In the office.
The atmosphere was subtle.
When facing Ji Ningyue, like an employee at the bottom rung, her expression was filled with unease.
Chu Fan chuckled to himself, thinking of something, and then stood up.
Ji Ningyue immediately became alert, her eyes gleaming with curiosity, wondering what made Chu Fan laugh.
"Are you listening to Qinglong, or to me?"
Since Qinglong listened to the person in front of him, Ji Ningyue earnestly replied, "Of course, I listen to Young Master!"
"Since you listen to me, then just do what I tell you to do. I don't need your company here!"
Without giving Ji Ningyue any chance to struggle, Chu Fan moved to leave.
In the office, Ji Ningyue looked down at herself.
"Could it be that I'm not attractive enough?"
Women, all possess a sense of pride, especially those who are exceptionally beautiful.
Her proud countenance, her figure with perfect golden ratio proportions, coupled with her profound cultivation, ensured that wherever Ji Ningyue went, men's gazes could not be averted from her.
Before meeting Chu Fan, she had been thinking that the master whom even Qinglong treated with deference would, without a doubt, be like other men, completely infatuated with her.
However, reality had slapped her hard.
Chu Fan was the first man Ji Ningyue had encountered in her life who was not interested in her.
From Chu Fan, Ji Ningyue felt a sense of frustration she had never experienced before.
"I don't believe you can remain uninterested in women forever!"
Ji Ningyue walked to the window, overlooking the bustling Shanhai City, and developed a profound curiosity towards Chu Fan, her master.
Capable women become stronger when faced with challenges.
Countless men had desired Ji Ningyue's favor, only to be rejected, primarily because they couldn't control their desires, falling captive the moment they saw her.
Ji Ningyue, from the bottom of her heart, looked down upon such people.
Chu Fan's cold indifference stimulated Ji Ningyue's confidence, making her unwilling to give up until she had him.
Evening.
Chu Fan received a call from Ji Ningyue.
"Young Master, are you free now?"
"What is it?"
Chu Fan responded coldly.
"I've just received important information, and I'll come over personally to report to you."
"No need!"
"Just say it over the phone!"
Ji Ningyue was too beautiful, becoming the center of attention wherever she went.
Chu Fan, who wished to remain low-key, did not want his aunt and others to know his connection with the Qinglong Consortium for the time being.
Therefore, avoiding her was the best course of action.
Moreover, how could he not see through Ji Ningyue's little schemes?
Rejected again, Ji Ningyue bashfully kicked the floor.
"Hmm?"
A hum of surprise came.
Ji Ningyue immediately felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, her entire body tensed. She quickly dismissed her stray thoughts and said, "Young Master, investigations suggest that the reason your mother was pursued back then seems to be different."
"The participants, besides the Chu family, included other forces."
"The Chu family's objective was to prevent your birth. The other forces sought to obtain a dragon-shaped jade token from your mother."
Dragon-shaped jade token?
Chu Fan's brow twitched slightly, "What kind of dragon-shaped jade token?"
A picture of the dragon-shaped jade token was immediately sent to Chu Fan's phone. This was a palm-sized, but seemingly half, dark red jade token. From the picture, the jade token appeared extremely ancient, exuding an archaic aura. He recalled that he had never seen this jade token before.
Chu Fan then asked, "Is the information confirmed?"
"Confirmed. If it wasn't confirmed, it wouldn't have reached me to be relayed to you!"
"Investigations show that this jade token was kept hidden by your mother and brought to Shanhai City, after which it disappeared."
"After analyzing the situation, I believe that given the crisis at the time and your young age, your mother might have entrusted the dragon-shaped jade token to someone she trusted most to hide it."
The person her mother trusted most in Shanhai City was none other than her aunt.
Could it have been kept by her aunt?
Why had her mother never mentioned it before?
"Continue investigating. I'll ask my aunt first!"
After hanging up, Chu Fan's long-standing confusion was finally resolved. Earlier investigations had revealed that his mother was five months pregnant when she escaped from the Chu family.
How could someone who was weak and pregnant evade such intricate plots and escape? After all, over twenty years ago, the Chu family was the foremost family in the Dragon God Kingdom. It wasn't difficult to make a master disappear, let alone a woman. Yet, his mother had indeed escaped.
Chu Fan's earlier guess was that someone must have secretly helped, and he had been investigating who that helper was. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. Now it seemed his guess was wrong. His mother's escape back then was undoubtedly linked to the dragon-shaped jade token. Its whereabouts were known only to her. If the people who plotted and pursued her had made her disappear, the dragon-shaped jade token would be lost as well. The pursuit of his mother, therefore, must have involved apprehension and hesitation.
What was so special about the jade token? Why would someone be interested in it?
Chu Fan immediately found his aunt.
Nan Baixuan was at that moment telling Qin Xue about Ji Ningyue, the female financial empress, stating that she now had a direction and goal to strive for and would become like Ji Ningyue from now on.
"Aunt, I have something I want to ask you!"
Interrupted while speaking enthusiastically, Nan Baixuan glared fiercely at Chu Fan with her beautiful eyes.
"You, do you have no eyes or no ears?"
"Can't you see or hear that I'm talking?"
Chu Fan couldn't be bothered with her and looked at Qin Xue with an eager gaze.
Sensing that Chu Fan seemed to have something urgent, Qin Xue signaled Nan Baixuan to not rush and then asked, "Xiao Fan, what is it?"
"Aunt, did my mother give you a dragon-shaped jade token back then?"
Qin Xue's brows furrowed slightly, and then she shook her head, "Your sister didn't give me anything like that."
"However, I remember she mentioned some jade token once, but I was busy with other things at the time and didn't listen carefully."
Mentioning the jade token meant the investigation was not wrong. Considering the importance of the dragon-shaped jade token, his mother wouldn't have handed it over directly to her aunt; she likely hid it within something and smuggled it.
Chu Fan continued to ask, "Aunt, did my mother give you anything when she left with me back then?"
Qin Xue thought for a moment and shook her head, "No!"
"Really no?"
"Aunt, think carefully!"
Chu Fan's tone was filled with urgency. He knew that his aunt was the only person his mother trusted. If the dragon-shaped jade token was taken, his mother would have definitely given it to him when they parted. If she hadn't, the only possibility was that it was left with her aunt, but perhaps handed over discreetly when her aunt wasn't paying attention.
"You're being neurotic, are you done or not?"
"It's just a broken jade pendant, would my mom hide it?"
"How much do you want? I'll get a pile tomorrow and smash you with it!"
Nan Baixuan, already annoyed, saw Chu Fan troubling her mother and her anger erupted.
"Alright, Xuanxuan, let me think carefully!"
Qin Xue raised her hand and massaged her temples, trying to recall past events.
Nan Baixuan continued to stare at Chu Fan. As she stared, she suddenly remembered something she had thought of earlier in the day in front of Shanhai Building. The thought made her heart tighten abruptly, and her expression changed slightly.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
"With his looks, he couldn't possibly have such great power!"
Nan Baixuan tried to comfort herself, finding it difficult to believe her own speculation.
"I remember now, when Sister arrived in Shanhai City, she did give me something!"