Chapter 438: Chapter 438: You Still Dare Talk Back
Lan Yan slightly furrowed her brow and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
Wei Yuning looked at the person in front of her and then spoke into the phone with Lan Yan, “Someone is imprisoning me!”
Lan Yan was momentarily stunned.
“Then you should call the police. There’s no use in asking me for help.”
The fact that Wei Yuning could still make a phone call indicated there wasn’t a serious problem.
“Calling the police won’t help. Uncle Mao doesn’t dare do anything to him.”
Lan Yan: “… So asking me is useful?”
Wei Yuning: “It’s useful, very useful. Lan, you’re the only person I know in Yue City. If you don’t rescue me, no one will.”
“…”
Lan Yan ultimately softened her heart.
Half an hour later.
She arrived at the location Wei Yuning mentioned—it was an entertainment club.
She stood outside the door for a moment, then walked inside.
Finally, she reached the private room Wei Yuning described.
There were two people guarding the door.
The two men in black reached out to stop her. “Miss, this private room is off-limits.”
Lan Yan glanced at them and asked in an indifferent tone, “Wei Yuning is in there, isn’t she?”
The men in black froze.
Although they said nothing, Lan Yan already knew the answer.
“Since she is, can you move aside? I need to talk to her.”
But the men in black still didn’t let her in.
“Miss, without orders from our Fourth Young Master, you cannot enter.”
Lan Yan raised a slight brow, “Your Fourth Young Master?”
The man in black nodded.
“What if I insist on going in?”
The two men exchanged glances. One of them spoke up, “Miss, don’t make us use force.”
Lan Yan chuckled lightly, “If you use force, you still won’t win against me.”
The two men were stunned by her bold words.
One of them began to speak, “You… ah…”
He had barely said a word when Lan Yan seized his wrist and yanked him hard, tossing him into the opposite wall.
This was followed by a muffled groan and the crisp sound of bones fracturing.
The other man was utterly dumbfounded.
He stared at Lan Yan, bewildered.
She was surprisingly strong, easily throwing a man twice her size.
Lan Yan looked at him calmly and asked, “Do you want to be hit too?”
The man immediately shook his head.
Who would be foolish enough to enjoy being beaten?
“If you don’t, then step aside.”
The man hesitated for a few seconds but ultimately moved out of her way.
Since the woman before him seemed to be a friend of Miss Yuning, the Fourth Young Master likely wouldn’t blame them.
Lan Yan entered the room but didn’t see anyone.
She furrowed her brows, “Wei Yuning?”
She called out, but no one answered. She called out again.
“Click!”
The bathroom door opened.
Wei Yuning poked her head out. “Lan, I’m here.”
Lan Yan looked at her and said, “Come out.”
Wei Yuning asked, “Can we leave now?”
Lan Yan nodded.
Upon hearing this, Wei Yuning emerged from the bathroom immediately.
“Lan, are those two guys outside gone?”
“No.”
“Ah? Then doesn’t that mean we can’t leave yet?”
Lan Yan had already noticed earlier that the two men outside didn’t intend harm to Wei Yuning; they were merely guarding the door.
“Who are they? And why are you here?” Lan Yan asked.
Wei Yuning didn’t hide the truth and replied honestly, “They work for my uncle. As for why I’m here, well, I didn’t go home last night and didn’t feel like staying at a hotel, so I just picked a lively spot and decided to rent a private room here. Then my uncle’s men tracked me down, trapped me here, and are waiting to lecture me once he finishes his work. After that… you already know the rest.”
Lan Yan listened to her explanation and asked in confusion, “Why didn’t you go home?”
Wei Yuning: “Because my uncle is staying at my house.”
Now Lan Yan was even more perplexed, “Is your uncle a monster or a ghost? He’s staying at your house, and you chose to leave?”
This was a bit exaggerated.
“My uncle is scarier than monsters and ghosts.”
“…”
Just thinking about the impending arrival of Wei Junyao made Wei Yuning nervous.
She clung to Lan Yan’s arm and said, “Lan, let’s figure out how to leave quickly. My uncle will be here soon—I’m scared.”
Lan Yan: “…”
She grew curious. What kind of person could scare someone to this extent?
But if it involved the Wei Family, she’d rather avoid dealing with them.
“Fine, let’s go. But just this once. Next time, simply call the police.”
Wei Yuning didn’t care about anything else now; she just agreed, “Okay, I got it, Lan.”
Lan Yan turned and headed for the door.
“Lan, are we just walking out like this? What if they stop us?” Wei Yuning asked.
Lan Yan replied directly, “Knock them unconscious.”
Wei Yuning was stunned by her response but then recalled something Mrs. Xiao had told her.
Mrs. Xiao had mentioned that Lan Yan practiced Sanda and was even a Sanda champion.
This was precisely why she sought her help today.
“I almost forgot, Lan, you’re really skilled. Aunt Yun mentioned it to me.”
She looked at the side profile of Lan Yan’s face with admiration.
Just as they reached the door, the private room’s door was suddenly opened.
Both of them came to a halt.
A powerful presence swept over them.
Wei Yuning instinctively hid behind Lan Yan.
“Oh no, Lan, my uncle is here.”
She muttered softly from behind Lan Yan.
Wei Junyao exuded a commanding and dark aura, no wonder Wei Yuning was so afraid.
The man strode in on his long legs.
His gaze fell directly on the person hiding behind Lan Yan, though he could only see the top of her head.
In a slow, deliberate tone, the man said, “Wei Yuning, you’ve gotten bold.”
Wei Yuning’s heart trembled at his words.
She stayed hidden behind Lan Yan and replied, “I haven’t done anything. How does that make me bold?”
She wasn’t happy. Even if she felt timid, her sharp tongue persisted.
“You dare talk back?”
“This isn’t talking back; it’s stating facts.”
Lan Yan listened to their exchange, her brow furrowing slightly.
She turned her head and glanced at Wei Yuning, who was hiding behind her. “Why don’t you come out and say that?”
Wei Yuning shook her head. “No.”
“…”
Lan Yan sighed helplessly. “Mr. Wei, she didn’t mean any harm. She only came here because you stayed at her house last night.”
Wei Yuning hadn’t expected Lan Yan to say this outright.
Meanwhile, Wei Junyao gave Lan Yan another look, the hint of surprise flashing in his eyes was fleeting.
Unfazed, his voice was icy and indifferent, “So her staying out all night is my fault?”
Lan Yan met his gaze calmly and replied evenly, “I never said so. If Mr. Wei interprets it that way, it’s not for me to deny. After all, it’s your family dispute. I’m just an outsider.”
Wei Junyao’s deep black eyes revealed no trace of emotion, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.
Yet the longer one looked, the more unsettling he seemed.
However, Lan Yan, who had faced her share of challenges, remained composed and indifferent in the presence of someone whose aura carried a hint of murder.
This wasn’t unfamiliar to her—she had grown used to it over time.
Wei Junyao stared at her and asked, “Was it you who injured my men?”
Lan Yan answered, “Yes. Sorry, my strikes were a bit heavy-handed. I can compensate for the medical expenses.”
She had barely finished speaking when Wei Yuning, peeking out from behind her, added, “Uncle, you don’t lack money. Why make Lan pay? Your men were in the wrong, and Lan didn’t do it on purpose.”
Wei Junyao shifted his gaze toward her. “What, you think my money grows on trees?”
“…”
Wei Yuning immediately shrank back, choosing silence.
Lan Yan could tell she was genuinely terrified of the man, yet she didn’t lack the ability to adapt.
But was there really a need to fear him to this extent?
Lan Yan decided not to waste time and said bluntly, “Mr. Wei, it seems she doesn’t want to talk to you. I’ll be taking her with me today. Please step aside. Otherwise, I might accidentally injure your men again. If I accidentally hurt you, Mr. Wei, that would be problematic.”
Her tone was steady and confident, entirely unyielding.
For Wei Junyao, this was the first encounter with a woman who didn’t fear him.
The women who sought proximity to him would invariably fear him, watching from afar but not daring to approach.
In this regard, Lan Yan was the second person within the Wei Family not to fear him—the first being Wei Ting.
Wei Yuning was taken aback by Lan Yan’s bold words.
She had never heard someone speak to her uncle like this.
Although she herself talked back occasionally, it was no more than playful retorts.
Such resolute remarks were beyond her.
The two of them locked gazes for several seconds.
Just when Wei Yuning assumed her uncle wouldn’t let them leave, Wei Junyao unexpectedly stepped aside.
Wei Yuning was stunned—when had her uncle ever been so accommodating?
She had been prepared for an inevitable lecture.
Evidently, she had chosen the right ally this time.
Lan Yan nodded lightly at him before heading for the door.
Wei Yuning followed closely behind.
As she passed by, she instinctively glanced up.
Suddenly, without warning, she locked eyes with the man’s bottomless black gaze.
Startled, she quickly averted her eyes.
Too terrifying… utterly terrifying…
Wei Junyao watched their departing figures and remained silent for a moment before turning to Chen Yi. “Look into how these two know each other.”
Chen Yi nodded. “Understood, Fourth Young Master.”
The older brother hadn’t formally acknowledged her into the Wei Family, yet she had already grown close to that audacious girl, Wei Yuning.
If he remembered correctly, Wei Yuning had only been in Yue City for a few days.
Judging from what he just saw, the girl appeared to trust Lan Yan greatly.
Outside the club.
Lan Yan looked at her and said, “Alright. I’m leaving.”
Wei Yuning quickly grabbed her hand, “Wait, Lan, could you take me partway? Just drop me off somewhere along the way, please?”
She felt safer whenever she stayed close to Lan Yan.
Lan Yan frowned slightly. “Miss, I have to return to work. It’s not convenient to take you home.”
Wei Yuning pursed her lips as she considered her disruption.
“Then just drop me off mid-route, please. I’m afraid my uncle will take me back again, and I feel braver when I’m with you.”
Lan Yan sighed helplessly at her pitiful expression, “Get in the car.”
Wei Yuning’s face immediately lit up. “Got it.”
…
One hour later.
“Fourth Young Master, Miss Yuning met Miss Lan on her second day in Yue City, at a shopping mall. Their encounter was somewhat coincidental—Miss Yuning had a dispute with someone and was pushed, nearly falling down. Miss Lan happened to be there and caught her. That’s the footage from the mall.”
After speaking, Chen Yi handed the tablet to the man.
Then he added, “Based on the mall’s surveillance, it seems Miss Yuning was the one actively clinging to Miss Lan. They ended up shopping together, joined by another woman. I checked—she’s from the Xiao Family, specifically the mother of Miss Lan’s boyfriend.”
Wei Junyao’s piercing gaze fixed on the tablet’s footage.
It was clear that Wei Yuning was indeed the one clinging to Lan.
“Fourth Young Master, it seems like Miss Yuning genuinely likes Miss Lan. Do you think Miss Yuning might actually like women?” Chen Yi asked.
He had heard the rumors about Wei Yuning.
And then he was met with a sharp and oppressive glare.
Chen Yi swallowed and coughed lightly. “Haha, just joking, Fourth Young Master.”
The man said coldly, “Was that funny?”
Chen Yi quickly shook his head, “Not at all. I’ll make sure never to joke like that again.”
Chen Yi knew Lan Yan’s identity. “Fourth Young Master, should we inform your elder brother about this?”
Wei Junyao replied, “Ignore it. They’ll find out sooner or later.”
Chen Yi: “Understood.”
…
6 PM.
At the research institute’s gatehouse.
“Uncle, how long have you been working here?”
Wei Yuning sat on a small stool and struck up a conversation with the gatekeeper.
The old man replied, “Not long. This research institute was only established recently.”
“Oh, so that’s how it is.”
“Young lady, are you here waiting for your boyfriend to get off work? Which department does he work in?” the old man asked.
Wei Yuning shook her head. “No, no, I’m waiting for my sister to get off work.”
“Your sister? What’s her name?”
Wei Yuning didn’t think much of it and said Lan Yan’s name.
After all, this research institute was big, and the gatekeeper surely couldn’t know everyone.
“Seriously? She’s your sister?”
“Yeah, Uncle, you know her?”
“Of course I do. She’s the aide to our institute director and one of the key leaders here. How could I not know her?”
Wei Yuning had known that Lan Yan worked here, but she didn’t know exactly what her position was or what her job entailed.
The two continued chatting casually.
At 6:30, Lan Yan appeared.
Wei Yuning saw her through the gate’s surveillance camera.
She quickly told the gatekeeper goodbye and got up to leave.
Lan Yan stepped out of the institute, originally intending to look for Xiao Si’s car.
Suddenly, someone darted toward her.
“Hi, Lan!”
Lan Yan was startled. “Why are you here?”
Wei Yuning replied, “I specifically came to wait for you.”
“Wait for me?”
“Yep.”
“Why aren’t you home? Why are you waiting for me?”
“To invite you to dinner, to thank you for taking the trouble earlier.”
“…”
Before Lan Yan could respond, she noticed a man approaching behind Wei Yuning. It was none other than Xiao Si, here to pick her up.
Wei Yuning was about to continue talking when suddenly she felt herself being tugged by the collar.
“Hey… Who’s this?”
Xiao Si grabbed her collar single-handedly, lifting her like a small chicken, and then unceremoniously threw her aside.
“Cough cough cough…”
Wei Yuning, choked momentarily by the pull on her clothing, coughed a few times.
Once she caught her breath, she glared at the culprit.
Xiao Si raised his eyebrows and said coldly, “Wei Yuning, why do you haunt people like a ghost?”
“Who are you calling a ghost?”
“Whoever answers to me is who.”
“…”