, Chen Bao suddenly suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you wear a wig then?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea. Let¡¯s do that.¡±


    ¡°Alright, then good night. Don¡¯t kick off the covers while sleeping.¡±


    ¡°Mm, good night.¡±


    ...


    The two little ones wished each other good night, completely unaware that Li Lingyang had already taken Ningning¡¯s blood sample from the hospital.


    After leaving Junyue Mansion, Li Lingyang thought carefully, and it definitely wasn¡¯t by chance that Doudou became friends with Ningning. Doudou must have seen Ningning when she was taken away by Ning Yichu.


    Because Doudou was not the type to make friends with unfamiliar children.


    She had been attending kindergarten for so long and hadn¡¯t gotten close to any of her classmates.


    It was mostly likely that she had met Ningning at Ning Yichu¡¯s house and then became closer after meeting again at the water park.


    But he specifically asked Doudou if she had met any children her age at Ning Yichu¡¯s house, and her answer at the time was no.


    Doudou had actually lied to him...


    Li Lingyang didn¡¯t know whether to feel happy or worried at the moment. He was happy that Doudou finally had a real friend, but worried because she had lied to him for the daughter of Ning Yichu!


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, it was time for Granny Li¡¯s birthday banquet, which coincidentally was on a weekday.


    Ning Yichu took the afternoon off and left.


    The Li Family and Beiji Group weren¡¯t particularly close and had not invited Mo Baiyou.


    Mo Baiyou, knowing that she wanted to take leave for a personal matter, naturally knew what her so-called personal matter was, but he didn¡¯t expose it. Instead, he readily approved the leave, ¡°Just be on time for work tomorrow.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Mo, I¡¯ll be leaving then.¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to have a driver take you?¡±


    Ning Yichu pointed at the bus stop not far away, ¡°There¡¯s a bus stop downstairs. It¡¯s convenient to go anywhere. Bye.¡±


    Ning Yichu left the Beiji Building, and the first thing she did was call Ningning, who hadn¡¯t yet gone to kindergarten that morning and had been picked up early by the old mansion¡¯s driver.


    Ningning called eagerly through the phone, urging her mother to come quickly as the scene was very lively and there were lots of delicious things.


    Listening to her daughter chatter happily, Ning Yichu smiled, hung up, and then hailed a ride to a nearby fashion salon.


    Attending Granny Li¡¯s birthday banquet, she couldn¡¯t go without dressing up, which would be too impolite.


    In less than three minutes, a white car screeched to a halt in front of Ning Yichu.


    Thinking the ride had arrived, Ning Yichu hurriedly got into the back seat, ¡°The last digits of the mobile are 3098. Please hurry, driver, I¡¯m in a rush...¡±


    ¡°Xiao Chuchu, long time no see.¡±


    A carefree male voice came from the driver¡¯s seat.


    Ning Yichu, who was fastening her seatbelt, froze and looked up to see a face charming enough to captivate the masses, especially those narrow, fox-like eyes.


    ¡°Young Master Mu?!¡± Ning Yichu was shocked. Wasn¡¯t this Mu Bailang?


    When she married Li Lingyang back then, he had generously gifted her a yacht, which she still vividly remembers to this day.


    ¡°Sorry, I think I got on the wrong car...¡±


    ¡°Wait.¡± Mu Bailang stopped her with a smirk, ¡°You¡¯re also going to Granny Li¡¯s birthday banquet, right? What a coincidence, so am I. I¡¯ll give you a ride.¡±


    Ning Yichu continued to try to slide the door open to leave, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I still need to get a makeover.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d be honored to wait for a beauty like you. Luckily, I know a great Tony, so hang tight, I¡¯m about to give you an experience,¡± Mu Bailang, brimming with charm, whistled and then locked the central control, stepping on the gas.


    Ning Yichu had heard about Mu Bailang¡¯s reputation, but she trusted his character; seeing time was running short, she canceled her rideshare request and peacefully went with him.


    Especially since he had locked the central control, she certainly couldn¡¯t jump out the window, right?


    Mu Bailang was dressed in a flashy red suit today. Looking through the rearview mirror at Ning Yichu, he asked, ¡°Is Xiao Chuchu now working as a designer at Beiji?¡±


    Ning Yichu responded somewhat absently, ¡°Kind of a designer, but mainly working on jade carvings.¡±


    ¡°Wow, that¡¯s impressive. I remember you studied medicine at university. That¡¯s quite a leap, all the way across the Pacific Ocean. Truly impressive people excel at everything they do.¡±


    Ning Yichu laughed jokingly, ¡°Are you talking about yourself, Young Master Mu? You forsake a fortune worth billions to establish the country¡¯s largest entertainment group, spanning numerous fields and overshadowing several old brand entertainment companies¡ªa celebrated figure in the business world. My little skills with jade carving are hardly worth flaunting in front of you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re being too modest, Xiao Chuchu. Jade carving is an art form, while what I do in the entertainment business, making a few quick bucks, is honestly pretty vulgar,¡± Mu Bailang said with a tone of regret.


    Ning Yichu almost got goosebumps!


    He¡¯s practically making a fortune off the entertainment industry, calling it just ¡®a few quick bucks¡¯?


    With tens of millions of followers on social media, even if not all of them are die-hard fans, the ones that are show immense loyalty and have shaped his public image. And he still calls it vulgar?


    It seems true, saying the right thing to everyone, no wonder he enchants so many young ladies.


    In her memory, Mu Bailang¡¯s private life had always been messy.


    But he had never been labeled a jerk.


    On one hand, when he was dating, he was committed, never cheating.


    On the other hand, when he broke up with girlfriends, he was always very generous, so much so that his ex-girlfriends would even defend him on social media afterward.


    Getting involved with a guy like that is truly terrifying.


    Yet his personality was totally opposite that of Li Lingyang, and yet they managed to be good friends, which was quite extraordinary.


    Shortly after, Mu Bailang¡¯s car screeched to a halt at a very famous styling salon.


    Leading Ning Yichu inside, a flamboyantly effeminate man with fingers posed like orchid petals came up to greet them, ¡°Lang Lang, long time no see. I thought you¡¯d forgotten about me.¡±


    Ning Yichu thought being called ¡°Xiao Chuchu¡± by Mu Bailang was cringy enough, but hearing this man calling him ¡°Lang Lang,¡± she finally understood what it meant to be truly outrageous!


    Could Mu Bailang swing both ways?


    A flash of annoyance crossed Mu Bailang¡¯s handsome face, and he snapped, ¡°Cut it out. How many times have I told you not to call me that? People might think we¡¯re involved!¡±


    ¡°Oh, dear, the devil is angry... Oh, who is this beautiful lady?¡± The man¡¯s attention suddenly turned to Ning Yichu, interest alight in his eyes, sparking gossip, ¡°Your new girlfriend? Really sharp!¡±


    Mu Bailang shot him a sideways glance, ¡°What are you using your eyes for? Can¡¯t you see that this is Xiao Chuchu? Enough chit-chat, we¡¯re going to a senior¡¯s birthday banquet; hurry up and do her styling.¡±


    The flamboyant man transformed in an instant, eyes wide in surprise as he scrutinized Ning Yichu, ¡°You... you... you are President Li¡¯s ex-wife?¡±


    With that statement, Ning Yichu felt a twinge, but politely said, ¡°My name is Ning Yichu, and I have nothing to do with Li Lingyang anymore.¡±

 Chapter 51: 51: The Ex-Mother-in-Laws Harassment

    Chapter 51: Chapter 51: The Ex-Mother-in-Law¡¯s Harassment


    The man slapped his thigh, ¡°Oh my, it turns out to be Lady Ning, indeed seeing is believing! Don¡¯t worry, I have absolutely no problem with styling, I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re the brightest woman tonight...¡±


    Ning Yichu smiled faintly, somewhat amused. She hadn¡¯t expected that, after being divorced for so long, people still remembered her.


    However, it was clear that he was a close friend of Mu Bailang and meant no harm.


    Makeovers for women were time-consuming and laborious, so Mu Bailang casually found a VIP lounge to lie down, while Fu Cheng took Ning Yichu to the next room for a full-body spa, followed by choosing a dress and accessories for her look.


    One had to admit, the technique of this club was truly excellent.


    During the spa, she fell asleep, only to be gently awakened by the beautician, ¡°Lady Ning, the treatment is finished, you can go get your makeup done and choose a look.¡±


    ...


    Almost two hours later, Mu Bailang was sitting in the VIP lounge, reading through documents and occasionally making video calls.


    Not until the door of the lounge was knocked and Fu Cheng¡¯s seductive voice came from outside, ¡°Elder Mu, it¡¯s all set!¡±


    ¡°Come in.¡± Mu Bailang lazily closed his laptop and raised his head to see Ning Yichu pushing the door open. He was stunned at first sight and couldn¡¯t help but stand up and applaud, ¡°Xiao Chuchu, you really shouldn¡¯t be going to the North Pole; you should come to my entertainment group. I could definitely turn you into the next superstar. You are too beautiful.¡±


    The light blue dress contoured her slender waist, paired with a teardrop-shaped sapphire necklace. The faint fragrance in the air made her seem like a mermaid who had stepped out of the deep sea, noble and elegant.


    Ning Yichu tucked a stray hair behind her ear and pretended to sigh, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. Who knows how many times Young Master Mu has said this to how many girls?¡±


    ¡°Ouch, that hurts!¡± Mu Bailang exaggeratedly covered his chest, ¡°What do you take me for? Could those gaudy girls ever catch my eye?¡±


    ¡°Given how often you hit the entertainment headlines, trying to think of you as a gentleman, my mind can¡¯t help but conjure up images of some wild parties.¡±


    ¡°My reputation is ruined, ruined...¡±


    The two joked around and left the styling club, heading straight for the Li Mansion.


    Elsewhere, the Li Mansion was filled with luxury cars, and flowers lined the path; soft carpets were laid on the ground, emphasizing the sense of dignity and grandeur.


    As Granny Li¡¯s eldest grandson, Li Lingyang naturally needed to entertain the guests.


    Shen Jiangqing stayed by his side, looking very much the lady of the house.


    To show her importance, she had her makeup done early that morning and was perfectly styled.


    Wherever she went, people praised her and Li Lingyang for being a match made in heaven, ¡®a talented man and a beautiful lady¡¯, and being in the spotlight made her extremely satisfied.


    Only this way could she temporarily forget that she and Li Lingyang weren¡¯t yet married and how much Old Madam Li disliked her.


    In addition, Li Lingyang¡¯s parents and some of his siblings had also arrived.


    Li Jianbin and his wife, Su Huimiao, who lived in another villa area and had just returned from a vacation abroad, first paid their respects to Elder Madam Li before Shen Jiangqing took them to see their precious grandson.


    Chengcheng ran over excitedly as soon as he saw his grandparents, shouting ¡°grandpa, grandma.¡±


    Su Huimiao, who was somewhat biased towards boys, ignored Doudou and lovingly stroked the boy¡¯s hair, ¡°Chengcheng has grown taller, let granny have a look, husband, look at Chengcheng¡¯s little face, he looks so much like Lingyang did when he was young.¡±


    A stern expression was customary for Li Jianbin¡¯s face, but he couldn¡¯t hide his joy and hummed in agreement.


    Su Huimiao then took Shen Jiangqing¡¯s hand, telling her to focus her thoughts on Li Lingyang and to strive for an early marriage.


    Shen Jiangqing bit her lower lip, seemingly filled with grievances.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did Aling mistreat you...¡± Su Huimiao¡¯s question was cut short as her gaze suddenly fell upon a man and woman who had just entered the gate, her expression freezing on her face.


    A striking couple had walked in, surrounded by a group of guests.


    The man was in a flashy red suit, unmissable.


    But even more eye-catching was the graceful woman standing next to him!


    Shen Jiangqing followed Su Huimiao¡¯s gaze, a disbelieving light surging in her eyes, almost suspecting she was seeing things...that woman, was that Ning Yichu?


    How come she was wearing such a beautiful dress and had gotten together with Mu Bailang?


    Ning Yichu leaned on Mu Bailang¡¯s arm, nonchalantly making her way through the crowd, a faint and thin smile on her lips, holding a black gift box bag with noble elegance.


    As Su Huimiao came to her senses, she immediately charged over with a fierce momentum.


    Ning Yichu only felt a gust of wind hitting her face, and then the bag in her hand was snatched away by Su Huimiao, who threw it viciously to the ground.


    Grinding her teeth, Su Huimiao said, ¡°Ning Yichu? You shameless woman, how dare you show your face here? The Li Family doesn¡¯t welcome you; leave immediately¡ª¡ª¡±


    Elder Madam Li didn¡¯t know that when Ning Yichu had divorced back then, she was pregnant with an illegitimate child, but she was very clear about it!


    In her view, this was nothing less than cuckoldry for her son, and now she had the audacity to show up today; what did she want?


    Inside the gift box was the birthday present Ning Yichu had carefully prepared for Granny Li. Seeing it thrown harshly on the ground, a flicker of pain crossed her eyes as she quickly picked up the box, gently opened it to check, and, fortunately, the contents were intact, not smashed.


    But Su Huimiao¡¯s action had successfully caused her to chill.


    ¡°Mrs. Li, I came to wish Granny Li a happy birthday. Put another way, I am a guest, am I not? Is this the so-called hospitality of your family?¡±


    More than seven years ago, she had married Li Lingyang and lived in the Yudu Dragon Bay.


    Li Lingyang rarely came home, and by rights, she could have gone out to work, but Su Huimiao repeatedly made excuses to stop her and stayed at the Yudu Dragon Bay, forcing her to serve tea, wash clothes, cook, and occasionally even wash her feet, which was worse than being a maid.


    ¡°Get out! The Li Family doesn¡¯t have a guest like you! Don¡¯t think that just because you¡¯ve hooked up with Mu Bailang and are wearing a designer dress, you can pretend to be a socialite; you¡¯re not worthy!¡±


    The corners of Ning Yichu¡¯s mouth curled up in a cold, mocking smile, ¡°The birthday blessing is for Granny Li, and once the gift is delivered, I will naturally leave.¡±


    ¡°What good thing could you possibly bring? Our Li Family is not one of those families that cannot be shown in public...¡±


    ¡°Aunt,¡± Mu Bailang slightly narrowed his sharp, peach blossom eyes, ¡°be mindful of the occasion, don¡¯t tear down your own family¡¯s stage; it won¡¯t look good when trying to mend it later.¡±


    ¡°My mother was unaware of the disgraceful things this wretch had done and thus sent her the invitation,¡± Su Huimiao sneered coldly, but the more she spoke, the more furious she became.


    No, her son, a man bearing the glory of being bright and prominent, was actually being tainted by this piece of vermin.


    Su Huimiao raised her hand to slap Ning Yichu across the face!


    Suddenly, her wrist was tightly grabbed.


    Annoyed, Su Huimiao turned around, only to see a clearly defined large palm firmly grasping her arm!


    Shockingly, she exclaimed, ¡°Son, you...¡±


    ¡°Mom, it was me who had Mu Bailang bring her here,¡± Li Lingyang said, with raised eyebrows and an indifferent voice, his gaze lingering on Ning Yichu.


    The evening gown perfectly accentuated her proud figure, curvy in all the right places with a slender waist, the exposed skin smooth and delicate as snow, reflecting an unusual luster under the lights, especially those lips, plump and enticing.


    Suddenly, the memory of that last kiss crossed his mind.


    Her thin lips were like sweet jelly, beckoning for a kiss...


    ¡°What?¡± The color drained from Su Huimiao¡¯s face, always assuming it was Ning Yichu who had bewitched Elder Madam Li, annoyed, she said, ¡°Son, you know her shamelessness, and with so many people at tonight¡¯s event, you deliberately wanted her to upset me, right?¡±


    Li Lingyang gently released Su Huimiao¡¯s arm, emanating a dangerous aura, ¡°Mom, I invited her, and Granny is very much looking forward to seeing her. If it bothers you too much, you¡¯re welcome to leave early.¡±


    Su Huimiao patted her chest, almost crying out ¡®unfilial son!¡¯


    Could she really choose this woman over her own mother?


    But she couldn¡¯t refute her son and Elder Madam Li to their faces and had to reluctantly let someone lead Ning Yichu to the place for writing gifts.


    Shen Jiangqing, however, felt tumultuous inside, her eyes brimming with grudging poison, especially after Li Lingyang stepped in to help Ning Yichu, her hand trembling uncontrollably at her side.


    What do you mean ¡®he invited her¡¯? It was the old hag who invited her!


    In front of her, his fiance?e, he brazenly defended his ex-wife; where could she put her face?


    Her eyes flickered, and she deliberately said to Su Huimiao, ¡°Seeing how precious Lady Ning was with it just now, I wonder what kind of gift she has brought for Granny Li?¡±

 Chapter 52: 52 You Talk Too Much Today!

    Chapter 52: Chapter 52 You Talk Too Much Today!


    Su Huimiao was intrigued and followed Ning Yichu.


    Upon reaching the gift registry, Ning Yichu told the servant logging the gifts, ¡°A jade carving.¡±


    The servant looked at the gift box perplexedly and his eyes widened in astonishment, his mouth agape almost drooling, his face expressing sheer disbelief which made Su Huimiao puzzled too.


    ¡°Li Family is not a place for garbage. What did she give?¡± Su Huimiao lazily strolled over.


    Seeing the lady approaching, the servant beamed like a blooming flower, excitedly saying, ¡°Madam, it¡¯s incredible! Lady Ning gifted a human head jade carving. It¡¯s sculpted so vividly like Granny Li, I have never seen such a lifelike jade carving in my life. Lady Ning is truly thoughtful. I...¡±


    Initially disdainful and about to scold further, Su Huimiao was stunned when the servant opened the gift box to reveal the exquisite jade carving inside.


    ...


    Having mingled in high society for many years, she knew jade carving was a talent and art-focused industry where top jade sculptors charged by the gram for their labor, sometimes more expensive than the jade itself!


    A human figure was undoubtedly the most challenging in jade carving.


    Looking at this rare top-tier craftsmanship, she was tempted to touch it but forcibly suppressed her satisfaction and scoffed, ¡°What kind of jade is this? It better not be some fake stone or chemically treated...¡±


    Ning Yichu chuckled softly, too lazy to retort.


    ¡°Mom, this is Liaoning Xiu Jade. Ning Yichu is now internationally renowned Jade Sculptor M. If even her gifts are fakes, you won¡¯t find genuine ones in the market anymore,¡± Li Lingyang said, appearing out of nowhere, his deep gaze fixated on the jade carving.


    The human-sized ratio was about 1:2, clearly showing Granny Li¡¯s benevolent and radiant face, smiling as if gently looking at her, indescribably alluring.


    How well must one know Granny Li to sculpt her true likeness without seeing her in person?


    Liaoning Xiu Jade, known for its delicate and gentle quality, called ¡°spirit of heaven and earth, a treasure of Huaxia¡± was among the earliest discovered and used types of jade.


    Though not particularly costly, its value lay in being skillfully sculpted into a human head.


    Upon hearing this, Su Huimiao was immensely shocked. The poor girl who served her tea five years ago had become a Jade Sculptor?


    ¡°Did you carve this?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, it doesn¡¯t matter. It wasn¡¯t meant for you anyway.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Angered but unable to deny the jade¡¯s astonishing beauty, Su Huimiao was internally grateful she hadn¡¯t smashed it, for she would have been heartbroken.


    After Ning Yichu gave the gift, she didn¡¯t even glance at them and went straight to find Granny Li.


    Shen Jiangqing had never expected Su Huimiao to be swayed by Ning Yichu¡¯s gift, his expression notably stiff, his hand tightening around the stemmed glass, his tone feign healbe innocent.


    ¡°Lady Ning¡¯s craftsmanship is really superb, and tonight she looks so beautiful. The dress she¡¯s wearing, I think I¡¯ve seen it in a magazine, it¡¯s the masterpiece of Fu Cheng Fashion House, generally coveted by socialites.¡±


    Li Lingyang watched Ning Yichu¡¯s departing figure, his eyebrows slightly raised, her jade carving indeed astonishing.


    ¡°I heard Young Master Mu and Fu Cheng are good friends; it must be him who secured that dress for Lady Ning?¡±


    The insinuation was clear: Ning Yichu¡¯s personal life was questionable, involving a relationship with Mu Bailang.


    Li Lingyang frowned slightly upon hearing this, Shen Jiangqing thinking he was taking offense and continued more vigorously, ¡°I even saw her with Mr. Mo last time, and today it¡¯s Young Master Mu, think about it, her tactics are indeed clever.¡±


    Little did he expect, just as he finished speaking, a chilling voice rang in his ear, ¡°You¡¯re talking too much tonight.¡±


    Click, Shen Jiangqing felt as if something shattered by his ear, both angry and stifled, and before he could speak again, Li Lingyang had let go of his hand and walked away!


    In a secluded part of the balcony, Ning Yichu found Granny Li.


    While everyone else¡¯s focus was on Chengcheng, Li Family¡¯s eldest grandson, Granny Li favored Doudou and Ningning the most and was currently on the balcony playing with the two little girls.


    ¡°Granny, how can you neglect your own birthday party to laze around here?¡±


    ¡°Yichu, you¡¯re here?¡± Granny Li was delighted to see Ning Yichu but chided, ¡°They were giving me a headache with all their chatter, I¡¯m just spending some time with the kids.¡±


    ¡°Granny, happy birthday! Wishing you prosperity as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity as enduring as Southern Mountains!¡±


    Granny Li smiled broadly and introduced her great-granddaughter and Ningning to her, ¡°Let me introduce you, this is my great-granddaughter Doudou and beside her is her best friend Ningning.¡±


    Yichu knew as soon as she saw the setup that Li Lingyang hadn¡¯t told Granny Li the truth, so she played along, saying, ¡°Wow, such cute kids, and so beautiful.¡±


    Doudou¡¯s little face was bashfully red as she pursed her lips.


    Ningning was much livelier, her big eyes watery, ¡°Auntie, you look super beautiful tonight, the prettiest person I¡¯ve ever seen.¡±


    ¡°Ah, your hair...¡± Yichu habitually reached to pat Ningning¡¯s head but instantly felt the texture was off.


    Ningning quickly blinked and cupped her hands over her mouth to form a megaphone, whispering, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you a secret, I¡¯m wearing a wig to make it look like I have more hair!¡±


    ¡°Ha ha, what a little sprite,¡± Granny Li¡¯s smile deepened.


    Actually, she was a little nervous introducing Doudou, after all, the child was born from Li Lingyang¡¯s affair, but seeing Yichu¡¯s completely relieved expression made her feel a bit sour.


    It seemed she had truly let go of Aling.


    Well, perhaps she should play matchmaker for her tonight.


    The three generations stayed on the balcony for a while and then, seeing the time was right, they headed back to the main hall.


    From a distance, Li Lingyang, having just finished socializing, glanced over and saw the cheerful group.


    Especially Doudou and Ningning, clinging to Yichu like little tail-waggers, one might think they were the twins.


    Looking at Chengcheng, like a little prince, Su Huimiao doted on him and showed him off everywhere, telling everyone, ¡°This is my little grandson.¡±


    Li Lingyang pinched the bridge of his nose, with such a grandmother, no wonder Doudou preferred playing with Ningning.


    What surprised Li Lingyang though, was noticing Ningning sneakily glancing at him.


    That crafty little girl, what was she up to?


    Thinking of the upcoming test results, his heart felt as if it was being scratched by a cat, the anticipation more complex than negotiating with a multinational corporation.


    In fact, Ningning had been worried that if Li Lingyang found out she was her mommy¡¯s daughter, he might pick on her or doubt her daddy¡¯s identity, but...


    He had barely interacted with her at all.


    He didn¡¯t care about her in the least!


    Hmph, lousy father.


    And yet, her little heart had harbored a slight fantasy about him? Negative review.


    At that moment, the soothing romantic music abruptly stopped.


    The host walked onto the stage and announced to the guests that the birthday banquet was officially starting.


    A spotlight fell on Granny Li as she walked to the stage and exchanged pleasantries with the guests, then suddenly changed the topic, ¡°I¡¯m delighted everyone could join this old lady¡¯s birthday banquet, but as I age, it¡¯s becoming quite exhausting to celebrate every year. So, for the opening dance, Chu Chu will dance in my place. I wonder which gentleman might be her dance partner?¡±


    Yichu had been supporting Granny Li and was quite close to the stage. As Granny Li¡¯s words ended, the lighting crew turned a spotlight towards her.


    Yichu¡¯s heart sank in panic as she looked toward Granny Li in alarm.


    Granny Li winked at her playfully and said leisurely, ¡°Five years ago, my grandson let me down and lost my favorite granddaughter-in-law, but, I believe gold shines no matter where it is. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll find where she truly belongs.¡±


    Granny Li¡¯s voice echoed throughout the venue.


    She controlled a significant share of the Li Group and, though not very active in business now, securing her favor could ease any future endeavors with the backing of the Li Group.


    At that, quite a few men were eager to try.


    Doudou noticed many men eyeing the beautiful aunt hungrily, which she didn¡¯t like at all.


    She ran over to Li Lingyang and tugged at the hem of his clothes, dancing with her little hands, signaling him to go dance with the aunt.

 Chapter 53: 53 Lets Dance

    Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Let¡¯s Dance


    Li Lingyang¡¯s tone was extremely tender, ¡°Do you want me to dance with her?¡±


    Doudou nodded earnestly, like pounding garlic, nodding over and over.


    ¡°Doudou, Daddy can¡¯t dance with her because this is a special arrangement Granny Li made for Lady Ning,¡± Shen Jiangqing¡¯s heart skipped a beat, hurriedly intervening.


    Doudou looked confused, adorably staring at Li Lingyang.


    She thought Daddy was especially handsome and suited to dance with Auntie.


    ¡°Because Daddy has your mommy, and dancing with her would cause unnecessary trouble,¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s deep gaze pierced through the air, sweeping over Ning Yichu as he coaxed his daughter.


    ...


    Doudou tilted her head, still not understanding.


    Ningning humphed and tugged on Doudou¡¯s little arm, whispering into her ear.


    Doudou listened and suddenly understood, no longer asking Li Lingyang to accompany Ning Yichu in the dance, even casting a somewhat disdainful glance his way.


    Li Lingyang was very curious about what Ningning had actually said to Doudou.


    However, Ningning just stuck out her tongue and ran off with Doudou.


    Li Lingyang, ¡°...¡± This kid, definitely cannot be mine!


    Mu Bailang loved to watch the excitement and certainly wouldn¡¯t mind making a fuss. Of course, Ning Yichu had also been brought by him, and now that Granny Li had upset the apple cart, he immediately offered a helping hand, inviting Ning Yichu to dance.


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t have asked for more; her grandma was too eager to introduce her to suitors, but those men weren¡¯t really interested in making friends. They were after her grandma¡¯s status.


    Granny Li had originally wanted to set up Ning Yichu with a distinguished gentleman, but ended up waiting for Mu Bailang. It didn¡¯t make Ning Yichu any more awkward; she cheerfully went along with it.


    As the romantic music started, the two of them tapped their feet to the beat, lazily and perfectly.


    Who knows what Mu Bailang said, but it made Ning Yichu laugh out loud several times, her face seeming to flush.


    Li Lingyang darkly watched the two, his expression growing increasingly menacing.


    Mu Bailang really had nothing better to do, why was he everywhere?


    But seeing Ning Yichu laugh and talk with him, a strong sense of irritation exploded in his chest. How long had it been since he lost control over a woman? So long he could hardly remember.


    He only felt that he wasn¡¯t suited to dance with Ning Yichu, and even less did he want her dancing with other men!


    ¡°Aling, shall we dance too?¡± Shen Jiangqing suggested, seeing him staring at the dance floor.


    She had dressed so beautifully, just waiting to dance the opening dance with Li Lingyang and stun everyone present.


    But who would have thought that old hag would pull such a stunt...


    Li Lingyang tugged at his tie, the words he instinctively wanted to refuse somehow didn¡¯t come out. After a pause of silence, he entered the dance floor with Shen Jiangqing.


    The large dance floor, originally dominated by Ning Yichu and Mu Bailang, and the photographers¡¯ focus also on them.


    Now that Li Lingyang and Shen Jiangqing had also taken the floor, suddenly there was a point of comparison.


    Shen Jiangqing spared no effort to make this dance the best, striving for every posture to be one hundred percent perfect, while also pretentiously chatting and laughing with Li Lingyang, as if to show how loving they were.


    Out of the corner of his eye, Li Lingyang glanced over to Ning Yichu and Mu Bailang.


    With the music smooth and soothing, Mu Bailang wrapped his arm around Ning Yichu¡¯s waist, whispering in her ear, ¡°Xiao Chuchu, does it seem like Old Li is always staring over here?¡±


    Ning Yichu, feeling the sharp gaze from Li Lingyang, wasn¡¯t worried about him doing anything under the public eye, ¡°He has their dance, we have ours.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve always thought you and Old Li were quite a match. To divorce like that, did you ever hold any resentment?¡± Mu Bailang asked, his peach blossom eyes slightly squinting.


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t want to bring up the past in front of him, forcing a smile, ¡°Young Master Mu, if you keep getting distracted, I might accidentally step on your foot.¡±


    Mu Bailang couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°You¡¯re really not cute at all.¡±


    ¡°I am cute, would I need to get a divorce then? Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, who said that. I think it¡¯s Old Li who¡¯s missing a pair of eyes to see the cuteness! Actually, let me tell you a secret, I don¡¯t really like that woman Shen Jiangqing either, I always feel she...¡±


    ¡°Stop! Young Master Mu, don¡¯t try to trap me with your words. Let¡¯s just focus on dancing.¡± Ning Yichu interrupted him.


    Mu Bailang chuckled and shook his head.


    As the music reached its climax, he took Ning Yichu for a twirl.


    Li Lingyang happened to twirl Shen Jiangqing at the same time.


    The four of them lined up in a straight row, with the gazes of the two women crossing and reflecting different emotions.


    It seemed that Ning Yichu should have completed the turn and returned to Mu Bailang¡¯s embrace, but out of the blue, Mu Bailang suddenly pushed her from behind. She stumbled forward, and when she came to her senses, she had fallen into the broad, warm embrace of a man.


    She looked up to meet the handsome and cool features of the man.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s mind went blank as she reflexively struggled to get up from his chest.


    Damn it, Mu Bailang, you backstabber!


    She quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mu Bailang pushed me, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose...¡±


    Li Lingyang didn¡¯t let her go, instead, he precisely caught hold of her waist and smoothly spun her around, whispering next to her ear, ¡°With so many eyes on us, let¡¯s finish this dance first.¡±


    His thoughts were, at least Mu Bailang had the sense to do this.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we avoid this... to prevent any misunderstanding?¡±


    Ning Yichu stiffened up, while whispers from the crowd made her cheeks inadvertently turn a deeper red, more embarrassed than when Granny Li had pushed her out earlier.


    ¡°If you just walk away now, it¡¯ll look more like you¡¯re hiding something,¡± Li Lingyang continued to whisper in her ear.


    His breath was delicate and hitting her lightly, causing Ning Yichu¡¯s heart to panic, and she turned her face away, trying to comfort herself. It¡¯s just a dance; what¡¯s the big deal?


    At most, it¡¯s just the setting that¡¯s different, with more onlookers than usual!


    If Li Lingyang isn¡¯t avoiding the situation, then why should she worry?


    She immediately prepared herself mentally and, following the rhythm of the music, found her beat once more.


    As they rotated, her skirt fluttered, mingling with Li Lingyang¡¯s black suit, creating an unconventional beauty.


    The song ended, and Ning Yichu looked at the handsome face so close to hers, her heartbeat suddenly skipping a beat.


    Li Lingyang held her tightly, listening to the applause from the guests around them. His eyes moved from her cheek to her crimson lips, and for a moment, he felt the impulse to kiss her deeply!


    In her haste, Ning Yichu pushed him away and pretended to fix her skirt, her tone both official and polite, ¡°The atmosphere was really nice just now, we both got too absorbed in the dance. President Li, your dancing is excellent; I¡¯m impressed.¡±


    Suddenly missing the warmth in his arms, Li Lingyang came back to his senses and said with intense focus, ¡°You danced well too, much better than seven years ago.¡±


    Back when they first got married seven years ago, they had also danced together in public to dispel people¡¯s suspicions.


    But at that time, Ning Yichu was not comfortable with being the center of attention, and due to her nervousness, she often made mistakes and stepped on his feet continuously.


    After the dance, he almost threw her into the couch in a fit of angry embarrassment, saying dancing with her was torture, and his tone was as disgusted as it could be!


    Ning Yichu¡¯s mouth curled into a slight smile, maintaining a hypocritical grin, ¡°These past five years, I¡¯ve actually been living quite freely in Europe, and I often thought to myself that when we meet again, I must dazzle you. I wanted to show you that I could still live well without you.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s voice overflowed with a deep chuckle, ¡°Then congratulations, you¡¯ve succeeded. I have indeed been attracted to you recently.¡±

 Chapter 54: 54: Colluding Shamefully, Turning the Tables

    Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Colluding Shamefully, Turning the Tables


    A hoarse voice suddenly came, as if smashing directly into Ning Yichu¡¯s heart.


    There was a scent of alcohol on him; could he be drunk and speaking nonsense?


    Yet when he danced, his movements were very neat and free, nothing like those of a drunk man.


    Just when Ning Yichu was somewhat unsure of his intentions, the man¡¯s gaze suddenly sharpened, and he said, glaring at her, ¡°No woman has ever been as fearless as you, carrying a child and deceiving me for five years! Tell me, should I go and have a paternity test done with Ningning?¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s heartbeat seemed to stop abruptly, but soon she laughed out loud, looking very carefree.


    ¡°I¡¯m really going to die laughing because of you. Do you have a missing-child syndrome or something? You kept asking me about an illegitimate son before, and now you¡¯ve moved on to asking about an illegitimate daughter? Okay, fine. I don¡¯t mind if you want to humiliate yourself. Later, I¡¯ll have Ningning leave her sample, and you guys can go get tested.¡±


    ...


    Her indifferent expression was like a bucket of cold water pouring down, causing Li Lingyang to gently furrow his brow. Had he really overthought?


    Was the mysterious man mentioned by Ning Yichu also real?


    ¡°I will!¡±


    ¡°Please, go ahead and do it. I couldn¡¯t ask for more, so you¡¯ll stop pestering me.¡±


    More and more photographers came over to take pictures, and Ning Yichu, not wanting to share a frame with him, spoke casually before quickly walking away.


    Her delicate body brushed past Li Lingyang¡¯s shoulder as she left, a faint scent of gardenia lingering in the air.


    Li Lingyang stared at her retreating figure, a dim light flickering in his dark eyes.


    Soon, he was caught up again by Shen Jiangqing and a group of guests, leaving him no time to think further.


    Shen Jiangqing knew intentional Mu Bailang was.


    She couldn¡¯t afford to offend Mu Bailang either.


    She didn¡¯t even dare secretly apply any medicine to Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes because the two were truly good brothers, having grown up as close as brothers.


    For some reason, every time she was in front of Mu Bailang, she had the impression that he could see right through her.


    Once the opening dance finished, the atmosphere on-site became even warmer, with everyone chatting in small groups.


    From time to time, some people still wanted to gain favor with Ning Yichu.


    Even though they knew she had just danced with Mu Bailang, they still kept chasing her.


    Ning Yichu understood very well that these people were drawn by Granny Li¡¯s affection for her, not out of genuine concern. After tactfully refusing, she found Ningning, who was secretly eating ice cream.


    Ningning wasn¡¯t generally allowed to eat so much ice cream and immediately looked like a caught schoolchild, complaining aggrievedly, ¡°Mommy, I only ate a little bit more.¡±


    ¡°Or was it a lot more?¡± Ning Yichu laughed.


    Ningning looked embarrassed.


    ¡°After eating the ice cream, I immediately drank some hot water,¡± she still tried to argue.


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...¡± where did this strange theory come from?


    She took Ningning and Doudou to another corner to sit. With two little babies as shields, no young men came up to her again. Out of boredom, she noticed a favor placed on the side.


    One of the blue and white porcelain items caught her attention.


    This seemed...


    It¡¯s a fake?!


    She had been around the jewelry and gemstone circles, so she had some discernment.


    She picked up the blue and white porcelain and examined it closely.


    Doudou and Ningning popped their heads out, ¡°That was a gift for Great Granny, Mommy, what are you looking at?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not quite sure, let me take another look...¡± Ning Yichu had just said this when suddenly someone passed by and bumped her harshly.


    She lost her balance, her body staggered clumsily a couple of times, and as a result, her hand slipped and the porcelain smashed to the ground with a crash.


    Ning Yichu stared at the shattered vase, dumbstruck, and turned angrily to the man in the suit next to her, ¡°Why did you bump into me?¡±


    The man, probably in his late twenties, wore a loose blue suit, his handsome face slightly flushed, his hair messy, giving him a somewhat rakish appearance. He asked innocently, ¡°When did I bump into you? Little sister-in-law, you accidentally broke Granny¡¯s antique, you can¡¯t blame it on me.¡±


    Upon hearing the address ¡°little sister-in-law,¡± Ning Yichu immediately realized that the man before her was Li Lingyang¡¯s half-brother from a different mother¡ªLi Jingtian!


    He was the child of Li Jianbin and a dance girl from a brief fling, who, during a power transition within the Li family, had brought him to their door, nearly causing Mr. Li to strip him of his inheritance rights.


    It was also because of this that Li Jianbin did not like this illegitimate son, often abandoning him abroad without concern.


    Perhaps due to an unhappy childhood, when Ning Yichu was at the Li residence, she often heard of his misdeeds abroad, which were simply appalling.


    ¡°It¡¯s just a fake antique, is there a need to pin it on you? You clearly bumped into me, denying it and even turning it around on me, Second Young Master Li, as a person, especially as a man, it¡¯s best to be responsible.¡±


    ¡°A fake?¡± Li Jingtian chuckled, ¡°Little sister-in-law, you can eat whatever you want, but you must be careful with your words.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± The commotion quickly drew the attention of the guests. Shen Jiangqing and Li Lingyang walked over, and upon seeing the shattered porcelain on the ground, their expressions darkened abruptly, ¡°This was a birthday gift for Granny!¡±


    Shen Jiangqing looked inconsolable, ¡°Lady Ning, I know you resent me for taking Aling, but you can¡¯t stir trouble on Grandma¡¯s joyous day! This porcelain was one of her favorite gifts...¡±


    Ning Yichu had initially intended to resolve the matter quietly, but Shen Jiangqing¡¯s loud protests drew even more onlookers.


    Even Li Jianbin and his wife came over, their expressions earnest and accusing.


    In a moment, Ning Yichu became the target of everyone¡¯s arrows, as if she had deliberately broken the vase to get back at Shen Jiangqing.


    That only made her heart grow colder, ¡°The one stirring trouble isn¡¯t me, it¡¯s the person who gave Granny a fake.¡±


    ¡°What? Are you saying my porcelain is a fake?¡± Shen Jiangqing was so taken aback he almost laughed, staring at her incredulously.


    Li Jingtian watched the quarrel between the two women lazily, interjecting, ¡°Lady Ning did indeed say it was a fake, so its destruction is no great loss.¡±


    Granny Li¡¯s 80th birthday should have been a time for family unity, which is why they specifically called Li Jingtian back from abroad.


    But that didn¡¯t mean everyone in the Li family welcomed him.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s feelings toward this half-brother were complex. Hearing him continually stir the pot, he swept over him with a cold, commanding gaze, ¡°Shut up!¡±


    Li Jingtian made a zipping gesture across his lips and obediently closed his mouth.


    But the quarrel did not stop because of his silence.


    Granny Li, now knowing the whole story, looked from Ning Yichu to Shen Jiangqing and ultimately wanted to keep the peace, ¡°It¡¯s just a piece of porcelain, it¡¯s broken, so let¡¯s throw it away, it¡¯s no big deal.¡±


    ¡°Mom, you¡¯re easy to talk, but Ning Yichu actually tried to shirk responsibility by calling this a fake! That changes the nature of things, it¡¯s simply despicable, we can¡¯t just let this go...¡± Su Huimiao heard this and immediately became indignant.

 Chapter 55: 55: A Fake?

    Chapter 55: Chapter 55: A Fake?


    Granny Li glared fiercely at Su Huiyue and then turned to Ning Yichu, ¡°Chu Chu, you say this is a fake, what is your basis?¡±


    ¡°Granny, ancient blue and white porcelain contained many impurities in its body, and due to limited crushing conditions, numerous air pores could be seen, presenting as small iron-brown dots. After an aging process, the final product appeared extremely delicate. However, with modern technology being so advanced, the finished products almost have no air pores and don¡¯t undergo aging, resulting in an overall dryness and a lack of plasticity...¡±


    Li Lingyang and Granny Li both had some research in antiques and naturally knew that Ning Yichu was telling the truth.


    Granny Li pondered, then ordered someone to bring over the broken porcelain fragments to check.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s heart tightened, and she began her tearful accusation, ¡°Lady Ning, do you think you understand antiques better than the experts? This blue and white porcelain was purchased for over five million from an auction house in Zurich! The invoice and certificates are complete, and it has also been verified by experts. If this is a counterfeit, then what is real?¡±


    As soon as all materials were provided, everyone initially inclined to think it was a counterfeit immediately reversed their thinking.


    ...


    Indeed, if the experts had certified it as genuine, could Ning Yichu really know better than the experts?


    Ning Yichu also frowned, unsure of what the problem might be, but she trusted her own judgment.


    ¡°Anything made by humans can be counterfeited, and what¡¯s more, from transporting it back from Zurich¡ªthat long distance¡ªwho knows if the people from the shipping company got greedy?¡±


    After all, she had often heard news of courier companies embezzling and then pretending to have lost valuable items, only to compensate a few hundred yuan in the end.


    Those so-called valuable items were only worth a few thousand or ten thousand yuan, yet people were willing to take risks. What about an antique worth over five million?


    But Shen Jiangqing didn¡¯t believe it, she thought Ning Yichu was just being obstinate and trying to escape responsibility!


    She looked at Li Lingyang with a pitiful gaze, hoping that Li Lingyang would decide for her.


    Li Lingyang spoke directly, ¡°Since you all have your opinions, let¡¯s invite another expert to appraise it. Elder Cheng Yuanzhong has a lifelong passion for blue and white porcelain and is the vice-president of the Porcelain Association. With his experience, he ought to be able to discern the authenticity.¡±


    Elder Cheng and Granny Li were already friends, and he had also sent his grandson over to congratulate her today.


    Granny Li regretted, ¡°How could I forget him, good, let¡¯s ask him to come over.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing also believed she hadn¡¯t made a mistake and spoke firmly, ¡°I respect your decision. This will also satisfy Lady Ning.¡±


    ¡°What if it is fake?¡± Ning Yichu countered.


    Shen Jiangqing hadn¡¯t even considered the possibility of it being fake and said directly, ¡°Whatever you say, we will do.¡±


    ¡°Fine, as long as you don¡¯t go back on your word.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s profound gaze flickered across Ning Yichu¡¯s face; she was confident and composed, utterly serene, without the slightest worry about the upcoming verification. The light fell as if casting a faint halo around her.


    Before long, someone sent by Li Lingyang brought back Old Sir Cheng.


    Li Lingyang got straight to the point, ¡°Elder Cheng, I believe Mr. Cheng has already informed you of the purpose of calling you here. Now we¡¯d like you to determine whether this blue and white porcelain is authentic or not.¡±


    Elder Cheng, wearing reading glasses and close to eighty years old, said, ¡°Let me see the fragments.¡±


    As he spoke, a servant passed the clean porcelain shards to him.


    At first, Elder Cheng looked both interested and regretful, but after carefully examining the pieces, he took off his glasses and shook his head helplessly, ¡°These are high-quality forgeries, and the craftsmanship is pretty mediocre. What¡¯s this I hear from my grandson? It¡¯s supposed to be a birthday gift for Old Madam Li?¡±


    As the words fell, the room went silent for two seconds, some disappointed, others eager to watch the drama unfold.


    Shen Jiangqing couldn¡¯t believe it and pressed him, ¡°Elder Cheng, please look again! This was purchased for over five million from the auction house. How could it be a fake?¡±


    ¡°Five million?¡± Elder Cheng sighed repeatedly, ¡°If you don¡¯t understand blue and white porcelain, then you shouldn¡¯t bid recklessly. Not everything from major auction houses is genuine!¡±


    In her words, she seemed quite dismissive.


    Shen Jiangqing felt people around her discussing her, and she immediately panicked. She had bought it specially at a high price, aiming to please Granny Li and to show off how favored she now was.


    But as a result... not only did she fail to become the center of attention, she ended up making Ning Yichu shine even brighter.


    ¡°Jiangqing, you really botched this one,¡± even Su Huimiao couldn¡¯t help but scold her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you think to have a few experts appraise it when you received it?¡±


    What if it had been fifty million tomorrow instead of just five million today? Would she have been swindled all the same?


    ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry, I really had no idea, I didn¡¯t expect such a big auction house to do something like this...¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to say to you!¡±


    Facing her mother¡¯s reproach, Shen Jiangqing was close to tears, stammering as she looked at Li Lingyang, ¡°Aling, you have to believe me, I truly didn¡¯t know it was a fake.¡±


    ¡°Inform the lawyer, contact the auction house and the shipping company, and seek compensation for the loss,¡± Li Lingyang ordered the servants indifferently, with neither much blame nor any consolation.


    His indifferent demeanor, where was the fiance? in that?


    He was almost like just a casual friend.


    In a flash, Shen Jiangqing¡¯s figure grew even more distressed, afraid of Ning Yichu kicking her while she was down, she quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m going to make a call too,¡± and hurried out of the hall.


    And after she left, Li Jingtian also disappeared from the crowd without a trace.


    In fact, Shen Jiangqing was overthinking it.


    Ning Yichu was not someone to nitpick so much.


    ¡°Granny, I¡¯m sorry, it seems I¡¯ve messed up the event again,¡± Ning Yichu said to Granny Li awkwardly, because after all, exposing the gift someone gave her as a fake did show a lack of respect to her.


    Granny Li burst into hearty laughter, ¡°Well done!¡±


    After laughing for a bit, she whispered, ¡°The truth is, I didn¡¯t want it when that woman brought it, but I couldn¡¯t disregard her in front of Aling and the two children. It was perfect that you smashed it. So satisfying!¡±


    Ning Yichu felt awkward, ¡°I really didn¡¯t mean to smash it, someone bumped into me.¡±


    ¡°Li Jingtian?¡±


    ¡°He probably didn¡¯t mean it either.¡±


    Granny Li mused for a while, feeling both sympathy and antipathy towards her young grandson, but in the end could only sum it up with, ¡°It¡¯s all because of the sins his father committed when he was young. To be honest, he has had it rough over the years.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about these unhappy things anymore, Granny. Today is your birthday...¡±


    At that moment, Aunt Tong came over with a cheerful smile, watching the joy on the old lady¡¯s face, and joked, ¡°Lady Ning, it¡¯s because of you she is so happy. It¡¯s been a long while since I¡¯ve seen the old madam in such good spirits.¡±


    ¡°Today is Granny¡¯s birthday, with so many people here to celebrate with her, how can all the credit go to me?¡±


    Aunt Tong covered her mouth and laughed, then reminded Granny Li, ¡°The home doctor is here, it¡¯s time to check your blood pressure and take your medicine.¡±


    Granny Li was old, and she had a home doctor coming for a check-up every morning and evening.


    Ning Yichu watched Granny Li go up the stairs.


    Granny Li took the opportunity to ask Ning Yichu to play with Doudou and Ningning together.

 Chapter 56: 56 Doudou Falls into the Water

    Chapter 56: Chapter 56 Doudou Falls into the Water


    Doudou and Ningning, one enjoyed the quiet while the other had grown restless in the hall and was eager to play outside in the garden.


    Thinking Ning Yichu had never visited the old Li family estate, Doudou excitedly offered to give her a tour of the house, which, after several years of renovations, indeed looked slightly different from how it had looked five years ago.


    Ning Yichu, who also didn¡¯t feel like mingling with the insincere guests any longer, walked out of the hall with the two little girls.


    Su Huimiao and Li Jianbin were busy entertaining guests, and Chengcheng, finding it dull, sneaked away.


    He saw the trio leaving the hall, chatting and laughing.


    Instantly, he felt a wave of revulsion!


    ...


    It was this woman¡¯s appearance that had caused his mommy to suffer so much humiliation!


    And that bratty girl too; even though he was her true brother and his mommy was her real family, she would stick to Ning Yichu as soon as she saw her, always competing with him for daddy¡¯s love. If only she would disappear...


    Suddenly, Chengcheng noticed Doudou leading them toward the back garden and, with a dark expression, he followed.


    ...


    Night had fallen, and the wind outside was quite strong.


    After all, Ning Yichu was wearing an off-the-shoulder dress, and the night breeze creeping along the hem chilled her skin, causing her to sneeze several times!


    The children, with their fast metabolisms and constant running around, naturally didn¡¯t feel cold. Hearing their mommy sneeze, Ningning immediately asked Ning Yichu to put on more clothes before continuing to play with them.


    Feeling truly cold, Ning Yichu called a servant to bring her a coat.


    But no sooner had she hung up the phone than she turned around to discover that the silhouettes of the two children had vanished...


    ¡°Plop,¡± a loud splash abruptly cut through the silence.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s heart skipped a beat; to her recollection, there was a massive artificial lake up ahead!


    This was bad.


    Ning Yichu hurried over, only to see Ningning standing alone by the lake while ripples spread across the surface¡ªDoudou was desperately flapping in the water, her immense panic causing her to struggle and sink further toward the middle of the lake!


    ¡°Doudou!!¡± Ning Yichu cried out, horrified.


    ¡°Mommy, Little Sister accidentally fell in. What do we do? Quick, save her...¡± Ningning called for help as soon as Ning Yichu arrived.


    Ning Yichu shed her coat and high heels almost instantly, diving into the lake without a second thought.


    In the dead of night, the water was as cold as ice seeping into her bones, but Ning Yichu, relying on her excellent swimming skills and strong willpower, quickly reached Doudou¡¯s side.


    The shimmering water surface conveyed Little Doudou¡¯s alarm as she caught sight of Ning Yichu swimming toward her.


    In that moment, her fear seemed to dissipate.


    Instead, a strange sense of security welled up within her.


    Soon, Ning Yichu had Doudou in her arms. They bobbed in the water, and sensing that Doudou was shivering from the cold, she comforted her gently, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, auntie¡¯s here, I¡¯ll save you soon...¡±


    ¡°Hmm...¡± Doudou¡¯s delicate little arms clung tightly to Ning Yichu, spitting out bubbles.


    Just then, Ning Yichu heard more shadows flickering at the shore, followed by another splash.


    Gathering her breath, she ignored everything else and focused on swimming back with Doudou.


    But her luck was truly abysmal; at that moment, her leg cramped up!


    The intense pain made it hard for her to keep balanced, and she plunged downwards sharply with Doudou, swallowing a mouthful of water. Realizing something was wrong, she hurriedly placed Doudou flat, keeping her afloat on the water¡¯s surface.


    When she had a premature birth, there was a fire at the European Hospital, and she risked her life to rush into the inferno to save her two children.


    Although she was rescued, a wardrobe fell and hit her waist and abdomen. Since then, her legs would cramp and ache whenever they got cold, particularly when the weather changed, and the pain would intensify!


    Doudou sensed that Ning Yichu seemed to be in discomfort and stared at her with concern.


    Ning Yichu was in so much pain that her face contorted, and she couldn¡¯t speak.


    ¡°Little Miss... Lady Ning, quickly hand Little Miss over to me!¡± It was then that a servant from the Li Family swam over; it turned out that the sound of falling into the water earlier was made by a servant.


    Without a second thought, Ning Yichu pushed Doudou towards the servant, who immediately grabbed Doudou and swam back.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s vision blurred with water, and as she tried to make a sound, the servant walked away without looking back...


    Gradually, she lost the strength to stay afloat and slowly began to sink, choking on more and more water.


    Doudou was lifted onto the shore by the servant.


    Li Lingyang rushed over, quickly shed his coat to wrap the shivering Doudou, and in concern, asked, ¡°Doudou? Doudou, wake up... Quick, someone call a doctor!¡±


    Everyone was in a flurry of panic, and Ningning was pushed into a corner.


    Struggling mightily, she made it to the lake¡¯s edge, only to realize her mommy hadn¡¯t come back!


    She panicked, grasping Li Lingyang¡¯s trousers, ¡°Mommy... save my mommy! My mommy hasn¡¯t come up yet, don¡¯t go...¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Li Lingyang came to a halt and spun around to look at the lake.


    He saw a black head bobbing up and down in the water and yelled furiously at the servants, ¡°Are you all fucking blind? There are so many of you, and no one thought to rescue her?¡±


    He was later to arrive and naturally didn¡¯t know that Ning Yichu had jumped in first to save Doudou.


    Su Huimiao hummed indifferently, ¡°That wretched girl swam so fast when she jumped in earlier. She must be a good swimmer; she¡¯s probably just faking it right now, leave her be.¡±


    Li Lingyang shot Su Huimiao a fierce look and without a word handed Doudou to another servant, then with a lifetime¡¯s resolve, he jumped into the lake.


    ¡°Oh my god, Aling, what are you doing? It¡¯s so cold, just get someone to save her...¡±


    Su Huimiao¡¯s shouts fell on deaf ears as Li Lingyang¡¯s mind was completely focused on the thought that Ning Yichu absolutely must not come to harm.


    At that moment, in the center of the lake, Ning Yichu, overburdened, started to sink completely, bubbles escaping from her mouth. She couldn¡¯t accept this; she had come just to attend her grandmother¡¯s birthday party. How had it come to risking her life?


    All for saving Shen Jiangqing¡¯s daughter...


    She still had her Ningning and Chen Bao to raise; she couldn¡¯t die!


    Perhaps it was her intense will to live that Ning Yichu began to hallucinate. She saw Li Lingyang swimming towards her with a worried face and then leaning down to deeply kiss her lips.


    He desperately passed his breath to her and then held her as he swam to the shore...


    When Li Lingyang laid Ning Yichu on the shore, her face was deathly pale, her body cold as ice, like a corpse. For a moment, he felt his heart stop beating!


    ¡°Ning Yichu! Wake up, your daughter is waiting for you! Come back to me¡ª¡± Li Lingyang slapped her lifeless cheeks and pinched her philtrum.


    He didn¡¯t realize how frantic he was at that time.


    Ningning lay beside her, crying breathlessly, ¡°Wuu wuu, Mommy, don¡¯t sleep, Ningning will never be naughty again...¡±


    That¡¯s when Old Madam Li and Su Huimiao, among others, belatedly realized that Ningning was not just Doudou¡¯s simple playmate, but Ning Yichu¡¯s daughter!


    Good heavens, Ning Yichu had, unbeknownst to them, captured Doudou¡¯s heart!

 Chapter 57: 57 Ningning is her daughter! Major exposure

    Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Ningning is her daughter! Major exposure


    Li Lingyang, of course, was in no mood to care what others thought. He swiftly pinched Ning Yichu¡¯s mouth and bent over to give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, compressing her chest repeatedly.


    This action stunned the onlookers further. Wasn¡¯t it said that President Li really hated his ex-wife?


    The worry and tension on his face told a completely different story!


    Soon, everyone found an explanation. Ning Yichu was in this predicament because she was trying to save Doudou. Naturally, President Li couldn¡¯t just watch her perish.


    ¡°Cough, cough...¡± Finally, after who knows how long, Ning Yichu groggily spat out a mouthful of water and struggled to open her eyes.


    Her throat burned with pain, and she still felt dizzy, with Li Lingyang¡¯s furious scolding ringing in her ears, ¡°Ning Yichu, are you an idiot? There were so many people by the roadside, couldn¡¯t you have shouted for help when you brought Doudou over?!¡±


    ...


    Had he not rescued her in time, she might already be meeting King Yanluo!


    Always claiming she wanted nothing to do with her ex-husband, so why did she risk her life to save his daughter?


    Such a foolish woman, saying one thing and meaning another!


    Li Lingyang¡¯s fury erupted in a tirade, frightening Ning Yichu terribly.


    She shivered, her eyelashes hung with glistening droplets, as she blankly stared at Li Lingyang.


    Li Lingyang paused as well, then abruptly took off the jacket from Mu Bailang and draped it over her, ¡°Feeling any better?¡±


    ¡°Doudou... how is she?¡± Ning Yichu asked painfully.


    Li Lingyang truly wanted to smack her on the head. She was in this state, and yet she still worried about Doudou?


    He swallowed the scolding he had at the tip of his tongue, ¡°You¡¯re so noble, handing Doudou over to the maid early on. She¡¯s fine now. The one in trouble is you.¡±


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t know if she was bewitched. Doudou wasn¡¯t even her daughter, but seeing the girl in peril had made her heart wrench. Now a weight seemed to lift, ¡°I¡¯m not too bad...¡±


    ¡°All right, everyone disperse,¡± Li Jianbin stepped forward at this moment, addressing the crowd before turning to Li Lingyang, ¡°Miss Ning is soaked. Take her back to her room to change clothes first.¡±


    Li Lingyang nodded slightly and then bent down to scoop Ning Yichu up, right in front of everyone¡¯s eyes!


    The sudden loss of ground made Ning Yichu gasp, then realizing the setting, she flushed with embarrassment and struggled in his arms, ¡°Put me down. I can walk on my own.¡±


    ¡°Stop moving. I don¡¯t want to be accused of owing a debt to Doudou¡¯s rescuer!¡± Li Lingyang turned a deaf ear and held the drenched woman even tighter.


    Each step he took was especially steady, almost completely smooth.


    Ning Yichu instinctively clung to his neck, slowly recalling the terrifying moments of choking on water, still somewhat in disbelief that he had rescued her!


    Upstairs in a specially arranged rest room, Ning Yichu changed into a clean coat.


    Doudou had also woken up by then.


    Shen Jiangqing, no one knew when, had rushed over, hugging Doudou and crying breathlessly.


    But Li Lingyang still sharply noticed, Shen Jiangqing¡¯s lipstick was smeared, and her hair somewhat disheveled. His stern brows slowly knitted together as he stopped her, ¡°Where were you just now?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing sobbed grievously, ¡°I was dealing with the compensation for that counterfeit vase. I turned around and the kids were gone, wuu wuu wuu, Doudou, mommy is so sorry, I promise I¡¯ll never leave you again...¡±


    Doudou felt uncomfortable being hugged so tightly, the little girl was sensitive and she smelled a very faint hint of cologne.


    But the fragrance wasn¡¯t familiar. It did not belong to her father.


    ¡°Doudou choked on a lot of water; you were choking her¡ªlet her go first...¡± Li Lingyang watched this scene dispassionately, thinking that if she had been more careful, Doudou might not have fallen into the water.


    Shen Jiangqing quickly let go of Doudou.


    Doudou anxiously gestured, asking how Ning Yichu was doing.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyebrows twitched. ¡°She¡¯s fine, changing her clothes in the next room.¡±


    ¡°Doudou, don¡¯t be deceived by Ning Yichu and Ningning,¡± Su Huimiao suddenly exclaimed furiously, ¡°I always thought Ningning was just a new friend you made, but she turns out to be Ning Yichu¡¯s daughter! She instigated Ningning to get close to you; who knows what tricks they¡¯re playing! My God, we¡¯ve been deceived by this disgusting duo all along...¡±


    Su Huimiao¡¯s shrill voice pierced the quiet of the night. Shen Jiangqing, who had been kneeling by the bed, froze and looked up in astonishment. ¡°Mom, what did you say? Ningning is... Ning Yichu¡¯s daughter? She...¡±


    ¡°Yes, it was just now when Ning Yichu fell into the water, that wretched girl cried out in panic!¡±


    ¡°What... what... They met at the banquet tonight, pretending not to know each other!¡± Ningning is Ning Yichu¡¯s daughter; that means the fire years ago didn¡¯t kill her cursed offspring!


    Ningning was alive. Did that mean that boy wasn¡¯t dead either?


    In a flash, Shen Jiangqing thought of the boy who looked exactly like Li Lingyang!


    A strong premonition hit him; he might be Ning Yichu¡¯s son!


    With a venomous tone, Su Huimiao said, ¡°That¡¯s why I say their mother and daughter are so scheming! Son, I don¡¯t want to see this duo anymore. Drive them away quickly...¡±


    Granny Li, who favored Ning Yichu the most in the Li Family, immediately interrupted Su Huimiao, ¡°What are you blabbering about? You want to drive people away without clarifying things; what if Ningning is actually a child of our Li Family?¡±


    Hearing this, Shen Jiangqing¡¯s heart raced!


    Fortunately, Su Huimiao spoke up in rebuttal, ¡°Mom, how could that be possible! Actually, we¡¯ve been hiding this from you; when Ning Yichu and Aling divorced, she was carrying another man¡¯s child! Aling never touched her, yet she got pregnant...¡±


    Granny Li¡¯s forehead veins throbbed, ¡°Stop slandering! Chu Chu liked Aling so much; she would never cuckold him!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me? Ask Aling...¡±


    Granny Li, seeing her so adamantly confident, looked doubtfully toward Li Lingyang.


    Li Lingyang, rubbing his fingertips, pondered for a moment under everyone¡¯s gaze and said, ¡°I¡¯ve known for a long time that she and Ningning were mother and daughter.¡±


    ¡°You knew all along?¡± Granny Li exclaimed, then remembered something and quickly asked, ¡°That¡¯s what I thought; my grandson couldn¡¯t possibly be that naive. Tell me, did you check the DNA, asking if Ningning is your child?¡±


    Creak¡ªthe sound of a turning doorknob slowly echoed as Ning Yichu, in a new set of clothes, walked out of the room, noticing the wide-open door of the study with a crowd sitting inside.


    Everyone was seated upright, seemingly discussing some grave matter.


    She suddenly felt a sinking feeling, an ominous premonition.


    The next second, she saw a group led by Su Huimiao and Shen Jiangqing casting doubtful glances at her!


    ¡°Ning Yichu, you wicked-hearted woman, using Ningning to get close to my daughter! Tell me, what are your intentions? Today¡¯s incident with Doudou falling into the water, did that have anything to do with you?¡± Shen Jiangqing yelled, somewhat hysterically, his face showing panic hidden from others.


    Now that the child hadn¡¯t died and Ning Yichu had returned with the child, what did she intend to do?


    To snatch away Li Lingyang, or to take revenge on her?

 Chapter 58: 58: The Parentage Test Results are Out

    Chapter 58: Chapter 58: The Parentage Test Results are Out


    Ning Yichu was left dumbfounded by her barrage of accusations, and only after a couple of seconds did she manage to curl her lips into a cold sneer, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be looking at the psychiatric department? If I had pushed Doudou into the water, would I have gone to rescue her, nearly losing my own life?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s quite possible this was all part of your plan, a self-directed performance, just so you could become Doudou¡¯s lifesaver! After all, you can pretend not to recognize Ningning; I truly find you terrifying...¡± Shen Jiangqing shed her previously elegant fac?ade, her features contorting somewhat ferociously as she yelled.


    Before Ning Yichu could even speak, Su Huimiao had also rushed over, ¡°That¡¯s right, I nearly forgot, with your cruel and venomous heart, what wouldn¡¯t you do?¡±


    ¡°Doudou, tell Mommy, how did you fall into the water?¡± Shen Jiangqing asked Doudou again.


    Doudou was startled by the fiery hatred in her eyes, turned her head, and plunged into Li Lingyang¡¯s arms for a sense of security.


    However, after a couple of seconds, the little girl seemed to realize something and quickly bounced out of Li Lingyang¡¯s embrace.


    ...


    She was smart and knew Granny Li had the final say in the house. Without another word, she ran to Old Madam Li and gestured effectively.


    Granny Li understood, ¡°Are you saying, you and Ningning went to the lake to feed the carp, but the wooden barrier came loose, and that¡¯s how you accidentally fell into the lake?¡±


    Doudou nodded vigorously and then used more gestures, ¡°It has nothing to do with the pretty auntie; she was the first to jump in and save me. You can¡¯t slander her!¡±


    ¡°The wooden barrier came loose?¡± Shen Jiangqing clung to the key point.


    With young children in the household, places like the lakeside were always blocked off with wooden barriers to prevent the children from accidentally falling into the water.


    ¡°With Granny¡¯s birthday banquet approaching and expecting many children to attend, I had specifically instructed the servants a few days ago to reinforce the wooden barriers. How could they suddenly come loose?¡± Shen Jiangqing countered, her accusation sharply aimed at Ning Yichu.


    Both Granny Li and Li Lingyang also came to a realization, their faces darkening at the thought. This wasn¡¯t just a simple case of falling into the water; it might have been premeditated.


    At that moment, Li Lingyang caught a glimpse of one of the maids in panic, cringing as if fearing something.


    ¡°Luna, did you see something?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s voice came out sharp and piercing, abruptly hailing the maid.


    The maid¡¯s legs went soft, almost collapsing to her knees, shaking her head repeatedly, ¡°No... no, I didn¡¯t see anything, I don¡¯t know...¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t tell the truth now, leave the Li Mansion this instant, and never be employed here again!¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s voice grew heavier, a palpable intimidation almost piercing the air and going straight to the maid¡¯s heart.


    The maid was in total panic, casting a frightened glance at Shen Jiangqing and Chengcheng, stuttering, ¡°I... I¡¯ll tell, but I didn¡¯t see who loosened the wooden barrier. I just saw Lady Ning and Ningning taking Miss Doudou out, then Ningning Miss ran ahead, and Miss Doudou followed, and Lady Ning picked up a call. When she turned her head, she found Miss Doudou had fallen into the water...¡±


    As her words fell, she seemed to point everyone towards a new clue, that Ningning was the first to run to the lakeside and Doudou had followed right after!


    Ning Yichu, hearing her daughter being accused, was even more furious than when the accusations targeted herself, ¡°What do you mean? Are you suggesting my daughter deliberately loosened the wooden barrier to frame Doudou? Did you see this with your own eyes? Ningning is only four years old and is good friends with Doudou, how could she possibly do such a thing?¡±


    Accusing Ningning of harming someone was something Ning Yichu would never believe!


    Overcome with anger, she felt a wave of dizziness, a coldness as if from excessive blood loss, and she nearly passed out.


    Ningning quickly held her, her small face turning extremely pale. Indeed, she was the one who ran to the lakeside to see the carp first, and then Doudou had followed.


    But she had never known that the plank was loose, which would cause Doudou to fall down.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it, it wasn¡¯t me who tampered with the plank, I didn¡¯t harm anyone!¡± she explained anxiously, her large eyes staring at Li Lingyang, ¡°I didn¡¯t hurt my little sister! I really treated her as a good friend...¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s emotions surged, wanting to defend her daughter, but she still had water in her lungs and ended up gasping for air, coughing repeatedly.


    ¡°Wow...¡± Doudou couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, she desperately gestured to explain, but no one saw her, and she suddenly burst into loud sobs.


    The little one¡¯s crying pierced into Li Lingyang¡¯s heart, and he scooped up Doudou in his arms, his sharp cold eyes sweeping over everyone, ¡°Ningning was invited by Doudou. If she wanted to harm Doudou, she would have done so long ago, not waited until today! You all don¡¯t need to guess wildly. If you want to argue, go outside, don¡¯t frighten Doudou!¡±


    Granny Li also spoke up to stop them, ¡°I think you are all blinded by lard, not using your brains at all. Chu Chu, Ningning, Granny believes in you.¡±


    Ning Yichu had a tearful look in her eyes, it was unclear whether it was because of Doudou crying or because of Granny Li and Li Lingyang¡¯s trust.


    She held Ningning tightly in her arms, took a deep breath and said, ¡°As a mother, I can¡¯t watch my child get hurt, even if the child is born from the woman I hate the most! Granny, since your birthday banquet is almost over, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s any need for me to stay, thank you for your trust.¡±


    Ning Yichu staggered as she carried Ningning out, Li Lingyang called out to her, ¡°Wait.¡±


    ¡°Is there something else?¡± Ning Yichu¡¯s voice became much colder in an instant.


    Li Lingyang looked at her slender figure, his brow furrowed, ¡°It¡¯s hard to get a taxi from here, let me take you home.¡±


    ¡°No need, my best friend is coming to pick me up.¡±


    Li Lingyang moved his lips, ¡°You saved Doudou, I should...¡±


    ¡°I suggest you stay here, better investigate the planks coming loose. Ningning just happened to attend the birthday party, the real culprit behind the scenes is certainly not targeting her! Doudou¡¯s safety is more important than anything else!¡± These words seemed to be directed at Li Lingyang, as well as to the Li household.


    Finally, under Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze, Ning Yichu walked out of the Li Mansion.


    Li Lingyang handed Doudou over to Shen Jiangqing, arranging for a detailed investigation into why the plank could have been loose.


    Was it an accident, or was it man-made?


    Shen Jiangqing offered a few insincere comforts to Doudou and then tried to follow Li Lingyang, planning to give him a piece of her mind, and to ensure that Ningning was stamped as illegitimate! However, Li Lingyang gave her no chance, because, shortly after the arrangements were made, Li Lingyang received a phone call from Special Assistant Xu.


    ¡°President Li, the sample comparison results are out!¡±


    ¡°Why so late?¡± Li Lingyang was annoyed. Ning Yichu had just left; would he still be able to catch up now?


    Special Assistant Xu wiped the sweat from his forehead; he had already rushed the process, but to avoid any mistakes in the sample comparison results, he had done it again.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, President Li, the results have been sent to your email.¡± He only hoped President Li could stay calm after reading it.


    Shaking off everyone else, Li Lingyang strode to the garage, bent over to get into the driver¡¯s seat, and then opened the test report...

 Chapter 59: 59: Someone who raises an army to exact justice...

    Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Someone who raises an army to exact justice...


    The night wind howled as Ningning¡¯s delicate little body nestled in Ning Yichu¡¯s arms.


    ¡°Mommy, I really didn¡¯t harm my little sister. I didn¡¯t know that the wooden board had come loose...¡±


    Ningning poked her head out from her embrace, mumbling softly, her round chubby face filled with guilt.


    ¡°I know Ningning wouldn¡¯t hurt anyone.¡±


    Ningning was after all a tad smarter than other children, her mind also very clear, ¡°But grandpa and grandma seem to think I¡¯m the perpetrator. Does that mean I can¡¯t come to play with Doudou and Grandma Zeng anymore?¡±


    ¡°They actually despise me, it¡¯s because of me that they view you through a biased lens.¡±


    ...


    ¡°That¡¯s nonsense! It¡¯s clearly their vision that¡¯s impaired, you are a hundred times more beautiful than that vixen, and a hundred times kinder...¡± Ningning indignantly defended, huffing with anger.


    Ning Yichu was comforted by her daughter¡¯s words, gently rubbing the little girl¡¯s cheek.


    She guessed she wouldn¡¯t be able to visit Doudou and Grandma Zeng from now on...


    Li Lingyang probably wouldn¡¯t keep pestering her, talking about how she disrupted Doudou¡¯s life...


    That was for the best, boundaries were meant to be drawn!


    ¡°Mommy, you¡¯re hugging me too tight!¡± Ningning squirmed in her embrace as Ning Yichu was lost in thought.


    Ning Yichu quickly relaxed her hold, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mommy got too absorbed.¡±


    ¡°Mmm~¡±


    ¡°Alright, you¡¯ve been playing all day; have a little sleep, your godmother will come to pick us up soon.¡± Ning Yichu softly cooed, her thoughts inevitably drifting to Doudou.


    Li Family¡¯s most cherished little daughter, Li Lingyang¡¯s pride and joy; she hadn¡¯t wronged anyone. Who could want to harm her?


    Soon after, Fan Yuke drove to the Li Mansion, picked up mother and daughter, and left.


    Ningning had already fallen asleep in her arms.


    Fan Yuke whispered, ¡°How was the birthday party today? Did you have fun?¡±


    ¡°It was quite fun, I suppose.¡± Ning Yichu answered, physically and mentally exhausted, not wanting to worry Fan Yuke¡ªit was better to talk about it tomorrow.


    Fan Yuke, always carefree, was focused on driving and didn¡¯t think too much, catching a glimpse of the light blue dress with the corner of her eye and jokingly teased, ¡°That dress you¡¯re wearing is pretty nice, is it new?¡±


    ¡°No, I accidentally dirtied my dress, a servant took me to the second floor to change into this one, I don¡¯t even know whose it is.¡±


    After speaking, Ning Yichu suddenly remembered the wet dress; it looked incredibly expensive, how could she afford to pay for it?


    ¡°It looks quite fitting on you, showing off your curves, hehe...¡±


    ¡°By the way, do you know Fu Cheng?¡± Ning Yichu asked.


    Fan Yuke¡¯s eyes instantly lit up.


    ¡°I know him, but he doesn¡¯t know me! Haha, he¡¯s well-known in our circles as a mastermind who can turn the rotten into the miraculous. The most ordinary person can dazzle everyone after his transformation! Why the sudden question?¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯m doomed, the dress I dirtied earlier was borrowed from him!¡±


    ¡°OMG, his dresses are famously expensive!¡± Fan Yuke almost slammed on the brakes, nearly drawing an S on the road, ¡°That¡¯s not right, he usually doesn¡¯t lend dresses to just anyone?¡±


    ¡°It was introduced by a friend, now that I think about it, this is going to be another huge debt!¡±


    Ning Yichu sighed, feeling increasingly lightheaded and drained as the car headed home. She found herself less and less able to chat with Fan Yuke and eventually leaned back in her seat and fell asleep, only to be woken by Fan Yucheng upon arrival.


    She was jolted awake, feeling as if she had only slept for a moment, yet they had already arrived home!


    Fan Yuke parked the car and accompanied her upstairs, ¡°Are you okay? Why do you look so pale?¡±


    Ning Yichu touched her face and realized it was indeed a bit cold, probably from being in the cold water for too long. But she had cold medicine at home, so she carelessly shook her head and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just tired from today!¡±


    With the dim night light concealing her, Fan Yuke failed to notice any significant anomaly in Ning Yichu and said rather obtusely, ¡°Alright then, get some rest early tonight, and you¡¯ll be better after a good sleep.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, goodnight.¡±


    When she got home, Ningning had already succumbed to sleep, her little mouth puckering adorably, perhaps out of discomfort.


    She took off the little girl¡¯s shoes, untied the bunch atop her head, wiped her cheeks, and covered her with the blanket.


    She intended to call Chen Bao again, but the moment she stood up, her head swayed, and she collapsed, powerless, onto the children¡¯s bed!


    Time passed unknowingly before Ning Yichu was awakened by Ningning¡¯s anxious calls.


    With her head pounding, she opened her eyes to see Ningning sitting at the bedside, her big watery eyes staring as she struggled to push at her shoulders.


    ¡°Wuu wuu wuu, Mommy, you¡¯re finally awake! You almost scared me to death...¡± Ningning said, quickly rubbing her eyes with her small hands when she saw her mother awake.


    Ning Yichu rubbed her aching forehead, ¡°How long have I slept?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already 2:30 in the morning!¡± Ningning said in a tearful voice. She¡¯d been sleepy and hazy in the middle of the night, and when she turned over and touched her mommy, she thought her mommy had specially decided to sleep with her tonight. But then she realized her mommy wasn¡¯t covered with a blanket, and no matter how much she yelled, she couldn¡¯t wake her up!


    ¡°Has it been that long?¡± Ning Yichu was startled, nearly three hours had passed!


    She propped herself up with her arms from the children¡¯s bed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mommy just feels a bit dizzy...¡±


    Ningning, with her black grape-like eyes, whirled around, immediately jumped off the bed, and started rummaging through cabinets to find medicine for Ning Yichu.


    Ning Yichu watched the little one busily and quickly took the medicine, not daring to have too much contact with Ningning.


    She had always been frail since childhood, and had only just been hospitalized recently; it wouldn¡¯t be good to pass anything on to her.


    However, just as she left the children¡¯s bedroom, she heard the doorbell ring...


    It was the dead of night ¨C Ning Yichu had no idea who would be visiting at this time.


    Peeking through the peephole, Ning Yichu saw a tall figure standing outside and was suddenly taken aback, nearly doubting her own eyes.


    Li Lingyang stood outside the door with a face of shocked ferocity, his handsome face slightly flushed as if he were drunk!


    Her foggy mind became instantly clear!


    Damn it, what was Li Lingyang up to by showing up like this? To make accusations?


    Bang.


    Long after Ning Yichu failed to answer the door, Li Lingyang¡¯s patience faded, and he went from pressing the doorbell to knocking loudly, ¡°Ning Yichu, I know you¡¯re in there, open the door!¡±


    Ning Yichu was feeling weak all over; how could she dare to open the door for him?


    ¡°President Li, I¡¯ve already explained that it wasn¡¯t me who caused Doudou to fall into the water, and it has nothing to do with Ningning either! It¡¯s really not appropriate for a man and a woman to be alone together this late at night. Whatever you want to say, please wait until tomorrow...¡± Ning Yichu mustered her courage and shouted back through the door.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to count to three, and if you don¡¯t open the door, don¡¯t blame me for being rude!¡± Outside, Li Lingyang said, ignoring her plea and issuing a warning through gritted teeth.


    Ning Yichu could clearly hear the threat in his voice through the door, her breathing nearly stopping.


    It felt like he was throwing a drunken tantrum...


    ¡°Li Lingyang, have you had too much to drink?¡±

 Chapter 60: 60: Running a Fever, Fainting into His Arms!

    Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Running a Fever, Fainting into His Arms!


    ¡°I¡¯m not drunk! Are you going to open the door or not?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes flashed with intense anger, fuelled by the alcohol, surging crazily in his heart, as if countless ants were gnawing away at him, every cell screaming in protest.


    In his fury, he lifted his knee and began kicking the door, the loud bangs resonating as if the whole building were trembling!


    Ning Yichu was scared out of her wits and hurriedly tried to calm him down, ¡°Li Lingyang, cool it! I¡¯ve already explained, I didn¡¯t harm your daughter, you¡¯ve got the wrong person! If you keep this up, I¡¯m going to complain about you disturbing the peace...¡±


    ¡°Who is it, kicking the door down in the middle of the night...¡± Sure enough, no sooner had Ning Yichu finished speaking than the lights went on next door, accompanied by the female homeowner¡¯s cursing.


    However, when the woman opened the door and saw a furiously livid Li Lingyang, she was completely stunned.


    ...


    His eyes cold as the reaper, he swept a glance her way, and the woman was so intimidated she faltered, unable to utter a word for a long while, before abruptly shutting her door again.


    Watching this unfold through the peephole, Ning Yichu felt like crying but had no tears.


    In the end, in order to avoid escalating the situation further, Ning Yichu had no choice but to open the front door.


    She thought he was there again because of Doudou, preemptively explaining, ¡°How many times do I have to tell you, I haven¡¯t harmed...¡±


    ¡°Ning Yichu, why? Why do you have to do this to me!¡± The moment the door opened and their eyes met, Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face was dark with rage. His hand shot out, gripping her shoulder as if he wished he could swallow her whole, glaring at her intensely, ¡°Who was it that said they wanted to occupy the spouse column in my household registration book for a lifetime? Who was it that hugged me in the middle of the night and said they liked me? So your affection only lasted two and a half years?¡±


    Seeing the bloodshot fury in his eyes, Ning Yichu¡¯s heartbeat skipped several beats in fright and anger.


    ¡°How have I wronged you? I¡¯ve done all I could, decently and justly! As for loving you... everyone has their youthful follies. Even if I loved you, without a response, I would grow weary.¡±


    ¡°So that¡¯s why you had an affair with that bastard and even had his child, Ningning?¡± Li Lingyang increased the pressure on her shoulder and threw a document at her.


    The document floated down, landing on the floor in front of her.


    Ning Yichu saw the paternity test results on the paper clearly¡ª


    Father-daughter relationship not established!


    Father-daughter relationship not established!


    Those words seemed to magnify endlessly before her eyes, repeating over and over.


    Her heart leaped to her throat, and she asked reflexively, ¡°You... you stole Ningning¡¯s sample for a paternity test?!¡±


    ¡°Who exactly is that bastard? I don¡¯t believe you would have a child with some stranger!¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s tugging made Ning Yichu¡¯s head spin and the pain on her arm was escalating, ¡°Let go!¡±


    ¡°Answer me!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re hurting me!¡±


    ¡°You hid in Europe for five years, erasing the birth records, all to keep me from finding out you had that man¡¯s child?¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that the reality you knew all along?¡±


    ¡°You admit it? You dare to admit it? You had another man¡¯s child while our marriage was still valid!¡±


    Li Lingyang didn¡¯t know why he felt such immense anger at that moment; he even thought Ningning might be his daughter before seeing the test results, that Ning Yichu had used some special means to have his child¡ªwhy else would she agree to let her and Doudou be friends?


    But then...


    When he saw the results sent by Special Assistant Xu, he was completely dumbfounded!


    In his ink-black pupils, a vast cold light flooded, giving off the illusion that if she couldn¡¯t provide a satisfactory answer, he would strangle her!


    Ning Yichu felt even more dizzy and muddled as he shook her, ¡°Li Lingyang, did you hear me telling you to let go? Haven¡¯t you also had a child with Shen Jiangqing, what right do you have to accuse me...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never touched her! Doudou and Chengcheng are the result of her stealing my sperm for artificial...¡± Li Lingyang was engulfed in a cold aura, and as he was just about to continue pressing her for answers, he suddenly noticed her face turn deathly pale, utterly devoid of color.


    Moreover, her body went limp, and she slumped right into his arms.


    The words Li Lingyang had on his lips were suddenly stuck in his throat, and he instinctively hugged her tightly, ¡°Ning Yichu? Don¡¯t think that pretending to faint will make Ningning¡¯s matter go away... Damn it, why is your body so hot, are you running a fever?¡±


    When she opened the door earlier, he had noticed she wasn¡¯t her usual self, but at that time, he was burning with anger and didn¡¯t care about her condition.


    Now, looking back, it was very likely that she got a chill from soaking in the water!


    ¡°Stupid woman! I said I would send you home, why did you have to act tough? Standing in the cold wind for half an hour, serves you right to have a fever!¡± Li Lingyang roared with a mix of anger and worry, while he picked her up sideways, and hurried downstairs.


    At that moment, Ningning, who had been hiding in the room, chased out after them, crisply shouting, ¡°Stop! Scumbag Uncle, where are you taking my mommy?!¡±


    Seeing Ningning again, Li Lingyang¡¯s mood shifted completely.


    Thinking of how she had no blood relation to him and was the living proof that Ning Yichu had cuckolded him, his face immediately took on a terrifying ashen hue!


    However, Ningning wasn¡¯t scared at all, instead, she clenched her tiny, pink fists, ¡°Let go of my mommy, or else I¡¯ll beat you up!¡±


    ¡°Move aside! Your mommy has a fever, I¡¯m taking her to the hospital...¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s forehead throbbed as he inexplicably offered an explanation.


    ¡°Ah?¡± Ningning¡¯s cheeks puffed up, a mixture of worry and confusion in her voice, ¡°Are you sure mommy didn¡¯t faint because of you? She seemed just fine a moment ago...¡±


    Li Lingyang, ¡°...¡±


    Unwilling to waste words with this little girl, Li Lingyang carried Ning Yichu and walked away.


    Ningning paused momentarily but did not try to stop him again and instead followed along, trotting in her little shoes.


    Li Lingyang carried Ning Yichu all the way to the lobby on the first floor before realizing the little tail following behind him, and he frowned coldly, ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night, why are you following? Go back to sleep.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I want to watch you to make sure you don¡¯t hurt my mommy!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Bad Uncle, don¡¯t think you can shake me off!¡± Ningning was just short of becoming a leg attachment, clinging to his leg. Her nervous yet insistent little demeanor made it impossible for anyone to loathe her.


    Li Lingyang also felt like he must be crazy, and eventually decided to just ignore her.


    Outside the gates of Junyue Mansion, a black Maybach was quietly parked at the intersection.


    The driver was anxious, fearing that President Li might take a life.


    But not long after, he saw the man who was brooding earlier now carrying a woman with a Little Bud trailing behind, walking briskly over.


    He immediately got out of the car to greet them, ¡°President Li, this?¡±


    Wasn¡¯t he full of murderous intent just before?


    ¡°Go to the nearest hospital!¡± Li Lingyang carried Ning Yichu into the car, without lifting his head.


    While he was still not closing the door, Ningning scurried with her butt up onto the rear seat. Her big eyes watched Ning Yichu intently, sometimes she furrowed her pretty little brow, other times she propped up her cheeks with worry, her little expressions too rich for words.


    Li Lingyang watched her for a while and, on the way to the hospital, suddenly asked, ¡°From the first time we met, you¡¯ve been hostile towards me. Is it because your mommy told you bad things about me?¡±

 Chapter 61: 61 Care in the Hospital

    Chapter 61: Chapter 61 Care in the Hospital


    Ningning, her mind filled with concern over her mommy running a fever, gave him a sharp roll of her eyes, her disdain obviously apparent.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, did I say something incorrect?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s deep eyes narrowed slightly.


    This child seemed unusually bold and was never afraid of him.


    Very few children were truly unafraid of him.


    Even his own son, Chengcheng, would feel intimidated when met with his cold gaze.


    Ningning tilted her head and put her hands on her hips, ¡°My mommy would never engage in such tasteless acts like badmouthing others behind their backs! I hate you because...¡±


    ...


    ¡°Because of what?¡± Li Lingyang actually seemed a bit intrigued.


    Ningning almost blurted out that it was because her brother had investigated him, but she caught herself in time and changed tack, ¡°Because you are too ugly! Plus, you don¡¯t distinguish right from wrong, and you like those sly fox spirits, oh, and you also favor boys over girls, and don¡¯t care about Doudou at all...¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s thin lips pressed tightly together, and he scoffed coldly.


    He ugly? He favored boys over girls?


    It was madness to engage in such nonsensical talk with a child!


    ¡°Cold, so cold...¡± Ning Yichu, shivering in her delirium, trembled.


    Her mind was flooded with bizarre visions.


    Her memories seemed jumbled, replaying painful events like a movie...


    She saw herself being abandoned by Li Lingyang, saw a fire devouring her two children, saw Shen Jiangqing¡¯s smug face.


    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s not cold, let Ningning warm you up...¡± Ningning, flustered, clasped Ning Yichu¡¯s hands and blew warm air on them, but her tiny arms and legs couldn¡¯t possibly warm Ning Yichu up.


    Li Lingyang looked deeply at the mother and daughter, took off his coat, and draped it over Ning Yichu, then instructed the driver, ¡°Turn up the heat a bit more!¡±


    ...


    In the private hospital, when Ning Yichu regained her sensory awareness, it was already 5:30 in the morning.


    She opened her eyes, sniffed the faint scent of disinfectant, and realized she was lying on a hospital bed.


    Who brought her here?


    Her mind flashed back to the scene before she passed out, arguing with Li Lingyang.


    Wait, where was Ningning?


    Ning Yichu suddenly widened her eyes in alarm.


    ¡°Awake?¡± A husky, magnetic male voice suddenly sounded by her ear.


    Ning Yichu turned her head and saw the tall man, flouting hospital rules, smoking near the balcony.


    The white smoke curled around, blurring his handsome face.


    Li Lingyang darkly turned his head to gaze at her pale face, his ears echoing with the doctor¡¯s words during her examination, ¡°Lady Ning¡¯s physical condition isn¡¯t good, all her indicators are below standard, besides having a high fever, she also has slight hypoglycemia, anemia, and... malnutrition!¡±


    Li Lingyang clenched his fists; he had always known her health wasn¡¯t good but had never imagined it to be this bad.


    In this day and age, she was a renowned Jade Sculptor in Europe, yet she had malnutrition?


    She must have had a tough time in Europe over the past five years.


    Indeed, as a single mother without a man around, life couldn¡¯t have been easy.


    But the thought that she ruined her health bearing that other man¡¯s child filled him with rage.


    ¡°Ning Yichu, have you lost your mind? Why didn¡¯t you accept the divorce compensation I gave you five years ago? And why didn¡¯t you say you were feeling unwell earlier tonight? Did you have to act tough in front of me?¡±


    Initially grateful that he hadn¡¯t entirely lost his humanity in taking her to the hospital, Ning Yichu was rendered speechless by his scolding. Had he eaten gunpowder or what?


    ¡°If a certain person hadn¡¯t come to pick a fight with me in the middle of the night, I might have already taken my medicine and been asleep, not ending up here in the hospital in such a miserable state.¡±


    Li Lingyang almost burst into laughter out of anger. She had another man¡¯s child; shouldn¡¯t she give him an explanation?


    Moreover, he hadn¡¯t even done anything to her yet.


    Ning Yichu struggled, groping around as if looking for something.


    Seeing her intention, Li Lingyang asked impatiently, ¡°Looking for what?¡±


    ¡°My phone.¡± Ning Yichu was straightforward. ¡°I came straight to the hospital. Ningning will definitely be worried when she doesn¡¯t see me tomorrow morning.¡±


    Li Lingyang retorted mockingly, ¡°Whose fault is it that you had her in secret?¡±


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t find her phone after a long search; she vaguely remembered leaving it on the living room coffee table when she got home, most likely not having brought it.


    She was tired now and didn¡¯t want to argue with Li Lingyang, so she softened her voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t bring my phone. Can I borrow yours?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± Li Lingyang said sternly.


    Ning Yichu thought he was indirectly expressing his dislike seeing her care for Ningning, and a rush of anger welled up within her.


    Why was he being so hypocritical?


    She was in this situation all because she was trying to save his daughter, and now he wouldn¡¯t even lend her a phone!


    Li Lingyang, facing her anger and grievances, strangely found some balance and comfort, feeling as if he was no longer the only one sulking.


    Just as Ning Yichu was about to ask a nurse for a phone out of frustration, Li Lingyang slowly said, ¡°Don¡¯t bother, your daughter was so worried she had to come to the hospital with you.¡±


    ¡°What? Ningning is here in the hospital too?¡± Ning Yichu was shocked and couldn¡¯t sit still, looking around. This was a VIP ward with a small bed adjacent, but Ningning wasn¡¯t there.


    Li Lingyang spoke indifferently, ¡°You kept deliriously talking since you had a fever, so I had the nurse take her to rest in the next room.¡±


    Ningning, after all, was only a four-year-old little girl, how could she stay up all night?


    She had initially forcibly kept her eyes open to stay awake, but like a pecking chick, she was lulled into a deep, sweet sleep by the nurse.


    Realizing she had misunderstood him, Ning Yichu took the initiative to apologize, ¡°Thank you for today.¡±


    Li Lingyang scoffed lightly, ¡°Hearing a ¡®thank you¡¯ from you is really not easy.¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...¡± She often thanked others, okay?


    Li Lingyang looked at her pale face and then asked, ¡°Would you like to eat something?¡±


    Initially, Ning Yichu didn¡¯t feel very hungry, but his question suddenly made her slightly hungry. To be precise, it wasn¡¯t extreme hunger but just an empty feeling in her stomach that made her uncomfortable from the IV and medication. She initially planned to endure it, ¡°Never mind, it will be dawn soon...¡±


    Li Lingyang suddenly glared at her sharply, ¡°Don¡¯t you know what condition your body is in? If you can¡¯t talk sense, then shut up.¡±


    ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t make personal attacks...¡±


    ¡°You just lie down here; I¡¯ll go and get you something,¡± Li Lingyang said irritably, dropping a remark and striding away after giving instructions to the nurse. God knows if she had always been settling for less during these five years.


    Seeing that Little Bud, Ningning, had also been previously hospitalized, could it be that both mother and daughter were always in need of medication?


    Ning Yichu watched his retreating figure, momentarily lost in thought.


    Was he showing concern for her on his own initiative?

 Chapter 62: 62 The Truth Behind Doudous Fall into the Water

    Chapter 62: Chapter 62 The Truth Behind Doudou¡¯s Fall into the Water


    She didn¡¯t want to deny him more trust, but every time she did trust him, what she got in return was not intimacy but his impatience and his cool departure.


    Ning Yichu bit her lip and, with the support of a nurse, went next door to take a look at Ningning.


    The little girl indeed slept soundly, murmuring ¡°mommy¡± in her hazy slumber.


    Fifteen minutes later.


    Li Lingyang came back with stomach-nourishing rice porridge.


    Ning Yichu recognized the takeout box as one from a top-notch six-star hotel, which was strange¡ªwasn¡¯t that place quite far away?


    ...


    Struggling to sit up on her own to eat, Ning Yichu found herself still too weak from the IV, only to be firmly pressed down by Li Lingyang, holding her shoulder.


    His large palm felt like an iron hoop, gripping her tightly; she became immobile in an instant, at his mercy.


    Li Lingyang, from a position of authority, began to speak, ¡°The doctor said you¡¯ve been hit by a chill this time, and the high fever has been recurrent. You need at least two or three days of rest to recover.¡±


    He took off his black tailored jacket, rolled the cuffs up slightly, revealing a black luxury watch on his wrist, and then bent down to support her into a sitting position.


    The two were too close for comfort, and Ning Yichu could smell the faint scent of his hormones from his robust chest; his fingertips, having just come in from outside, felt slightly cool and itchy...


    But Li Lingyang didn¡¯t seem to notice her discomfort, and skillfully pulled over a light-colored pillow to prop behind her waist.


    She turned her face away subconsciously, and Li Lingyang quickly placed the rice porridge on the small table beside her bed.


    His towering figure sat at the edge of her bed, scooping a spoonful of porridge to feed her.


    Ning Yichu was surprisingly touched and couldn¡¯t help but wonder if he had gone mad today, or had taken the wrong medication.


    ¡°I volunteered to save Doudou. You don¡¯t need to stoop so low...¡± she said and then tried to eat by herself.


    Li Lingyang directly intercepted her reaching hand, ¡°Knowing that I am condescending, just sit still for me!¡±


    At his shout, Ning Yichu flinched for a moment, giving Li Lingyang the opportunity to deliver the spoonful of porridge precisely to her lips. She took a sip reflexively and found the taste unexpectedly delicious¡ªlight and nutritious.


    Oh well, oh well, since the big CEO deigned to stoop, and she did suffer because of him, she might as well let go of her psychological burden and enjoy it thoroughly.


    So, a bizarre atmosphere enveloped the hospital room.


    Li Lingyang fed spoon by spoon, and Ning Yichu ate bite by bite.


    Occasionally, Li Lingyang would take a tissue and dab at the corners of her mouth.


    ¡°How does it taste?¡±


    ¡°Um, pretty good.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll bring breakfast from this hotel for you tomorrow morning,¡± Li Lingyang said matter-of-factly, his deep eyes burning as he gazed at her.


    Ning Yichu stole glances at him, the white light from overhead casting shadows on his chiseled side profile. He was looking at her too, without any impatience this time. She bit her lip, ¡°Weren¡¯t you just raging a moment ago, accusing me of making you a cuckold, threatening to kill me?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face darkened abruptly, his brows furrowing, and he quickened his spoon-feeding, ¡°Open your mouth.¡±


    If not for the fact that she was a patient, he would have grabbed her and fiercely demanded answers!


    Seeing him change his expression, Ning Yichu had no choice but to bow her head and continue eating.


    She didn¡¯t want his spoon-feeding to get faster and faster...


    Often before she could swallow, the next spoonful was already on its way.


    Just when Ning Yichu thought she was about to be choked to death by his bizarre form of revenge, she finally finished the bowl of congee.


    In her heart, she couldn¡¯t wait for the god of death to leave quickly and hoped he wouldn¡¯t come tomorrow.


    At that moment, Li Lingyang¡¯s phone suddenly rang, and after glancing at the caller ID, he tossed the meal box into the trash can and took his phone as he left.


    With his departure, the originally oppressive and cramped hospital room suddenly seemed to lose its suffocating air, becoming much more spacious.


    Ning Yichu pressed down on her irregular heartbeat, motionless.


    Outside the door, Li Lingyang answered the call from Special Assistant Xu, ¡°President Li, I¡¯ve looked into the wooden plank. I checked all the surveillance footage from the day before yesterday when the plank was reinforced until tonight before the incident happened. That spot was just in a blind spot, but there are only four people that could have been near there. Lady Ning and Little Miss Ningning are not on the list.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes flashed with intensity, ¡°What did those four people say?¡±


    ¡°I asked three of the servants about their purpose for going to the artificial lake at that time, all of them were there during the day, and they don¡¯t seem to have much suspicion for now.¡±


    ¡°What about the fourth person?¡± Li Lingyang asked in a deep voice.


    Special Assistant Xu could faintly make out the anger in Li Lingyang¡¯s words and tensed up, ¡°The fourth person... is Young Master Chengcheng.¡±


    ¡°Chengcheng?¡± Li Lingyang was momentarily stunned, his expression growing even darker, ¡°What was he doing there?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too late now. The madam said the little young master has already fallen asleep, any questions can wait until tomorrow.¡±


    Li Lingyang, knowing that Chengcheng had been to the artificial lake just ten or so minutes before Doudou went there, a terrible chill seeped from his handsome face, and his grip on the phone tightened.


    He tried hard to convince himself, ¡°It¡¯s not possible. The last time Doudou was unwell and hospitalized, Chengcheng was with her all night. He has no reason to do this.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Special Assistant Xu nodded, having followed Li Lingyang for many years and understood the Li Family affairs very clearly, ¡°The little young master is playful and saw the little misses go to the back garden. It¡¯s natural he would also run over there to play. Perhaps the testimonies of those three servants have loopholes. I will continue to investigate.¡±


    ¡°Clip the surveillance footage of Chengcheng going there and make sure grandma doesn¡¯t find out.¡±


    Special Assistant Xu immediately understood, ¡°I¡¯ve already edited it. Please rest assured, President Li. I won¡¯t let Old Madam Li worry.¡±


    Li Lingyang pinched the bridge of his nose, never having expected that the investigation would lead to Chengcheng...


    After hanging up the call, he stood alone by the window for a long time.


    Suddenly, a flirtatious and ingratiating voice came from behind, ¡°Brother-in-law? Is it really you?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes narrowed as he turned around to see a face covered with thick flesh, the very Shen Jiangqing¡¯s brother, Shen Jun.


    He was also embracing a garishly dressed woman. The moment he saw Li Lingyang, he pushed the woman away and bowed obsequiously towards Li Lingyang.


    Shen Jun had used Shen Jiangqing and his name to extort money outside multiple times, and Li Lingyang had a particularly bad impression of him, his brows slightly raised, ¡°Jiangqing and I are not married yet, you¡¯re a little early with that brother-in-law title.¡±


    Shen Jun looked at him sheepishly, ¡°Yes, yes, yes, President Li.¡±


    He subconsciously reached into his pocket, looking for a cigarette for Li Lingyang, ¡°Want a smoke?¡±


    ¡°No need. This is a hospital, smoking¡¯s not allowed,¡± Li Lingyang coldly refused.


    Shen Jun didn¡¯t seem embarrassed and slipped the cigarette case back, shamelessly saying, ¡°I heard it¡¯s Old Madam Li¡¯s birthday tonight. Jiangqing isn¡¯t causing any trouble for you, is she?¡±


    Li Lingyang, already impatient, stared coldly at him, ¡°She¡¯s fine. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving.¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright, you go on...¡± Shen Jun bowed and stepped aside to make way for Li Lingyang, watching him leave with respect.


    The woman in his arms twisted her waist and looked greedily at Li Lingyang¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°Brother Jun, is that rich boyfriend of your sister? He¡¯s really handsome, not at all like the fat, big-bellied boss I imagined...¡±

 Chapter 63: 63: Should I Help You Unbutton Your Pants?

    Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Should I Help You Unbutton Your Pants?


    Smack! Shen Jun slapped the woman¡¯s perky buttocks and said roughly, ¡°What, got your eye on him?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about, I¡¯m all yours, Jun. I¡¯m just curious¡ªwhat¡¯s he doing at the hospital in the middle of the night?¡± She coquettishly punched Shen Jun¡¯s chest, twisting in an animated manner.


    Indeed, especially since Old Madam Li had just celebrated her birthday, Shen Jun was curious too.


    A thought crossed his mind, and he decided to secretly follow Li Lingyang...


    Li Mansion.


    After Granny Li¡¯s birthday banquet, there were many miscellaneous things to handle. Shen Jiangqing, wanting to prove her capability, stayed up late to handle a batch.


    ...


    But after all, her body wasn¡¯t the best, so she couldn¡¯t hold up long before she went to sleep.


    Granny Li couldn¡¯t very well send Shen Jiangqing away on her birthday.


    Su Huimiao and Li Jianbin preferred Chengcheng, and the pair took Chengcheng away to rest together, leaving Shen Jiangqing to sleep alone in the guest room.


    She had just fallen asleep when the buzzing vibration of her phone woke her up.


    Seeing the caller ID, she answered with a face full of impatience, ¡°Brother! Don¡¯t you see what time it is? Don¡¯t you know I have a heart condition?¡±


    ¡°Little sister, don¡¯t be angry, I didn¡¯t want to disturb you, but the scene I¡¯ve just seen is too horrific!¡± Shen Jun tried to soothe Shen Jiangqing, swallowing his saliva as he spoke.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s drowsiness gradually faded, and she suddenly asked in a cold voice, ¡°Did you find out where that bastard is?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s worse than that!¡±


    As he spoke, Shen Jun sent several pictures to Shen Jiangqing.


    With two buzzes, Shen Jiangqing opened WeChat, and the intimate photo of Li Lingyang embracing Ning Yichu in the hospital room struck her eyes!


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and she said through clenched teeth, ¡°Where did you get these pictures?¡±


    ¡°I was at a private hospital on West Street, my girlfriend had a scratch, and I brought her here. By some coincidence, I ran into my brother-in-law! I wondered what he was doing at the hospital so late, so I kept an eye out, and just then, I saw him hooking up with that bitch Ning Yichu!¡±


    After Shen Jun finished his exaggerated tale, he warned, ¡°Little sister, you really need to keep a tight leash on a top dog like Li Lingyang. If you let him slip to Ning Yichu again...¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyes blazed with undisguised fury and she snapped, ¡°Shut up!¡±


    Li Lingyang had left earlier in the evening, one after the other with Mu Bailang.


    She had always thought they were going for a second round of drinks...


    She clenched her phone so tightly it seemed about to burst, even her nostrils flaring.


    Ning Yichu was definitely here for revenge!


    No, she had worked so hard to secure her position as Li Lingyang¡¯s fiance?e; she couldn¡¯t let it be ruined!


    Hospital, hospital room.


    Ning Yichu had eaten and drunk her fill, but the amount of alcohol she consumed made her feel the physiological urge.


    Coincidentally, the nursing staff weren¡¯t around, and Li Lingyang, holding an IV drip, helped her to the restroom.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s cheeks flamed red, wishing she could disappear underground.


    But in the restroom, there was a small hook specifically for holding IV drips. Li Lingyang set the IV drip down and, with no change in his demeanor, observed her. Her right hand was tethered with an IV needle, leaving only her left hand free. He smirked slightly, ¡°You don¡¯t need me to help you with your pants, do you?¡±


    Ning Yichu almost wanted to yell ¡®pervert¡¯ but restrained herself, ¡°No need! I can do it myself!¡±


    Li Lingyang enjoyed her discomfort, took a large step out of the restroom, and promptly closed the door behind him.


    Leaning against the wall with his tall frame, he lazily chimed, ¡°I¡¯m right outside the door, just call if you need anything.¡±


    Ning Yichu kept silent, but more awkwardly, Li Lingyang¡¯s figure was reflected on the frosted glass door, so close...


    He could probably hear her using the toilet!


    That was utterly embarrassing!


    In her over twenty years of life, even right after giving birth, she had never felt so mortified.


    Most importantly, this man was her ex-husband whom she had divorced!


    Ning Yichu hypnotized herself for a while, then finally relieved herself, the sounds magnified many times under the pitch-black, tranquil night sky.


    Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow and suddenly spoke through the frosted door, ¡°When we were at the Li Mansion, why were you willing to risk your life to save Doudou?¡±


    Ning Yichu was all sweaty, hardly in the mood to ponder seriously.


    If she said that seeing Doudou choking on water had instinctively twisted her heart into knots and she had dived into the water without a second thought, he probably wouldn¡¯t believe her...


    After all, she and Shen Jiangqing were such enemies!


    ¡°It was me who took her out to play, if something had happened, you and the entire Li Family wouldn¡¯t let me off the hook. Logically and morally, I had no choice but to save her.¡±


    ¡°Are you saying you had no other thoughts?¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°Like... because she is my daughter.¡±


    The bright moonlight streamed through the glass window in several beams, casting a clear glow across the room.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s movement to pull up her pants paused a beat, then she asked somewhat amusedly, ¡°Are you suggesting I still have lingering feelings for you?¡±


    Listening to her almost mocking tone, Li Lingyang¡¯s thin lips suddenly pressed into a stern line. This woman now scorned their past marriage, and in a mix of annoyance and embarrassment, he snapped harshly, ¡°Why is it taking so long? Are you using the toilet or giving birth?¡±


    ¡°...¡± Ning Yichu rolled her eyes, truly capricious!


    She pulled up her pants and pushed the flush button.


    The sound of flushing water drowned everything out, and when she opened the bathroom door again, it was as if nothing had happened.


    Li Lingyang was about to take the IV bag from the hook when his phone rang again.


    Ning Yichu caught a quick glimpse at the caller ID.


    Shen Jiangqing.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, and finally, worrying that it might be something urgent this late, he answered.


    ¡°Aling, I had a nightmare, dreaming that Ning Yichu was drowning Doudou and Chengcheng, I¡¯m so scared, where are you? Can you come back and stay with me?¡± Shen Jiangqing¡¯s voice sounded tearful over the phone, almost irresistibly making him want to fly to her side and comfort her fiercely.


    Li Lingyang glanced at Ning Yichu¡¯s pale face; Ning Yichu was also watching him with a thin smile.


    There was a hint of faint mockery in that smile!


    Li Lingyang¡¯s forehead vein throbbed, ¡°The culprit who harmed Doudou is being investigated by Special Assistant Xu, it¡¯s not Ning Yichu, I can¡¯t come back now, if you¡¯re scared, find a maid to keep you company.¡±


    ¡°Are you still with Young Master Mu?¡± Shen Jiangqing added, her voice breaking.


    Li Lingyang abruptly shifted the topic, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, you should rest early.¡±


    After that, he hung up directly, looked up to see Ning Yichu¡¯s smirk, ¡°President Li, how thrilling is it to be caught in an affair by the legal wife?¡±


    Li Lingyang reached out, grabbed her waist, and pulled her into his embrace. His thin lips grazed her forehead as he said menacingly, ¡°An affair? Is that how you define what¡¯s between you and me now?¡±


    The strong scent of his male hormones hit her face, Ning Yichu tensed her body, elbow positioned between them, ¡°Let go! You should leave, Shen Jiangqing is waiting for you!¡±


    ¡°A life-saving debt is greater than the heavens, I should repay you with a spring of gratitude...¡± Li Lingyang intently watched her, his breath faintly warm as it brushed past her ear.

 Chapter 64: 64: Daughter Pays Fathers Debt!

    Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Daughter Pays Father¡¯s Debt!


    Ning Yichu¡¯s body trembled, ¡°Get lost, I was saving Doudou, not you!¡±


    ¡°Father pays for the daughter¡¯s debts.¡±


    ¡°...¡± Ning Yichu felt him embrace her tighter, as the temperature gradually rose, she said annoyed, ¡°No need, I¡¯m always very magnanimous, I don¡¯t need any of these superficial things.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure, if you don¡¯t let go now, the nurse will come.¡±


    Outside the door, the sound of the nurse¡¯s footsteps clattered, and Li Lingyang chuckled softly and slowly let her go.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the Li Mansion, Shen Jiangqing¡¯s beautiful face was tightly frowned.


    Li Lingyang had actually neglected her for Ning Yichu!


    She was his lifesaver!


    ...


    The next morning, when Ning Yichu woke up again, a small figure was sprawled at the bedside.


    Ningning noticed the slight movement from Ning Yichu and immediately lifted her head.


    ¡°Mummy, mummy, you¡¯re finally awake?¡±


    After a night¡¯s rest, Ning Yichu¡¯s spirits were much better, she lovingly touched Ningning¡¯s tender cheeks, ¡°Mummy made you worry.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the bad uncle said you woke up last night, but I fell asleep... He didn¡¯t take advantage of me not being there to bully you, did he?¡± Ningning¡¯s big eyes twirled in annoyance and guilt, just too cute for words.


    Ning Yichu tapped her little nose, ¡°Is your mummy that easy to bully? What about you? Running to the hospital late at night, have you forgotten last time you had a fever and needed injections?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t settle without seeing you!¡± Ningning pouted coquettishly.


    ¡°You really are a little rascal.¡±


    At that moment, the door of the hospital room opened, and Li Lingyang walked in with breakfast, seeing mother and daughter frolicking on the bed, he paused for a moment. Doudou was also whiny, but she was more like a fragile porcelain doll, never this lively.


    Ningning spread her little arms in front of Ning Yichu like a chick protecting a hen.


    Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow faintly, ¡°I bought breakfast, will you eat?¡±


    Ningning was quite principled, but a wise man knows better than to refuse a good meal.


    The little girl put her hands on her hips, and puffed up, ¡°Eat, I need to be full to take care of my dear mummy.¡±


    The more Li Lingyang looked at her, the more he found her eyes and brows resembled Ning Yichu, and his sharp gaze shifted back and forth between them.


    Ning Yichu being scrutinized like this could not smile anymore, who knew when this guy had stolen Ningning¡¯s sample? And where had he taken it for testing?


    Fearing he¡¯d set his sights on Ningning again, Ning Yichu quickly picked Ningning up, ¡°Ningning, say thank you to uncle.¡±


    Ningning shook her little head, curling up in Ning Yichu¡¯s arms, she hummed, ¡°Thank you, bad uncle.¡±


    Seeing her deliberately avoiding something, Li Lingyang casually set the breakfast down, his tone nonchalant, ¡°When will you remove the ¡®bad¡¯ from ¡®bad uncle¡¯?¡±


    Ningning¡¯s eyes widened in defiance, ¡°You knocked mummy out last night!¡±


    Li Lingyang seemed to recall something, his expression meaningful, ¡°Yes, I ¡®knocked¡¯ your mummy out.¡±


    Even though it was a normal statement, facing the man¡¯s narrow, dark eyes, Ning Yichu¡¯s heart skipped a beat and her ears flushed shyly as she glared at him, ¡°Li Lingyang!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s your daughter¡¯s original words.¡± Li Lingyang leisurely watched her embarrassed demeanor; this slight blush was much prettier than a pale face.


    Ning Yichu was once again left speechless by anger, this man was really too terrible!


    Fortunately, breakfast was quickly set, and everyone¡¯s focus returned to the meal.


    Li Lingyang had just started eating when he received a phone call, his expression suddenly turning grim.


    Ning Yichu noticed the dark aura around him, looking over with curiosity, ¡°What happened?¡±


    ¡°Jiangqing¡¯s heart disease acted up, and she¡¯s been taken to emergency,¡± Li Lingyang gripped his phone tightly, his dark eyes shadowy and complex. Although he did not love Shen Jiangqing, her heart condition had indeed worsened because of childbirth.


    ¡°Is that so?¡± Ning Yichu replied indifferently, ¡°Then you should hurry and see her.¡±


    Li Lingyang frowned and stared at her, seeing not a ripple of concern in her demeanor, as if what happened to Shen Jiangqing had nothing to do with her. This agitated him once again.


    ¡°I¡¯ll find you another caretaker.¡±


    ¡°No need, I should be discharged soon and will rest at home.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve booked the hospital room for two days, and I¡¯ve already paid; you can stay or leave as you wish,¡± Li Lingyang, knowing her stubbornness, didn¡¯t wait for her discharge but simply said his piece before striding away.


    ¡°Mummy, does that vixen have heart disease? Does that mean she might kick the bucket?¡± Ningning, who was beside Ning Yichu, had a bit of understanding about heart disease.


    Being rushed to emergency meant it was quite serious!


    Ning Yichu lowered her long, dark lashes, speaking leisurely, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense, she will be okay.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, our crappy dad will surely do everything to save her...¡± Ningning sighed woefully, feeling like she had become a bad kid for actually wishing for the bad woman to hurry up and die.


    During yesterday¡¯s birthday party, she and those adults, they only played with Chengcheng.


    Apart from Granny Li, hardly anyone paid attention to her and Doudou.


    She felt so oppressed and uncomfortable...


    ¡°Mummy, aren¡¯t you a brilliant cardiologist? If our crappy dad begs you, will you save her?¡± Ningning suddenly speculated wildly.


    Ning Yichu was stunned by her daughter¡¯s revelation. Her intelligence was too high, connecting so many dots from a mere mention of heart disease.


    ¡°No,¡± Ning Yichu said calmly. She admitted she wasn¡¯t one of those noble doctors. Originally, she had studied medicine to save her mother, and by some twist of fate, ended up specialising in cardiac surgery.


    ¡°I support you!¡± Ningning chirped, ¡°She intentionally disappeared back then and framed you as a kidnapper. I wouldn¡¯t save such a bad woman either!¡±


    ¡°Silly girl, hurry up and eat...¡±


    Illness comes like a collapsing mountain, and leaves like unraveling silk; Ning Yichu hadn¡¯t expected that attending a birthday party would result in her being hospitalized, and she inevitably had to request sick leave.


    Her phone had been left at home, thankfully Fan YuKe was there and managed to have it delivered quickly through an express service.


    She immediately called Mo Baiyou to request leave.


    ¡°You¡¯re hospitalized? Is it serious?¡± Mo Baiyou¡¯s voice instantly grew more concerned.


    Ning Yichu was slightly surprised and quickly replied, ¡°It¡¯s just a slight fever, nothing serious, thank you for your concern, Mr. Mo.¡±


    Mo Baiyou then asked, ¡°Which hospital are you in?¡±


    ¡°Just a private hospital on West Street, I¡¯m sorry for missing work...¡±


    ¡°No worries, your health is most important. There¡¯s always time for work later,¡± Mo Baiyou reassured her, though he was puzzled, wondering how she became ill so suddenly.


    Not wanting to disturb Ning Yichu¡¯s rest, Mo Baiyou did not prolong the conversation.


    After hanging up, Mo Baiyou planned to instruct his assistant to check what had happened at last night¡¯s party before he could send out the message. Unexpectedly noted a chat in a WeChat group discussing last night¡¯s event at the Li Mansion.


    This group was somewhat of a small circle for some notable families in Imperial City.


    The group owner, Ji Shiwang, the young miss of the Ji Family, had just posted a series of photos with a caption reading, ¡°Tsk tsk, you probably haven¡¯t seen such a fierce ex-wife! Dumped for five years, yet she still managed to win over Granny Li¡¯s heart and even danced with President Li...¡±


    The pictures were a series of clear close-ups of Ning Yichu and Li Lingyang dancing.


    These were not taken by someone outside the party attendees...

 Chapter 65: 65 Ningnings Blood Sample Error

    Chapter 65: Chapter 65 Ningning¡¯s Blood Sample Error


    Yesterday, Granny Li¡¯s birthday banquet did not invite the media, just a few influential photographers were there to document the whole event.


    The other group members chattered away, ¡°Damn, am I seeing things? Is that Ning Yichu? The one who was sent packing back in the day?¡±


    ¡°Heard she¡¯s now a special guest Jade Sculptor in Beiji. Last night she gave the matriarch of the Li family a jade carving that had everyone¡¯s eyes popping!¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean she stole the spotlight?¡±


    ¡°If I were Shen Jiangqing, I¡¯d probably be tearing her to pieces with my bare hands!¡±


    ¡°Haha, that¡¯s why you¡¯re all behind on the news. Shen Jiangqing was rushed to the hospital first thing this morning for a heart attack...¡±


    ...


    ¡°The strongest ex-wife in history!¡±


    ¡°What do you know? After the dance incident last night, there was more drama!¡±


    ¡°What happened after?¡±


    ¡°Turns out President Li¡¯s daughter went out to play with Ning Yichu, and somehow ended up in the water. Then Ning Yichu dived in to save her without hesitation. President Li jumped in after her, and he gave her several rounds of CPR. If the Li family hadn¡¯t put a gag order on it, the media would have been all over this by now!¡±


    ¡°Talk about drama, did they organize this themselves?¡±


    ¡°Are they going to get back together? What about Shen Jiangqing, and what about the twins she bore?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. No one in the Li family likes Ning Yichu, except for that old woman. There¡¯s no way they¡¯ll accept her!¡± At this point, Ji Shiwang posted a picture. It was shockingly a photo of Su Huimiao giving Ning Yichu a hard time at the door, and she mocked, ¡°With that poor and pathetic vibe of Ning Yichu, even if I were Mrs. Li, I couldn¡¯t possibly accept her!¡±


    Mo Baiyou didn¡¯t know when he was added to this group chat, but seeing these people¡¯s mockery and sneers, his expression darkened.


    Last night, he should have found a way to go to the birthday banquet with her!


    After getting the gist of what had happened, Mo Baiyou decisively chose to leave the group chat.


    The next second, the young miss of the Ji family started a private chat with him, ¡°Mr. Mo, why did you suddenly leave the group?¡±


    Ji Shiwang met Mo Baiyou at a cocktail party, where they had hit it off quite well. Plus, his impressive background was fascinating.


    Mo Baiyou replied coolly, ¡°You¡¯re all too eloquent for me.¡±


    How could Ji Shiwang not sense the tone?


    ¡°Do you think we are being too gossipy? Actually, the scandal that Ning Yichu caused over seven years ago was just too sensational, we...¡±


    Mo Baiyou didn¡¯t even look at what Ji Shiwang sent next. He muted his phone, stood up abruptly, grabbed his coat from the back of his chair, and walked out with long strides.


    He happened to run into Deelia, who came in to deliver documents. She was dressed to the nines and said cheerily, ¡°Mr. Mo, the design department already has ideas for the new collection for next quarter!¡±


    ¡°Leave it there,¡± Mo Baiyou said and walked out without any pause, not giving her a second glance.


    Deelia was puzzled and quickly followed, seizing the opportunity to say, ¡°Mr. Mo, are you heading out? I have another matter I¡¯d like to report to you.¡±


    Mo Baiyou glanced at her impatiently, and Deelia, swaying her hips, said, ¡°It has to do with the new Miss Ning you hired! She didn¡¯t show up for work again today. I already asked HR, she didn¡¯t request time off in advance. What makes an employee like her deserve to be the head of the Jade Sculpture Studio?¡±


    Mo Baiyou paused in his step, turned to look at her, and asked, ¡°Are you here to complain?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, I just don¡¯t want you to be deceived by a woman with no talent who is always late and leaves early.¡±


    ¡°Deelia, I¡¯m grateful that you gave up your career in Europe to come to Imperial City and help me expand my territory, but this doesn¡¯t mean I need your permission to hire anyone. As for her leave, I approved it myself. You¡¯ve been spreading rumors around the office, saying she got her position through backdoor connections. I¡¯ve turned a blind eye once, don¡¯t let there be a second time!¡±


    Deelia had never expected Mo Baiyou to defend Ning Yichu like this, and was even more surprised that he would care about the petty gossip among employees.


    For a moment, she felt anxious and her face turned pale, wanting to explain something, but Mo Baiyou had already walked away with long strides.


    ...


    At half-past ten in the morning.


    Fan YuKe rushed over with Chen Bao, and seeing Ning Yichu¡¯s haggard appearance, she could not contain her anger.


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, how did I not notice something was wrong when I picked you up last night?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think it was severe at the time, don¡¯t blame yourself.¡±


    Fan YuKe grasped her hand with a worried expression, ¡°What exactly happened last night? Today, I still saw people discussing you and Li Lingyang in a group chat...¡±


    Ning Yichu immediately understood; with so many things going on and so many people attending the birthday banquet, ¡°What are they discussing about me?¡±


    Fan YuKe regretted her careless speech and stuttered, ¡°Well, they¡¯re just full of nonsense every day...¡±


    ¡°So it seems they¡¯re not saying anything nice, but that¡¯s normal. There are plenty of people who would enjoy seeing me fail.¡±


    Just do right by yourself, as long as you have a clear conscience, other people¡¯s opinions and views won¡¯t affect your life.


    Her only bottom line was her children.


    Ning Yichu calmly and simply mentioned the incident at the banquet.


    Fan YuKe covered her mouth in shock and then burst into cursing, ¡°Bastard! You were clearly pushed over by Mu Bailang, how did it get twisted as if you were deliberately seducing that big jerk Li Lingyang, and right, since you came home, why did he come looking for you last night?¡±


    Ning Yichu paused for a moment, looking towards Chen Bao.


    ¡°He obtained Ningning¡¯s samples without our knowledge and went to have a paternity test done,¡± her voice carried a hint of worry.


    ¡°My God!¡± Fan YuKe jumped three feet high, dramatically covering her mouth, ¡°Is Li Lingyang the devil? It¡¯s only been a few days since Ningning¡¯s identity was revealed, and he had already gotten a paternity test? What were the results?¡±


    ¡°He most likely used blood samples for the test...¡±


    ¡°Blood samples?¡± Chen Bao¡¯s dark eyes turned, ¡°I get it, Ningning had a life-threatening illness back then and received a bone marrow transplant, so her blood sample wouldn¡¯t validate a paternity test with her crappy dad. Did he come to you in the middle of the night to ask about Ningning¡¯s origins?¡±


    ¡°Smart.¡± Ning Yichu didn¡¯t skimp on praise, then said with a pained expression, ¡°But I fear there might be more complications, so YuKe, I¡¯d like you to help me find out where he got the test done.¡±


    ¡°Sure, leave it to me, I¡¯ll find out immediately.¡±


    ¡°And Chen Bao, Li Lingyang¡¯s keenness far surpasses our imaginations, and for now, Ningning should be safe, but I¡¯m afraid he will turn his focus to deal with you...¡±


    Chen Bao¡¯s big eyes flickered with a hidden gleam. This lousy dad, he and Ningning had only feared a paternity test comparison, and yet, despite their careful watch, he had already obtained a sample through other means.


    His little fists clenched tightly, carrying a hint of anticipation.


    If he wants to come at me, just let him try!

 Chapter 66: 66: Hacked, Father-Son Conversation Across the Air

    Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Hacked, Father-Son Conversation Across the Air


    Meanwhile, Li Lingyang was waiting outside the emergency room, feeling a sudden itch at the tip of his nose, as if someone was thinking of him. He coughed a few times.


    ¡°Aling, dragging you out for drinks with Bailang last night, and rushing over early this morning, can your body handle it? Why don¡¯t you go back and rest for a while?¡± Seeing this, Su Huimiao hurriedly advised affectionately. The greatest pride of her life was having such an outstanding son as Li Lingyang!


    She and Li Jianbin¡¯s marriage was a business union without any emotional ties between them.


    Later, when the Su Family¡¯s fortunes declined, she worried that Li Jianbin would divorce her, so she resorted to tactics to conceive Li Lingyang.


    Unexpectedly, once she gave birth to Aling, Li Jianbin became more attentive to her and was determined to nurture Li Lingyang into an excellent successor. From his teenage years he brought him along personally, teaching him about the struggles of the business world.


    Just like that, although their affection over the years wasn¡¯t passionate, they treated each other with mutual respect.


    ...


    At the very least, unlike other wealthy old men, Li Jianbin never fooled around outside.


    Li Lingyang remained composed, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡±


    ¡°Ah, this Jiangqing, everything is fine about her, just that she has a heart condition. Last night, when Doudou fell into the water and got cold, she also worried all night long. I heard that while we all slept, she helped the servants inventory the gifts, and importantly, she gave birth to our big, healthy grandson. Such a good daughter-in-law is hard to find even with a lantern...¡± Su Huimiao rambled on, her main point being that having dependable offspring was key.


    During the years with Ning Yichu, Su Huimiao also clamored for a grandson.


    Initially, she thought having children would make things harmonious like between her and Li Jianbin; however, it turned out that Ning Yichu wasn¡¯t the right person.


    The more Su Huimiao praised Shen Jiangqing¡¯s sensibility, the more agitated Li Lingyang became. Their relationship wasn¡¯t based on love, and she didn¡¯t need to do so much.


    If he could find Majesty to cure Shen Jiangqing, maybe he could be less indebted to her.


    ¡°Mom, I heard that last night, Chengcheng slept with you?¡± Li Lingyang abruptly changed the topic.


    Su Huimiao nodded, ¡°Yes, you wouldn¡¯t know, but Chengcheng is growing so fast. The pajamas I bought him two months ago almost didn¡¯t fit last night...¡±


    ¡°How was his mood at night?¡±


    ¡°He was definitely scared. Doudou fell into the water, and he worried all night long, even talked in his sleep!¡± Su Huimiao laughed.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s brows furrowed tighter, his voice chilly, ¡°What did he say in his sleep?¡±


    ¡°What else could he say? Of course, about Doudou falling into the water. This child is just like his mother, too kind-hearted. When he grows up, he will definitely be a true gentleman.¡±


    Li Lingyang had some suspicions. Now recalling from the moment he rescued Doudou, he had been hiding in a corner, hardly speaking. But why did he act like that?


    Su Huimiao distinctly felt a chilling wrath enveloped Li Lingyang. Just as she was about to speak, the lights in the emergency room went off.


    Medical staff pushed Shen Jiangqing into a regular ward. She quickly approached and asked the doctor, ¡°How is Jiangqing? Is she out of danger? Chengcheng is so attached to Jiangqing; we can¡¯t let him grow up without a mother...¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s out of danger, but her heart condition has always been unstable and she¡¯s still unconscious. I¡¯d recommend minimal agitation.¡±


    Li Lingyang strode into Shen Jiangqing¡¯s hospital room.


    About half an hour later, Shen Jiangqing slowly regained consciousness.


    ¡°Aling?¡± Seeing Li Lingyang, her face lit up with joy mixed with panic. ¡°Why am I here?¡±


    ¡°You passed out at home this morning. How are you feeling now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m fine... I just had a nightmare. Did I delay your work?¡± said Shen Jiangqing considerately.


    ¡°No. You rest up; I¡¯ll find Majesty to cure you.¡± Li Lingyang, standing tall beside the bed, watched her pale face from half a meter away.


    Despite them both being sick, he didn¡¯t feel the heartache when he looked at Shen Jiangqing. What he felt was just a sense of responsibility.


    Shen Jiangqing didn¡¯t sense the alienation and was just content that Li Lingyang had always been like this. Pride swelled in her heart¡ªeven if Ning Yichu could lure Li Lingyang away, what of it?


    As long as she felt unwell, Li Lingyang would immediately return to her side.


    Thinking of a way to deal with her two troublesome children, everything would get better!


    Li Lingyang wasn¡¯t in the room for long when Special Assistant Xu suddenly knocked and rushed in, ¡°President Li, there¡¯s a problem at the company... Ah, sorry Miss Shen, I didn¡¯t know you were awake...¡±


    Shen Jiangqing, ¡°...¡±


    ¡°What happened at the company?¡± Li Lingyang asked coldly.


    ¡°We¡¯ve been hacked.¡±


    ...


    Li Group had been established nearly a century ago and had faced many risks, but it had never experienced a network paralysis due to a hacker attack!


    In less than twenty minutes, Li Lingyang drove back to Li Group¡¯s network security center.


    All the senior network engineers were present, working hard to repair the system.


    ¡°Who is it? What do they want?¡±


    The moment Li Lingyang appeared, the office fell deathly silent¡ªyou could hear a pin drop. It was truly their negligence, a major dereliction of duty!


    Considering the diverse businesses under Li Group, including banking and finance, the losses from network paralysis would be enormous!


    ¡°President Li...¡± the head of network security hung his head in shame, ¡°the attack was very fierce, and the methods were aggressive, far beyond ordinary hackers. Currently... we haven¡¯t yet identified the identity of the perpetrator.¡±


    ¡°That skillful? Then I need to meet them.¡± Li Lingyang eyed a computer; the virus infection had started there, then spread throughout the group.


    He pulled out the executive chair, curled his legs elegantly to sit, and casually unfastened his prestigious watch. His fingers flew over the keyboard.


    The network security department knew President Li was also a skilled hacker, but they had never seen him in action.


    And now, he had the attacker in his sights...


    Just as Li Lingyang was looking for an opportunity to counterattack, a chat box suddenly popped up on his screen.


    King, ¡°Quite clever, to be able to counterattack so quickly, but unfortunately, I¡¯ve seen through your plan.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s obsidian-like eyes narrowed. King? Since when did such a hacker emerge in the world?


    ¡°Big talk¡ªwho are you?¡±


    King, ¡°The one sent by the moon to teach you a lesson.¡±


    Li Lingyang inhaled sharply and chuckled coldly, ¡°Do we have a grudge?¡±


    King, ¡°Play a game. If you can break it within one minute, I¡¯ll tell you who I am and why I¡¯m attacking Li Group.¡±

 Chapter 67: 67: Scumbag Dad, Let Go of My Woman!

    Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Scumbag Dad, Let Go of My Woman!


    The next second, Li Lingyang¡¯s computer automatically accepted a program, within which virus source code kept jumping around like a huge maze, only by finding the most central path could one escape the maze.


    ¡°The countdown starts now, I hope you won¡¯t disappoint me.¡±


    Having once been a master hacker, Li Lingyang found a way to conquer this in a very short time.


    Eventually, after some operations, with the final strike of the Enter key, the cluttered virus source code on the screen disappeared instantly, and then he saw...


    Li Lingyang¡¯s face suddenly darkened, his body radiating an intense chill, typing with an undeniable presence, ¡°Are you playing me?¡±


    All that appeared on the computer screen after unlocking the program was a grotesque cartoon character, twisting its waist exaggeratedly and disgustingly, next to which was a white dialogue box that read, ¡°Jerk, come and catch me! Lololol...¡±


    ...


    It was a prank, and he had taken it seriously!


    King, ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s being played! Hmph, I warn you, don¡¯t touch my woman, or next time it won¡¯t be as simple as just crippling your network.¡±


    ¡°Your woman?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes narrowed, immediately connecting the dots, ¡°Was it you who attacked the security of Yudu Dragon Bay Villa half a month ago? And hacked into Saint Peter Kindergarten¡¯s database?¡±


    King, ¡°Good to know!¡±


    ¡°What is your relationship with Ning Yichu?¡±


    ¡°She is my most precious treasure, and I won¡¯t allow anyone to bully her. You made her sick, and this is your payback.¡±


    Li Lingyang stared at the screen filled with these domineering declarations, his eyes darkening.


    He didn¡¯t waste any more words on him but continued to look for vulnerabilities in the routes.


    The cybersecurity department¡¯s staff also joined in the effort...


    As they found a way around his firewall and were about to locate King¡¯s address, suddenly, King noticed something and immediately engaged him in an even more intense cyber battle, escalating to a massive showdown. Just one more minute and they could have located King, who, realizing the danger, was ready to pull the plug and flee!


    As if by telepathy, Li Lingyang anticipated his flight.


    ¡°Is Ningning your daughter?¡± Li Lingyang, grinding his teeth, typed and sent this message.


    Meanwhile, in a remote, abandoned factory on the other side, Chen Bao nearly spewed blood!


    Had his rotten dad lost his mind?


    Ningning, the great beauty, was his dearest little sister!


    But now this misleading information served him even better, offering a chance to draw fire away from Mum. The little guy calmly typed three words, then went offline, striding away!


    ¡°Guess?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze grew colder by the inch, and invisibly, a terrifying gloom seemed to envelop the vast office, suffocating anyone at any moment.


    ¡°Get me information, even if it means turning over every hacker in the world, I need to know what this King is all about!¡±


    ...


    Ning Yichu slept comfortably, without a care, and when she woke up again, all her vitality seemed to have returned, the helpless weakness of the morning gone.


    She didn¡¯t quite like the smell of disinfectant in hospitals, even if Li Lingyang had paid for two days of hospital fees, she was getting restless.


    Ningning refused to go home to rest, so Aunt Wang simply came over to take care of her.


    Aunt Wang peeled an apple for her, and Ningning very thoughtfully gathered the trash to throw it away since her mommy was feeling better and the little girl was in a good mood, bouncing and humming a cheerful nursery rhyme.


    Dong.


    A strand of apple peel accidentally slipped out and fell onto the floor.


    Just as Ningning was about to bend down to pick it up, a clearly defined large hand appeared in front of her, scooping up the apple peel before her and tossing it into the nearby trash can.


    Ningning, who cared a lot about appearances, also loved nice hands, her gaze following the man¡¯s hand upward, meeting a handsome and flawless face.


    ¡°What a handsome uncle!¡± Ningning fluttered her starry eyes, and he even had long legs like a Korean pop star!


    Mo Baiyou gazed down at the little girl with a gentle light in his eyes, remarking how much she resembled her mother, and asked softly, ¡°Little friend, why are you taking out the trash alone?¡±


    ¡°Um, I¡¯m already four years old, I can do many things to help mommy,¡± Ningning immediately straightened her posture, adopting the cute demeanor of a little lady.


    ¡°Yes, she¡¯s in room 708.¡±


    ¡°Ah?¡± Ningning¡¯s soft lips formed an irregular ¡®o¡¯ shape, puzzled she said, ¡°Room 708, it seems to be occupied by a beautiful lady.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m here to see her, she works for our company,¡± Mo Baiyou¡¯s voice grew even gentler, feigning confusion, ¡°Do you know her?¡±


    Ningning shyly twisted her little waist, ¡°Hehehe, handsome uncle, that¡¯s my dear mommy! She¡¯s beautiful and also designs jade carvings, you must be the boss of Beiji Group, right? Mommy told me about you, you are even more handsome in person than I imagined!¡±


    Her little mouth rattled sweetly, overwhelming Mo Baiyou with her charm; he thought to himself, moved, ¡°So you¡¯re the daughter of the Jade Sculptor?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ll take you to her!¡± Ningning quickly discarded the trash, grabbed Mo Baiyou by his hand, and dashed towards the hospital room.


    Meanwhile, Ning Yichu had just bitten into half of an apple and, hearing the lively footsteps outside the door, she knew Ningning had returned.


    Having listened to the footsteps of children for so long, she seemed to have developed an instinct for recognizing people by their steps.


    However, when she saw the tall man following behind Ningning, she stiffened, looking incredulously at Mo Baiyou, ¡°Mr. Mo? You... why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Of course, I came to visit you,¡± Mo Baiyou replied, placing the fruit basket on the side.


    Aunt Wang naturally took it over, seeing Mo Baiyou for the first time, she nodded politely as a greeting, then enthusiastically offered him water and a seat.


    Mo Baiyou gazed at her slightly pale cheeks, a trace of heartache flickering in his eyes.


    ¡°Hope I¡¯m not intruding,¡± he inquired.


    Ning Yichu quickly shook her head, where would a subordinate find their boss¡¯s visit to a sick staff member bothersome?


    Isn¡¯t that crazy?


    Yet, she was puzzled, having never met him before, how had Ningning brought him here?


    Noticing her confusion, Ningning secretly whispered in her ear, ¡°When I was throwing away the trash, some fell out and the handsome uncle helped me pick it up. Mommy, brother has inquired about him and heard he¡¯s very reliable, I support you.¡±


    This little rascal, such words from someone so young?


    Ning Yichu glared reproachfully at the little girl.


    The innocent girl ran back to Mo Baiyou, her large eyes glistening as she looked at him, ¡°Handsome uncle, you are really handsome, your last name is Mo, right? Can I call you Mo Shuai?¡±

 Chapter 68: 68: That Hits Hard, President Li

    Chapter 68: Chapter 68: That Hits Hard, President Li


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s lips curved into a thin smile that felt like a warm spring breeze, ¡°Mo Shuai? Hmm, that does sound like a rather nice appellation.¡±


    ¡°Of course! You¡¯re the first handsome uncle who¡¯s made my heart flutter!¡± That deadbeat dad doesn¡¯t count; no matter how good-looking he is, his disreputable character has deducted all his points in my book.


    ¡°Alright, whatever you call me, uncle likes it. Yichu, your daughter is really adorable.¡± Mo Baiyou said quite naturally, inadvertently changing Ning Yichu¡¯s address in the process. It gave her a moment¡¯s strange illusion, but seeing Mo Baiyou¡¯s calm and composed demeanor, it was as if he was merely paying a cordial visit to an old friend.


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t make an effort to redraw any lines, ¡°Thank you, this imp looks cute on the outside but houses a little devil inside.¡±


    ¡°Woo, Mommy, don¡¯t badmouth me in front of Mo Shuai...¡± The usually whimsical Ningning unexpectedly objected.


    Ning Yichu inhaled a cool breath, was it the little imp¡¯s good looks that dictated justice?


    ...


    After chatting for a while, Ning Yichu mentioned she would be discharged soon and suggested Mo Baiyou could head back to work if his company needed him, as she had felt his kindness.


    Finding herself with such a considerate and caring boss was indeed her good fortune.


    But Mo Baiyou shifted the conversation, ¡°Looking at your complexion, it hasn¡¯t quite recovered. If you check out now, it might be hard to call a cab. Why don¡¯t I take you home?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid that might take up too much of your time.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s no trouble; I just happen to have some errands to run near Junyue Mansion.¡± Mo Baiyou spoke with a very gentle tone.


    Ning Yichu was startled. How did he know she lived at Junyue Mansion? She couldn¡¯t recall ever having told him.


    ¡°You haven¡¯t forgotten, have you? You filled out your detailed home address when you joined the company, right?¡± Mo Baiyou¡¯s lips curled into a refined smile. When his clear eyes mirrored her flickers of doubt, she looked like an innocent deer, irresistibly making one¡¯s heart itch.


    Ning Yichu scratched her head, feigning nonchalance, ¡°I haven¡¯t forgotten. I just thought it might be inconvenient for you...¡±


    ¡°You helped me last time; now I help you. It¡¯s mutually beneficial.¡±


    Since he put it that way, Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t refuse anymore. She packed up her belongings with Aunt Wang¡ªhaving stayed only one day, there weren¡¯t many things to take¡ªand they proceeded to the parking lot.


    The hospital¡¯s parking was an open-air ground-level area, where they enjoyed free parking with their patient ticket.


    While Ning Yichu was searching for the ticket, she got distracted and failed to notice a step. Her body swayed, and she almost stumbled.


    ¡°Be careful!¡± Mo Baiyou¡¯s reflexes were quick, his long arm deftly catching her wrist. His broad, slightly warm palm rested on her soft, delicate backhand.


    Ning Yichu inadvertently looked into his deep, abyss-like eyes. The sound of the man¡¯s strong heartbeat thumped loudly, and they fell silent for two seconds.


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Mo...¡± Ning Yichu felt a flash of embarrassment cross her mind and quickly straightened her posture, maintaining a basic social distance from him.


    ¡°Still calling me Mr. Mo? I thought we were good friends by now.¡± Mo Baiyou chuckled lightly, teasing her with his low, sensual voice, which seemed to spread silently like the melody of a cello to every corner.


    Women are often very sensitive about certain things, even Ning Yichu, who had been divorced for five years. But then she considered that Mo Baiyou had always maintained a spotless reputation in the company; numerous female designers had tried to offer themselves to him yet ended up in dismal failure.


    Ning Yichu wouldn¡¯t flatter herself to think she could make such an accomplished man fall for her in such a short time.


    She probably figured he felt indebted to her for helping him buy medicine last time.


    ¡°Baiyou,¡± she called softly.


    His name, coming from her lush, pretty lips, struck straight to his heart.


    ¡°Get in the car. I¡¯ll take care of the ticket...¡±


    Across the street at another parking lot, Li Lingyang had solved his company¡¯s network paralysis problem in the afternoon and specially went to a six-star hotel to pack dinner, intending to deliver it to Ning Yichu.


    He thought that since he had paid, she would likely stay another night.


    However, what he didn¡¯t expect was to see Mo Baiyou, arm in arm with Ning Yichu, leaving the hospital with smiles and laughter!


    What was most glaring to him was that Ningning, who would usually glare and huff at him, was now clinging to Mo Baiyou like a lively little angel, sweetly calling out ¡°Mo Shuai,¡± as if they were old friends!


    Li Lingyang watched helplessly as the group got into the car.


    Mo Baiyou naturally and considerately fastened Ning Yichu¡¯s seat belt, and whatever he whispered to her, Ning Yichu clearly pushed him away playfully, as if they were a couple exchanging sweet nothings, each gesture sharpening the sting!


    In the morning when he had been taking care of her, she was lukewarm, like an aloof iceberg, but in Mo Baiyou¡¯s presence, she was so relaxed and cheerful!


    A surge of intense jealousy rose in his chest, and his handsome face darkened with it, the carefully packed dinner now seemed like a mocking joke, laughing at his unrequited love.


    With a loose grip, the dinner fell to the ground, and an auntie selling pancake fruit nearby kindly reminded him, ¡°Young man, you¡¯ve dropped something.¡±


    Li Lingyang picked up the thermal box without a glance and threw it straight into the trash can, striding away.


    The auntie stared in astonishment, ¡°These young people nowadays, throwing away something so nicely packaged just like that? What a waste...¡±


    Mo Baiyou brought Ning Yichu home, and Ningning actually invited Mo Baiyou inside like a maiden with a budding spring heart, to sit for a while, maybe have dinner or something.


    Ning Yichu looked at Ningning and warned, ¡°Uncle Mo is busy with work, don¡¯t make trouble, okay?¡±


    Ningning¡¯s eyes brimmed with water, ¡°Mo Shuai, are you leaving?¡±


    Though Mo Baiyou had countless affairs to manage and had come nearby for a special reason, Ning Yichu thought he would mostly decline, but the next second, she heard Mo Baiyou, without hesitation, murmuring, ¡°Hmm, Ningning has invited me to dinner, with such warmth, how could I refuse?¡±


    ¡°Yay, Mommy, did you hear? Mo Shuai decided to stay...¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...¡±


    What more could she say? Was she supposed to drive Mo Baiyou away...?


    As dinner time approached, Aunt Wang indeed went out to buy groceries.


    Although there was a child at home, the home is ultimately a person¡¯s most private place. In order to alleviate the invisible awkwardness, Ning Yichu took the initiative to give Mo Baiyou a tour.


    The apartment had a three-bedroom layout, one master, one children¡¯s room, and the remaining one was her small workshop.


    She somewhat regretted setting up this workshop.


    Because at first, she thought she would stay in Imperial City for a long time, so she wanted to have everything ready, including buying expensive equipment such as a cutting machine, a grinding disc, and a dental carving machine, among other necessary tools.


    To avoid disturbing the neighbors, she had even installed soundproofing material.


    In the corner, there was also a large box that contained various stones or jade materials, and one very valuable raw material she was working on for a client, Old Gu.


    Just this material alone was worth over a million, and whenever she left the house, she feared it would attract thieves.


    In addition to these large jade carvings, she would also carve small trinkets for the two children, such as radish figures, wooden toys...

 Chapter 69: 69: Chengchengs Malice

    Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Chengcheng¡¯s Malice


    ¡°Mr. Mo, feel free to look around...¡±


    Actually, Ning Yichu had opened a private workshop and took on external jade carving commissions, which was enough to support herself and her children, because her charges were almost 1200 yuan per gram.


    Just taking on one jade carving commission would mean at least ten thousand in labor costs.


    However, this meant that most of her energy would be devoted to running the workshop, leaving her unable to take care of the children.


    On the other hand, running a workshop meant being responsible for profits and losses. If in the future she ended up in a lawsuit with Li Lingyang, the opposing lawyer could attack her for having an unstable income...


    So after weighing her options, she decided to submit her resume to Beiji Group.


    ...


    Mo Baiyou looked at the small but tidy and warm home, the corners of his mouth slightly curling, ¡°People often say that genius artists shine in public but toil in secret. In your case, I¡¯ve come to realize that you¡¯ve only been back in the country for a short while, yet you¡¯ve prepared such a rich workspace...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re really praising me too much! How can I be as diligent as you say? Isn¡¯t it just about taking care of the children at home while also having to make money?¡±


    Mo Baiyou smiled, then suddenly felt that placing her solely in his company to take jade commissions was really a waste of talent; her stage could be much larger!


    ¡°Have you heard of the Jade Carving Skills Inheritance Competition?¡±


    Ning Yichu had, of course, heard of it. It was a major event organized by the Imperial Jade Carving Skills Association. Each year, outstanding jade sculptors from all over the country were selected to compete on-site, with the champion receiving a million yuan in prize money. More importantly, this competition was not about commercial rivalry but about letting more people understand jade carving!


    Nowadays, many young people like diamonds and jewelry, and this competition had already been held for six years.


    Last year, when she was abroad, she had received an invitation from the organizing committee.


    Unfortunately, she had to take care of her children and missed the chance to participate.


    ¡°You mean...¡±


    ¡°There are two ways to participate in the competition. One is through university recommendations, and the other is through recommendations from large jewelry companies or established jade sculpture studios. I think our company should have a spot to recommend you to participate and promote jade carving culture.¡±


    Ning Yichu was slightly taken aback. She was already short on time to work here, let alone participate in a competition, she might...


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about the group. You¡¯ll be promoted by Beiji, and if you win, our exposure will only increase.¡± For a luxury brand company, having top jade sculptors collaborate was already an event worth celebrating.


    Ning Yichu did not immediately agree, ¡°May I take some time to consider it?¡±


    ¡°Of course, but the recommendation deadline is next week. You¡¯ll need to give me a response quickly.¡±


    ¡°OK.¡±


    Meanwhile, after leaving the parking lot, Li Lingyang drove aimlessly around for a while.


    Without realizing it, he found himself in front of Saint Peter Kindergarten.


    It was already past the time when children were dismissed from school, and the nanny at home had already picked them up.


    Li Lingyang irritably pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling extremely unhappy.


    Just then, Mu Bailang called, inviting him out for drinks.


    ¡°Drinking in broad daylight? Drink by yourself! I¡¯m not in the mood!¡±


    ¡°Whoa, did you eat gunpowder or what? I didn¡¯t provoke you, so why snap at me?¡± Mu Bailang¡¯s typically carefree tone was filled with teasing.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face was cold, like an emotionless statue, as he asked in return, ¡°The child psychologist you were supposed to contact for me, has he arrived?¡±


    ¡°Now that you mention it, he has just returned to the country! When are you free? I¡¯ll have someone bring him over to you.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡±


    Doudou¡¯s illness can¡¯t be delayed any longer.


    But there was one point, perhaps even more urgent, that concerned Chengcheng!


    If Chengcheng¡¯s psychological health was suffering, he needed the guidance of a child psychologist even more!


    Thinking that the testimonies of the three servants were beyond suspicion, Li Lingyang decided to find an opportunity to have a private chat with Chengcheng.


    Private hospital.


    Granny Li had some free time today and specially went to pick up the two children from school.


    Although she didn¡¯t like Shen Jiangqing, she was still the children¡¯s mother. Now that the mother was critically ill and hospitalized, she had to bring the children to visit her, so the three of them came here.


    Li Lingyang also arrived at the hospital and saw Chengcheng and Doudou.


    The two little ones visited Shen Jiangqing with differing facial expressions.


    ¡°Chengcheng,¡± Li Lingyang called out to Chengcheng, his austere visage showing no trace of emotion.


    Yet, the moment Chengcheng saw Li Lingyang, his body shook slightly, and he pretended nothing was wrong, saying, ¡°Daddy, good evening.¡±


    ¡°Did I hear that you slept with Grandma last night and had a nightmare?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he missed not a single one of Chengcheng¡¯s expressions¡ªhe hoped more than anyone that his premonitions were wrong.


    Chengcheng¡¯s gaze flickered even more, ¡°Doudou fell into the water, and I feel very guilty for not taking good care of her.¡±


    ¡°Is that so? Then tell me, what were you doing at the artificial lake before Doudou fell in?¡± Li Lingyang finally stopped beating around the bush, his cold voice laden with intense pressure!


    Chengcheng¡¯s eyes widened suddenly, as if surprised that Li Lingyang knew he had been to the artificial lake, then quickly gestured with his hands, saying, ¡°I just saw Aunt Ning taking them to play, and I was curious, so I followed, Daddy, I didn¡¯t do anything...¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s tall frame instantly tensed, his voice harsh and cold, ¡°Did I say you did something?¡±


    ¡°I... I don¡¯t know...¡± Chengcheng hung his head low, his cheeks flushing red, and as he spoke, he began to cry, his shoulders shaking with sobs, ¡°I really don¡¯t know anything, please don¡¯t ask me...¡±


    Li Lingyang looked down on Chengcheng with frustration, unable to tell whether he felt more anger or disappointment.


    Although there was no direct evidence, from his behavior, it was highly likely that he had loosened the plank¡ªnow what needed clarity was whether it was intentional or all an accident?


    ¡°Tsck, big brother, are you scolding your little nephew behind Grandma¡¯s back?¡± Suddenly, a teasing voice came from behind.


    Li Lingyang was not surprised to see Li Jingtian. Li Jingtian was wearing a shirt today, black on the left and white on the right, as if performing a face-changing routine from Sichuan opera, perfectly dividing him into two.


    He reined in the harsh aura around him and spoke indifferently, ¡°Do I need your approval to talk to my own son?¡±


    ¡°NoNoNo, not at all, but I¡¯m just worried that when Granny finds out her most beloved grandson has shed golden beans, she¡¯ll be heartbroken.¡± Li Jingtian said with a smirk, then smoothly pulled out a clean, wet wipe from his pocket.


    Chengcheng followed the man¡¯s large, pianist-like hand with his eyes.


    It was his Uncle!


    His eyes were still red, the glossy black pupils suffused with moisture, making him look clear-eyed and piteously helpless, stirring a pang of sympathy.


    ¡°Dear Chengcheng, why are you crying like this? Wipe your face; do you want Uncle to take you to see Grandma?¡±


    Chengcheng did want to leave, but he was also afraid of Li Lingyang.


    Li Lingyang saw his pale little face; it was hard to associate him with the perpetrator who caused Doudou¡¯s fall into the water. Without saying anything, with a cold face, he turned and quickly left.


    ¡°Wahh...¡± The moment he left, Chengcheng immediately burst into loud crying.


    Li Jingtian tried to soothe him for a long time without success. Having little patience himself, he directly picked up Chengcheng and took him to Shen Jiangqing¡¯s hospital room.


    Shen Jiangqing lay quietly on the hospital bed; she appeared very frail, her cheeks pale. Hearing someone enter, she furrowed her brow in even more pain, looking pitiful and helpless.


    ¡°It¡¯s me, stop pretending,¡± Li Jingtian scoffed, interrupting Shen Jiangqing¡¯s pretense.

 Chapter 70: 70 Chengchengs Biological Father

    Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Chengcheng¡¯s Biological Father


    Shen Jiangqing opened her eyes and saw who it was, immediately huffing, ¡°Why are you here? Didn¡¯t I tell you not to come?¡±


    ¡°Look, your precious son was getting a continuous scolding from Li Lingyang. If it weren¡¯t for me, I doubt he¡¯d be so lucky today.¡± Li Jingtian pushed Chengcheng towards her.


    The little guy was unstable on his feet and nearly fell with a stagger. Shen Jiangqing reflexively sprang up from the bed and caught Chengcheng, glaring angrily at Li Jingtian, ¡°What are you doing! You almost knocked him over!¡±


    Tears still clung to Chengcheng¡¯s eyelashes, and Shen Jiangqing¡¯s heart ached uncontrollably.


    Li Jingtian let out a scoff and said in a slippery tone as he rubbed his chin, ¡°If back then you hadn¡¯t been so set on climbing the social ladder and marrying Li Lingyang, I suppose our child would be this big by now, right?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s gaze flickered with unease, waring, ¡°We are history now. If someone finds out about our past, neither of us will have an easy time!¡±


    ...


    Was that his cue to keep his mouth shut? Li Jingtian clicked his tongue and lamented, ¡°You really are colder than any man, lady. But so many years have gone by, and I still can¡¯t forget your taste. What are you going to do about that?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing blushed to her ears. In truth, Li Jingtian was also a very outstanding man. Although he had a lot of negative reviews from the outside world, his methods could definitely be called fierce!


    But... he was an illegitimate child, one not favored by Li Jianbin!


    These years he was abroad, and unlike what the Li Family knew, he wasn¡¯t completely banished. In fact, some of the Li Group¡¯s more shady dealings abroad were done by him under Li Jianbin¡¯s order.


    Their beginning was a mistake.


    That day she had gone to find Li Lingyang, pleading with him once more not to marry Ning Yichu, only to be rejected.


    Heartbroken, she went to a bar to drown her sorrows, and by a stroke of bad luck, found out Li Jingtian had returned to the country. This illegitimate son, scorned by the entire Li Family, she didn¡¯t know if it was revenge or a wild impulse, but she went straight up and threw herself at him.


    When she sobered up, she realized the absurdity of it all and ran away in a panic. Fortunately, they weren¡¯t entangled for long before he went abroad again, and he had not sought her out since.


    But fate had the worst sense of humor. When Shen Jun stole sperm, he stole it from the wrong man¡ªit was from him!


    In other words, Chengcheng was actually his son...


    Shen Jiangqing clenched her teeth, determined to keep this secret. So, pretending to be innocent, she said, ¡°Forget about me. I¡¯m not a good woman. I¡¯m about to marry your elder brother, and surely you will find someone better than me in the future...¡±


    ¡°Heh, what a heartless creature you are,¡± Li Jingtian mocked.


    Shen Jiangqing held back and didn¡¯t blush, ¡°Think what you want, but it¡¯s impossible for us.¡±


    ¡°But I heard that Li Lingyang is impotent, and he has never touched you?¡±


    ¡°You should go now.¡± Her deepest and most painful secret was exposed right to her face. Did he need to rub salt in her wounds? Shen Jiangqing felt both embarrassment and anger.


    Li Jingtian shrugged, ¡°Jiangqing, you will regret this.¡±


    After Li Jingtian left, Shen Jiangqing¡¯s tense nerves finally relaxed a little. She wasn¡¯t worried about Chengcheng gossiping. For years, she had groomed him to be excellent, fully aware of what was best for him.


    She wiped the tears from the little guy¡¯s face and asked with concern, ¡°Sweetheart, tell mommy, why did daddy scold you?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s... it¡¯s nothing.¡± As Shen Jiangqing expected, Chengcheng had his own little schemes and lied, ¡°I just accidentally talked back to daddy.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing pinched his cheek, ¡°You know, how has mommy taught you? You need to please your father, to win over the elders of the Li Family. That way, they will make you the heir in the future.¡±


    Chengcheng nodded as though he understood, but Shen Jiangqing had forgotten that parents are the best role models for their children.


    Shen Jiangqing was full of lies, and Chengcheng was quick to emulate.


    In fact, often adults think that children are the purest, but the truth is, children can lie even more easily than adults...


    ...


    On the way home with Doudou, Little Doudou tilted her head and asked about Ning Yichu¡¯s condition with great concern.


    ¡°Daddy, can I go see Auntie?¡±


    As she spoke, the little girl¡¯s eyes were filled with eager anticipation.


    She wanted to properly thank Auntie for saving her!


    Li Lingyang, however, exploded like an ignited fireball, his brows immediately furrowing as he said to his daughter, ¡°I have already thanked her on your behalf, and there¡¯s no need for you to continue being friends with Ningning anymore.¡±


    Doudou was shocked and anxious, making gestures non-stop, asking why!


    Was it just because Sister Ningning was Auntie¡¯s daughter? Or because of the unpleasantness between the adults?


    But why should the affairs of adults involve their children?


    ¡°There¡¯s no reason, you and Ningning are not from the same world.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care! I want to play with Ningning!¡± Doudou¡¯s annoyed little hands gestured back and forth, even stretching out in front of Li Lingyang as if she feared he wouldn¡¯t see clearly.


    Li Lingyang was almost torn between laughter and tears, but he felt more adamant about severing the ¡°karmic entanglement¡± between her and Ningning swiftly and decisively.


    ¡°Protest is futile, I¡¯ve already decided.¡±


    For the first time, Doudou saw her daddy speak to her with such a serious tone, and she too became angrily embarrassed, gesturing more authoritatively than him, ¡°I¡¯m going to tell Great-Grandmother!¡±


    Li Lingyang held his forehead, indeed forgetting that she had a powerful supporter behind her.


    Doudou saw Li Lingyang¡¯s conflicted look and actually hummed with satisfaction.


    ¡°It¡¯s pointless no matter who you go to. Your Great-Grandmother is so old now, do you still want her to argue with me for your sake? Go ahead,¡± Li Lingyang said, effectively shutting the little girl down. After all, he had more experience than she had years; how could he possibly not manage her?


    Thinking of Great-Grandmother¡¯s hunched and aged body, Doudou indeed didn¡¯t have the heart.


    What if Great-Grandmother had an attack of anger that affected her health? It would be so distressing; Great-Grandmother had already been to the hospital several times this year.


    But to break off relations with Ningning...


    Wow!


    The little girl suddenly felt so wronged that she wanted to cry...


    As soon as they arrived back at Imperial Dragon Bay, Doudou trudged upstairs like an eggplant beaten by frost, looking dejected and dispirited.


    ¡°Little Miss, the kitchen has made your favorite custard buns today...¡± Nanny He cooed while taking the little girl¡¯s cartoon backpack.


    But Doudou, as if she hadn¡¯t heard, trotted into the bedroom, leaving Nanny He somewhat puzzled. She turned her head to see Li Lingyang in his stiff black coat entering from outside, his face not particularly warm and carrying a cold harshness as if he were wrapped in the chill of the world.


    ¡°President Li,¡± Nanny He bowed respectfully, then asked with concern, ¡°What happened to Little Miss, did you two have a quarrel?¡±


    Li Lingyang glanced at the second-floor bedroom, ¡°Serve the dinner in Little Miss¡¯s room later.¡±


    ¡°Yes, President Li...¡± Sigh, even dinner wasn¡¯t eaten together; they must have really had an argument.


    But why did the father and daughter quarrel?


    That evening, Li Lingyang found Liu Yi, the child psychologist recommended by Mu Bailang.


    He asked bluntly, ¡°Because of some of my decisions, my daughter is unhappy. Is there anything I can do to cheer her up?¡±

 Chapter 71: 71 Doudou Comes Knocking

    Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Doudou Comes Knocking


    The next morning, Doudou rubbed her big eyes and completed her washing with the help of a servant.


    She quietly pulled open the door, only to see a large dog with black and white fur?


    The big dog¡¯s tail wagged furiously as it howled and shook its head, looking around, while the dog leash was in the hands of the tall man beside it, Li Lingyang.


    Doudou recognized at first glance that the fluffy large dog was the Siberian Husky Beile, raised by her godfather!


    Her little face lit up with milky excitement.


    ¡°Doudou, don¡¯t you really like Beile? Daddy got it from your godfather, and from now on, you¡¯ll be its little owner,¡± Li Lingyang coaxed his daughter, handing her the leash.


    ...


    Doudou pouted; she had asked Daddy many times to bring Beile over to play, but he had always brushed her off. Could she really keep Beile today?


    She was happy for only a second before puffing up with indignation, huffing that Daddy was trying to bribe her with Beile!


    But Miss Ning couldn¡¯t be compared to Beile at all...


    ¡°What, you don¡¯t want it?¡± Seeing the little girl still angry, Li Lingyang couldn¡¯t help but laugh and say.


    Doudou tilted her head, ignoring Daddy.


    Li Lingyang stroked his chin, pretending to ponder, ¡°No one in our family likes pets, and since even you don¡¯t want it now, it looks like I¡¯ll have to send it for humane destruction.¡±


    ¡°Ao wu...¡± Beile, who had been lazily lying about, heard the word ¡°destruction¡± and exploded into action, jumping up and down around Doudou in a very flattering manner.


    Doudou also panicked and hugged Beile¡¯s dog neck, glaring at Li Lingyang, clearly saying not to destroy Beile!


    ¡°So, you¡¯re willing to adopt it now?¡±


    Annoyed and embarrassed, Doudou took the dog leash from Li Lingyang¡¯s hands and gently petted the dog¡¯s head to comfort it.


    Then, she strutted off, leading it downstairs.


    Chengcheng was the one who disliked these small animals the most. Of course, he didn¡¯t like large dogs either; he preferred kings of beasts with aggression like tigers and lions!


    So, he found Beile particularly displeasing, especially with its dumb Husky looks.


    But Doudou took good care of Beile.


    Previously, when Daddy was busy with work and had to go abroad, her godfather would sometimes bring Beile to play with her. It could be said that before Ningning showed up, Beile was a good friend of hers!


    ...


    Another day of rest, and Ning Yichu went online to watch last year¡¯s heritage competition footage.


    Because it mainly promoted jade carving culture, the event was broadcast live in a large venue, showing the finalists¡¯ live design and carving process.


    But this culture was ultimately niche, and the peak number of live viewers was only in the tens of thousands, far less than the number of people watching a minor internet celebrity selling goods on some sound platform.


    Beep, a WeChat message suddenly popped up.


    It was from Granny Li¡¯s voice message, ¡°Yichu, your craftsmanship is really amazing, absolutely divine. I¡¯m following the young people¡¯s trend and posted this Xiuyu jade on my Moments, and many old friends are asking me who carved it. I told them it was a gift from you, but they didn¡¯t believe me, insisting that you must have bought it at a high price from another master, haha...¡±


    Ning Yichu blushed, somewhat at a loss for laughter.


    This line pays a lot of attention to seniority and factions, as well as inheritance.


    For example, several well-known jade sculptors in Imperial City each have their own exclusive studios, or have trained a batch of excellent apprentices. These people generally band together, excluding and suppressing newcomers and outside jade sculptors.


    It¡¯s a bit like the traditional culture of chess, where each generation¡¯s famous masters are passed down and are considered more orthodox.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind my humble skills, Granny, that¡¯s good enough.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind at all, who was it, I have an old sister who gambled on stones abroad and cracked open two pieces of jadeite. She¡¯s wondering what to do with them, and I¡¯ve thought of recommending you. Just not sure if you¡¯re available or not?¡±


    ¡°I am available. Do you know the specific size and dimensions of her jadeite?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea, I¡¯ll just have her go to Beiji to find you.¡±


    ¡°Okay, thank you Granny for introducing business to me,¡± Ning Yichu said sweetly.


    ¡°What sort of business is this? It¡¯s just two pieces of broken jadeite. Considering you saved Doudou, no amount of customers I introduce would be enough,¡± Granny Li said happily, but then she seemed to hesitate, as if she had more to say but was stopping herself.


    Ning Yichu picked up on her granny¡¯s dilemma, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Granny? Is there something else you want to ask me?¡±


    ¡°Chu Chu, there¡¯s indeed something that¡¯s been weighing on my heart, making it hard to breathe. Hui Yue told me that Ningning is your child with another man. That¡¯s not true, is it? Granny knows you¡¯re in love with Aling, and you wouldn¡¯t cheat while married...¡±


    Through the phone, Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t see Granny Li¡¯s expression, but she could guess the complexity of her emotions at that moment.


    Granny had always been a firm supporter of her, but she couldn¡¯t reveal the truth!


    Li Lingyang already had Shen Jiangqing and the twins. Taking Doudou away would just be icing on the cake, but what about her? She only had Ningning and Chen Bao.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Granny. I¡¯ve let down your trust.¡±


    The silence fell suddenly on the other end of the phone, and Granny Li let out a long sigh, as if convincing herself to accept this fact.


    ¡°It seems Aling isn¡¯t lucky enough to have that blessing. But it¡¯s not all your fault; he often neglected you back then, which was indeed too harsh...¡±


    ¡°If you like Ningning, I can send her over to keep you company often.¡± It could be seen as creating joyful moments between grandparent and grandchild. She believed Granny wouldn¡¯t look down on Ningning because of her origins.


    As expected, Granny Li was still happy after hearing this. ¡°That would be wonderful! You have no idea how much I wish I had a little girl chattering away beside me whenever I see Doudou not speaking.¡±


    The two chatted on and on for quite a while before Granny Li reluctantly hung up.


    Aunt Tong noticed it was getting cold and draped a thin blanket over Granny Li¡¯s shoulders.


    Granny Li¡¯s thoughts were in turmoil, and she grasped Aunt Tong¡¯s hand, ¡°Atong, do you think it¡¯s true that Ningning isn¡¯t really a child of our Li Family?¡±


    Aunt Tong was Granny Li¡¯s confidante and knew what she was thinking, ¡°Madam, are you confused? If we can think of it, Young Master Ling must have thought of it too, and he will naturally get a paternity test done.¡±


    ¡°I know that, of course, but every time I see Ningning, I feel like she and Doudou could really be sisters...¡±


    ¡°Madam, you¡¯re just fond of Ningning because she resembles Lady Ning so much, and naturally, that makes you joyous,¡± Aunt Tong reassured her gently, patting her shoulder.


    Granny Li stood up with a slap of her thigh, ¡°No, I won¡¯t be at ease until I see the results of the paternity test with my own eyes!¡±


    ...


    As evening approached, Aunt Wang finished making dinner for Ning Yichu and Ningning, and had to leave early for something at home.


    Ning Yichu was mostly recovered, capable of handling simple household chores with no problem.


    The mother and daughter had just taken their seats at the dining table when they heard someone knocking at the door.


    ¡°It must be Granny Wang forgetting her phone again. I¡¯ll go open the door...¡± Ningning slid off the bench like an eel, dashed in a few steps, and twisted the doorknob open.


    But what she saw was a gaping maw.


    With sinister white fangs and a long tongue lolling out, dripping with saliva.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Terrified, Ningning screamed at the top of her lungs.

 Chapter 72: 72 A Family of Three Eating Dinner

    Chapter 72: Chapter 72 A Family of Three Eating Dinner


    Ning Yichu swiftly ran over and promptly shielded Ningning behind himself.


    The large dog seemed to realize it had frightened someone; it instantly whined, hung its head, and stepped aside, revealing Little Doudou¡¯s baby-faced innocence.


    She, annoyed, yanked at the leash and then patted its head. Beile, like a child who knew he had done wrong, went limp on all fours, lying down and turning its clear, innocent, and pitiful eyes towards Ningning as if apologizing.


    ¡°Doudou?¡± Ning Yichu was shocked by the scene, ¡°This dog...¡±


    Doudou quickly shook her head and took out a notebook she carried, briskly writing something.


    Some complex hand signs which the aunt couldn¡¯t understand.


    ...


    ¡°Auntie, don¡¯t be scared, his name is Beile, he doesn¡¯t bite.¡±


    Ning Yichu, somewhat helplessly, massaged his forehead and gently patted Ningning¡¯s back while looking around. Seeing only the girl and the dog, he asked curiously, ¡°Did you come here by yourself?¡±


    Doudou continued to write, ¡°My godfather brought me here.¡±


    ¡°Godfather?¡± Ning Yichu suddenly realized, ¡°Young Master Mu?¡±


    Doudou¡¯s eyes sparkled as she nodded vigorously. Then, she dug into her little backpack, rummaging around and pulling out a handcrafted origami flower. She offered it to Ning Yichu with a smile, to which was attached a cute card depicting a scene where a woman was diving into the water to save a little dumpling.


    It was clear that Doudou had come to express her gratitude for saving her life.


    ¡°You could have just sent a text to say thank you; your daddy and mommy must be worried with you traveling so far.¡± Ning Yichu accepted the little flower, gently rubbing the little one¡¯s head.


    Fuzzy, so adorable.


    Doudou nuzzled affectionately and wrote firmly, ¡°Coming in person shows sincerity.¡±


    ¡°And your godfather? Is he waiting downstairs for you?¡±


    ¡°He left,¡± Doudou gestured.


    ¡°Left?¡± Ning Yichu puzzled, ¡°He just left you here? How will you get back later?¡±


    Doudou bit her lip, her eyes brimming as she looked at Ning Yichu and Ningning, her little paws kept writing in her notebook, ¡°Can I play with Miss for a while before I go back?¡±


    This was certainly... not the best idea, given Li Lingyang¡¯s attitude¡ªit was likely she had come without Li Lingyang¡¯s knowledge.


    But the little one had specifically made the trip.


    ¡°Come in first,¡± Ning Yichu hesitated for a moment but couldn¡¯t bear to disappoint the little darling.


    After all, who could resist such an adorable little dumpling!


    Doudou¡¯s eyes shimmered like scattered stardust, brightening instantly. She politely took off her little shoes, put on Ningning¡¯s child-sized slippers, and followed her inside.


    Ning Yichu was worried that Beile might frighten Ningning further, so she didn¡¯t allow Beile inside, tying him to a nearby stair railing.


    Beile looked mournfully at his little owner.


    Doudou tossed her head happily and reassured Ningning, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve kept him outside.¡±


    Normally, Ningning was quite brave and had only been startled by the sudden encounter with the dog. The young girl, always conscious about her image, put her hands on her hips and declared, ¡°I wasn¡¯t scared! I was just taken by surprise. And let me tell you, when I was in Europe, I petted the neighbor¡¯s dog until it almost went bald!¡±


    Doudou uttered an ¡°Oh,¡± gesturing with her little hands that it was alright to pet Beile.


    Meanwhile, in the presidential office of Li Group at the top of the headquarters building, Li Lingyang had just finished dealing with some urgent documents when he received a call from the mansion¡¯s butler.


    ¡°President Li, Young Master Mu has taken the Little Miss.¡±


    ¡°Mu Bailang?¡± Li Lingyang paused, playing with his black pen, ¡°What is he doing with Doudou?¡±


    ¡°Young Master Mu didn¡¯t make it clear, but when Little Miss left, she took Beile with her. Could it be that Young Master Mu missed Beile?¡±


    Li Lingyang curled his lips into a mocking cold smile. He didn¡¯t think Mu Bailang was that compassionate. After hanging up the phone, he immediately sent a message to Mu Bailang on WeChat, ¡°Where have you taken my daughter?¡±


    Mu Bailang¡¯s voice message quickly came back, ¡°I¡¯m saying, are you not letting Little Doudou see Ningning?¡±


    ¡°Doudou told you this?¡± Li Lingyang pinched his brow.


    ¡°Yes, you wouldn¡¯t know, the little girl sent me a text, asking me to take her to see Ning Yichu...¡± Mu Bailang spoke in a casual tone, ¡°You really are enough. Doudou rarely has a good friend, and even though she is the daughter of your rival in love, but...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re always full and have nothing better to do! Who let you take Doudou to Ning Yichu¡¯s place?!¡± Li Lingyang rudely interrupted him, his words were exceptionally sharp, as if Mu Bailang had done something dreadful.


    Mu Bailang paused for two seconds before clicking his tongue, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Ning Yichu, she even saved your daughter, are you afraid she¡¯ll eat Little Doudou?¡±


    ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t ever take Doudou to see her again!¡±


    Fuming, Li Lingyang slammed down the phone and grabbed the keys from nearby and stormed out.


    ...


    Inside Junyue Mansion, Ning Yichu looked at the rich dinner on the table and asked Doudou, ¡°Have you eaten yet?¡±


    Doudou had actually already eaten at home, but it had been a long time since she had eaten with the pretty aunt, so she innocently shook her head.


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll get you a new set of utensils, shall we eat together?¡± After dinner, she probably would have to send her back. Li Lingyang¡¯s cherished daughter had come to find her, what a mess, if Shen Jiangqing and Su Huimiao knew, they might say again that she was taking advantage of her kindness.


    Doudou, unaware of Ning Yichu¡¯s thoughts, happily clapped her little hands.


    Ning Yichu took out a clean little white jade bowl.


    ¡°This is my special little bowl!¡± Ningning cheered.


    ¡°It¡¯s borrowed temporarily for little sister.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Doudou, I¡¯ll tell you, this little bowl was specially made for me by mommy, not bought from outside, look here, it even has my name carved on it...¡± Ningning pointed to a figure carved on the edge of the white jade bowl.


    Doudou¡¯s mouth opened wide in amazement, ¡°That¡¯s amazing.¡±


    ¡°Of course...¡± Ningning boasted proudly, as if she had received a praise herself, ¡°My mommy is a top Jade Sculptor, in her hands, all things can be carved!¡±


    Doudou¡¯s big eyes shone as she looked at Ning Yichu, who pinched the little one¡¯s cheek, ¡°Auntie also carves many little things normally, how about I give you a rose pendant later?¡±


    Doudou bashfully pressed her lips together and nodded, her eyes filled with anticipation.


    Ning Yichu took the opportunity to say, ¡°Auntie thought about it, and it¡¯s probably best to inform your daddy, otherwise he¡¯ll accuse me of kidnapping children, and I won¡¯t have a leg to stand on.¡±


    Doudou, afraid of getting her aunt in trouble, nodded in agreement.


    Ning Yichu then made a video call to Li Lingyang.


    Soon, the video call connected, and Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face appeared on the phone screen.


    He seemed to be driving, with the back seat faintly visible behind him.


    The man¡¯s face was slightly stern as he asked directly, ¡°Is Doudou with you?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Ning Yichu had nothing to hide, and aimed the phone camera at Doudou, ¡°She said she came to express her gratitude for saving her life. I didn¡¯t know in advance when Mu Bailang dropped her off...¡±


    To substantiate her aunt¡¯s words, Doudou¡¯s little hands gestured back and forth, looking adorably cute.


    Li Lingyang knew full well the ins and outs of the situation.


    ¡°I¡¯m on my way to pick her up, but I hope, before I get there, Doudou won¡¯t meet any riff-raff!¡±

 Chapter 73: 73: Its your family that has the wild man!

    Chapter 73: Chapter 73: It¡¯s your family that has the wild man!


    Ning Yichu, though unaware of the meaning behind his words, detected the tone of disdain and said coldly, ¡°Ningning is my daughter, please show her some respect!¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s face grew grim, ¡°I didn¡¯t say I disrespected her.¡±


    ¡°Then what do you mean?¡± Where did these messy people come from in her family?


    Li Lingyang sneered, ¡°Playing dumb with me?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s you who are being ridiculous! Who¡¯s playing dumb? I know you disdain Ningning¡¯s background, but please get it straight, it¡¯s not like I begged you and Doudou to come to my home...¡± Ning Yichu really didn¡¯t want to fight with him, especially in front of the children, but his words were too irritating.


    How did Ningning become one of those messy people?


    ...


    Li Lingyang¡¯s face was steely, yet he held back from elaborating. Whichever man she wanted to be with was her freedom!


    And if Mo Baiyou enjoyed playing daddy, that was his freedom too!


    ¡°I¡¯ll arrive in fifteen minutes!¡± Dropping that line, he hung up the phone abruptly.


    Staring at the phone screen that bounced back to the messaging interface, Ning Yichu fanned herself, feeling exasperated by such a temperamental jerk. How could Shen Jiangqing tolerate him?


    Suddenly, she noticed a curious gaze fixed upon her.


    Turning her head, she caught Doudou¡¯s adorably dumbstruck expression, mouth agape, staring at her.


    She immediately realized she had lost her composure and quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Doudou. Auntie isn¡¯t angry, just having a small argument with your daddy...¡±


    Normally well-behaved and sensible in front of Ning Yichu, Doudou was now visibly upset. She heard it all: it was daddy who was insulting people!


    ¡°Not angry, not angry...¡± she wrote on her writing pad, ¡°Daddy bad, I¡¯ll help you hit him.¡±


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t help but burst into laughter, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Auntie is used to it. Come on, let¡¯s eat, or your daddy will be here to pick you up soon.¡±


    Doudou¡¯s eyes rolled around as she politely accompanied Ning Yichu and Ningning for the meal.


    Undeniably, Aunt Wang¡¯s culinary skills were excellent¡ªDoudou found the food much tastier than the dishes prepared by the chefs at Imperial Capital Dragon Bay. She ate another big bowl, leaving her little belly round and full.


    Seeing a grain of rice at the corner of her mouth, Ning Yichu gently wiped it away with a soft towel, ¡°Look at you, rice has even climbed onto your face.¡±


    ¡°Haha, little sister is totally won over by Granny Wang¡¯s cooking, she¡¯s almost licking the plate on her face,¡± Ningning teased openly.


    With her face blushing, Doudou felt extremely shy.


    The meal was rushed, as Ning Yichu guessed that Li Lingyang would soon arrive, so she went to the workroom and brought out a green rose pendant as a gift for Doudou.


    Entirely made of jade, clear and sparkling, Doudou loved it at first sight, hung it around her neck, and decided to keep it with her always!


    Hmm, but if Auntie gave her a pendant, what should she give to Auntie and Ningning?


    Knock knock.


    Just then, someone knocked on the door¡ªthree firm and one light knock, very rhythmic.


    Listening closely, one could discern a hint of impatience in the knock.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s tall figure stood at the door, his expressionless face imposing an exceptional pressure.


    ¡°Awoo...¡± Beile saw his little master¡¯s daddy arrive and immediately started hopping up and down, as if he was accusing the little master of tying him up in the stairwell to play with someone else!


    The result was a single icy glance from Li Lingyang, and Beile listlessly lay back down on the ground.


    He thought about his time at Mu Bailang¡¯s house, where two or three servants attended to him every day.


    Now he was left with Doudou. What kind of life was this!


    A few seconds later, Ning Yichu opened the door, unsurprised to see the thinly veiled anger in the man.


    Before Ning Yichu could speak, Li Lingyang suddenly asked, ¡°What tricks have you and your daughter used on Doudou? She never stops talking about you!¡±


    ¡°??¡± Ning Yichu was completely blindsided, like a pot falling from the sky.


    ¡°I should be the one asking you that. How exactly do you and Shen Jiangqing take care of your daughter? She disregards her own parents and insists on clinging to me and Ningning. I have reason to believe that you do not provide enough security for the little girl at home!¡±


    Li Lingyang ground his back teeth with a grating sound, ¡°How I interact with my daughter is none of your business! You just happened to be lucky today; no stray men around. If your chaotic private life affects my daughter¡¯s fragile mind, don¡¯t blame me for not being polite to you!¡±


    What? Ning Yichu belatedly caught on to the point of contention.


    So, what he said on the phone about some messy people was not referring to Ningning, but to... stray men?


    ¡°Ha, are you blind? When did I ever lead a chaotic private life?¡±


    Just because he found out Ningning was not his daughter, he condemned her outright?


    That¡¯s downright disgusting!


    Li Lingyang remained silent, just gazing at her with a brooding, mocking smile, as if to say, ¡°Keep pretending, keep it up!¡±


    Ning Yichu was so angry her chest heaved unevenly, feeling severely offended, but considering that both babies were in the living room, she did not continue to argue with him. She was too tired to rake up old wounds and simply said indifferently, ¡°I¡¯m not someone who can¡¯t take a hint. Since you¡¯ve made your stance clear, fine, watch over your daughter from now on and don¡¯t let her come looking for me. I promise you, I won¡¯t bother her, OK?¡±


    Not OK! Li Lingyang felt a surge of nameless anger expanding in his chest and, for a moment, he actually thought about sending Doudou over every day to see how she and Mo Baiyou would continue their dates!


    But that thought lasted only a second before he ruthlessly extinguished it.


    Such an indiscreet woman, who could give birth to a mystery man¡¯s child during marriage, what was there for Doudou to miss?


    The two treasures inside the house heard the commotion and ran over pitter-patter.


    At the sight of the tall figure at the door, Doudou glared at him accusingly, as if blaming him for coming so quickly.


    Li Lingyang was practically burning with rage, his daughter too a little traitor¡ªa person who may not even welcome her, yet she eagerly approached.


    It¡¯s strange to say, Shen Jiangqing is her real mother, and she¡¯s still staying in the hospital right now, yet she doesn¡¯t seem to care as much as Chengcheng does!


    ¡°I¡¯m taking her with me. Remember what you just said. My daughter can¡¯t stand your provocation.¡± Li Lingyang left those words, bent down, and picked up Doudou.


    Doudou sat on Li Lingyang¡¯s arm, one tiny hand encircling his neck, and the other hand waved goodbye reluctantly to Ning Yichu and her daughter.


    Ning Yichu also waved back at Doudou, feeling somewhat helpless.


    If Doudou were her daughter, she would never go against her wishes. Whoever she wanted to be friends with, she could be friends with...


    On the return trip, Li Lingyang still wore a very gloomy expression, which caused the entire car¡¯s atmosphere to be exceptionally oppressive.

 Chapter 74: 74: With a New Love, Will She Still Care About You?

    Chapter 74: Chapter 74: With a New Love, Will She Still Care About You?


    Had it been someone else, they would have been trembling in fear by now.


    But Little Doudou, with her hands clasped across her chest, felt the rose pendant hanging there, the corners of her mouth slightly upward in an unafraid and even eager expression.


    In the end, it was Li Lingyang who could no longer hold back and broke the silence first, ¡°Why did you come to find them?¡±


    Doudou had not intended to pay attention to Li Lingyang, but she saw he looked particularly angry, with veins bulging on his forehead. Doctor Uncle had said that being angry often is bad for one¡¯s health, so she unfolded her little hands and gestured back and forth a few times.


    ¡°You want to say thanks, and I have already thanked them for you! That¡¯s not a reason for you to run out here privately. Besides, maybe Ning Yichu doesn¡¯t welcome you at all. Looking for her will only add to her troubles!¡±


    The moment Doudou heard Li Lingyang trying to sow discord, she couldn¡¯t sit still, her chubby-cheeked face more serious than his, offering a strong protest.


    ...


    ¡°Auntie, Ningning, they all like me very much!¡±


    ¡°Heh, of course they like you when there¡¯s no man around. Once there¡¯s a new love, let¡¯s see if she still pays attention to you!¡±


    Thinking about the sickening sight of Ning Yichu and Mo Baiyou getting cozy together the previous evening, Li Lingyang felt a surge of disgust, his voice growing even colder, ¡°Doudou, Daddy won¡¯t harm you. Rather than having to see some disgusting images in the future, it¡¯s better to cut ties with them now!¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Doudou snorted softly through her nose, turned her head towards the window, and left Li Lingyang with the back of her head.


    Li Lingyang clenched his hands around the steering wheel and said nothing more.


    In any case, he would not let Doudou have any more contact with that mother and daughter.


    As she got out of the car, Doudou pushed hard against the door, snatched up Beile¡¯s dog leash, and then her little legs carried her away so quickly that she vanished in an instant.


    Li Lingyang didn¡¯t bother with her, instead telling the servant, ¡°Wash the car.¡±


    He actually did not like pets, especially the furry ones!


    But to distract Doudou, he had still taken Beile from Mu Bailang, and now this stupid dog had run off with Doudou to find Ning Yichu¡ªdamn it, that psychologist said pets were helpful, what a crock!


    ...


    Li Lingyang was in a bad mood, and Ning Yichu was in an even worse one!


    It was always like this, making an unreasonable fuss, as if she was the one who did something wrong?


    ¡°This crappy dad is playing the victim again. Mommy, don¡¯t be angry anymore. Your health has just recovered, getting hurt over him again isn¡¯t worth it...¡± Ningning quickly came to coax Ning Yichu.


    Ning Yichu took a deep, long breath to calm herself and then picked up Ningning, ¡°Mommy¡¯s not angry, just feeling a little unwell. Are you going to eat dinner, my dear?¡±


    Ningning also rubbed her belly, ¡°I¡¯m full too.¡±


    ¡°Okay then, help Mommy clear the dishes, and I¡¯ll go wash them.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll wash them!¡± Ningning stopped her like a little adult, ¡°Ningning is already four years old and can help Mommy with a lot of things.¡±


    ¡°You want to wash?¡± Ning Yichu chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re not even as tall as the sink yet. Alright, Mommy knows you want to help but you really can¡¯t; go watch TV instead.¡±


    ¡°Mommy, you underestimate me!¡± Ningning dropped her defiant remark and scampered off to the bathroom where she took out the little bench that she and Chen Bao often used for brushing their teeth, placed it in front of the sink, and stood upon it.


    Suddenly, the little girl stood taller than the sink, rolling up her sleeves as if she were truly a laboring person.


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the sight of her daughter¡¯s determination and stopped trying to insist, willingly helped her organize the dishes, wiping the more difficult parts with a dishcloth first, leaving the easier items for her to wash.


    Two days later, Ning Yichu returned to work at Beiji, and Ningning was taken to the nearby mall by Aunt Wang for some fun.


    As soon as she arrived at the group, the assistant Xiao Ai from the Jade Sculpture Studio rushed to greet her, ¡°Sister Ning, you¡¯re back at the company? How are you feeling now?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m much better, thank you for asking,¡± Ning Yichu replied as she handed her a series of telephone numbers, ¡°This is Mrs. Zheng¡¯s number; she has an appointment with me at ten o¡¯clock. Could you help me postpone some less important meetings?¡±


    Xiao Ai took the business card and kept it carefully, ¡°Sister Ning, you¡¯re too dedicated. Continuing to contact clients even while on sick leave!¡±


    ¡°Give me a break...¡±


    Beiji Jade Carving Studio was more like a place for receiving clients, with the professional production housed in a workshop on the second floor of the building.


    Similarly equipped with soundproofing facilities, it ensured there would be no disturbance to other employees.


    As she was waiting for Mrs. Zheng, Ning Yichu did not go to the workshop immediately but attended to some backlogged manuscripts instead.


    To excel in jade carving, the first step is always to be able to draw; with a solid foundation and a clear vision, one can then craft freely with the machinery.


    The two assistants hired by Mo Baiyou were mentored by professional Jade Sculptors, and they had a very good foundation.


    Yet in some areas, they were slightly rigid. Ning Yichu made some minor modifications to the design drafts the assistants had submitted, and before she knew it, ten o¡¯clock had arrived.


    Promptly at ten, someone knocked on the office door; Xiao Ai brought in a middle-aged couple, the man wore a less-than-pleased expression, seemingly reluctant, while the woman was full of curiosity, glancing around.


    Seeing that the couple¡¯s age did not quite match what she had expected, Ning Yichu politely rose to introduce herself, ¡°Mr. Zheng, Mrs. Zheng? Hello.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re the Jade Sculptor Aunt Li has been raving about?¡± Mrs. Zheng, about fifty, scrutinized Ning Yichu¡¯s minimalist attire with an unmistakable air of superiority, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have considered such a young Jade Sculptor if my mother hadn¡¯t strongly recommended you. You understand, right?¡±


    She truly looked down on such young Jade Sculptors.


    All her previous jade pieces had been carved by highly respected and experienced elders.


    Ning Yichu smiled and noticed the Qinglian jade pendant Mrs. Zheng was wearing around her neck, speaking softly, ¡°The craftsmanship of your pendant is extraordinary; it¡¯s from the Suzhou school¡¯s work, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Currently, there are five main jade carving styles in our country, with the Suzhou school specializing in small pieces, known for their smooth lines and an ethereal, spirited quality.


    The Qinglian flower was vivid, intricate and naturally exquisite, very eye-catching.


    ¡°You do have some insight. Yes, this was indeed commissioned from a master of the Suzhou school,¡± Mrs. Zheng said, caressing the pendant, her mood visibly improving.


    Ning Yichu made small talk for a bit, instructed Xiao Ai to serve tea, and spoke evenly, ¡°Beiji is a large luxury brand, and jade carving is just one of its divisions. Please trust us¨Cif you have any specific requirements for a jade carving, feel free to make them known.¡±


    ¡°Forget it, those two pieces of jadeite were mined by my mother anyway; if they¡¯re ruined, we¡¯ll just write it off as a failure,¡± Mrs. Zheng said with a sip of her tea. The tea was indeed high quality, which made her lazily open up a bit.


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t take it to heart and asked them to bring out the pieces of jadeite for inspection.


    The two pieces of jadeite, one large, one small; the larger was about the size of two adult fists, while the smaller was only a quarter of the large one.


    However, the quality of the large piece was average at best, with several cracks and a color that was green with white undertones. It was generally not suitable to be made into bracelets but rather as display pieces. Creating and decorating based on the natural patterns and colors of the raw material would avoid waste.


    The smaller piece, with its round, lustrous, translucent green jade, would be quite beautiful when made into accessories or jewelry, such as pendants.


    ¡°I heard that Myanmar recently introduced several new products; these two pieces must be from the Number 7 mine, right?¡±

 Chapter 75: 75: Despicable Sycophants!

    Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Despicable Sycophants!


    Mrs. Zheng was momentarily startled and couldn¡¯t help but confirm she indeed had some skills, ¡°You can tell that, too?¡±


    ¡°If Mrs. Zheng dealt with raw materials all year round like I do, naturally she would be able to tell as well.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, it indeed was bought by my grandmother-in-law from Mine 7, where the middleman boasted that it could yield glass-type jade. The result was these two pieces.¡±


    When classifying jadeite, its quality can be evaluated based on its ¡°kind water.¡± Among them, the glass type is the finest, completely flawless and as beautiful as glass, commanding a hefty price.


    Once, a fine glass type jadeite bracelet worth 4.8 billion had made a sensation on the market.


    ¡°Actually, these two pieces aren¡¯t entirely hopeless. I¡¯ll draw up some designs for you first, and you can see the effects yourself. If there¡¯s no problem, then I¡¯ll proceed.¡±


    ...


    ¡°No matter how rich your theoretical knowledge, it needs to be reflected in the product; if it¡¯s not well-done, I am someone who will berate you,¡± Mrs. Zheng said frankly and agreed on the spot, paying the deposit with her card.


    Upon hearing the fee of 1500 yuan per gram, she didn¡¯t blink an eye.


    Facing such a straightforward buyer, Ning Yichu wished she could have a dozen more of them. After completing the order, she personally escorted Mrs. Zheng downstairs.


    Mr. Zheng had not made any comments throughout and only asked on his way out, ¡°I heard that Beiji has a large stockpile of raw materials, including any fine cat¡¯s eye stones? I¡¯d like to select one as a wedding gift for my son.¡±


    Ning Yichu had recently arrived at Beiji and knew about the raw material warehouse but had never personally visited it, ¡°I need to check the inventory records before I can get back to you.¡±


    ¡°Alright, if there¡¯s one, give me a call, and I won¡¯t need to go to the raw material market anymore.¡± True jade enthusiasts not only auction off fine jade but enjoy the process of discovering raw materials and crafting them into designs of their desire.


    Ning Yichu nodded and happily sent Mr. and Mrs. Zheng off, then returned to her office to retrieve the records.


    As the head of the Jade Sculpture Studio, Beiji had granted her high access rights; she could leisurely check the inventory on the computer. She did find a batch of jade materials, but whether the cat¡¯s eye stones were fine quality, she had to see for herself.


    At two in the afternoon, Ning Yichu drove to Beiji¡¯s warehouse branch in the suburbs.


    But to her surprise, the administrator stopped her from entering!


    ¡°Who? A designer? We don¡¯t allow outsiders here; you need to be from the marketing department, or have a document authorized by the president,¡± the security guard assessed her.


    Ning Yichu hadn¡¯t noticed this regulation, ¡°I just want to take a quick look. If you¡¯re worried, you can accompany me the whole time. I¡¯ll leave immediately after I find the materials I want...¡±


    ¡°That won¡¯t work. What if you brought surveillance equipment to sell the security details to thieves?¡± the guard said sternly.


    Speechless, Ning Yichu replied, ¡°You can search me, okay? Besides, I¡¯m also an employee of Beiji; all my credentials are in order, and if there¡¯s any problem, you can easily track me down and I can¡¯t escape...¡±


    ¡°Miss, please don¡¯t make this difficult for me. Inside are warehouses filled with jewelry, jade, various fancy-colored diamonds, and materials for next season¡¯s new models. If anything goes wrong, even killing me wouldn¡¯t be enough to compensate for it,¡± the guard was very adamant.


    ¡°You¡¯re sure I can enter if I have a document authorized by the president, right?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± the guard huffed.


    Seeing the guard¡¯s strictly official attitude, Ning Yichu thought she might have been too hasty and called Xiao Ai to help draft an application for her.


    But just then, a cargo truck slowly drove by.


    Upon seeing the driver, the guard immediately let him through, all nods and bows.


    Ning Yichu had not been paying close attention, but the truck happened to stop next to her, and a voice from the passenger¡¯s side, mocking and gloating, said, ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this Lady Ning from the Jade Sculpture Studio? What¡¯s the matter, can¡¯t get into the raw materials warehouse?¡±


    ¡°Deelia?¡± Ning Yichu listened to her awkward Chinese and raised an eyebrow, ¡°When did you start working on procurement for the marketing department?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here to find a few old models, it seems like the guard doesn¡¯t recognize you well. That¡¯s right, in this world, power is respected. Those who get in through the back door are destined to be looked down upon,¡± Deelia sarcastically mocked before rolling up her window.


    The truck roared and sped into the raw materials warehouse, unhindered.


    Ning Yichu seemed to realize something, folded her arms, and coldly watched the guard, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that employees other than those from marketing department absolutely must have a president¡¯s authorization document? It seems like you didn¡¯t check Deelia at all?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, she¡¯s a top designer who came from Europe with the president to Imperial City. Could she possibly betray the company¡¯s interests?¡± the guard insisted knowingly.


    Ning Yichu snorted disdainfully, ¡°A sycophantic petty person.¡±


    Inside Beiji Group, there had always been an old tradition of discrimination by European designers against Asians, just as she occasionally experienced marginalization in the design department.


    But as she focused on jewelry and diamonds, she didn¡¯t face much harassment.


    She thought Asians would unite against such racial discrimination...


    Little did she know, some people are inherently servile, never able to stand up straight.


    Clang...


    A loud noise suddenly interrupted her thoughts, followed by a woman¡¯s curses.


    ¡°How are you handling the goods? Have you eaten, eh? These are all high-quality materials, can you afford it if they¡¯re broken?¡±


    Ning Yichu looked towards the source of the voice. Through the ajar door, she saw a worker accidentally drop a box, and several pieces of diamond rough tumbled onto the ground, shimmering under the sunlight.


    Ning Yichu was about to leave, her steps faltering as her gaze was drawn to those two rough stones.


    There seemed to be something off about that rough stone?


    ¡°What are you looking at? If you don¡¯t have an authorization document, just leave!¡± the guard came over to drive her away again.


    Frustrated, Ning Yichu turned and left.


    She hadn¡¯t faced such cold treatment even in Europe.


    Was it because Beiji internally valued those foreign designers more?


    Or was it because her fame within Beiji wasn¡¯t as notable as theirs?


    She decided then, she would participate in the upcoming Jade Carving Heritage Competition. Only by winning first place could she slap those contemptuous people hard!


    Soon after, an announcement was made inside Beiji Group.


    They declared they would officially endorse Ning Yichu to participate in this edition of the Jade Carving Heritage Competition and encouraged employees to vote in support.


    Meanwhile, things seemed dire inside Li Group.


    For several days in a row, Li Lingyang had been grim-faced, as though someone owed him billions.


    From Special Assistant Xu down to ordinary employees, everyone was trepidatious and dared not speak up.


    Even when documents needed to be delivered for Li Lingyang¡¯s review, everyone approached as though facing a great danger...


    That day, the manager of the marketing department knocked and entered.


    ¡°President Li, the list of sponsorship projects for the second half of the year is ready; please review it.¡±

 Chapter 76: 76 Spending a Fortune for a Beloved Woman

    Chapter 76: Chapter 76 Spending a Fortune for a Beloved Woman


    As a leading multinational conglomerate in Imperial City, Li Group¡¯s annual tax payment starts from billions.


    Such a business is very concerned about its reputation and is happy to engage in charity work, taking on corresponding social responsibilities each year and investing in some more positive activity projects.


    For example, promoting traditional chess culture or jade carving competitions.


    Li Lingyang originally planned to sign off casually after a glance but unexpectedly saw the Jade Carving Heritage Competition.


    ¡°This is a newly added contest, the organizers have approached both us and Beiji Group, hoping we can each invest 15 million...¡± the marketing manager immediately explained.


    Hearing the words ¡°Beiji Group,¡± an image of Mo Baiyou¡¯s annoying face appeared in Li Lingyang¡¯s mind, and his aura became even colder. ¡°Beiji Group is also planning to invest?¡±


    ...


    ¡°Yes, because Beiji has recommended a contestant.¡±


    Is the President acting this way because his fiance?e is sick?


    Wow, his aura is too terrifying!


    Li Lingyang opened the official website for the heritage competition and found the published list of contestants. Looking at the familiar names on the list, a mocking cold arc formed on his lips.


    Investing and recommending a contestant, isn¡¯t it necessary to avoid impropriety?


    Li Lingyang sneered and, with a wave of his hand, directly changed the investment amount to 50 million.


    ¡°Tell the organizers that Li Group will add an additional 20 million for exclusive naming rights!¡±


    The marketing manager was shocked. Huh, the President is so generous?


    ¡°Alright, President, I will go and coordinate the response immediately!¡±


    ¡°Wait.¡± The marketing manager was about to leave when the cold voice of the man behind him called out.


    The manager stuttered, ¡°President, do you have any further instructions?¡±


    ¡°I will personally attend the competition this year.¡±


    ¡°Yes...¡± This was a trivial matter. The manager bolted, bumping into Special Assistant Xu on his way to report on work, looking so pleased with himself that Special Assistant Xu couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the President was in a better mood.


    However, as soon as he entered the door and caught a glimpse of the cold side profile of the man in the big office chair, his breathing tightened.


    ¡°President Li, we have news about the hacker King.¡±


    At that, Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face took on a more ominous look, and he slowly lifted his head, ¡°What¡¯s his background?¡±


    ¡°According to our current investigation, he has made quite a name for himself in the European hacking community over the past year but keeps a very low profile, never attending public gatherings. He mainly frequents well-known hacking forums and has even helped save a number of companies on the brink of bankruptcy with some White Knights...¡±


    ¡°So, he¡¯s a hacker with a sense of justice?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s thin lips curled into a mocking arc, derisively asking, ¡°Any photos?¡±


    ¡°Uh, what¡¯s strange is that he never shows his true face. When others in the forum ask about his age during internal hacker exchanges, he even claims to be three years old...¡± Isn¡¯t that just playing with people?


    What kind of three-year-old hacker could be so capable?


    Probably some eccentric genius hacker; there¡¯s often only a thin line between genius and madness!


    ¡°Coy and evasive!¡± Li Lingyang naturally would not believe such absurd humor. His gaze hardened as he commanded sternly, ¡°Keep the technical department on it. The moment he surfaces again, immediately locate and track him.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    After Special Assistant Xu left, Li Lingyang stood alone in front of the large floor-to-ceiling windows for a long time.


    The hacker was just someone standing up for Ning Yichu. He wasn¡¯t to be feared.


    The most important thing at the moment was that child...


    If his mother wasn¡¯t Ning Yichu, it could only be the mysterious woman with whom he had a brief spring breeze back then!


    She had raised Chen Bao to this age and suddenly appeared, God knows what schemes she has...


    But the only clue at the moment is that bank card with a hundred million on it. Likely, the other party knows they¡¯re monitoring the card, which is why there has been no movement of the funds inside for so long.


    Li Lingyang picked up his phone and dialed Mu Bailang¡¯s number, his tone resonant and cold, ¡°Help me with something.¡±


    ...


    Meanwhile, in a private hospital.


    Shen Jiangqing leaned against a soft pillow, but her mood was extremely foul.


    She fantasized that she had fallen ill, and Li Lingyang came to take care of her every day, leaving him no time to bother with that vixen Ning Yichu...


    But somehow, it seemed she had become the one left waiting alone?


    Whenever Li Lingyang came, it was as if he were merely fulfilling a task, occasionally making a phone call to check in or showing up briefly before leaving again. Yet every time she called his office, he was busy...


    She couldn¡¯t cling to him excessively either.


    The more she thought about it, the more angry she became, to the point she nearly smashed the hospital room.


    Shen Jun held a bouquet of flowers to visit her, and upon seeing the mess in the ward, he was startled, ¡°Holy shit, were you robbed?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing glared at him fiercely, forcibly reining in her emotions to sit back on the bed. Yet, under the falling light, her facial expressions seemed somewhat twisted and fierce.


    ¡°Cough, I came to bring you news, that doctor from Europe, I¡¯ve made contact...¡±


    At these words, Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face abruptly lifted, ¡°You¡¯ve made contact? What did he say?¡±


    She only blamed herself for being too entangled in various affairs after giving birth to Chengcheng, not paying attention to the life and death of Ning Yichu¡¯s child back then. Now it was too late for regrets.


    Shen Jun shook his head darkly, ¡°The doctor said he¡¯s never seen a woman so reckless¡ªshe charged into the fire and rescued them.¡±


    ¡°Both children were saved?¡±


    ¡°Yes! A boy and a girl...¡±


    ¡°Damn it, I knew that bastard child belonged to Ning Yichu, but why wouldn¡¯t she let the child recognize his ancestry?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing clenched her fists sinisterly, feeling increasingly troubled by the complexities of the situation.


    The presence of a boy meant competition with Chengcheng for the inheritance rights.


    What was more troubling was that a sizable share of Li Group was in the hands of that old hag from the Li Family. If she favored Ning Yichu and gave her shares directly to Chen Bao... Shen Jiangqing couldn¡¯t dare think further; she couldn¡¯t sit by and wait for these things to happen.


    Seeing her agitation, Shen Jun hesitantly said, ¡°I haven¡¯t dealt much with that woman Ning Yichu, but I think since she never mentioned being pregnant during her divorce, she might not hand over the child to Li Lingyang...¡±


    ¡°Even so, I can¡¯t just wait to die! Wait... you said Aling knew early on that Ningning was Ning Yichu¡¯s daughter, could he have already done a paternity test with her?¡± Shen Jiangqing suddenly thought of something, losing her composure.


    ¡°Don¡¯t scare yourself! If he had done it, wouldn¡¯t he have brought that damn girl back to the Li Family long ago?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s eyelids twitched violently as he quickly tried to soothe her.


    Shen Jiangqing soothed her brow, also feeling the possibility was unlikely, and asked, ¡°What has Ning Yichu been up to lately?¡±


    ¡°It seems like she¡¯s entered some competition, something called the ¡®Jade Carving Heritage Contest¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Competition...¡± Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyes darkly circled, ¡°She actually has the mood to enter a contest? Seems like she really doesn¡¯t plan to reveal that little boy.¡±


    ¡°Sister, should we also ¡®take care of¡¯ that wench Ningning?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± A malicious glint crossed Shen Jiangqing¡¯s brooding gaze, ¡°I¡¯ve just had a better idea.¡±


    Even if the little girl was brought back home, it was no big deal and wouldn¡¯t affect Chengcheng¡¯s status.


    But conversely, if the little boy really was Ning Yichu¡¯s son, it meant he and Ningning were twins. In other words, she could use Ningning as bait to draw out this little boy.


    However, given the serious implications, even a slight misstep could reveal that the two were siblings, so she had to plan this out carefully!


    ¡°What idea?¡± Shen Jun asked, grimly.


    Shen Jiangqing didn¡¯t share her thoughts for the time being, ¡°Don¡¯t ask so much, go and contact some ruthless desperados from the underworld, I have my uses for them.¡±


    ...


    Upon finishing work, Ning Yichu hurried home, sending a message to Ningning at the first opportunity.


    ¡°Baby, Mommy¡¯s off work; I¡¯ll be home in half an hour.¡±


    ¡°Got it!¡± Ningning replied immediately and then scampered off to find Aunt Wang in the bathroom, ¡°Granny Wang, Mommy¡¯s off work, you can start cooking...¡±


    Aunt Wang hung up the washed clothes and, with a smile, told Ningning to watch some TV in the living room.


    Obediently nodding her small head, Ningning seated herself on the living room couch.


    Aunt Wang picked an animated film for her and then busied herself in the kitchen.


    In fact, for Ningning, the cartoon was overly childish. She only watched for a short while before losing interest, grabbed the remote control, and began flipping channels. She just happened to see a news flash¡ª


    Shengshi Group¡¯s children¡¯s clothing brand was recruiting child stars as national spokespeople!

 Chapter 77: 77: Global Talent Search for Child Stars

    Chapter 77: Chapter 77: Global Talent Search for Child Stars


    Ningning blinked her big eyes, ¡°Hmm, I remember this children¡¯s clothing brand, it seems pretty famous...¡±


    ¡°...Shengshi Children¡¯s Clothing is publicly recruiting one male and one female child star as brand ambassadors. Specific requirements are as follows, first, must be no older than five years old; second, must have a pleasant appearance and temperament; third, must be photogenic and not shy on camera...¡±


    ¡°If you know of any children who meet the requirements and are interested, please submit their resumes to the official email of Shengshi Children¡¯s Clothing. We will contact you within three days...¡±


    The female anchor¡¯s impassioned explanation came from the TV.


    Ningning rested her little chin in her hand, lost in thought.


    She had heard from her godmother that there was a lot of money in the entertainment industry.


    ...


    If she could be selected, she could help lighten Mommy¡¯s burden.


    Mommy wouldn¡¯t have to worry about her kindergarten tuition anymore...


    Meanwhile, Ning Yichu came out of the subway station and just happened to see a very familiar Polo parked by the roadside. Glancing at the license plate, wasn¡¯t that her superstar best friend Yuke?


    It couldn¡¯t be helped, Yuke¡¯s job was destined to have her flying everywhere. Ning Yichu had gotten used to her suddenly appearing and disappearing.


    She walked up and knocked on the car window.


    The window rolled down, revealing a glamorous woman wearing sunglasses.


    As soon as Yuke saw Ning Yichu, her round face puffed up in excitement, ¡°Chu Chu? Oh my, did you just get off work too? What a coincidence...¡±


    Ning Yichu teased, ¡°Yeah, isn¡¯t it just a coincidence? You, this big star, came back from W city after shooting a commercial and didn¡¯t even tell me.¡±


    ¡°Wu, I just got off the plane, and, look, I haven¡¯t even unpacked my luggage,¡± Yuke whined and acted coquettishly. ¡°I don¡¯t care, I¡¯m going to your house to mooch a meal...¡±


    ¡°It really is all about timing, Aunt Wang just finished cooking; let¡¯s go back together.¡±


    Yuke quickly opened the car door, and they both went back to Junyue Mansion. They took the elevator directly to the floor, and as soon as the door opened, the tantalizing aroma of food wafted towards them, making Yuke¡¯s stomach acid go wild with anticipation.


    Since there were children at home, the meals were fairly light, which was perfect for Yuke who had just returned from a business trip.


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t help but tease her, thankful that Aunt Wang had the habit of making a bit extra, otherwise there wouldn¡¯t be enough for them.


    Yuke giggled, ¡°Who can blame her? Aunt Wang¡¯s cooking skills just keep getting better!¡±


    Ningning looked at Yuke, worn out from her journey, her big eyes rolling around. Suddenly, she stretched out her little arm and picked up a chopstick of Yuke¡¯s favorite dish, ¡°Godmom, you¡¯ve worked hard, eat more.¡±


    Yuke gobbled it all down in one bite, her eyes sparkling at Ningning. If it weren¡¯t for the food on the corners of her mouth, she definitely would have given her a big smooch.


    ¡°My little darling, you¡¯re so thoughtful~¡±


    Ningning shyly twisted her little body and asked out of curiosity, ¡°Godmom, does being a star mean you can eat whatever you want and make lots and lots of money?¡±


    ¡°How could that be? Your agent strictly controls your weight, you¡¯re not allowed to overeat, but making money... indeed, a bit more than ordinary people.¡±


    Ningning pouted, ¡°I¡¯m a kid, I need to eat more or I won¡¯t develop properly.¡±


    ¡°Ha ha, baby, are you thinking about entering show business? But seriously, with Ningning being so cute, if you became a child star, you¡¯d definitely become famous!¡±


    Ning Yichu looked up at the very serious Ningning and then at the excited Yuke, and without thinking, she rejected the idea.


    ¡°I¡¯m not considering it, the entertainment industry is too complicated. You¡¯re an adult and you¡¯re often overwhelmed yourself, let alone a child as young as her.¡±


    ¡°Ah, but the paths for adults and children in the entertainment industry are different. Why don¡¯t you think about it? I do have the resources.¡±


    ¡°This adorable baby can¡¯t just charm on her own,¡±


    ¡°Wait until Ningning debuts, she can even bring Ningning on parent-child shows.¡±


    ¡°What Mom Goes Where, Big Sister Goes Where, their popularity will definitely explode!¡±


    Ning Yichu was still unwavering, ¡°She¡¯s still young, education is the priority, and besides, we¡¯ll be going back to Europe in just over a month...¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s okay then,¡± they were leaving, and not much could be stirred up in such a short time.


    Fan YuKe sighed in disappointment.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s eat first. I¡¯ve sculpted a few new rose pendants, pick one later,¡± Ning Yichu cleverly changed the subject.


    Fan YuKe has always been a bit thickheaded and lighthearted, and sure enough, she was sidetracked again, ¡°Wow, you¡¯ve crafted a new piece? The jade bracelet you gave me last time was seen by my friend, they all want to know who the carver was, the patterns were so exquisite.¡±


    Watching her godmother give up so easily, Ningning frowned in dismay, but Ning Yichu didn¡¯t notice and instead happily chatted with Fan YuKe about jade carving.


    After dinner, Ning Yichu cleaned up the dishes, while Fan YuKe went to the restroom.


    Ningning jumped down from her seat and followed Fan YuKe like a little tail.


    ¡°Godmommy...¡±


    ¡°My little darling, do you need to use the restroom too? You go first,¡± Fan YuKe generously offered.


    ¡°Shh...¡± Ningning stealthily glanced towards the kitchen, then tiptoed and pulled Fan YuKe into the restroom.


    Fan YuKe, unsettled by Ningning¡¯s cautious demeanor, watched as Ningning locked the door and looking sparkly-eyed asked her, ¡°Godmom, do you think I could really become a child star?¡±


    ¡°Of course, you and Chen Bao are the babies with the best genes I¡¯ve seen, one in a million! It¡¯s just a shame that Chu Chu won¡¯t let you get into showbiz.¡±


    Ningning blinked her big eyes, her delicate lips moving shrewdly.


    ¡°What if we go secretly, without letting Mommy know?¡±


    ¡°Darling, are you joking? Your mommy would kill me if she found out!¡±


    Ningning pouted, looking pitiful yet adorable, ¡°But, I found a really good opportunity...¡±


    She naturally shared about the Shengshi Children¡¯s Clothing recruiting a young spokesperson.


    Fan YuKe briefly looked through the conditions and requirements, ¡°Oh my, under five, photogenic and confident, it¡¯s practically tailor-made for you and Chen Bao...¡±


    She even anticipated that if Ningning and Chen Bao auditioned as twin siblings, they would definitely become super popular!


    Ningning proudly puffed up her little chest, ¡°Then can we go, please?¡±


    ¡°But your mommy...¡±


    ¡°Once I earn the spokesperson fee, I can go back to Europe with mommy, it won¡¯t cause any issues.¡± Ningning¡¯s eyes were sparkling, gazing intently at Fan YuKe, irresistibly charming.


    Fan YuKe could not resist for more than three seconds and surrendered because it was just too cute to resist!


    That very evening, Fan YuKe contacted the agent responsible for the cute baby auditions and submitted the application.


    Meanwhile, at the Shengshi Group headquarters building¡¯s top floor.


    Silver starlight scattered across the sky above.

 Chapter 78: 78: On the Field, Hes the Investor!

    Chapter 78: Chapter 78: On the Field, He¡¯s the Investor!


    Mu Bailang swirled the stem glass in his hand, perusing the backstage registration information in a seemingly indifferent manner, only to discover that less than a day after the advertisement had been posted, they had already received a few thousand applications.


    ¡°You¡¯re able to come up with such a method, impressive indeed.¡±


    Li Lingyang leaned back lazily on the genuine leather sofa, his eyes sharp as a hawk¡¯s.


    Curious, Mu Bailang raised an eyebrow, ¡°How can you be so sure that the kid will come to register?¡±


    Li Lingyang replied indifferently, ¡°Of course he wouldn¡¯t come to register on his own, but it¡¯s a different story if someone else registers him...¡±


    As soon as the news of Shengshi Children¡¯s Clothing searching for a little spokesperson in the country was out, not only the entertainment industry but also the ordinary folk and modeling circles were stirred.


    ...


    A talented and adorable child like Chen Bao, if spotted by a talent scout, would certainly not be let go.


    Unknowingly, the entire nation had become his eyes and ears.


    Mu Bailang had to admit admiration, giving a thumbs up, ¡°That¡¯s brilliant, truly brilliant. No wonder you¡¯re offering such a high endorsement fee¡ªit¡¯s all to make the talent scouts go crazy for the commission...¡±


    ¡°I am in the light; he is in the shadows. This cat and mouse game, it¡¯s time to end it.¡± Having said that, Li Lingyang finished his glass of red wine in one gulp, looking forward to what it would be like to see that child again.


    Suddenly, the cellphone in his pocket began to ring, and upon seeing the caller ID, Li Lingyang¡¯s tall frame rose quickly, ¡°I should go.¡±


    ¡°Tsk, another call checking in on you?¡±


    Li Lingyang couldn¡¯t be bothered with him, put down his glass, and walked out.


    Unbeknownst to him, in the next second, Mu Bailang saw a photo of a newly registered little girl backstage, where the girl posed with a V-sign in front of the camera, sported a cute little yellow duck backpack, and had four adorable tufts of hair on her head.


    Mu Bailang¡¯s lips curled into a wicked smirk, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Xiao Chuchu¡¯s daughter?¡±


    Tsk, this is going to be interesting.


    He picked up the phone and informed his subordinate, ¡°Arrange for Ning Mengmeng to come for an interview at the group next week.¡±


    ...


    Ning Yichu had no idea that the little girl had gone behind her back to try out for the little star selection.


    She had been busy with Mrs. Zheng¡¯s design drafts for the last two days.


    Being a client recommended by her grandmother, her background was, of course, extraordinary.


    Those pieces had to be not only exquisitely heavy but also withstand the scrutiny of connoisseurs.


    Relatively speaking, the choice for small pieces was limited, but the larger ornamental pieces required a lot more thought.


    After careful consideration, she opted for the design of the ¡®Dragon Boat Pavilion¡¯, combining the dragon boats and pavilions, an ideal decoration for both the bedroom and the living room.


    Of course, fearing that Mrs. Zheng might not be pleased, she had prepared three additional designs, providing a total of eight drafts for the two pieces of material. Now it was a matter of waiting for Mrs. Zheng¡¯s response.


    Once she made a choice, Yichu could proceed with the rough and detailed drawings.


    The clients she was dealing with now were either new and unfamiliar or Beiji¡¯s priority and high-quality clients, where she had to seek their preferences in advance rather than deciding based on the material.


    Otherwise, when she was in Europe serving her regular clients, they would give her the material, and she would directly create designs and carve them, sometimes finishing the product in less than a day.


    She then connected with two more clients and received a text message invitation to the Jade Sculptor Heritage Competition.


    ¡°Dear contestant, you have passed the selection of the 7th Jade Sculpture Skills Heritage Competition Imperial Capital District (competition official website...). Please bring your ID card and sign in 20 minutes before the competition starts. Please reply with ¡®Name + Received¡¯ upon receipt.¡±


    Following the instructions in the text message, Ning Yichu replied and, on a whim, clicked on the official website.


    The Heritage Competition, due to the need for onsite production by the contestants, was bound to be limited in space and number of participants.


    In the past, the number of outstanding jade sculptors recommended by various institutions and schools was just about thirty to forty people.


    However, this year, there were hundreds of names spread over several pages...


    The jade carving equipment displayed on the official website seemed very modern and advanced, a clear sign of the organizers¡¯ substantial investment. It appeared they had really splurged this year...


    ¡°Yichu,¡± a deep and sexy voice suddenly came from outside the office.


    Ning Yichu turned her head to see Mo Baiyou and greeted him with a light smile, ¡°Mr. Mo.¡±


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s gaze inadvertently swept over the official website page on her computer screen before settling on her cheeks as he spoke warmly, ¡°Are you looking at the Heritage Competition details?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the organizers have purchased a lot of advanced equipment this year and have been advertising everywhere. The number of contestants is two to three times more than in previous years. I was quite surprised.¡±


    Mo Baiyou thought of the feedback from the competition organizers, who had decided on exclusive sponsorship by Li Group, and a shadow crossed the depth of his eyes.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ning Yichu asked, seeing him suddenly fall silent.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just do your best in the competition, and don¡¯t stress too much,¡± Mo Baiyou came back to his senses, speaking softly, as if showing concern as a boss for a subordinate.


    Ning Yichu was deeply touched, ¡°I understand.¡±


    Mo Baiyou then handed her another document, the approval she had requested to visit the raw material warehouse.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s eyes sparkled slightly; she would finally be able to enter the raw material warehouse openly.


    Busy days always pass quickly, and in no time, the preliminary round day arrived.


    The organizers had prepared 30 rooms, each equipped with jade carving tools and cameras to record the entire jade carving process for the judges to score.


    After the competition, the recordings would be made into a program to be publicly broadcasted for jade carving enthusiasts to study and learn from.


    Due to the significantly higher number of contestants than in previous years, the competition would have to be conducted in five batches.


    Ning Yichu was in the earliest batch. After signing in, all contestants gathered in the central square, where the host introduced the competition process to the audience with passion and eloquence.


    At the same time, the judges were also well-known figures in the jade carving community.


    However, in the row of seats on the stage, there was a noticeable empty chair.


    The judges seemed hesitant to sit down as if waiting for someone.


    The host opened with eagerness, ¡°Welcome to all the contestants participating in the Jade Sculpture Skills Heritage Competition. Today, in addition to our heavyweight judges, we have also extended a special invitation to our exclusive sponsor¡ªMr. Li Lingyang! Please welcome the president of Li Group to the stage.¡±


    Most of the attendees today were ordinary people, naturally unaware of the relationship between Li Lingyang and Ning Yichu.


    In an instant, everyone looked forward with anticipation, whispering among themselves¡ª


    ¡°How could the organizers be so generous this year? It turns out they found a wealthy sponsor?¡±


    ¡°It is said that Li Group has sponsored fifty million in a single stroke...¡±


    ¡°I also heard that Li Group is planning to enter the jade carving industry. Compared to the cost of contracting mines abroad, this fifty million is just an initial bait. After the competition, they will extend offers to the top few of the competition...¡±


    ¡°Ah, the president of Li Group is supposedly a super handsome guy, can¡¯t wait!¡±


    Only Ning Yichu stood there, completely stiffened, staring incredulously at the stage.


    Li Lingyang was the exclusive sponsor?


    But with his stature, not even attending any business summits, would he come to such a small competition?

 Chapter 79: 79: Stunning! Perform to the Level

    Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Stunning! Perform to the Level


    Amidst the whispered private conversations of the crowd, a tall figure emerged from the shadows under the lights, his suit sharp and his posture robust, with one hand casually tucked into his pocket and an expressionless face. He strode onto the stage.


    As Li Lingyang arrived, some of the judges around him nodded and bowed, even though they were old enough to be his father, they still felt an invisible pressure that left them gasping for breath.


    ¡°President Li, hello, please take a seat.¡±


    The host approached, suppressing his excitement, ¡°President Li, do you have anything you would like to say to the contestants?¡±


    ¡°Compete with your level, compete with yourself.¡±


    Li Lingyang merely uttered these eight words indifferently, his gaze briefly flitting towards Ning Yichu.


    ...


    Ning Yichu felt a sudden sinking in her heart, her hands involuntarily tightening at her sides.


    Li Lingyang noticed her; could the competition be rigged?


    From Ning Yichu¡¯s tense demeanor, it was clear she was suspicious.


    A surge of anger flared up!


    What did this woman think of him?


    ¡°The Jade Sculpture Craftsmanship Competition has been held for six editions, and each time it has been a complete success. This year will be no exception. As the largest and sole sponsor, I can assure everyone that this competition will be absolutely fair and just, without any manipulation. I urge everyone to bring their highest level of skill to fulfill the responsibility of passing on jade sculpture...¡±


    Ning Yichu hadn¡¯t expected Li Lingyang to actually declare there was no manipulation earnestly.


    Her hesitant heart relaxed in that moment.


    Subsequently, the staff led them into the respective rooms.


    ¡°The first question now begins...¡±


    ¡°Requirement, using the ¡®Han Eight Knife¡¯ technique, sculpt the jade stone in the room into a jade cicada, with a time limit of one hour.¡±


    ¡°The competition officially begins¡ª¡±


    As the announcement rang through the broadcast, everyone delved into tense preparations.


    The ¡®Han Eight Knife¡¯ is a jade sculpting technique from the Qin and Han dynasties. Its most distinctive feature involves enabling jade sculptors to shape a piece with as few strokes as possible using the simplest techniques, thus facilitating mass production.


    It was also the technique Ning Yichu most frequently engaged in when she first started learning jade sculpture.


    For Ning Yichu, this question was incredibly simple.


    She examined the jade material for a while, then fired up the hanging grinder, quickly roughing out the basic shape of a jade cicada.


    Then she moved on to the jade sculpting; the technical demands of this craft meant that it wasn¡¯t for intricate objects.


    In less than ten minutes, with a few strokes, a jade cicada had taken shape in her palm.


    The camera captured her actions and accurately relayed them to the broadcasting room where Li Lingyang and the judges were located.


    The super-large screen in the broadcasting room was evenly divided into several segments, each displaying the live condition of different areas.


    Li Lingyang had originally only intended to glance over, but Ning Yichu¡¯s movements were too fluid, as precise as when she used to handle surgical scalpel years ago, shaping the form in just a few strokes with a unique charm.


    Seeing Li Lingyang staring at the screen, the person in charge of the event felt very puzzled.


    Although the Li Group had sponsored previous editions, they had never attended the event in person; why was he suddenly so interested in this unknown female jade sculptor today?


    Despite his suspicion, he spoke dutifully, ¡°President Li, these contestants are all jade sculptors recommended by major universities or well-known jade sculpture studios. Modern people like jewelry, but often overlook the manufacturing process. We hold this competition hoping more and more people will come to understand jade carving...¡±


    Upon hearing the words, Li Lingyang only raised his eyebrows noncommittally, his dark and profound eyes still firmly fixed on Ning Yichu.


    The manager rolled his eyes, sizing up Ning Yichu in the camera. With light makeup and a white shirt tucked into her trousers, she looked capable and striking¡ªa complete beauty. Could President Li have a thing for such women? He suddenly squinted with a smile.


    ¡°President Li, let me introduce you. Contestant number 18 was recommended by Beiji Group. She is a jade sculptor with outstanding skills...¡±


    ¡°You may not know much about jade sculpting, but we can tell at a glance that she is definitely a master!¡±


    ¡°While others usually refine the shape for a few rounds first, she works fast and accurately, completing lines in one go. It feels entirely natural. Most importantly, her speed is incredibly fast. With her current pace, she could finish the Han Ba Knife assessment in no more than ten minutes...¡±


    Beep¡ªThe manager had just finished speaking when a green light turned on in the studio, indicating that room number 18 had submitted and finished the assessment.


    The manager¡¯s words froze at the corner of his mouth. It hadn¡¯t even taken ten minutes¡ªonly about six or seven...


    This was simply a miracle!


    ¡°Did a contestant really finish the assessment so quickly?¡±


    ¡°Less than ten minutes, and such high completeness? This competition is indeed filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers, formidable newcomers!¡±


    ¡°It turns out she¡¯s a female jade sculptor, haha. She does look pretty, but women usually lack patience, which is why they excel at this rough style of sculpting. I wonder how she would manage when the finals require more detailed and delicate sculpting techniques?¡±


    Not far from Li Lingyang, a male judge with glasses sat, commenting and acting as if he were strategizing like a general.


    Upon hearing this, Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face tilted up as he glanced at the man teasingly, ¡°So, Judge Liu, you look down on female jade sculptors?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think so, President Li? Throughout history, it¡¯s mostly men who have succeeded, especially in high-end fields. Not to mention the ancient emperors who were generally men. Women should just stay at home, take care of children, and do housework. Why bother looking for discomfort in the workplace?¡± The man, being named by Li Lingyang, became even more uninhibited.


    However, Li Lingyang sharply changed his tone, mercilessly saying, ¡°Really? But I see that you are not even as good as contestant number 18.¡±


    The man¡¯s expression stiffened, ¡°President Li, have I offended you in some way?¡±


    ¡°If you can¡¯t even ensure gender equality, you shouldn¡¯t be a judge at all.¡± Li Lingyang coldly spat out the words and directly kicked Judge Liu out of the judging panel, causing an unconscious bias among the remaining judges in favor of the female jade sculptors.


    As a result, when the preliminary results were announced, one-third of the finalists were female jade sculptors!


    It¡¯s worth noting that female jade sculptors rarely made up even a fifth before...


    The preliminaries finally ended.


    Ning Yichu secured her place in the finals and breathed a sigh of relief, now certain that Li Lingyang was not targeting her!


    She posted a selfie from the competition scene in a small group chat with her and her two babies.


    ¡°Competition over, successfully advanced.¡±


    ¡°Congratulations, Mommy~¡±


    ¡°Mommy is the best!¡±


    The two babies sent their congratulations one after another.


    Ning Yichu sent each baby a voice kiss and then asked what they were doing at the moment.


    Chen Bao replied very directly and refreshingly that he had been reading for a while and was now browsing a hacker forum.


    Ningning, however, took a while before casually mentioning she was shopping with her godmother.


    The competition venue was noisy, and Ning Yichu didn¡¯t settle her mind to think much about it, reminding the babies to eat on time and rest well, then hung up the phone.


    ¡°Ah, Lady Ning, I finally found you!¡± At that moment, a man in a suit approached, calling out warmly to Ning Yichu.

 Chapter 80 80: 80 Who Isnt a Little Star Now~

    Chapter 80: Chapter 80 Who Isn¡¯t a Little Star Now~


    Ning Yichu thought back carefully, she had seen him on stage earlier, looked at the nameplate on his chest, and called out politely, ¡°Hello, Manager Zhao.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like this, even though the preliminary competition went quite smoothly, our organizing committee would like to invite the few with the highest scores for a meal, to discuss any loopholes in this competition¡¯s process and to talk about everyone¡¯s expectations for the upcoming competitions. We also hope you¡¯ll grant us the honor of your company.¡±


    Ning Yichu glanced at the time, it was four-thirty in the afternoon; she guessed there was probably nothing else happening.


    ¡°Will Mr. Li attend?¡±


    The person in charge had an idea but did not answer directly; instead, they asked, ¡°Lady Ning, do you know President Li?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no, I don¡¯t know him. I just looked at him from a distance under the stage,¡± Ning Yichu brushed it off with a laugh, joking. To say she was Li Lingyang¡¯s ex-wife? She would be torn apart by others!


    ...


    The person in charge continued, ¡°We¡¯ve also mentioned it to President Li, but whether he¡¯ll go or not, that¡¯s uncertain.¡±


    Ning Yichu pursed her lips slightly, ¡°Then I shall respectfully comply with the request.¡±


    Li Lingyang, being someone who deals with countless matters every day, would mostly likely be too busy, right?


    And certainly, he would not want to spend time in her company.


    ¡°Alrighty, please come this way...¡± A gleam of triumph flashed in the eyes of the person in charge as they led Ning Yichu down another corridor.


    Meanwhile, Fan Yuke was taking Ningning to the Shengshi Group¡¯s children¡¯s clothing brand center for an audition.


    After all, Fan Yuke was a celebrity¡ªwith a style that turned heads, stunningly beautiful with curves in all the right places¡ªand she held the hand of a cute and cool little cutie, Ning Mengmeng. As they walked by, the heads they turned were numerous!


    They walked straight up to the reception desk, Fan Yuke took off her sunglasses, lightly curved her fingers and knocked on the marble countertop, her big dashing eyes blinking rapidly, ¡°Hello, we¡¯re here for the audition.¡±


    The receptionist followed her gaze downward and was met with Ningning¡¯s chubby little face.


    ¡°Are you here for the auditions to become the children¡¯s clothing spokesperson?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡±


    ¡°The audition studio is on the 17th floor, please follow me.¡±


    Ningning thanked her in a milky voice, nearly melting the receptionist¡¯s heart, who personally escorted them to the elevator, not forgetting to use a sweet tone to encourage, ¡°Best of luck, little one! You are the cutest and most stylish baby I¡¯ve ever seen...¡±


    Ningning covered her chubby cheeks, bashfully blinking her large eyes, ¡°Thank you for the encouragement, pretty sister. I¡¯ll try my best.¡±


    As the elevator doors closed and they started ascending, Fan Yuke finally took off her mask and watched Ningning with a teachable expression, squinting her eyes, ¡°Nicely done, baby. Keep up the good work when you meet the photographer! On the set, apart from the photographer, one should never offend the lighting and the props people either...¡±


    Ningning tapped her little head, ¡°Godmother, you¡¯ve already taught me. If I offend the lighting uncle, the lighting will be dim, and I will look ugly in the pictures...¡±


    ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s the idea~¡±


    Ding-dong, the elevator doors opened.


    Fan Yuke led Ningning to the outside of the studio, where lots of children and parents had already arrived.


    Everyone maintained a surface-level smile, praising each other¡¯s child for their cuteness, but upon closer inspection, the parents seemed to be stealthily sizing up the children in the room, mentally weighing and comparing, not just for cuteness, but who was more naturally charming and had a sense of fashion for the camera?


    Honestly, all the children were more or less the same, all cute and lovely, hard to differentiate.


    But as soon as Fan Yuke, a celebrity, arrived with Ningning, her star quality ¡°shone,¡± her cool demeanor contaminating Ningning, making both of them seem thoroughly like stars.


    Those smiling parents abruptly cast wary looks their way.


    Fan Yuke unconsciously tightened her grip on Ningning¡¯s little paw, feeling as if a small rabbit had entered the wolf¡¯s den...


    At this moment, a staff member dressed in professional attire stepped out, and upon seeing the new arrivals Fan Yuke and Ningning, she asked without a blink, ¡°Are you also here to participate in the auditions?¡±


    ¡°Yes, this is my goddaughter Ning Mengmeng,¡± responded Fan Yuke quickly, her eyes darting, as she took a step forward.


    ¡°Upon hearing the name ¡®Ning Mengmeng,''¡± the female staff member, who had been indifferent, suddenly felt her brow twitch a few times before she looked up directly at an adult and a child.


    Yuke was being stared at and felt even more nervous than she had been for her own audition, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Lucy remembered the name was one that President Li had specifically mentioned over the phone and handed over a form to Yuke, ¡°Please fill this out first.¡±


    Yuke efficiently completed the form.


    Lucy then asked them to follow her inside.


    Yuke hadn¡¯t expected things to go so smoothly, almost thinking they would have to wait in a long queue.


    However, the unobstructed entry for the two of them provoked protests from the parents waiting in line, ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for so long, why are they allowed to go first?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! We all took time off to bring our children to the audition, is this fair?¡±


    Lucy looked at their children indifferently and spoke in a calm voice, ¡°If you feel it¡¯s unfair, you can leave now, Linda...¡±


    ¡°Lucy sis?¡± Another person, looking like a secretary, ran over.


    ¡°Find these two children¡¯s registration forms and give them back...¡± Lucy spoke in an official tone, exuding a powerful executive¡¯s air.


    ¡°Mommy, I won¡¯t go back! I want to be on TV, I want to be the spokesperson...¡± Those two children were the first to make a fuss.


    Seeing this, the parents could only sullenly shut their mouths.


    Without a glance at them, Lucy turned and led Yuke and Ningning inside.


    This floor was filled with various photography studios, each with its own built scene, and in every room, there were children auditioning.


    Perhaps it was the children¡¯s first time in front of a camera, either resulting in fussing and crying or in poor-quality photos.


    Photographers could faintly be heard complaining, ¡°I don¡¯t know what President Li is thinking, who says children¡¯s clothing must be represented by kids under five, such small children, it¡¯s impossible to communicate, let alone develop a sense for the camera...¡±


    Yuke and Ningning exchanged glances, both seeing the ¡°up to no good¡± in each other¡¯s eyes.


    Finally, Lucy stopped at the door of one of the most luxurious photography studios.


    ¡°Just a moment, let me go in and announce our arrival.¡±


    Announcement? It¡¯s that serious?


    Yuke couldn¡¯t help but look around, wondering if this was the domain of the chief photographer.


    In less than five minutes, Lucy returned, the previous coldness and arrogance replaced by a spring-like smile, ¡°All right, Miss Fan, Miss Ning, please...¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Yuke and Ningning nodded like bobbleheads, and then, taking a deep breath, they solemnly entered the studio.


    The interior was brightly lit, yet contrary to what they had imagined, it was eerily quiet without the busy staff and photographers.


    A tall figure was sitting on the leather sofa in the middle of the room, facing away from them.


    The man¡¯s back was to them, his face unclear, but they could sense he must be handsome; even his hairstyle was meticulously perfect!


    ¡°Um, hello, we are here for the audition...¡± Yuke cleared her throat, thinking she was an adult after all, and initiated the conversation.


    Mu Bailang was lazily leaning on the sofa, browsing a magazine. Hearing the voice, he slowly put down the magazine, turned slightly, and with a sly, handsome side profile, he looked at them with a half-smile.


    ¡°What a coincidence, Miss Fan, we meet again, and this little friend... Ningning~¡±


    ¡°Demon Uncle!¡± Ningning recognized at once the handsome uncle from Grandma¡¯s birthday banquet and exclaimed excitedly.


    Um, he even danced with mommy!

 Chapter 81 81: 81 Im Not Interested in a Little Meat Bun Like You

    Chapter 81: Chapter 81 I¡¯m Not Interested in a Little Meat Bun Like You


    Mu Bailang raised his eyebrows, his large hand caressing his chin, feigning confusion. ¡°Ha, a bewitching beauty? Are you talking about me?¡±


    ¡°Because Uncle, you¡¯re so handsome, even more so than the male protagonists in comics, I couldn¡¯t find a better adjective,¡± Ningning said, tilting her little head up, with an innocent look.


    That fair skin of hers was so tender it seemed like you could squeeze water out of it.


    Mu Bailang watched her lively little expressions, thinking to himself that she truly was Ning Yichu¡¯s daughter, perfectly inheriting her strengths. If this translated in front of the camera...


    If he couldn¡¯t make Xiao Chuchu famous, getting her daughter into show business wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea either!


    A sly gleam flickered in Mu Bailang¡¯s narrow eyes, ¡°So, little friend, would you like to be a spokesperson?¡±


    ...


    Ningning wriggled her little body and crisply replied, ¡°I do! Because then I can earn lots and lots of money to take care of my mommy...¡±


    ¡°What a cute and kind baby,¡± Mu Bailang¡¯s thin lips curved into a smile, and he called out to his staff, ¡°Lucy, take Ningning to change clothes for a screen test.¡±


    ¡°Yes, President.¡±


    President...president... As soon as these words came out, Fan YuKe, no matter how slow, now understood who the man in front of her was.


    That man who, at the mere age of twenty-five, had founded Shengshi Entertainment and by himself stirred the entire entertainment industry, eventually becoming a powerful figure who loomed over it all!


    My goodness, wasn¡¯t she just accompanying her goddaughter to an audition?


    To think she¡¯d actually meet the big mogul behind the entertainment scene here!


    As soon as Fan YuKe opened her mouth, she nearly bit her own tongue. ¡°Mu...President Mu, hello!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t be that scary, can I? Why are you stuttering, Miss Fan?¡± Mu Bailang looked at her with a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes, his demeanor carrying an enigmatic depth.


    Fan YuKe¡¯s lively big eyes whirled around in embarrassment¡ªshe didn¡¯t want to stutter!


    But after all, he was the figure that an insignificant eighteenth-tier celebrity like her looked up to...


    Inevitably, there would be a mix of reverence and fear!


    ¡°President Mu¡¯s heavenly appearance is breathtaking. I lost my composure for a moment, please forgive me, President Mu!¡±


    ¡°Oh? Lost your composure, did you? I wonder if Miss Fan still remembers what happened on the evening of the 7th this month?¡± Mu Bailang continued to watch her with a poker face.


    Her round cheeks flushed with urgency, her plump, moist lips were rosy, and the light fell on her long eyelashes casting delicate shadows...


    Where was there a trace of that drunken woman¡¯s embarrassment from that night?


    Fan YuKe quickly filtered through her memories, oh, wasn¡¯t the 7th the night when Chu Chu just passed the audition, and then she was dragged into a private room at the Jiangnan Club by a villain?


    She got drunk that night, and when she woke up the next morning, she found herself miraculously lying on a hotel bed!


    Clothes scattered all over, the room was a mess, and she was lying under the covers naked. Thankfully, she went to the hospital to get examined and her body was fine; she was just seen naked, that¡¯s all.


    Hearing him ask this, Fan YuKe¡¯s eyes widened dramatically, ¡°Could it be that it was you on that night...¡±


    ¡°Do you remember now?¡±


    ¡°Ao...you scoundrel!¡± Fan YuKe was so angry her cheeks turned red, and she clenched her fists tightly. She glared at him furiously and if not for the tiny bit of reason she had left, she would have rushed forward and bitten him to death.


    ¡°I¡¯m the scoundrel?¡± Mu Bailang also found it amusing and with a dangerous smirk said, ¡°I kindly brought you home, only to have you vomit all over me, and I haven¡¯t even come to find you yet; you¡¯re the one putting the blame on me?¡±


    He had agreed to take Fan YuKe home at Li Lingyang¡¯s request, and no sooner had they got in the car than she lost her composure.


    Not to mention guiding him back home, she couldn¡¯t even tell north from south.


    Later he decided to take her to a hotel to stay for the night, but as they drove along, she suddenly lashed out like a madwoman, tearing at his clothes, and it was only his quick reflexes that prevented a car accident.


    It was also at that moment that she somehow yanked off his watch and threw it out of the window, then hugged him tightly singing, ¡°I have a little donkey, I toss and turn while I ride...¡±


    ¡°¡±


    This little thing really knows how to turn the tables, huh?


    Yuke probably had too much to drink, so when she woke up the next day, she had lost all memory of the previous night.


    She glared at him with fury, ¡°So what if it¡¯s dirty, just wash it clean, but... but... how could you strip me naked? Isn¡¯t that just hooliganism! Back in my grandmother¡¯s era, this would have been a crime of hooliganism!¡±


    Mu Bailang¡¯s face darkened again upon hearing this, she really knew how to get on his nerves.


    ¡°Do you want me to remind you how you stripped yourself naked that night, and then started taking off my clothes?¡±


    ¡°...¡± Yuke¡¯s ears reddened instantly, she had taken off her clothes herself?


    Impossible...


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense! No matter how bad I am with alcohol, I don¡¯t have the habit of undressing... undressing others.¡±


    ¡°Heh.¡± Mu Bailang¡¯s smile deepened, and his narrow eyes squinted, overflowing with barely contained fury, ¡°So you mean to say, I took advantage of you, and then turned around to wrong you?¡±


    Holy moly! Feeling the chill coming from the man, Yuke shuddered and quickly held back.


    ¡°I really don¡¯t remember, I¡¯m sorry President Mu! Thank you for taking me to the hotel, and... anyway, you didn¡¯t lose out, so let¡¯s just say I¡¯m the one who¡¯s compromised and call it even!¡±


    ¡°...¡± Heh, she still thinks she¡¯s the one who¡¯s been wronged?


    ¡°If it weren¡¯t necessary, I wouldn¡¯t want to see such a little meat bun like you.¡±


    What?


    What did he call her? A little meat bun?


    She had relied on her face and figure to get ahead in the world; her front protruding and back curving ¨C a perfect devilish figure, aside from a baby face, where was she not good enough?


    That¡¯s just too insulting!


    It was as if a little person was jumping around near Yuke¡¯s ear, shouting to go tear him up!


    But upon seeing the strong aura of the man, she swallowed quietly and accepted her bad luck.


    Forget it, a good woman doesn¡¯t fight with a vile man.


    She should focus on Ningning¡¯s audition instead.


    ¡°Look, you can humiliate me all you want! But Ningning isn¡¯t my daughter. She¡¯s my best friend¡¯s child; you can¡¯t let our personal grievances affect her...¡±


    Mu Bailang¡¯s smile grew even more sinister. Who exactly was insulting whom?


    ...


    On the other hand.


    The restaurant arranged by the organizers was located in the city center, luxurious and upscale.


    Entering through the revolving door, one could hear the elegant flow of violin music, with a faint fragrance of flowers in the air, and even the waiters were all stunningly attractive.


    ¡°The others have already arrived; we should hurry up too,¡± Manager Zhao said with a smile as he pressed the elevator button.


    Ning Yichu nodded, not overthinking and worrying more about being seen as the odd one out for being late.


    Soon, they reached the restaurant¡¯s private room on the 12th floor.


    As the door was pushed open, the crisp scent of wine rushed to meet them.


    However, the scene that Ning Yichu had imagined, with a crowd of people drinking boisterously, did not materialize. Instead, the private room was only occupied by a few judges and Li Lingyang, completely different from the multiple participants Manager Zhao had mentioned.

 Chapter 82 82: 82: Sitting on His Thigh with a Plop!

    Chapter 82: Chapter 82: Sitting on His Thigh with a Plop!


    ¡°President Li, I can¡¯t thank you enough for your sponsorship for the Heritage Competition...¡± Manager Zhao¡¯s eyes lit up as he eagerly rubbed his palms together when he saw that the other judges were already chatting with Li Lingyang.


    Li Lingyang, center of attention like a regal monarch, sat there with an air of indifference.


    Hearing Manager Zhao¡¯s flattery, he looked up, intending to give a cursory response before leaving. However, as his gaze moved past Manager Zhao and fell on Ning Yichu beside him, it suddenly took on a different intensity...


    Today, Ning Yichu was dressed in particularly professional attire, with light makeup¡ªmuch more refined than she was five years ago.


    ¡°Xiao Ning, go on in. Everyone¡¯s waiting for you,¡± Manager Zhao hurriedly signaled Ning Yichu with his eyes, his excitement contrasting sharply with his on-stage persona.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s expression gradually turned cold. ¡°Manager Zhao, is this your idea of an invitation from the organizers for the competitors to have dinner?¡±


    ...


    ¡°Xiao Ning, how can you talk like that in front of President Li? Come on, say hello to President Li,¡± Manager Zhao, seemingly taken aback by Ning Yichu¡¯s uncooperative attitude, suddenly grabbed her from behind.


    Ning Yichu clearly didn¡¯t anticipate this move and lost her balance. Her hands flailed as she stumbled forward, almost as if she was planting face-first like a headfirst dive.


    The incident startled Manager Zhao.


    He was about to pull Ning Yichu to her feet, but in the next second, the tall man who had been seated at the table suddenly stood, his large hand swooping down to catch Ning Yichu securely in his arms.


    By the time Ning Yichu came to her senses, she was seated firmly on Li Lingyang¡¯s thigh, her face buried in the crook of his neck, closing the distance to none.


    His large hand was resting on her waist...


    Through the thin shirt, his fingertips unintentionally brushed along her lower back.


    It was like a mild electric current shot through her body.


    Warmth spread from where he had touched on her lower back, radiating outwards, and her entire body heated up!


    The air seemed to fall silent for a moment. Then, like being burned by fire, Ning Yichu bounced up with a strained smile, ¡°Thank you, President Li.¡±


    Suddenly finding his arms empty, Li Lingyang couldn¡¯t tell if he felt loss or irritation.


    This woman had betrayed him, found someone new, and he had repeatedly reminded himself to stay away from her...


    But when he saw her about to fall, he still reflexively caught her.


    A flash of darkness crossed Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes as he responded with feigned indifference, ¡°You¡¯re welcome, please, have a seat.¡±


    He smoothly invited Ning Yichu to take a seat.


    Ning Yichu replied, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve just remembered something I need to attend to, I¡¯ll have to leave early. Enjoy your meal...¡±


    ¡°Xiao Ning!¡± Manager Zhao¡¯s face suddenly paled, and he sternly said, ¡°You know the status of President Li. The fact that he¡¯s invited you is already an enormous favor...¡±


    Privately, he lowered his voice and warned Ning Yichu, ¡°Don¡¯t forget you¡¯re here representing Beiji Group in the competition. Losing might not be taken lightly, right?¡±


    Ning Yichu let out a chilling, mocking sneer. So this was a threat using the competition?


    Just when Manager Zhao thought Ning Yichu would comply, she suddenly dropped a bombshell, ¡°I¡¯ve got to pick up my daughter. She doesn¡¯t like the smell of alcohol on me. Staying here to simply eat and make merry would just dampen spirits. Please proceed as you wish!¡±


    With that, she strode away, completely disregarding Manager Zhao¡¯s darkening expression.


    Li Lingyang watched her retreating figure and found himself feeling...


    Unexpectedly itchy at heart.


    Manager Zhao was on the brink of madness, yet he still managed to squeeze out a smile as lovely as a blossoming flower. ¡°President Li, look at this mess I¡¯ve made; it¡¯s so embarrassing, all because I took the initiative...¡±


    ...


    After leaving the restaurant, Ning Yichu only then realized that it had started to rain.


    And quite coincidentally today...


    She hadn¡¯t brought an umbrella.


    Weather forecasts are really just a bunch of liars.


    Ning Yichu had no choice but to quickly find a place nearby to take shelter from the rain while also hailing a cab. Actually, she wasn¡¯t lying earlier. Ningning really doesn¡¯t like it when she smells of alcohol, and she was indeed on her way to pick Ningning up now.


    She had been so busy lately, and considering she was planning to return to Europe soon, she hadn¡¯t yet found a nursery school for Ningning.


    This resulted in Ningning idling away her days; if she wasn¡¯t out with Aunt Wang, she was playing with the other neighborhood kids...


    Yichu pondered whether to send the little girl to a temporary daycare class and, without meaning to, she ran into Deelia and a beautiful girl in her twenties.


    Ji Shiwang was dazzled in jewels, wearing a white mermaid dress adorned with a jade necklace around her neck and a shiny big diamond ring on her hand, like a walking jewelry display.


    Deelia, who always looked down on Asians, was surprisingly polite to her, which suggested this woman was either a customer or someone of considerable wealth.


    ¡°Is that you?¡± Deelia did a double-take upon seeing Ning Yichu, then mockingly said, ¡°Hey, weren¡¯t you recommended by Mr. Mo to participate in a competition? What are you doing here?¡±


    Ji Shiwang had only heard of Ning Yichu in gossip circles and never had any dealings with her, nor did she know her face. She asked skeptically, ¡°Who is this?¡±


    ¡°Ning Yichu, our Mr. Mo has opened a Jade Sculpture Studio in Imperial City, and she¡¯s the person in charge...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re Ning Yichu?¡± Ji Shiwang recalled that the last time she herself spoke ill of Ning Yichu, she was mocked by Mo Baiyou, and suddenly felt a surge of anger, haughtily saying, ¡°I heard you did a jade carving for Mrs. Zheng and charged over a thousand per gram? Do you even know that¡¯s the price for a master-class Jade Sculptor?! You must be crazed with greed!!¡±


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t recognize the woman before her and lazily raised an eyebrow, ¡°And you are?¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m the heiress of Ji¡¯s Jewelry, Ji Shiwang, and the Chief Jade Sculptor of Chengyu Workshop.¡± The woman¡¯s words carried an air of superiority.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re in the same line of work.¡± Ning Yichu curled her lips into a scornful sneer, ¡°So what? If you think my pricing is high, why don¡¯t you go talk to Mrs. Zheng and see if she¡¯ll cancel my order in favor of your workshop?¡±


    ¡°You... You¡¯re just relying on your relationship with Mrs. Zheng to put on airs, aren¡¯t you? Once everyone sees your true colors, I¡¯ll see who else places orders with you!¡± Ji Shiwang spat back, fuming with rage.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s laughter carried a hint of scorn, ¡°Well, you just keep on waiting then. Hope you¡¯ll get to see that day.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a tramp ruined by men, pretending to be so noble?¡± Perhaps it was Ning Yichu¡¯s composed demeanor that utterly ignored Ji Shiwang, driving her to blurt out an obscenity in a burst of anger.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s eyes lost their playful scorn, replaced by a trace of coldness.


    Ji Shiwang felt a chill in her heart.


    The rain was getting heavier, and Ning Yichu didn¡¯t want to entangle with them anymore. She was planning to cross the street to the bus stop, when right at that moment, a black Maybach slowly approached and came to a stop at the curb.


    Passersby seeking shelter from the rain rarely encountered such a luxury car and looked on admiringly.


    Ji Shiwang was also a fan of Maybach, and she recognized at a glance that this car was a limited edition, not something money could simply buy.


    After pondering it over, she couldn¡¯t think of anyone in Imperial City who had such a car, and suddenly with a provocative glance toward Ning Yichu, she said with ill intent, ¡°Great Jade Sculptor Ning, you claim to be so capable, could it be that this car has come just to pick you up?¡±

 Chapter 83 83: 83: Despicable Jerk!

    Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Despicable Jerk!


    ¡°Hahaha, Miss Ji, you really think too highly of her.¡± Deelia suddenly covered her mouth and laughed exaggeratedly with a snort, her laughter filled with scorn, so sharp and shrill it could not even be drowned out by the sound of rain!


    Ning Yichu was about to retort with a cutting remark when she saw the car door slowly being pushed open from the inside.


    Li Lingyang glanced through the curtain of rain at Ning Yichu waiting by the roadside and arrogantly spat out two words, ¡°Get in.¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...¡± Had he finished dinner so quickly?


    Deelia and Ji Shiwang were still amusedly watching her, but deep down Ning Yichu had her own pride; frankly, Deelia and Ji Shiwang were even more repulsive than Li Lingyang.


    Ning Yichu gritted her teeth and decisively bent down to get into the Maybach.


    ...


    Deelia and Ji Shiwang watched this scene in astonishment.


    Could such a luxury car really be here to pick up Ning Yichu?


    To own a limited edition Maybach like this, there were no more than three people in the entire Imperial City!


    ¡°Humph, so what if someone wealthy came to pick her up? Maybe the guy is just a fat old geezer, in his seventies or eighties, bedridden and immobile, or maybe so ugly no decent person would take a second look at someone who flirts around everywhere like her...¡±


    Swoosh¡ª


    The next second, Li Lingyang started the car, carrying Ning Yichu away leisurely. As the vehicle passed by the two women, they inadvertently caught sight of the man¡¯s proud profile at the driver¡¯s seat.


    With handsome features and a charming, deep-set countenance, even just his side profile was enough to outshine male models in the entertainment industry!


    Deelia was immediately transfixed by the sight. How handsome! Absolutely a top catch...


    And judging by his physique, he was exceptionally well-built, a rarity among Imperial City men.


    It¡¯s said that such men in bed aren¡¯t any less amazing than European men.


    Deelia¡¯s jealousy flared up once again, while Ji Shiwang was struck with intense shock; if she wasn¡¯t mistaken, that was Li Lingyang, the CEO of Li Group?


    Could all the gossip she had seen last time be true, that Ning Yichu was getting back together with her ex-husband?


    Damn it, if she already had an ex-husband, why bother entangling with Mo Baiyou?


    ...


    The car drove away slowly.


    Li Lingyang glanced at her and saw that she was a bit damp from the rain. Holding the steering wheel with one hand, he reached into the storage compartment with the other, taking out a towel and handing it to her with a touch of authoritative dominance, ¡°Dry yourself.¡±


    Ning Yichu glanced at him, wondering why he was suddenly so kind today.


    But she still accepted the towel and politely thanked him.


    ¡°Where to?¡±


    Ning Yichu asked Fan YuKe in WeChat if she should go pick up Ningning, but Fan YuKe said they had already taken Ningning home.


    ¡°Junyue Mansion.¡±


    Li Lingyang turned at the next intersection and the car headed towards another street.


    Then there was silence between the two.


    Until Ning Yichu¡¯s phone suddenly rang.


    ¡°Mr. Mo?¡±


    The magnetic and pleasant voice of Mo Baiyou came from the receiver, ¡°Has the competition ended? How did it go?¡±


    ¡°Thanks to Mr. Mo, the competition is over and I¡¯ve successfully made it to the finals,¡± Ning Yichu responded with a smile. But remembering how she had snubbed the organizers and judges just before, she couldn¡¯t help feeling anxious as she looked towards Li Lingyang.


    Li Lingyang accurately caught the uncertainty in her eyes and suddenly slammed on the brakes.


    Due to the massive inertia, Ning Yichu¡¯s body jerked violently and she failed to keep a grip on her phone, which clumsily dropped to the ground.


    Mo Baiyou heard a loud noise and anxiously asked repeatedly, ¡°Yichu? Yichu, are you alright...¡±


    Ning Yichu, shoulder aching from the seatbelt¡¯s constriction, glared fiercely at Li Lingyang.


    ¡°Sorry, I slipped.¡± Li Lingyang replied indifferently with a mute lip shape. He looked so irritatingly smug.


    This despicable, rotten man!!


    Ning Yichu silently cursed him in her mind, then picked up her phone that had fallen under the seat.


    ¡°Mr. Mo, I¡¯m fine. My phone just accidentally fell on the floor...¡±


    ¡°The rain seems to have gotten heavier outside. Do you want me to come and pick you up?¡± Mo Baiyou¡¯s voice sounded as calm and gentle as ever.


    Ning Yichu was already in Li Lingyang¡¯s car, naturally she couldn¡¯t let him go through the trouble, ¡°I¡¯ll be home soon, no need for you to come over...¡±


    Just as Ning Yichu finished speaking, and Mo Baiyou was about to remind her to stay safe and warm, a chilly male voice suddenly interrupted from within the quiet car¡ª


    ¡°Are you done talking? The noise is ruining my mood for driving.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s domineering voice suddenly pierced through the air, causing Ning Yichu to frown slightly. On instinct, she reached to cover her phone¡ªas if Mo Baiyou were to hear this, he would surely think she was the one being impatient!


    However, her instinctive move just made Li Lingyang seem all the more objectionable.


    Was she so afraid of Mo Baiyou finding out she was with him?


    From the other end of the phone, Mo Baiyou naturally heard the male voice and realized it was Li Lingyang. Waves of emotion flickered in his deep eyes, but eventually, they calmed as he pretended to say, ¡°Where did you find this driver? He has quite the temper.¡±


    ¡°I found him through DiDi Taxi. A bad-tempered and petty driver¡ªmust have been dropped on his head as a kid. I¡¯ll be sure to give him a bad review!¡±


    Hearing Ning Yichu go along with him, thinking that she hadn¡¯t given it much thought, Mo Baiyou let out a soft laugh, ¡°That bad? Then you must complain about him.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face turned dark with anger.


    He had come specially to take her home and they accuse him of being brain-damaged??


    After hanging up, Ning Yichu felt the air conditioning in the car ramp up, making her shiver. She drew in a deep breath, ¡°Stop the car, I want to get out.¡±


    Li Lingyang sneered coldly, ¡°Afraid your lover will find out you¡¯re riding in my car back?¡±


    ¡°...¡± Ning Yichu was speechless with him, how did it get back to Mo Baiyou again? She pointed directly to a nearby intersection, ¡°Just there is fine, thank you, President Li, for the ride home today.¡±


    Li Lingyang raised his voice in displeasure, ¡°I¡¯m asking you how far you¡¯ve gone with Mo Baiyou?¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...¡± Is he sick in the head?


    ¡°Speak!¡± Seeing her silence, Li Lingyang¡¯s tone grew even colder and he didn¡¯t slow down at the intersection, instead, he floored the accelerator, picking up speed.


    Ning Yichu was furious but upon seeing his sullen face, worried to provoke an accident, she softened her tone, ¡°We are just ordinary colleagues, with a superior-subordinate relationship, are you satisfied with that answer?¡±


    Of course, he was not satisfied! Would a superior-subordinate care to specially check if she needed a ride because it was raining?


    Li Lingyang looked at her intently for a moment before finally slowing the car down and dropping her off at the Junyue Mansion complex entrance.


    Ning Yichu quickly pushed open the car door and ran out, at least managing to thank him, when a gust of wind blew by and she saw Li Lingyang had already started the car and zoomed away.


    ¡°...¡±


    Rolling her eyes at his silent departure, Ning Yichu ran back home as the rain had lightened significantly.


    Fan YuKe had already returned home with Ningning.


    After attending the audition, the photographer had told them to wait for the results at home and they¡¯d be notified within three days.


    Seeing Ning Yichu back, Ningning squirmed down from the sofa, pattering over to kneel at the shoe cabinet door. She pulled out a pair of soft slippers, offering them up with a pleasing smile, ¡°Mommy, change shoes.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, baby~¡± The sight of the soft and cute little girl instantly dissipated all of Ning Yichu¡¯s irritation from her lousy father.


    After changing her shoes, Ning Yichu habitually went to wash her hands, then came back to give Ningning a big hug, and with keen eyes, she noticed the little girl¡¯s hair seemed to be styled into a special little hairstyle, still smelling faintly of hair gel.


    Ningning quickly wriggled out of her embrace¡ªthat was the work of the makeup artist during the shoot. The little girl loved feeling pretty.


    ¡°Mommy, you don¡¯t need to mess up my hair.¡±


    ¡°You even have a hairstyle today. Did your godmother do it?¡± Ning Yichu asked in wonder.

 Chapter 84: 84: A Billion Vanishes into Thin Air

    Chapter 84: Chapter 84: A Billion Vanishes into Thin Air


    Ningning¡¯s cheeks puffed out, and she didn¡¯t refute, which was akin to agreeing.


    Ning Yichu pinched her little face, ¡°Show-off.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! I¡¯m your daughter, naturally I¡¯ve inherited your excellent genes. I can¡¯t help but show off a little!¡± Ningning said proudly, covering her small face, both shy and proud. During the photo session, the photographer kept praising her for her camera presence, calling her a natural-born little model.


    Ning Yichu was, to her surprise, at a loss for words and simply went to prepare a lavish dinner.


    While eating, they video chatted with Chen Bao.


    The mother and her children had not seen each other for a while. Ever since Chen Bao nearly got caught by Li Lingyang at the amusement park, he had been hesitant to show his face.


    Even when she was sick before, he had only come to visit for a short time in disguise.


    Ningning was by her side every day, and with Aunt Wang and Fan Yuke at home to keep her company, whereas Chen Bao was left residing in the orphanage.


    Ning Yichu felt immensely guilty towards Chen Bao and profoundly believed she was not a good mommy.


    Chen Bao felt Ning Yichu¡¯s guilt through the camera, his big black eyes blinking gently, his demeanor too mature for his age. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m doing really well at the orphanage. Grandma Zhuo really cares for us, she cooks us delicious food every day.¡±


    ¡°Baby, just hang in there a little longer. Mommy went to see your grandma yesterday. Her condition has stabilized a lot recently, and we¡¯ll be able to reunite as a family very soon,¡± Ning Yichu said softly, her eyes brimming with tenderness.


    Chen Bao nodded his small head.


    If they were going to return to Europe soon, then the project to help Grandma Zhuo needed to be accelerated.


    At least, before he left, he wanted to see the new orphanage taken care of by Grandma Zhuo.


    The first thing to address was the movement of one billion in funds!


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã?


    After hanging up the phone, Chen Bao stroked his chin. He could use his hacking skills to transfer the money, but how could he launder it and get it unnoticed into Grandma Zhuo¡¯s hands?


    Suddenly, an idea struck the little fellow. He went on the orphanage¡¯s official website and created a green donation channel!


    Then, he found Grandma Zhuo, who was cleaning the yard and said in a childlike voice, ¡°Grandma Zhuo, I¡¯ve thought of a way to help the Little Yudians. We can open a charity donation channel online.¡±


    ¡°A green donation channel?¡± Grandma Zhuo wiped her hands on her apron, looking confused, ¡°But we don¡¯t know how to do that...¡±


    She was just a working woman. Although educated, she wasn¡¯t familiar with many online things.


    Every time she went to receive orphan subsidies with the documents, she had to go back and forth many times.


    Later, thankfully, the staff often helped her through the expedited procedures.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay. I know how to handle it.¡±


    ¡°But... but what if no one donates to us?¡± Grandma Zhuo sighed deeply, feeling very uneasy.


    After all, no one¡¯s money is picked up from the breeze.


    A unique light flickered in Chen Bao¡¯s deep black eyes, resolute, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as enough people see it, there will definitely be those who donate!¡±


    ¡°If the children can have a new home, I¡¯d be willing to do anything...¡± Grandma Zhuo, seeing Chen Bao speak so assuredly, suddenly grasped a glimmer of hope, her eyes reddening.


    Chen Bao was moved by Grandma Zhuo, and his nose felt ticklish.


    He quickly sniffed to hold back his tears.


    He was a little man after all; crying was not an option!


    Now that the donation channel was set up, the next step was to get the money to a trustworthy person and then have it laundered and returned.


    Without any doubt, Chen Bao chose the White Knight, someone he had collaborated with before.


    In business, there were people who specifically arranged for companies to go bankrupt, known as Black Knights.


    White Knight, on the other hand, was the counterpart, helping companies near bankruptcy to restructure and revitalize.


    Chen Bao logged onto an anonymous chat software and sent a message in a group named F5.


    King, ¡°Need help with something simple. If you can do it, knock 1.¡±


    ¡°1.¡±


    ¡°1.¡±


    ¡°1.¡±


    ¡°1.¡±


    After a series of orderly numbers were sent, the chat group started various jokes and teases.


    ¡°Yo, our little three-year-old baby has been quiet for so long, finally back online?¡±


    ¡°Tell us, what do you need our help with this time?¡±


    ¡°King boss has given orders, we will do our utmost...¡±


    The group chatted away like seasoned street vendors.


    Chen Bao was inspired and sat upright, his little hands tapping swiftly on the laptop, so fast that only a blur was visible.


    In less than two minutes, he had explained the situation.


    Hero Jin Gang, ¡°What a coincidence, I just happen to be in Las Vegas, I can swing by the casino and launder the money for you in no time.¡±


    Dong, ¡°Making an anonymous donation to the orphanage? I¡¯m familiar with that...¡±


    Atie, ¡°+10086.¡±


    ¡°Only one billion RMB? That¡¯s a bit low, how about I add a zero to it for you?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Then, Chen Bao began his solo performance, skillfully using various means to transfer the billion he had extorted from Li Lingyang without leaving any trace.


    It was only two hours later that Li Group¡¯s tech department noticed a change in the account balance.


    At that time, Li Lingyang was taking Little Doudou and Chengcheng to pick up Shen Jiangqing from the hospital.


    This had definitely been Shen Jiangqing¡¯s most costly faked illness.


    At the hospital, Shen Jiangqing had taken off her patient attire and changed into an elegant suit, her face still a bit pale.


    Chengcheng was dutifully bustling around her.


    Little Doudou tried to help several times but was pulled away by Chengcheng, leaving her to pout silently on the side.


    An extended Rolls Royce carried Shen Jiangqing all the way back to the Imperial Dragon Bay.


    Having not been home for just a few days, Shen Jiangqing felt something was different and eventually panicked when she realized that Li Lingyang had gotten a Husky for Doudou!


    ¡°Owoooo...¡± The Husky, seeing its mistress return, waggled its tail vigorously and firmly positioned itself by Doudou¡¯s side, becoming her little knight.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyelids flipped, almost fainting, and she asked uncertainly, ¡°Aling, isn¡¯t this dog from Young Master Mu?¡±


    Li Lingyang, while instructing the servants to take the luggage to the rooms, said indifferently, ¡°Yes, Mu Bailang has now given it to Doudou.¡±


    ¡°But I can¡¯t be subjected to stress...¡± Does anyone still care about her health at all?


    ¡°I¡¯ve considered that,¡± Li Lingyang clapped his hands, and immediately a servant stepped forward.


    Pointing at the male servant, Li Lingyang¡¯s thin lips parted slightly, his voice sultry and melodious, ¡°He used to take care of Beile at Mu Family¡¯s house. He will build a little wooden house for Beile in the yard, trying not to disturb you.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s laughter was uglier than crying. ¡°I thought you hated dogs?¡±


    ¡°As long as Doudou likes it,¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s tone was cold, clearly having made up his mind. ¡°I should have discussed it with you in advance, but you were still in the hospital. I didn¡¯t want to bother you over such a trivial matter.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing suddenly felt like she had shot herself in the foot!


    What else could she do at this point?


    She could only consent.


    Just then, Li Lingyang received a call from Special Assistant Xu, learning that a billion in funds had vanished from the accounts.


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®vanished¡¯? Could a billion just disappear?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze instantly darkened with an intense chill, stunning all the servants in the villa.

 Chapter 85: 85 Discovered by a Talent Scout…

    Chapter 85: Chapter 85 Discovered by a Talent Scout...


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what Special Assistant Xu said over the phone,¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s anger deepened, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me how hard it is to track, I must find out where that one billion went!¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Li Lingyang fiercely adjusted his tie.


    What kind of person could bypass the entire technical department under his company and secretly transfer the money?


    The first person who came to Li Lingyang¡¯s mind was King.


    But wasn¡¯t he Ning Yichu¡¯s assistant? How did he get involved with that child again?


    Could that child actually still be related to Ning Yichu?


    But the paternity test report for Ningning had already come out and clearly indicated that Ningning was not blood-related to him; even if Ning Yichu had twins, the children born shouldn¡¯t look exactly like him...


    Shen Jiangqing speculated this might have something to do with Ning Yichu¡¯s illegitimate child and asked as if nothing had happened, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you so angry?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just focus on recovering,¡± Li Lingyang obviously did not intend to explain further.


    Shen Jiangqing bit her lower lip, ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me, I heard everything, it¡¯s about that child who blackmailed you at the new drug launch, right?¡±


    Li Lingyang stared at her for a few seconds without objection.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face grew even paler, showing an expression of insecurity, ¡°If... I mean if, if you find that child and his mom, what are you going to do?¡±


    A chilling cold flashed in Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes, ¡°Are you testing me?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m just scared... Five years ago, you chose to be with me because we had a child, and now there¡¯s another child, I¡¯m sorry... I... I...¡± Shen Jiangqing¡¯s words trailed off into incoherence, her tearful appearance invoking pity.


    Yet Li Lingyang showed no softness but rather pondered, ¡°Since you know I chose you out of responsibility rather than love, you should understand that I will definitely take that child back.¡±


    Source: , updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï


    Shen Jiangqing felt very disappointed, not knowing when Li Lingyang¡¯s attitude towards her had become colder and more distant.


    He never talked to her about his company¡¯s affairs.


    It seemed like, in his view, she just needed to take good care of the children...


    Yet Chengcheng wasn¡¯t his biological son; if she didn¡¯t do something, she could easily be kicked out by him in the future.


    ¡°Aling, I truly love you.¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t love you,¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s words were ruthlessly hurtful, ¡°I told you five years ago, you could give birth to the child, and I would give you money to sever the mother-child relationship, but you chose to co-parent with me. We¡¯re just partners in raising children, understand?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face instantly turned pale; if he hadn¡¯t reminded her again of the choice he had given her, she might have almost forgotten she was nearly dismissed with money.


    Li Lingyang continued, ¡°If you regret it now, my promise still stands. You leave the children, and I will still ensure you are well cared for and find Majesty to cure your illness.¡±


    ¡°No, I refuse!¡± Shen Jiangqing burst out almost hysterically, ¡°Doudou and Chengcheng are flesh of my flesh, connected by blood, carried for ten months, how can you say such cruel things? Don¡¯t you know how painful it is for a mother to be separated from her child?¡±


    She suddenly clutched her chest, as if she could hardly breathe.


    Li Lingyang watched her silently, not continuing the argument, but instructed the servants to help her upstairs to rest.


    He didn¡¯t see it¡ªShen Jiangqing¡¯s face twisted with malevolence!


    The weekend arrived in the blink of an eye.


    Ning Yichu really wanted to see Chen Bao, so she disguised herself and went to the Baili Orphanage with Ningning.


    The orphanage was as noisy as ever, with lively children playing everywhere.


    As soon as Ningning arrived, she became the ¡°king of the kids¡±!


    Mommy Zhuo, knowing that Ning Yichu and Ningning were coming, bought a lot of groceries in advance and prepared to make a big meal at noon.


    Ning Yichu helped out in the kitchen.


    ¡°Has Chen Bao been any trouble for you here?¡±


    ¡°Of course not, Yichu, you don¡¯t know how much the kids like Chen Bao! There were two older children who used to be quite mischievous, but now they especially listen to Chen Bao. Since Chen Bao arrived, we don¡¯t know how much joy he¡¯s added...¡± Mommy Zhuo, who ran the orphanage, had seen many children, but none as outstanding as Chen Bao.


    Ning Yichu could imagine that scene, and Chen Bao, following in Li Lingyang¡¯s footsteps, was just as commanding despite his young age.


    ¡°By the way, speaking of which, thanks to Chen Bao, we¡¯ve set up a green donation channel and have received quite a sum of money...¡± Mommy Zhuo paused while picking vegetables and, as she talked, she couldn¡¯t control her tears.


    Shocked, Ning Yichu comforted her, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about it, almost tens of thousands of kind-hearted people donate every day. It¡¯s a good thing! Next Monday we¡¯ll go to the bank to withdraw it first, and if it¡¯s inconvenient for you, I can go with you...¡±


    ¡°I can handle it, I am just so happy... I never expected so many people to donate to me.¡± Mommy Zhuo wiped her tears with her sleeve and managed to force a smile. She didn¡¯t know why she was crying; it was rather embarrassing at her age.


    Ning Yichu understood Mommy Zhuo¡¯s feelings very well, ¡°Perhaps, there are too many parents in the world who are forced to be separated from their children, and they all want to do their part for these orphans!¡±


    They talked for a while, and Mommy Zhuo eventually calmed down, deeply moved and continuously praising Chen Bao for his promising future.


    Someday, the children of the orphanage also had to study hard and acquire knowledge, just like Chen Bao, to become people who contribute to society!


    As Chen Bao¡¯s mother, Ning Yichu was deeply moved to see her little one¡¯s capabilities and kindness.


    So, that very day, she transferred ten thousand yuan to the little guy!


    Don¡¯t think she didn¡¯t know; every month, the little guy spent a big sum on his computer and various miscellaneous devices!


    The next Monday, Ning Yichu, worried that Mommy Zhuo was not familiar with bank procedures, wanted to take a day off to accompany her to handle the withdrawal.


    But Mommy Zhuo declined.


    She now felt very secure having Chen Bao with her!


    So, the grandmother and grandchild duo went to the bank early in the morning.


    Because the withdrawal from the donation channel and the personal business withdrawal were not quite the same, the two struggled for a long time before finally getting the money.


    With the money in hand, Mommy Zhuo wanted to buy books for the children immediately!


    Knowledge really can change destiny...


    Before they knew it, they had been busy all morning, and Chen Bao¡¯s children¡¯s mask had unknowingly slipped askew. The weather was just too hot, and he was too lazy to adjust it properly, assuming his dad wouldn¡¯t just happen to be here, right?


    However, just then, a young man in a business suit suddenly came over in amazement, ¡°Hi, this young man is so handsome! Is he your grandson?¡±


    ¡°Who are you?¡± Mommy Zhuo instinctively sized up the man, sure she didn¡¯t know him, puzzled, wondering if he had seen them withdrawing the money and was planning to rob them?


    Seeing the panic in Mommy Zhuo¡¯s eyes, the man quickly handed over his business card, ¡°Please don¡¯t misunderstand, I¡¯m not a bad guy. I¡¯m a talent scout from Sunshine Media. There¡¯s a large child star audition happening in the industry, and we¡¯d like to invite your grandson to participate!¡±

 Chapter 86: 86 Ningning Has Been Kidnapped!

    Chapter 86: Chapter 86 Ningning Has Been Kidnapped!


    Mommy Zhuo eyed the business card skeptically. It had the company¡¯s position, address, and contact information, and it looked quite official.


    ¡°Sunshine Media, the company that shot the TV series ¡®Song of Everlasting Sorrow,¡¯ right? I¡¯ve heard of it, but I¡¯m sorry, our child isn¡¯t entering the entertainment industry.¡± Recalling Ning Yichu¡¯s advice, Mommy Zhuo handed the card back.


    The man wasn¡¯t discouraged. He didn¡¯t take the card back but instead kept persuading, ¡°Don¡¯t say no so quickly, the child is really cute and would have great prospects in the entertainment industry! Grandma, consider your age. Isn¡¯t it nice to have a grandchild who can make money?¡±


    Chen Bao, seeing this, took the business card with his tender hands and threw it straight into the trash bin beside the road, firm in his attitude.


    ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person. I¡¯m not joining the entertainment industry.¡±


    The talent scout was startled, not expecting the child to be so assertive. He immediately bent slightly and said, ¡°Once in the entertainment industry, you could make a lot of money and do whatever you want...¡±


    ¡°Grandma Zhuo, let¡¯s go.¡± Chen Bao ignored it all, grasping Mommy Zhuo¡¯s wrinkled palm and turning to walk in the opposite direction.


    The talent scout hurriedly followed, ¡°Kid, even if you don¡¯t want to enter the entertainment industry, we could still become friends. Maybe one day you¡¯ll change your mind...¡±


    ¡°Stop following us!¡± Chen Bao coldly interrupted the ongoing sales pitch, his naturally commanding presence mingled with a chill in his eyes that even stunned the grown man.


    It took a while before the man regained his senses as the grandmother and grandson walked away.


    My God, is that really a four or five-year-old child?


    Those eyes are terrifying!


    But the more he thought about it, the more it confirmed the child¡¯s excellence.


    Thus, the scout hurriedly followed surreptitiously and took a picture from a good angle. He immediately posted it on his social media, ¡°Encountered a very handsome little boy today, his gaze was killer! Unfortunately, got rejected, if anyone knows his contact info, please message me...¡±


    In the photo, Chen Bao¡¯s mask was hanging loosely, revealing perfect jawline contours and a cold gaze with handsome features, even without having matured yet, he was a remarkably handsome little boy.


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï


    Coincidentally, an agent from Shengshi Group, which was affiliated with the scout, noticed it...


    This little boy looks too much like President Li, his boss¡¯s close friend, doesn¡¯t he?


    ...


    ¡°Have you found him?¡± At the same moment, Li Lingyang stood up abruptly in his study as he received a call from Mu Bailang, his large frame tensing, his hand clenched slightly.


    Mu Bailang was excited, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve pulled up the surveillance footage. Let me tell you, that little brat is very cautious, wore a mask and hat the whole time. If it weren¡¯t for the talent scout¡¯s sharp eyes, we would have completely missed him.¡±


    ¡°Cut the chatter. Where is he?¡±


    ¡°He was last seen at a Xinhua Bookstore at Shenghe Intersection...¡± Mu Bailang chuckled.


    ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal later.¡± Li Lingyang hung up the phone and strode out of the study. Unexpected yet not unexpected, this time, how will you escape?!


    But what Li Lingyang didn¡¯t realize was that just after he left, a figure moved at the doorway of the adjacent bedroom.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face went pale!


    The kid had appeared!


    She immediately dialed Shen Jun¡¯s number, urging him, ¡°Big brother, act now. Li Lingyang has already found that little bastard¡¯s whereabouts...¡±


    ¡°So soon? I haven¡¯t figured out that little girl¡¯s schedule yet. Her daily routine is too scattered. If I act rashly now, it might not be easy to retreat safely.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too late now. Once Li Lingyang brings that boy back, Chengcheng¡¯s position will be in jeopardy!¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do as you say...¡±


    ...


    On the other side, Ning Yichu was completely unaware that danger had already arrived.


    She was still at work in the office.


    Suddenly, she felt a sense of heaviness in her chest and looked out the window¡ª it was dark, as if a storm was brewing.


    ¡°Sister Ning, what are you thinking about? You¡¯ve been distracted all morning.¡± Her assistant, Xiao Ai, handed her a document with a puzzled tone, suddenly pulling her back to reality.


    ¡°Nothing much, just thinking about how the weather has been really changeable recently.¡± Ning Yichu took the document, glanced at it, and quickly signed it.


    ¡°That¡¯s true, the weather forecast even said it would be sunny today,¡± Xiao Ai said cheerfully.


    Ning Yichu shook off her jumbled thoughts and said calmly, ¡°This afternoon, you¡¯ll accompany me to the raw material warehouse.¡±


    ¡°Okay...¡±


    Xiao Ai¡¯s voice was still tumbling in her throat when the phone on Ning Yichu¡¯s office desk suddenly rang.


    Seeing that it was a call from Aunt Wang, Ning Yichu¡¯s eyes softened, ¡°Hello, Aunt Wang...¡±


    ¡°Lady... Lady Ning.¡± Aunt Wang¡¯s voice, however, revealed a sense of urgency, even stuttering, ¡°Has Ningning come to see you?¡±


    ¡°Come to see me?¡± Ning Yichu¡¯s face suddenly changed, incredulously saying, ¡°Isn¡¯t Ningning always with you? When did she come to see me...¡±


    ¡°Lady Ning, I... I¡¯m sorry, I just took Ningning to the park to play, ah, she was there a second ago, but when I turned around, she disappeared!¡± Aunt Wang said shakily, her entire voice trembling.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s heart clenched as if seized by something; these five years, her two children had been her life.


    ¡°What did you say? Ningning is missing?¡±


    ¡°...Yes, I¡¯ve looked all around the nearby area and couldn¡¯t find her, that¡¯s why I called you...¡±


    ¡°Have you asked Yuke? Could Ningning possibly have been taken by her?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t get through to Miss Fan¡¯s phone either. I¡¯m going back home now to check; maybe Ningning went home early,¡± Aunt Wang said, not daring to be too certain, her voice already taking on a weeping tone.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s legs went weak, almost collapsing to the ground¡ªhow could Ningning go home early without telling Aunt Wang?


    Yuke¡¯s phone being unreachable must mean she¡¯s either attending an event or on a plane!


    ¡°Don¡¯t go home yet, continue looking around the park or see if there are any security cameras... I¡¯m coming right now...¡± Ning Yichu said, anxiously grabbing her coat and rushing out the door, not even bothering to request leave.


    Racing home, she kept calling Ningning, hoping she would answer quickly, but each time a mechanical female voice told her the call couldn¡¯t be connected!


    Finally, she arrived back at Junyue Mansion, and as soon as she pushed open the door, she frantically called out for Ningning, but it was empty¡ªno sign of Ningning anywhere.


    ¡°Ah, Chu Chu, aren¡¯t you supposed to be at work?¡± Yuke just happened to come up from downstairs, coincidentally witnessing Ning Yichu¡¯s distraught state, and asked worriedly.


    Tears almost escaping her eyes, Ning Yichu hurried over and asked, ¡°Ningning is missing! Have you seen her?¡±


    ¡°Ningning is missing? What happened...¡± Yuke also got anxious.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Aunt Wang said she took her out to play, and then she just disappeared when she turned around!¡±


    Yuke suddenly thought of the little star audition, her eyes flickering slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t panic yet, maybe... maybe Ningning went to see President Mu, I¡¯ll call and ask.¡±


    ¡°President Mu? Mu Bailang?¡± Ning Yichu was shocked, grabbing Yuke¡¯s hand, ¡°What does he have to do with this?¡±

 Chapter 87: 87: Actually, the Richest Man Has Two Sons~

    Chapter 87: Chapter 87: Actually, the Richest Man Has Two Sons~


    ¡°Uh, about that... Let¡¯s talk later,¡± Fan YuKe stammered, dialing a number on his phone.


    About five minutes later, Fan YuKe got a response from Shengshi Group, his face turned pale, ¡°No, people from the group said they haven¡¯t seen Ningning. What about Chen Bao? Could it be that Chen Bao took Ningning out to play...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s impossible, Chen Bao went to the bank with Mommy Zhuo to withdraw money today. He wouldn¡¯t have had time to take Ningning out to play.¡± Ning Yichu panicked, his voice hoarse, but even though he knew it was unlikely, he instinctively dialed Chen Bao¡¯s number.


    When Chen Bao found out his sister was missing, he became extremely tense, ¡°She didn¡¯t come to find me! I¡¯m going to locate her phone right now!¡±


    Chen Bao found the nearest internet cafe, quickly logged on, went through a series of operations, but the final location indicated that Ningning¡¯s phone had been turned off.


    The last location captured by the cell tower was on the highway in the suburbs!


    And from there, it was already 10 kilometers away from the park where Aunt Wang had taken her to play!


    Upon hearing this, Ning Yichu almost collapsed to the ground...


    Without a doubt, Ningning had been kidnapped. Otherwise, how could she possibly have gone so far?


    ¡°It¡¯s all my fault, I¡¯m to blame; it must have been when I took her to the child star audition that the bad people targeted her.¡± Fan YuKe covered his face and sobbed, stomping his feet, completely distraught.


    ¡°What child star audition?¡± Ning Yichu asked urgently.


    Fan YuKe briefly explained the situation, and Ning Yichu felt a darkness before his eyes. However, seeing Fan YuKe crying so heartbrokenly, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to blame him any further and tried his best to remain calm.


    ¡°If the kidnappers really took her because of the child star audition, then it must be for money! If I just wait patiently, I¡¯m sure to receive a ransom call from the kidnappers...¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll go prepare the money right now. Whoooo, Ningning must come to no harm...¡±


    Hearing the crying of the two women over the phone, Brother Chen Bao felt something was wrong. He also knew about that audition, but the results hadn¡¯t been announced yet, so how could the kidnappers be sure that Ningning definitely had access to money?


    But voicing these speculations would only make Mommy worry unnecessarily, so the little guy silently closed his mouth.


    He wasn¡¯t one to just sit around and wait to die; he eventually made a significant decision¡ª


    He was going to rescue his sister!


    ...


    In a desolate suburban abandoned factory, the air was filled with a musty smell, and the ground littered with various broken porcelain pieces.


    A large truck was parked outside the factory, and two burly men came down from the truck, holding a little glutinous rice dumpling; it was indeed the missing Ningning.


    ¡°Whoooo, you¡¯ve got the wrong person, I have no money...¡± Ningning pleaded with large, tearful eyes, her voice choked with sobs. Her hands were tied behind her back, and she was in a mess.


    The kidnappers, listening to her sobbing, harshly warned, ¡°Shut up, no crying!¡±


    ¡°Whooo...¡± Ningning hiccuped, struggling to stifle her sobs and sniffling miserably.


    The kidnappers threw her into a corner of the abandoned factory. Suddenly, Ningning screamed, ¡°Wow, there are rats! Ningning is most afraid of rats, whoo, I want to go home, I want to find Mommy... Uncle, please let me go...¡±


    The kidnappers, annoyed by her noise, glared at her fiercely, ¡°Cry again, and I¡¯ll cut off your tongue!¡±


    ¡°Whooo...¡± Ningning realized that they weren¡¯t budging, so she gave up acting foolish and just looked up at them with big, tear-filled eyes.


    ¡°Enough, Number Two, why bother arguing with a little kid? Go, get on with the important business,¡± the other man, his face scarred, scowled at the other, then approached Ningning pretending to be gentle.


    The man¡¯s shape cast a huge shadow in front of Ningning, like the big bad wolf enticing Little Red Riding Hood.


    ¡°Little sister, I heard you know the son of the wealthy Li Lingyang. Is that true?¡±


    Ningning¡¯s crying suddenly tightened, and she looked up confused, ¡°Ah? The son of the wealthy Li Lingyang... Chengcheng? I know him, but we¡¯re not close. Uncle, what do you want to do?¡±


    ¡°Not that son, the other son, the one who looks a lot like the tycoon,¡± the scar-faced man said with a wicked smile, pulling a photo from his bag.


    The photo was a miniaturized version of Li Lingyang, bearing a striking resemblance to Chen Bao.


    A chill sank in Ningning¡¯s heart¡ªthese people¡¯s purpose in kidnapping her was actually Chen Bao!


    Was it their deadbeat dad who had been searching for Brother Chen Bao?


    No!


    Her deadbeat dad had no idea she knew him, let alone that she had been abducted here!


    ¡°Uncle, the child you mentioned, I think I¡¯ve really seen him before, but I can¡¯t remember where. Could you tell me what you need him for?¡± Ningning blinked her big eyes innocently.


    The scar-faced man was smirking as he suddenly pulled out a dagger from nowhere and waved it in front of Ningning.


    The blade¡¯s cold light glinted menacingly in front of Ningning¡¯s big eyes.


    ¡°Kid, does this help you remember?¡±


    ¡°Wuwuwu, keep the knife farther away, I get even more scared when I see the knife, and I can¡¯t remember anything...¡± Although Ningning was terrified, she still tried to maintain her innocent facade, as this was the only way the kidnappers wouldn¡¯t be wary of her and she might have a chance to escape, yet numerous scenes of murder flashed through her mind.


    Why was she so unlucky, huh!


    ¡°I¡¯m asking you, what¡¯s the little boy¡¯s contact number?¡± the scar-faced man moved the knife away a bit but still asked menacingly.


    Ningning¡¯s big eyes darted around, just thinking about whether to give them her mommy¡¯s number, when another man sinisterly said, ¡°Big bro, the employer said this little girl is quite cunning, no guarantee she won¡¯t fool us. Time is precious, I think we should beat her first; if she¡¯s in pain, she¡¯ll tell us everything.¡±


    Ningning, ¡°...Please don¡¯t hit Ningning, Ningning will tell, Ningning will tell everything...¡±


    She recited a string of numbers; the kidnapper dialed, and indeed, a child¡¯s voice answered.


    The kidnapper immediately muted the call and instructed Ningning to trick Chen Bao into coming.


    ¡°Ningning?¡± When Chen Bao answered, he immediately tried to trace the number. ¡°Where are you? Granny Wang can¡¯t find you, she¡¯s worried sick.¡±


    ¡°Wuwuwuwu...¡± Ningning also cried frantically, stalling for time.


    Only when the kidnapper threatened her with his fist did she slowly say, ¡°I... I got on the wrong bus, and now I¡¯m near the East City Wan¡¯an Bus Station, can you come pick me up?¡±


    Chen Bao quickly located the spot on the map; it was only three kilometers away from where Ningning had last disappeared.


    He feigned hesitation, ¡°But I¡¯m occupied right now, why don¡¯t you go find a police officer, tell them your address, and they can take you home.¡±


    The scar-faced man, hearing Chen Bao wasn¡¯t tricked, immediately glared furiously at Ningning.


    It was then Ningning pretended to say, ¡°Ah, I fell and now my foot hurts so much, I can¡¯t walk to the police station! Brother, come over, please, I just passed two big bad guys, one with a scarred face and another with short legs, they were glaring at me so menacingly, I¡¯m so scared...¡±


    Chen Bao caught the cues Ningning was giving, instantly understood, and as he nearly finished tracking her location, he said, ¡°Alright then, don¡¯t wander off, I¡¯ll be right there.¡±


    Click, upon agreeing to come, the kidnappers immediately cut off the communication.


    The call ended.


    Chen Bao stroked his chin, deep in thought.


    If the kidnappers were after a child star audition, having Ningning already, why lure him there?


    Unless...


    Their real target was actually him!

 Chapter 88: 88 I am his father!

    Chapter 88: Chapter 88 I am his father!


    Ningning had simply caught his bait...


    But he harbored no enmity toward anyone, and yet someone knew about his relationship with Ningning...


    Who could it be?


    Chen Bao, worried Ning Yichu would be anxious, decided to go to the police himself. Yet when the police saw such a young child claiming their friend had been kidnapped, they did not take him seriously at all, assuming it was a prank and sent him away with a laugh. This infuriated Chen Bao.


    Out of options, he resorted to using a voice changer to make an anonymous call to the 110 emergency hotline...


    The headquarters had a dispatch standard, and even with a one in ten thousand chance, they would arrange for officers to check it out.


    However, this meant that Chen Bao would have to go alone.


    For his sister, the boy¡¯s eyes shone with a steely resolve as he bravely set out.


    ...


    Elsewhere.


    Li Lingyang had already obtained surveillance footage of Chen Bao and Mommy Zhuo at the bookstore.


    His hawk-like eyes fixed on the footage of the little one in full disguise, the corners of his mouth forming a cold, mocking smile. For someone so young to master disguise was truly remarkable.


    ¡°President Li, we¡¯ve found something...¡± Quickly following, Special Assistant Xu¡¯s message came through, ¡°According to the transportation department¡¯s surveillance, after buying books, the little young master took a bus to a place called Baili Orphanage!¡±


    ¡°Baili Orphanage?¡± Li Lingyang repeated the name, his eyes dark and predatory, ¡°Is he an orphan?¡±


    ¡°According to our information, he was indeed abandoned at the doorstep of the orphanage. Later, he was adopted by the head of the orphanage. The orphanage is currently facing a demolition crisis and is in urgent need of financial aid, which may well be why he came to extort money from you...¡±


    Special Assistant Xu had completely grasped the situation, including the current plight of the orphanage.


    But the more he understood, the more inscrutable the child seemed!


    Li Lingyang¡¯s rough fingertips slowly traced as he struggled to believe that Chen Bao was an orphan.


    ¡°Now we are in the light, and the little young master is in the dark; he absolutely cannot escape,¡± Special Assistant Xu declared confidently seeing Li Lingyang¡¯s silence.


    Li Lingyang too was looking forward to meeting the boy again, his mind filled with countless questions as he went straight to Baili Orphanage.


    Baili Orphanage, archives room.


    Li Lingyang sat on the sofa, scrutinizing the documents in his hand.


    Name, Zhuo Chen.


    Age, four and a half.


    Date of birth, August 9th!


    Parents, blank.


    Remarks, when found, there was a delicate jade pendant hanging around his neck, as per the files below, [photo] [photo].


    Li Lingyang stared fixedly at the date, August 9th. If he was conceived over a ten-month pregnancy, wouldn¡¯t that mean that the relationship happened while he was married to that woman?


    But he had not even touched Shen Jiangqing at the time, so how could he possibly have been with another woman?!


    Could it be another woman who bore his child in secret?


    For a moment, he was confused himself, wondering why he had so many scattered children outside?


    Mommy Zhuo¡¯s stooped figure trembled slightly as she looked at the tall and formidable man in front of her; he was almost the spitting image of Chen Bao. No wonder Chen Bao¡¯s mother had hidden him!


    But what to do now that he had already found this place...


    Just a moment ago, a group of bodyguards stormed into the orphanage, giving Mommy Zhuo quite a scare.


    ¡°Sir, are you here looking for a lost son?¡± Mommy Zhuo feigned ignorance.


    Li Lingyang held Chen Bao¡¯s information in his hand, his gaze piercing, ¡°Yes, Zhuo Chen is my son. Thank you for taking care of him all these years...¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t hard work. Those of us who run orphanages just hope that every child in the world can stay with their own parents...¡± Mommy Zhuo felt the powerful aura of the man and tremulously agreed.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s expression was stern, ¡°Where is this child now?¡±


    ¡°He should be out playing with his friends. If you have something to do, you can leave your contact number and address. When he returns, I¡¯ll give you a call.¡±


    ¡°No rush, I¡¯ll wait for him here.¡±


    Mommy Zhuo was anxious. If she let him take Chen Bao away like this, how could she explain it to Lady Ning? Just as she was fretting, an assistant from the orphanage rushed in with a phone in a panic, ¡°Mommy Zhuo, something bad has happened, Chen Bao has gotten into trouble...¡±


    Mommy Zhuo desperately tried to signal her with her eyes, but Li Lingyang had already heard the words ¡°Chen Bao.¡± He stood up with an imposing stature, his tone steely, ¡°What kind of trouble?¡±


    ¡°Uh... How do you look exactly like Chen Bao?¡± The assistant exclaimed in surprise.


    The corners of Li Lingyang¡¯s mouth lifted slightly, ¡°Obviously, I am Chen Bao¡¯s father!¡±


    ¡°... Just now, a policeman called. He told us the orphanage needs to discipline the children, to not make false police reports, and said if it happens again, they would have to give them correctional education, sob sob sob...¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes darkened, knowing Chen Bao was such a clever child, he wouldn¡¯t likely make a false police report. He immediately gave Special Assistant Xu a meaningful look.


    Special Assistant Xu understood immediately and started to investigate the happenings.


    In just a few minutes, Li Lingyang got the full account of Chen Bao¡¯s trip to the police station. He reported that he had seen a little girl being kidnapped by two bad guys and hoped the police could dispatch officers to follow him to the rescue!


    After being teased and rejected by the police, the little guy huffily jumped into a taxi and headed towards the place he had described as the kidnapping location!


    Special Assistant Xu exclaimed, ¡°Good heavens, the little young master¡¯s sense of justice is through the roof, but he¡¯s just a child, daring to confront kidnappers. What if something were to happen to him? What should we do then?¡±


    A trace of unconscious worry flickered in Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes.


    This brat, did he really think he was Ultraman who could save the world?


    ¡°What are you waiting for? Go track down those two kidnappers Chen Bao talked about!¡±


    One with a scar on his face, and one with a limp, their features were distinctive; they should be easy to find.


    ...


    Meanwhile, Chen Bao didn¡¯t head toward the so-called main bus station stop but went straight for the dragon¡¯s lair¡ª


    To their headquarters, the abandoned factory where Ningning was kidnapped!


    By now, most of them must have gone near the bus station to catch him, which gave him the perfect opportunity to rescue Ningning.


    The area was desolate and remote, with sparse population, and lush greenery surrounded it, making it look like a ghost village.


    But what he was thankful for was that there were no cars parked outside the factory!


    This meant that there were not many left to guard Ningning...


    Inside the factory, Ningning¡¯s hands and feet were tied up. When the two fierce kidnappers left a while ago, they stuffed a dirty rag in her mouth to prevent her from yelling.


    Ningning¡¯s eyes swept around, desperately looking for something sharp to utilize!


    Luckily, this place used to be a porcelain factory, and there were many broken porcelain pieces on the ground...


    The little girl struggled to pick up a piece from the ground, holding it awkwardly with her hands, and began trying to saw through the rope on her feet.


    She fantasized about being like those great escapees on TV, gradually wearing down the rope...


    However, when she actually started, she realized that television was all deceptive!


    With such thick ropes and such a blunt porcelain piece, it was impossible to cut through!


    Just as she was about to cry, a piece of broken stone suddenly fell in from the side. Ningning¡¯s sensitive nerves immediately tensed, she looked up and saw Chen Bao peering through the broken factory window, their eyes locked and her own eyes instantly brightened up!

 Chapter 89: 89: Hero Saves the Beauty?

    Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Hero Saves the Beauty?


    Chen Bao confirmed that Ningning wasn¡¯t hurt, just a little scared, and the anxiety that had hung in his heart for so long finally settled back into place!


    Ningning had been diagnosed with leukemia when she was just born. After countless treatments, they finally found a bone marrow donor, allowing her to recover, but her body was still weak. Now she had encountered a kidnapping, and if she had been hurt, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have let those bastards off easily!


    He quickly ran to untie Ningning.


    Afraid that Ningning would escape, the kidnappers had bound her very tightly.


    Even if Chen Bao was smart, he was still just a kid, so it took him quite an effort to free his sister.


    ¡°Ptui, ptui, ptui...¡± Ningning spat out the dirty stuff from her mouth and plunged into Chen Bao¡¯s arms, ¡°Wuu, brother, I thought I¡¯d never see you again!¡±


    ¡°They didn¡¯t hurt you, did they?¡± Chen Bao asked anxiously.


    ¡°I acted pitiful, and they just scolded me a few times, no injuries, oh! But brother, why didn¡¯t you bring the police uncle over?¡±


    Ningning felt safer seeing her brother, nodded vigorously, looked around, and was puzzled to find that he was alone.


    ¡°In those TV shows, the main characters often act alone and then get bullied by the bad guys!¡±


    Chen Bao¡¯s tender lips pursed, and he glared at the little girl, ¡°Do you think I didn¡¯t want to bring people with me?¡±


    ¡°??¡±


    ¡°Those incompetent police officers mocked me for making a false alarm and then kicked me out!¡± said Chen Bao speechlessly, dusting off the little girl¡¯s clothes and urging, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk so much now. The bus stop is not far from here. The kidnappers might not have found me and could come back at any moment, we need to hurry...¡±


    Although he had also called the police anonymously, it was uncertain who would arrive first¡ªthe police or the kidnappers...


    However, what the two little ones didn¡¯t expect was that for safety, they had chosen a secluded path, and the kidnappers, not finding Chen Bao at the bus stop and cursing all the way back, coincidentally chose the same path.


    Unexpectedly, at a crossroads, they ran into each other...


    ¡°Beep beep beep¡ª¡±


    The sound of the horn grew from a distance, suddenly piercing the eardrum.


    Ningning immediately recognized that it was the kidnapper¡¯s van!


    ¡°Brother, the kidnappers are back...¡± Ningning whispered.


    As if having remarkably keen hearing, the man in the passenger seat of the van also spotted the two children holding hands on the road.


    ¡°Big brother, look, isn¡¯t that the kid the client wanted us to cripple?!¡±


    The scar-faced man looked up and his irritable mood dissipated instantly, he sneered ominously, ¡°Well, this saves us the trouble. This brat tried to lead us away from the trail, but good thing we came back quickly!¡±


    Vroom vroom vroom!


    The scar-faced man floored the accelerator, speeding towards the siblings.


    Chen Bao heard that familiar roaring sound and knew what the kidnappers were planning...


    Damn it, why haven¡¯t the police uncles arrived yet?


    He looked at Ningning beside him, pale as death, regretting taking this path that led to their encounter with the kidnappers, and immediately pushed the little girl into the bushes beside them, ¡°Run, they¡¯re after me, I¡¯ll lead them away!¡±


    Ningning stumbled and rolled into the bushes. When she got up, she saw Chen Bao running ahead alone.


    The little girl hadn¡¯t cried when she was captured by the kidnappers, but now she was truly crying!


    ¡°Wuu, brother, I don¡¯t want to be separated from you...¡±


    But the roar of the car engine drowned out the little girl¡¯s cries, and the van had already zoomed past her toward Chen Bao!


    In the last second, Chen Bao was still desperately sprinting down the road.


    The van turned on its two bright headlights, honing in on him.


    Snap.


    Just then, as Chen Bao ran too hastily, he failed to notice a stone under his feet and was tripped by it.


    Chen Bao stumbled awkwardly.


    He watched with wide eyes as a small truck hurtled straight toward him with irresistible force!


    He shut his eyes tight, flashing through the memories of the years he spent with his mommy Ningning...


    I¡¯m sorry, mommy, I couldn¡¯t protect my sister, and I won¡¯t be able to guard you anymore!


    Boom!


    A loud noise reverberated in his ears.


    But after a good while, the anticipated pain didn¡¯t come. Chen Bao opened his eyes in confusion and saw a large group of bodyguards dressed in black who had appeared at some point, and the driver of the truck had been shot by one of the bodyguards.


    The loud crash came from the vehicle losing control, skidding, and slamming into a tree on the roadside!


    He stood up stiffly, feeling a strong premonition...


    Sure enough, as he turned around, he saw a tall, cold figure. Against the light, wrapped in an air of proud and piercing nobility, like a towering mountain, he slowly approached, looking down from above, completely enveloping him.


    It was Li Lingyang!


    ¡°Zhuo Chen?¡± Li Lingyang scrutinized the little guy in front of him.


    Even though it was only their second encounter, it was as if they¡¯d known each other for a long time!


    Hearing Li Lingyang call out an entirely unfamiliar name, Chen Bao paused for two seconds before realizing it was the false name he had registered at the orphanage. He haughtily snorted, turned his head away, and ran off to look for Ningning, who he had pushed away just now.


    The little girl, who had never experienced such a scene, had fainted from panic!


    Chen Bao carefully picked her up and gently patted her little face, ¡°Ningning? Ningning?¡±


    Ningning¡¯s big eyes were tightly closed, showing no sign of waking up.


    Chen Bao was frantic with worry, but lacking in strength and without a vehicle, he had no choice but to seek help from an adult nearby.


    He looked at Li Lingyang, and although he was asking for help, his childish voice was surprisingly commanding, ¡°Ningning has fainted, hurry and take her to the hospital.¡±


    Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow; how did such a small kid already know about playing the hero?


    But when he stooped to pick up the little girl, he realized it was Ningning!


    A myriad of questions surged in the man¡¯s heart, but in the end, he said nothing and placed Ningning inside the Maybach.


    It had been just a few days since he¡¯d last seen her, and it seemed as if she had lost more weight?


    Worried about his sister, Chen Bao also climbed into the vehicle with Ningning.


    At that moment, the sound of police sirens approached.


    ¡°Everyone raise your hands, don¡¯t move!¡± The police, having spotted a group of bodyguards in black from a distance, mistook them for kidnappers and shouted loudly.


    Li Lingyang simply gave Special Assistant Xu a look, and Xu immediately made a call. In no time, the officers on the other side received a message from their superiors.


    They then realized that these were not kidnappers but rescuers!


    And the so-called prankster who made the false alarm was none other than President Li¡¯s son!


    ¡°President Li... I was truly shortsighted, is the little young master alright?¡± The leader of the police team put away his gun, quickly stepped forward with a pleasing smile on his lips, and sheepishly said, ¡°We will definitely deal with these kidnappers strictly!¡±


    Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow and responded coldly, ¡°Two kidnappers, one dead, one injured, I want to know who ordered them to lay hands on the children.¡±

 Chapter 90: 90: The Li Family Actually Produced a Little Gentleman?

    Chapter 90: Chapter 90: The Li Family Actually Produced a Little Gentleman?


    The meaning was clear: the injured person couldn¡¯t die, and his testimony had to be extracted no matter what.


    The team leader let out a sigh of relief and replied with an apologetic smile, ¡°Understood, understood...¡±


    Li Lingyang turned and strode into his luxury car, driving it himself, and took Little Bud to the hospital. He found the best doctor to examine her.


    ...


    Shen Family.


    The two men Shen Jun had found were recently released felons with no shortage of blood on their hands.


    He had given them a three-hundred-thousand cash down payment and promised the remaining seven hundred thousand once he had evidence of Chen Bao either being crippled or killed in the hit.


    He thought that with their method, plus the bait of using Ningning to lure out Chen Bao, they would quickly succeed. But a day had passed, and there was still no news.


    He called them, but the voice on the other end said, ¡°Sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable¡±...


    Shen Jun felt an ominous premonition.


    Just then, Shen Jiangqing came to see him, ¡°Brother, how is it going? Is the job done?¡±


    ¡°Sister, I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s something fishy...¡± Shen Jun had always seen Shen Jiangqing as his mainstay and hurriedly told her about the inability to contact the kidnappers.


    Shen Jiangqing frowned, and after hearing Shen Jun say, ¡°They¡¯ve never made a mistake before. Could it be that they¡¯ve failed this time?¡±


    ¡°Damn, why didn¡¯t you hire more people? That kid is very clever! If something goes wrong, it¡¯ll be much harder to deal with him later...¡± Shen Jiangqing also had an uneasy premonition and decided to personally call Ning Yichu to feel things out. If the child was in trouble, she would be beside herself.


    On the other hand, Ning Yichu was anxiously waiting for the kidnappers to call demanding a ransom, but no matter how long she waited, the call didn¡¯t come, and she started to panic.


    For a moment, she even considered asking Li Lingyang for help!


    After all, he was Ningning¡¯s biological father...


    The DNA paternity test they did had failed because Ningning had a bone marrow transplant, and only a hair sample could give an accurate result!


    But just as this thought occurred to her, it was interrupted by the sudden ringing of her cell phone.


    It was indeed an unknown number.


    ¡°Hello?¡± Ning Yichu tried to remain calm, ¡°Yes...¡±


    ¡°Lady Ning, it¡¯s me.¡± Despite Ning Yichu¡¯s steady voice, Shen Jiangqing still detected an eagerness as if she had long been waiting for the call.


    ¡°Shen Jiangqing?¡± Ning Yichu furrowed her brows deeply, in no mood to deal with her, ¡°What do you want? If it¡¯s nothing, I¡¯m very busy!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s like this, are you at the company now? I want to commission a jade carving from you. After all, you took such a big risk to save Doudou last time. I was too anxious then and said many thoughtless things. I sincerely apologize to you here...¡±


    ¡°A weasel paying respect to a chicken? Sorry, I don¡¯t have time!¡± Ning Yichu said and was about to hang up.


    But Shen Jiangqing suddenly changed the subject, ¡°That boy who appeared out of nowhere in the amusement park, he¡¯s your son, isn¡¯t he?¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s face suddenly changed, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡±


    ¡°Just a friendly reminder, Aling found out he¡¯s at Baili Orphanage and has probably already been there... If I were you, and I didn¡¯t want to be separated from my child, I would take him as far away as possible!¡±


    Ning Yichu snapped the phone shut, her temples throbbed, and her grip on the phone tightened.


    Fan Yuke noticed her distressed expression, ¡°What did that vixen say?¡±


    Ning Yichu shook her head and quickly called Mommy Zhuo, only to learn¡ª


    ¡°There really was a man who looked incredibly similar to Chen Bao accompanied by a group of bodyguards who came here!¡±


    ¡°I wanted to tell you secretly, but he had bodyguards posted all the time. They only just left, and judging by the way they talked, it seems they found Chen Bao.¡±


    ¡°And... Lady Ning, Chen Bao seems to have been involved in a kidnapping case...¡±


    After listening to Mommy Zhuo¡¯s narration, Ning Yichu almost blacked out, nearly fainting!


    One crisis had hardly subsided before another surfaced!


    Ningning had not yet been rescued, and now Li Lingyang had his sights set on Chen Bao...


    ¡°That reckless little bastard! He actually deceived me, ran off alone to rescue Ningning, and now Li Lingyang has targeted him. I don¡¯t even know what the situation is now... No, I must find them immediately!¡±


    While Fan YuKe tried to soothe her, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, didn¡¯t Mommy Zhuo say? That big oaf Li Lingyang also immediately gave chase, they must be fine.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s even worse, if he discovers Chen Bao, he will definitely snatch him away!¡±


    Fan YuKe moved her lips, intending to continue comforting, but it seemed that once Chen Bao was exposed, they had no power to confront Li Lingyang...


    ¡°Even if Chen Bao is taken away by that scumbag, you¡¯re still his only mommy!¡±


    Ning Yichu felt incredibly torn.


    She hoped Li Lingyang wouldn¡¯t find the children, but from another perspective, the children were in great danger now, and the sooner Li Lingyang found them, the more their safety was guaranteed!


    The root cause of all this was that gang of kidnappers!


    If it hadn¡¯t been for their kidnapping of Ningning, Chen Bao wouldn¡¯t have become involved...


    ...


    A faint, ethereal fragrance drifted through the air, dispersing the pungent smell of disinfectant.


    Chen Bao stayed right beside Ningning¡¯s bed, his small stature, short arms, and legs offering tender care as he occasionally moistened Ningning¡¯s lips with a cotton swab and tucked in the corners of her blanket. His gentle demeanor imparted a sense of treasuring her as though she might break if dropped or melt if held.


    Through a transparent glass window, Li Lingyang watched the two little ones from outside, frowning deeply in consternation.


    The nurse walked out awkwardly, shaking her head at President Li, ¡°President Li, the little young master refuses to leave, insisting on staying alone with Miss Ning...¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s brow twitched. When did the Li Family produce such a caring man?


    If they were just ordinary friends, this concern would seem excessive.


    But if they weren¡¯t just ordinary friends, what was their relationship?


    ¡°Then let him be!¡±


    Miss Ning had a terrifying nightmare!


    In her dream, she was kidnapped by villains whose target was actually her brother.


    To save her, her brother was hit by a large truck and sent flying...


    She jolted awake with a start, sitting bolt upright in bed with the agility of a carp.


    ¡°Brother... Mmm!¡± Just as she reflexively called out for her brother, a small and nimble hand swiftly reached out and covered her mouth.


    Chen Bao, terrified, wouldn¡¯t step away, fearful that the little girl might blurt something out in her sleep talk.


    ¡°Don¡¯t yell, this is a private hospital owned by that jerk of a father, his spies are everywhere...¡± Chen Bao whispered in the little girl¡¯s ear.


    Ningning blinked her large eyes, signaling that she understood and would be absolutely careful not to slip up. Only then did Chen Bao let go.


    ¡°Wu wu wu...¡± The next second, Ningning¡¯s tears started flowing like a broken string of pearls, drenching his clothes, then she threw herself into Chen Bao¡¯s arms and held him tightly.


    Her tears and snot covered him, and she pounded his chest with her little fists, ¡°Bully, big bully, you liar! You promised we¡¯d always be together, so why did you leave me just now? Do you know how sad I was, how afraid I was of never seeing you again...¡±

 Chapter 91: 91: Thrilling! I am his girlfriend!

    Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Thrilling! I am his girlfriend!


    Brother Chen Bao was actually a bit of a neat freak, but at this moment, listening to Ningning¡¯s soft, aggrieved whining, his heart also softened.


    He gently patted her back to soothe, comforting her, ¡°Okay, okay, it¡¯s my fault, I shouldn¡¯t have left you behind. Don¡¯t cry, if you keep crying, you¡¯ll hyperventilate, be good...¡±


    ¡°Hmph, hmph hmph, I¡¯ll cry! You meanie, stinker, I¡¯ve decided to punish you, punish you... by making you write a three-thousand-word self-criticism!¡±


    Brother Chen Bao¡¯s mouth twitched, ¡°Three thousand words, can you even read them all?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care...¡± Little Bud threw a tantrum, rolling on the ground, heart-wrenchingly crying, ¡°If you don¡¯t write more, you¡¯ll never learn your lesson, wuu wuu...¡±


    ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll write, I¡¯ll write, is that okay?¡± Brother Chen Bao took a soft cotton towel from beside the bed, carefully wiping the little girl¡¯s tears, ¡°Look at you, crying like a little calico cat.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m pleased about it, none of your business¡ª¡± Ningning retorted fiercely, tears still hanging on her cheeks, forming a string of tear marks, the contrast of her appearance was striking.


    Li Lingyang came in with some nutritional porridge and what echoed in his ears was the ¡°heartfelt exchange¡± between two children after an emotional parting!


    At this moment, the two children were cuddling each other, Ningning being both cute and fierce, and that imposing Brother Chen Bao, who acted all high and mighty, was now treating Ningning delicately as if handling a rare treasure. For a moment, he almost doubted whether he should have entered.


    Suddenly, the noise of the door opening caused the two little cuties playing in the room to freeze in their movements, turning their heads stiffly to look at Li Lingyang.


    ¡°Ah! Bad Uncle, is that you?¡± Ningning yelled in alarm.


    Brother Chen Bao was much cooler, his tender lips parting slightly with a touch of authority, ¡°Hasn¡¯t anyone taught you to knock before entering someone¡¯s room?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s lips curled into a mocking cold smile, ¡°Indeed, no one has taught me that I need to knock on the door of my son¡¯s hospital room.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t take advantage of me, I never acknowledged you as my daddy~¡± Brother Chen Bao¡¯s face flushed with pretentious anger.


    Taking advantage of the situation, Li Lingyang placed the meat porridge on the coffee table. His slender hand slightly curved as he rolled up his shirt sleeves, exposing a glimpse of his muscular arms shimmering with a glossy, honey-toned sheen, looking especially robust. He raised his eyebrow, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you deny it, you look too much like me.¡±


    Brother Chen Bao¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°I¡¯m clearly handsomer than you, cuter, and even have better morals.¡±


    Li Lingyang shot back a lukewarm look, silently scoffing, perfectly overpowering the atmosphere.


    This round, Brother Chen Bao VS Li Lingyang, Li Lingyang won!


    ¡°Tell me, how did you two, who have nothing in common, come to know each other?¡±


    Li Lingyang elegantly spun around to sit on the leather sofa across, his legs casually crossed, exuding an innate imperiousness.


    This was something that the young Brother Chen Bao tried hard to emulate but couldn¡¯t, lacking the experience.


    According to the records, one grew up in Imperial City and the other in Europe, without any intersection.


    Brother Chen Bao was slightly indignant, his little nose twitching, refusing to answer.


    ¡°Think keeping quiet means there¡¯s no issue? The last time you went to the amusement park, was it also to meet Ningning?¡±


    Brother Chen Bao¡¯s mind was noisy, calculating how to explain?


    However, just as the father and son stared each other down, each harboring their own cunning thoughts, Ningning, in a flash of thought, spoke up with a tone as if challenging what he could possibly do to them, and equally haughtily said¡ª


    ¡°That¡¯s right! He went to the amusement park that day to find me. Let me tell you the truth, I am Brother Chen Bao¡¯s girlfriend! If you dare to bully him, I won¡¯t let you off! Humph!¡±


    ¡°...¡± Li Lingyang nearly fell off the sofa, staring bizarrely at the two little buds in front of him!


    Chen Bao¡¯s expression also became extremely ugly!


    Girlfriend?


    That stinking Ningning, her lies knew no bounds!


    But if he were really caught by Li Lingyang and taken back to the Li Family, claiming Ningning was his girlfriend, then the two could naturally start seeing each other...


    He gritted his teeth and did not deny it!


    Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze became increasingly peculiar, ¡°I never expected, my son, you¡¯re so precocious? Do you know what a girlfriend is for?¡±


    ¡°You mind your own business!¡± Chen Bao roared back fiercely, his face red and almost bleeding.


    Of course, he knew what a girlfriend meant.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face darkened by the minute...


    ¡°Ningning, Ningning?¡± At this time, Ning Yichu received a message from Special Assistant Xu and hurriedly rushed to the hospital.


    She pushed open the ward with one hand, and it seemed that all she could see were Ningning and Chen Bao on the hospital bed. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to scold Chen Bao for his audacity and taking matters into his own hands, and rushed over to hug the little girl tightly, her nose tingling with emotion, ¡°You scared mommy to death! Let mommy check, are you hurt anywhere?¡±


    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m fine, thanks to Brother Chen Bao and... the bad uncle who saved me!¡±


    It seemed that only then did Ning Yichu notice there was another man in the room!


    She turned her head and met the man¡¯s hawkish gaze, as if it was penetrating her, and Ning Yichu¡¯s heart suddenly hung in her throat¡ª


    ¡°Li, Li... President Li, this time I¡¯m really grateful to you, I can¡¯t thank you enough, I...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome, I initially came to save my own son, but Lady Ning, shouldn¡¯t you explain to me how you¡¯ve known Chen Bao all this while?¡± Li Lingyang, with a thin smile, coldly watched her, recalling how during his search for Chen Bao, they had several encounters and she had mocked him for having another son outside?


    So she had met Chen Bao before and he was... a ¡°prospective son-in-law¡±?


    Ning Yichu felt like her head was about to explode, having told one lie, she needed countless more to keep it going.


    ¡°What if I have met him before? Have you ever asked Chen Bao if he wants to go back with you? He really likes the orphanage environment and his friends there, I think I should respect his choice!¡±


    ¡°Is that so? I thought you were intentionally taking revenge on me and thus, hiding my son¡¯s whereabouts!¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze was piercing, coldly staring at her.


    Ning Yichu clenched her fists tightly, filled with resentment, ¡°Even if it was intentional, so what? You constantly accuse me of cheating during our marriage, but what about you? Chen Bao was born in August, he is four and a half years old now, which means, he was already born before we got married. Did you ever respect our marriage?¡±


    It must be said, Ning Yichu¡¯s words were venomous, effectively turning the tables.


    On one hand, it emphasized that Chen Bao¡¯s birthdate had been moved forward by six months, making it impossible for him to be her child, having no blood relation with Ningning.


    On the other hand, it highlighted Li Lingyang¡¯s faults within the marriage!


    Li Lingyang furrowed his brows, the sharpness in his eyes dissipated, and his stern profile seemed to blur considerably, ¡°Let¡¯s assume I was at fault from the start; your concealing can be cancelled out. But what about our kids being romantically involved at such a young age as parents, shouldn¡¯t we put a stop to it?¡±


    ¡°Romantically... involved?¡± Ning Yichu nearly bit her own tongue.


    What was happening? She subconsciously looked towards the two little ones.

 Chapter 92: 92 Recognizing Ancestors and Returning to the Clan...

    Chapter 92: Chapter 92 Recognizing Ancestors and Returning to the Clan...


    Chen Bao looked helpless...


    Ningning was all excited, ¡°We are true love!¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...¡±


    She could probably guess why Ningning would say that and tearfully accepted it.


    ¡°When it comes to children¡¯s matters, we adults can only provide guidance. Ningning and Chen Bao are so smart, the more you try to stop them, the more rebellious they become. Rather than do that, it¡¯s better to just let nature take its course...¡±


    Li Lingyang looked meaningfully at Ning Yichu, ¡°You couldn¡¯t marry me, but your daughter has reserved my son in advance?¡±


    ¡°So what? If you can, keep your son away from us!¡± Ning Yichu retorted.


    It was clear that Li Lingyang still did not have full control over Chen Bao, so naturally, he couldn¡¯t interfere with his decisions.


    In fact, from a certain perspective, these two little ones did look quite like a married couple...


    Wait, what was he thinking?


    Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face suddenly darkened.


    On the other side, Su Huimiao received some news from somewhere and heard that Li Lingyang had found a son who looked exactly like him. She rushed to the hospital right away.


    She wouldn¡¯t recognize this grandson without a paternity test first!


    However, when Su Huimiao arrived at the hospital and saw Chen Bao for the first time, she instantly changed her mind!


    This is definitely our son¡¯s child, that little face, that nose, that mouth, they are exactly the same...


    She excitedly called her husband and Granny Li.


    ¡°You all come quickly, we¡¯ve gained another little grandson for free, oh, he¡¯s so cute, truly adorable!¡±


    Following Su Huimiao¡¯s arrival came a large group of people.


    Leading them was Granny Li.


    Her brisk pace, light as a bird, didn¡¯t resemble an eighty-year-old granny at all.


    ¡°What? This child... is really Aling¡¯s son? My heavens, Aling, you little scoundrel, how many things have you done wrong to Chu Chu! Thank goodness I didn¡¯t shamelessly beg Chu Chu to get back together with you, how could you be such a prodigal!¡±


    Granny Li certainly liked her great-grandson, but when she thought that the child¡¯s origins were unclear and that he was an orphan, she slapped Li Lingyang¡¯s shoulder!


    The anger was so fierce, it almost drowned him.


    Li Lingyang endured the slap with a slight frown, he was innocent too!


    Su Huimiao saw everything good in her own son; having an illegitimate child just showed he was charming!


    ¡°Mom, be gentle, Aling just rescued the child from the kidnappers, fought with them, and might have gotten hurt...¡±


    Granny Li, of course, also doted on Li Lingyang, and after that, she immediately stopped hitting him, only giving him a sideways glance as if waiting for him to explain.


    She was also puzzled, how did this get connected with kidnappers?


    ¡°Granny, Mom, this matter is complicated. Specifically, I don¡¯t know by what means the child¡¯s mother had him, just that he has grown up in an orphanage these past years, having a hard life,¡± Li Lingyang explained briefly, his tone cool, showing no emotion.


    ¡°Orphanage? Oh, my poor little baby, you must have suffered!¡± Su Huimiao rushed forward and hugged Chen Bao tightly.


    Chen Bao smelled the strong perfume on her and almost sneezed, but he still politely called out, ¡°Hello, Granny.¡±


    ¡°Ah ah ah, good, you¡¯re such a sweetheart!¡±


    Granny Li wouldn¡¯t be outdone, ¡°Good child, I am your great-grandmother.¡±


    Chen Bao had already heard about Granny Li from Ningning, that she was the kindest person to Mommy, so the little guy seriously got up, took Granny Li¡¯s hand, and sincerely called out, ¡°Hello, Great-Granny.¡±


    ¡°Good...¡± Granny Li smiled so broadly she couldn¡¯t close her mouth, finding the child cuter and cuter, far better than Chengcheng with his stiff manner.


    Su Huimiao pulled Li Lingyang along, ¡°Since the child has suffered so much, we should take him back and raise him well from now on.¡±


    ¡°Mm.¡± Li Lingyang nodded slightly, having searched so long to find the child, he certainly wouldn¡¯t let him drift outside any longer.


    As for the authenticity of his origin and whatever involvement he still had with Ning Yichu, these matters would naturally be investigated thoroughly later on.


    Just when the atmosphere was at its most harmonious, another group of people burst into the ward.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s voice arrived before she did, filled with worry¡ª


    ¡°Aling! I heard you got involved in a kidnapping case while saving Ning Yichu¡¯s daughter, and those kidnappers even had guns, are you okay? Sob, I¡¯m so worried about you...¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s severe features immediately darkened, and before he could speak, another woman in the ward exploded first.


    ¡°Ning Yichu and Ningning? How come it¡¯s them again?¡± Su Huimiao thought it was her own grandson who had been endangered, but it turned out to be Ning Yichu and her daughter, she immediately became unrelenting.


    ¡°Even after so many years of divorce, she¡¯s still clinging to our son, can¡¯t she find another man? Why should my son risk his life for her and some wild man¡¯s daughter¡ª¡±


    Her sharp cries were quickly silenced by a look from Granny Li, Su Huimiao didn¡¯t dare to openly retort Granny Li, who could silence her with a single glare in the past.


    But this time, she continued muttering complaints under her breath, ¡°I just don¡¯t see what¡¯s so good about Ning Yichu, mom, have you thought about it? What if those kidnappers were ruthless and harmed our Aling, what then? She¡¯s not our Li Family¡¯s daughter, it¡¯s not worth it!¡±


    ¡°Ms. Su.¡± This time, it was Chen Bao who interrupted her.


    Su Huimiao¡¯s eyes immediately fell back to Chen Bao when she heard him calling her, her mouth forming the most affectionate of smiles.


    However, Chen Bao¡¯s next words directly slapped her in the face¡ª


    ¡°Those people came for me, and Ningning was accidentally taken because of me! If it weren¡¯t for her, I probably wouldn¡¯t be in this world anymore, if you dislike Ningning and Aunt Ning so much, then you might as well cast me out too because I am going to properly express my gratitude for their life-saving grace!¡±


    Su Huimiao gasped in shock, instinctively turning to look at Shen Jiangqing, ¡°You said it was to save...¡±


    ¡°Enough.¡± Granny Li settled the matter once and for all, ¡°Whether it¡¯s Ningning or Chen Bao, both are kind and adorable children, who wouldn¡¯t be heartbroken to see such small children kidnapped? Aling¡¯s willingness to step forward and save others proves that the men of our Li Family are responsible, he did well. Besides, with so many bodyguards around him, what could happen? You¡¯re making a mountain out of a molehill, now go and call the doctor to give our grandson a full physical examination.¡±


    Chen Bao felt an immense amount of kindness from Granny Li and returned a polite smile.


    Having been scolded, Su Huimiao instinctively wanted to seek comfort from her son, but Li Lingyang ignored her.


    She angrily glared at Shen Jiangqing...


    Shen Jiangqing also looked on hatefully, teeth clenched tightly, at the little brat!


    Why had he been rescued unharmed...


    Why couldn¡¯t the kidnappers have acted just a bit faster?


    Chen Bao, seeing a flash of distortion and malice on Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face, suddenly tilted his head, smiling and began to speak¡ª


    ¡°This must be Uncle Li¡¯s girlfriend, right? Are you looking at me because you¡¯re worried I might get hurt? Thank you for your concern, I¡¯m very well, and besides, those two kidnappers were caught, I believe it won¡¯t be long before we know who was directing them to target me.¡±

 Chapter 93: 93: The Fragile Mind Has Been Hurt

    Chapter 93: Chapter 93: The Fragile Mind Has Been Hurt


    As Chen Bao¡¯s voice trailed off, everyone¡¯s gaze uniformly fell on Shen Jiangqing.


    It was as if they had just realized another matter...


    That was, Shen Jiangqing originally had only two children by her side, and now, all of a sudden, she had an additional ¡°stepson,¡± and one whose mother was unknown at that.


    ¡°Jiangqing, this child is pitiful, having been in the orphanage since he was young and without a mother,¡± Su Huimiao¡¯s tone shifted as she tugged at Shen Jiangqing¡¯s heartstrings.


    Granny Li snorted coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not old yet. If the little guy needs someone to take care of him, I¡¯ll do it myself!¡±


    ¡°Granny, what are you talking about¡ª¡± Shen Jiangqing hurriedly interjected.


    If this brat hung around Granny Li and somehow charmed her into giving him all the shares she had, there would be nowhere for her to even cry.


    With tears and aggrievement, she said, ¡°The greatest fortune of my life was meeting Aling, his son is my son, I will surely raise him well.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s stern brows furrowed, seemingly moved.


    But it wasn¡¯t because of Shen Jiangqing¡¯s ¡°confession,¡± but because Chen Bao would need her care in the future...


    ¡°These years, I know you¡¯ve had a hard time. Mikkel¡¯s family has released a new line of jewelry and bags; didn¡¯t you say you liked them? I¡¯ll have someone buy them and send them home.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s smile deepened on her face, but her heart felt far from relieved.


    Was Li Lingyang trying to please her?


    Afraid that she wouldn¡¯t accept this bastard child?!


    ¡°Aling, we don¡¯t need to talk about so much between us. I will love Chen Bao just like I love you.¡±


    Chen Bao inwardly retched, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m about to vomit!¡±


    Now he finally understood why Ningning insisted that she¡¯d rather die than come to this lousy father¡¯s side; having to see this despicable couple every day was the real damage to his fragile heart!


    ¡°Wait a second, when did I say I was going back to the Li Family with you?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°You are my son, if you¡¯re not coming back to the Li Family with me, where else do you want to go?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not just me that¡¯s your son, but if I leave, Grandma Zhuo and the Little Yudians will be sad.¡± Going back to the Li Family would make it inconvenient for him to see his mommy.


    Li Lingyang spoke calmly, ¡°You¡¯ve found your own family, they will be even happier for you.¡±


    He wasn¡¯t dead yet. How could he let his son live in an orphanage?


    Chen Bao puffed up with indignation and resisted with all his might, ¡°I don¡¯t care, I like the orphanage, that feels like home to me!¡±


    ¡°It seems... a certain fairly grown kid extorted a billion from me, and then it ended up deposited into the orphanage¡¯s account in installments. What do you say, could it have been instigated by some adults?¡±


    Chen Bao¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡±


    ¡°Tit for tat, haven¡¯t you threatened me as well?¡±


    Chen Bao was speechless.


    Could that be the same? Extorting a billion could land someone in jail for life.


    ¡°You¡¯re taking me to the Li Family, but you better not regret it...¡±


    ¡°Heh, letting you stay at the orphanage for four and a half years, that¡¯s my true regret.¡± Li Lingyang scoffed coldly, as if to say the little thing thought he could fight him? In his dreams.


    ...


    Because of this sudden kidnapping case, Chen Bao¡¯s identity had been exposed and caught the attention of the Li Family, and all of Ning Yichu¡¯s planned arrangements were entirely disrupted; things like going back to Europe, or carefully hiding the children...


    All of that had become empty talk!


    As she watched helplessly a crowd from the Li Family surrounding Chen Bao, talking non-stop, Ning Yichu had to admit¡ª


    Chen Bao was going to be snatched away by Li Lingyang!


    ¡°Mommy, you still have me, I¡¯ll always be with you.¡± Ningning, sensing Ning Yichu¡¯s heavy mood, quickly extended her chubby little hand to wipe her tears.


    Ning Yichu clutched her daughter¡¯s tender little hand, kissed it, and then said, ¡°Imperial City is not safe right now, I¡¯ll send you back to Europe first.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡± Ningning immediately refused, puffing up her cheeks, ¡°Mommy, I have never been separated from brother since I was born, and now that he has been taken away by that scum dad, if I go to Europe, it means I¡¯ll never see him again. I don¡¯t want to leave, and I can¡¯t bear to part with you all.¡±


    In the past, Ning Yichu might have respected her daughter¡¯s opinion, but now that someone had kidnapped Ningning, she just couldn¡¯t feel at ease!


    ¡°This kidnapping was an accident, Imperial City is so big, there are always more good people than bad. Mommy, please let me stay, I¡¯ve already told that scum dad that I¡¯m brother¡¯s girlfriend, if you hastily send me away now, it might even arouse his suspicion...¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...You still have the face to bring this up?¡±


    Dating at such a young age, a four-year-old baby, telling others would just be infuriating!


    ¡°Did you calculate this on purpose, thinking that I would send you away earlier, just to find an open and honest way to stay?¡±


    Ningning hung her little head and mumbled, ¡°You said it too, the Li Family is full of jackals, tigers, and leopards. The real truth behind the kidnapping hasn¡¯t been cleared up, how could I possibly leave?¡±


    Ning Yichu held her forehead, honestly, sending her dependent daughter to a foreign land was something she couldn¡¯t bear to do...


    Looking at the little girl¡¯s adamant appearance, perhaps even if she sent her away, she would find a way to come back.


    Alright, since nothing could be avoided, they would face it together!


    ¡°I can agree to let you stay, but you absolutely must not take action on your own again...¡±


    ¡°Where have I ever acted on my own...¡± Ningning muttered with insufficient confidence.


    Ning Yichu rolled her eyes, ¡°Seems someone forgot that they went to audition for the little child star spokesperson without telling me?¡±


    ¡°Ah... Mommy, my tummy really hurts, oh no, it must be those bad kidnappers being too cruel... Can¡¯t do it, can¡¯t do it, I can¡¯t keep my eyes open, I need to rest for a bit.¡±


    ¡°Playing the rogue every time, you listen to me, Ning Mengmeng, there might be a lot of dangerous things happening next, you try unauthorized actions again and see?¡±


    ¡°Uh, I wouldn¡¯t dare again...¡± The little girl immediately admitted her wrongs, changing face quicker than flipping a book.


    ...


    Li Lingyang brought Chen Bao to Dragon Bay in Imperial City.


    Dragon Bay is located at the mountain¡¯s peak. The last time the little guy had come, he only waited with Ning Yichu halfway up the mountain. Reaching the top and seeing the villa this time, his heart naturally had a different feeling.


    This was originally Mommy¡¯s home, now occupied by a bad woman!


    The butler led the household staff, a good twenty or so people in uniforms, lined up to greet Chen Bao with deep bows, ¡°Welcome home, little young master!¡±


    The most exaggerated part was the long red carpet...


    Spreading from the doorway all the way to the curb.


    On the lush trees, there also hung lots of beautiful and festive lanterns.


    Su Huimiao and Shen Jiangqing had come back an hour early to decorate, after all, this place was still where Shen Jiangqing had lived long, making it convenient to arrange the layout.


    ¡°Little treasure, from now on, this is your home. Do you like it?¡± Su Huimiao¡¯s face bloomed like a chrysanthemum as she approached.


    Chen Bao put his hands behind his back and suddenly understood why so many people enjoyed money and power.


    The taste of being admired was enjoyable for anyone!


    However, for him, no matter how big or luxurious the house, without Mommy and sister, it was just a cold iron house.


    ¡°It¡¯s okay, thank you, Granny.¡± Chen Bao pursed his lips.


    Even if Shen Jiangqing felt disgust inside, her mouth was still gentle and gracious, ¡°Chen Bao, may I call you that? Time is too rushed, many things are not ready yet, can you stay in the room next to Chengcheng for now? In a few days, I¡¯ll have someone refurbish a more luxurious room for you.¡±


    Chen Bao¡¯s little expression was one of undisguised revulsion.


    ¡°You¡¯re so hypocritical, you clearly hate me to death, yet you pretend to welcome me, aren¡¯t you tired of it?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s smile stiffened.


    Su Huimiao hurried to smooth things over, taking Chen Bao by the hand, ¡°My dear, it¡¯s your first time here, you must be curious about your new home, right? Come, Granny will take you on a tour, and whatever you like, just tell Granny...¡±


    ¡°Granny has already made a phone call to order a hundred sets of clothes, a hundred pairs of shoes, you won¡¯t have to suffer the orphanage hardships anymore.¡±


    ¡°Look at these little hands, how come there are calluses on the fingers? It wouldn¡¯t be that the orphanage people mistreated you, would it?¡±

 Chapter 94: 94 Li Jingtian, You Must Help Me!

    Chapter 94: Chapter 94 Li Jingtian, You Must Help Me!


    ¡°I did not!¡±


    Chen Bao made a face at Shen Jiangqing and ran off.


    He needed to figure out the layout of this place as soon as possible, to make it easier for him to hide things or to secretly contact his mommy and sister.


    But the place was just too big. Grandchild and grandmother wandered for a long while and still didn¡¯t finish exploring. Finally, Su Huimiao was too tired to walk and had a servant take him around for a visit.


    Chen Bao started his tour outside and went all the way into the house.


    Inside the main residence, he saw two children¡¯s rooms facing each other, presumably Doudou and Chengcheng¡¯s rooms.


    However, both of them were in school at the moment, and no one was around.


    Doudou¡¯s room was filled with the air of a little princess, pink and delicate, but Chen Bao with his keen observation noticed that Chengcheng¡¯s room was furnished with more care and delicacy, filled with the newest toys, while Doudou¡¯s had only a few Barbie dolls and some scattered Legos.


    Hmm, Doudou was sort of a friend to him, after all.


    Chen Bao ultimately decided to stay in the bedroom next to Doudou¡¯s.


    It was understandable for Su Huimiao not to show much respect to Shen Jiangqing.


    Compared with Shen Jiangqing, of course, her beloved grandson was much cuter!


    ¡°He¡¯s had a tough life and never had his birth mother to care for him, show some understanding~¡± she directed Shen Jiangqing with an air of command.


    What else could Shen Jiangqing say? She could only comply meekly.


    Su Huimiao had some urgent matters, so after not spending much time with Chen Bao, she left. And once she did, Shen Jiangqing lost all interest in managing Chen Bao.


    Her mind was preoccupied with the sentence ¡°The two kidnappers were arrested by the police¡±...


    If those two provided any clues, and the police traced it back to Shen Jun, she would most likely be implicated as well. She had to find a way to keep those two quiet.


    A bar, dazzling with lights and colors, appeared to be a perfect place for earthly pleasures.


    Shen Jiangqing had applied simple makeup and wore a mask and sunglasses, with high heels clicking as she arrived at the VIP room #8 on the top floor. Two imposing bodyguards guarded the door, and the people inside were no ordinary figures.


    When the bodyguards saw Shen Jiangqing, they didn¡¯t even blink before pushing open the VIP room door.


    ¡°Miss Shen, the boss has been waiting for you for a while.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing took a deep breath and strode in, only to be confronted by a wicked man holding a scantily clad woman in his arms, his large hand lasciviously on her breast, creating a chaotic scene.


    Disgust flickered in Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyes as she walked straight to the man and said in a low voice, ¡°I have something to tell you, let her leave first.¡±


    ¡°What is it that can¡¯t be said in front of my new love?¡± Li Jingtian had a devil-may-care smirk at the corner of his mouth.


    Shen Jiangqing glared at him.


    Li Jingtian slapped the woman¡¯s round buttocks and pushed her outside, ¡°Get out.¡±


    Without a trace of emotion, he was ruthless.


    The woman glared at Shen Jiangqing jealously before leaving resentfully.


    As soon as the door shut, Li Jingtian grabbed Shen Jiangqing¡¯s hand, turned around to pull her into his arms, and took a deep sniff at her neck.


    ¡°Smells wonderful, still the jasmine I like, and even the touch... has become much plumper than before?¡±


    The man¡¯s lewd gaze swept over Shen Jiangqing unrestrained, as though she was naked before him.


    Shen Jiangqing bit her teeth and spoke with hatred, ¡°You must have connections in the police station, right? I need you to do something for me!¡±


    ¡°Heh...¡± Li Jingtian stared at her for two seconds before suddenly bursting into laughter, ¡°Are you mistaken? Asking for a favor with such haughtiness. Do you want me to teach you how to properly beg?¡±


    ¡°Li Jingtian, you have no choice but to help me with this!¡±


    ¡°Oh? In what capacity are you asking for my help? As a sister-in-law? Or perhaps... an ex-girlfriend?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face slightly changed. They had never dated; at most, they were friends with benefits for a while.


    Li Jingtian smirked, ¡°Oh, my apologies, I forgot you haven¡¯t married Li Lingyang yet. The title of ¡®sister-in-law¡¯... doesn¡¯t suit you.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing, enraged and embarrassed, raised her hand to slap him, but Li Jingtian caught her wrist accurately, ¡°I¡¯m only telling the truth, why get angry? Do you still want my help or not?¡±


    Thinking of the imminent trouble, Shen Jiangqing lightly bit her lower lip, stubborn defiance shining in her clear eyes.


    Li Jingtian wrapped one arm around her, while discreetly sprinkling some white powder into a glass of wine nearby.


    To be fair, Shen Jiangqing wasn¡¯t bad looking at all, fair-skinned and beautiful. Although she wasn¡¯t stunningly gorgeous, she possessed a unique charm.


    Of course, her biggest charm was...


    Li Lingyang¡¯s woman.


    Li Jingtian loved conquering Li Lingyang¡¯s women the most.


    Shortly after, Li Jingtian handed the glass of red wine to Shen Jiangqing, his expression unreadable, ¡°Don¡¯t be so stubborn when asking for help. Drink it. I like a woman with a light scent of alcohol on her.¡±


    At that moment, Shen Jiangqing had no other choice; Li Jingtian was the best option she could think of.


    She took the glass and downed the red wine in one gulp.


    ¡°Now, are you ready to sincerely listen to me?¡±


    Li Jingtian also raised his glass of red wine, took a small sip with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Li Lingyang has an illegitimate child outside. My elder brother couldn¡¯t stand it and hired two thugs to kidnap the kid, but they botched it. Now, they¡¯ve been caught by the police. I¡¯ve tried sending messages to keep their mouths shut, but I was told that the case is now personally handled by the chief of police, with high authority. I can¡¯t get any messages through...¡± Shen Jiangqing explained everything in a rush.


    Li Jingtian¡¯s eyes held a dangerous curve as he lecherously stroked her face, ¡°You wanted to get rid of that child, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing realized that when he touched her, a longing arose in her body...


    She thought it was because she hadn¡¯t had sexual relations in too long and feigned distress, ¡°Now, only you can help me.¡±


    ¡°I can, but how will you thank me?¡± Li Jingtian asked leisurely.


    In his eyes, Shen Jiangqing saw a certain longing, ¡°After all, I am your elder brother¡¯s woman, you... Ah!¡±


    Before she could finish, he had pounced and pinned her to the couch.


    Shen Jiangqing tried to struggle, but when her hand touched his chest, her body unexpectedly started to heat up, strange sensations crashing through her.


    She panicked, ¡°The wine... did you put something in it?¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t meant for you, but you insisted on presenting yourself at just the right time,¡± Li Jingtian said as he slid his fingers under her dress, his gaze wickedly gleeful, ¡°I have wanted to do this to you since grandma¡¯s birthday party.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s breathing quickened and her cheeks flushed red, her mind struggling to stay clear, ¡°No... Li Jingtian, you can¡¯t do this to me. I am Li Lingyang¡¯s woman, let me go...¡±


    ¡°As if it¡¯s your first time. Why the pretense of innocence?¡±


    With one swift motion, he ripped open her clothes.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s cries were swallowed by him, and she knew that Li Jingtian was not a man to be trifled with. Having crossed the line this time, shaking him off wouldn¡¯t be so simple anymore.


    But her body was completely out of control, neglected by Li Lingyang for so many years, she had remained faithful, never seeking pleasure elsewhere. Not even a saint could endure this, and soon, sounds unfit for children echoed in the room.


    After what seemed like an eternity, the noises finally subsided, and Shen Jiangqing lay weakly in Li Jingtian¡¯s arms, pushed at his chest and said, ¡°You¡¯ve had your way, now aren¡¯t you going to make the call to handle the matter?¡±


    ¡°Heh...¡± Li Jingtian let out a cold chuckle with an ambiguous meaning, and picked up his phone to make a call.


    Then he teasingly lifted Shen Jiangqing¡¯s chin, ¡°How does it feel, comparing me with Li Lingyang, who pleases you more?¡±

 Chapter 95: 95: Chen Bao Catches You, Did You Cheat?

    Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Chen Bao Catches You, Did You Cheat?


    Shen Jiangqing had never tried with Li Lingyang, so how could she know who was better?


    But from her perspective as a woman, Li Jingtian was clearly also top-notch!


    ¡°You, you¡¯re even more incredible, okay?¡± Shen Jiangqing, face flushed, picked up her clothes scattered on the floor and dressed herself.


    Li Jingtian, naked, didn¡¯t feel embarrassed, and lounged lazily on the sofa, a cigarette between his fingers that he didn¡¯t smoke, just quietly watching the white, misty smoke while he smirked, ¡°If I had switched identities with Li Lingyang and I were the heir of the Li Family, you would have probably chosen me back then, right?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing just wanted to rush back. The Li Family was planning to bring Chen Bao back to the Royal Dragon Cove, and if she was late, she might give rise to gossip.


    ¡°Let¡¯s not contact each other anymore.¡±


    She dropped the line and got up to leave, but just as she reached the door, Li Jingtian pulled her back, ¡°Think you can just use me and run? No such cheap deal!¡±


    When Shen Jiangqing awoke again, it was already deep into the night.


    She was still lying on the sofa of the bar¡¯s private room. There was a note on the table, ¡°Come here every Monday night.¡±


    What did this mean, wanting her to be his regular... friend with benefits?


    And he specifically chose Monday!


    Li Lingyang had a multinational video conference on Monday nights!


    Shen Jiangqing, furious, tore up the note and threw it into the trash can, only to realize when she moved that her whole body, especially between her knees, felt incredibly weak, as if overly worn out, to the point that she could hardly stand.


    Her phone had several missed calls from Chengcheng, which she hastily checked as she rushed back to the Royal Dragon Cove.


    She had hoped to slip back into the bedroom quietly under cover of night, but just as she stepped into the living room...


    Snap!


    The lights suddenly turned on.


    Sitting starkly on the living room sofa was a ¡®little bud¡¯!


    Chen Bao had seen Shen Jiangqing sneaking out the night before and had suspected her involvement in his recent kidnapping, so he had waited here, never expecting it would take half the night.


    At that moment, a pair of cold eyes stared sharply at her, almost like a miniature Li Lingyang, imposing even without anger.


    ¡°Where did you go?!¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face flashed with the guilt of a thief, but she put on a smiling face, ¡°Chen Bao, why are you still not sleeping at this late hour?¡±


    Chen Bao ignored her, angrily waking up Li Lingyang, instigating trouble, ¡°Your woman only came back from outside in the middle of the night¡ªis this what a good wife and mother does?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing and Li Lingyang normally didn¡¯t sleep together; at that moment, Li Lingyang¡¯s indifferent eyes glanced briefly at Shen Jiangqing, immediately noticing the creases in her clothes, dark eyes roiling.


    ¡°Aling, don¡¯t misunderstand, my older brother got into a car accident, I was at the hospital taking care of him...¡± Shen Jiangqing hurriedly pulled out Shen Jun as her shield, wishing she could tear Chen Bao apart. This annoying kid, causing trouble on his very first day!


    Li Lingyang stared at her intensely for two seconds, then looked away, still indifferent, ¡°Chengcheng got home from school and didn¡¯t see you, and you didn¡¯t answer your phone?¡±


    ¡°I saw, but I was at the hospital and it was chaotic, so I didn¡¯t respond. Is he asleep now?¡±


    ¡°He is,¡± Li Lingyang replied nonchalantly, ¡°Next time if you¡¯ll be late, call ahead.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I got it, sorry for making you worry...¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s worried about you? I saw you sneaking around¡ªyou looked like a thief!¡± Chen Bao scowled, cutting in without courtesy.


    Shen Jiangqing, ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Stop talking nonsense,¡± Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow, cutting off the little guy, ¡°Regardless, she¡¯s still your elder.¡±


    This annoying kid, so argumentative¡ªwho on earth did he learn that from?


    Seeing him still caring for Shen Jiangqing only annoyed Chen Bao even more.


    Back when Mommy married him, not to mention coming home late, she worked diligently like a horse and ox every day, and him?


    ¡°Hey, old man, everything I said at the hospital is true. Those bad guys kidnapped Ningning to lure me out.¡±


    Li Lingyang couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry at the nickname he was given, but as he heard the latter part of the sentence, a hint of gloom flickered in his eyes.


    I suppose the surgery for the injured kidnapper must be finished by now?


    I wonder how the interrogation is going...


    The next morning, as soon as Li Lingyang woke up, his phone rang.


    ¡°Hello, Director Liu?¡±


    On the other end, the sweaty police chief, Director Liu, spoke with a trembling voice, ¡°President Li, I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry, there was a mishap during the surgery, and the kidnapper didn¡¯t make it through. He has already been taken to the funeral home. However, we found out that these two men were recently released from prison, and we discovered over two hundred thousand dollars in cash at their residence.¡±


    Li Lingyang looked up, his dark eyes slightly narrowing as he saw his reflection in the glass wall opposite him, ¡°Did you find out who they had contact with before the incident occurred?¡±


    ¡°We are currently investigating, but these two men had strong anti-surveillance capabilities. They intentionally avoided CCTV cameras for many of their movements. We¡¯ve managed to identify a few intermediaries, but our informants reported that someone saw them meeting with a man about one meter seventy-six tall shortly before the incident, but we didn¡¯t manage to capture his face.¡±


    A one-meter-seventy-six tall man? While pondering, Li Lingyang further inquired, ¡°Have the kidnappers¡¯ phone records been checked?¡±


    ¡°They have been checked,¡± the chief hesitantly replied, ¡°Before the kidnapping took place, these two frequently contacted an unknown number for several days, always at six o¡¯clock in the afternoon, but that number was registered by a dead person several years ago and was discarded after the incident, which makes it hard to trace...¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s face darkened, communications had started several days in advance, indicating it was premeditated.


    Even the phone number they used was uncancelled by a deceased person...


    Clearly, it was a professional job.


    ¡°Did you find out anything else?¡±


    The chief swallowed nervously, cautiously adding, ¡°We also found records from a dash cam from the kidnappers; lately, their main focus of tracking was Miss Ning, but after capturing Miss Ning, they collectively went out on specific tasks, so...¡±


    Li Lingyang coldly chuckled, so it seems that Chen Bao indirectly caused Ningning¡¯s trouble.


    He couldn¡¯t bear to think of what would have happened if he had arrived just a little later at that scene where the truck would have hit Chen Bao...


    Initially, he refused to make a big fuss about finding someone because he was worried that someone with intentions would find out Chen Bao was his son and would hurt him!


    Yet, it seems his low profile provided an opportunity for those people...


    ...


    Ning Yichu also received the investigation report from the police.


    Feeling a chill up her spine upon learning that the kidnapper had died on the operating table.


    So their initial target was Chen Bao?


    Just then, she received a call from Chen Bao...


    Ning Yichu eagerly answered the call, ¡°Hello, darling, Mommy just got the report from the police; the kidnapper died on the operating table and now there¡¯s no way to identify the mastermind behind him.¡±


    The line was very quiet, Chen Bao was probably in some secluded corner. Hearing this, a faint gleam passed through the little guy¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Last night, that bad woman came home very late, even making up an excuse about taking care of elder brother, Mommy, do you think she could actually be harming someone?¡± Chen Bao blurted out in shock.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s blood felt like it turned to ice!


    How could it be such a coincidence??


    If Chen Bao disappeared, she would be the biggest beneficiary...


    Ning Yichu became instantly restless and sternly said, ¡°Darling, Mommy will look into this further, but you are too young, so don¡¯t provoke her carelessly from now on, just go along with Li Lingyang, and prioritize safety!¡±


    If it really was her doing, she would make her pay the price!

 Chapter 96: 96 A Family on Tenterhooks

    Chapter 96: Chapter 96 A Family on Tenterhooks


    Listening to mommy¡¯s concern, Chen Bao didn¡¯t want to worry her either, so he agreed tacitly.


    But that woman is so disgusting, she¡¯ll get what she deserves sooner or later!


    Seeing Ning Yichu still tense and on alert, advising him to be careful, he deliberately changed the subject and mentioned that Li Lingyang was planning to send him to study at Saint Peter.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s eyes flickered slightly, appearing thoughtful.


    At that moment, Fan Yuke rushed downstairs.


    ¡°Chu Chu, what are you making that smells so good? I could smell it from upstairs~¡±


    Ning Yichu wasn¡¯t in the mood to chat about food and asked directly, ¡°Yuke, you mentioned before that you could secure a spot at Saint Peter Kindergarten, does the offer still stand?¡±


    Fan Yuke paused for a moment, then understanding, said, ¡°You want to send Ningning there for school?¡±


    ¡°Chen Bao will definitely be attending there too, and I really can¡¯t rest easy leaving him alone.¡± If everyone was at the same school, as a parent, she would have more opportunities to see Chen Bao.


    More importantly, Ningning could see Chen Bao anytime and update her on how he was doing.


    ¡°I¡¯ll ask about it...¡±


    Five minutes later, Fan Yuke gave an OK sign. Enrollment was no problem, but the tuition fees were exceptionally high¡ªmore than eighty thousand yuan a year. Were they made of gold?


    ...


    Elsewhere, in the Imperial Capital Dragon Bay, after ending the call and deleting the record, Nanny He came looking for Chen Bao.


    ¡°Ah, little young master, what brings you to the back garden alone? Breakfast is ready, President Li and Miss Shen are waiting for you.¡±


    Chen Bao pouted, ¡°Then let¡¯s go, I¡¯m actually hungry!¡±


    The food at dad¡¯s house surely isn¡¯t as tasty as what mommy makes...


    Nanny He chuckled, the little young master was really too cute.


    Mainly because President Li was usually so serious, appearing extremely imposing, suddenly having a mini version of him around, and being able to see all the different little expressions on his face, was absolutely adorable.


    At the dining table, the others were already seated.


    Chen Bao was led to the table by Nanny He.


    A servant pulled out his special little stool, and Chen Bao, standing on tiptoes, hopped right up.


    The servant then moved the stool closer for him to reach the dishes more easily.


    Nanny He stayed right by his side.


    Chen Bao was uncomfortable, ¡°Why are you watching me?¡±


    ¡°Little young master, your arms are short. Just say what you like to eat, and I¡¯ll serve it for you.¡± It was also a rule of the wealthy household.


    Chen Bao wasn¡¯t used to being waited on by servants. He gestured with his hand, ¡°No need, if I can¡¯t reach it I won¡¯t eat it, and these dishes I can reach are more than enough for me.¡±


    Nanny He wanted to say more, but Chen Bao set his face, ¡°Are you trying to make me angry?¡±


    Nanny He, feeling awkward, had no choice but to put down the utensils and leave.


    And as Nanny He left, Chen Bao sensed the undercurrent of tension in the air.


    It was naturally...


    From Shen Jiangqing and Chengcheng!


    Doudou, being oblivious, was very happy that her brother had suddenly become her real brother. She excitedly served him food and gestured back and forth.


    When he looked at him, it was as if his eyes were filled with a dazzling milky way.


    No one could resist the charm of a cute and kind little girl, and Chen Bao was no exception.


    He was increasingly finding the little girl... Well, she was actually quite adorable!


    Chengcheng suddenly put down his chopsticks, looking at Chen Bao with hostility. ¡°Are you also Daddy¡¯s son? Why have I never seen you before?¡±


    Chen Bao didn¡¯t want to bother with him, treating him like air.


    But Chengcheng wasn¡¯t discouraged, continuing with a cold voice, ¡°I heard you grew up in an orphanage where kids have no parents to care for them, and you all have to rely on yourself to fight for everything. You¡¯re very cunning. You couldn¡¯t possibly be pretending to be Daddy¡¯s son just because you knew our family was rich, could you?¡±


    ¡°Old man, did you hear that?¡± Chen Bao looked mournfully at Li Lingyang. ¡°Your son doubts my identity, maybe you should just let me go?¡±


    Li Lingyang glanced at Chen Bao with annoyance, not thinking for a moment he didn¡¯t know what trick this little devil was playing.


    But he also had to consider that the mastermind behind the kidnappers still hadn¡¯t been caught...


    ¡°Chengcheng, he is indeed your brother, and I¡¯ve decided that from now on he will attend Saint Peter Kindergarten with you. You two need to get along well,¡± Li Lingyang said with a piercing gaze at Chengcheng, conveying deep sincerity.


    As a parent, he hoped they could live in harmony.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to¡ª ¡± Chengcheng shook his head vigorously, protesting in disbelief, ¡°Daddy, do you not love me anymore? Why is there suddenly another son? How can you do this to my mommy!¡±


    Watching his agitation, the frown on Li Lingyang¡¯s face deepened.


    Chen Bao shrugged his little shoulders with a told-you-so expression, then corrected Chengcheng, ¡°First of all, I¡¯m half a year older than you, which means my mommy was pregnant with me before, and secondly, your mommy snatched our trash dad from another woman, so if we talk about being unfair, trash dad owes another woman even more!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense!¡± Chengcheng threw his chopsticks at Chen Bao in a fit, furious. ¡°My mommy isn¡¯t some homewrecker! Why did your mommy give birth to you? Why did you come back? My home doesn¡¯t welcome you!¡±


    *Whoosh*... Doudou saw the back of Chen Bao¡¯s hand turn red from the chopstick hit and quickly stood up, frantically trying to soothe the pain for Chen Bao.


    Seeing this enraged Chengcheng even more. ¡°Doudou, whose child are you! I am your real big brother, get over here¡ª¡±


    Chen Bao looked over coldly, instinctively protecting Doudou. ¡°Why are you yelling? You¡¯re scaring your little sister!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just the Li Family, isn¡¯t it? If it weren¡¯t for your trash dad threatening me to come back, I wouldn¡¯t have wanted to come at all!¡±


    ¡°Having to look at your hypocritical faces all day tires my eyes!¡±


    Chen Bao said very speechlessly, but to Chengcheng, these words were nothing but a provocation.


    Chengcheng clenched his fist fiercely, about to throw a punch at Chen Bao.


    Suddenly, a hand with distinct knuckles caught his fist.


    Chengcheng looked up to see Li Lingyang¡¯s stern visage, with a dark, flickering light in his eyes, obscure and intimidating. ¡°What are you planning to do? Hit someone in front of me?¡±


    Chengcheng was terrified, his body began to tremble. ¡°Wuu, Daddy, I... I¡¯m sorry, I know it¡¯s wrong to hit people, but I hate him! I don¡¯t want him to be my brother!¡±


    ¡°Whether you accept him or not, he already is,¡± said Li Lingyang with a stern face, exuding a terrifying aura.


    He understood Chengcheng¡¯s feelings, but he could not tolerate Chengcheng yelling at Doudou, nor could he tolerate Chengcheng physically attacking someone. This had gone far beyond normal child¡¯s play.


    Scolded by Li Lingyang, Chengcheng¡¯s mouth quivered with sobs.


    Shen Jiangqing was deliberately indulging Chengcheng¡¯s tantrums. She too had been holding back a firestorm of anger, hoping to vent through her son. But unexpectedly, Li Lingyang was actually protecting this little bastard!


    She hurriedly tried to smooth things over, asking Chengcheng to stop causing trouble, and told Chen Bao that his brother will come around in time.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze was icy. ¡°If he really can¡¯t come around, I will send Chen Bao to the old house tomorrow, so they won¡¯t fight again.¡±


    ¡°How can that be okay? Boys will be boys, they¡¯ll settle in after some time. They¡¯re brothers after all; you can¡¯t expect them to never see each other again, can you?¡± Shen Jiangqing firmly objected to such a plan, quickly intervening.


    Under her own watch, she had endless ways to torment Chen Bao. If he was sent to the old house, wouldn¡¯t that mean out of sight, out of mind?

 Chapter 97: 97: The Little Baby Who was PUA-ed...

    Chapter 97: Chapter 97: The Little Baby Who was PUA-ed...


    Chengcheng received Shen Jiangqing¡¯s reproachful gaze and could only offer an unwilling apology.


    After finishing the meal, the two kids went off to school.


    Chen Bao, who hadn¡¯t completed the enrollment process yet, continued to play at home.


    Doudou, especially afraid that her little brother would be bored, deliberately took him to see her big Husky, Beile.


    Chen Bao saw the Husky and took an interest, quickly becoming a tangle of play with it.


    His fondness for Doudou grew another degree...


    The little girl was, in fact, quite nice.


    It¡¯s just so strange, clearly, her mom and brother are so petty and evil¡ªhow did she develop such a lovely character?


    On the way to Saint Peter Kindergarten with the children, Shen Jiangqing¡¯s gaze occasionally shifted towards Doudou with an unclear purpose.


    Li Lingyang didn¡¯t know, but she was very aware that Chen Bao was Ning Yichu¡¯s son!


    Although she didn¡¯t know how Ning Yichu managed to get a fake birth record and even persuaded the orphanage staff to willingly help her falsify it, the blood relations could not be erased.


    With Ning Yichu¡¯s temperament, now that Chen Bao had returned to the Li Family, she would definitely find ways to entangle with Li Lingyang.


    Her biggest worry was that if Chen Bao got too familiar with Doudou, other feelings might develop.


    In that case, it would make her dear Chengcheng seem like the outcast...


    ¡°Doudou, do you really like Chen Bao?¡± In the quiet of the car, Shen Jiangqing suddenly spoke with a smile that held a knife¡¯s edge.


    As Doudou saw Shen Jiangqing¡¯s insincere smile, she pursed her tender lips and subconsciously hugged her little yellow duck backpack tighter.


    ¡°But Chengcheng is your real brother, and you quarrel with him for an outsider. Do you know how much it hurts Mommy to see that?¡± Shen Jiangqing¡¯s hand with the meticulously crafted crystal nails slowly stroked Doudou¡¯s soft, long hair.


    The sunlight shone through the window onto her hypocritical cheeks, as if the next second, her nails would dig into Doudou¡¯s scalp.


    Doudou bit her lip and remained silent.


    The next moment, Shen Jiangqing¡¯s tone shifted once again, coaxing gently, ¡°Your Brother Chen Bao just came back, and because of your fight with Brother Chengcheng, this will surely make Daddy dislike him more and more, because no one likes a child who causes trouble. Do you think what you¡¯re doing is right?¡±


    Doudou¡¯s long eyelashes started to tremble slightly; she just really liked Brother Chen Bao and wanted to be a little nicer to him...


    She hadn¡¯t thought he would argue with Brother Chengcheng because of her.


    She didn¡¯t want Daddy to dislike Brother Chen Bao!


    Brother Chen Bao wasn¡¯t a troublemaker at all!


    Seeing her face become guilt-ridden and uncomfortable, Shen Jiangqing¡¯s lips curled up slightly, ¡°If you want Daddy to like him more, then don¡¯t be too close to him, because Brother Chengcheng will get jealous seeing you play with him, and it could easily lead to more arguing, understand?¡±


    Doudou silently lowered her head, saying nothing, and the sparkle in her eyes from when she left the house had faded, leaving her looking very downhearted.


    Chengcheng snorted coldly, thinking to himself what a vile girl she was, never listening without a few threats!


    After personally escorting the two children into the kindergarten, Shen Jiangqing texted Li Lingyang to say she was planning to return home.


    Li Lingyang replied with ¡°Take Chen Bao to buy some daily essentials he likes.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s back teeth clenched with a crunching noise, and she responded with a forced smile, ¡°Okay.¡±


    She had been in such a good mood, but at the mention of Chen Bao, it all vanished.


    It was the busy time for kids to arrive for classes, and the front of Saint Peter Kindergarten was crowded with luxury cars, the whole main road nearly at a standstill.


    Shen Jiangqing played with her phone in irritation.


    Nowadays, every school generally has a parent group, even kindergartens are no exception.


    And riding on the status of the soon-to-be Mrs. Li, Shen Jiangqing was flatteringly elected as the honorary chairperson of the school committee.


    It really was because her ¡°poor health¡± couldn¡¯t bear too much hardship.


    But if there was anything happening inside the school, they would still inform her in advance.


    Just now, she saw two members of the parent committee discussing in a small group chat, ¡°Have you guys heard? Next week, our grade will have a transfer student. I wonder which class they will be placed in.¡±


    ¡°A transfer student? What¡¯s the background? Hope they¡¯re not some parvenu throwing money to get in. I don¡¯t want my son sharing a class with that kind of people...¡±


    ¡°Not quite clear on the specifics, but seems like they have connections with a little starlet in the entertainment industry, called Ning something Meng?¡±


    ¡°A starlet from the entertainment industry? God help us, I don¡¯t want that kind of gold-digging, manipulative girl in my son¡¯s class, latching onto any bit of advantage like a leech, fiercely sucking your blood...¡±


    ¡°Anyway, once the information sheet is handed in next week, we¡¯ll be able to see.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing was just flipping through the messages idly out of boredom, but her eyes caught sight of the words ¡°little star¡± and ¡°Ning something Meng.¡±


    Her woman¡¯s intuition suddenly tensed her up.


    If she wasn¡¯t remembering wrong, wasn¡¯t Ning Yichu¡¯s daughter named Ning Mengmeng?


    Could it be that Ning Yichu had transferred that brat over here?


    Li Lingyang had brought up this request with her before, wasn¡¯t it rejected?


    ¡°Stop the car!¡± Shen Jiangqing couldn¡¯t sit still any longer and immediately instructed the driver.


    Since the road did not allow high speeds, the driver quickly pulled over to the side, ¡°Miss Shen?¡±


    ¡°I just remembered something and need to stop by the school, wait here for me.¡± Shen Jiangqing spoke elegantly, not betraying the viciousness in her heart.


    After leaving Saint Peter Kindergarten, Shen Jiangqing¡¯s gloomy mood for many days seemed to lighten up for a moment.


    But just then, a shout suddenly came from behind her, ¡°Shen Jiangqing.¡±


    Subconsciously turning around...


    Slap!


    A loud slap landed fiercely on her face.


    Shen Jiangqing could see clearly the woman in front of her, her eyes widened in shock, and before she had a chance to hit back, Ning Yichu slapped her again, twisting her face to one side!!


    Stunned by these consecutive slaps, Shen Jiangqing screamed out in anger, ¡°Ning Yichu, have you lost your mind? You actually dare to hit me...¡±


    ¡°You really think I can¡¯t do anything to you?¡± Ning Yichu glared at her coldly, ¡°I warn you, my bottom line is my children! If you dare to touch them, I will make sure your death is in a place where no one will bury you!¡±


    Shen Jiangqing then realized why Ning Yichu had become so vicious, but the kidnapper was already dead, and she had no evidence to accuse her.


    ¡°Your child is fine, aren¡¯t they? What does that have to do with me!¡±


    ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know? That kidnapper died on the operating table, it was your doing.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing took a deep breath, ¡°The person who killed the kidnapper wasn¡¯t me! You can investigate. The police sealed the news immediately, sent the person to the highest-level private hospital for emergency treatment. Far from being responsible for any death, it would have been impossible even to pass on a message. Do you think I have that kind of power?¡±


    Of course, Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t possibly believe her one-sided story, even if what she said was indeed doubtful.


    ¡°Who knows what methods you might have? Just like you told Li Lingyang, that you were taking care of your big brother who had a car accident last night, but I had someone investigate. Shen Jun is as lively as ever, don¡¯t know how happy he is hopping around!¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s gaze hardened, having been caught, she had already had Shen Jun fake a car accident as quickly as possible, but Ning Yichu was unrelentingly digging into it.


    She wasn¡¯t afraid of her investigating the kidnapper¡¯s cause of death, what she feared was Li Lingyang finding out she had spent the night with Li Jingtian.


    ¡°I lied, but it has nothing to do with the death of the kidnapper! Don¡¯t forget, before Chen Bao had an accident, I even specifically called you, telling you to take him far away!¡±

 Chapter 98: 98 Application for Admission Rejected!

    Chapter 98: Chapter 98 Application for Admission Rejected!


    ¡°Ha, the kidnappers had already made their move, had they not? When you called me, how could I know it was out of goodwill?¡±


    Ning Yichu considered carefully. It might have been Li Lingyang¡¯s other business rivals targeting Chen Bao, but Shen Jiangqing remained highly suspicious.


    Shen Jiangqing felt anxious but feigned defiance, ¡°If you have evidence, then sue me. Without evidence, even if you tell Aling, he won¡¯t believe it.¡±


    ¡°Evidence, I will find it sooner or later, but I need to remind you¡ªif anything else happens to Chen Bao, don¡¯t blame me. After all, Granny Li likes me as her granddaughter-in-law. Seven years ago, I snatched Li Lingyang from your hands once, and seven years later, I can snatch him a second time. After all, I bore him a son. I have everything you have and even what you don¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Ning Yichu!¡±


    Shen Jiangqing clenched her teeth in anger, but thinking that Li Lingyang still didn¡¯t know that Ning Yichu was Chen Bao¡¯s mother, she dared not gamble any further.


    Su Huimiao and Granny Li¡¯s attitudes were clear to see...


    Everyone liked Chen Bao very much.


    ¡°Fine, I promise you, I will take good care of Chen Bao and will absolutely not harm him! But you also need to stay away from my fiance?¡ª¡±


    Ning Yichu left with a grim expression.


    Shen Jiangqing, you forced my hand!


    She would never let Chen Bao live under her shadow for long!


    ...


    Junyue Mansion.


    Fan Yuke was stunned for a moment when he received the notification letter from Saint Peter Kindergarten rejecting Ningning¡¯s school application.


    ¡°Yesterday they agreed, saying to come and fill out the forms next Monday. How could they change their stance so quickly?¡±


    Ning Yichu simply asked about the procedure, ¡°Can you contact the person in charge of admissions?¡±


    ¡°I can, I have his phone number.¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s eyes flashed slightly, ¡°Good, help me contact him. I want to set a trap and meet him personally.¡±


    After all, Saint Peter is the nation¡¯s top private kindergarten; too smooth an application process was suspicious. But no matter, she would ensure Ningning attended there.


    Perhaps the other party was too busy as Fan Yuke had to wait quite some time before receiving a reply early the next morning, agreeing to meet on Friday night at Qinzhou Xiaozhu for dinner.


    Qinzhou Xiaozhu was a charming restaurant in Imperial City, housed in a building resembling a sailboat.


    The interior was stunningly constructed with little bridges over flowing water, which overshadowed similar restaurants in ambiance. This restaurant was also famously expensive.


    Friday came in the blink of an eye.


    In recent days, she ran between the hospital and company, hardly managing on her own.


    Fortunately, her job was quite flexible. Since she frequently traveled to markets and clients¡¯ homes, it sparked no rumors.


    She compiled this month¡¯s business conditions for the Jade Sculpture Studio and delivered them to Mo Baiyou¡¯s office.


    Mo Baiyou was about to leave with a coat in hand. Seeing her deliver the documents, his eyes softened, ¡°Yichu, you¡¯ve come at the right time. There¡¯s a business gathering tonight related to jade sculpture. I¡¯d like you to join me.¡±


    ¡°Tonight?¡± Ning Yichu was suddenly troubled.


    Mo Baiyou noticed her hesitation, ¡°Do you already have plans tonight?¡±


    ¡°Sort of, I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Mo. How about I send Xiao Ai with you? She¡¯s also quite skilled in jade sculpture.¡±


    Mr. Mo shook his head but didn¡¯t press her, ¡°No need, there will be many people tonight, and Xiao Ai might not handle it well. But no worries, I¡¯ll ask someone else.¡±


    Hearing this, Ning Yichu felt somewhat guilty since he had helped her a lot, even offering her a high salary, yet she couldn¡¯t even accompany him for a professional engagement.


    But she had already scheduled an earlier appointment with the admissions officer, so she owed it to the company.


    As it goes, sometimes women indeed aren¡¯t as competitive in the workplace because subconsciously, they make more concessions for their children and family.


    ¡°Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Mo.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re good friends, no thanks needed. This isn¡¯t a big deal,¡± Mo Baiyou said gently, gazing at her, his eyes reflecting her image softly. ¡°If you encounter any troubles in life, you can also speak to me. Although I haven¡¯t been in Imperial City long, I can still offer some help.¡±


    Ning Yichu, not knowing whether he had heard about Ningning being kidnapped, felt a warmth in her heart and nodded, ¡°Sure, if there¡¯s anything you need, just ask.¡±


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s smile curved lightly, reaching his eyes.


    After work, as dusk began to fall, Ning Yichu hurried to Qinzhou Xiaozhu.


    She had reserved room 603, planning to order first and wait for the admissions officer. However, she was surprised to find that he had arrived before her.


    The slightly overweight middle-aged man sat on the couch, looking at her, ¡°Are you, Miss Ning Yichu?¡±


    ¡°I am,¡± Ning Yichu approached with a forced smile, handing over a gift bag she was carrying, ¡°You must be Director Zhang, right? Hello, hello...¡±


    The man glanced briefly at the gift, probably a bottle of wine, and didn¡¯t pay much attention. His gaze, however, became lascivious as it swept over Ning Yichu.


    Miss Shen said she was a beauty, and she truly was.


    Curvaceous with long, straight legs¡ªif they were wrapped around his waist...


    He could hardly imagine.


    He swallowed, ¡°Just call me Brother Zhang. What¡¯s with the formalities? Our school always says entering Saint Peter makes us family. No need to separate you and me.¡±


    That look made Ning Yichu uncomfortable, but for Ningning¡¯s sake, she endured and smiled in agreement, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the truth? Then Brother Zhang, you must help my daughter with her admission.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s certainly no problem...¡± The man lecherously smiled and then poured a glass of wine for Ning Yichu, ¡°I felt a special connection with you as soon as I saw you. Let¡¯s drink to that.¡±


    Ning Yichu, of course, wouldn¡¯t drink his wine, silently sneering to herself.


    Who knew what this man, pretending to be decent, might have tampered with?


    She smiled as she opened a new bottle of wine she had bought herself.


    ¡°Brother Zhang, you mustn¡¯t bully your little sister for not knowing the rules. How could I let you pour the wine? I¡¯ve just bought this Maotai. I heard from Yuke that you¡¯re a gentleman among drinkers, and only Maotai is worthy of you!¡±


    She had specifically chosen Maotai to get him drunk, loosen his tongue, and secretly record it, so she could use it as leverage the next day.


    Listening to Ning Yichu¡¯s flattery, the man was floating on air, grinning from ear to ear, and began drinking with Ning Yichu.


    Ning Yichu was actually quite capable of holding her liquor, but Maotai was strong, and she mostly just humored Director Zhang.


    Director Zhang, becoming drunk, started to boast, ¡°Miss Ning, actually there¡¯s no issue with your daughter¡¯s admission, but...


    ¡°Moving her over so abruptly affects other parents¡¯ interests, you understand?¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s eyes cooled as she immediately connected the dots, ¡°Are you saying other parents are preventing my daughter¡¯s enrollment?¡±

 Chapter 99: 99: Encountering Embarrassment Again

    Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Encountering Embarrassment Again


    ¡°But this isn¡¯t a big deal as long as you... *hiccup*!¡± The man belched drunkenly, reeking of alcohol, with a smile that grew increasingly sleazy. His large hand had found its way to Ning Yichu¡¯s waist, caressing back and forth with suggestive fullness. ¡°You understand, right? Tomorrow... I guarantee she¡¯ll be enrolled!¡±


    Ning Yichu felt like vomiting. She quickly slipped him a stack of neatly bundled bills she had prepared in advance and took the opportunity to shove away his greasy hand!


    ¡°Understand? How could I not understand? It¡¯s all prepared for you...¡±


    Seeing the bills in his hand, the man¡¯s face suddenly changed. He flung the money to the ground and exploded in anger as if insulted, ¡°You dare to insult me with money? Do I look like someone who wants your money? I want you!¡±


    ¡°Director Zhang, stop kidding around. This isn¡¯t something nice to spread around.¡± Ning Yichu¡¯s smile faded bit by bit.


    ¡°So what if I insist on having you?¡± The man, drunk and flushed, became even greasier.


    Ning Yichu calmly responded, ¡°Then let me tell you, I met your wife yesterday. She told me that every Wednesday she goes to a club for maintenance, and what she hates most is her husband flirting around outside. If... I mean, if some unpleasant news were to reach her ears, Director Zhang, I¡¯m afraid your days wouldn¡¯t be so good, would they?¡±


    Did he really think she dared to meet him without doing her homework?


    Ning Yichu picked the money back up and handed it to him again, ¡°Take the money. Let¡¯s keep it as it was supposed to be. I guarantee your wife won¡¯t find out anything about your misconduct, otherwise she¡¯d be here soon.¡±


    Director Zhang¡¯s face turned completely pale; now gray, now white, he trembled, ¡°Did you call her?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, but if we drag this on, I can¡¯t promise I won¡¯t.¡±


    Director Zhang¡¯s weathered face twitched, ¡°Do you think I¡¯d believe that?¡±


    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, feel free to try. After all, I¡¯m asking you to help my daughter get admitted to school. If that doesn¡¯t happen, I¡¯ll still have to come looking for you.¡± Ning Yichu¡¯s smile held a hint of mockery, now that she had a hold over him, the power was naturally in her hands.


    Director Zhang sobered up quite a bit but was still hesitant. To be precise, he didn¡¯t think the woman before him could stir up much trouble.


    But indeed, he had risen up by relying on his wife, and they had signed a prenuptial agreement. If he was caught cheating and divorced, he would be left with nothing!


    In the end, Director Zhang clenched his teeth, ¡°Just go!¡±


    Ning Yichu raised an eyebrow, ¡°What about my daughter¡¯s admission?¡±


    ¡°I can only say I¡¯ll try my best! After all, the parent blocking your daughter¡¯s transfer wields a large influence behind them, which even I can¡¯t afford to offend...¡± Director Zhang explained, frustrated and still reeking of alcohol.


    ¡°That¡¯s okay. I trust in your capabilities, Director Zhang. I¡¯ll await your good news.¡± Ning Yichu smiled and nodded, leaving behind a phone number, ¡°We¡¯ll be in touch.¡±


    With that said, Ning Yichu turned and left the private room, exhaling deeply.


    Truth be told, she didn¡¯t know his wife at all.


    She had merely done some research beforehand.


    Fortunately, Director Zhang was scared of his wife, which gave her solid leverage over him.


    Ning Yichu felt quite good about handling Ningning¡¯s school admission as she walked away and dialed Fan Yuke to share the good news.


    However, what she didn¡¯t expect was that just as she reached the hallway and hadn¡¯t even managed to dial out, Director Zhang burst out in a rage¡ª


    ¡°Ning Yichu, you fucking bitch, you set me up!¡±


    ¡°My wife received seven or eight anonymous photos of me sleeping with another woman; I already promised to help your daughter enroll, and yet you still harm me! I¡¯ll kill you, you little bitch...¡±


    Ning Yichu was momentarily stunned and instinctively dodged to the side, yet she was still grazed by the man¡¯s palm, scratching the skin on her face and neck, leaving behind bloody marks.


    She gritted her teeth, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me! My daughter hasn¡¯t even enrolled yet; we¡¯re allies. How could I betray you now?¡±


    ¡°How did my wife know I was meeting with you here tonight? Tell me, are you perhaps sent by a competitor to trap me?¡± Director Zhang grew increasingly infuriated, especially since he was drunk, his whole body flushed, his rationality gone!


    With a tearing sound, he actually ripped open Ning Yichu¡¯s blouse, exposing her pale skin underneath.


    Ning Yichu felt a cool sensation on her skin and retaliated with a slap, ¡°Get lost! I told you I didn¡¯t set you up...¡±


    A faint taste of blood lingered in his mouth. Director Zhang¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as if his whole body¡¯s blood was boiling and burning, completely oblivious to their surroundings, ¡°Damn it, daring to hit me? Even if I get divorced, I¡¯ll kill you first. You¡¯ve already had kids and still pretend to be pure...¡±


    Ning Yichu was not about to let him have his way, shoving, scratching, kicking; the two of them were suddenly at a standoff in the hallway.


    In the neighboring private room, Li Lingyang was having a gathering with a few friends, welcoming Yi Xian back to the country.


    Yi Xian had just returned from the restroom, and as he pushed the door open, he said with a smirk, ¡°Guess what I just saw in the hallway?¡±


    Mu Bailang, with a corner of his mouth hooked, teased, ¡°From the sleazy smile on your face, it couldn¡¯t be that you saw a couple of wild mandarin ducks mating, could it?¡±


    ¡°Ha-ha, not quite, but it¡¯s almost like that. There was a man and a woman making a scene in the hallway. Jeez, that woman, wearing a short skirt and stockings, her legs so white and long, it really made one¡¯s heart itch. No wonder they didn¡¯t even have time to get a room, so eager for a public tryst...¡±


    Mu Bailang snorted, ¡°Didn¡¯t think you had that kind of fetish. What if the man was bullying the woman and you didn¡¯t even step forward to help?¡±


    ¡°If it were someone else, I might have, but that woman... Heh, she probably wanted it!¡± Yi Xian scoffed disdainfully, his gaze inadvertently glancing at Li Lingyang.


    Li Lingyang set down his wine glass, his legs elegantly unfolded, ¡°What, someone I know?¡±


    ¡°Your ex-wife, that cheap woman who drugged you to force you to marry her!¡±


    Your ex-wife...


    Your ex-wife...


    Those words struck Li Lingyang¡¯s heart like a curse.


    He jerked in surprise, his sharp eyes shooting towards Yi Xian, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Though it¡¯s been five years, I recognized her immediately. She was getting it on with some random guy in the hallway. It was really eye-burning... Hey, where are you going? We haven¡¯t finished our drinks yet!¡± Yi Xian said in surprise as he suddenly saw Li Lingyang dart out the door, calling out in confusion and then looking toward Mu Bailang, ¡°I thought Old Li loathed that woman?¡±


    Mu Bailang¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed; a sly smirk appeared, ¡°Loathed her? Maybe not!¡±


    In the hallway, a crowd was gathering. Director Zhang also realized something was amiss and forcibly dragged Ning Yichu toward the private room.


    A waiter, realizing the situation had spiraled out of control, hurried over to help, only to be kicked away by Director Zhang.


    The scene was chaotic with shouting, and someone even took out their phone to record a video...


    Just as Ning Yichu was about to be dragged into the private room by the man, the crowd parted, and a tall and straight figure approached, ¡°Director Zhang, quite the lively scene you have here...¡±


    His voice was chilly and familiar.


    Ning Yichu quickly turned toward the source of the voice, only to see Li Lingyang, one hand in his pocket, his gaze as piercing and somber as a torch, watching the grappling duo.


    Ning Yichu immediately felt annoyed, how could he witness her in such an awkward and embarrassing scene...


    Over the years, Director Zhang¡¯s wife had expanded her business, and his elder brother had a powerful background. Hearing someone call him didn¡¯t bother him, but when he looked up and saw Li Lingyang, he immediately stopped all his actions, releasing Ning Yichu and immediately changing to a fawning demeanor.


    ¡°President Li, what brings you here... I¡¯m really sorry, I just get carried away when I drink too much...¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s cold and sharp gaze swept over the ragged Ning Yichu, a surge of murderous intent flashed in his eyes, but he did not show it, still maintaining a cold and unfathomable expression.


    ¡°Getting carried away is no excuse to touch one of my guests on my turf, is it? Or are you, Director Zhang, feeling resentful toward my child at your school, looking for an excuse to provoke me?¡±


    Director Zhang¡¯s legs went weak, completely sobering up, shaking his head like a rattle drum, ¡°President Li, you misunderstand, the little young master and Little Miss are very well-behaved in school and have never caused trouble. I was just drunk and unaware this was your territory, I apologize...¡±


    As he spoke, he slapped himself twice, each slap loud and poignant, ¡°President Li, you are a generous man, I won¡¯t dare do it again!¡±


    ¡°A grown man bullying a woman, and yet you are fit to be the principal of Saint Peter¡¯s? Is it that your principal is blind, or are you deliberately causing trouble?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s tone became increasingly sharp, his peripheral vision kept flickering to Ning Yichu, but just as she was about to look his way, he quickly shifted his gaze away, not wanting her to notice.


    Was this foolish woman seeking out Director Zhang because she wanted Ningning to switch schools?


    Just a word from him would have solved this, yet she had to make it so complicated!

 Chapter 100: 100: Two Men Fight Over a Woman, Beating up the Scum Man

    Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Two Men Fight Over a Woman, Beating up the Scum Man


    ¡°President Li, please spare me...¡± Director Zhang thudded to his knees, ¡°I really had too much to drink, I won¡¯t dare do it again...¡±


    ¡°Get out!¡±


    At his command, Director Zhang shivered and didn¡¯t dare say a word, truly crawling and rolling his way out of there.


    Ning Yichu looked quite disheveled and didn¡¯t want Li Lingyang to enjoy the show here either, she gathered up the torn pieces of cloth on her body and quickly walked towards the exit.


    Li Lingyang frowned and followed her, watching her stumbling movements, his heart felt an uncontrollable rush of irritation.


    Especially after she had been ¡°bullied¡±, large patches of her skin were exposed, and from time to time, some shameless men gave her lecherous glances!


    In that moment, Li Lingyang truly wished he could gouge out the eyes of those bastards.


    A cold aura involuntarily spread from Li Lingyang, causing the surrounding passersby to automatically steer clear.


    Ning Yichu felt a chill that made her shiver, and just as she did, she felt a warmth on her shoulders, followed by the distinct, crisp scent of a man, as she looked up into his stern face.


    Li Lingyang was draping his black coat over her.


    Ning Yichu was surprised, and before she could speak, the man coldly said, ¡°If you want others to admire your pathetic state, feel free to give the coat back to me!¡±


    Clearly a kind gesture, yet so irksome...


    She wasn¡¯t foolhardy. If it¡¯s free, why not wear it.


    ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll clean the coat and return it to you.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Li Lingyang detested her way of making everything into a transaction with him, as if he was that despicable to her.


    When in fact, it was she who clung to him first all those years ago. How is it that only a few years have passed, and she¡¯s the one who can leave so coolly and quickly, as if their past marriage had only ever confined him alone.


    Ning Yichu had no idea what was going through his mind, she simply felt his expression made him look like someone owed him a billion, ¡°Even blood brothers should settle accounts clearly, your clothes aren¡¯t cheap, returning them makes me feel more at ease.¡±


    The last thing she needed was him claiming she owed him again!


    Li Lingyang was nearly driven mad by her stubbornness, a surge of anger welling up within him.


    ¡°Clothes worn by others, I have no interest in taking back! If you despise them, just throw them away...¡±


    Ning Yichu fell silent. So not allowing her to return the coat meant he felt it was dirty after she wore it?


    She never considered him dirty!


    She had also had a bit to drink, and after being tugged around by the Zhang surname for quite a while, Ning Yichu indeed didn¡¯t have much strength, so she couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with him any longer and walked briskly to the entrance.


    A cold night wind blew over her face, scattering the effects of the alcohol quite a bit.


    But she failed to notice the step at her feet, and stumbled, her body teetering and falling to the side...


    In her panic, Ning Yichu saw Li Lingyang¡¯s cold and exasperatingly handsome face, and one thought crossed her mind¡ª


    Done for, he definitely won¡¯t help her! She¡¯s about to embarrass herself in front of him again...


    She briskly closed her eyes, but after what seemed like ages, her body didn¡¯t feel the pain of hitting the ground, instead, she heard the man¡¯s crisp, mocking voice by her ear, ¡°How much longer do you plan on holding onto me like this?¡±


    Ning Yichu snapped her eyes open, only to realize she had leaned back into him, her hands wrapped around Li Lingyang¡¯s arm, a reflex she hadn¡¯t expected herself to have.


    But Li Lingyang hadn¡¯t pushed her away?


    Seeing the disbelief in the depths of her eyes, the corners of Li Lingyang¡¯s thin lips rose in a nasty smile, his palm caressing her lower back with a hoarse voice, ¡°You couldn¡¯t even make it out of the restaurant before throwing yourself into my arms so eagerly?¡±


    Ning Yichu quickly stood up, keeping a distance of one meter from him, and due to this action, the coat fell to the ground. She angrily said, ¡°What are you, a peacock on display?¡±


    ¡°The phrase that comes after ¡®A peacock opens its screen¡¯ is ¡®unrequited love.''¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face darkened.


    Ning Yichu clenched her teeth and hurriedly added before his anger erupted, ¡°What I mean to say is, thank you for helping me up.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s gloomy expression did not improve with her explanation; on the contrary, it became even more inscrutable, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, I just didn¡¯t want you to get hurt. Doudou and Chen Bao would waste their time visiting you if you did.¡±


    Hah, this bastard of a man, can¡¯t he say a few nice words?


    Without knowing if it was a reflex, she almost lifted her knee and swept it towards Li Lingyang, the motion carried a fury she herself did not notice.


    Unfortunately, today she was wearing a short skirt with nude-colored stockings. In the moment she lifted her knee, Li Lingyang caught a glimpse of something he shouldn¡¯t have.


    His breathing tightened, a brief moment of distraction.


    And when he came to his senses, her leg was already in front of him.


    He extended his large palm with precision, scooping up the bend of her leg, and through the nude stockings, he could feel the warmth of her skin.


    At the same time, his robust body leaned forward, perfectly blocking the view of others as the distance between them instantly closed. The indecent posture made Ning Yichu¡¯s head spin.


    He raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in his eyes mingled with the dark flame that surged forth, his tone dangerous, ¡°So throwing yourself at me didn¡¯t work, now resorting to kicking and hitting?¡±


    ¡°You¡ª¡± Ning Yichu truly wished she could bite him to death.


    But with only one leg to stand on, she appeared unsteady, and no matter how hard she struggled to retract her leg, she couldn¡¯t overcome his dominance.


    ¡°Let go!¡± she said, annoyed.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s fingertips teased and twirled around the bend of her leg, over and over, like someone playfully tinkling the ivories or fondling a piece of jade.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s heartbeat abruptly quickened; her hand pressed against his chest, only to find he was only wearing a thin shirt, its hard muscles burning hot enough for her to quickly withdraw her hand.


    The night breeze picked up, a faint tobacco scent whisked past her nostrils, her body slightly trembling...


    An indescribable tide of emotion was surging within her, intangible and unfathomable.


    Honk¡ª


    A car horn blasted abruptly, shattering the delicate atmosphere between them.


    Following that, a beam of bright headlights flashed on, completely engulfing the two of them in its glow!


    Mo Baiyou drifted his car to a halt by the roadside.


    After exiting the vehicle, he saw Ning Yichu with disheveled hair and a torn dress, held in such a sorry state in his arms, clearly having been forced. The usually mild storm in the depths of his eyes seemed to be stirring up¡ª


    ¡°Li, what have you done to Chu Chu?¡±


    He charged forward in a few strides, his fist flying towards Li Lingyang¡¯s face.


    The gust from the punch hit Li Lingyang face-on; he slightly shifted his stance and released Ning Yichu as he and Mo Baiyou exchanged blows back and forth.


    Li Lingyang quickly realized that Mo Baiyou was not the frail man he had imagined. It was as if his heart disease had completely healed; every move was sharp and ruthless, each strike aimed at unseen, critical spots!


    A chill ran through Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes, followed immediately by a mocking sneer, ¡°My ex-wife, I will do whatever I want to her. It¡¯s none of your business to point fingers.¡±


    ¡°Damn it!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Mo Baiyou¡¯s rage intensified. He didn¡¯t even stop to ask Ning Yichu as he became even more viciously entangled with Li Lingyang, every move lethal, every punch landing with a thud!

 Chapter 101: 101: A Self-Sacrificing Ruse? President Li Suffers a Setback

    Chapter 101: Chapter 101: A Self-Sacrificing Ruse? President Li Suffers a Setback


    Both of them were top-tier handsome men with quite a bit of status, getting into a brawl at the restaurant¡¯s entrance. It quickly drew a crowd of onlookers.


    It was much more interesting to watch than that Zhang guy giving Ning Yichu a hard time just before...


    Some even recognized their identities!


    There were exclaims of admiration...


    Mo Baiyou, however, completely disregarded those strange looks, and when Li Lingyang punched him, making him retreat two steps, he immediately took off his coat to cover Ning Yichu, then re-entered the fray. He became even more ferocious when he noticed the scratches on Ning Yichu¡¯s neck!


    With punch and kick flying indiscriminately, both men were soon injured, but Mo Baiyou was clearly worse off, his face bearing several punch marks.


    ¡°Enough, enough, stop fighting, Mr. Mo, you¡¯ve got it wrong, the injuries on my body weren¡¯t caused by Li Lingyang...¡± Ning Yichu came to her senses and rushed forward to break up the fight.


    Mo Baiyou paused in his actions upon hearing this, a fleeting gleam passing through his deep eyes. When Li Lingyang landed a punch, Mo Baiyou pretended to turn his head inadvertently, his block failing, and he took the man¡¯s punch square in the face.


    In an instant, crimson blood slid down from his nose, and a brief dizziness appeared before his eyes.


    ¡°Mr. Mo¡ª¡±


    Ning Yichu was startled and hurried over to help Mo Baiyou up, while giving Li Lingyang an intentional glare.


    ¡°You¡¯re bleeding... Let¡¯s have a look, are you alright?¡±


    Mo Baiyou, with his head slightly tilted back, had punch marks all over his face, and his collar was torn open in the scuffle. Despite his disheveled appearance, his posture remained proud and composed. He shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine, Chu Chu, did he really not bully you?¡±


    ¡°It really wasn¡¯t him...¡±


    ¡°Tell me the truth, don¡¯t worry, even if I have a shallow foundation in Imperial City, I won¡¯t let him bully you!¡± Mo Baiyou stared at Ning Yichu earnestly, his dark pupils seemingly only filled with her.


    At that moment, Ning Yichu felt that Mo Baiyou¡¯s image had grown much taller.


    Her voice was cool and firm, ¡°It really wasn¡¯t him. I tripped and fell just now; he was just helping me up. I¡¯m sorry for getting you hurt!¡±


    Seeing that she didn¡¯t seem to be lying, Mo Baiyou¡¯s concern slowly eased, but then he was puzzled, ¡°Then how did you end up like this?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t talk anymore, you¡¯ve lost a lot of blood. Let me quickly take you to the hospital...¡±


    Li Lingyang watched the ¡°affectionate squabbling¡± between the two, and his anger surged once again!


    The punch just now, Mo Baiyou could have clearly dodged it!


    And that Mo was playing dirty, striking at himself several times in hidden places like the waist and abdomen that were not visible...


    When it was Li Lingyang¡¯s turn to strike, Mo intentionally moved his face towards his fist.


    What was this? A ruse? Trying to gain Ning Yichu¡¯s concern?


    ¡°President Li, I¡¯m sorry for the misunderstanding,¡± Mo Baiyou, feeling Li Lingyang¡¯s icy gaze, said politely and apologetically, ¡°I apologize for my rashness, if compensation is needed, please contact my lawyer...¡±


    Li Lingyang scoffed and turned his head to enter the restaurant.


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t have time to bother with him and quickly took Mo Baiyou to the hospital.


    Inside the restaurant¡¯s private room, when Mo Baiyou and Yi Xian saw Li Lingyang leave full of rage and then return injured, they were all astonished.


    Mu Bailang had definitely not seen Li Lingyang injured in many years, ¡°Holy shit, weren¡¯t you off playing the hero to save the beauty? How come you ended up looking like you¡¯ve been robbed?¡±


    ¡°Could it be that Ning Yichu picked up a few random guys to mess with you again?¡± Yi Xian really didn¡¯t like Ning Yichu.


    He thought that Li Lingyang should have been with Shen Jiangqing from the start, and it was her that stole him away, forcefully marrying Li Lingyang. That made her a shameless mistress!


    Mrs. Li had even cheated on Li Lingyang during their marriage, a real flirt!


    Li Lingyang ignored the teasing of the two men and went straight to the restroom to wash his face.


    Looking in the mirror, he saw blood at the corner of his mouth and his eye was swelling from a punch, turning bruise-purple, the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.


    Since taking over the Li Group in his early twenties, his life had gone smoothly, and he had never encountered any trouble he couldn¡¯t handle.


    But with Ning Yichu, he frequently faced setbacks, and his entire life had been thrown into chaos...


    Bang!


    He punched the glass mirror, which shattered into pieces all over the floor.


    Some of the shards cut his knuckles and embedded into his flesh.


    Mu Bailang quickly found a temporary doctor and brought over a medical kit. Seeing this scene, he wanted to laugh but held it back.


    When had he ever seen Li Lingyang, unable to control his emotions like a childish youngster?


    ¡°Old Li, the doctor is here. You should come and tend to your wound quickly, be careful of infection and inflammation.¡±


    Li Lingyang clenched his teeth, his fury unventable, thinking that everything tonight was triggered by that surnamed Zhang, like a furious lion, his face grim and his whole being radiating violence.


    ¡°That Zhang dares to make trouble on my turf, he¡¯s really asking for it. Break one of his legs and one of his arms for me.¡±


    Yi Xian felt inexplicably bewildered. Which Zhang?


    Could that disgusting, greasy man actually have done this to Li Lingyang?


    Only Mu Bailang understood it clearly in his heart.


    The only thing that could provoke Li Lingyang so much must be related to Ning Yichu, and that surnamed Zhang just became a scapegoat afterward.


    Tsk tsk, he had a feeling that Shen Jiangqing¡¯s dream of marrying Li Lingyang to become Mrs. Li was unlikely to come true.


    ...


    Ning Yichu did have a driver¡¯s license, but after returning to Imperial City and not buying a car, there wasn¡¯t much need for driving. Moreover, the driving standards were different in Europe, but now with Mo Baiyou injured, she couldn¡¯t care less about that.


    She took Mo Baiyou to the nearest old clinic and explained the whole story.


    When Mo Baiyou heard Ning Yichu¡¯s nonchalant account of the dispute with Director Zhang, his eyes hardened.


    Looking at Ning Yichu again, he regained his usual calm composure. ¡°It seems... perhaps I was too impulsive.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all because of me...¡± Ning Yichu, seeing his bruised and swollen face, felt even more embarrassed, ¡°But didn¡¯t you say there was a reception tonight?¡±


    ¡°Yes, the location was set at Qingzhou Villa. I was delayed by something at the last minute, so I arrived late.¡±


    What a coincidence... They had all ended up in the same place.


    A flicker of embarrassment crossed Ning Yichu¡¯s eyes, afraid that Li Lingyang would hold a grudge against Mo Baiyou for tonight¡¯s incident, especially since the two had already had a falling out before.


    Moreover, with Li Lingyang deeply rooted in Imperial City, and Mo Baiyou being a newcomer, if Li Lingyang decided to pull some strings, life in Beiji might not be easy.


    Hearing Ning Yichu¡¯s concerns, Mo Baiyou merely laughed it off with indifference. ¡°Let the fight happen. After all, he abandoned his wife and child, he¡¯s no good. I¡¯ve disliked him for a long time.¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s brow twitched sharply and she locked eyes with Mo Baiyou in shock. ¡°You...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. In just a few years, you¡¯ve become one of Europe¡¯s leading Jade Sculptors, I admire you. So I had someone investigate you and learned you are Li Lingyang¡¯s ex-wife,¡± Mo Baiyou stated intently, openly admitting it and earnestly apologizing.

 Chapter 102: 102: The Boss and the Secretary, a Delicate Relationship

    Chapter 102: Chapter 102: The Boss and the Secretary, a Delicate Relationship


    Ning Yichu¡¯s smile froze on her face.


    Although she hadn¡¯t carefully concealed her past, she had thought that her colleagues were unaware.


    Yet, he had known all along.


    ¡°So that time in the restaurant, did you intentionally ask Shen Jiangqing about his wedding date to embarrass them?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Mo Baiyou didn¡¯t deny it, a mocking chill flashed in his resolute eyes, ¡°I really can¡¯t stand the behavior of bringing a mistress to provoke the legitimate partner, so I don¡¯t regret impulsively hitting him tonight.¡±


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment; he seemed aloof, but in reality, he was more enthusiastic than anyone. Perhaps even if she had insisted on resigning back then, he wouldn¡¯t have really held her to the breach of contract penalty, would he?


    But why was he so kind to her? Just out of sympathy and pity?


    There were some things Ning Yichu neither wished to nor dared to think deeply about; she would rather believe that Mo Baiyou appreciated her just for her talent.


    She quickly changed the subject and called over the old doctor in the clinic to apply medicine to him.


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s gaze followed her retreating figure, not demanding anything more.


    Her not questioning his motive for investigating her already signified trust.


    While Ning Yichu was away helping the doctor get the medicine, Mo Baiyou made a call to his assistant; his voice was nowhere near the tenderness he had shown towards Ning Yichu.


    ¡°Pull up the surveillance footage from Qi?ngzho?u Xiaozhu tonight. I need to know what happened to Chu Chu!¡±


    The assistant was sharp, having already started the investigation when Ning Yichu took Mo Baiyou to the clinic, and spoke very succinctly, ¡°... Boss, a Mr. Zhang who had too much to drink harassed Lady Ning. She refused him, and the two ended up fighting in the hallway. That¡¯s when her clothes and dress got torn.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s Mr. Zhang¡¯s background?¡± Mo Baiyou asked with a cold face.


    He wasn¡¯t a client of the company; Ning Yichu had no need to humor him.


    ¡°He¡¯s the director in charge of admissions at Saint Peter Kindergarten. Lady Ning was probably looking to enroll her child there. Also, this Mr. Zhang has an older brother who seems to have some clout. If we make a move against him, it might cause trouble.¡± The assistant was capable and had quickly clarified Mr. Zhang¡¯s social connections.


    A cold smirk crossed Mo Baiyou¡¯s lips, ¡°If I¡¯m afraid of offending people and don¡¯t stand up for Chu Chu, how am I any different from Li Lingyang?¡±


    ¡°I understand...¡± The assistant could envision Mo Baiyou¡¯s fury through the phone, a shiver running down his spine.


    The Zhang family was likely in for some misfortune.


    Everyone thought Mo Baiyou was mild-mannered, but they never considered if someone truly good-natured could survive the power struggle among the many heirs in Beiji.


    ...


    Ning Yichu stayed with the doctor as he finished applying medicine to Mo Baiyou.


    There were several abrasions, and the doctor instructed him not to get them wet and to be careful of infection, insisting on daily dressing changes.


    He even mistook Ning Yichu for Mo Baiyou¡¯s girlfriend, instructing her to keep an eye on him.


    Ning Yichu felt embarrassed, ¡°Doctor, I¡¯m not his girlfriend; he¡¯s my boss...¡±


    ¡°Oh, the boss, huh~¡± The old doctor gave a meaningful look at the striking pair in front of him, which was particularly eye-catching, and even said, ¡°These days, the relationship between the boss and the secretary is quite delicate.¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...¡± Flip the table! She was definitely not a secretary!


    Mo Baiyou, on the other hand, burst into laughter and, when settling the bill, swiped an extra thousand yuan, just for that comment.


    Leaving the clinic, Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t go straight home looking like this; it would be bad if the child saw her. She at least needed to change into new clothes.


    Mo Baiyou was very thoughtful, he had already asked his assistant to bring over a brand-new set of women¡¯s clothing.


    Ning Yichu looked at the clothes in the bag, her eyes widening in shock, ¡°For me?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a restroom right over there; go change, and I¡¯ll wait for you here,¡± Mo Baiyou said with a smile, pointing across the way. Her wide-eyed, little-doe look was a bit silly and somewhat cute. If it hadn¡¯t been too early, he really would have liked to pinch her face. It must be as squishy as Ningning¡¯s.


    Having no way to refuse such considerate arrangement, Ning Yichu hurried to the restroom to change into the new women¡¯s clothing¡ªa peach-pink dress. She had a delicate frame, and the dress featured a cinched waist design that accentuated her figure attractively.


    In his memory, Ning Yichu had never worn such an eye-catching color, but for some reason, he just felt that the dress suited her perfectly.


    That¡¯s why, when his assistant sent him a photo earlier, he picked out this dress at a glance.


    Now, watching her walk slowly towards him from the mall like she was going to meet her boyfriend in her new outfit, Mo Baiyou couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    Seeing him staring at her without blinking, Ning Yichu, who wasn¡¯t embarrassed before, started to feel a little self-conscious, ¡°I haven¡¯t worn such a bright color in a long time. Does it look bad?¡±


    ¡°Who said that? You have a great complexion; anything looks good on you,¡± Mo Baiyou said with a smile, not skimping on the compliments.


    Ning Yichu felt a little less nervous; after all, she was quite good-looking!


    ¡°How much is this dress? I¡¯ll transfer the money to you.¡±


    Mo Baiyou knew she wouldn¡¯t casually accept his gift and quoted her a price.


    Ning Yichu transferred the money to him, then they parted ways.


    When she got home, Ningning, with her keen eyes, immediately noticed that her mother was not wearing the clothes she had on in the morning. The little gossip aficionado inside her blazed to life.


    ¡°Mommy, you look so pretty tonight; do you have an important date?¡±


    The little one had pink bubbles of imagination rising in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth still had traces of strawberry icing from sneaking ice cream.


    Ning Yichu, amused, wiped off the strawberry icing from her daughter¡¯s mouth.


    Only then did Ningning realize she had given herself away. She quickly stuck out her tender little tongue and licked it, pretending to be innocent. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who ate it; it was my godmother... She ate chocolate and smudged it on my mouth when she kissed me.¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...¡± Blaming everything on your godmother, isn¡¯t it bad to set her up like that?


    But Ning Yichu decided not to argue and instead picked up her little girl, pinched her nose, and sighed, ¡°Mommy has something to discuss with you.¡±


    Ningning heard that her mommy wasn¡¯t going to pursue the snacking and promptly nodded her head eagerly, hoping her mommy would change the subject, ¡°What is it, Mommy?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s been a little trouble with your transfer to Saint Peter Kindergarten. It might be delayed for a while.¡±


    Ningning blinked her starry eyes, immediately thought of something, ¡°It¡¯s okay, godmother already told me about it. A few days late is just a few days late.¡±


    ¡°Smack,¡± Ning Yichu kissed her daughter¡¯s forehead, ¡°Trust Mommy, I¡¯ll solve it quickly.¡±


    Ningning snuggled into Ning Yichu¡¯s arms, intending to rub her cheek too, but her sensitive little nose twitched and caught a faint scent of medicine. She then noticed a not-so-obvious scratch on her mommy¡¯s neck, and her little heart sank in an instant!


    What happened? Her beloved mommy was injured!


    What to do now?


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t notice her little girl¡¯s change in expression, feeling a bit tired, she went to take a shower first.

 Chapter 103: 103: Piercing Through Her Hypocritical Mask

    Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Piercing Through Her Hypocritical Mask


    Ningning couldn¡¯t sit still anymore, and while Ning Yichu was taking a shower, she secretly checked her phone.


    Oh no, she immediately saw the chat box with her godmother.


    The timestamp showed it was from fifteen minutes ago.


    Keke, ¡°Chu Chu, how did it go with Director Zhang, did he accept the red envelope? Is there any problem with Ningning¡¯s admission?¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it, I had him convinced at first, but then out of nowhere, he said I was scheming against him. I guess Shen Jiangqing sent his wife anonymous photos, slandering us for having an affair. Because the guy surnamed Zhang was drunk, he even hinted that other parents are trying to stop Ningning from transferring, other than her, no one else would pay so much attention to Ningning...¡±


    Keke, ¡°!! What happened? Were you taken advantage of?¡±


    Ning Yichu briefly explained the situation, ¡°...all in all, Li Lingyang helped me out, and I¡¯m fine, but Ningning¡¯s admission might be troubling.¡±


    Keke, ¡°Does Shen Jiangqing have ears everywhere? How does she know everything! She¡¯s really awful!¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...¡±


    Keke, ¡°So what are you planning to do next?¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°Let¡¯s wait and see how Director Zhang and his wife conclude this matter before deciding. If all else fails, I¡¯ll find a way to talk to the principal.¡±


    Ningning couldn¡¯t bear to read any further, flames already flickering in her big eyes.


    This damned Director Zhang! What the hell!


    How dare he bully her dear mommy...


    Her mommy, whom she and her brother cherished and wouldn¡¯t dare to scold!


    And there was Shen Jiangqing, that evil woman!


    Fuming, Ningning carefully put Ning Yichu¡¯s phone back where it was, and then quietly dialed Chen Bao¡¯s phone.


    ...


    The night gradually deepened, casting a thick, dense veil of darkness.


    Li Lingyang returned home with his body covered in wounds, and even after a brief treatment, he couldn¡¯t hide them from Shen Jiangqing.


    Seeing the numerous wounds, Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face showed full concern, ¡°...God, Aling, what happened to you?¡±


    Li Lingyang looked down at Shen Jiangqing from above.


    Under the bright, dazzling lights, the delicate and perfect face before him was filled with worry, seemingly only having eyes for him.


    Unlike Ning Yichu, who fell for everyone she met, and only made him angry every time she saw him.


    Even when he had helped her, all he got in return was her leaving with another man without a backward glance...


    But even so, Li Lingyang found Ning Yichu¡¯s face more heart-stirring.


    He didn¡¯t even want to explain how he got injured, simply brushing it off, ¡°had a fight.¡±


    ¡°A fight?¡± Shen Jiangqing was shocked, then angrily said, ¡°Who is so blind to dare hit you? Do you want Special Assistant Xu to take some action for you?¡±


    Li Lingyang frowned and directly refused, ¡°It hasn¡¯t come to that.¡±


    ¡°Then should we have the family doctor come over and treat you again?¡± Shen Jiangqing still worried.


    Li Lingyang still refused, as it wasn¡¯t a serious injury, and he wasn¡¯t that fragile.


    After being repeatedly refused, Shen Jiangqing wasn¡¯t discouraged at all, but instead tried to please him, ¡°You must be tired, why don¡¯t you sit on the sofa, and I can give you a massage?¡±


    Li Lingyang looked into Shen Jiangqing¡¯s sincere eyes; he didn¡¯t refuse again and lazily leaned back on the sofa.


    Shen Jiangqing was delighted. She gently moved behind the sofa and began massaging him with her hands, gentle yet just right.


    This was something she had practiced specifically to please Su Huimiao, and it was definitely very comfortable.


    While massaging, she subtly started chatting with Li Lingyang about everyday matters, eventually steering the conversation towards sending Chen Bao to school in what seemed like a natural segue, ¡°...We have to send Chen Bao to school next Monday, but I¡¯m a bit worried. The child is too proud; could he struggle to fit in?¡±


    Li Lingyang furrowed his brows, objecting to her choice of words, ¡°Chen Bao is very bright. If he wants to, he can achieve anything. Besides, if he doesn¡¯t fit in, it¡¯s not his fault¡ªit¡¯s because the other kids are too dumb to keep up with his thinking.¡±


    Sending Chen Bao to kindergarten wasn¡¯t really about teaching him anything, but rather about giving him a more harmonious environment to grow up in.


    Truth be told, he might not be a good husband, but he was trying to be a good father.


    From a young age, Su Huimiao had told him how much Li Jianbin cherished them, mother and son.


    But he had never felt that paternal love.


    What he felt was strictness, giving him the illusion that he was merely a tool for Li Jianbin to manage the Li Group.


    Similarly, after seeing how harshly Li Jianbin treated Jingting and the oppression it caused, he hoped even more that his own child wouldn¡¯t turn into someone as sinister and unpredictable as Jingting.


    Shen Jiangqing looked embarrassed and continued, ¡°Yes, I mean he¡¯s too smart. Maybe we should send him to a special school designed for high-IQ children?¡±


    Li Lingyang furrowed his brows, feeling inexplicably that Shen Jiangqing was rejecting Chen Bao.


    ¡°Home wrecker!¡±


    Suddenly, a sharp, angry child¡¯s voice came from around the corner of the staircase on the second floor.


    Li Lingyang and Shen Jiangqing both looked up and saw the usually proud Chen Bao looking like a little bull breathing fire, charging downstairs. He glared at Shen Jiangqing, ¡°What have you done to my... Aunt Ning?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing bit her lower lip, looking pitiful and innocent, ¡°Chen Bao, what are you talking about? Auntie has been unwell lately, I only pick up and drop off the kids. I hardly ever go out, how could I have done anything to Ning Yichu?¡±


    ¡°Ha, stop pretending. I know everything. You encouraged that Zhang from the kindergarten to trouble Aunt Ning, and even rejected Ningning¡¯s school application!¡± Chen Bao looked down at her contemptuously, clearly disdainful of her hypocritical guise.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyebrows twitched violently, how did he know she was the one who urged Zhang to trouble Ning Yichu?


    Did Zhang not keep his mouth shut?


    She tried desperately to feign ignorance, ¡°Auntie really doesn¡¯t know...¡±


    ¡°Jiangqing.¡± But Li Lingyang precisely caught her guilt, his tone turned icy, ¡°Did you tell Zhang to go after Ning Yichu?¡±


    So everything tonight, was Shen Jiangqing the manipulator behind the scenes?


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t!¡± Shen Jiangqing, sensing his suspicion, anxiously denied it.


    ¡°You should know, lying to me is pointless.¡± Li Lingyang looked steadily at her, as if seeing through her.


    Shen Jiangqing, knowing she could not evade the truth any further, burst into woeful tears, ¡°I really didn¡¯t lie... I admit, I did tell Director Zhang that I didn¡¯t want Ningning transferred to Saint Peter, but I didn¡¯t ask him to do anything to Ning Yichu.¡±


    Li Lingyang watched her tearful, distressed face, emotion unreadable, ¡°Did I not tell you I already knew they were mother and daughter, and asked you to leave them alone?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you did say that! But as a mother, I really can¡¯t tolerate someone with ulterior motives getting close to my daughter! You and grandma always say they have no ill intentions, but what I see is, ever since Doudou met Ningning, her disposition has changed, and she frequently throws tantraz and refuses to eat...¡±


    Chen Bao rolled his eyes, nearly flipping them to the ceiling.


    His cool voice cut through, ¡°You¡¯re the one with ulterior motives! Doudou plays with Ningning and has become livelier¡ªis that what you call a radical change in behavior? Unless you hope Doudou never makes new friends and remains isolated and introverted her entire life?¡±

 Chapter 104: 104: Entering the Hall for Breakfast~

    Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Entering the Hall for Breakfast~


    ¡°Chen Bao, how...how could you say that about me! Doudou is my daughter; do you think I would harm her?¡± Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face changed dramatically, her anger masking the guilt on her face!


    This child was indeed more troublesome than she had expected!


    Chen Bao snorted coldly, not bothering to waste more words with her. He crossed his arms, lifted his little arms, and looked up at Li Lingyang, ¡°If Ningning isn¡¯t going to Saint Peter¡¯s, then I won¡¯t go either!¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s forehead vein throbbed, ¡°Are you trying to blackmail me?¡±


    ¡°If you say it is, then it is. Anyway, I won¡¯t be separated from Ningning!¡± Chen Bao stared steadily at Li Lingyang, the resolve in his eyes reminded Li Lingyang of his younger self.


    His thin lips pressed together, silent, seemingly contemplating something.


    Was it really a good idea to put two kids, who intended to start ¡°dating¡± early, together?


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t be his wife, and now she wanted to be his son¡¯s mother-in-law?


    The children were still young, but Chen Bao was mature beyond his years, very clear about what he wanted. If he took this childish ¡°romance¡± seriously, what would become of his and Ning Yichu¡¯s future relationship?


    Subconsciously, Li Lingyang had accepted the idea of Ningning attending another school.


    Unconsciously, the two had been at an impasse for quite a while, until Doudou, rubbing her sleepy eyes, was led downstairs by Nanny He.


    The little girl was very excited when she saw Chen Bao; her big eyes curved and she ran over with a smile wanting to have breakfast with Chen Bao, only to find... uh, the atmosphere between him and daddy was weird.


    The little girl gestured curiously, asking questions.


    Nanny He acted as the interpreter.


    Chen Bao glanced meaningfully at Li Lingyang and Shen Jiangqing with the corner of his eye, ¡°There, ask them. Ningning originally wanted to transfer to become our classmate, but they pressured the school authority and rejected Ningning¡¯s application.¡±


    What? Doudou was alarmed upon hearing this, her big eyes glistening with a layer of mist, indignantly glaring at Li Lingyang.


    Li Lingyang, in fact, had not truly rejected Ningning. Seeing his daughter¡¯s aggrieved look, he felt a stir in his heart.


    But Shen Jiangqing spoke up first, bending halfway over, trying hard to appear affectionate and advised gently, ¡°Doudou, you have many good friends at the kindergarten, and if you really like Ningning, you can invite her to come over to our house on weekends.¡±


    Doudou shook her head back and forth like a rattle drum!


    She did not want it!


    She knew that Brother Chen Bao and Miss Ning were real siblings; they would be very sad if they were separated...


    Doudou tried her best to argue with Li Lingyang.


    Chengcheng interjected coldly from the side, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be classmates with that bad woman¡¯s daughter!¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyelids twitched.


    Doudou retorted sternly, ¡°She¡¯s not a bad woman!¡±


    ¡°If she and mommy are rivals, and she¡¯s not the bad woman, does that make our mommy bad?¡± Chengcheng challenged.


    Doudou¡¯s little body stiffened slightly, her eyelashes trembling slightly, feeling the resentful gaze from Shen Jiangqing...


    The scene had turned into a mess.


    Eventually, it was Li Lingyang who put a stop to the drama, making concessions and negotiating with the two children.


    ¡°Daddy promises you that we can send Ningning to another prestigious kindergarten near Saint Peter¡¯s. It¡¯s not worse than Saint Peter¡¯s, and as soon as school is out, you can play together anytime you want.¡±


    Lacking Li Lingyang¡¯s experience, Doudou blinked her crescent-moon-shaped eyes and began to seriously consider the feasibility.


    But Chen Bao saw right through it; their dad was stalling for time!


    Even if the distance was close, two schools were still two schools...


    Not to mention, kindergartens for the elite were so strictly managed!


    He refused flat out, ¡°Then I won¡¯t go to Saint Peter¡¯s either, and I¡¯ll transfer to another kindergarten.¡±


    Doudou briskly lifted his head and decisively followed with gestures, ¡°I also want to go to another kindergarten with Brother Chen Bao.¡±


    Li Lingyang, ¡°...¡±


    With an arrogant tilt of the head, Chen Bao mimicked Li Lingyang¡¯s nonchalant demeanor, ¡°Anyway, don¡¯t even think about separating me and Ningning.¡±


    Like a parrot, Doudou gestured with the phone, ¡°Don¡¯t even think about separating me from Brother Chen Bao.¡±


    Li Lingyang, ¡°...¡±


    How come he suddenly seemed like the wicked stepfather?


    ...


    Ning Yichu was unaware that Ningning knew the entire course of events. She was still planning to have a private detective follow up on the investigation of someone with the last name Zhang and, if there was really no other way, she might have to investigate the principal¡¯s leverage again.


    Just as the private detective was sending her a message, the doorbell suddenly rang.


    Ning Yichu instinctively thought it was Fan Yuke coming down and went to open the door.


    But when she opened the door and saw one adult and two children standing there, she was dumbfounded¡ª


    ¡°What is this...¡± What¡¯s going on?


    Li Lingyang still had the bruises from being beaten by Mo Baiyou the night before. No matter how noble and elegant his bearing, no matter how well-suited his suit was, he looked somewhat comical, especially with a bruise under his eye socket, looking like a giant panda.


    Ning Yichu almost burst into laughter.


    Under Li Lingyang¡¯s intense, hawkish gaze, she forcibly swallowed the laughter back...


    Li Lingyang¡¯s icy gaze glanced past her, resting on the entryway behind her.


    The shoes were neatly arranged in the shoe cabinet, with only a pair or two of lady¡¯s and adorable children¡¯s slippers outside, proving that Mo Baiyou did not come over frequently.


    He tugged at his tie, speaking irritably.


    ¡°Chen Bao and Doudou insisted on seeing you!¡±


    There was a trace of teeth-gritting in his voice, as if accusing her of using tricks to lure them here.


    Ning Yichu was surprised. How did they convince Li Lingyang to bring them here?


    Although Chen Bao had only been separated from his mommy for a few days, it felt like a century to him.


    Back in the orphanage, even though he couldn¡¯t see mommy often, he could call her ¡®mommy¡¯ to his heart¡¯s content in private, knowing that she would visit whenever she had the chance. But now, that was no longer possible...


    The Li Family¡¯s bodyguards followed him around like flies, and even when he went to the bathroom, the butler almost wished he could stand guard.


    He sniffled, holding back the emerging sob, speaking with a childlike tone, ¡°Auntie, I brought daddy here to apologize to you; it was him who stopped Ningning from transferring schools, I hope you are not angry.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s cool eyes twitched, what do you mean he stopped it? Was this kid unfairly accusing him?


    ¡°Let me correct that; I also found out about this only this morning!¡±


    ¡°Whether it was you or that woman who called the school, the result is the same!¡± Chen Bao unsparingly exposed him, angering Li Lingyang to the point where he wanted to give the little guy a good thrashing.


    Ning Yichu had already guessed that Shen Jiangqing was involved but didn¡¯t expect that Chen Bao would have Li Lingyang come over, causing her a moment of embarrassment since he had previously invited Ningning to transfer schools, and she had refused.


    Worried he might overthink it, she hurriedly said, ¡°That, I wanted Ningning to transfer because...¡±


    ¡°No need to explain. I¡¯ve already spoken to the school administration; just bring Ningning as usual to enroll next Monday,¡± Li Lingyang interrupted her explanation sternly, always feeling that there would be nothing from this woman¡¯s mouth that he wanted to hear.


    Ning Yichu was shocked as she looked at him. It was that easy? He no longer suspected her ulterior motives?


    So she didn¡¯t have to worry about dealing with Mrs. Zhang anymore?


    Seeing her incredulous expression, Li Lingyang felt a lump in his heart and spoke up, ¡°We came here early in the morning, haven¡¯t had breakfast yet. It doesn¡¯t matter for the adults, but the kids can¡¯t go hungry, you have something freshly made at home, right?¡±

 Chapter 105: 105: Force Yourself a Little Bit~

    Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Force Yourself a Little Bit~


    Ning Yichu hadn¡¯t personally made breakfast for Chen Bao in a long time, so she didn¡¯t care about anything else and quickly made way.


    ¡°Of course, come in quickly, Auntie will make something delicious for you today.¡±


    Chen Bao caught Ning Yichu¡¯s meaning, and anticipation twinkled in his clear, large eyes, ¡°Thank you, Auntie!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome~¡± Ning Yichu really wanted to give Chen Bao a big hug, but she restrained herself in front of Li Lingyang. She took out two pairs of clean slippers from the shoe cabinet, one for a little boy and one for a little girl, which matched the pair she was wearing for a perfect family set.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyebrows raised slightly as he looked at the little boy¡¯s slippers, which indicated that Chen Bao often came over.


    Damn it, she had actually hidden it from him for so long!


    Not only that, but she played dumb while mocking him for having an illegitimate child outside...


    Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze deepened, a shadow passing through his dark pupils.


    Unaware, Ning Yichu thought about it and decided to take out a brand-new pair of men¡¯s slippers and placed them in front of him, ¡°Here, you wear these, size 43, should be about right...¡±


    Li Lingyang recalled how she had also warmly welcomed another man into her home, a surge of jealousy flared wildly, and he spitefully said, ¡°Ha, I won¡¯t wear other people¡¯s second-hand shoes!¡±


    Ning Yichu was stunned, not understanding why he suddenly turned hostile, and coldly said, ¡°These are newly bought, wear them or not, it¡¯s up to you. My home doesn¡¯t have as many maids as yours to clean. If you don¡¯t change shoes, either go barefoot, or... you can leave now.¡±


    Li Lingyang caught that she said they were new, but having glanced inside the shoe cabinet from his height advantage, there were no other large-sized men¡¯s slippers.


    Could it be that Mo Baiyou doesn¡¯t come often? Does he not have a designated pair of slippers?


    ¡°Seeing as you invited me so sincerely, I suppose I¡¯ll just have to suffer a bit.¡± Li Lingyang finished speaking, kicked off his luxurious leather shoes, put on the dark blue slippers, and swaggered into her cozy home.


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...¡± This man, sparing no one with his words!


    For the sake of Chen Bao and Doudou, she tolerated it!


    Meanwhile, Chen Bao had already led Doudou to the living room like he was on familiar ground, handed her a little yellow duck pillow to play with, and got her a cup of warm milk, almost more at ease than in his own home.


    Ning Yichu had no clue what Li Lingyang was thinking, and simply left him aside to make breakfast for the children.


    Little Ningning heard the noisy sounds coming from the living room and got up with her hair all messy. When she saw her ¡°brother¡± and Doudou suddenly present, the little girl froze for a moment and vigorously rubbed her eyes.


    After assuring herself that her brother and Doudou wouldn¡¯t vanish, she immediately ran over excitedly to play with them.


    Chen Bao gently touched the little girl¡¯s hair, ¡°Why did you get up so late again?¡±


    Ningning playfully stuck out her tongue and made a face, ¡°I went to bed late last night, brother. Why did you come with little sister?¡±


    ¡°I came to confirm something with you; you can go to school with us this Monday.¡± Chen Bao no longer pretended not to know Ningning well, since in Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes, Ningning was his ¡°girlfriend.¡±


    True enough, hearing Ningning call him ¡°brother¡± repeatedly, Li Lingyang¡¯s frown deepened almost into a ¡°Chuan¡± character.


    Are kids these days already so good at acting spoiled?


    If he hadn¡¯t had a DNA test proving that Ningning was Ning Yichu¡¯s child with another man, and not a biological sibling to Chen Bao, he almost would have been deceived. Taking a deep breath, he stood up and strode towards the kitchen...


    ...


    Ning Yichu¡¯s home was quite spacious, but its only drawback was that the kitchen didn¡¯t have good natural light and had a small living balcony.


    At this moment, she turned on the light, feeling cheerful as she prepared to make a few of her signature pastries.


    Li Lingyang leaned against the wall outside the door, watching from a not-too-close distance as Ning Yichu bustled about in the kitchen. Her skilled movements seemed like the result of countless hours of practice.


    He suddenly remembered a long time ago, just after they had gotten married, when Ning Yichu would prepare dinner every day and have the servant ask if he wanted to come home for dinner.


    His answer was always that he was too busy.


    So many years had passed, and she still lingered in the kitchen, but the person she enjoyed cooking for was no longer him.


    He felt an inexplicable irritation and wanted to smoke, but his fingertips merely grazed each other, and he habitually suppressed the thought, merely holding a lighter in his palm and fidgeting with it leisurely.


    Suddenly, Ning Yichu turned around and inadvertently met Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze directly.


    She had intended to ask what kind of sauce the kids would like, but upon seeing him, her words changed to, ¡°What are you doing in the kitchen?¡±


    ¡°Supervising,¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes dark and deep, like a profound abyss, ¡°to make sure you¡¯re not feeding my children junk food.¡±


    Ning Yichu really felt like cursing, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the only junk food here is for you.¡±


    ¡°Ning Yichu.¡± He suddenly called her name, sounding rather serious and deep, much like the tone of a cello, flowing from his thin, sexy lips.


    Ning Yichu paused, still holding the egg, and raised her eyebrows, waiting to hear what he would say next.


    ¡°When we divorced back then, why didn¡¯t you take the divorce compensation?¡±


    Li Lingyang stared intently at her, his eyes unfathomable. ¡°As far as I know, your past five years in Europe haven¡¯t been great, especially the first few years. Having my money could have made life happier for you and Ningning.¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s long eyelashes quivered, and the egg in her palm was gradually squeezed tighter.


    So he had investigated her. She laughed self-deprecatingly, ¡°I don¡¯t need your charity. If two and a half years weren¡¯t enough to make you fall in love with me, then let me keep my last shred of dignity. I sincerely wish you a long, happy marriage with the person you love, but I should remind you¡ªChen Bao is not Shen Jiangqing¡¯s biological son; be careful she might mistreat Chen Bao...¡±


    Li Lingyang hadn¡¯t been drinking, yet his throat felt dry. ¡°Chen Bao is my son; I will naturally protect him! As for Jiangqing... she¡¯ll come around.¡±


    ¡°...¡± He clearly didn¡¯t understand her point or perhaps, he preferred to believe that Shen Jiangqing was a good person, incapable of doing anything heinous to Chen Bao.


    Forget it, she still didn¡¯t have any evidence to accuse Shen Jiangqing, and this loathsome man would never believe her.


    But one day, she would throw all of Shen Jiangqing¡¯s misdeeds in his face!


    ¡°Just leave now; don¡¯t distract me from cooking...¡±


    Li Lingyang didn¡¯t say much more and turned to head to the living room.


    Despite having children, the living room was still kept very clean, with all kinds of puzzles neatly arranged, all of a five-star difficulty level or higher, and some incredibly complex Lego sets...


    Even among the books on the bookshelf, which seemingly were children¡¯s readings, they were actually about profound topics like computer programming and space mysteries.


    Was there even a book about dinosaur extinction?


    Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze shifted suspiciously between Ningning and Chen Bao...

 Chapter 106: 106: President Li and Mr. Mos Double Retribution~

    Chapter 106: Chapter 106: President Li and Mr. Mo¡¯s Double Retribution~


    He asked Ningning, ¡°You actually read these books?¡±


    Chen Bao¡¯s lips pursed as if he thought of something, and he hurriedly said, ¡°These are all gifts for Ningning. I like reading all kinds of expose? books, the space is filled with countless stars, and computer programming has endless possibilities...¡±


    ¡°Can she understand them?¡±


    ¡°With my teaching, of course, she can,¡± Chen Bao declared confidently.


    Actually, where did Ningning like reading these kinds of books? Weren¡¯t they just the ones her brother didn¡¯t pack up properly when he left?


    But she could detect the skepticism of her shitty dad and had no choice but to blink her starry eyes in admiration as she said, ¡°Yes! Brother Chen Bao is super amazing when he explains these things~¡±


    Li Lingyang, ¡°...¡± Why did he have the feeling of being force-fed dog food by such a small son?


    His face turned iron blue, and he said no more.


    Doudou also pretended to flip through those books, only to find them incomprehensible like a book from heaven!


    She actually recognized many of the words, but when put together, she couldn¡¯t understand them...


    She looked expectantly at Chen Bao.


    Chen Bao patiently explained to Doudou.


    Doudou was totally befuddled, nodding her head as if she understood but didn¡¯t, then turned to Ningning, hoping for a simpler explanation. How would Ningning know any of this? Thankfully, Ning Yichu¡¯s breakfast was soon ready, saving them both!


    ...


    Saint Peter Kindergarten.


    Today was Saturday, but Director Zhang arrived at the school early.


    He had just arrived when he was told the principal was looking for him.


    He walked hesitantly to the principal¡¯s office and knocked on the door, ¡°Principal, did you want to see me?¡±


    ¡°Slap!¡± A stack of photos was fiercely thrown onto his face. The corners of the photos scratched across Director Zhang¡¯s corpulent old face, and upon closer inspection, the photos were of him with various women in lurid poses.


    ¡°This... Principal, who gave you these? This is definitely slander!¡±


    ¡°Slander? The evidence is solid. What¡¯s there to slander? I haven¡¯t blown this up; pack your things and get out. Kindergarten is a critical phase in character development for children, and we can¡¯t allow a scumbag like you to be here!¡± The principal spoke with a righteous tone, all business.


    Director Zhang shivered and tried to talk tough, ¡°Don¡¯t forget about my wife and my big brother...¡±


    ¡°Heh...¡± The principal sneered inside, unaware of who he¡¯d offended and still having the nerve to talk big, ¡°Before two o¡¯clock this afternoon, don¡¯t let me see you at this school again.¡±


    Director Zhang left bitterly, gnashing his teeth, having no choice but to pack his things and go.


    By noon, he hadn¡¯t told his wife about being fired from the prestigious school; he found somewhere to eat, racking his brains. It had to be that bitch from last night who reported him!


    But why would the principal care about his private life this time?


    Suddenly, a few topless, tattooed blond men rushed in, wielding iron rods, eyes locked on their target, ¡°Damn, finally found you!¡±


    Seeing them, Director Zhang was startled and quickly begged for mercy, ¡°Gentlemen, do you have the wrong person? I don¡¯t know you...¡±


    ¡°Zhang, responsible for admissions at Saint Peter? No mistake, it¡¯s you!¡± The lead man pointed at him and shouted, ¡°Go on! Just don¡¯t beat him to death!¡±


    With maybe a bit of courage if he¡¯d had some drinks, Director Zhang was helpless in the face of such overwhelming power.


    Before long, he was beaten to the ground, rolling around begging for mercy.


    Begging was useless, and he threatened, ¡°Stop! Don¡¯t hit me anymore... Do you know who my wife and brother are? They are government insiders, sending you to jail would just be a matter of them speaking a few words... Ouch! Stop hitting...¡±


    The employees hurriedly called the police at the sight, but by the time the police arrived, the group had vanished without a trace, just like ghosts, no one knew where they went.


    In the end, the employees could only take Director Zhang to the hospital for an examination, where he was informed that his legs were crippled, and his hands were useless.


    The news of Director Zhang being crippled soon reached Mo Baiyou¡¯s ears.


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s assistant had not yet taken action when he frowned and said, ¡°Boss, doesn¡¯t Li Lingyang hate Lady Ning to the bone? And yet he¡¯d send people to take care of someone with the surname Zhang... Could there be some trickery involved?¡±


    Mo Baiyou and Li Lingyang were both extremely successful men. He knew some scumbags would not allow anyone else to touch a woman they themselves had discarded.


    But deep down, he had a feeling that Li Lingyang regarding Chu Chu...


    Had not completely let go.


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s eyes were cold and ruthless, ¡°Since he has made a move, let¡¯s do the cleanup and take care of those backing Zhang while we¡¯re at it.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    That very afternoon, Director Zhang¡¯s wife and elder brother rushed to the hospital, clamoring for the police to catch the culprit who had injured Director Zhang. Just as the police were at a loss for the assailant, a rich second generation who called himself ¡°Brother Bo¡± willingly turned himself in.


    He admitted to having people beat up Director Zhang because the latter had slept with his girlfriend and even produced a stack of photos as proof.


    The photos were all of Director Zhang and a young model in scenes comparable to those in Japanese adult films!


    Director Zhang¡¯s wife¡¯s eyes turned red in an instant, and she furiously slapped him several times before storming off.


    Director Zhang¡¯s elder brother, with a face ashen with anger, did not leave.


    Brother Bo, however, apologized very politely, with utmost humility, hinting at a substantial compensation.


    In the end, Director Zhang¡¯s elder brother relented. After all, his brother couldn¡¯t control himself, and it was his own fault things had turned out this way. Who couldn¡¯t enjoy the comfort of extorting money so easily?


    What he didn¡¯t expect was that the substantial compensation from Brother Bo would be delivered to his home in cash.


    At two o¡¯clock in the morning, a team of anti-corruption police officers arrived and arrested him on charges of corruption and bribery!


    In just one night, Imperial City lost one of its officials with the surname Zhang, and everyone speculated that he must have offended someone. But no one knew exactly who.


    Shen Jiangqing saw the news on her phone, and her beautiful face contorted with rage.


    This was definitely Li Lingyang¡¯s revenge!


    Just because someone with the surname Zhang had bullied Ning Yichu, he wouldn¡¯t even let Zhang¡¯s relatives off the hook?


    This morning, just because Li Lingyang knew she had hinted to Director Zhang to not let Ningning transfer, Li Lingyang had bluntly warned her to stay out of Ningning¡¯s affairs before taking the children and leaving!


    She wasn¡¯t left with any dignity...


    When she was his fiance?e in name.


    Swish¡ª


    Shen Jiangqing snapped, and her newly made crystal nails broke!


    Chengcheng rarely saw Shen Jiangqing like this and became scared, ¡°Mommy...¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did I frighten you?¡± Shen Jiangqing quickly softened, gently coaxing Chengcheng.


    Chengcheng shook his head, then ran to Shen Jiangqing and hugged her, gently comforting her, ¡°Chengcheng isn¡¯t scared, mommy is always Chengcheng¡¯s most beloved person!¡±


    Shen Jiangqing tenderly caressed the little one¡¯s head, a trace of deep meaning flickering in her eyes, ¡°It seems now that Chen Bao and Ningning will definitely transfer to your school. You need to study harder so your daddy knows you are the best, understand?¡±


    ¡°Mhm!¡± Chengcheng nodded vigorously, determined to show that little wretch, even if he returns to the Li Family, he can¡¯t compete with him!


    Shen Jiangqing felt reassured, ¡°Good boy, go change your clothes, and we¡¯ll go accompany your grandma in a bit.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    There was nothing to do about Ning Yichu and those two bastards for the moment, but she still had Su Huimiao.


    Surely, Li Lingyang would listen to Su Huimiao¡¯s suggestions to some extent, right?


    ...


    A luxurious, standalone European-style villa with gray-white exterior brick walls paired with a gray-black pitched roof, open and atmospheric. The villa¡¯s walls were adorned with several stretching rose bushes, playfully decorated...

 Chapter 107: 107: How Do You Know Things That I Dont?

    Chapter 107: Chapter 107: How Do You Know Things That I Don¡¯t?


    Li Jianbin, although older, was still the chairman of Li Group, and he would reference some significant decisions. He went to the company every day, while Su Huimiao lived alone in the vast mansion, enjoying playing cards in her spare time.


    Every few days, a group of card players would visit the house.


    But Li Jianbin detested her playing cards, so she played in secret.


    After Shen Jiangqing¡¯s car parked, she led Chengcheng out of the car.


    The security guard saw them arriving and immediately approached respectfully, ¡°Miss Shen and Young Master Chengcheng are here?¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s mom?¡± Shen Jiangqing had long started calling her mother-in-law ¡®mom,¡¯ and the servants had naturally accepted her as the Young Madam.


    ¡°Today is Saturday. The lady¡¯s card-playing friends are all staying home with their husbands and sons. The lady went to the garden to watch the gardener planting flowers,¡± the servant cheerfully replied.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyes flickered, and she grabbed a pile of gifts from the trunk and headed to the back garden.


    At that moment, Su Huimiao was directing the gardener to plant the roses as grand and beautiful as possible, her commanding manner lacking the elegance of a noble lady but carrying a hint of the sharpness of common folk.


    Shen Jiangqing quite despised her future mother-in-law. She couldn¡¯t understand how Li Jianbin could marry such a woman.


    But such a narrow-minded person was easier to handle.


    ¡°Mom, I brought Chengcheng to see you.¡±


    Su Huimiao turned her head, saw her beloved grandson, and smiled broadly. She scolded, ¡°If you¡¯re coming, just come. Why bring so many gifts? Dear grandson, come let grandma hug you.¡±


    Chengcheng walked over like a little gentleman, letting her hug him gracefully.


    ¡°Grandma looks so pretty today.¡±


    ¡°Old and pretty...¡± Su Huimiao touched her face, smiling.


    Chengcheng sweetly said, ¡°Grandma doesn¡¯t look old at all. If you go shopping with mommy, I¡¯m sure many people would think you are mommy¡¯s sister.¡±


    No woman dislikes being complimented on her looks, and Su Huimiao was no exception. Her heart felt sweeter than if she had drunk honey.


    Seeing that Chengcheng had won over Su Huimiao, Shen Jiangqing cheerfully said, ¡°I¡¯m just offering Buddha with borrowed flowers. This is the ginseng Aling bought recently, thinking it would be good for your health.¡±


    ¡°You really are thoughtful...¡± Su Huimiao was pleased. She then remembered to ask, ¡°By the way, where is Chen Bao? Why didn¡¯t you bring him along?¡±


    She hadn¡¯t considered at all that Doudou was also her grandchild.


    A chill flashed in Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyes. She sighed, then hesitated before saying, ¡°Chen Bao... I wanted to bring him to see you, but...¡±


    ¡°What happened to him?¡± Su Huimiao asked hastily.


    ¡°I was afraid it might anger you.¡±


    ¡°Just tell me! This grandson has just been brought back, and he grew up in that kind of environment, he must have many bad habits...¡± Su Huimiao said magnanimously.


    Shen Jiangqing then bit her lip and said, ¡°Mom, Chen Bao took Doudou to Ning Yichu¡¯s place!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Su Huimiao¡¯s eyebrows knitted in anger, ¡°Why is she always involved? What does she want by taking my grandson and granddaughter away?¡±


    ¡°Mom, calm down, here¡¯s what happened¡ªLady Ning asked Ningning to transfer to Saint Peter to study. I was worried it might influence Doudou and Chengcheng, so I had the school reject the application. But then... then Aling went and crippled the director I had approached, even got his older brother thrown into jail, and now he¡¯s saying that Ningning will start school next week as planned! Because of this, Aling didn¡¯t even join me for breakfast yesterday; he just took the kids and left. Mom, I really don¡¯t know what to do...¡±


    Shen Jiangqing spoke very elegantly, without mentioning how Director Zhang had bullied Yichu, which immediately made Su Huimiao¡¯s face sour.


    ¡°That bastard! Neglecting his own children, and he goes off caring about that little bastard? Doudou and Chen Bao, too, how could they be deceived by that little girl?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing said with a look of regret, ¡°I¡¯ve met Ningning, and she¡¯s a well-behaved, sensible child. Maybe she¡¯s just influenced by other factors.¡±


    ¡°What other influence could there be? Like mother, like daughter! I knew it from the start that Yichu was trouble. Look, it¡¯s been five years since the divorce, and she¡¯s still clinging to my son...¡± Su Huimiao said furiously.


    ¡°Ah, I also really want to take care of Chen Bao, but he spends all his time with Ningning. I want to pamper him, but he just ignores me,¡± Shen Jiangqing said, biting her lower lip and looking aggrieved.


    Su Huimiao thought for a moment, ¡°I¡¯ll call Aling later and make him promise that little bastard won¡¯t be Chengcheng¡¯s classmate. Isn¡¯t that just leading them astray?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing held back thin tears and nodded¡ªthis was her last resort.


    At noon, Shen Jiangqing hadn¡¯t left. She focused on keeping Su Huimiao company along with Chengcheng.


    Meanwhile, not far from the Junyue Mansion, in a small children¡¯s playground.


    The children were thoroughly enjoying themselves.


    Chen Bao used the excuse that Ningning was starting a new school tomorrow and had a lot to prepare, and hurried to find Ningning.


    Li Lingyang just watched coldly but did not stop him.


    He knew there was no use in stopping him.


    He wanted to see how long this brat¡¯s novelty would last.


    But what he hadn¡¯t expected was that Doudou would also choose to run off to Junyue Mansion with Chen Bao, leaving Chengcheng behind.


    Of course, being the most sensible among the children, Chengcheng certainly wouldn¡¯t join Chen Bao and Doudou in their mischief.


    Li Lingyang was slightly annoyed, feeling like the household and the children were all falling apart.


    Then, his phone rang. Seeing it was Su Huimiao, he hesitated for a moment before answering, ¡°Mom?¡±


    ¡°Son, it¡¯s the weekend, and there¡¯s not much going on at your office. Why not bring the kids over to see me?¡± Su Huimiao¡¯s voice rang out, sounding a bit reproachful.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s deep gaze fell on Yichu and the children¡¯s figures not far away, and he responded grimly, ¡°I¡¯ll visit next week.¡±


    ¡°Humph, don¡¯t think I¡¯m senile. I¡¯ve heard all about it, you actually agree with Ningning and the children being in the same school? You know that child is from Yichu cuckolding you. She might have inherited her mother¡¯s cunning¡ªso young but already sly-looking. What if she corrupts my dear grandson¡¯s morals in the future?¡±


    Even though Ningning wasn¡¯t his biological daughter, Li Lingyang¡¯s tone sharpened when he heard Su Huimiao describe Ningning with such venomous words, ¡°Did Jiangqing tell you that?¡±


    ¡°Do I need someone to say it? You got Director Zhang¡¯s brother and his wife in jail, I just asked around casually and found out, didn¡¯t I?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s narrow eyes squinted slightly, hinting at danger, ¡°I myself don¡¯t even know when I got people thrown in jail, and you know better?¡±


    Su Huimiao suddenly fell silent on the other end, and after a moment, the rustling sound came through, her words hesitant, ¡°Well, Jiangqing meant well, you know. As the mother of the children, she naturally wants them to grow up in a pure environment. Besides, Chen Bao and Doudou are always with Ningning, who¡¯s to say Yichu isn¡¯t pulling strings?¡±

 Chapter 108: 108: I Will Invest in a Studio for You!

    Chapter 108: Chapter 108: I Will Invest in a Studio for You!


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyebrows knitted tightly, and when he spoke again, his tone was more oppressive, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll say it again, I have my own plans regarding the children!¡±


    Su Huimiao was still quite fearful of her son.


    He was always very assertive in everything he did. She moved her lips timidly but could not bring herself to say anything more.


    But how could she swallow the reprimand from her own son?


    It was all the fault of that shameless mother and daughter!


    Not only did they ruin her son, but now they clung to her grandchildren...


    ¡°Mom, what did Aling say?¡±


    ¡°That damn Ning Yichu, I don¡¯t know what kind of love potion he¡¯s given to Aling. He actually told me not to meddle in the children¡¯s affairs!¡±


    Disappointment flashed in Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyes, seeing that Li Lingyang no longer listened to Su Huimiao.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be sad...¡± Su Huimiao quickly comforted, ¡°I still have some connections in Saint Peter, even if that dead girl, Ningning, has switched sides, I won¡¯t let her have an easy time. Once she can¡¯t bear it anymore, she will naturally crawl back to where she belongs, to the slums where she came from.¡±


    Only then did Shen Jiangqing break into a smile.


    On the other side, after hanging up the phone, Li Lingyang asked Special Assistant Xu to investigate the so-called ¡°jail¡± incident.


    ¡°It was Mo Baiyou. He took advantage of our fight with the Zhang Family, had someone impersonate as a hitman, delivered ten million yuan to the Zhang Family under the guise of compensation, and then turned around and reported them for bribery! Now the Zhang Family is ruined...¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes were sharp as knives. He took the first step, and Mo Baiyou took it much further. Even though he didn¡¯t visit Ning Yichu¡¯s home often, he still harbored absolute thoughts towards Ning Yichu!


    After putting away his phone, he swiftly walked to the amusement area.


    Doudou and Ningning were on little fishing boats, and Chen Bao was watching close by. The sunlight shone on the tender cheeks of the three children. Ning Yichu, holding a camera, captured these warm moments, her eyes spreading with a gentle laugh making her radiate a maternal glow.


    She appeared more like a mother than Shen Jiangqing.


    But...


    ¡°Ning Yichu.¡±


    The man¡¯s deep and sexy voice suddenly came, interrupting Ning Yichu¡¯s picture-taking moment.


    She turned her head to glance at him and signaled with her eyes, Is it something important?


    ¡°Come with me, I have something to say,¡± said Li Lingyang, his voice icy but his expression very serious.


    Ning Yichu thought for a moment, greeted the children, and walked with him to a shady tree nearby, raising her eyebrows, ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Is Mo Baiyou pursuing you?¡±


    Ning Yichu was stunned for a moment, recalling the fight at the restaurant¡¯s entrance, she explained, ¡°Mr. Mo is my boss. That night was a misunderstanding that led to him fighting with you...¡±


    ¡°So you mean to say you are just colleagues?¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°What else?¡±


    ¡°Hah!¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes suddenly narrowed, with an aggressive question, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a fool? If you were really just colleagues, would he spend ten million to send the entire Zhang family to jail for you?¡±


    Ning Yichu was completely baffled, frowning, ¡°What ten million? I really don¡¯t understand what you mean.¡±


    Pretending to be dumb with me! Li Lingyang immediately tossed the report to her with a cold laugh, ¡°See for yourself.¡±


    Ning Yichu took the file skeptically, glanced through it quickly, and her breathing instantly seized.


    This...


    This can¡¯t be real, right?


    She looked incredulously at Li Lingyang.


    ¡°The news is all over the internet, you can search it yourself.¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s mind buzzed.


    Ten million...


    Mo Baiyou actually spent ten million as an account payment, just to avenge her?


    ¡°The prerequisite for my agreement to Ningning changing schools and becoming classmates with Chen Bao is that it won¡¯t affect him, but if you flirt and mess around, it¡¯s inevitable that Ningning will be influenced by you¡ª¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s face instantly turned bright red with anger. She had no idea about this issue, okay? And even if she did, why would it be framed as messing up male-female relationships?


    ¡°You¡¯re the one messing around with people, just wait, I¡¯m going to call Mr. Mo right now and clarify everything...¡±


    Just as Ning Yichu pulled out her phone, her arm was suddenly seized by a man.


    Her body tilted, crashing directly into his chest. His pectorals were as hard as iron, making her chest ache from the impact.


    ¡°What are you doing? Let go...¡± She wanted to flare up but was afraid of speaking too loudly and attracting the children¡¯s attention, so she had to lower her voice and demand.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s hot breath spilled from his lips, spraying onto her face, ¡°Do you think his intentions aren¡¯t clear enough? Calling him will only pierce through this layer of pretense.¡±


    By then, being close to Mo Baiyou, who knows what additional demands he may make!


    Ning Yichu realized it, and knew the call probably wouldn¡¯t go through...


    But she really was wronged to death.


    ¡°Believe it or not, I never thought about dating or finding someone, my whole heart is set on raising the children well...¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s stern face softened slightly at her words, and he said gravely, ¡°If that¡¯s so, then leave Beiji and keep your distance from Mr. Mo.¡±


    Ning Yichu almost thought she was hallucinating but seeing his serious expression and the throbbing in his temples,


    ¡°You¡¯re not joking, right? Ningning just started school, and I really need a stable job right now.¡± Not to mention the astronomical nursing fees for Mrs. Ning every month.


    She couldn¡¯t even think about quitting, she was even afraid of not performing well enough and being penalized...


    Li Lingyang pondered for a moment, his thin lips slightly parting, ¡°I¡¯ll set up a Jade Sculpture Studio for you, just stay away from him!¡±


    ¡°Crazy...¡± Ning Yichu stared at his fierce and serious face, knowing he was serious, but wasn¡¯t this even more absurd?


    Wasn¡¯t their relationship messy enough already?


    Li Lingyang, however, was relentless, ¡°Ten million, I¡¯ll own forty-nine percent, you manage it. Consider it an investment in you.¡±


    ¡°I refuse! I just want to have a stable job and earn money, I don¡¯t have the energy to run a business...¡± If she wanted to start a studio, she would have done it long ago, not needing his investment.


    The pressure Li Lingyang exerted on her arm intensified bit by bit, ¡°What do you mean you don¡¯t have the energy, you just can¡¯t bear to part with Mo Baiyou, right?¡±


    ¡°What does whether I can or can¡¯t bear parting from him have to do with you? The way you¡¯re acting, I almost thought you were still my husband...¡±


    Ning Yichu stared at his cold face, feeling eerie.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face turned livid instantly; as if scorched, he quickly released her arm, urgently distancing, ¡°Don¡¯t even dream of it.¡±


    ¡°Then isn¡¯t it settled? I will handle my own matters.¡±


    Li Lingyang gritted his teeth, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, it was you and Ningning who begged to transfer to be near my son!¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s complexion darkened, was this guy blackmailing her with the school transfer?


    She retorted defiantly, ¡°Don¡¯t forget, Chen Bao can¡¯t do without Ningning.¡±


    At this, Li Lingyang became even more infuriated.


    That young brat wasn¡¯t even five years old and was already so precocious¡ªcould he end up being a playboy like Mu Bailang in the future?


    ¡°You better not be whipping up nonsense around Chen Bao otherwise one day if you really make me angry, I¡¯ll buy a plane ticket and send him abroad, tearing you and your daughter apart completely!¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s face instantly turned pale.


    The thought of being separated from her son indefinitely was something she could never accept...


    She immediately softened, ¡°Alright, I agree with you... you¡¯re just afraid that I¡¯ll date and spoil Ningning, right? I promise, I¡¯ll keep myself clean and maintain a distance from Mr. Mo.¡±


    Li Lingyang advantageously quipped, ¡°I didn¡¯t stop you from dating.¡±


    Ning Yichu gritted her teeth, ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t want to date anyone myself, is that okay now?¡±


    Li Lingyang snorted coldly, his mood still rather good as he took the children home.


    Ning Yichu punched and kicked at his retreating figure, if it weren¡¯t for him having leverage over Chen Bao, she would have told him to get lost long ago!


    That evening when she got home, the first thing she did was go online to search for news.

 Chapter 109: 109: Going Through the Window Together~

    Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Going Through the Window Together~


    There really was a dazzling news about Zhang XX¡¯s downfall spreading all over the internet.


    The official statement claimed that ten million in cash proceeds of crime were found in his basement!


    There were also some unreliable rumors flying around, saying that this ten million had not been deposited in the bank yet, and the police found him before he managed to do so.


    She closed her laptop irritably, suddenly feeling unsure about how to face Mo Baiyou.


    If before she could say that Mo Baiyou merely appreciated her talents, but having been on the job for over a month, the profit she generated for the company was far below ten million...


    No businessman would casually waste ten million.


    ¡°Mommy, what should I wear for my first day of school tomorrow?¡± Ningning¡¯s childish voice came from the living room.


    Ning Yichu snapped back to reality; well, she thought, let¡¯s not think about it, if he doesn¡¯t bring it up, she¡¯ll pretend not to know!


    ¡°I¡¯m coming~¡±


    The little girl said she didn¡¯t want to go to school, but her tiny bed in her children¡¯s bedroom was already piled with layers of little dresses.


    Actually, she could only wear them tomorrow; afterwards, she would have to wear the kindergarten uniform.


    The next morning, before seven, the first rays of dawn streamed through the window.


    Ning Yichu knocked on the door to wake her, ¡°Ningning, time to get up...¡±


    ¡°Mmm, Mommy, let me sleep for five more minutes~¡± Ningning mumbled sleepily, her head resting on a cute cartoon pillow.


    Ning Yichu glanced at her; once she starts school, sleeping in would not be a good habit!


    ¡°No can do, breakfast is ready, get up quickly.¡± Ning Yichu stepped forward and pinched the little girl¡¯s upturned nose.


    Ningning let out a plaintive whine, then turned over, and the blanket slid down, revealing her slender, pale little legs, still wiggling around, such a cute little sprite, but...


    Her nightgown had lifted up, revealing her strawberry underwear!


    Ning Yichu promptly picked the little girl up, warning, ¡°If you don¡¯t get up now, I will tell your worthless dad that you¡¯ve decided not to attend Saint Peter Kindergarten.¡±


    ¡°No, Ningning wants to be with brother¡ª¡± The next second, Ningning suddenly bounced up like a carp, immediately slid off the bed, and put on the pink dress she had chosen the night before, the whole process taking less than three minutes.


    Ning Yichu had to give her a thumbs up, then remembered something and cautioned, ¡°Ningning, your kindergarten also uses little beds for naptime, but you can¡¯t be this indecent when getting up or going to sleep. You can¡¯t let the other kids, especially the boys, see a girl¡¯s body, do you understand?¡±


    Ningning of course knew there were differences between boys and girls; she waved her little fist, ¡°I know! If anyone tries to lift my dress, I¡¯ll punch them!¡±


    Seeing her daughter so understanding, Ning Yichu finally felt a bit more relieved, a slight smile curling her lips, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s wash up and have breakfast.¡±


    On the first day of school, Ningning was as cheerful as a little bird walking beside Ning Yichu, her young face brimming with bright smiles.


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t help but worry a lot, afraid her daughter might not adjust.


    Thinking that Chen Bao would also be there, and he would take care of his sister, should make things a lot easier...


    The twins had never been separated since birth, perhaps sending Ningning to Saint Peter Kindergarten really was the right decision.


    Today the weather was especially clear, the breeze gentle, and just as Ning Yichu had put Ningning in the car, she received a text from Chen Bao.


    ¡°We¡¯re heading to school.¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s mouth twitched into a small smile, and she replied, ¡°We¡¯re heading out too.¡±


    ¡°Good, see you at school.¡±


    Saint Peter Kindergarten was much larger than Ning Yichu had imagined, but what surprised her was that Ningning seemed quite familiar with the place, even showing her where the administration office was, where the cafeteria was, where the playground was, where the classrooms were...


    Ning Yichu almost wondered if her daughter had come here to check it out beforehand?


    ¡°Hmm, it was Doudou who told my brother and me about the layout of the kindergarten yesterday!¡± Seeing the doubt on Ning Yichu¡¯s face, Ningning quickly added in a guilty manner.


    ¡°So that¡¯s it, I thought you had been here before,¡± Ning Yichu believed this explanation.


    Ningning covered her mouth and secretly giggled.


    Phew, that was close, almost let it slip...


    Soon, Li Lingyang and Shen Jiangqing also arrived with Chen Bao, Doudou, and Chengcheng.


    Shen Jiangqing took Doudou and Chengcheng to their regular classes, while Li Lingyang took Chen Bao to the office to register, running into Ning Yichu there.


    The two looked at each other briefly, then quickly looked away, each taking their child and leaving without even greeting each other.


    It was as if they were strangers.


    After completing all the procedures, Ning Yichu formally handed his child over to the teacher.


    The teacher also led Chen Bao into the classroom.


    Ning Yichu stood outside the classroom, watching through the glass window as the teacher enthusiastically introduced the new classmates.


    ¡°Let me take ten minutes of everyone¡¯s time to introduce two new transfer students...¡± the teacher said with a smile, waving at Chen Bao and Ningning behind her, ¡°Which of you would like to introduce yourself first?¡±


    Chen Bao, seeing a group of little kids eagerly watching them, pursed his lips and stepped forward, ¡°My name is Zhuo Chen, I¡¯m four and a half years old, and I¡¯m happy to be classmates with everyone.¡±


    Ningning followed Chen Bao¡¯s lead and introduced herself.


    The children below seemed still sleepy and didn¡¯t react much.


    Just as the teacher felt awkward and was about to liven up the atmosphere, a pair of little hands suddenly began to clap, and upon closer look, it was Doudou.


    Doudou¡¯s big eyes were squinted into slits, clapping vigorously with great enthusiasm!


    Following that, the other classmates also seemed to catch on and began clapping together.


    Chengcheng glared bitterly at this scene, then snorted coldly. The school was his turf; he¡¯d see how he¡¯d deal with them!


    The teacher, having received prior notice, naturally arranged for Chen Bao and Doudou to sit relatively close, while Ningning was slightly further back, but this did not affect her relationship with Chen Bao at all.


    Ning Yichu watched the children for a while, reassured that everything was okay, and left early for work as there was still matters to attend to at his company.


    Li Lingyang pursed his lips, didn¡¯t say much, and left with Shen Jiangqing.


    But as he turned around, he told Shen Jiangqing to try to avoid going to Su Huimiao¡¯s place from now on!


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face turned pale.


    Did he dislike her now?


    ...


    The kindergarten day began.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s new job was also about to start.


    The final round of the heritage competition had been scheduled and communicated to every contestant.


    Despite having had an unpleasant situation with the organizer last time, Ning Yichu still planned to complete the competition and confirmed his attendance via text message.


    Then, as the head of the Jade Sculpture Studio, she went to the design department¡¯s headquarters for a meeting.


    This meeting was very important, dealing with the new designs for the next quarter, and Baiyou personally hosted the meeting.


    Baiyou had a noticeable injury on his face, even more severe than Li Lingyang¡¯s, and no amount of ointment, or even a mask and sunglasses, could hide it, which sparked a bit of internal speculation within the company...

 Chapter 110: 110 Miss Ji is Pursuing the President~

    Chapter 110: Chapter 110 Miss Ji is Pursuing the President~


    ¡°As a luxury brand that has just entered the Imperial City market, I want something impressive for next quarter¡¯s new release, not just some old, hackneyed stuff to make do.¡±


    ¡°Whether Beiji Imperial City will be on par with Beijiao Europe headquarters¡¯ products depends on next quarter¡¯s new arrivals...¡±


    ¡°Mr. Mo, rest assured, our team has come up with a series of new designs, absolutely no problem!¡± Deelia¡¯s group immediately took the initiative to say.


    Mo Baiyou has always been about business; he does not let Deelia¡¯s character influence his opinion of her talent and capabilities. He spoke calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve always had confidence in your group, but remember, this is Imperial City. Some of the overly avant-garde things from Europe might not be popular here. New markets need a new atmosphere.¡±


    ¡°Okay, Mr. Mo!¡±


    Mo Baiyou then turned his attention to Ning Yichu, ¡°Next quarter, the Jade Sculpture Studio also needs to come up with some innovative exhibition pieces to attract more customers. Last time you mentioned starting from traditional elements, which I highly agree with. Do you have any new ideas?¡±


    Ning Yichu, as the head of the Jade Sculpture Studio, was under considerable pressure, but she was also confident.


    ¡°Yes, the new plan is already in progress, and the design drafts should be sent to your email by next Monday.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Mo Baiyou nodded slightly, then continued to the others, ¡°Everyone, work hard. If we achieve the expected performance, there will be a bonus at the end of the year.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Mr. Mo, long live Mr. Mo...¡± The crowd cheered, invigorated, and then dispersed, each facing a huge workload, especially with tight deadlines.


    Ning Yichu also temporarily set aside other matters, working continuously on high-intensity new design drafts.


    In the meantime, Mrs. Zheng called.


    She chose two designs among the six drafts, which naturally were the two Ning Yichu had most recommended.


    But she really loved the remaining designs too and made an appointment with Ning Yichu to commission additional pieces from the other drafts once the originals were finished.


    Ning Yichu, of course, welcomed more business. Why would she refuse it?


    However, she tactfully told Mrs. Zheng that she was very busy with current work and had a competition to attend, so new orders might be delayed.


    Mrs. Zheng didn¡¯t mind the delay in new designs; what mattered more to her was the originally ordered painting boat.


    She thought the concept was brilliant, and if the finished product was exquisite, it would look high-end and classy in her home.


    Ning Yichu glanced at her work schedule, which was packed, and said cautiously, ¡°That involves a lot of intricate craftsmanship, and it might take at least ten days.¡±


    Mrs. Zheng exclaimed over the phone, ¡°Ten days?¡±


    Thinking Mrs. Zheng found it too long and might feel upset, Ning Yichu explained, ¡°Ten days is really the minimum. You wouldn¡¯t want me to carve it sloppily, right? Although it may not look big, the craftsmanship involved is very complex, and there might be minor mistakes. I need to factor in time for possible repairs...¡±


    Mrs. Zheng cleared her throat, and it seemed there was still skepticism, ¡°I¡¯m very satisfied with your blueprint. I asked a jade sculptor I know privately, and he said the painting boat would take three months?¡±


    Ning Yichu realized and smiled, ¡°I¡¯m more familiar with my own blueprints.¡±


    Knowing what Mrs. Zheng still worried about, Ning Yichuat assured, ¡°Rest assured, the designs and materials are all calculated in the same order. If I ruin your material, I¡¯ll compensate at the original price, and you can still take my blueprint and find another sculptor.¡±


    Mrs. Zheng had never heard a jade sculptor boast so confidently and was taken aback for a while before solemnly saying, ¡°Young lady, I have high hopes for you!¡±


    Ning Yichu chuckled; she was not going to Europe temporarily and would stay permanently in Imperial City, looking to establish a good reputation with her jade sculpture.


    She was committed to giving her all in every project.


    Unknowingly, she had worked late.


    Xiao Ai and Cheng Shen went downstairs and brought back some snacks. She tried to satisfy her cravings while scrolling through her phone to kill time.


    Suddenly, she saw the internal staff group of Beiji gossiping¡ª


    ¡°What do you think happened to President¡¯s face with that injury?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s obvious he was in a fight, but I can¡¯t figure out why such a good-tempered person like the president would fight.¡±


    ¡°Do I even need to say it? Must be defending his lady love! Hahaha...¡±


    ¡°Possibly! I¡¯ve heard that Miss Ji from the Ji Family has always liked our president. There was a business gathering recently, and she especially invited Mr. Mo to attend...¡±


    ¡°Miss Ji, I saw her from a distance once. Fair-skinned, beautiful, with long legs, driving a red Ferrari, truly a beauty with a luxury car. If Mr. Mo is with her, it¡¯s a powerful alliance, great!¡±


    Ning Yichu watched everyone¡¯s wild gossip, and a piece of potato almost got stuck in her throat, making her face turn red as she struggled to breathe. She hurried to get water, only to find the nearby office¡¯s water had run out. Grabbing her cup, she sprinted to the tea room!


    Unwilling to leave, a tall, handsome figure was also standing in the tea room.


    The suit he was wearing was the exact one Ning Yichu had personally purchased...


    There was a moment when Ning Yichu thought about fleeing to avoid the embarrassment, but she was almost choked by a piece of potato, so she couldn¡¯t care about anything else and hurried over to get some water to esophagus relief!


    Mo Baiyou saw her flushed cheeks and quickly patted her back to help her breathe.


    ¡°Cough, cough¡ª¡±


    After a while, Ning Yichu finally managed to spit out the culprit stuck in her throat!


    Her breathing completely smoothed out...


    But as she turned around, she found Mo Baiyou¡¯s hand affectionately on her back, her body trembled slightly, and she hastily stepped back, ¡°Mr. Mo, you haven¡¯t left work yet?¡±


    Mo Baiyou lifted the water cup in his hand, ¡°Just finishing up some leftover work, and coincidentally, the office water dispenser was out of water. Are you working late too?¡±


    Ning Yichu shrugged helplessly, ¡°I¡¯ve been taking leave often lately, so a lot of work has piled up. I wanted to catch up to focus on the new designs for next quarter.¡±


    Mo Baiyou smiled with a curved lip, ¡°With your capability, I¡¯m not worried about the new designs, but you should also look after your health. You were choking on a piece of potato earlier?¡±


    Ning Yichu felt embarrassed, growing this big and rarely being choked like this, and if one didn¡¯t know, they might think that piece of potato was delicious.


    ¡°Ha, just a careless moment, I¡¯ll be more careful. You carry on, Mr. Mo. I¡¯ll head back to the office; the sooner I finish, the sooner I can go home and take care of my children.¡±


    Ning Yichu nodded slightly as a sign, politely holding her cup of water as she left.


    Mo Baiyou suddenly felt a distance in Ning Yichu¡¯s tone, his brows furrowing...


    At that moment, his phone suddenly rang.


    Seeing the number, Mo Baiyou¡¯s brow tightened further but he still answered, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°Mo Baiyou, at the business summit that day, I waited for you for a long time, why didn¡¯t you come?¡± Ji Shiwang spoke in a plaintive voice from the earphone, they had originally planned to have dinner at Light Boat Cottage, but Mo Baiyou had canceled last minute citing an emergency.


    Mo Baiyou could probably guess what Ji Shiwang meant and said contemplatively, ¡°Miss Ji, I currently have no intentions of entering into a marriage alliance.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fine, we can still be friends and enhance cooperation in business. After all, you¡¯re about to launch a new line, and Ji Family¡¯s boutiques could allocate some space to Beiji for joint promotions, I believe the sales won¡¯t be disappointing,¡± Ji Shiwang proposed understandingly.


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s voice was mild, ¡°If Miss Ji can represent the Ji Family, I will have the marketing department contact you to discuss further cooperation.¡±


    ¡°Great, I¡¯ll wait for your news.¡± Ji Shiwang knew he was just putting her off by referring her to the marketing department but still agreed, with more cooperation opportunities in the future, there was no fear of not meeting again, was there?


    As soon as she hung up, Ji Shiwang planned to have a relaxing milk bath, being the Ji family¡¯s most attention-grabbing young heiress, she had deep knowledge about skincare.


    Unexpectedly, while browsing her phone, a social media post suddenly popped up.


    In the circle of friends, there was a photo posted by a young master.


    The photo clearly showed Li Lingyang and Mo Baiyou fighting in front of Light Boat Cottage, with Ning Yichu standing between the two men breaking up the fight, and it was even clear that both Mo Baiyou and Li Lingyang had injuries...


    Ji Shiwang quickly sent a private message to the young master, ¡°When was this photo taken?¡±


    ¡°There seems to be a timestamp in the bottom right corner, just a few days ago, the two men fighting over one woman, that woman is really lucky, why, does Miss Ji have an interest?¡±


    Ji Shiwang clenched her phone hard, so that day Mo Baiyou ignored the summit for Ning Yichu? And even fought for her? She hadn¡¯t seen Mo Baiyou many times, but every time he was gentle and cultured, not at all like a man who would resort to violence?


    Ding-dong.


    Meanwhile, inside Yudu Dragon Bay Villa, Shen Jiangqing, who was applying a facial mask, received several anonymous photos.


    In an instant, Shen Jiangqing tore the facial mask off her face and threw it aside.


    So, Li Lingyang¡¯s injuries were because he was fighting for Ning Yichu?


    Ning Yichu is divorced but not settling down!


    A vicious light flashed in her eyes, she opened the Saint Peter Kindergarten parents¡¯ group...

 Chapter 111: 111 Ningning is Not a Wild Child!

    Chapter 111: Chapter 111 Ningning is Not a Wild Child!


    Kindergarten days were far more boring than Ningning had imagined.


    They were in the middle class of kindergarten now, mainly learning some common knowledge about life, such as recognizing objects and colors, what traffic rules were, and the importance of being civilized and polite...


    The other children listened with great interest, while Ningning especially wanted to doze off.


    No wonder her big brother didn¡¯t want to come to school.


    It was really boring.


    And everyone was so childish...


    Bored out of her skull, Ningning began to sneak peeks at her brother.


    The sunlight poured through the window onto Chen Bao¡¯s tender little face, where even the delicate fuzz could be clearly seen. With his head slightly bowed, he was doodling in his draft book ¡ª his nose bridge high, his lips thin. He would definitely be a heartbreaker when he grew up...


    ¡°Gurgle,¡± suddenly, her stomach made an untimely noise.


    She quickly covered her little belly.


    At that moment, she heard a childlike voice pipe up, ¡°Teacher, I want to report something.¡±


    The homeroom teacher looked towards the handsome little boy who was sitting up straight in the classroom.


    The principal had said to give Chengcheng special care; the child¡¯s background was something they couldn¡¯t afford to offend.


    ¡°Chengcheng, what would you like to report?¡±


    ¡°Teacher, I report that Ning Mengmeng is not paying attention in class and has been sneaking glances at Chen Bao!¡± Chengcheng stood up elegantly, his voice resounding firmly, yet filled with scorn.


    The other children burst into laughter.


    The teacher, puzzled, turned to Ningning, ¡°Child, why were you sneaking glances at him?¡±


    Ningning, hands on her little hips, stared at Chengcheng without a word, ¡°Teacher, I also have a report ¡ª Chengcheng has been sneaking peeks at me!¡±


    Chengcheng¡¯s face darkened, ¡°I have not!¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re not looking at me, how do you know I¡¯m looking at my Brother Chen Bao?¡± Ningning aggressively retorted, her fuzzy little head cocked high, the picture of defiance.


    Chengcheng¡¯s face turned red with embarrassment, then he exclaimed, ¡°Regardless, it¡¯s shameless of you to sneak peeks at other boys! Plus, I heard you don¡¯t have a daddy, that you¡¯re a wild child!¡±


    Chengcheng¡¯s statement revealed a lot.


    It immediately laid bare the disdain for Ningning¡¯s single-parent family.


    Besides, she was a transfer student and wasn¡¯t yet familiar with everyone...


    The children in kindergarten didn¡¯t have their independent judgment, and seeing Chengcheng lead the exclusion of Ningning, everyone subconsciously treated her with a strange look.


    Their parents had been saying it, too ¡ª Ningning¡¯s mother was no good, luring men everywhere.


    Chengcheng had expected to see Ningning¡¯s ashamed and pained expression, but...


    Ningning just raised her delicate little eyebrows calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t have a daddy because a homewrecker lured mine away. Who would want such a trash daddy? Besides, I have the best mommy in the world, why would I need a trash daddy?¡±


    ¡°So you admit it, you¡¯re a wild child without a daddy,¡± Chengcheng scoffed, deliberately raising his voice in mockery.


    Chen Bao frowned in displeasure.


    ¡°Apologize,¡± he stood up, his gaze piercing as he stared at Chengcheng, ¡°Ningning is not a wild child.¡±


    ¡°What I¡¯m saying is the truth, why should I apologize?¡± Chengcheng looked down on Chen Bao too and scornfully said, ¡°You actually like to play with such a wild child, you¡¯re really not worthy of the Li surname.¡±


    Chen Bao cared even less about being related to Chengcheng, had it not been for Li Lingyang threatening him with the orphanage, he would have run away long ago.


    His little fists were clenched so tightly they crackled.


    Fists can¡¯t solve everything, but sometimes, they can be far more surprising than reasoning!


    ¡°Alright, alright, Chengcheng, Chen Bao, and Ningning... Everyone stop arguing, we¡¯re all classmates, we should be inclusive, learn to understand each other...¡±


    Seeing the situation turn sour, seemingly about to escalate into a fight, the teacher hurried over to stop it.


    When dealing with Chengcheng, her tone was very gentle, but when she turned to look at Ningning, there was a hint of impatience.


    ¡°You need to focus during class and stop sneaking looks at the other kids!¡±


    The students at this kindergarten were all either rich or noble, who knew what means this child had used to get in? Miss Shen from the parents¡¯ committee took an immediate dislike to her.


    Ningning felt the teacher¡¯s differential treatment and glared at her, huffing in frustration.


    Chen Bao couldn¡¯t stand to see Ningning being treated unfairly and stood up, taking her by the hand and striding out of the classroom.


    ¡°Hey, Chen Bao, where are you going?¡±


    Their answer was to leave without looking back, leaving her no face at all.


    The two little ones walked a long way in one breath before finding some steps to sit down on, and then Chen Bao gently consoled Ningning.


    ¡°I¡¯m not mad at all, don¡¯t worry, brother. I¡¯m just really annoyed, oh, Chengcheng is so obnoxious, and yet you have to deal with him every day.¡± Ningning said, propping up her little chin.


    A gleam flashed in Chen Bao¡¯s obsidian-like eyes, ¡°Brother will find a chance to avenge you.¡±


    ¡°Good, I believe in you, brother!¡±


    Chen Bao hummed in response and then asked her about Ning Yichu¡¯s recent situation.


    As they were talking, Ningning¡¯s little tummy inappropriately rumbled again, gurgling.


    Ningning covered her stomach in embarrassment and exchanged a look with Chen Bao, eyes wide.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you have breakfast?¡± Chen Bao asked in surprise.


    Ningning¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment, ¡°I had a big bowl, but I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m hungry again... Maybe my digestive system is more powerful than that of other kids!¡±


    ¡°...¡± You know what a digestive system is?


    Ningning then added, ¡°That¡¯s good too, I won¡¯t have to worry about getting fat!¡±


    ¡°Dummy.¡± Chen Bao knocked on her little head and said grumpily, ¡°How old are you to worry about getting fat? Come on, I¡¯ll take you to eat.¡±


    Although his dad was lousy, he had given him a black card as pocket money, Chen Bao hadn¡¯t paid attention to the exact amount, but it was definitely no problem to improve his sister¡¯s life!


    He had made up his mind; if his lousy dad¡¯s son made him angry, he¡¯d swipe that card hard as retaliation on his dad!


    Ningning puzzled, ¡°Isn¡¯t the cafeteria not open yet?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll go out for a feast!¡±


    Ningning clapped her hands in delight.


    They turned around, only to find that Doudou had somehow followed them out.


    The little girl was hugging an adorable pink piggy backpack, gazing at them with milky eyes.


    Hearing their conversation, she pulled open the zipper of her little backpack and took out all sorts of snacks, asking with her big watery eyes, ¡°I have snacks, do you want some, miss?¡±


    Oreos, fries, cookies, jelly beans, chocolates, lollipops...


    Ningning exclaimed dramatically, ¡°Wow, so many yummy snacks! I want, I want!¡±


    Doudou hurriedly stuffed her with the treats and then continued digging in her backpack.


    Then, like performing magic, she pulled out a big pile...


    Her little backpack was just like Doraemon¡¯s pocket, seemingly endless.


    Chen Bao was also dumbfounded, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me your backpack is full of snacks?¡±


    Doudou¡¯s clear eyes widened, and she nodded again and again.


    These were all packed by Granny He, she didn¡¯t usually eat much and carried it to school and back home every day, but now it seemed she had an opportunity to put it to use.


    Chen Bao, ¡°...¡±

 Chapter 112: 112: The Orphanages Visitor Log!

    Chapter 112: Chapter 112: The Orphanage¡¯s Visitor Log!


    ¡°Doudou, you¡¯re awesome!¡±


    Ningning acted as if she could already see all her future snacks secured.


    Doudou smiled sweetly and shyly, decisively handing over her entire backpack to Ningning.


    Chen Bao, being the most lucid and rational elder brother, glanced at his wristwatch and interjected, ¡°Don¡¯t eat too many snacks, we¡¯re about to have lunch soon.¡±


    ¡°Heehee, brother, you¡¯re so bossy~,¡± Ningning said indistinctly, not forgetting to stuff a handful of fries into her mouth.


    The three little ones thus became a unique and independent spectacle amongst their peers in the kindergarten¡¯s middle class.


    Chengcheng encouraged the other children to ostracize them and refused to play with them, all insinuating that Ningning was a wild child.


    However, the trio instead grew even closer, becoming inseparable.


    On the other side, in the Li Group President¡¯s conference room, a major annual meeting had just concluded, and it was evident the boss was in a rather good mood, for a significant mistake had been made in a document presented, and President Li did not fire the person responsible, merely instructing him to correct the error.


    After the meeting ended, Li Lingyang dealt with some urgent documents, then called Special Assistant Xu into his office, starting straight away, ¡°When Chen Bao was left at the orphanage door, was there any lead regarding the jade pendant he had with him?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re investigating. Judging by some of the external indications, it appears to be an old model carved twenty years ago. I¡¯ve contacted a batch of jade sculptors in the hope of obtaining some clues, but...¡± Special Assistant Xu paused in thought before admitting, ¡°After so many years, it¡¯s a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.¡±


    Li Lingyang of course understood the difficulty, but that jade pendant was related to Chen Bao¡¯s lineage, and also to whether that woman was indeed the one he had drunkenly encountered.


    He suddenly remembered, wasn¡¯t Ning Yichu an exceptional jade sculptor?


    Perhaps, she should have known long ago about the jade pendant left beside Chen Bao when he was abandoned.


    Li Lingyang rose from his executive chair, his tall frame standing before the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze slowly surveying the distance.


    ¡°President Li?¡± After waiting for a moment, Special Assistant Xu spoke tentatively.


    Li Lingyang pondered briefly, then turned to pick up his coat, ¡°You¡¯ll preside over this afternoon¡¯s meeting, I need to step out for a while.¡±


    Li Lingyang drove straight to Baili Orphanage.


    From a distance, the orphanage seemed rather dilapidated, but the laughter and noisy play of children echoed from the courtyard, bustling with energy.


    Every so often, Mommy Zhuo¡¯s voice could be heard, reminding the children to run slowly and be careful not to fall.


    Li Lingyang parked his car by the roadside and entered through the main gate of the quadrangular courtyard.


    Upon entering, he saw a small playground where boys and girls were mixed together, playing soccer...


    Just as a boy kicked the ball towards the goal, it swerved off course, and the ball rolled towards the side, coming to a stop right by Li Lingyang¡¯s shiny leather shoes.


    The man¡¯s long and straight legs stepped forward, firmly stopping the football with his foot.


    ¡°Ah... my ball!¡± The little boy yelled, then looking up from the squashed ball, he was met with Li Lingyang¡¯s distinctly handsome face, which at the moment bore an indiscernible mix of pleasure and anger as he looked down upon him from above.


    The boy had seen Li Lingyang at the orphanage before, but the powerful aura emanating from him still made the little boy quite intimidated.


    But the other children in the yard were waiting for him to retrieve the ball!


    He clenched his teeth and mustered his courage, ¡°Uncle, that¡¯s my ball, could you please give it back to me?¡±


    Li Lingyang stared at the little boy in front of him, whose clothes were washed clean but the cuffs were severely worn, indicating they had been worn for quite some time. He raised an eyebrow, ¡°Want it?¡±


    The little boy¡¯s clear, black and white eyes rolled, and he nodded vigorously, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Uncle will teach you what it really means to play soccer.¡± Li Lingyang actually became interested, and even in leather shoes, his legs maneuvered the ball with nimble ease as if divinely assisted. Finally, he sent the ball flying neatly into the net under the boy¡¯s dazzled admiration.


    ¡°Wow...¡± The boy was so astonished his mouth hung open, looking at his long legs with envy, ¡°Uncle, you¡¯re so cool!¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s thin lips curved slightly, ¡°Go fetch the ball.¡±


    The little boy tapped his head and scampered off with his short legs, pat-a-pat, running away and chatting with the other children. Chen Bao¡¯s dad was so impressive!


    It was then that Mommy Zhuo noticed an extra figure at the orphanage, a hint of unease flashing in her eyes, ¡°President... President Li? You¡¯re here?¡±


    Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing the stooped figure of the elderly woman before him.


    ¡°Please, come in, President Li... I didn¡¯t know you were coming, and we haven¡¯t tidied up the yard...¡± Mommy Zhuo was nervously inviting Li Lingyang inside.


    Li Lingyang slightly softened his stern aura, trying to appear more approachable.


    Inside the orphanage¡¯s office sat a computer, a desk, and some children¡¯s drawing books¡ªeverything was extremely spartan.


    Mommy Zhuo made him a cup of tea.


    Li Lingyang glanced at the chipped white porcelain cup with a slight frown, truly unable to drink from it, and set it aside. He then took out a check from his bag.


    Mommy Zhuo almost didn¡¯t count the zeros on the check!


    ¡°This is for your hard work in raising Chen Bao all these years, and the rest is to improve life for the other children.¡±


    Originally, Mommy Zhuo didn¡¯t want to accept his money; after all, Chen Bao had only been fostered with her for less than two months by Ning Yichu. But when she thought of all the other children who longed for a stable life, she selfishly accepted it, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet. I need you to think carefully. After Chen Bao was adopted, did any strangers loiter around the orphanage or come to see him at a fixed time?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s examining gaze was fixed on Mommy Zhuo. If Chen Bao had been abandoned out of necessity, the child¡¯s mother would surely have found it impossible to stay away and likely would have come to visit.


    Mommy Zhuo¡¯s eyelids twitched nervously. How could she explain this?


    Li Lingyang spoke indifferently, ¡°No rush, I¡¯ve got time. Think about it.¡±


    ¡°President Li, Chen Bao was adopted several years ago. I really don¡¯t remember if there were any strangers at the time. However, we keep a record of all visitors to the orphanage. Wait here, and I¡¯ll get you the register,¡± Mommy Zhuo said with a strained expression.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze flickered, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ...


    In the evening, Ning Yichu finished her work unusually early and left the office to pick up Ningning.


    The entrance to the vast Saint Peter Kindergarten was filled with a dense array of luxury cars.


    Ning Yichu waited for the teachers to bring the kids from each class to the designated gathering places...


    The other parents had never seen her before, and noticing her in her work uniform, they looked at her curiously.


    ¡°I¡¯m Ningning¡¯s mom. I just transferred here less than a week ago. Hello, everyone...¡± Feeling everyone¡¯s scrutiny, Ning Yichu quickly introduced herself.


    ¡°So you¡¯re Ningning¡¯s mom?¡± However, the look they gave her did not convey the warmth she had expected; instead, it carried a hint of faint disdain.

 Chapter 113: 113 She and the Children Were Bullied...

    Chapter 113: Chapter 113 She and the Children Were Bullied...


    Ning Yichu¡¯s eyebrows slightly furrowed, and the smile on her face also faded a lot, ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just wondering how a common family like yours managed to get into Saint Peter. Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re here to fish for a rich husband! My son won¡¯t be your sucker, keep your daughter away from him...¡± A haughty matron with arms crossed spoke lazily with a sneer.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s gaze turned icy, ¡°Just because you wear a high imitation jade bracelet that can be bought anywhere on the street, you think you caught a rich husband?¡±


    The matron¡¯s face changed slightly, and she instinctively grasped the exquisite, transparent jade bracelet on her wrist, growing angry and embarrassed, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? This was specially bought for me by my husband during his trip to Germany! The quality is exceptionally good, I bet you¡¯ve never seen anything this nice in your entire life!¡±


    ¡°Oh, sorry, let me introduce myself. My name is Ning Yichu, and I work at the Beiji Group Jade Sculpture Studio. Here is my business card!¡± Ning Yichu said with a mocking smile as she took out her business card and distributed it to the other parents.


    Upon seeing it, they realized she was a professional dealing with jade.


    If she misidentified jade, wouldn¡¯t that be damaging her own reputation?


    ¡°I know you¡ª¡± suddenly, someone shouted, ¡°Didn¡¯t you design two jade sculptures for Mrs. Zheng? One of them was the ¡®Dragon Boat¡¯?¡±


    Ning Yichu nodded lightly, ¡°Yes, do you also know Mrs. Zheng?¡±


    ¡°Wow, Mrs. Zheng praised you a lot, saying your creativity is especially good. My brother is getting married soon, and I¡¯d also like to give him a set of jade sculptures with heritage value...¡±


    ¡°Sure, we¡¯re all parents here. Come to me, and I¡¯ll give you a discount. I¡¯ll also let you know in advance if there is good material available.¡± Ning Yichu immediately started chatting with the person, nonchalant and confident even while carrying the most ordinary shoulder bag and standing among a group of gaudy, rich matrons, exuding a unique charisma.


    Suddenly, the parents interested in jade sculptures all gathered around her, bombarding her with questions about jade, while the matron who started the trouble was ignored.


    She could hardly save face and as soon as the teacher came out with the children, she angrily grabbed her child, saying sarcastically, ¡°So what if she¡¯s a jade sculptor? No matter how skilled, she still got dumped by a man...¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s expression was icy. How could the other parents know about her private affairs in such a short time?


    It was clearly spread intentionally!


    Shen Jiangqing?


    Not confronting her openly, she started using rumors to hurt people?


    Chen Bao and Ningning had just come out of the school when they heard the matron¡¯s derogatory remarks, their young eyes suddenly blazed with anger.


    Shen Shen¡¯s mother looked at Ning Yichu¡¯s upset expression and secretly felt pleased.


    ¡°Sweetie, keep your distance from these people in the future, who knows how a woman with children got to the position of the chief jade sculptor, hmm~¡±


    With a scoff, Shen Shen¡¯s mother, feeling as triumphant as a rooster, prepared to leave with an air of superiority.


    However, she hadn¡¯t taken two steps when someone suddenly gave her a harsh bump in the lower back.


    She exclaimed ¡°Aiyo¡± as her body staggered almost to the point of falling over, turning around in a frenzy.


    But she saw nothing...


    Lowering her gaze, she found it was a little brat shoving her, yet the terrifying chills that sparked in his eyes made this grown woman feel genuinely frightened.


    Shen Shen¡¯s mother wasn¡¯t hurt, but she was humiliated in public, unable to swallow the insult.


    Her anger skyrocketed, ¡°You little brat, I didn¡¯t even mention your mom, what are you doing?¡±


    He did speak about his mommy! Chen Bao glared coldly at her, ¡°You have three minutes to apologize to Aunt Ning, or else...¡±


    ¡°Or else what? Are you threatening me? That¡¯s laughable. What love potion has her daughter given you that you care so much for her mommy? People who don¡¯t know might think she¡¯s your mother! Apologize? Humph, I haven¡¯t said anything wrong...¡± Shen Shen¡¯s mother shouted even more furiously.


    Chen Bao¡¯s chest heaved, as he took out a laptop from Ning Yichu¡¯s backpack, ¡°Fine, just wait. I hope you won¡¯t regret it!¡±


    Shen Shen¡¯s mother never took the threats of a little kid seriously and nearly burst into laughter.


    However, less than five minutes passed...


    Shen Shen¡¯s mother received a call from her husband¡ª


    ¡°What are you doing out there? How did the company¡¯s official website get hacked, and why is it everywhere that you¡¯re setting a bad example? I¡¯m warning you, I¡¯m about to discuss a cooperation deal with Mr. Smith, and now there¡¯s a problem with the website affecting my image. You¡¯ll see how I deal with you...¡±


    Shen Shen¡¯s mother was utterly shocked, staring incredulously at Chen Bao, ¡°You little brat, what did you do!¡±


    ¡°Apologize!¡± Chen Bao held her laptop, her expression stern.


    Shen Shen¡¯s mother really didn¡¯t want to apologize at all, but her husband was scolding her on the phone, demanding she fix the website immediately!


    Shen Shen¡¯s mother gritted her teeth and reluctantly apologized to Ning Yichu.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean it! Please forgive me...¡±


    Ning Yichu snorted coldly. She couldn¡¯t care less about an apology from such a woman and pondered, ¡°Parents are the best teachers for their children. I advise you to think about your child before you speak or act next time!¡±


    Shen Shen¡¯s mother¡¯s face went through waves of embarrassment, turning into a palette of colors.


    ¡°Chen Bao, stop playing around and restore the page.¡±


    Chen Bao glanced contemptuously at Shen Shen¡¯s mother, then her small, chubby hands swiftly operated on the laptop, and in an instant, the official website reverted to normal.


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t want to continue wasting time with them, so she took the children and left.


    Since Chen Bao was now nominally a child of the Li Family, when she came to pick up someone, she could only take Ningning away.


    But seeing Ningning and Chen Bao getting along so well in the kindergarten put her mind at ease.


    Little did she know, Shen Shen¡¯s mother¡¯s eyes were ablaze with surging malice, and she took advantage of the crowd¡¯s inattention to viciously slap Chen Bao...


    ¡°Little bastard! Go to hell¡ª¡±


    She had been embarrassed in front of so many parents!


    Originally, Ning Yichu was leading Ningning ahead, while Chen Bao stayed behind with Doudou and Chengcheng, waiting for their parents to pick them up.


    So Shen Shen¡¯s mother¡¯s slap went unnoticed by Ning Yichu. Instead, it was Doudou, who was beside Chen Bao, who first sensed the malice!


    The little girl caught a glimpse of Shen Shen¡¯s mother¡¯s twisted face from the corner of her eye and subconsciously thought of Shen Jiangqing...


    Instinctively, the little girl pushed Chen Bao out of the way.


    ¡°Slap¡ª¡±


    A loud slap hit Doudou¡¯s tender little face with a swish.


    And Shen Shen¡¯s mother was malicious, intentionally curving her nails, causing Doudou¡¯s little face to be scratched!


    In an instant, her entire little face was red and swollen, with fine traces of blood!


    And Chen Bao was also pushed to the ground.


    Seeing this, his eyes turned red with anger!


    After these few days together, he truly considered Doudou like his own sister!


    Not to mention that Doudou was inherently fragile, treated like a delicate porcelain doll by the entire Li Family...

 Chapter 114: 114: Hes Here! Standing Up for the Kids

    Chapter 114: Chapter 114: He¡¯s Here! Standing Up for the Kids


    ¡°Doudou...¡± Chen Bao was worried sick, his voice changing in pitch.


    Doudou¡¯s little face felt searing pain, but seeing that Chen Bao was so concerned, she puffed her cheeks, spat out a hint of blood from her mouth, then shook her head.


    It doesn¡¯t hurt! Doudou didn¡¯t feel any pain at all!


    Seeing this, Chen Bao¡¯s heart nearly melted.


    Aaaah!


    He was so angry!


    Why was this fat woman so detestable?


    Before he could act against the fat woman, Shen Shen, following suit, shouted and rushed over, pressing Chen Bao down to the ground just as he was about to get up.


    ¡°You bullied my mommy, I¡¯ll kill you!¡±


    The teachers couldn¡¯t stop it in time, and Chen Bao¡¯s face was buried in the ground again, mouth full of dust.


    The scene grew more and more chaotic, and Ning Yichu lost all reason in an instant. She dashed over quickly, and with a slap, flung Shen Shen to the ground, and scooped Chen Bao into her arms!


    ¡°...Aunt Ning.¡± Chen Bao quickly patted her shoulder, signaling he was alright, yet he was fuming and wanted to settle the score with Shen Shen and his mother.


    But what both mother and son hadn¡¯t expected was that Ning Yichu, in her haste, had pulled Shen Shen with a bit too much force. Shen Shen also fell to the ground and immediately started bawling loudly, ¡°Wuuu... Mommy, my nose hurts! It¡¯s bleeding, I was thrown to the ground by this bad woman...¡±


    Seeing her son¡¯s nosebleed, Shen Shen¡¯s mother¡¯s anger skyrocketed, ¡°Call the police! I¡¯m calling the police! You abused my son, I want you behind bars!¡±


    Ning Yichu, struggling to contain her anger, pointed at Chen Bao and Doudou, ¡°Would you please open your ¡®dog eyes¡¯ and see clearly who threw the first punch? I admit, I might have been a bit heavy-handed, but after what you did to Doudou, did you apologize? Calling the police? Sure, I¡¯d like to see what kind of punishment someone like you deserves!¡±


    The fat woman glanced at Doudou and Chen Bao. Chen Bao was slightly better, just with a scraped face, but Little Doudou looked pitiful.


    Even her pigtails had come undone, a small clump of hair escaping the grip of its elastic band, sitting atop her head. Her big eyes sparkled ¨C overly adorable, yet the prominent red mark on her face was noticeable and seemed painful...


    ¡°I don¡¯t care, my son is bleeding! Did you see that he¡¯s bleeding!¡± Shen Shen¡¯s mother yelled relentlessly like a shrew.


    As she spoke, she began to cry and called her husband, ¡°...Honey, hurry to the school! Your only child is about to get beaten to death, bleeding so much!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± It was clear to hear the man shout through the phone, ¡°I¡¯m on my way!¡±


    After hanging up, Shen Shen¡¯s mother glared triumphantly at Ning Yichu, ¡°My husband has connections. You won¡¯t leave today without giving us an explanation!¡±


    Just at that moment, the gathered crowd suddenly dispersed to all sides, as if by mutual consent, clearing a path.


    The people caught in the middle, stunned, looked toward the entrance and then gasped!


    My goodness, such a handsome man...


    His presence was so overpowering it took one¡¯s breath away!


    Ningning led in a tall and imposing figure.


    The little girl¡¯s mouth was pouted enough to hang two buckets, furious, pointing at the chubby Shen Shen¡¯s mother and saying, ¡°It was this fat woman and that little chunk who pushed Chen Bao and hurt Doudou, you handle it...¡±


    ¡°Who are you calling a fat woman? Who are you calling a little chunk? I think you are...¡± Shen Shen¡¯s mother, incensed, wanted to argue back, but the man in the crisply tailored suit had lips pressed into a sharp, straight line and eyes like a hawk, commanding submission from everyone around.


    She swallowed back her words.


    When Ning Yichu saw Ningning pulling Li Lingyang over, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes...


    Li Lingyang¡¯s deep gaze swept over the crowd, finally fixating on Chengcheng in the corner.


    If he hadn¡¯t seen it wrong just now...


    Was the expression on his face one of schadenfreude?


    Li Lingyang took a deep breath, his icy gaze slowly retracted, and with long strides, he walked up to Doudou and Chen Bao.


    The man squatted down in front of Doudou, his slender fingers brushing away the wisps of hair on the little girl¡¯s face.


    The several blood-red scratch marks were horrifying!


    A flash of heartache swept through Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes as he gently cooed, ¡°Sweetheart, does it hurt?¡±


    Doudou shook her head, It doesn¡¯t hurt, daddy, don¡¯t be sad!


    However, at this moment, Ningning desperately made eye gestures at her.


    Fool, crying children get the sweets; this is the time to cry out in pain!


    Doudou looked confused.


    Ningning rushed over, demonstrating on the spot, ¡°Oh dear, little sister, the nail marks on your face are bleeding, with so many wounds, all red and swollen, how can it not hurt? I¡¯ll blow on them for you...¡±


    Doudou, belatedly realizing what was expected, then pouted her lips and tried hard to cry, but she had helped the little brother and was very happy; she really couldn¡¯t cry.


    Her small, milky hands vigorously rubbed her eyes, then again, and she hopefully looked at Ningning as if asking, ¡°Are the tears coming out yet?¡±


    Ningning, ¡°...¡±


    Li Lingyang witnessed the interaction between the two little ones, and for a moment, felt they were real sisters!


    The man¡¯s gaze, like that of the Grim Reaper, fixed onto Shen Shen¡¯s mother.


    Shen Shen¡¯s mother was a little underconfident, even though he hadn¡¯t said a word, an intense sense of oppression emerged spontaneously, and she stammered, ¡°Who... who let your son hack my company¡¯s official website? I didn¡¯t mean to hit your daughter, she... she came over by herself...¡±


    ¡°So, you admit that you hit Doudou and Chen Bao?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s presence was commanding without anger, his voice not raised, but visibly, the murderous intent around him seemed to intensify!


    The next second, a few bodyguards in black outfits came forward from the crowd, giving Shen Shen¡¯s mother and son a deathly stare.


    Shen Shen cried out and plunged into her mother¡¯s arms.


    Shen Shen¡¯s mother almost collapsed, her legs weakening, and she nearly knelt on the ground...


    Who is this man? Why is he so terrifying...


    ¡°I... I apologize to you, alright?¡±


    ¡°Not alright!¡± The speaker was Ning Yichu, who looked sympathetically at the two children. ¡°You physically assaulted someone; you think you can settle it just with an apology? What do you take the children for? Today, you must give a satisfactory answer!¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll compensate, tell me, how much money do you want?¡± Shen Shen¡¯s mother regained her sense of superiority in facing Ning Yichu.


    ¡°Compensation?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s thin lips parted slightly, releasing a deceptively light yet heavy retort, ¡°Do you think, the injuries of my two children, can be resolved with some money?¡±


    ¡°Then... what do you want?¡± Shen Shen¡¯s mother shrank back, asking tentatively.


    ¡°Heh, it¡¯s the mother¡¯s fault if the child isn¡¯t disciplined properly. Name your price, how much for those hands of yours?¡± Li Lingyang sneered coldly.


    Shen Shen¡¯s mother¡¯s legs gave way, ¡°Wha... what?¡±

 Chapter 115: 115: Relying on a Mountain? Just Asking if Its Big Enough

    Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Relying on a Mountain? Just Asking if It¡¯s Big Enough


    ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who said that it¡¯s enough to compensate for injuring someone? I¡¯ll buy those hands of yours!¡±


    No sooner had Li Lingyang¡¯s words fallen than several bodyguards menacingly surrounded Shen Shen¡¯s mother, their faces filled with terrifying murderous intent that sent a shiver down one¡¯s spine.


    Shen Shen¡¯s mother collapsed to the ground with a smack, tears gushing forth.


    Just then, a burly middle-aged man somehow squeezed through the crowd, looking enraged, ¡°Wife, what happened? Who hit our son? My good son, let Dad take a look...¡±


    ¡°Husband...¡± Seeing her backup had arrived, Shen Shen¡¯s mother¡¯s spirits were lifted, and she immediately became arrogant again, ¡°You must stand up for us! I was just here to pick up the child when that wild brat came over and pushed me. I almost fell over, so of course, I had to fight back, right? And, they even caused our son to bleed. Now, not only do they refuse to apologize, but they are also talking about buying one of my hands, sob sob sob...¡±


    The plump middle-aged lady even took on the airs of a young girl throwing a tantrum, eliciting a wave of disgust from the onlookers.


    The middle-aged man was furious, ¡°What? Someone is so bold and arrogant? I want to see just who has the audacity and guts to do this. They must be sick of living!¡±


    ¡°It was me.¡±


    The man had barely finished speaking when a voice as sharp and chilling as an ice blade echoed in sync.


    Upon hearing this voice, the middle-aged man was stunned for a moment.


    This voice...


    Why did it sound so authoritative, and yet so familiar?


    He pondered for a moment, then turned around and looked intently. When he clearly saw the tall man opposite him holding a little girl with an injured face in his arms, the color drained from his face, and his legs went weak, almost falling to the ground in fright.


    ¡°President Li... What brings you here today to... to pick up your child? Well, uh, the weather today seems pretty good, ha. I still have some things to deal with, so I¡¯ll be taking my leave...¡± All the man could think was that he was done for. He did not even think to care for his wife or son, and just as he was about to run, he was caught by Li Lingyang¡¯s bodyguard.


    A bodyguard kicked his knee, and the man knelt on the ground with a thud, groveling, looking utterly miserable.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s polished leather shoes crushed against his face, ¡°My son is a wild brat?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no... It¡¯s all my evil wife spouting nonsense...¡± The man trembled all over, not even daring to take a deep breath.


    The lady, witnessing this scene, was just dumbfounded, completely at a loss for how to react.


    Li Lingyang loosened his grip on the man¡¯s face, and the man quickly scrambled up, backhanding his wife with a slap, ¡°Dammit, how do I always teach you, to be low profile, to be a good person and raise our child properly? How do you go about teaching, to the point of fighting with President Li¡¯s child? Divorce! I¡¯m going to get a divorce right now...¡±


    The woman was stunned by the slap, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth, wailing, ¡°Wu, husband, I don¡¯t want a divorce. I didn¡¯t know that child belonged to President Li, it¡¯s all that woman¡¯s fault...¡±


    ¡°Slap!¡± The man landed another slap, almost knocking her teeth out, ¡°Shut up, you think you can gossip about President Li¡¯s friends?¡±


    As the conflict between the children turned into a one-sided wife-scolding, more and more well-to-do women realized who the man was!


    ¡°That¡¯s President Li of the Li Group... Oh my god, how come I only remembered just now...¡±


    It was as if a massive stone had been thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples upon ripples.


    ¡°I remember now! We saw him on the first day of school, that¡¯s definitely President Li...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s usually the mothers who come to pick up the kids; I almost forgot, look at Chen Bao, he¡¯s the spitting image of President Li...¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re doomed; the Liu Family has injured the Li Family¡¯s little young master and little princess. They¡¯re definitely finished...¡±


    Amid the whispering of the crowd, Shen Shen¡¯s entire family fell into a deep despair.


    Li Lingyang didn¡¯t pay any more attention to the onlookers; he held Doudou in one hand, led Chen Bao with the other, and walked away with Chengcheng and Ningning, mother and daughter, in tow.


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t own a car, so she briskly walked out of the circle of luxury cars.


    But what she hadn¡¯t expected was that Li Lingyang followed with Doudou and Chen Bao in tow!


    Ning Yichu felt sorry for Doudou and Chen Bao¡¯s injuries and didn¡¯t feel good about just leaving, so she quietly suggested, ¡°I know there¡¯s a children¡¯s hospital nearby; how about we treat their wounds before going home?¡±


    Especially for Doudou, who knows what germs might be under that fat woman¡¯s fingernails? If her little face got infected, that would be a real problem.


    Li Lingyang already had other things he wanted to ask Ning Yichu, so of course, he wouldn¡¯t refuse.


    So, the two adults and four kids went to a nearby clinic.


    It wasn¡¯t anything serious, but when the nurse was applying medicine to Doudou, the little girl kept glancing over at Ning Yichu, her big eyes blinking as if she was expecting something.


    Like they were telepathically connected, Ning Yichu approached Doudou and asked quietly, ¡°Does it hurt when the aunty applies the medicine?¡±


    Of course, it didn¡¯t hurt. Doudou pursed her pink lips shyly, her bright eyes sparkling, and her small hands quickly handed Ning Yichu the cotton swab and ointment.


    The nurse was both crying and laughing¡ªdid they really have to be so disgusted by her?


    But this family had such high attractiveness, and furthermore...


    Four children, what a fertile couple!


    ¡°Sir, ma¡¯am, your babies are so delicate. I¡¯ve worked in the children¡¯s hospital for so many years, and this is the first time I¡¯ve seen such beautiful children. They could totally debut as child stars!¡±


    Ning Yichu glanced awkwardly at Li Lingyang and Doudou, cleared her throat, and was about to speak when she was interrupted by the tall man beside her, ¡°Is that so? Probably just got lucky with the genes.¡±


    ¡°Too cute, it¡¯s tempting me to have kids of my own... woo...¡± The nurse¡¯s heart fluttered.


    Ningning rolled her eyes. Her deadbeat dad was taking advantage of her again; she refused to acknowledge him.


    ¡°Miss, I was actually about to debut as a little star~¡±


    ¡°Really? Which TV drama did you act in? I¡¯ll definitely recommend it to my friends,¡± the nurse¡¯s attention was immediately diverted.


    Ningning covered her little face with her hands, bashfully, ¡°I haven¡¯t acted in any TV dramas yet, but I¡¯m about to endorse a kids¡¯ clothing brand, under Shengshi Entertainment, you know, the quality is super good...¡±


    ¡°Great, great, I¡¯ll definitely recommend it to my friends with kids,¡± the nurse agreed enthusiastically, her heart blooming with joy, although she thought the male host seemed a bit... his expression was strange?


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly; did this little girl even realize that it was his idea to choose the representative for the children¡¯s clothing brand?


    Mu Bailang sure dared to let Ningning be the endorser.


    What was even more ridiculous was that after hearing that Chen Bao and Ningning were a ¡°super young couple in love,¡± he actually suggested lending Chen Bao so the two of them could endorse together?


    In his dreams!


    Ning Yichu wasn¡¯t bothered about their conversation; she was focused on applying medicine to Doudou.


    Were that woman¡¯s fingernails made of hooks or something?


    To have made such a deep cut...

 Chapter 116: 116: Capricious President Li~

    Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Capricious President Li~


    ¡°I really should have smacked her a couple of times just now, she obviously did that to ruin the child¡¯s face!¡±


    ¡°Does it hurt? Auntie will blow on it for you.¡± Ning Yichu was extremely careful, afraid of hurting Doudou.


    But Doudou was still so endearingly shaking her head, with Auntie blowing, it didn¡¯t hurt at all!


    ¡°Auntie will try to be as gentle as possible, okay? If it hurts, just tell Auntie.¡±


    Doudou nodded affectionately.


    Being so close to Auntie, she could smell the faint fragrance of gardenia on her body, it smelled so nice...


    It smelled even better than Mommy¡¯s scent!


    But why couldn¡¯t she be her mommy?


    If only she could switch mommies...


    Chengcheng watched this scene with cold eyes, his jealousy ballooning within him.


    Pesky brat, needs a lesson!


    However, when he noticed that Li Lingyang was also observing him, he quickly hid the malice in his eyes and put on a worried expression.


    Finally, the ointment was applied, and the young girl¡¯s pink cheeks were now streaked with white cream.


    Ning Yichu gently advised, ¡°Try not to get it wet, and if it itches, try to bear with it until the wound forms a scab, and it won¡¯t hurt anymore.¡±


    Doudou nodded obediently, whatever Auntie said, she would do, she wouldn¡¯t touch!


    ¡°So good~¡± Ning Yichu liked Doudou more and more with each passing moment and couldn¡¯t help but stroke the little girl¡¯s fluffy head.


    Ningning got jealous when she saw this, ¡°Mommy, I want cuddles too.¡±


    ¡°Okay, cuddles~¡±


    Ning Yichu also stroked Ningning¡¯s head, and then subconsciously reached out to touch Chen Bao.


    However, as her hand was halfway there, she realized Li Lingyang was present; she shouldn¡¯t be showing so much affection, so she abruptly turned her hand in midair and pretended to smooth her own hair behind her ear instead, asking rather stiffly, ¡°President Li, how come you¡¯re so free today?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s thin lips lifted slightly, ¡°Why, aren¡¯t you welcoming me?¡±


    ¡°...You¡¯re picking up your own child, what does my welcome have to do with anything?¡± Ning Yichu was mindful to keep a clear boundary with Chen Bao.


    Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow and signaled the servants to take the children to the car first.


    In the blink of an eye, only Ning Yichu and Li Lingyang were left on the roadside.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, this guy couldn¡¯t be thinking of making her resign again, could he?


    But the next second, she saw him open his phone gallery, pass her a photo, and say indifferently, ¡°Take a look, does this look familiar?¡±


    Although it was only a photo, Ning Yichu recognized it at a glance, it was a picture of the Jade Pendant that Chen Bao ¡°carried with him.¡±


    Chen Bao¡¯s adoption records had actually replaced those of another child from the orphanage.


    That child was abandoned at the orphanage¡¯s door four and a half years ago but had later died unexpectedly from an illness. With the orphanage facing demolition and files being mismanaged, the police system hadn¡¯t managed to report it in time, so when Chen Bao was temporarily staying at the orphanage, Mommy Zhuo naturally transferred the identity of that child to Chen Bao.


    Later on, Chen Bao altered some of his information himself, making Li Lingyang¡¯s investigation seamless.


    And this Jade Pendant was what the original child had brought in their swaddles.


    When the child died, Mommy Zhuo thought that if the parents ever came looking, they should have something to remember by, so she preserved the Jade Pendant.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and with an air of nonchalance, she asked, ¡°This seems familiar, where have I seen it before?¡±


    ¡°This is the only clue to find Chen Bao¡¯s biological mother,¡± Li Lingyang said with furrowed brows, only to realize that he must have had a mental lapse to ask her.


    After all, she used to love him so deeply, yet inexplicably, he fathered a son during his marriage...


    ¡°Forget it, pretend I didn¡¯t say anything!¡± Li Lingyang snatched back the phone, his face darkening as he intended to leave. It was madness not to ask the Jade Sculptor.


    ¡°Wait a second, I haven¡¯t finished looking yet,¡± Ning Yichu urged, grabbing his arm in her urgency, not understanding why he suddenly turned hostile.


    Li Lingyang had no choice but to halt, glancing at her slender hand on his arm. Seeing her face full of curiosity, without a trace of anger, a wave of indescribable frustration surged in his heart as he uttered coldly, ¡°What¡¯s there to look at? It¡¯s none of your business anyway.¡±


    ¡°How is it none of my business?¡±


    A flicker of joy crossed Li Lingyang¡¯s heart, and he raised an eyebrow subtly, ¡°You want to find that woman, too?¡±


    Could she still be concerned about the woman he had an affair with during his marriage?


    Ning Yichu certainly wouldn¡¯t admit that she wanted to misdirect him from finding Chen Bao¡¯s real mother, so she asserted righteously, ¡°She¡¯s my daughter¡¯s future mother-in-law, Chen Bao¡¯s real mom. Of course, I want to find her.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face darkened even further as he grated through his teeth, ¡°Just that?¡±


    Ning Yichu blinked in confusion, ¡°What else would there be?¡±


    ¡°Then take a good look and see if there are any clues!¡± Li Lingyang felt like he was about to explode with irritation, angrily handing the phone back to her.


    This woman may not have many talents, but infuriating him to the point of raising his blood pressure was definitely something she excelled at.


    Ning Yichu truly felt confused by his capricious nature, and couldn¡¯t help but wonder how Shen Jiangqing managed to tolerate him for so many years?


    It dawned on her that perhaps his fickleness was only directed towards herself.


    After all, that was Shen Jiangqing, the same Shen Jiangqing who bore him twins...


    Ning Yichu laughed at herself, turning her attention back to the Jade Pendant.


    It wasn¡¯t one of those common, fake pendants, but rather an extremely precious piece of Hetian jade, heart-and-peach-shaped, with a smooth arc in the middle dividing the heart into two halves. The left side was carved with a dragon, the right with a phoenix, both auspicious symbols of prosperity. Even from just a photo, she could discern the exquisite workmanship.


    ¡°The three-dimensional quality of this pendant is strong, the craftsmanship is firm yet free, elegant and graceful,¡± she mused aloud. Judging by the technique, it should be from the Su style of jade carving, but it didn¡¯t seem like a piece from recent years, rather one from a decade or more ago...¡±


    Li Lingyang was secretly astounded. She could glean so much information just from one photo.


    Special Assistant Xu had consulted many from the Jade Carving Industry, and they only had this much to go on.


    ¡°Can you discern who might be the creator of this item then?¡± Li Lingyang ventured a bold question.


    Ning Yichu, also keen to find the poor child¡¯s mother, couldn¡¯t let him find her so easily.


    Her eyes shifted as she spoke earnestly, ¡°There were many more jade sculptors a decade ago than there are now. Among the Su style alone, there were thousands. Let me give you the contact details for a Su style expert, maybe you can get some clues from him...¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Li Lingyang replied, his deep gaze flickering slightly. Finding a person based on a jade pendant was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack.


    He wasn¡¯t in a hurry and handed over the contact details to Special Assistant Xu to investigate.


    As long as the child¡¯s mother was alive, he would find her one day!


    Shen Jiangqing learned from the parents¡¯ group chat about the incident at the kindergarten today. Countless parents @-mentioned her; some praised her fiance?¡¯s demonstration of masculine energy to the max, while others kicked her when she was down, scoffing at her fiance? for protecting the woman she didn¡¯t like...


    These words seemed to stick in her throat!


    The photos from last time, although she didn¡¯t know who sent them, had explained Li Lingyang¡¯s injury. And today, he had openly defended Ning Yichu once again.


    ¡°Aling, I knew about today¡¯s event. Even though it¡¯s just a trivial squabble between children, in the end, it¡¯s related to Chen Bao¡¯s recent arrival at the kindergarten and his struggle to fit in. How about we go to a nearby resort to relax and help Chen Bao unwind?¡± Shen Jiangqing suddenly suggested with a smile, skillfully masking the calculations in her eyes.

 Chapter 117: 117: Doudou is not your biological sister, she is a bastard!

    Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Doudou is not your biological sister, she is a bastard!


    Li Lingyang did not believe that Chen Bao would struggle to fit in. If he really didn¡¯t fit in, it could only mean that he found the other kids childish. Nevertheless, taking him out for some relaxation seemed like a good choice.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll let you handle the arrangements.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll get in touch with the resort...¡± Shen Jiangqing felt a surge of joy, not expecting him to agree so easily!


    She intended to make the most of this rare vacation!


    Li Lingyang responded indifferently, his piercing gaze then settling on Chengcheng.


    Chengcheng paused in playing with his toys, feeling his father¡¯s ominous stare, his heartbeat skipped a beat.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s thin lips slightly parted, his face cold and forbidding, ¡°Follow me to the study.¡±


    Chengcheng pursed his small lips, his pale face following behind Li Lingyang.


    Shen Jiangqing, clueless about the situation, could only watch helplessly as Chengcheng was led into the study.


    In the spacious and bright study, Li Lingyang took long strides and elegantly settled onto the leather sofa, leisurely observing Chengcheng.


    Chengcheng fidgeted nervously, clutching the hem of his clothes, his mind incredibly anxious.


    Li Lingyang, however, did not rush to ask anything, unintentionally heightening the psychological pressure on him.


    After all, he was just a child, and soon he was sweating profusely from nervousness.


    Li Lingyang was not a child psychologist, but he knew how to break down someone¡¯s psychological defenses.


    In the quiet study, where you could hear a pin drop, Chengcheng was already drenched in sweat when Li Lingyang¡¯s sexy, deep voice finally began to echo, ¡°Today, at the kindergarten entrance, did you see your sister being hit?¡±


    Chengcheng¡¯s eyes darted around; he wanted to lie, but Li Lingyang¡¯s piercing gaze was too sharp. He managed to squeak out, ¡°I saw it.¡±


    ¡°Saw it and yet did nothing to help?¡± Li Lingyang pressed aggressively, his eyebrows deeply furrowed, exuding a powerful aura.


    Chengcheng clenched his little fists. He had secretly wished the girl would be beaten to death by the stout woman, but the words at his lips turned into, ¡°I... I saw that the fat aunt was really fierce. I froze and didn¡¯t snap out of it until... Chen Bao had already gone to help.¡±


    ¡°So you just stood by and watched?¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s tone suddenly intensified.


    He had seen clearly upon arriving that Chengcheng had been delighting in disaster from a corner!


    Was he secretly pleased because Chen Bao was hurt or because Doudou was being beaten?


    He had always only seen Chengcheng¡¯s outward grace and obedience but never expected that a wicked soul dwelled within him!


    ¡°I... I really didn¡¯t mean to. I was just scared.¡±


    ¡°Scared? And that gave you the right to ignore your sister¡¯s safety and well-being? What if you and Doudou were both in danger in the future? Would you run away first? What happened to the courage and spirit of a man that I taught you?¡± Li Lingyang had not wanted to speak so harshly to his son, but it had happened once too many times.


    He simply couldn¡¯t stand by and watch Chengcheng grow crooked from such a young age!


    ¡°Wow...¡± Chengcheng sensed Li Lingyang¡¯s growing disappointment and anger. His lips quivered, and he began crying aloud.


    The crying grew louder, heart-wrenching...


    Yet Li Lingyang had little patience for his tears.


    ¡°I¡¯ve only spoken a few words and you cry like this. Have you ever thought about how painful it was for Doudou when she was being bullied? She didn¡¯t even cry. What right do you have to cry?¡±


    Ironically, Chen Bao was the one recently brought home from an orphanage, while he had lovingly raised Chengcheng himself for four years...


    How did it end up being that when faced with danger, Chen Bao was the first to rush in, while Chengcheng turned into a deserter!


    Chengcheng¡¯s feelings of injustice deepened, and he could not stop his crying...


    Through the main gate, reaching outside the hallway, Shen Jiangqing listened to the heart-wrenching cries of her beloved son, feeling both pained and resentful.


    Inside the study, Li Lingyang coldly gazed at Chengcheng, then spoke gravely, ¡°Have you cried enough? I have always had high hopes for you; I wanted you to be a responsible and reliable man. But think about it, what have you actually done? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know, Doudou falling into the water was also related to you!¡±


    Chengcheng¡¯s throat seemed suddenly choked, tears glistening at the corner of his eyes as he looked incredulously at Li Lingyang.


    ¡°Daddy, I... didn¡¯t, I didn¡¯t know...¡±


    He was still trying to lie and cover everything up!


    A fire of nameless anger surged in Li Lingyang¡¯s heart, and he clenched his fists suddenly, ¡°Do you think I would wrong you without evidence?¡±


    Creak, the study door was pushed open at this moment.


    Shen Jiangqing timely entered with two cups of chrysanthemum tea, seeing her son¡¯s eyes red from crying, her heart twisted with agony.


    ¡°Aling, Chengcheng has disappointed you and made you angry, but you¡¯ve been scolding for a long time now, aren¡¯t you parched? Have some tea first,¡± Shen Jiangqing said gently and magnanimously.


    However, Li Lingyang changed his tone, ¡°From now on, bring Chengcheng less often to his mother¡¯s side. At such a young age, he¡¯s spoiled and doesn¡¯t understand the severity of life, selfish and indifferent. What great things can he accomplish in the future?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing probably heard it from outside the door, wasn¡¯t it just about not helping Doudou fight with others?


    Was it worth scolding him for so long?


    He was just biased!


    Biased towards Doudou, biased towards Chen Bao!


    ¡°Okay...¡± Her face pale, she nodded with tears streaming like pear blossoms battered by rain, looking deeply aggrieved, then said, ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not managing the children well, making you worry...¡±


    ¡°Are you blaming me, saying I¡¯ve been too busy with work and neglected the children?¡± Li Lingyang stared back at her in interrogation.


    Shen Jiangqing sniffed, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare, but Chengcheng is still small, and your harshness is too much for him to bear.¡±


    Li Lingyang stared at Chengcheng¡¯s tear-streaked face for a few moments. Was he really neglecting him too much?


    Rubbing his throbbing temples, he no longer wanted to continue being a harsh father and instead said, ¡°Take him outside for some fresh air.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing squeezed out a forced smile and left the study with Chengcheng.


    Once they stepped out of the room, Chengcheng began to cry loudly, but Shen Jiangqing quickly covered his mouth and took him to the bedroom.


    Shen Jiangqing knelt in front of Chengcheng, her resentful eyes flickering with a snake-like malevolence, ¡°I just heard your daddy say that Doudou¡¯s falling into the water was related to you. Did you do it?¡±


    ¡°Mummy, I...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t lie to Mummy; whatever you do, Mummy won¡¯t be angry,¡± Shen Jiangqing softly coaxed.


    Chengcheng pouted his mouth and finally cried out loud again.


    ¡°Wuu wuu, I don¡¯t want her to be my sister! With her around, daddy¡¯s attention to me is gone. Every time she falls ill, daddy rushes to soothe her, even though he had just promised to play soccer with me. And the classmates at school all laugh at me, teasing me for having a mute sister!¡±


    ¡°Daddy is also scolding me because of her, I feel so sad, I don¡¯t want to live anymore...¡±


    ¡°Wuu, Mummy, why did you have to give birth to Doudou!¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s heart ached, and she pulled her son into her arms, ¡°It¡¯s all Mummy¡¯s fault, my dear, don¡¯t cry.¡±


    Chengcheng continued to cry, gasping for breath between sobs.


    Holding her son¡¯s tender little face, Shen Jiangqing suddenly burst into tears, ¡°Actually, Doudou is not your biological sister, she¡¯s a wild child I brought home.¡±

 Chapter 118: 118 Granny Li goes to the appraisal center and is spotted~

    Chapter 118: Chapter 118 Granny Li goes to the appraisal center and is spotted~


    Chengcheng¡¯s sobbing face crumpled into a ball as he suddenly froze, lifting his tearful eyes and staring blankly at Shen Jiangqing.


    ¡°Mommy, is everything you said true? If Doudou is a bastard, then why are we said to be twins...¡±


    Shen Jiangqing subconsciously glanced at the doors and windows, ensuring they were all shut tight, before she spoke with some difficulty, ¡°Chengcheng, at this point, Mommy will tell you the whole truth. I only gave birth to you back then, but as a lucky sign, Mommy secretly brought home another baby girl...¡±


    Chengcheng¡¯s eyes widened with fright, and he hurriedly asked, ¡°Then what about Doudou¡¯s parents? Don¡¯t they come looking for her?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing didn¡¯t know whether telling the child so much was right or wrong.


    But she faintly felt that Chengcheng was much smarter than she had imagined!


    So young, yet he knew how to loosen the wooden board, causing Doudou to accidentally fall into the water...


    Even she hadn¡¯t managed that, maybe he really inherited Li Jingtian¡¯s ruthlessness and cruelty.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know where her parents are, maybe they are dead. Just remember, this is a big secret! You must never tell anyone, otherwise your daddy will hate me, and it would be the end for us both...¡±


    After a tremendous internal struggle, Chengcheng calmed down, seeming to feel a natural sense of superiority.


    ¡°Mommy, I won¡¯t say anything, I¡¯ll always listen to you. If that dead girl plays with Chen Bao again, I won¡¯t feel bad anymore. After all, they¡¯re just bastards, and I couldn¡¯t care less about them.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you are Mommy¡¯s darling. Those two bastards, Mommy will find a way to deal with them sooner or later.¡±


    ¡°Um!¡± Chengcheng was reassured once again, diving into Shen Jiangqing¡¯s arms, his little face full of pride.


    Only he was worthy of being the heir of the Li family, the one with the noblest bloodline!


    Shen Jiangqing stroked Chengcheng¡¯s head. She would give him the best of everything.


    Soon after, Chengcheng, tired, fell asleep in her arms.


    Shen Jiangqing secretly made a phone call to Shen Jun.


    ¡°Brother, the stuff used for enchantment in the nightclub, do you have any? Get me some.¡±


    Although Li Lingyang did not suspect Chengcheng, if she could give Li Lingyang a legitimate son, her position would definitely be more secure.


    And for many years, Li Lingyang had never touched her...


    The thrill of her affair with Li Jingtian that day was just too wonderful; she couldn¡¯t stand being a widow any longer!


    This vacation at the resort was the perfect opportunity!


    ...


    The night grew deeper.


    After dinner, Ning Yichu, holding Ningning¡¯s hand, went down for a walk.


    Her bright and beautiful face greeted with a touch of melancholy.


    ¡°Mommy, you sighed a lot tonight...¡± Ningning, acting beyond his years, reached out his little head and imitated her sigh.


    Ning Yichu, almost laughing at herself, said, ¡°Mommy was thinking about something.¡±


    ¡°About how the crappy daddy helped us drive away the fat lady today?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and no.¡±


    What Ning Yichu had in mind was that Li Lingyang was still investigating Chen Bao¡¯s ¡°biological mother.¡± Although looking for her based solely on that jade pendant was like finding a needle in a haystack, who knows with his power and wealth, he might just find her?


    Otherwise, Chen Bao¡¯s true identity could be exposed.


    No, she had to find the mother of the child from the orphanage before he did!


    No sooner said than done, once Ning Yichu returned home from her walk, she called Mommy Zhuo to ask about some details of the jade pendant.


    Now that the jade pendant was taken by Li Lingyang, she couldn¡¯t see the actual item. It was hard to distinguish many crafts just from the photos.


    Mommy Zhuo, after all, wasn¡¯t an insider, and she couldn¡¯t remember many details despite gesturing around, nor did she reveal any crucial clues.


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t insist either; it would be fine if Chen Bao showed her the jade pendant someday.


    ¡°That,,,¡± Lady Ning, actually, when President Li came to ask for the visitor¡¯s log, he also made a substantial donation to the orphanage,¡± Mommy Zhuo relayed guiltily, just before hanging up.


    Ning Yichu paused briefly, then reassured, ¡°That¡¯s a good thing, you don¡¯t have to worry about the children ending up on the streets anymore, nor about the unclear origins of the donation.¡±


    ¡°But Chen Bao is your son after all, and we¡¯ve only taken care of him for just over a month; I feel really ashamed about accepting so much money,¡± Mommy Zhuo said awkwardly.


    Ning Yichu laughed, ¡°Mommy Zhuo, you mustn¡¯t feel any burden. Li Lingyang has done so many back-stabbing things in the business world. By spending this money, you¡¯re actually helping him accumulate good deeds.¡±


    Although it was said in jest, Mommy Zhuo felt less pressure.


    After all, the most important thing currently was to provide a good living and educational environment for the children.


    The next day.


    Taking advantage of her free time at noon, Ning Yichu made a trip to Meisen Biological Identification Center.


    This was a private institution that used 16 genetic points for identification and was highly authoritative in Imperial City.


    Through Yuke¡¯s connections, Ning Yichu had made an early appointment with one of the identification doctors.


    ¡°Lady Ning? I¡¯m on the fourth floor, just come up directly, I have prepared the report you requested,¡± the other party said courteously.


    Ning Yichu glanced at the elevator, ¡°I¡¯m about to enter the elevator, thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. The original CD Miss Fan promised me was a hard-to-find edition I¡¯ve been searching for a long time! Compared to that, fetching your daughter¡¯s report is a trivial matter...¡±


    If it had been someone else¡¯s report, he wouldn¡¯t dare to reveal it casually, but for the paternity test results of Ning Yichu¡¯s own daughter, that was easy.


    Although last time in a fit of rage, Li Lingyang had handed Ning Yichu an outcome sheet which only showed that the paternity test was inconclusive.


    Still, she wanted to see the detailed report herself for peace of mind.


    ...


    Outside a department on the second floor, a director-looking person respectfully saw Old Madam Li out.


    He handed over a thick stack of paternity test reports.


    Aunt Tong weighed the thickness of the reports, ¡°Director Yan, are you sure these results are accurate and precise?¡±


    The director, with a smile, asserted confidently, ¡°President Li had previously sent his assistant here and outlined the seriousness of the matter, so we¡¯ve checked several times to confirm the results are accurate and precise...¡±


    Granny Li looked gloomily at the report in her hand; her once smooth face now wrinkled into a bitter melon shape. It was such a sin; Chu Chu¡¯s daughter truly wasn¡¯t her beloved great-granddaughter.


    She would rather not have seen it at all; it only added to her irritation.


    She grabbed the documents, intending to throw them in the trash bin downstairs later!


    Really, she felt like being murdered by Aling, this brat...


    He has a wife, yet instead of having children properly, he went out to father a child with a mistress.


    Seeing Granny Li so despondently upset, Aunt Tong quickly comforted her, ¡°Old Madam, don¡¯t be angry anymore. The children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Since now President Li and Lady Ning have both gotten over this hurdle, you shouldn¡¯t dwell on it either.¡±


    ¡°Hmph, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever get over it in my lifetime! Such a good family, just like that, scattered... And Ningning, she¡¯s so adorable, why isn¡¯t she my great-granddaughter?¡± Granny Li lamented with a full face of sorrow.


    How could Aunt Tong know why?


    Perhaps, Lady Ning, trapped in marriage for too long, had become disappointed and weary.


    Aunt Tong helped the old lady towards the elevator, and due to her age or distraction, she accidentally pressed the button going up.


    Ding-dong, at that moment, the elevator doors opened.

 Chapter 119: 119 Seaside Resort

    Chapter 119: Chapter 119 Seaside Resort


    Ning Yichu almost thought she had reached the fourth floor and was about to walk out when she realized it was only the second floor and stopped in her tracks.


    But the very next second, she bumped right into Granny Li, who was coming her way!


    Granny is here too?


    ¡°Granny, what a coincidence...¡± Ning Yichu greeted her, her gaze slowly dropping to the documents in her hand.


    There were many types of tests at the Biological Identification Center, so Ning Yichu didn¡¯t think much of it, considering the large Li family; it seemed normal to have some sort of need.


    What Granny Li hadn¡¯t expected was to run into Ning Yichu here, and flustered like a guilty thief, her hands and feet became clumsy and the documents dropped to the ground, sliding right over to Ning Yichu¡¯s feet!


    Ning Yichu instinctively bent down to pick up the documents for Granny Li.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move! I¡¯ll do it myself!¡± Granny Li yelled, her neck flushing with agitation as she hurriedly bent down to gather the papers.


    But Ning Yichu¡¯s hand had already touched the first page of the document...


    The startling, bold words at the top immediately caught her eye!


    Paternity test report...


    In the shock of the moment, Granny Li snatched the documents back like she was grasping at something scandalous and hid it behind her, breathlessly and awkwardly saying, ¡°Well, Chu Chu, what a coincidence you¡¯re at the identification center too...¡±


    ¡°Yes... yes, I am.¡± Ning Yichu had yet to recover from the scene she¡¯d just witnessed, then quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m picking up a test report for a friend, she¡¯s a celebrity and it¡¯s a bit inconvenient for her.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so am I, picking up a report for someone else.¡± Afraid that Ning Yichu wouldn¡¯t believe her, Granny Li even overdid it by adding, ¡°He couldn¡¯t come in person.¡±


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...¡±


    That report was clearly about Li Lingyang and Ningning¡¯s, and Granny¡¯s skill at lying had reached new heights!


    However, judging from her expression of unspeakable thoughts, she probably believed that report.


    That was just as well, she had already lost Chen Bao and couldn¡¯t afford to lose Ningning as well.


    ¡°Then Granny, I¡¯ll head upstairs now...¡± Ning Yichu gestured towards the upper floors.


    Granny Li hurriedly stepped back into the elevator with the documents, watching the doors close and then vanish from sight.


    ¡°Goodness gracious!¡± It wasn¡¯t until Ning Yichu had left that Granny Li let out a long breath of relief and turned to Aunt Tong, ¡°I was scared to death just now. Chu Chu didn¡¯t see the details of the report, did she?¡±


    Aunt Tong felt certain that Lady Ning had seen them, but to comfort Granny Li, she lied, ¡°Definitely not. If she had seen it, and knew we were still investigating Miss Ning¡¯s background in private, wouldn¡¯t she be livid with us?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good... I don¡¯t want to damage my relationship with Chu Chu over these nonsense matters,¡± Granny Li patted her chest and said.


    Aunt Tong offered a compensatory smile while thinking to herself, with President Li in between, there was an insurmountable chasm.


    ...


    After Ning Yichu received the report, she confirmed that Li Lingyang had sent a blood sample for comparison.


    As for where he got Ningning¡¯s blood sample, she had no idea.


    Ningning had leukemia as a child and had undergone a bone marrow transplant.


    It was an unexpected turn of fate that this had inadvertently aided her.


    She deliberately stayed at the identification center a bit longer to avoid running into Granny Li again.


    As a result, she arrived back at the company a little later than intended.


    Just as she got to the company, she heard Xiao Ai excitedly run over saying, ¡°Sister Ning, did you hear? The administration department has notified us that we are seriously overworking lately, so this weekend the design department is organizing a team-building activity at Seaside Resort! I heard there¡¯s a vast expanse of incredibly blue sea, and they specifically told us we could bring swimsuits...¡±


    The Seaside Resort, Ning Yichu knew, was a very upscale resort in Imperial City, she never would have imagined that Beiji¡¯s team-building would be held there!


    The extravagance was real.


    ¡°Sister Ning, have you signed up? The administration department is collecting names for accommodation arrangements.¡±


    Ning Yichu shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m still deciding whether to go or not.¡±


    ¡°Come on, it¡¯s such a high-end resort, it¡¯s a waste not to go! And I heard, Mr. Mo is going too, haha...¡± Xiao Ai held her cheeks, speaking with a lovestruck expression.


    A weight sank in Ning Yichu¡¯s heart, Mo Baiyou was going too? That really made her consider the possibility of not going.


    ¡°I have to take care of the kids on the weekend...¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the issue? Just bring the kids along, the company said, the design department has been very productive lately, and family members are allowed for the team-building activity!¡± Xiao Ai winked and danced with excitement, ¡°But I guess many female designers in the company won¡¯t bring their boyfriends, because if they do, any chance for intimate contact with Mr. Mo would be complicated, right?¡±


    Ning Yichu felt embarrassed; Xiao Ai, who had recently graduated, saw everything with such energy, though sometimes she tended to over-fantasize!


    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it and reply to the administration department tonight.¡±


    She needed to discuss it with the kids...


    That evening, the moment Ning Yichu mentioned the prospect of going to Seaside Resort to Ningning, the girl nearly bounced off the couch in excitement.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go, there¡¯s also the beach! I want to wear my beautiful swimsuit and be the prettiest kid on the beach.¡±


    Maybe the little one hadn¡¯t been to a big event in a while; the mere mention of the resort got her so revved up.


    Cautiously, Ning Yichu hinted, ¡°It¡¯s a Beiji reunion, I¡¯m worried it might be too crowded for you...¡±


    ¡°Beiji, wow, so Mo Shuai will be there too?¡± Ningning asked with sparkling eyes.


    Ning Yichu hummed in affirmation, ¡°Do you like him a lot?¡±


    ¡°Of course, he¡¯s the second man to make my heart beat so fast! So handsome, and his hands are really nice too...¡±


    Ning Yichu felt a surge of exasperation, ¡°Who¡¯s the first man?¡±


    ¡°Obviously, my dearest brother.¡±


    Ning Yichu chuckled with relief. Thankfully it was not Li Lingyang, otherwise, she would have been truly frustrated.


    Seeing the little one so excited, she couldn¡¯t bear to dampen her spirits.


    After confirming with the administration department that family members were allowed and that the event would be easygoing, she signed up.


    Truthfully, it had been a while since she¡¯d taken part in such group activities; in Europe, everything had been very private.


    Meanwhile, Shen Jiangqing met Shen Jun at a coffee shop in secret.


    Shen Jun handed her a packet of white, fine powder with a sleazy smile, as if he¡¯d used this kind of thing countless times before.


    ¡°This stuff is potent, enough to knock out an elephant. It¡¯s simple to use; you can mix it with water to drink, or it can be made into a spray, the effect is about the same.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing opened the package and peered inside; it was odorless, her eyes cold as she stated, ¡°Whether we¡¯ll be successful depends on our time at the resort. If I can get pregnant with Aling¡¯s child again, all of our current problems will be nothing.¡±


    ¡°But sister, with your poor health, even if you get pregnant, can you carry the baby to term?¡± Shen Jun expressed his concern.

 Chapter 120: 120: Pah! Only a fool wouldn’t run

    Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Pah! Only a fool wouldn¡¯t run


    Shen Jiangqing saw how naive Shen Jun was and sneered, ¡°Who said I must give birth for it to work? I have heart disease, and being pregnant is high-risk enough to move the Li Family, as for giving birth... Of course, I can¡¯t risk my life to do that. When the time is about right, I¡¯ll have a miscarriage and blame it on Ning Yichu, and Su Huimiao will naturally take care of everything for me.¡±


    ¡°Haha, your trick is clever, but I¡¯m afraid the drug is too mild; the Li surname might not touch you! Do you think he has some illness or something? He leaves a beauty like you untouched and behaves like an old monk every day.¡±


    At first, Shen Jiangqing thought Li Lingyang didn¡¯t touch her because he must have had another woman outside.


    She had Shen Jun secretly follow Li Lingyang for a while, but apart from seeing him going to the company and staying home to be with his child, the most he did was hang out with a few close friends, and he never called for women during these times!


    Shen Jiangqing wasn¡¯t sure if Li Lingyang was really sick, but if he was sick, then how was Ning Yichu¡¯s child born?


    She gritted her teeth and snorted coldly, ¡°Find me something that would turn a woman into a slut after drinking it.¡±


    ¡°Do you want to deal with Ning Yichu?¡± Shen Jun immediately guessed.


    Thinking of the recent embarrassments Ning Yichu had caused her and Chengcheng, Shen Jiangqing mentioned, ¡°She¡¯s so pretty; if you could get your hands on her, it wouldn¡¯t be a bad deal.¡±


    Originally, Shen Jun didn¡¯t dare to entertain thoughts about Li Lingyang¡¯s woman, but provoked by Shen Jiangqing, he felt as if his blood were boiling, thinking about making Li Lingyang¡¯s woman beg under him; he eagerly swallowed, ¡°But what if Li Lingyang finds out and wants to kill me?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s lips curved into a sneer, ¡°Just record a little video in advance; would she dare tell Li Lingyang that you¡¯ve had your way with her?¡±


    ...


    Yuke had just finished a commercial shoot, and after finally dealing with her agent, she casually found a cafe? to sit down in.


    Unexpectedly, as she passed by a private room, she found the door wasn¡¯t shut tightly and noticed a man and a woman sitting inside.


    Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, she felt the woman¡¯s silhouette looked familiar!


    After thinking for a while, she suddenly slapped her thigh, ¡°Ah, isn¡¯t that Li Lingyang¡¯s damn mistress?¡±


    Yuke thought about waiting for the man to leave so she could harshly scold the mistress, having such a rare encounter, but while waiting she discovered something shocking!


    The man handed Shen Jiangqing a bag of some white powder. She couldn¡¯t hear exactly what was said, but from Shen Jiangqing¡¯s twisted, venomous look, she could guess it was definitely not something good!


    She quickly took out her phone to take a picture, needing to warn Ning Yichu to be careful, but forgot to turn off the sound. The ¡°click¡± startled the two in the private room.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Shen Jiangqing¡¯s expression changed slightly, and she swiftly looked up toward the door, hurriedly putting on her sunglasses and hat.


    Shen Jun also quickly followed her out, and as the door swung open, he saw a beautiful, round baby face clumsily hiding her phone.


    ¡°Are you here sneaking photos?!¡± Shen Jun grabbed Yuke¡¯s wrist tightly.


    Yuke¡¯s eyes swiftly darted around, her body softened, and she leaned weakly against the doorway, ¡°Oh, my head is spinning, I¡¯m so sorry, I don¡¯t know what happened, I suddenly felt unwell; I didn¡¯t mean to startle you, I¡¯ll just leave...¡±


    ¡°Wait! You think you can just leave? Hand over your phone! Give me the photos you took!¡± Shen Jun glared fiercely at Yuke. He hadn¡¯t seen Yuke before, but he vaguely felt she looked familiar.


    ¡°Hand over what? You say I was sneaking photos, that¡¯s slander!¡± Yuke retorted, clutching her bag tightly behind her.


    They were so afraid of the photos she took; were they conspiring something terrible?


    No way, she couldn¡¯t let them succeed!


    She had to send the photo to Chu Chu...


    ¡°Have I wronged you? Open your handbag, and I will check,¡± Shen Jun was relentless, holding onto Fan YuKe with one hand so she couldn¡¯t escape, and aggressively trying to snatch her bag with the other.


    ¡°Asshole, let go, stop grabbing my bag...¡± Where could Fan YuKe¡¯s strength rival that of a grown man?


    As she watched her bag being snatched, in a moment of panic, Fan YuKe suddenly raised her knee harshly and rammed it forcefully into the man¡¯s groin¡ª


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Caught unprepared, Shen Jun took a harsh blow, emitting a piercing scream, his forehead veins bulging with pain, writhing like worms.


    The phone also clattered to the ground.


    It was a completely instinctive reaction from Fan YuKe, she didn¡¯t know how much strength she used, but picking up the phone, she sprinted away at the speed of an 800-meter dash.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s face changed slightly. What would Li Lingyang think of her if the photo got out?


    ¡°Big brother, are you okay?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing quickly helped Shen Jun up while yelling at the waiters, ¡°Quick, stop that crazy woman! She¡¯s a thief! She stole my stuff...¡±


    The waiters stared in shock at Fan YuKe, their reflex being to stop her, but confused, because Fan YuKe didn¡¯t look like a thief at all!


    Shen Jiangqing then pointed at Shen Jun and said, ¡°She stole things and when my big brother found out, she beat him like this! If something happens and you let her escape, can you bear that responsibility?¡±


    Shen Jun also started howling, creating chaos; the waiters all ran over to intercept Fan YuKe.


    Annoyed, Fan YuKe explained, ¡°You¡¯ve got it wrong, these two are the assholes, they were dealing with drugs... I stumbled upon them!¡±


    Throwing dirt, huh? Who¡¯s afraid of who!


    The waiters were even more horrified, confused as to how the story kept getting more far-fetched.


    Taking advantage of a waiter momentarily going to call the police, Fan YuKe turned and burst through another waiter, sprinting out of the cafe?!


    The last kidnapper who was sent by the police for emergency treatment ended up dead... she wasn¡¯t going to foolishly wait for the police here!


    ¡°Useless! A bunch of useless fools...¡± Shen Jiangqing fumed so much she almost twisted her mouth, pushing Shen Jun, ¡°What are you standing around for? Chase after her, quick!¡±


    Seeing this, Shen Jun had no choice but to endure the painful distortion and chase after her...


    Once Fan YuKe ran out of the cafe?, she wanted to find a crowded and safe place to call Ning Yichu.


    But not long after, she heard Shen Jun¡¯s shouts coming from behind, growing louder and closer, ¡°Stop! You bitch, stop! Don¡¯t run¡ª¡±


    Pfft! Only a fool would stand still and not run...


    She was a celebrity, after all, a scandal like this blowing up and trending would be embarrassing.


    But because of Shen Jun¡¯s shouting, Fan YuKe got distracted, and as she was crossing the street, she failed to notice a car turning the corner, and by the time she realized it, she had collided head-on into a Ferrari!

 Chapter 121: 121 Do Men Have This?

    Chapter 121: Chapter 121 Do Men Have This?


    Thud¡ªher whole body ricocheted out and she crashed onto the ground, feeling dizzy and seeing stars.


    The next second, a magnetic but annoyed voice came to her ears, ¡°Looking to die?¡±


    That voice...


    Damn sexy!


    Fan Yuke lifted her plump little face with aggrieved tears streaming, the pain causing a flood of tears. Through the blurry veil of her tears, she saw a familiar, fiendishly handsome face.


    Mu Bailang was leaning lazily with one hand on the steering wheel, half his head sticking out, taunting her with no good humor.


    When he saw the person sprawled on the ground was Fan Yuke, his brow twitched violently.


    ¡°It¡¯s you again?¡±


    Fan Yuke quickly calculated in her mind; Shen Jun might catch up at any moment!


    She immediately hopped up from the ground, ran to Mu Bailang¡¯s luxury car, and tried to climb into the passenger seat; but the door was locked, and after tugging for ages, it wouldn¡¯t budge, so she pleaded, ¡°Young Master Mu, Boss Mu, Handsome Mu, please! Someone is chasing me! Can you give me a ride?¡±


    Mu Bailang saw the fresh blood on her forehead smeared all over her face, her grotesque expression, and mockingly said, ¡°Oh, someone is chasing you? Then just agree to them, why run?¡±


    ¡°You...¡± Fan Yuke roared fiercely, ¡°If you don¡¯t let me in the car, I¡¯ll call for help!¡±


    ¡°Go ahead and shout. This place is crowded; even if you scream your throat raw, it¡¯s no loss to me,¡± Mu Bailang retorted with raised eyebrows, appearing completely unaffected.


    Fan Yuke¡¯s eyes swiveled and she indeed began to shout, ¡°Help, someone save me! This car owner is trying to commit hit-and-run...¡±


    Fan Yuke was a major celebrity and, despite her distressed appearance, she had a devilish figure and had just finished a photo shoot, wearing very bold attire, which immediately drew the attention of onlookers.


    Mu Bailang, ¡°...¡±


    Damn, this woman was really shouting!


    It¡¯s not the woman clinging that¡¯s feared but the woman acting shamelessly!


    Today he was driving a Ferrari, not a limited edition, but the paparazzi often kept an eye on him and knew his plate number. If it made the headlines with a crowd...


    Who knows how the Empress Dowager back home would react!


    Mu Bailang clenched his teeth and unlocked the car door, ¡°Get in!¡±


    Fan Yuke twisted into the car and, while fastening the seat belt, urged, ¡°Quick, quick, drive!¡±


    ¡°... ¡± He was now a driver, it seemed?


    Mu Bailang¡¯s peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly, emitting a faint glimmer, and he slammed down on the accelerator.


    The Ferrari¡¯s performance was exceptional and in a very short amount of time, the car accelerated to a breathtaking speed, causing Fan Yuke, who hadn¡¯t managed to secure her seatbelt tightly, to lurch violently due to inertia. Her head banged against the storage compartment with a thud...


    Having already been injured, this impact only added to her wounds, nearly knocking her senseless with dizziness!


    Her head tilted, she glared at Mu Bailang with a face full of misery.


    He definitely did it on purpose!


    This vindictive and nasty man.


    Through the rearview mirror, Mu Bailang indeed saw a burly man where Fan Yuke disappeared from view, then glanced back at her powerless demeanor.


    With her intelligence, still in showbiz?


    No wonder, with a devilish figure like that, she was still an eighteenth-tier celebrity...


    When Shen Jiangqing arrived by car, the person was already gone.


    Shen Jun got in the car and said to the Ferrari in front, ¡°That trash, I saw her faking a collision with a luxury car, that Ferrari up ahead...¡±


    Shen Jiangqing frowned deeply, ¡°This car, looks like it¡¯s Mu Bailang¡¯s?¡±


    ...


    Fan Yuke took a good while to recover before she felt less dizzy.


    While wiping the blood on her forehead with a tissue, she thought about forwarding the pictures to Ning Yichu, warning her to be careful. But then...


    ¡°Ah, my phone¡¯s smashed! How did it break?¡±


    As she stared at her phone¡¯s screen covered in a spiderweb of cracks, Fan Yuke¡¯s heart nearly shattered.


    Her phone case was an adorable blue bunny.


    It was full of childlike charm, unlike that of a woman who had spent many years in the entertainment industry.


    Mu Bailang glanced at it and sneered, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, you were clutching your phone tightly in your hand when you hit my car; when you braced your hands on the ground to reduce the impact, if that kind of collision didn¡¯t damage the screen, then I should really consider investing in this brand.¡±


    Fan Yuke fiddled with it for ages but her phone refused to power on; she had no idea what had broken.


    ¡°Okay, thanks for helping me, we¡¯ll call it even with you bumping into me. Just drop me off at any intersection up ahead,¡± Fan Yuke pouted, unable to blame him and just wanting to find a place to fix her phone.


    Mu Bailang looked at her bleeding forehead, his expression odd.


    ¡°Are you even a woman?¡± Shouldn¡¯t she be insisting on him taking her to the hospital at a time like this?


    At the very least, in front of a rather charming man like himself, she should showcase some of her assets, maybe be a bit more reserved.


    Puffing up with indignation, Fan Yuke thrust out her chest and placed her hands on her slim waist, ¡°Do men have these?¡±


    ¡°...¡± Mu Bailang was at a loss for words.


    Fan Yuke stole another glance at Mu Bailang, it seemed he actually had pecs too?


    From her angle, underneath his white shirt was the seductive lure of his collarbones, which spread outwards, his honey-toned skin barely visible...


    ¡°Fine, you do have them, but yours are just a tad bit smaller than mine, hmph! This lady roams the world relying on her 36D and A4 waist~¡±


    As Mu Bailang, focused on driving, followed her words, his gaze unintentionally swept over a certain area.


    She was wearing a form-fitting dress that traced her perfect figure, seeming about to burst through the neckline, exuding a subtle feminine charm.


    Mu Bailang¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed...


    Then, realizing what he was thinking about, his face darkened.


    ¡°Ha, since you gave me a lift just now, I¡¯ll impart a tiny bit of wisdom!¡± Fan Yuke, finding Mu Bailang wasn¡¯t such a bad person after all, started chatting with him in a carefree manner, ¡°So... you often date female celebrities, right? Let me tell you, a lot of people in the entertainment industry get fake breasts. When you¡¯re doing, you know, that with them, just watch when they¡¯re lying down. If they¡¯re still perky, then they¡¯re definitely fake, one hundred percent.¡±


    Mu Bailang almost slammed on the brakes, finally understanding why Ningning had been babbling on and on.


    Could she have learned it from her?


    ¡°You seem to know a lot...¡± he said with a sardonic smile.


    Fan Yuke stuck out her tongue and proudly outlined the curves of her chest, ¡°Because a naturally full shape like mine will flatten when lying down... oh, okay, stop the car now.¡±


    Mu Bailang ignored her, his hands controlling the steering wheel as he continued driving to the side.


    Fan Yuke had only dared to boast to him thinking she was about to get out of the car immediately, but he wasn¡¯t stopping!


    ¡°Hey, where are you taking me? I need to fix my phone...¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡± Mu Bailang shot her a cold look.


    If it weren¡¯t for Ningning, he would have definitely thrown this woman into the Huangpu River!


    ...


    When Ning Yichu saw the call from Mu Bailang, she instinctively thought he wanted to discuss Ningning¡¯s contract.

 Chapter 122: 122: She Wouldnt Poison Chen Bao, Would She?

    Chapter 122: Chapter 122: She Wouldn¡¯t Poison Chen Bao, Would She?


    Because Shengshi had already decided on Ningning as their child model ambassador,


    Fan YuKe¡¯s unexpected voice came through instead...


    ¡°YuKe?¡± Ning Yichu quickly glanced at her phone again; indeed, it was Mu Bailang¡¯s number, her confusion apparent.


    ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Fan YuKe¡¯s voice sounded weak through the phone.


    Ning Yichu was shocked, ¡°Why are you using Young Master Mu¡¯s phone to call me?¡±


    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s a long story... Anyway, Yichu, I need to tell you, I saw Shen Jiangqing meeting with a fierce-looking man in a cafe? today. They were exchanging some white powder, and I¡¯m sure she¡¯s up to some scheme. You must be careful.¡±


    Fan YuKe rushed out everything she had observed.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s heart sank.


    She had been investigating the connection between Shen Jiangqing and a kidnapping case, but the most valuable lead she had so far was the kidnapper had been in contact with a man about 176 cm tall.


    Also, what could this white powder be?


    She wouldn¡¯t poison Chen Bao, would she?


    Damn it!


    This woman lives with Chen Bao every day. If she wants to do something to Chen Bao, it¡¯s really hard to guard against...


    ¡°Wait, you said she met with a man? What did that man look like, was it her older brother?¡± Anything vile like murder or arson, she would surely have her confidants do it.


    Fan YuKe didn¡¯t know what Shen Jiangqing¡¯s brother looked like, but this information fueled her anger further.


    ¡°I did have a photo of them, and even captured their transaction as solid evidence! But then... my phone broke. Wait for me to get it fixed. I¡¯ll send it to you as soon as I get the files out.¡±


    ¡°How did your phone break all of a sudden?¡±


    ¡°Bring it up and I get angry! When I was taking the photos, Shen Jiangqing and that man spotted me. They demanded my phone, but I refused...¡±


    ¡°Did they bully you?¡± Ning Yichu¡¯s voice suddenly rose, her heart tightening.


    ¡°Haha, no, I kicked the man and ran away, but I tripped while running, so don¡¯t worry.¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s hanging heart finally subsided, knowing that YuKe had taken such risks for her. She really wouldn¡¯t feel right if anything happened!


    ¡°Where are you now? I¡¯ll come find you...¡± Although YuKe said she was fine, Ning Yichu still wanted to see her in person.


    ¡°I¡¯m in a restroom by the roadside right now. I went to use the bathroom and borrowed Young Master Mu¡¯s phone to call you. You really don¡¯t need to worry about me; do you think I¡¯m the type to just let things slide? Anyway, hurry up and warn Chen Bao, don¡¯t let that woman deceive him!¡± Fan YuKe urged.


    Ning Yichu was truly moved, having such a good friend, even if she was sometimes careless, but at critical moments, always ready to step in.


    She gave a soft hum of acknowledgment and told YuKe to hurry back when she was done.


    After hanging up, Fan YuKe bid farewell to Mu Bailang directly.


    Take her to the hospital? Unnecessary.


    She¡¯s an actress, after all ¨C injuries are common, and she just needed to deal with it.


    For her, Mu Bailang was like a big bad wolf, and besides...


    He and scumbag Li Lingyang were best buddies.


    She knew she wasn¡¯t the brightest bulb, and if she accidentally slipped up, she¡¯d be done for!


    Walking away was the best strategy!


    It was, indeed, the first time Mu Bailang had encountered a woman who avoided him this actively.


    Oh, if he hadn¡¯t seen her go crazy while drunk, he truly might have believed she had no desires...


    ...


    Shen Jiangqing stealthily followed Mu Bailang in her car and saw him drop off Fan YuKe at the roadside.


    Then, she watched YuKe head straight to a phone repair shop.


    After YuKe left, she approached and was informed that YuKe¡¯s phone was broken!


    ¡°Damn...¡± Shen Jun took a sharp breath, ¡°Bloody hell, we¡¯ve been anxious the entire journey, and turns out her phone was already shattered!¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s initially twisted, ferocious face relaxed, ¡°It seems even the heavens are on our side!¡±


    ¡°Later, you handle that medicine powder; don¡¯t let Li Lingyang find out. Even if Fan YuKe told Ning Yichu, she wouldn¡¯t necessarily know what we¡¯re using it for.¡± Shen Jun sinfully chuckled.


    Shen Jiangqing sneered, ¡°Once I free up my hands, I¡¯ll deal with them together.¡±


    She directly bribed the repair technician with ten thousand yuan to export and delete that photo.


    She then took the newly acquired medicine and left with ease.


    In the evening, the nanny fetched all three children back home.


    The kitchen was filled with delicious foods, visually appealing and tempting to the taste buds.


    ¡°Chengcheng, Chen Bao, Doudou, go wash your hands; we can eat dinner when daddy comes home.¡±


    Chen Bao sharply noticed the bad woman was in a good mood, raising his brow.


    Her good mood meant his mood wasn¡¯t quite so great...


    However, beholding Doudou¡¯s soft, adorable appearance healed Chen Bao somewhat.


    Otherwise, watching this woman act every day, he really would have been sickened.


    Shen Jiangqing was patiently waiting to go on a holiday to the resort, and didn¡¯t want to stir any other conflicts with Chen Bao that could affect her plans, so she left him be.


    When the three children had washed their hands and came out, they all ran to fight over the TV.


    Chengcheng liked watching a police cartoon about catching thieves; Doudou wanted to watch Peppa Pig; Chen Bao wanted to watch Animal World.


    ¡°The big TV is mine, there¡¯s a smaller TV upstairs in the bedroom if you want to watch something else...¡± Chengcheng grabbed the remote control, arrogantly declaring.


    Ever since he found out Doudou was also a ¡°child born out of wedlock,¡± he hadn¡¯t shown a good face to Chen Bao and Doudou.


    Chen Bao¡¯s lips thinned, ¡°Why should we watch the small TV?¡±


    ¡°Because I am daddy¡¯s son, and my mommy is going to be daddy¡¯s wife. The whole Li Family will be mine eventually, hmm!¡± Chengcheng coldly raised an eyebrow and firmly sat on the sofa, dominating the remote control.


    Chen Bao¡¯s face fell. He wasn¡¯t that desperate to watch TV, but this was too much!


    ¡°It¡¯s just TV, right?¡± Shen Jiangqing came over and pulled Chen Bao aside, ¡°Why would you fight with your brother over this? Chen Bao, you are the older brother. You should be more yielding.¡±


    Chen Bao snorted and pulled Doudou up to his own small bedroom on the second floor.


    Since neither Doudou nor he were liked by this particular mother and son, they really were ¡°misery loves company.¡±


    Doudou had gotten used to having Chengcheng snatch the TV whenever daddy wasn¡¯t home and thought Chen Bao might be unused to it, patting his small chest to comfort him.


    ¡°Doudou, do you want to see Chengcheng lose face?¡± A small, mischievous glint flashed in Chen Bao¡¯s cold eyes.


    Doudou¡¯s eyes widened, looking confused.


    The next second, Chen Bao stealthily brought out his own laptop.


    His small hands quickly tapped the keyboard, and in a moment, loud crying and fussing from Chengcheng could be heard downstairs¡ª


    ¡°Mommy, the TV broke! It can¡¯t receive any channels...¡±

 Chapter 123: 123: Chen Bao vs Deadbeat Dad, Angering Someone to Death Without Indemnity

    Chapter 123: Chapter 123: Chen Bao vs Deadbeat Dad, Angering Someone to Death Without Indemnity


    Shen Jiangqing walked over to have a look. ¡°Mommy asked the servant to check it out.¡±


    The servant fiddled for a while and discovered it was a network issue, so he hurriedly contacted the workers to fix the network.


    But what was strange was that only the TV network was not receiving, while the internet in the other rooms was working fine.


    Li Group.


    Li Lingyang finished a meeting and glanced at his wristwatch; it was already the time for the children to come home from school.


    Recently, since Chen Bao had just returned, he had been trying to control his schedule to get home early to be with them every day.


    At this moment, his cellphone rang. After seeing the caller ID, he answered, and the voice of a little boy, listless with hunger, came through...


    ¡°Crappy dad, when are you coming home? I¡¯m starving to death!¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s tall frame paused slightly as he walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the scenery below, his eyebrow raised, ¡°I¡¯m still at the company, it¡¯ll take me at least half an hour to get home. If you¡¯re hungry, don¡¯t wait for me, tell the kitchen to start the meal.¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Chen Bao snorted in response, ¡°Don¡¯t you understand people with the last name Shen yet? She wants to make a show of herself in front of you, saying that if you don¡¯t come back, none of us are allowed to eat!¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s grip on his phone tightened suddenly, ¡°Is that what Jiangqing actually said?¡±


    ¡°What else?¡± Chen Bao, of course, wouldn¡¯t say that the TV internet cable was broken, then Chengcheng threw a tantrum, locked himself in the room, and that was when Shen Jiangqing took the opportunity to not let anyone eat.


    Li Lingyang found it a bit unbelievable. He often worked overtime, but there had never been a precedent for waiting for him to return before starting the meal.


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe it, do you?¡± Chen Bao, as if guessing his thoughts, said directly, ¡°Then I¡¯ll video call you and let Doudou tell you!¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Li Lingyang wasn¡¯t about to make a big issue over this trivial matter and said straightforwardly, ¡°You take Doudou to eat something. If Jiangqing asks, just say I told you to eat.¡±


    Chen Bao plaintively drew out his tone, ¡°When we were in the orphanage, Grandma Zhuo never shortchanged our food. I never expected that after returning to our biological father¡¯s house, we¡¯d still be starving. When I think about it, I might as well have stayed at the orphanage, crappy dad, don¡¯t you think?¡±


    Li Lingyang was almost laughed by the anger, ¡°...¡±


    Was this little guy insinuating that he mistreated him?


    Half an hour later, a luxurious car slowly came to a stop at the entrance of Yudu Dragon Bay Villa.


    The lines were sleek, and the Maybach logo was aspirational, yet unattainable.


    The car door opened, and a pair of gleaming leather shoes stepped out first, followed by a towering and slender figure. The man was dressed in sharp suit, his facial features were deep and sharp, and his eyes held an eagle-like glimmer, his thin lips pressed together showing his displeasure.


    Shen Jiangqing, along with a few servants, lined up at the door to greet him.


    She had a spring-like smile on her face.


    But upon touching the gloom on his face, she startled for a second, then hurriedly approached and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, is there something upsetting at the company?¡±


    ¡°You and the children have been waiting for me?¡± Li Lingyang responded with a question instead of an answer.


    Shen Jiangqing bit her lower lip sheepishly and said, ¡°I know you¡¯ve been getting off work earlier recently, so I thought it would be nice for you to join us for dinner.¡±


    To her surprise, Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face instantly turned chillier as he said directly, ¡°But the children are growing, their digestion is already faster than adults¡¯, and by not letting them eat, how can they be healthy?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s smile froze on her face, ¡°No, I didn¡¯t stop them from eating!¡±


    Li Lingyang strode into the hall, his cold gaze falling towards the living room.


    In the living room, Chen Bao and Doudou were playing with Legos, their faces deflated, lacking enthusiasm.


    They only lazily looked up at him when they saw him return.


    Shen Jiangqing felt a sinking feeling in her heart. Did that little brat run upstairs to tattle to Li Lingyang just now?


    She was truly wronged!


    She hadn¡¯t done anything yet and hurriedly explained, ¡°Aling, it¡¯s not what you¡¯re thinking. I don¡¯t know what Chen Bao told you, but I saw that Doudou had finished all the snacks in his backpack, so he probably wasn¡¯t hungry. If we were to eat so much rashly, what if it led to indigestion? And... some habits need to be cultivated from childhood, Chengcheng wouldn¡¯t fuss about eating early.¡±


    Li Lingyang detected the disdain in Shen Jiangqing¡¯s words. She thought Chen Bao¡¯s habits were bad because he grew up in an orphanage!


    But precisely because he grew up in an orphanage, there are some things he wanted to make up to him.


    Having had neither a mother¡¯s love nor a father¡¯s...


    For him to have grown up like this was beyond his expectations.


    ¡°Indeed, habits should be cultivated slowly, but if he needs to be so restrained even in his own home that his childlike innocence and nature are smothered, what do you think he could achieve when he grows up?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s lips puckered in grievance, wanting to say that she didn¡¯t know if it was this little jerk who messed up and broke the TV network.


    But she feared that Li Lingyang would then realize that this little guy¡¯s talent in network-related matters was higher than Chengcheng¡¯s...


    She bit her lip and decided to just endure it.


    Li Lingyang walked over to Chen Bao and Doudou, while Chengcheng was reading a book in another part of the living room, sitting upright, as if the two groups belonged to two different worlds, completely without interaction.


    He frowned, ¡°Why are you sitting here, not playing with Chengcheng?¡±


    Chen Bao narrowed his sharp little eyes, ¡°Heh, he wants to watch TV, we two definitely don¡¯t have the privilege to play with him.¡±


    Li Lingyang, ¡°You¡¯ve been fighting again?¡±


    ¡°Who dares? That¡¯s the awesome young master of Li Family who will inherit everything in the future. Me, a poor little guy without a biological mommy¡¯s care, fight with him? Wouldn¡¯t that be just waiting to get slapped?¡± Although Chen Bao said so, the movements of his hands putting the Lego pieces together didn¡¯t stop, and he just managed to insert a small piece into a slot that Doudou had been struggling with for a long time.


    With a snap, the piece clicked into place, and Doudou danced with joy, seemingly not understanding the subtle jibes between the big man and the little man.


    Li Lingyang could see the rift between Chen Bao and Chengcheng with one glance, ¡°Here with me, you and Chengcheng are treated the same. Stop being so sarcastic as if I¡¯ve wronged you.¡±


    ¡°Hmph!¡± Crappy dad, you haven¡¯t wronged me, but you indulge a bad woman in wronging me!


    ¡°What did you humph for?¡±


    ¡°Humph humph humph humph humph!¡±


    ¡°...¡± Li Lingyang¡¯s handsome face turned livid with anger; he was really about to be driven mad by this kid.


    Still humming, was he a pig?


    Taking a deep breath, he picked up a Little Bud and took the two little ones to the dining room and also called Chengcheng over for dinner.


    Chengcheng¡¯s eyes were slightly red, possibly from shortness of breath and frustration.


    Li Lingyang did not ask much but simply offered a few words of comfort and, in the course of it, suggested taking them to the Seaside Resort for the weekend to relax.


    Hearing the words ¡°Seaside Resort,¡± Chen Bao¡¯s eyes brightened.


    As far as he knew, wasn¡¯t Mommy going to take Ningning to the Seaside Resort?


    What a coincidence!


    ¡°Can we go to the Seaside Resort?¡± he promptly suggested.

 Chapter 124: 124: Urging the Family to Marry

    Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Urging the Family to Marry


    Li Lingyang raised an eyebrow.


    Seaside Resort was considered one of the top vacation spots in Imperial City, not a bad choice to visit...


    ¡°Why did you suddenly think of going there?¡±


    ¡°I heard they have a huge beach, and the recent weather has been very nice, especially over the weekend. I want to play in the water with Doudou,¡± said Chen Bao confidently, pulling Doudou in for emphasis.


    Doudou scratched his little head, thinking about the terror of his last drowning incident; he was actually quite conflicted, and his little brows furrowed.


    ¡°But Auntie had already booked another resort,¡± Shen Jiangqing, annoyed by the little brat¡¯s constant opposition, said with a forced smile, ¡°It¡¯s in the eastern part of the city. The environment there is even better, with a hot spring hotel that¡¯s just like heaven. They even have a bonfire party in the evening, Chen Bao, you¡¯ll definitely love it there.¡±


    These matters had always been arranged by Shen Jiangqing; Li Lingyang couldn¡¯t completely disregard her intentions either.


    ¡°We¡¯ll go to the resort in the east this time, and next time we can go to the Seaside.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not good, the recent weather is perfect for going to the beach, and it will get colder later on. Wouldn¡¯t it be more suitable to go to the hot springs then?¡±


    By next time, Mommy and Ningning will be gone, what would he do at the Seaside?


    Chen Bao was just short of saying, if you all aren¡¯t going, then I¡¯ll go alone.


    Li Lingyang met Chen Bao¡¯s persistent gaze.


    It was rare for him to make a request, especially with an air of it being non-negotiable.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll indulge you this once, but I have a condition.¡±


    Chen Bao raised an eyebrow, ¡°What condition?¡±


    ¡°You have to get along peacefully with Chengcheng. He¡¯s your brother, not your enemy.¡± The relationship between the two brothers was indeed very poor and needed to be softened.


    Chen Bao pouted his little mouth; he didn¡¯t really want to quarrel with Chengcheng, who always seemed to initiate trouble on his own.


    ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll listen to you. As long as he doesn¡¯t provoke me, I won¡¯t provoke him either.¡±


    Li Lingyang smiled, leaning back in the leather seat, his handsome face shrouded in the light, exceptionally noble.


    He then looked towards Chengcheng.


    Inside, Chengcheng was seething with resentment, but outwardly he timidly said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare to provoke Brother, or else... the internet at home would vanish.¡±


    ¡°Internet?¡± A hint of puzzlement flashed in Li Lingyang¡¯s deep eyes.


    Shen Jiangqing certainly didn¡¯t want Li Lingyang to know about Chen Bao¡¯s capabilities, quickly interjected, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just that the TV happened to lose its connection. Chengcheng thought Chen Bao had turned off the network, just a small issue. Let¡¯s hurry up and eat. If we¡¯re switching to Seaside Resort, there¡¯s quite a bit to take care of.¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s lips slightly pursed, his obsidian-like eyes squinting, sizing up Chen Bao, wondering about something.


    Chen Bao also suddenly remembered the past incident where he had pranked his useless dad; pretending to be indifferent, he lowered his head and shoveled rice into his mouth.


    His whirlwind-like actions stunned Doudou.


    Mommy had said, eat slowly, be elegant, be ladylike...


    She always chewed her food slowly.


    But...


    Watching Brother Chen Bao eat so deliciously made her even hungrier!


    She also started to eat faster.


    Li Lingyang watched the siblings wolfing down their food and suddenly lost his own appetite.


    Damn it, how long had they been hungry?


    ¡°Even if the snacks run out, you can eat some fruit. It would be a joke if children of Li Lingyang were left hungry!¡± Li Lingyang said sternly, his voice full of oppression.


    Shen Jiangqing clenched her fists as she realized he was indirectly pointing at her.


    That evening, Shen Jiangqing had no choice but to cancel her original booking at the resort and switched to the Seaside Resort.


    But she was informed...


    ¡°Hello ma¡¯am, our resort has been booked by the Beiji Group for this weekend.¡±


    ¡°Beiji Group?¡± Shen Jiangqing¡¯s breath hitched, and she tentatively asked, ¡°Is it the Beiji Group related to the luxury brands in Europe?¡±


    ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. Therefore, we are temporarily unable to accommodate other guests. Please understand,¡± the receptionist replied politely.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she quickly grasped the key issue. No wonder that despicable little brat was so desperate to go to the Seaside Resort¡ªit was because Ning Yichu was going!


    Numerous thoughts flashed through her mind. Smiling, she said, ¡°It so happens that I¡¯m also good friends with Mr. Mo. May I ask if he¡¯ll be there too?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The receptionist did not see any reason to withhold this information. ¡°Mr. Mo is bringing his design department staff, a total of 42 people.¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s smile grew broader.


    Wasn¡¯t Ning Yichu only attracting Baiyou by sheer luck?


    If she could disgrace herself at the resort, wouldn¡¯t all the men interested in her lose hope?


    Using the landline, Shen Jiangqing called the private owner of the resort, requesting a suite in the name of Li Lingyang.


    The owner subtly hinted that Beiji Mo had already booked the entire resort, but Shen Jiangqing replied unfazed, ¡°That¡¯s your concern. President Li wants it for this weekend; you handle the rest.¡±


    At Li¡¯s Villa, Su Huimiao learned that Li Lingyang planned to take Shen Jiangqing and several children on a vacation, and she was excited to join in on the fun.


    After a recent quarrel with her son, who had ignored her for several days, this was a rare opportunity to bond with her children.


    Li Jianbin bluntly threw cold water on her plans, ¡°Why would you go and be a third wheel? Can¡¯t you see that Jiangqing has specifically arranged this to cultivate a relationship with Aling?¡±


    ¡°Ah, I¡¯m really getting senile. Right, it¡¯s good for them to develop their relationship¡ªthey¡¯re talking about marriage!¡± Su Huimiao chided herself as if realizing for the first time, then she latched onto Li Jianbin¡¯s arm. ¡°Then I won¡¯t accompany them on the vacation. Honey, why don¡¯t you join me at the hot springs instead? I know this hotel where the hot springs are wonderful for the skin!¡±


    Li Jianbin dispassionately freed his arm and responded indifferently, ¡°I have work recently and can¡¯t spare the time. You should find someone else to accompany you.¡±


    Su Huimiao huffed.


    Li Jianbin pulled out a bank card from his pocket and handed it over. ¡°Haven¡¯t you said you haven¡¯t played cards in a long time? I¡¯ll allow it this time.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, darling!¡± Su Huimiao immediately put on a smiling face, took the bank card, and went upstairs, twisting her way.


    As she ascended the stairs, she called Shen Jiangqing.


    ¡°Jiangqing, we both have heard about your trip. It¡¯s a rare opportunity, so make sure you make the most of it!¡±


    Shen Jiangqing, unconcerned with how they had found out, playfully scolded, ¡°Mom~¡±


    ¡°A mom knows best. What¡¯s there to be shy about? Your grandmother may not like you, but she likes Aling and the grandkids! As long as Aling and the kids adore you, your grandmother won¡¯t have much to say. Put in some effort, as many people are asking us when are you guys getting married given the kids are already so big. Mom is looking forward to arranging your and Aling¡¯s wedding!¡±


    That was indeed true. Although Shen Jiangqing called her ¡°mom,¡± no wedding ceremony had taken place nor had she been entered into the family registry, making her status somewhat ambiguous.


    Even when she played cards, she occasionally faced sarcastic remarks from other players about the issue.

 Chapter 125: 125: The Most Handsome Guy Has Arrived

    Chapter 125: Chapter 125: The Most Handsome Guy Has Arrived


    ¡°What are they saying, that after her precious son divorced Ning Yichu, he¡¯s too scared to remarry?


    Dragging it out so long, he¡¯s not planning to freeload off a pair of twins, is he?


    Listen to that, what are they even saying!


    Shen Jiangqing had always wanted to get married quickly and with some grudging said, ¡°Every time I brought it up with Aling, he would say the kids are still small...¡±


    ¡°They are already in school and still small? Listen to your mother, this time Aling had a love child, Chen Bao, the more gracious you act towards Chen Bao, the more guilty he will feel towards you. Plus, with your vacation trip, create some romance, and just as soon as he softens, I¡¯ll be right there to help you matchmake!¡± Su Huimiao suggested.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s forehead twitched a bit, her heart gained a bit more confidence, and she said somewhat shamefully, ¡°I... I actually prepared some ¡®aids¡¯ too...¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! You and Aling have been together for so many years, what¡¯s lacking is just some excitement. But, it won¡¯t hurt your body, right?¡±


    ¡°How could it hurt? Nobody wants to avoid hurting Aling more than I do.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s great, then. Give it your all, and strive to have me manage a wedding by the end of the year.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, a sneer of scorn slipped over Shen Jiangqing¡¯s lips. It was really like someone would bring a pillow when you needed to sleep; she was just fretting about how to cover up the incident where Fan YuKe caught her asking her brother for aphrodisiacs, and Su Huimiao conveniently showed up at her door. With her as a shield, Shen Jiangqing grew even more expectant about their trip to the resort.


    ...


    In the blink of an eye, the day of the weekend team-building activity arrived.


    Beiji chartered two large buses to transport the employees and their families to the Seaside Resort.


    Just as Xiao Ai had said, the unmarried female designers with partners mostly did not bring relatives, especially those from Europe.


    But the older, married female designers from Imperial City brought their husbands and children along.


    Ningning hadn¡¯t come out to play with Ning Yichu for a long time, and being unfamiliar with Imperial City as well, she found everything novel and exciting.


    Ning Yichu introduced familiar place names to Ningning as they came across them.


    After five years away from the country, the changes in Imperial City were truly terrifying. Places that were once open land had all turned into towering skyscrapers, and even the desolate remote villages boasted astronomical housing prices.


    ¡°Gurgle, gurgle...¡± Lately, spoiled by Doudou¡¯s snack pack, Ningning¡¯s tastes had become picky. She had barely touched her breakfast and soon became hungry.


    ¡°Mommy, can I eat a little cake?¡± Ningning held her belly, eyeing Ning Yichu eagerly.


    Ning Yichu herself was puzzled. How come her daughter would get full so quickly during meals and yet feel hungry the moment they went out?


    ¡°Cake is too sweet. I put it in the fridge this morning, but there are some clean apples. Want to eat one?¡±


    Ningning pouted. Right then, she deeply missed Doudou¡¯s all-purpose snack pack~


    ¡°If you¡¯re hungry, you can¡¯t be picky. Besides, girls should eat more fruit. It replenishes vitamins and is good for the skin.¡± Ning Yichu handed the small apple directly to Ningning.


    Ningning was debating whether to eat it or not...


    A pair of tender little hands reached out, holding a pretty little teacup cake.


    Looking down, it was a bashful little boy around six or seven, staring at Ningning. ¡°My mommy brought little cakes, do you want to try some?¡±


    Ningning¡¯s heart bloomed with joy and looked pleadingly at Ning Yichu, ¡°Mommy, can I?¡±


    ¡°Just let the child eat a little,¡± The boy¡¯s mommy, Yu Weilan, an old-time designer from the design department, cast a loving glance, ¡°Kids at this age all love sweets. Denying them will just make them fuss all the way...¡±


    Ning Yichu could only say, ¡°Say thank you to your brother.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, brother, heart sign~¡± Ningning immediately reverted to her true self, stuffing the apple back into Ning Yichu¡¯s hand and quickly went to join the little brother to eat the cake.


    Ning Yichu, ¡°...¡±


    This little rascal is quite clever, only Chen Bao could intimidate her when he¡¯s around.


    Now that Chen Bao is gone, she has been increasingly letting loose.


    Sigh...


    Primarily, Ning Yichu was an employee at the Jade Sculpture Studio, and although she oversaw the design department, the separation of the office areas meant she didn¡¯t interact much with the other designers on a daily basis.


    At this moment, she struck up a conversation with Yu Weilan, talking about everything from work to children, and having a grand time.


    The train carriage was also filled with the laughter of children...


    Except for the occasional disdainful and contemptuous glances from Deelia, everything seemed like a perfect journey!


    Before they knew it, the car arrived at the resort.


    The administrative staff were the first to distribute room keys to everyone since they wouldn¡¯t be returning that evening and everyone had their own rooms to stay in.


    The Seaside Resort was five-star, and while they had standard rooms, having declared their family members, the admin department thoughtfully arranged a small suite with two rooms for them.


    Within view not far away, one could see rows of exquisite standalone villas.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s room was next to Yu Weilan¡¯s, and they agreed to go back to their rooms together.


    They didn¡¯t have much luggage themselves; most of it belonged to the kids and consisted of a bunch of odds and ends.


    ¡°Mommy, does Uncle Mo Shuai live over there?¡± Ning Yichu had just finished unpacking when Ningning lay on the windowsill, looking at a standalone villa across from them.


    Ning Yichu nodded, ¡°I suppose so, he¡¯s the boss after all ¨C he definitely won¡¯t be staying in a standard room like us.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Uncle Mo Shuai for so long, I want to go and play with him later.¡±


    ¡°This isn¡¯t home, there are many employees in the company, don¡¯t cling to him later and make it awkward for him...¡± and it would also seem like they were very close.


    In reality, this little rascal had only met Mo Baiyou once or twice, she was just overly familiar because she thought he was handsome.


    Ningning tapped her head, ¡°I got it, Mommy, I¡¯ll help you make the bed...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s almost done; we¡¯ll rest for a while. There¡¯s a buffet at noon, and the afternoon has nice sunshine, so we can go to the beach for a bit. The company might also hold some small activities. There¡¯s a bonfire party in the evening that should be fun.¡±


    Ning Yichu briefly outlined the day¡¯s schedule to Ningning, whose big eyes sparkled at just the thought of it ¨C everything sounded so exciting.


    But when would that lousy dad bring her brother and Doudou over?


    The resort environment was beautiful, with lush green trees and blossoming flowers, and the air was exceptionally fresh.


    Li Lingyang and his group also arrived at the gates of the resort.


    The tall and handsome man got out from the driver¡¯s seat, and today, he was dressed unusually casual in loungewear which, without the sharp lines of a suit, gave him a more approachable, laid-back look.


    After he got out of the car, he opened the rear door, and one by one, adorable little kids jumped out.


    Chen Bao was wearing a jacket specially customized for him by Su Huimiao, complemented by a trendy hat and sneakers, looking incredibly cool!


    Chengcheng was dressed as usual in a black jacket, looking adorable, though his eyes occasionally revealed a hint of grievances.


    And of course, the last one out of the car had to be the cute Doudou.


    Little Doudou, wanting to keep up with Chen Bao¡¯s pace today, had deliberately put on a white shirt paired with colorful harem pants. The outfit was simple, yet the colors were bright, and her little face, shy and bashful, made her look especially cute...

 Chapter 126 - 126 126 Got the Wrong Swimsuit

    ?Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Got the Wrong Swimsuit? Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Got the Wrong Swimsuit? ¡°President Li, your room has been arranged...¡± The manager had been waiting by the roadside early in the morning and, seeing the scene, welcomed them with enthusiasm.


    Li Lingyang nodded slightly, handed over his luggage to the bellhop, then tenderly squatted in front of Doudou. ¡°Are you tired after sitting in the car for so long?¡±


    Doudou shyly shook her head to indicate no. Going out with brother and daddy was fun, and in a little while, she would see Ningning and the beautiful aunt. She wasn¡¯t tired at all!


    ¡°Come, daddy will give you a hug.¡± Li Lingyang spread his arms wide and scooped Doudou into them, seating her on his sturdy forearm, which instantly elevated her above the other companions.


    This treatment was reserved for Little Cotton-padded Jacket alone. As for Chengcheng and Chen Bao, since they were little boys, they should take care of themselves. It was just a few steps anyway; they could walk on their own.


    Chen Bao, having long been accustomed to yielding to his sister, felt nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, sometimes he felt that Trashy Dad wasn¡¯t completely devoid of sentiment.


    But jealousy flickered in Chengcheng¡¯s eyes.


    He also wanted to be held by daddy, to let the whole world see that he was the most beloved child...


    But daddy¡¯s embrace was always monopolized by Doudou!


    ¡°Chengcheng, Chen Bao, are you guys hungry? Mommy brought some milk and bread rolls, why don¡¯t you eat a bit to fill your stomachs?¡± Shen Jiangqing offered her hand to Chengcheng as she spoke in a coaxing tone.


    Chengcheng nodded and shifted his attention.


    Chen Bao refused outright, preferring to save space for the tasty food at the resort.


    Ten minutes later, the group arrived at the villa within the Seaside Resort.


    The interior of the villa was spotless. Special care had been taken to disinfect and sterilize it because of the children, and the floors were covered with non-slip carpets. Even sharp corners were wrapped with collision-proof sponges, showing great consideration.


    ¡°President Li, little young master, Little Miss, are you satisfied with everything?¡± The manager, with a sycophantic smile, asked respectfully.


    Li Lingyang glanced around and responded flatly.


    Shen Jiangqing placed the luggage in the master bedroom and eyed the luxurious kingsize bed.


    There was a canopy over the bed, and aromatic candles were placed on the headboard...


    Imagine when night falls, they¡¯re intoxicated with wine, lighting the scented candles, enveloped by the canopy, blending passionately amidst the fragrance of flowers¡ªit will be absolutely wonderful!


    ¡°The environment is very nice, Manager, you¡¯ve put in a good effort!¡± Shen Jiangqing expressed her satisfaction.


    The manager beamed with joy, ¡°Then please rest for a while, and if you need anything, just call me. I¡¯ll introduce the unique features of our resort.¡±


    ¡°Okay...¡±


    Just as the manager was about to leave, he was halted by a child¡¯s voice.


    Chen Bao was leaning against the window glass, with a perfect view of the sparkling freshwater swimming pool below.


    The manager, looking at the handsome Chen Bao, couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the strength of his genes. That little face was an exact replica; no need for a paternity test to be sure¡ªdefinitely his own flesh and blood!


    ¡°Little young master, may I help you with something?¡±


    ¡°I heard there¡¯s a swimming pool party this afternoon, what time does it start?¡± Chen Bao, with a hint of superiority, mimicked Li Lingyang¡¯s inscrutable demeanor.


    From a certain angle, he looked exactly like Li Lingyang¡¯s profile!


    The manager quickly explained, ¡°The swimming pool party isn¡¯t organized by the resort but rather by another group here for team building, around three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Actually... to be precise, it¡¯s not exactly a pool party, it¡¯s just that coming to the Seaside Resort and not playing in the sea would be too much of a waste, so they¡¯ve decided to gather at the beach.¡±


    Chen Bao raised his eyebrows and waved his little hand dismissively, ¡°Got it, you can leave.¡±


    His demeanor carried a bit of imperious confidence!


    The manager wiped his sweat and retreated from the room, step by step.


    There were four bedrooms on the second floor of the villa, and with the master bedroom taken, the three Little Buds each had their own room just perfectly.


    Chen Bao gave the quieter bedroom facing the inner courtyard to Doudou.


    Just after he¡¯d placed his little luggage into the cabinet, he received a message from Ningning, ¡°Calling Superman big brother, Mommy and I have already arrived at the resort, have you guys made it? It¡¯s so much fun here, and there are so so many delicious foods...¡±


    Chen Bao could tell just from her words how happy she was, raising an eyebrow, ¡°We¡¯ve arrived too.¡±


    ¡°Ah, where are you staying? Let me show you Mommy¡¯s and my room!¡±


    Ding-dong, Ningning sent over a selfie.


    In the picture, Ningning tilted her head, making a peace sign at the camera, but the angle wasn¡¯t great, making her little face appear chubby.


    Hmph, she¡¯d put on weight even though he and Mommy weren¡¯t by her side? Absolutely heartless.


    On closer inspection, wasn¡¯t the place where Ningning was staying just across from the pool?


    ¡°I¡¯m staying in the villa area opposite you, in Building 4.¡±


    Chen Bao casually sent a photo back too.


    Ningning, clutching her phone, was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously ran to the balcony; sure enough, they could gaze at each other from a distance. She quickly waved at Chen Bao, who also simply waved back in acknowledgement.


    Brother is staying in a big villa, wow, Ningning¡¯s little heart bubbled with tender pink bubbles, briefly envying him for a moment.


    But with Mommy by her side, it made no difference whether they stayed in a big house or not.


    Li Lingyang finished packing his luggage and habitually went to check on the kids.


    He pushed the door open, just in time to see Chen Bao alone, frowning at his phone, yet his gaze was incredibly tender, no need to guess who this little thing was contacting. Utterly speechless, what¡¯s it like to be fed ¡°dog food¡± by a four-year-old son every day?


    It was probably like now, wanting to separate them every day, yet knowing full well it was very hard.


    ¡°Chatting with your little girlfriend again?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s sudden voice startled Chen Bao.


    He slowly put away his phone, eyebrow raised, ¡°She¡¯s saying she and Aunt Ning are going swimming this afternoon; I¡¯m helping them pick out swimsuits.¡±


    Swimming? Swimwear?


    Images of Ning Yichu taking Ningning to the beach flashed through Li Lingyang¡¯s mind. With her hot figure nowadays, plus a cute kid...


    His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, a dark fire stirring in his eyes, ¡°Is there even a need to pick? Do you want your girlfriend to be seen by other little boys? Of course, the more conservative, the better!¡±


    Chen Bao stroke his chin, pondering for a while, then suddenly looked at him with a smirk, ¡°You¡¯re right, whenever those sleazy guys leer at our woman, I feel like giving them a good beating!¡±


    Li Lingyang felt like he¡¯d heard his son¡¯s words before, as if somewhere...


    ¡°Finish up and come out quick, it¡¯s time for lunch!¡±


    Chen Bao made a little devil face at Li Lingyang¡¯s retreating back, eyes rolling around.


    Just wait, I¡¯ll have Mommy dazzle you!


    Make you regret it!


    ...


    After finishing their buffet lunch, Ning Yichu took Ningning back to their room to change into swimwear.


    When she left home, she had specifically packed a set of mother-daughter one-piece swimsuits, relatively conservative, yet comfortable, without the fear of wardrobe malfunctions, so they could freely take a dip!


    However, when she opened her luggage bag, she discovered that her adult-sized one-piece swimsuit was missing, leaving only the child-sized one.


    Additionally, there was an extremely sexy bikini placed inside!


    What?


    When had she ever taken a bikini?

 Chapter 127 - 127 127 Whos Out of Ingredients Now

    ?Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Who¡¯s Out of Ingredients Now? Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Who¡¯s Out of Ingredients Now? ¡°Mummy, what are you looking for?¡± Ningning asked, already knowing full well as she leaned in with her head.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s head was practically buried in the suitcase as she muttered, ¡°The one-piece swimsuit! I distinctly remember putting it right here, how did it become a bikini?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, Mummy, you didn¡¯t pick up the wrong one, did you?¡± Ningning exclaimed in mock surprise.


    ¡°What?¡±


    Ning Yichu felt like spitting blood!


    She had specifically chosen a comparatively conservative one-piece swimsuit, even a matching one with her precious daughter, but she had picked up the wrong one!


    She searched tirelessly once more, but still did not find it!


    She was doomed; she had brought the wrong swimsuit...


    ¡°Mummy, actually, this bikini looks quite nice. Just wear it, it¡¯s not that big of a deal...¡± Ningning quickly egged Ning Yichu on.


    Ning Yichu held her forehead, always low-profile within Imperial City, and dressed very plainly, suddenly wearing such a sexy bikini really didn¡¯t fit her low-key, substantive image. But now, she had no other swimsuits to wear. She couldn¡¯t possibly go in a T-shirt, could she? That would be even more embarrassing once she got into the water.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll just have to wear this one then, but it¡¯s so odd. I clearly remember intentionally picking out one that matched yours...¡±


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯ve been under too much work pressure and forgot about it in the moment,¡± Ningning mumbled ambiguously, her large eyes flashing with a tinge of guilt, and then she pushed Ning Yichu into the restroom to change.


    Ning Yichu really thought she had forgotten and didn¡¯t dwell on it anymore. She went into the bathroom to change clothes.


    After changing, she looked at the woman in the mirror with her fair skin, beautiful appearance, and long legs and couldn¡¯t help feeling that, well, there was nothing indecent after all!


    But as she walked to the beach holding Ningning, she still wore a long outer garment, covering all her spring glory and casually putting her hair up in a bun.


    Halfway there, they ran into Yu Weilan and ended up going to the beach together.


    It was only at the beach they realized they were late; many colleagues had already changed and were in the water.


    Especially the female colleagues, each was more exaggerated than the next!


    Xiao Ai came over at some point, holding her chest and yelled, ¡°Hey, have you all gone mad? Dressing so conservatively! Our Imperial City designers are being outdone by those bold women from Europe...¡±


    Upon closer inspection, it turned out everyone was indeed wearing sexy bikinis and flaunting their figures.


    The most open were those few designers from Europe, with just a few tiny pieces of cloth covering the essentials, strutting about to ensure everyone took notice.


    ¡°Hey, Ning Yichu, why did you come dressed like that?¡± Deelia walked over as if she had a sixth sense, looking her up and down.


    Still wearing an outer garment? You¡¯re going to take it off anyway, what affectation!


    ¡°Is it because your figure is so bad you¡¯re embarrassed to show it? Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re all women here; no one will laugh at you!¡±


    ¡°Hmph, my mummy has an amazing figure; you¡¯re the one who shouldn¡¯t be seen!¡± Ning Yichu glared coldly at Deelia, but before she could speak, Ningning furiously put her hands on her hips and scolded Deelia.


    This was the first time Deelia had met Ningning, but she had long heard that Ning Yichu had a daughter. She straightened up proudly, her impressive 36E chest heaving, comparable to a Western dairy cow, and raised her eyebrows, ¡°So you¡¯re Ning Yichu¡¯s daughter? Just as ill-mannered as your mummy!¡±


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t deny that Western women developed very well, but sometimes they were overly so, and it didn¡¯t look harmonious to her, at least not according to her aesthetic standards.


    ¡°People with real class never flaunt their manners. Since you look down on us Easterners so much, what are you doing in Imperial City? Why not go back to Europe earlier, where at least your family and friends are, and where you¡¯d fit in like a fish in water?¡±


    Her tone was indifferent, and her intonation as relaxed as usual, yet there was an undeniably pointed attack in her words.


    Deelia¡¯s eyes flickered, and she snorted coldly, ¡°We¡¯re here in Imperial City to oversee you group of Eastern designers! What if you mess up the new designs and affect Beiji¡¯s reputation?¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s lips curved slightly, and she suddenly remembered the batch of defective materials in the storage. She said with a smile, ¡°Even if we Eastern designers aren¡¯t great, we wouldn¡¯t tamper with materials, passing off inferior goods as high quality.¡±


    Deelia¡¯s face changed, and shock flitted across her eyes, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Nothing much,¡± Ning Yichu said, aware from Deelia¡¯s reaction that her guess was likely correct.


    She had noticed the jade quality wasn¡¯t quite right outside the garage that day. Later, she went to the material warehouse again. The batch of jade was locked up, and she only glimpsed it through the crack in the door. Her intuition told her there was definitely something wrong with it.


    She hadn¡¯t expected such a test would expose Deelia.


    She smiled and changed the subject, ¡°Since you¡¯re so confident, let¡¯s see whose new designs will be more popular once they¡¯re released¡ªthe so-called great European designers or our localized designers?¡±


    Deelia, somewhat perplexed and unsure how much Ning Yichu knew, bit back, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s compete, and just wait¡ªI¡¯ll make you leave Beiji!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll be looking forward to it,¡± Ning Yichu said innocently, blinking. Then she turned to Ningning, ¡°Baby, let¡¯s go. It¡¯s time to swim.¡±


    With that, Ning Yichu raised her hands and slid off her hair band while slowly unzipping her jacket.


    As the sound of the metal zipper reached her ears, she watched her slender fingers gently open the jacket, beginning from the shoulders, increasingly revealing smooth, luminous skin, and a neck as slender as a swan¡¯s.


    Lower still was a black strap bikini.


    Her dark hair swayed as she moved, and a hint of red bloomed on her beautiful lips. What was most striking, however, was her proportionate figure, like Venus personified, slender where it should be, fleshed out where it was needed¡ªperfectly embodying the phrase ¡°curvy with a slender waist¡±, without a single flaw.


    The rippling light, mixed with the sun¡¯s rays, glinted across Ning Yichu¡¯s fair skin.


    It was as if a bright white light reflected off her...


    Deelia¡¯s disdainful gaze slowly turned to one of open-mouthed shock.


    For a brief moment, a hush seemed to surround Ning Yichu.


    While she didn¡¯t have Deelia¡¯s ¡°cow-like¡± big chest, after giving birth she¡¯d had a second development, and her figure was enchantingly curvy.


    ¡°Wow...¡± Xiao Ai exclaimed, ¡°Sister Ning, you¡¯re actually this stacked?!¡±


    Ning Yichu threw her a seductive glance, ¡°Without a bit of skill, how dare I come to the beach?¡±


    With that, she picked up the ¡°very content and proud¡± Ningning and headed toward the sea.


    Xiao Ai clutched her chest, ¡°Ah! I¡¯m dead, I¡¯m bent, I¡¯m green with envy...¡±


    ¡°Wait for me, I want to go swimming with you...¡± Xiao Ai, regaining her composure, hurriedly followed.


    Just as they were about to enter the water, the sound of women¡¯s jubilant shouts by the seaside halted their steps.


    Looking up, they saw Mo Baiyou being accompanied by a few male designers as he walked over.

 Chapter 128 - 128 128 Are You on Top or Bottom

    ?Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Are You on Top or Bottom? Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Are You on Top or Bottom? Since it was a beach party, Mo Baiyou and his group were all wearing swim trunks, exposing swathes of sexy, enticing skin, with eight well-defined abs seeming to burst forth with power, even their leg hair appeared denser than other men¡¯s.


    It was as if that unique hormone was ready to surge out from their bodies, and combined with their handsome and striking faces, they drew the gaze of everyone around.


    ¡°OMG, look, Mr. Mo and his crew have arrived! Ah, I always heard Mr. Mo would work out after work, but I didn¡¯t expect him to have such a great body...¡±


    ¡°One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, eight-pack abs! I¡¯m done for, I¡¯m going to be charmed to death...¡±


    ¡°Ah, Mr. Mo just looked at me...¡±


    Ningning initially wanted to play in the sea while her brother was away, but the unexpected sight of Mo Baiyou electrified her, and her big eyes lit up instantly.


    ¡°Uncle Mo Shuai!¡± Ningning¡¯s little butt stuck out as she wriggled out of Ning Yichu¡¯s arms like an eel and dashed towards Mo Baiyou, bouncing up and down, almost ready to cling to him like an accessory.


    Mo Baiyou, seeing the enthusiastic little one, almost instantly softened his gaze and picked up the little girl, weighing her in his arms.


    ¡°Ningning? It¡¯s been so long, and you¡¯ve grown a bit taller.¡±


    ¡°Really? Mommy always says I¡¯ve been growing out like swollen cheeks lately! Hmph, I¡¯m not happy.¡±


    The smile deepened in Mo Baiyou¡¯s eyes upon hearing this, following Ningning¡¯s gaze towards Ning Yichu not far away.


    She was still in the pose ready to enter the water, with her pale and slender legs half-submerged and the other half exposed, her pretty face entrancing, casually flicking her long hair as if intending to captivate souls.


    She really was beautiful...


    Even more so than when she wore her white lab coat.


    Ning Yichu, sensing Mo Baiyou¡¯s burning scrutiny, tightened her breath and smiled as she approached, ¡°Ningning, are you bothering Mr. Mo again? Come down.¡±


    ¡°No, no, Mommy, I want to play with Uncle Mo Shuai.¡± Ningning clung to Mo Baiyou like an octopus, her little arms encircling his neck. His skin was so smooth and silky, nothing like the rough men she had seen before. Hmm, what skincare does he use? I should recommend it to Mommy later.


    Ning Yichu, helpless and pretending to be severe, said, ¡°Mr. Mo has things to do later, remember what I told you before?¡±


    ¡°Uncle Mo Shuai, if you really have things to do, you can put Ningning down, but Ningning will miss you,¡± Ningning pleaded with mournful puppy dog eyes, on the verge of being sly.


    Mo Baiyou poked her pitiful little cheek and spoke warmly, ¡°The event hasn¡¯t started yet; I don¡¯t have much to do, so I can continue to play with you.¡±


    ¡°Yes! Did you hear that, Mommy? Ningning isn¡¯t bothering Uncle Mo Shuai.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Ning Yichu was frustrated; Ningning has never clung to strange men before.


    On the contrary, she had a natural wariness towards them!


    What¡¯s gotten into her now?


    ¡°Well... thank you then, Mr. Mo,¡± said Ning Yichu with a warning glance.


    Ningning pretended not to notice.


    Awoo, doesn¡¯t Mommy realize? She¡¯s trying her hardest to match-make them!


    To hell with that scumbag dad!


    But when are brother and scumbag dad going to come?


    Ning Yichu, dragged by Ningning, joined Mo Baiyou in the Shallow Water Zone to play with the little girl.


    The little girl occasionally scooped up a handful of water and sprinkled it over the two of them.


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t even get angry if she wanted to.


    What¡¯s with this little girl today?


    This infuriated Deelia, whose eyes were nearly shooting flames, seeing that Mr. Mo was actually playing with a little child?


    Seeing her so proud of her figure, yet he didn¡¯t even feel like greeting her?


    Fortunately, it wasn¡¯t long before the administrative department announced the official start of the event.


    The host held the microphone and introduced gravely, ¡°Employees from the design department and their family members, welcome to Seaside Resort! Mr. Mo says, everyone has worked hard recently with all the overtime, so he has specially prepared a grand party to reward you all. There are no hierarchies today, and I hope everyone can let go of any burden and just have fun!¡±


    ¡°Wow~¡± Everyone below the stage cheered and jeered, creating a lively scene.


    The host continued, ¡°The first segment we have prepared is to build trust among our employees. New employees must participate, and old employees may join if they wish, for example, those being watched by their spouses, then it¡¯s not mandatory...¡±


    ¡°Ha-ha-ha, looks like the administrative department has a new prank game this year.¡±


    ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m so annoyed by these guys from the administrative department, their games are always so absurd.¡±


    ¡°I wonder what it will be this year?¡±


    Next, the administrative department handed out numbered badges to the game participants from the design department. The computer would then randomly draw 12 pairs, making a total of 24 people.


    ¡°The name of this trust-building game is ¡®I Jump, You Catch!¡¯ As the name suggests, one person stands in the water while the other stands on the shore and falls backward. In the end, the one whose pose is the most graceful, creates the smallest splash, and gets the loudest cheers, will be the winner of the first game! The prize is 1888 yuan in cash, plus a set of movie tickets, so everyone must participate earnestly~¡±


    Money had the greatest motivational impact, and upon hearing about the cash prize, everyone cheered again.


    ¡°Alright, the computer will now randomly pair you up, let¡¯s begin¨D¡±


    As the host pressed the computer button, the pre-built screen began to flicker and spin.


    Deelia stared steadfastly at the number on her badge.


    She hoped to draw Mr. Mo, Mr. Mo! Mr. Mo!


    The screen suddenly froze, revealing the final pairings.


    Her own number 13, paired with number 9!


    She instinctively looked towards Mo Baiyou, and in his hand was the number 9 badge, wasn¡¯t it?


    Deelia¡¯s heart started pounding rapidly.


    She had actually drawn Mr. Mo. With her body, once she got into close contact with Mr. Mo later, wouldn¡¯t it set off fireworks?


    Mo Baiyou glanced at his own badge, then at the pairing on the computer screen, a faint smile lifting the corners of his mouth as he walked straight towards the other side.


    Deelia watched with wide eyes as Mo Baiyou walked towards her, her breath nearly halting as she mustered the brightest smile, ready to greet Mo Baiyou...


    Then, she watched Mo Baiyou pass right by her...


    Pass by...


    Finally, Mo Baiyou stopped in front of Ning Yichu, his face holding a faint smile, shaking his number in his hand.


    ¡°Chu Chu, we really have fate.¡±


    Ning Yichu glanced at her badge and tugged at the corner of her mouth, ¡°Yeah, what a coincidence!¡±


    ¡°So shall we start? Do you want to be the one falling backward, or do you want to catch me?¡± Mo Baiyou naturally asked in a light voice, a faint smile lurking in the corners of his eyes.


    After some thought, Ningning considered that if she fell into Mo Baiyou¡¯s arms, Deelia would probably darken her reputation even more.


    Although she didn¡¯t care much about Deelia¡¯s constant backdoor accusations, being overly intimate with the boss in front of other employees would inevitably cause a bad impression, not to mention the ten million in bribe money... unresolved and complicated.


    ¡°I¡¯ll catch you from below.¡±


    Mo Baiyou sized her up with a smile, ¡°Although I don¡¯t doubt that you work out too, someone with my build is not light. If you¡¯re afraid I won¡¯t be able to catch you and that you¡¯ll fall, don¡¯t worry, I will definitely try my best to catch you.¡±


    Just as Ningning was about to speak, suddenly a figure rushed over, grabbing Mo Baiyou¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Mr. Mo, I am definitely the one paired with you! Ning Yichu, have you no shame? The rules of the activity clearly state that it¡¯s not open to any pairing, are you deaf?¡±

 Chapter 129 - 129 129 The Person I Like

    ?Chapter 129: Chapter 129 The Person I Like... Chapter 129: Chapter 129 The Person I Like... ¡°??¡± Ning Yichu listened, looking baffled, ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s blind, where did I not follow the rules?¡±


    ¡°You should look for yourself, the computer shows that number 13 pairs with number 9, Mr. Mo is my number 9! You¡¯re paired with someone who isn¡¯t Mr. Mo, even if you want to get close to Mr. Mo, you can¡¯t be so shameless, can you? Or is it that all you people from Imperial City are this disgraceful?¡± Deelia shook her number plate, which clearly showed the number 13 in a flamboyant manner, her mouth not pausing for a moment.


    Ning Yichu couldn¡¯t help but express his admiration, his thin smile tinged with coldness, ¡°Could you please open your eyes wider and take a good look again?¡±


    ¡°Even if I look again, Mr. Mo is still mine...¡±


    ¡°Deelia.¡± Mo Baiyou frowned and coldly shook Deelia¡¯s hand off, ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person, my number is 6.¡±


    ¡°What... what?¡±


    Mo Baiyou slowly lifted the number plate in his hand, which from an inverted 6 had turned into a correctly positioned 6.


    In that instant, Deelia staggered, feeling the burning sensation on her face, she had actually misread the number?


    Mo Baiyou looked at her with a hint of disappointment, ¡°Even if your Chinese isn¡¯t very good, you should still be able to recognize Arabic numerals, right?¡±


    Deelia¡¯s face turned beet red, ¡°I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯ve caused a disturbance!¡±


    The surrounding designers also looked at this scene and cast derisory glances.


    Dejected, Deelia turned around and walked away to look for her number 9 teammate.


    ¡°Number 9, turns out it¡¯s me?¡± At that moment, Xiao Ai came out from the corner; she had almost mistaken herself for number 6 and was about to pair up with Ning Yichu.


    Knowing that Xiao Ai was Ning Yichu¡¯s assistant made Deelia even more infuriated, ¡°So you were number 9, why didn¡¯t you call out sooner?¡±


    Making her make such a fool of herself!


    Xiao Ai, bewildered by the scolding, couldn¡¯t admit that she too had been mistaken, so she retorted, ¡°I did think of calling out, but when I saw you rushing excitedly towards Mr. Mo, I thought I had misunderstood the rules, so I dared not shout...¡±


    ¡°You dare talk back to me? Is this how Ning Yichu usually trains his subordinates?¡± Deelia¡¯s fury surged, and if it hadn¡¯t been for the setting, she would have slapped the young assistant hard.


    Xiao Ai shrank her neck and fell silent.


    Deelia said irritably, ¡°What are you still dazed for? Go to the beach! You¡¯re so plump, I¡¯ll get on top, you catch me!¡±


    Xiao Ai¡¯s eyes darted around and she responded quietly.


    As everyone took their places, the host on the stage started the countdown...


    ¡°Go mommy!¡± Ningning made her hands into little loudspeakers and cheered from across, ¡°You¡¯re the best... oh, my brother and the bad uncle are here too?¡±


    Before Ningning could finish speaking, she saw a group of people walking towards them from a distance, led by the impressively tall and stately Li Lingyang!


    The man, dressed in casual attire, had the fragmented sunlight scatter off the sea¡¯s surface, then refracting onto his handsome face as if coating it with a crystal glaze, his lips slightly pursed, holding a soft ¡°Nianhua doll¡± in his arms, with his left hand holding Chengcheng, followed by Chen Bao and Shen Jiangqing.


    Seeing her brother and Doudou made Ningning¡¯s face fall.


    Seeing her deadbeat dad with the mistress and Chengcheng, not so much.


    Three to two, a bit more unhappy.


    ¡°Just look, that man is so handsome, almost comparable to our Mr. Mo...¡±


    ¡°I feel like he looks familiar, like I¡¯ve seen him on the financial news channel!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s brought his wife and kids along, how can he compare with our Mr. Mo? Mr. Mo is single and manly, not to mention refined and well-behaved. Most importantly, his private life is incredibly clean; such a man in a relationship would know how to take care of someone, unlike that man whose face looks so domineering, quite frightening...¡±


    Hearing everyone chatter, Ning Yichu also subconsciously looked over and inadvertently locked eyes directly with Li Lingyang, his pupils suddenly constricted!


    Li Lingyang had also brought his kids?


    There were still other people on the beach, but she spotted him right away.


    Just then, the host announced that the countdown was over, and the event officially began!


    Ning Yichu¡¯s mind went blank, she didn¡¯t think of anything and almost unconsciously fell backward, the whistling of the wind near her ears.


    Splashing sounds of water continuously arose.


    And she only felt a pair of warm, wide palms on her back, falling into a warm embrace, then securely standing in the shallow water zone.


    ¡°It seems we¡¯re quite successful, aren¡¯t we?¡± Baiyou¡¯s teasing voice sounded by her ear.


    Ning Yichu glanced up and saw that quite a few people around them had actually failed the challenge.


    Either they hadn¡¯t steadied themselves and staggered a few steps, causing splashes, or both people had fallen into the water. The worst case was Deelia and Xiao Ai¡¯s group, where Xiao Ai had made a token effort to catch her, then let go, causing Deelia to plunge headfirst into the sea!


    Deelia climbed out of the water in a sorry state, glaring at Xiao Ai.


    Ning Yichu watched this scene in shock.


    Xiao Ai playfully winked at her.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s thoughts stirred slightly as she gave a thumbs up, thinking, this girl appears carefree but actually has a clear sense of love and hatred.


    ¡°This game is more difficult than we expected,¡± the host¡¯s voice came again, ¡°so many groups have failed, so selecting the most successful group shouldn¡¯t be very difficult...¡±


    ¡°Ning Yichu, Mr. Mo, it has to be their group~¡± someone in the crowd shouted.


    Hearing his name linked with Ning Yichu¡¯s, Baiyou¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°I hope no one minds if I take the prize money from you?¡±


    ¡°Haha, we don¡¯t mind, Mr. Mo v5.¡±


    Thus, Ning Yichu accepted the title of the perfect partner and received a cash prize of 1888 and a pair of tickets for two.


    She split the cash prize with Baiyou, but gave all the movie tickets to him.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been quite busy with work recently, probably won¡¯t have the desire to watch a movie, so I¡¯ll give these movie tickets to Mr. Mo as a thank you for not letting me fall just now...¡±


    Baiyou¡¯s expression stiffened slightly, as she had just quashed any notion he had of inviting her to a movie.


    ¡°I can¡¯t use two tickets alone, you should take Ningning when you have time,¡± he quickly returned to normal.


    Ning Yichu smiled, ¡°The tickets are valid for a year, what if you find a girlfriend during this year?¡±


    Baiyou pursed his lips, staring intently at Ning Yichu, his earnest, tender phoenix eyes reflecting two miniatures of her, ¡°What if I told you I¡¯ve always had a crush, but never dared to confess? What advice would you have?¡±


    Ning Yichu¡¯s heartbeat missed a beat, as if sensing he might shatter their temporary peaceful colleague relationship next second, she hurriedly turned her head away, not wanting to disrupt the calm.


    ¡°My marriage was quite a failure, everyone around me is mocking me for being nai?ve, Mr. Mo, you might be asking the wrong person for advice.¡±


    ¡°No, not at all wrong, because the person I like also just experienced a failed marriage...¡±


    ...


    Shen Jiangqing knew Beiji had an activity in the afternoon and specially suggested bringing the kids to the beach with Li Lingyang.


    She chatted excitedly with Li Lingyang about various topics on the way.


    At one moment talking about the kids going to school, at another about Su Huimiao urging them to marry, but after a while, she realized Li Lingyang wasn¡¯t really listening.


    His gaze cut through the layers of air, shooting straight towards the couple ¡°intimately¡± embracing on the beach!

 Chapter 130 - 130 130 Trapped in the Fake Mountain Cave

    ?Chapter 130: Chapter 130 Trapped in the Fake Mountain Cave... Sobbing Chapter 130: Chapter 130 Trapped in the Fake Mountain Cave... Sobbing ¡°So Beiji is hosting a seaside party here today!¡± Shen Jiangqing exclaimed, as if she had just realized.


    Suddenly, she pointed at a man and woman opposite to them and said, ¡°Look, isn¡¯t that Lady Ning and Mr. Mo? The way they¡¯re hugging each other, they really do look like a handsome man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven!¡±


    Li Lingyang had yet to speak, his fists by his sides getting tighter and tighter!


    Shen Jiangqing glanced casually, and that glance made her jump with fright!


    She really had never seen Li Lingyang with such an expression before, his whole face... it was as if it had been frozen over, terrifyingly cold.


    No, not frozen, but rather like a raging fire burning, filled with a fury ready to sweep everything away.


    Shen Jiangqing had never seen him show such expression for herself, his jaws clenched as if they were about to break, but on the surface, she continued, ¡°Oh, Ningning is also there! She¡¯s clapping and cheering, it seems she has accepted Mr. Mo as her stepfather now. If Lady Ning can find a new home, she won¡¯t keep coming after our children in the future, right?¡±


    Li Lingyang remained silent, his handsome face carrying a deadly chill, his gaze incessantly spinning around Ning Yichu and Ningning.


    Even Chen Bao felt the emotional shift in his crappy dad!


    By rights, he should be piling on mercilessly now, telling his crappy dad that his mom certainly isn¡¯t lacking in suitors.


    But for some reason, seeing his dad in this ghost-like state, he felt a little unable to say it.


    Even the usually slow-witted Doudou noticed and tugged on Li Lingyang¡¯s trouser leg.


    ¡°Daddy, does your tooth hurt?¡± she mimed and asked.


    Because Daddy¡¯s gritting teeth expression really did look like it...


    Li Lingyang¡¯s anger surged even more upon seeing Doudou, forcefully suppressing those tumultuous emotions and picked her up as if nothing was wrong.


    ¡°This place isn¡¯t fun, Daddy will take you somewhere else.¡±


    ¡°But I saw Ningning and the pretty auntie over there,¡± Doudou said, tilting her head and miming doubtfully.


    There are so many people here, why isn¡¯t it fun?


    It¡¯s just...


    Their clothes are so skimpy.


    Li Lingyang always protected Doudou very well, and even though he knew the party in front of him was normal, he still said subconsciously, ¡°There¡¯s a fishing spot over there. How about Daddy takes you fishing?¡±


    ¡°Hmm...¡± Doudou hesitated for a second, then shook her head firmly, ¡°No! Doudou wants to play with Sister Ningning.¡±


    Li Lingyang locked eyes with the little girl for two seconds and, in the end, couldn¡¯t outlast her determination.


    But when he took Doudou back to play by the seaside, his face remained livid as if someone owed him a hundred billion.


    When Ningning saw Doudou and Chen Bao, she came over with a cheerful smile to greet them.


    ¡°Bad Uncle, good afternoon,¡± Ningning greeted Li Lingyang.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze passed over her to Ning Yichu, who was chatting with Mo Baiyou behind her.


    He didn¡¯t know what they were talking about, but Ning Yichu¡¯s expression became more and more knotted, as if she was pondering a significant decision.


    Li Lingyang snorted coldly, his sharp eyes dangerously intense.


    Mustering her courage, Ningning said, ¡°You look like the big bad wolf in the forest, not nearly as nice as Uncle Mo Shuai. No wonder Mommy doesn¡¯t like you!¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t like me, she likes who? Your Uncle Mo Shuai?¡± Li Lingyang forced out through clenched teeth.


    Ningning felt he was so scary that she shivered and ran behind Chen Bao to hide, ¡°Brother Chen Bao, take me to play, your daddy¡¯s expression is so stinky, I don¡¯t want to see him!¡±


    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s call Doudou, we¡¯ll go over there and play water polo.¡± Chen Bao hesitated for a moment but still decided not to get involved with Li Lingyang for the time being.


    That deadbeat dad is acting a bit abnormal now, and if he snaps, it would not be worth the consequences!


    Doudou asked Chengcheng if he wanted to join?


    Chengcheng arrogantly lifted his chin, sizing her up with his nostrils.


    A lowly bastard, he didn¡¯t care to play with her at all!


    Doudou found no joy in this, but she wasn¡¯t sad in the slightest, her little face lifted with a milky smile, following behind Ningning and Chen Bao, she bounced away.


    Turns out, the Shallow Water Zone was very close to Ning Yichu and Mo Baiyou, Li Lingyang didn¡¯t follow them after all but arranged for the resort staff to accompany them.


    The internal activity of Beiji Group continued, with the final event being a treasure hunt game!


    The president hid a jewel of inestimable value somewhere in the resort.


    Whichever designer was destined to find it, could keep it!


    Once this activity was announced, everyone rushed off to find the gemstone...


    The rules were still to pair up in twos, with the deadline set before six-thirty in the evening, because after that would be the bonfire party, and with darkness approaching, there was also fear of straying too far and accidents happening.


    But Ning Yichu directly separated from Mo Baiyou, she went off alone nearby to treasure hunt, and with the waiters watching, the three children shouldn¡¯t encounter any accidents.


    As if by some premonition, Ning Yichu arrived at a fork in the road, choosing a path with artificial rocks.


    As the sky grew darker, Ning Yichu was also relying on luck to randomly search the nearby area.


    However, as soon as she passed a row of rockeries, her shoulder suddenly pained, and she felt a fierce force hitting her, her whole body being pulled into a firm chest.


    Taken unguarded, she stumbled, her face crashing into the man¡¯s chest, and her nose ached. As she looked up, she was lifted, and before she could react, she was thrown into a secluded artificial cave that had not seen any passers-by for half a while!


    Surrounded by pitch-black darkness, Ning Yichu saw the man¡¯s murderous, sinister face, and every hair on her body stood on end. She glared at him defensively, ¡°Li... Li Lingyang? What are you trying to do? This is a resort, with surveillance hidden all around, don¡¯t mess around...¡±


    She had no doubt that if she irritated him further, he¡¯d snap her neck in the next second!


    The key was, she hadn¡¯t provoked him!


    ¡°Ah¡ª¡±


    The next second, Li Lingyang suddenly extended his hand, pinning her against the stone wall with a fierce rage on his face, ¡°Are you taking my words lightly?! What did you promise me before, Ning Yichu, you liar, you irresponsible mother! Hugging and embracing other men in front of your own child, do you have no shame?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t... uh...¡±


    Ning Yichu knew he had misunderstood seeing her play games with Mo Baiyou, just about to explain, but then he leaned down and fiercely bit her lip.


    Like a punishment, or a reprisal, with all his strength, he violently sucked... nibbling on her lip, in the blink of an eye, she felt the air from her lungs being drawn out by him, and yet he continued like a tempest, unleashing a ferocity she had never seen before...


    No, she had seen it.


    Five years ago, the night he was drunk, he was like this, invasive, dominant, completely out of control!


    Her bottom lip suddenly caught between his teeth, Ning Yichu, in a panic, raised her hand high aiming a slap at his handsome face...


    ¡°What now, want to hit me?¡±


    His hand deftly captured her wrist!

 Chapter 131 - 131 131 People in the city really know how to

    ?Chapter 131: Chapter 131: People in the city really know how to have fun with outdoor seating on the ground~ Chapter 131: Chapter 131: People in the city really know how to have fun with outdoor seating on the ground~ The man¡¯s warm and domineering breath lingered by her ear, yet carried not a trace of emotion, ¡°You can be all lovey-dovey with Mo Baiyou, but become a paragon of virtue when I touch you?¡±


    His hand, vilely trespassing over her body.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s body couldn¡¯t help but tremble, her eyes wide with shock as she gazed at the man before her.


    ¡°When he was holding you just now, you were smiling so sweetly. Did he say something to you?¡± Li Lingyang grew more and more convinced that the scene was an eyesore as he reached out and opened her overcoat.


    Beneath the overcoat was nothing but a sexy bikini¡ªwearing it was almost the same as not wearing anything at all!


    His fingertips, with their thin calluses, traced circles on her waist and abdomen. Ning Yichu felt weak all over, barely able to stand, ¡°You... that was just a game, organized internally by the company. We were just going along with the game. Should I have been shy and restrained, like a timid little wife who can¡¯t let go?¡±


    ¡°A game? What I saw didn¡¯t look like a game. While others were either nervous or panicking, what about you? I really regret not capturing it on camera to show you just how relaxed and trusting you were!¡±


    Even the way she fell was so graceful...


    When Mo Baiyou caught her, there were incessant cheers all around!


    And then, there was Deelia¡¯s envious gaze...


    It simply couldn¡¯t be a spectacle crafted overnight; heaven knows how many times that woman had witnessed their illicit affairs from inside Beiji.


    Ning Yichu felt her mind go blank. She had looked relaxed because she was startled by his sudden appearance; her mind was blank, so she just fell backward without a thought. How could he misunderstand even this?


    ¡°So what if I was relaxed and trusting towards him? He¡¯s my boss, he can be considered a friend, and he has helped me many times. Can¡¯t I be moved by that?¡±


    ¡°Moved, indeed you can!¡± Li Lingyang spat out the words through gritted teeth, his tone suddenly shifting, ¡°But I think it¡¯s more than just being moved, right? When you were by the sea at the end, did he confess his feelings for you?¡±


    Otherwise, her reaction when chatting with Mo Baiyou at the end wouldn¡¯t be so flustered, like a panicked young girl.


    Moreover, their treasure hunt game shouldn¡¯t have suddenly become something to avoid the public eye.


    A flicker of astonishment crossed Ning Yichu¡¯s eyes. Wasn¡¯t he playing with Shen Jiangqing and Chengcheng?


    How did he have such perfect targeted hearing like having the wind at his ear?


    ¡°Admitted it? He really did confess his feelings to you! Ning Yichu, what did you promise me? Is this your so-called keeping yourself pure? I think I need to reconsider the relationship between your daughter and my son!¡±


    Li Lingyang knew he had guessed right, judging by her silence.


    Considering the few times they had interacted in the past, it was apparent that Mo Baiyou was a man of deep scheming!


    He had spent so much money on her; he wouldn¡¯t pass up exploiting Ning Yichu¡¯s vulnerability as a single mother raising her child...


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes narrowed with cold sharpness, his large hand fiercely grabbing her waist. Her fair skin pressed against his shirt as he demanded, with a voice full of anger, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t happened to come to this holiday resort today, how long were you planning on deceiving me?¡±


    Ning Yichu clenched her teeth, pinned between his chest and the rock wall, unable to move. And a wave of anger surged within her. Who was he to her?


    Wasn¡¯t it just the interactions between their children he was overseeing? By what right did she have to explain her personal life to him?


    The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She didn¡¯t know where she got the strength from, but she mustered all her energy and fiercely broke away from him.


    ¡°Let me make it clear to you, today was an accident, and you just happened to stumble upon it. My relationship with Mr. Mo has always been nothing but pure. Believe it or not! And your behavior just now is enough to constitute sexual harassment. If you don¡¯t want me to make a big deal out of this and tarnish your reputation, you¡¯d better keep your disgusting mouth shut!¡±


    Li Lingyang was pushed away by her, his back slamming into the rock wall with a painful thud.


    In his eyes simmered a barely contained fury.


    Doot.


    But just at that moment, the phone rang out of the blue.


    Li Lingyang took a look and saw that it was from Shen Jiangqing, his brow furrowing deeply.


    Ning Yichu watched this scene with cold eyes, her lips curling in a mocking smile.


    Look, still caught up with a mistress, he turns around and forbids her this and that?


    Did he still think he was her husband?


    She let out a scornful, contemptuous laugh, wanting to leave.


    Li Lingyang grabbed her shoulder from behind.


    ¡°Let go!¡± Ning Yichu glared at him with disgust.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s thin lips tightly pressed together, he picked up the disordered coat and put it back on her, ¡°You forgot to put on your clothes!¡±


    Ning Yichu looked at herself. It was more than just the coat that had fallen off.


    Even the straps of her bikini were askew...


    His hands had just been wandering over her with reckless abandon...


    She snatched back the coat and put it on, resisting the urge to slap him again as she turned to leave.


    ¡°Hey, do you think Mr. Mo might have hidden the jewelry inside this rockery?¡± Suddenly, there came a rustling sound of footsteps outside the rockery, accompanied by a woman¡¯s questioning voice.


    ¡°It¡¯s possible. I thought I saw some light inside earlier, let¡¯s go check it out!¡± A man¡¯s voice responded.


    Then the footsteps grew closer and closer. Ning Yichu felt as if she¡¯d been electrocuted, instinctively looking for a place to hide, but this cave was just a pile of rocks with no place to conceal oneself.


    The light from the flashlights was swinging back and forth, almost shining on Ning Yichu when suddenly, Li Lingyang¡¯s figure shifted, stepping in front of Ning Yichu. He pulled her into his arms in one smooth motion, pressing her head tightly against his chest with a large hand, and used his back to block all sources of light.


    Ning Yichu could smell the dense male hormone scent as she struggled, then came a low bark from above her head, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡±


    ¡°Oops...¡± The light from the woman¡¯s flashlight hit Li Lingyang¡¯s back, and she exclaimed, ¡°So you were here...¡±


    The man with her pulled her aside with a look that suggested he understood their ¡®preference,¡¯ whispering, ¡°Sorry, we didn¡¯t see anything. Continue, this sort of thing out in the open is indeed thrilling, but dude, you should still be a bit more discreet...¡±


    Li Lingyang wrapped Ning Yichu up tightly; the couple could not make out any details. Against the light, his handsome face was buried in the shadows, yet his presence was no less commanding.


    ¡°Get lost¡ª¡±


    A low command, authoritative without anger, left the couple¡¯s smiling arcs frozen, and they walked away disgruntled.


    Once they were far enough away, in the quiet night, their discussion could still be heard...


    ¡°Didn¡¯t Beiji book the entire vacation resort today? Who is that man, doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯s from the design department.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Mo wasn¡¯t wearing that either, could it be the family that arrived later?¡±


    ¡°Tch, city folks really know how to play!¡±


    After their voices had completely faded away, Ning Yichu, who had been holding her breath in tension, dared to step out of Li Lingyang¡¯s embrace, her face red enough to cook shrimp, her heart still racing, ready to leap out of her chest at any moment...

 Chapter 132 - 132 132 The Overfed Little Baby

    ?Chapter 132: Chapter 132: The Overfed Little Baby... Chapter 132: Chapter 132: The Overfed Little Baby... ¡°Gulp,¡± under the deep dark night, someone swallowed, and the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward and ambiguous.


    Ning Yichu¡¯s hand still maintained its position against his chest. She staggered a step backward, maintaining the safest distance before she said, ¡°Thank you, I¡¯m leaving.¡±


    Li Lingyang didn¡¯t say anything this time; the phone in his pocket continued to vibrate nonstop.


    Li Lingyang pinched the bridge of his nose, ignoring it, and turned to leave in another direction.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later...¡± The mechanical female voice from the receiver issued a reminder once more, and Shen Jiangqing¡¯s eyebrows knitted in frustration.


    Just then, a man and woman emerging from behind the rockery passed in front of her, discussing the scene they had just witnessed.


    ¡°Wait, did you say you saw a pair of ¡®wild mandarin ducks¡¯ in the fake stone cave?¡± Shen Jiangqing immediately followed them, gritting her teeth.


    The man and woman were startled, the woman felt the matter was quite embarrassing and had not said much, but the man hinted meaningfully, ¡°Aren¡¯t you the lady of the family that came after us? Why are you here?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s breathing paused, and her face turned pale, ¡°Where should I be?¡±


    ¡°Oh no, I didn¡¯t mean that...¡± The man realized he might have misspoken and quickly shook Shen Jiangqing off and hurried away.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s pretty face was almost twisted with anger¡ªcould it be that Li Lingyang wasn¡¯t answering her calls because he had gone to fool around with Ning Yichu?


    Glancing at the beach, indeed Ning Yichu was no longer in sight, even her daughter Ningning was left in the care of a waiter.


    Shen Jiangqing felt as if her heart was being scratched by a cat and wished she could tear Ning Yichu apart on the spot. She quickly dialed a phone number, ¡°Hello? Have you sneaked in yet? Beiji¡¯s event is about to start!¡±


    ...


    By the time Ning Yichu clumsily made it back to the competition site, the treasure hunt was almost closing.


    Xiao Ai and Yu Weilan ran up to her and asked, ¡°Sister Ning, where did you go for so long? We couldn¡¯t see you at all. Did you find the treasure?¡±


    Without blushing or skipping a beat, Ning Yichu casually answered, ¡°No, I just went for a walk in the woods. The scenery wasn¡¯t bad. Did you find anything?¡±


    ¡°Nothing,¡± Xiao Ai drooped disappointingly, ¡°I found no high-class jewelry, it feels like I made a wrong turn. But the only consolation is that the HR department said the president has arranged some luxury travel packages to be drawn at tonight¡¯s bonfire party!¡±


    ¡°The boss is really generous,¡± Ning Yichu commented nonchalantly.


    At that moment, Ning Yichu felt a burning gaze on her and turned her head, accidentally meeting Mo Baiyou¡¯s eyes.


    He was standing beside the temporary stage, not yet at the bonfire party, having already opened a bottle of wine He held a glass in his hand, swaying slightly, a few strands of hair hanging low, obscuring his brow and eyes, looking somewhat dejected.


    Ning Yichu had just forcefully rejected him.


    He even had many words of confession, many thoughts claustrophobically trapped inside his heart for five years, yet before he could utter them, she had rejected him.


    She said she didn¡¯t have the energy to invest in another relationship.


    She said she didn¡¯t want to lead a man on, nor would she give the other party any false hope.


    She said that some things, if not pierced through, could still allow for friendship, but once broached, not even friendship could be maintained.


    With these thoughts, Mo Baiyou drained the red wine in his hand in one gulp.


    Ning Yichu cavalierly shifted her gaze away, feeling at peace in her heart.


    Perhaps he would think her pretentious, but if refusing him ultimately led to job difficulties, she thought, she would resign. However, she faintly believed that Mo Baiyou was a gentlemanly boss and would not be so petty.


    She really didn¡¯t want to lose such an excellent boss like him.


    ¡°Alright, it¡¯s 6:30. Has everyone returned?¡± the host¡¯s voice came from the stage with a tone of regret, ¡°It seems like no one has found the mysterious grand prize prepared by the president! But no worries, the event is still ongoing, and tonight there¡¯s a campfire party. The president himself will dance with one of the designers on site!¡±


    Ningning, having heard about the party, stopped playing with water and came over to join the event with Chen Bao, bringing Doudou along.


    The little girl was surprisingly sociable, not only getting along well with children her age but also becoming friendly with other Beiji employees.


    The campfire party offered a variety of snacks, and with her calling out ¡°pretty sister, handsome uncle,¡± everyone was eager to give her treats.


    Before long, the party had barely started and her little stomach was already bloated.


    ¡°I told you not to eat so much. See? Now your stomach hurts, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Chen Bao glared at the little girl with furrowed, handsome brows.


    Ningning cradled her stomach, full of misery, ¡°Everyone¡¯s already so uncomfortable, and you¡¯re still being mean to me, woo woo, you¡¯re no longer the caring big brother who loved me.¡±


    ¡°Not a single tear, and you¡¯re still fake crying?¡± Chen Bao was of course worried about her; he looked around, the nearest restroom was quite far. It might be better to go back to the room.


    Ning Yichu, seeing Ningning¡¯s despondent little expression, silently lamented and hugged her, rubbing her little stomach, ¡°The resort has a clinic, I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    Ningning, sobbing in her arms, said, ¡°I don¡¯t want injections...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve just overeaten; you¡¯ll probably just get some digestive tablets, no need for injections,¡± Ning Yichu coaxed.


    ¡°Then Mommy, can you carry me? I¡¯m too full; I can¡¯t walk,¡± Ningning said, covering her flushed little face, crying.


    The glow of the campfire painted her pale little face with a layer of morning glow.


    ¡°Okay.¡± Ning Yichu picked up the little girl and headed to the nearest clinic.


    The clinic was there in case guests had any emergencies. At this late hour, there weren¡¯t many people on duty, and indeed, as Ning Yichu had said, Ningning received some digestive aids.


    ¡°Children should avoid overeating; it could disturb the digestive system. Worse still, it can cause accumulation of food, vomiting, constipation, and other symptoms...¡± the doctor gently soothed her.


    Ningning was about to cry; she would never be greedy again.


    After taking the digestive tablet, Ning Yichu took Ningning back to the room to rest.


    Ningning sat on the sofa with Chen Bao and Doudou by her side.


    Doudou clumsily tried to emulate the doctor, massaging her belly, but without the doctor¡¯s technique, it turned out quite comfortable instead. Ningning slumped on the sofa like a lazy little pig, occasionally grunting, which made Chen Bao grow even more exasperated!


    As Doudou massaged, she blinked her big eyes with growing remorse.


    Should she not have brought so many snacks for her sister?


    It¡¯s all her fault sister got sick...


    Ningning, seeing the guilt in Doudou¡¯s eyes, said weakly, ¡°It¡¯s my own gluttony; it¡¯s not your fault.¡±


    Chen Bao furrowed his brows with authority, ¡°Doudou, don¡¯t bring her snacks in the future. Let her fend for herself.¡±


    ¡°Wow...¡±


    Ningning truly broke down crying now. Her brother was undeniably her flesh and blood, too harsh!

 Chapter 133 - 133 133 Dont Capture Your Face in the Video

    ?Chapter 133: Chapter 133 Don¡¯t Capture Your Face in the Video Chapter 133: Chapter 133 Don¡¯t Capture Your Face in the Video Sister Ning spent some time exercising with Ningning in the room, and as her digestive system kicked in, gradually, Ningning no longer felt that uncomfortable.


    Not much later, she received a call from Xiao Ai, ¡°Sister Ning, the prize draw is about to start, are you coming?¡±


    Sister Ning glanced at the uncomfortable Ningning, ¡°I¡¯m not going to go, I¡¯ll just check-in when it¡¯s time to disperse.¡±


    ¡°Is Ningning okay?¡± Xiao Ai asked with concern.


    ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious; she just overate and now we¡¯re figuring out how to help her digest.¡±


    Xiao Ai wanted to laugh but held it in, and soberly said, ¡°Then you stay with her a bit longer. Little kids are like that, they can¡¯t control themselves around tasty food, and also... let me know ahead of time when you¡¯re coming, and I¡¯ll grill some barbecue for you.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Sister Ning ended the call, staring at Ningning rather helplessly, ¡°You heard that, right? Even your Auntie Xiao Ai knows you¡¯re a foodie.¡±


    Ningning buried her face in the sofa cushion, wooing in dismay; her dignified, elegant, ladylike, noble image was completely ruined.


    Taking advantage of the free time, Sister Ning had the children take off their clothes to wash.


    They¡¯d played all day and rolled around on the beach ¨C they were so dirty they were hard to look at.


    Thinking it over, she had already changed Chen Bao and Ningning¡¯s clothes; it didn¡¯t seem fair to let Doudou be the only one in dirty clothes.


    ¡°Doudou, why don¡¯t you take off your dirty clothes too and let Auntie wash them?¡± Sister Ning squatted in front of Doudou and softly suggested.


    Doudou¡¯s little face turned pink; she fiddled with the hem of her shirt, wanting to agree but also feeling conflicted.


    ¡°But I won¡¯t have any clothes to wear if I take these off...¡± she gestured.


    Ningning volunteered eagerly, ¡°I have lots of little clothes, you can wear mine!¡±


    Sister Ning, afraid that Doudou, pampered from a young age, might not be used to it, gently proposed, ¡°Auntie happens to have brought some new clothes for Ningning, ones she hasn¡¯t worn. Your sizes are similar; you should be able to wear them.¡±


    With no further worries, Doudou watched Sister Ning intently and nodded vigorously.


    She was mostly tended to by servants at home for dressing and washing up, but she was very good at imitating and could manage it herself.


    Seeing that Ningning and Chen Bao had both removed their little jackets, she too awkwardly, yet adorably, began to undo the buttons.


    Before long, a naked Little Doudou was in front of Sister Ning¡¯s eyes.


    Even though he knew it was his own little sister, Chen Bao blushed at the sight of Doudou cluelessly stripping down, and he quickly ran off to hide in the bathroom.


    Sister Ning shook her head with amusement ¨C this little rascal had a deep sense of modesty between the sexes.


    But her smile soon faded.


    It was only after Doudou had undressed that she realized the girl seemed a bit too thin.


    ¡°Doudou, how much do you weigh?¡± Sister Ning asked.


    Doudou thought for a moment, extending two little fingers from one small, short hand and four from the other.


    Sister Ning was shocked, ¡°Twenty-four pounds?¡±


    Doudou hesitated and then added another two pounds; she had weighed twenty-four pounds before and thought she might have gained a little bit recently.


    Sister Ning¡¯s frown deepened.


    A four-year-old girl¡¯s average weight should be around 16kg, like Ningning, roughly that amount. How could Doudou, so meticulously cared for by Li Lingyang, be so far off?


    The difference in height between her and Ningning also didn¡¯t seem that great.


    Although twenty-six pounds might still be within normal fluctuations, this didn¡¯t match the prestigious status of the delicate little princess of the Li Family.


    She pondered that she would need to offer some advice to Li Lingyang one of these days; the little girl truly inspired concern.


    Doudou was dressed in Ningning¡¯s jacket, which indeed was a little loose, but there was still a bit of baby fat on Little Doudou¡¯s face, making it not so obvious.


    Ningning watched her little sister wearing her own clothes and covered her mouth to giggle, ¡°Mommy, if one day my little sister and I both wear the same clothes, would you mix us up?¡±


    ¡°What do you think?¡± Ning Yichu countered with a question instead of answering directly, how could she possibly mistake her own daughter who she had watched grow up?


    After washing all the clothes and hanging them on the balcony to dry, Ning Yichu noticed it was getting late, so she sent Li Lingyang another text message.


    ¡°Chen Bao and Doudou are both with me, I¡¯ll send them back later.¡±


    Not knowing what Li Lingyang was up to, it took quite a while before he replied, ¡°Give me the address, I¡¯ll come to pick them up in an hour.¡±


    Thinking she might have to go out, Ning Yichu sent him the address.


    After sending the text, Ning Yichu instructed the three children to play at home and try not to go out, as Li Lingyang would come to pick them up later, then she left for the bonfire party to report on the event.


    People had begun leaving in dribs and drabs, and Ning Yichu, not liking noisy environments, found a secluded corner to sit down with Xiao Ai.


    The waiter opportunistically brought over two cocktails, not very strong.


    The two chatted sporadically.


    Xiao Ai said she was lucky to get into Beiji, entirely thanks to her major in jade carving.


    The jade carving industry wasn¡¯t as booming as it was a few years ago.


    She had even considered changing careers, but then Beiji announced they were hiring, so she joined the company where the workload was light, and the salary high, evoking envy from friends and classmates. However, since Ning Yichu arrived, the Jade Sculpture Studio began seeing more customers and got busier.


    Barbecue paired with cocktails, and half an hour flew by in a flash.


    Just as they were about to leave, Ning Yichu stood up and immediately felt a wave of dizziness.


    She propped her forehead with one hand, feeling her temples throbbing.


    Thud.


    Xiao Ai¡¯s head plummeted onto the table.


    ¡°Xiao Ai, are you okay?¡± Ning Yichu vigorously shook her head, trying to stay awake, but the dizziness intensified overwhelmingly.


    This was bad!


    They had been set up!


    Just as this realization dawned on her, her vision darkened and she, too, embarrassingly collapsed onto the table.


    Not far away under a shadow-strewn tree, Shen Jiangqing watched the scene with a thin smile, her eyes cold. She said to the man beside her, Shen Jun, ¡°The next move is yours.¡±


    Shen Jun rubbed his palms together in a lewd manner, blood boiling with anticipation as if about to relish a delectable feast.


    ¡°Remember, when you¡¯re taking the video, don¡¯t let your face show. If it ever gets out, I can¡¯t guarantee I can protect you,¡± Shen Jiangqing ominously reminded like a snake hissing warnings, then she twisted her hips and sashayed away, her demeanor lively.


    Taking advantage of the two little brats being tricked away, it was time to carry out her main plan for the night!


    Shen Jiangqing made her way back to the resort villa, where the sound of running water could be heard from the bathroom.


    The figure of a robust man was reflected on the frosted glass door, a perfect inverted triangle, exuding a strong masculine presence that seemed palpable even through the glass.


    If Li Jingtian, that illegitimate son, could make her so happy, Li Lingyang... must be even more impressive, right?


    She quickly took a bottle of red wine from the liquor cabinet, uncorked it, and poured it into a wine glass, further mixing something into one of the glasses.


    Click.


    The sound from the bathroom abruptly stopped, and the glass door was opened from the inside.


    Li Lingyang, wrapped in a loosely tied bath towel, stepped out with long strides, and upon seeing the woman in the room, his expression hardened, ¡°I thought you went to the bonfire party with Chengcheng?¡±

 Chapter 134 - 134 134 Brother look quickly the scumbag dad

    ?Chapter 134: Chapter 134 Brother, look quickly, the scumbag dad and evil woman are fighting! Chapter 134: Chapter 134 Brother, look quickly, the scumbag dad and evil woman are fighting! Shen Jiangqing straightened her silk robe and with a touch of pleading on her face said, ¡°The waiter is with him, Aling, we haven¡¯t had such a quiet moment alone together in a long time. Can you keep me company for a while today?¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes lifted slightly and glanced at the living room clock, saying in a flat voice, ¡°I have twenty minutes left before I need to pick up the kids, so just say what you have to say.¡±


    ¡°Now do you even calculate the minutes when you talk to me?¡± Shen Jiangqing became increasingly aggrieved, choking back tears, revealing a hint of desolation.


    Li Lingyang¡¯s lips thinned but he said nothing.


    Shen Jiangqing looked at him with tears in her eyes, lost in memories, and said with emotion, ¡°I wish I could go back to many years ago, right after I saved you and we were in that little cabin. You were blind then, but I was like your eyes, seeing the world for you and telling you how beautiful it was outside...¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze flickered slightly. He too always remembered that quiet time and has always been grateful for her rescue.


    But so much time had passed, and he could no longer see the girl he knew in childhood in her...


    Their silhouettes were reflected on the massive glass window.


    Both had changed beyond recognition.


    Li Lingyang even felt that he didn¡¯t love this woman at all. Without the kids, he would leave her without hesitation.


    His tone was cold and heartless, ¡°I¡¯ve always been thankful for your saving my life.¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s just gratitude, without any love for me, right?¡±


    ¡°Jiangqing, you¡¯re still young. There¡¯s really no need to waste your time on me. Even if we separate, I will ensure you¡¯re taken care of for life and no one will bully you,¡± Li Lingyang said, staring at her with earnest sincerity in his eyes.


    Shen Jiangqing¡¯s grip on her wine glass tightened slowly. Even a fool would know; even if they were apart and he continued to protect her from being wronged, would that be as glorious as being Mrs. Li?


    She, Shen Jiangqing, had finally clawed her way to where she was now, and she would not let go no matter what.


    ¡°Forget it, let¡¯s not talk about these things, just quietly share a drink with me?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing passed him the wine glass.


    For some reason, Li Lingyang too felt a twinge of sadness and irritation as he drank the wine in one gulp!


    Shen Jiangqing brightened, taking a sip of wine and prattling on with the help of the alcohol, ¡°The day before yesterday, mom called me again. She said the kids are in kindergarten, but we still haven¡¯t held a wedding ceremony. Her card partners are ridiculing her. Aling, I don¡¯t want to separate from you. Even if it¡¯s just out of responsibility, shouldn¡¯t we have a wedding?¡±


    Li Lingyang frowned, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about these things.¡±


    ¡°But a wedding is the biggest expectation of a woman¡¯s life; I want to have a wedding too...¡± As she spoke, Shen Jiangqing walked up to him, her supple body leaning and falling into his arms.


    ¡°Five years, a full five years, and you haven¡¯t touched me. Outsiders envy me being adored, but I know I¡¯m just your fiance?e in name only!¡±


    Her words became increasingly suggestive as she slid her hands across his bare chest as if she were boneless.


    ¡°You¡¯re drunk!¡± Li Lingyang grasped her wrist sharply, trying to push her away, but a sudden heat surged through his body!


    Li Lingyang¡¯s gaze darkened, fixating on the wine glass as he said sharply, ¡°Did you put something in the wine?¡±


    ¡°Aling, love me!¡± Shen Jiangqing had thrown caution to the wind, ¡°I really do love you so much...¡±


    As long as tonight they crossed the line, with Li Lingyang¡¯s temperament, even if he was angry for a few days, he would surely take responsibility for her in the end!


    She was his lifesaver, after all...


    The faint scent of wine mixed with jasmine rushed towards him, Li Lingyang¡¯s eyes seemed to catch fire, but as Shen Jiangqing tilted her head up to kiss him, Ning Yichu¡¯s stubborn and beautiful face flashed before his eyes, and he fiercely pushed her away¡ª


    ¡°Shen Jiangqing, what the hell do you take me for?¡±


    Shen Jiangqing was thrown straight to the ground, scratching her wrist.


    Hearing the man¡¯s roar, she felt not the slightest shame but instead threw herself at him again, clinging tightly, ¡°We are engaged, we¡¯ve even had children together, it is normal for us to do anything...¡±


    Li Lingyang¡¯s forehead throbbed with veins!


    ...


    ¡°Brother, brother, come and look, isn¡¯t that the bad woman and the jerk dad?¡±


    Ningning, stretching on the balcony after dinner, saw the stand-alone villa diagonally opposite.


    The curtains were not drawn, and from a reasonable distance, Ningning saw Li Lingyang with his hands on the railing and Shen Jiangqing behind him, with her jaw almost dropping in shock.


    ¡°What are they doing? Fighting? Or dancing?¡±


    Chen Bao and Doudou, hearing the commotion, ran over one after the other.


    He spotted the anomaly with their dad at once.


    Suddenly he remembered Mommy mentioning that Shen Jiangqing had tampered with some white powder; she might have poisoned his dad!


    Doudou, who was always most distressed for Li Lingyang, couldn¡¯t sit still upon seeing his agony.


    Her little fists clenched tightly, she wanted to save daddy!


    ¡°Don¡¯t rush, Doudou...¡± seeing Doudou scrambling to run outside, Ningning hurriedly grabbed her, ¡°What if that bad woman doesn¡¯t open the door for us?¡±


    Doudou¡¯s eyes brightened and she gestured, ¡°Let¡¯s go find auntie.¡±


    Chen Bao rubbed his chin, thinking that if their dad really was poisoned, they, as just a few kids, might not be able to handle it.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll call Mommy.¡±


    ...


    Buzz, buzz, buzz.


    The vibrating sound of a phone broke the eerie silence of the quiet room.


    Ning Yichu lay groggily in bed, her pretty face twisting restlessly.


    Hearing the vibration, she struggled to open her eyelids to see the scene before her, but her pupils had trouble focusing.


    ¡°Chu Chu? Chu Chu?¡± Mo Baiyou stood by the bed. Seeing her eyelids twitch, he immediately came closer to ask, his voice trembling with nervousness.


    But Ning Yichu had barely any consciousness, her head askew, whimpering in pain, unable to respond to him.


    Mo Baiyou frowned, immediately sensing something was wrong, and made a call, ¡°Get a doctor to my room!¡±


    Just now at the bonfire party, it wasn¡¯t a good time to explain his ¡°confession¡± to her. He hoped that even if they couldn¡¯t become lovers, they wouldn¡¯t grow apart. But as soon as he found her, he saw her and her assistant Xiao Ai slumped over the table!

 Chapter 135 - 135 135 The Three Treasures Save the Worthless

    ?Chapter 135: Chapter 135: The Three Treasures Save the Worthless Dad! Chapter 135: Chapter 135: The Three Treasures Save the Worthless Dad! He thought the two had simply had too much to drink, so he brought them all back.


    Xiao Ai was lying on the sofa outside.


    But as he got closer, he realized that the drunkenness on her was not heavy, certainly not enough to be so muddle-headed!


    Not ten minutes later, an assistant arrived with the doctor, who made a quick diagnosis, ¡°It¡¯s a drugging agent.¡±


    ¡°Drugging agent?¡± Mo Baiyou¡¯s heart sank with a thump, and a terrifying storm welled up in his eyes, ¡°There¡¯s a drugging agent in the holiday resort? Who put it there...¡±


    Mo Baiyou remembered when he caught up to Ning Yichu¡¯s table, there seemed to be a sneaky figure nearby, but at the time, all his attention was on Ning Yichu, and he didn¡¯t pay much attention. He immediately said to the assistant, ¡°Go check, before Ning Yichu and Xiao Ai passed out, who did they come into contact with, what did they eat, what did they drink.¡±


    The assistant left upon hearing this, puzzled in his mind, wondering which Beiji designer was so bold as to touch the boss¡¯s most cherished ones?


    The doctor gave Ning Yichu and Xiao Ai IV drips and prepared some oral rehydration salts.


    Mo Baiyou personally went to fetch a cup of hot water, mixed the oral rehydration salts, cradled Ning Yichu in one arm, and gently brought it to her lips.


    Ning Yichu was already a bit thirsty and sluggishly sucked in quite a lot, but inadvertently, some water still spilled out. Mo Baiyou quickly took a clean handkerchief, with gentle movements wiped the water from the corner of her mouth, cooing, ¡°Drink slowly, no one¡¯s competing with you.¡±


    Ning Yichu was in a daze, feeling as light as air, as if she was in a vast cotton field without feeling solid ground beneath her feet.


    A night breeze blew in, the window hadn¡¯t been closed properly, and Ning Yichu shivered.


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s breath tightened, and his cold gaze turned to the doctor.


    The doctor conscientiously closed the window.


    Turning around, he saw that Mo Baiyou had finished administering the medicine and gently placed Ning Yichu back on the bed.


    Looking at the IV stand, he frowned slightly and immediately called the waiter, ¡°Bring a hot water bottle over.¡±


    The waiter, confused, thought, what season is it that they still want a hot water bottle?


    But the demand of a customer is an order, and soon, the waiter delivered the hot water bottle.


    Under the doctor¡¯s astonished gaze, Mo Baiyou placed the hot water bottle on top of the IV tubing, allowing the flowing water to pick up some warmth, so it wouldn¡¯t be so uncomfortable for her.


    The doctor silently took a deep breath; there was a reason he was still single.


    The assistant¡¯s call came in right after, ¡°Boss, Lady Ning returned to her room to take care of the child not long after the bonfire party began and only came out close to the end of the event. She didn¡¯t interact with anybody, just ate some barbecue and drank some cocktail with Xiao Ai.¡±


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s brows furrowed, the barbecue ingredients and condiments were communal, it wasn¡¯t possible that only she and Xiao Ai were affected, could it have been the cocktail?


    ¡°Check, who served that cocktail!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s already been checked, it was a man about 1.76 meters tall, wearing a service cap with the brim pulled down, so his face wasn¡¯t clear. But I noticed through the surveillance that before you took Lady Ning away, that waiter was sneakily trying to approach her again. When he saw you got there first, he left unwillingly!¡±


    A chill ran up Mo Baiyou¡¯s back; if it wasn¡¯t for him going to find Ning Yichu at that moment, she would have been taken away by that man by now...


    ¡°Uh...¡± Perhaps the medicine was taking effect, Ning Yichu was gradually becoming slightly more conscious.


    The blanket was too tightly tucked in, and she felt too hot, so she tugged it off a bit.


    Mo Baiyou instructed his assistant with a few words before returning to tend to Ning Yichu again.


    The doctor had taken care of Xiao Ai for a while in the living room and had already left.


    Hearing her mumble in her daze for water, Mo Baiyou went to pour her some warm water and helped her drink it.


    She leaned against his shoulder, her beautiful lips slightly parted, like the enticing color of begonia petals, tempting to be picked, soft to the touch.


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s eyes darkened for a moment as he stared at her bewitching face, forcefully averting his gaze, he took a deep breath, it took a good while to relax before he softly asked, his voice containing a bit of nervousness and dejection, ¡°Chu Chu, do you really have no recollection of me at all?¡±


    After Ning Yichu finished drinking the water, her mouth felt less dry, and the frown between her eyebrows gently unfolded. She vaguely heard someone asking a question; she murmured unconsciously, ¡°... Who are you?¡±


    Mo Baiyou hadn¡¯t hoped for a sudden response from her, his heart was touched fiercely, and he swallowed hard, ¡°The man who lay on the operating table five years ago, whom you defied fate to save, do you remember what he looked like?¡±


    With a nasal voice, soft and sweet, Ning Yichu replied, ¡°... My patients... are all quite special, so I never remember their details, you... were you a patient I saved?¡±


    A powerless, wry smile appeared on Mo Baiyou¡¯s face; she truly had never really remembered him. He whispered softly, ¡°Yes, I am deeply grateful to you for giving me a second chance at life. Even in my dreams, it¡¯s you on the operating table I see. I want to protect you¡ªwould you give me that chance?¡±


    After speaking, he intently stared at her flushed cheeks.


    ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± However, the groggy Ning Yichu surprisingly answered without hesitation, ¡°Relying on others for protection always ends in being abandoned. I need to protect myself, and... my children.¡±


    Mo Baiyou¡¯s breath caught; perhaps he had been too hasty. Knowing full well she hadn¡¯t completely stepped out of Li Lingyang¡¯s shadow, he had tried to force her into a relationship with him.


    ¡°Rest easy, no one¡¯s going to abandon you again.¡±


    He gently laid Ning Yichu back on the bed and then quietly left the bedroom.


    ...


    ¡°No answer?¡± Chen Bao hung up the phone with a puzzled expression; Mommy had never failed to answer their calls before.


    Even if busy, in meetings, or driving, she¡¯d always find time to reply with a text or voice message.


    Ningning thought for a moment and, remembering the lively bonfire party, speculated, ¡°Maybe Mommy was pulled away to have fun by her colleagues, and she didn¡¯t have her phone on her?¡±


    Chen Bao¡¯s eyes steadied, ¡°Perhaps!¡±


    It was at that moment Doudou, pointing at the balcony of the opposite villa, her little face pale, became desperately agitated, almost jumping up!


    Li Lingyang looked awful, trying to break free from Shen Jiangqing to leave, but Shen Jiangqing actually knocked him out cold!


    Knocked out, right? It was somewhat distant, the young girl couldn¡¯t see clearly, but anyway, Daddy suddenly fell to the ground. The balcony blocked Doudou¡¯s view; she only saw Shen Jiangqing then enter the bedroom and quickly draw the curtains, but what happened after was completely unclear...


    ¡°Quick, save Daddy, Mommy¡¯s going to bully Daddy!¡± Doudou was frantic, scurrying out on her little legs.


    Chen Bao and Ningning, feeling helpless and unable to look for Mommy first, had no choice but to follow Doudou to the villa across the street!


    Inside the villa, it was dead quiet, not a soul in sight; luckily, Doudou had brought the key card with her, and with a swipe, they made it upstairs.


    Walking on the plush carpet, the three children held their breath, eyes wide, not making a sound...


    It was precisely because of this silence that some suggestive sounds from the bedroom were especially clear!

 Chapter 136 - 136 136 Take Me to Find Your Mommy

    ?Chapter 136: Chapter 136 Take Me to Find Your Mommy... Chapter 136: Chapter 136 Take Me to Find Your Mommy... ¡°Aling, I love you...¡±


    Inside the room, Shen Jiangqing had to secretly admit that Shen Jun was somewhat useful after all¡ªhis method had far exceeded her expectations in efficacy!


    She couldn¡¯t wait to get close to Li Lingyang.


    ¡°Get out¡ª¡± Li Lingyang glared at her fiercely, his hands clenched into fists, the veins on the backs of his hands bulging, never before had he felt such an urgent desire to kill Shen Jiangqing!


    ¡°How dare you use such tactics on me? Shen Jiangqing, you¡¯re asking for death!¡±


    Shen Jiangqing hadn¡¯t expected that at this point, when a normal person would have already lost their mind, his reasoning was still so clear!


    But what did that matter? She was determined to have Li Lingyang tonight!


    ¡°Aling, mom also said, life needs a bit of excitement... Stop resisting, let me have another son for you, and then we can get married, okay? You will always be my favorite...¡±


    She grabbed his hand, and Li Lingyang¡¯s knuckles turned bone-chillingly cold inch by inch, his eyes on her were truly like those of a fierce beast, vicious as if to tear her apart.


    Shen Jiangqing gathered her courage to proceed...


    ¡°Are you very uncomfortable? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m here!¡±


    Knock knock.


    Just then, someone knocked on the bedroom door.


    Shen Jiangqing, already frantic with sweat, said irritably, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Doudou, in her urgency, throat moved, emitting hoarse syllables but failing to speak a complete sentence.


    Seeing her in this state, Ningning felt especially impelled and said in a milky voice, ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s Ningning.¡±


    ¡°Ningning?¡± Shen Jiangqing cursed viciously, ¡°Go find your own mother, I¡¯m busy right now!¡±


    After cursing, she greedily climbed onto Li Lingyang, wanting to go further...


    Bang bang bang.


    The knocking turned into banging, as if Ningning would keep going if she didn¡¯t open the door!


    Ningning thought, she just can¡¯t let her be busy!


    Godmother often said that after a fight between a woman and a man, the man is drained by the woman!


    Although she didn¡¯t especially like her crappy dad, he was still her dad...


    ¡°Auntie, I¡¯ve come to find you. Chengcheng fell at the bonfire party and is bleeding from his head. You didn¡¯t answer your phone, so Doudou and I came back to tell you. Please open the door, why won¡¯t you open it?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Whoosh¡ªa sudden bucket of cold water came pouring down, and upon hearing that her precious son was injured, Shen Jiangqing jolted, scrambled up from Li Lingyang, hastily threw on a coat, and without any hesitation, flung the door open, ¡°Chengcheng has fallen? What happened, I asked the waiter to keep an eye on him...¡±


    Bang.


    Before she could finish speaking, Shen Jiangqing suddenly felt a sharp pain at the back of her head, shakily turned around, and saw Chen Bao standing on a chair, holding a club.


    ¡°You little bastard, you...¡±


    Bang.


    Seeing that she hadn¡¯t fainted, Chen Bao, with a dark face, struck her again with the club.


    Shen Jiangqing collapsed to the ground, unconscious.


    Doudou slightly shook, cautiously squatted down, and imitating the way they checked for breath on television, placed his hand under Shen Jiangqing¡¯s nose.


    Huh...


    A fine stream of warm breath came out.


    Doudou patted her little chest, instantly reassured, and rushed into the master bedroom with Ningning to rescue Daddy!


    At that moment, Li Lingyang had managed to prop himself up. A moment before the children burst in, he had hurriedly donned his clothes, barely covering the adult-only content, but his face was still frighteningly red.


    Especially the veins near his temples, swollen to a bruise-like color, he looked just like someone poisoned and dying in tv dramas!


    Ningning¡¯s face turned pale, and she rushed over to support Li Lingyang, ¡°Jerk... Jerk Uncle, you can¡¯t die!¡±


    Li Lingyang was drenched in sweat, surviving solely on sheer willpower, in total agony!


    Fearing he would lose control and become too heavy for Ningning to hold, he pushed her away and supported himself against the wall with one arm, groaning, ¡°You... Where¡¯s your mommy? Take me to your mommy!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know either, I can¡¯t reach her on the phone...¡± Seeing him like this, Ningning couldn¡¯t bring herself to be angry anymore.


    Chen Bao had tied up Shen Jiangqing to prevent further chaos, and upon entering the room, he saw the two little girls hopping around Li Lingyang.


    He was alarmed by the maniacal look on Li Lingyang¡¯s face.


    What exactly had Shen Jiangqing done to him?


    ¡°Find your mommy, only she can help me!¡± Li Lingyang managed to say to Ningning, but his gaze was fixed on Chen Bao.


    Shen Jiangqing had been raving that the drug was incredibly potent, even if one managed to survive it with sedatives, it would still irreversibly affect hormone secretion, and the only way was to give into nature!


    He couldn¡¯t withstand it anymore, if he absolutely needed a woman, he only wanted Ning Yichu...


    If it wasn¡¯t her, then he¡¯d rather take the sedatives!


    Chen Bao was shocked, then with a grim face, said, ¡°Find what auntie? Even if you find an auntie, it won¡¯t help, let¡¯s find a doctor first!¡±


    ...


    When Ning Yichu was fully awake, she didn¡¯t know how much time had passed.


    Supporting her throbbing head, she slowly sat up from the bed, looked around, and was shocked to find herself in entirely unfamiliar surroundings!


    Where was this?


    Why was she lying here?


    Wasn¡¯t she having a barbecue and cocktails with Xiao Ai?


    Wait...


    Xiao Ai...


    Xiao Ai was unconscious; they had been drugged!


    Ning Yichu never expected that within a privately booked resort villa in Beiji, they would fall for such a trick. Where was Xiao Ai?


    Ning Yichu felt every hair on her body stand on end. She quickly checked, her clothes were intact, and there were no injuries. Then she quietly grabbed an ashtray from the bedside and cautiously walked out.


    But when she opened the door and went out, she didn¡¯t see the expected bad guys, but instead found Xiao Ai sprawled on the sofa. Her tense nerves slightly relaxed, and she walked up and shook Xiao Ai¡¯s shoulders, whispering, ¡°Xiao Ai, wake up... wake up quickly...¡±


    ¡°Umm...¡± Xiao Ai seemed to be having a nice dream, smacked her lips, and then opened her eyes, ¡°Sister Ning? How did we get here?¡±


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t want to scare her and comforted her, ¡°We drank too much, just found a room to rest, let¡¯s go out first.¡±


    ¡°Strange, I usually hold my liquor well, how did I get drunk from so little...¡± Xiao Ai rubbed her head, puzzled.


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t say much, quickly led Xiao Ai out of the room, and then realized it was actually a small villa!


    The residents here were all top executives of the firm; only the administrative department knew precisely which executive.


    Ning Yichu secretly noted the room number, planning to investigate later.


    At that moment, her phone in her pocket started buzzing, Ning Yichu took it out and saw that Ningning and Chen Bao had each called her five or six times!

 Chapter 137 - 137 137 How did you wake up so quickly

    ?Chapter 137: Chapter 137: How did you wake up so quickly? Chapter 137: Chapter 137: How did you wake up so quickly? ¡°Could it be that something happened to the children?¡± Ning Yichu¡¯s heart raced, and she immediately pressed the answer button, ¡°Hello? Baby...¡±


    ¡°Mommy, where did you go? Why didn¡¯t you answer the phone...¡± Ningning¡¯s voice came first.


    Then came Chen Bao¡¯s voice, the little one¡¯s voice carrying a hint of hesitation, ¡°Mommy, are you available right now?¡±


    Ning Yichu glanced at Xiao Ai, waved her goodbyes simply, and spoke, ¡°I¡¯m available, what¡¯s happened? Don¡¯t panic, just take it slow.¡±


    ¡°...You should come back to your room first, you¡¯ll understand when you get back.¡± Chen Bao hesitated for a while but eventually decided to keep her in suspense.


    Ning Yichu felt extremely uneasy, sensing it was nothing good, she quickly put her phone away and rushed back.


    Ten minutes later, when she saw the handsome man lying on the large bed, she froze.


    ¡°How... How did he end up here?!¡±


    Li Lingyang!


    The three children were gathered around the unconscious Li Lingyang on the bed. What was this situation?


    Wasn¡¯t Li Lingyang supposed to pick up the children? Why did it seem like the children were taking care of him instead?


    Could it be that he had fallen when he arrived and knocked himself out?


    Doudou, fearing the aunt would drive Daddy away while Mommy was still outside looking for Daddy, gestured frantically with his small hands.


    Ning Yichu didn¡¯t understand a word and turned her head to look at the other little ones.


    Ningning¡¯s eyes were like big black grapes, rolling around, ¡°Mommy, it looks like you might have to put up with the jerk Dad tonight, a bad woman is trying to harm him.¡±


    Ning Yichu was unconvinced, ¡°...I really don¡¯t believe it.¡±


    Could Shen Jiangqing even harm Li Lingyang?


    ¡°That mistress fed jerk Dad something, and his veins looked like they were about to burst, it was scary. We found a doctor who gave him a sedative shot. We didn¡¯t know where else to go, so we dragged him back here,¡± Chen Bao explained succinctly. Even if we don¡¯t know what the bad woman is up to, it¡¯s right to prevent her from succeeding.


    Ning Yichu suddenly recalled what Fan YuKe had mentioned about that powder...


    If she remembered correctly, there were some aphrodisiacs on the market that were in powder form.


    Damn!


    Shen Jiangqing slept with Li Lingyang and even had to resort to drugging?


    ¡°Are you sure he¡¯s been given a sedative?¡± Ning Yichu asked Chen Bao with difficulty.


    Chen Bao nodded, his cool lips curling slightly, ¡°Yes, we gave him a particularly big dose. The doctor said he will be fine after sleeping it off and he¡¯ll recover by tomorrow.¡±


    Though Ning Yichu actually wanted to kick Li Lingyang out, with the three little ones looking eagerly at him, especially Doudou, who was cautiously guarding Li Lingyang, it was hard to proceed.


    ¡°Mommy, please let jerk Dad lie down for the night. Tomorrow when he wakes up, we can blackmail him and make him pay a hefty price.¡± Ningning also pleaded, holding on to Ning Yichu¡¯s clothes, her large, sincere eyes sparkling.


    Ning Yichu massaged her temples, thinking that if he¡¯s been given a sedative and isn¡¯t going to have an episode, then looking after him for one night wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    ¡°Fine, but when he wakes up tomorrow, you can¡¯t say I took care of him, and especially, don¡¯t tell anyone we stayed together for the night, especially Chengcheng and the elders of the Li Family.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Chen Bao nodded slightly.


    Doudou copied Chen Bao¡¯s nod, vigorously bouncing his head up and down as if he was mashing garlic.


    Ning Yichu, seeing Li Lingyang in distress, fetched a basin of hot water to wipe him down.


    The three little ones wanted to help too, like taking off his clothes and turning him over.


    ¡°Go, go, go, have you seen what time it is? Don¡¯t make a mess here, go get some rest.¡± Ning Yichu stopped them, pointing at the time on her phone. It was almost midnight, and the little ones were still full of energy as if they were on a sugar rush.


    Chen Bao didn¡¯t quite trust the situation and glanced at Li Lingyang before taking her two little sisters to rest in the next room.


    Fortunately, the room Beiji booked was spacious enough, and the king-size bed in the bedroom could comfortably fit three children.


    Doudou actually hesitated a bit.


    ¡°Will Chengcheng brother look for us if we don¡¯t go back?¡±


    Chen Bao, in a lazy yawn, scooped Little Doudou onto the bed and wrapped in the quilt said, ¡°If he¡¯s looking, he¡¯ll start with that good-for-nothing dad. Let¡¯s sleep, we¡¯re really tired after all this fuss.¡±


    ¡°Wow, I want to sleep on the edge...¡± Ningning promptly kicked off her little shoes and climbed to the edge of the bed.


    Doudou also claimed one side of the bed, leaving only the middle spot for Chen Bao.


    Chen Bao, ¡°...¡± Well, it was his own choice to let his sisters have their way.


    After the sedative was administered, it only temporarily soothed the agitation in Li Lingyang¡¯s body.


    As time passed, he felt increasingly feverish, and soon, beads of sweat the size of soybeans appeared, sliding down from his forehead...


    Ning Yichu watched as he broke out into a sweat without doing anything, and her heart sank. She fetched another basin of water to help him wipe down, but this was a vacation resort; the best doctor available was likely just from the clinic here. Even he could do no more than administer a sedative, and she feared this might be futile...


    ¡°Li Lingyang, I must really owe you from my past life.¡±


    ¡°Forget it, seeing that you have a face just like my little darling, I¡¯ll look after you one more time.¡±


    ¡°Big brother, lift your hand, will you? I need to unbutton your shirt to wipe off your sweat...¡±


    Ning Yichu looked at Li Lingyang, who was dazed and powerless, spread his limbs in a spread-eagle position, and then unbuttoned his jacket to give him a simple wipe with clean water. She couldn¡¯t help noting that his muscles were very firm, especially around his chest and abdomen. His eight-pack abs were strong and prominent; if he ever stopped being a CEO, he could certainly hold his own in the modeling industry!


    After wiping off the sweat, Ning Yichu was about to dress him when a mischievous idea struck her. No, she couldn¡¯t let go of such an embarrassing moment for Li Lingyang...


    Every time she had an embarrassing moment, he happened to witness it; there was no reason not to make good use of this rare opportunity, right?


    Ning Yichu tossed the towel aside, grabbed her phone, and snapped several photos of Li Lingyang.


    Still not satisfied, she dug a lipstick out of her bag!


    Her gaze devilishly fixed on Li Lingyang...


    If he ever again casually threatened to separate her from the kids, she¡¯d plaster his embarrassing photos for the world to see!


    Li Lingyang caught the faint scent of gardenia; the aroma was hazy but irresistibly enticing.


    In a daze, he saw a woman gently wiping across his face and body with a towel.


    He strained to see her face clearly, but it was as though a fog clouded his vision, until nearly half an hour later when his reason started to return gradually.


    Just as Ning Yichu was about to draw a turtle on his face with the lipstick, the moment the lipstick touched his handsome face, she realized she was met with a piercing cold gaze.


    She looked up and unexpectedly found herself locked in the deep, dark eyes of Li Lingyang!


    That look made her heart skip a beat!


    Her hand trembled, and the lipstick rolled onto the ground...


    ¡°You... you woke up so soon? Listen to my explanation, I was actually trying to help you... Ah!¡±


    Before she could finish speaking, Ning Yichu¡¯s wrist was abruptly seized, and in the next second, her world spun around, and when she came to her senses, she found herself pinned beneath Li Lingyang.


    His eyes were flooded with a scarlet rage she couldn¡¯t pinpoint when had appeared as they locked onto Ning Yichu.


    His other hand gripped her jaw, lifted it slightly, and he lowered his head to assault her lips...