An hour later.
Flanked by Du Junlin, Su Xin, and others, the Vice-Manager Su, clad in a black trench coat and wearing large sunglasses, walked past Li Qianfan without glancing aside, and got into her private car.
Beep.
Su Xin, driving, lightly honked the horn and slowly started the car.
When Yao Yao, driving her small blue car, followed closely behind, she raised her hand and blew a sweet kiss to Li Qianfan.
Soon.
This convoy, comprising a full ten vehicles, vanished at the end of the long street.
That woman, who was incomparably noble in public, finally broke her established rules by returning to Shanghai and Sijiu!
As a result, after a long period of melancholy, Li Qianfan couldn't help but return to his study. He sat in the chair that still seemed to hold her warmth, inhaled the faint scent of milk in the air, and closed his eyes, imagining her frantic state as if the world were about to end.
In the following days—
Li Qianfan accompanied Jiao Yin in selecting suitable members for the Modu branch.
In addition to the business at the Arc de Triomphe, Li Qianfan, as the boss, also had to handle matters.
Originally.
Li Qianfan had intended for Ma Rongna to be responsible for the Arc de Triomphe's work.
But Modu was an absolute place of sorrow for her, and she did not want to stay there any longer.
She wanted to stay by Luo Huayin's side for at least half a year, and after gradually forgetting the sad past, she would consider work matters.
Ma Rongna suggested that Qin Linsheng could continue to preside over the work at the Arc de Triomphe.
Qin Linsheng was quite a good person.
Because of his affection for Ma Rongna, he was a very pure individual.
Qin Linsheng had made significant contributions to the collapse of the Ma family and the downfall of Ye Qingfan.
Even Su Nanyin felt that he was a talent that could be entrusted with confidence.
Of course, the premise was that Li Qianfan had to treat Ma Rongna sincerely.
No problem—
Li Qianfan accepted Ma Rongna's suggestion.
On the other hand, regarding the Dark Blade's branch in Modu.
Although Jiao San, the traitor, was known to the Dark Web, she still did not want to take on the position of bureau chief.
She did not want to be tied down.
The bureau chief was Xu Qing.
Jiao San would help Xu Qing stabilize the situation in Modu and settle her confidantes before leaving to find Li Qianfan.
In order to select the most outstanding talents, Jiao Yin, along with Yin Xian and a few others, quietly went to Dongyang.
She intended to bring over more than ten of her absolute confidantes who were skilled in martial arts to Modu.
As for other confidantes, Jiao Yin would hand them over to Tang Wenyuan.
Li Qianfan naturally supported Jiao Yin's arrangements unconditionally.
Time flew by.
By the time Li Qianfan finally arranged everything in Modu, a full month had passed since Su Nanyin returned to Sijiu.
Luo Huayin's injuries had also completely healed.
Then Zhuang Wujian called, saying she had found out who had plotted against Tang Xiaoni.
What a lie!
Zhuang Wujian must have known who the mastermind was long ago but refused to say, fearing Li Qianfan would mistreat her daughter.
Only after Li Qianfan took Luo Huayin to Hancheng would Zhuang Wujian hand over the mastermind to him for xử lý.
So many days had passed, and Hancheng had finally discovered the cause of the sinking of the Han River.
It was related to Cui Linzhi.
Cui Linzhi's rivals hoped to force him to resign in disgrace by using the Han River sinking accident.
However, they did not expect that the people who plotted against Tang Xiaoni chose that specific time to strike.
This, in turn, completely obscured the crime of someone attempting to assassinate Tang Xiaoni.
After the true cause of the sinking incident was exposed, tens of millions of Hancheng citizens strongly demanded severe punishment for the mastermind!
However, Cui Linzhi's approval rating miraculously increased instead of decreasing.
Cui Linzhi even seized this opportunity to carry out a fundamental purge of his opponents.
The number of people involved in this case was vast, and the scope of its involvement was considered the highest in Hancheng's criminal cases.
It even involved several of Hancheng's most famous Xuanmen sects.
Park Sa-ryul, known as the pillar of Hancheng's Xuanmen, was also implicated.
The day after he and his disciples were arrested and imprisoned, he bit his tongue in atonement, knowing his sins were too grave!
The day after Park Sa-ryul atoned, Cai Wangzu, who was far away in the island province, heard the news and sighed to the heavens.
Coupled with the fact that a month prior, Dongyang's Tori Ki Hachiman Yoshimasa was assassinated in a certain residence, Cai Wangzu's two close friends had heartlessly left him behind and ascended to immortality ahead of time.
Cai Wangzu could only guard Ranfeng Pool alone, guarding it bitterly.
Miss Cai, fearing he might be struck by divine retribution, specifically dispatched a large number of troops to protect him and Ranfeng Pool.
The day after Cai Wangzu sighed to the heavens—
Tang Xiaoni, who was believed by countless fans to have passed away, appeared in a fishing village.
She had amnesia.
She didn't know who she was, nor how she had arrived at the fishing village.
Fortunately, two tourists from Dongtu Tiandong Qingyun, while traveling in the fishing village, accidentally discovered her. They thought she bore a strong resemblance to Tang Xiaoni from the sinking incident.
When the Tang family heard the news, they immediately sent people to rush over.
Upon seeing her—
Tang Xiaoni's parents embraced her and cried uncontrollably, calling her their dear darling for a long time.
Absolutely moved by familial affection, the previously amnesiac Tang Xiaoni miraculously regained her memory at a certain moment!
Then, she embraced her parents again and wept.
This incident caused a sensation throughout the entire entertainment industry.
Countless Tang fans were moved to tears and spread the news joyfully.
When Cui Linzhi of Hancheng learned the news, he was overjoyed and, with his wife Lin Xiuyan, invited the Tang family for a banquet.
During the meal, Cui Linzhi and his wife solemnly bowed and apologized to Tang Xiaoni, offering a considerable sum for emotional distress (although the Tang family had already received an astronomical amount of compensation from Hancheng. However, that money would not be returned just because Tang Xiaoni was alive).
Subsequently, Tang Xiaoni returned to Dongtu with her parents.
Although Xiao Ni Tang had returned to the country, Li Qianfan had to go to Hancheng.
If Li Qianfan didn't go to Hancheng, Zhuang Wujian wouldn't tell him who had plotted against Tang Xiaoni!
This left Li Qianfan feeling helpless.
He had to go to Hancheng, but he truly did not want to meet that old monster who had once wanted to take him in.
For this reason.
He specifically went to the West Courtyard to talk to Luo Huayin.
He hoped Luo Huayin could speak well of him to Zhuang Wujian, so that Zhuang Wujian would send him the killer's identity and information.
The weather was getting warmer, even hot.
Girls in colorful dresses, showing off their long legs in stiletto sandals, were seen everywhere on the streets.
Only Li Qianfan, Luo Huayin, and Ma Rongna remained in the East and West Courtyards.
The little fox, whose injuries had completely healed, was dressed very casually at home.
She was wearing nothing but a large bathrobe, inside and out.
This allowed her to curl up on the sofa with impunity, snacking and contentedly playing with her tail.
And then there was Ma Rongna.
Not only was she dressed neatly, but she also sat and stood properly.
Even when wearing slippers, she wore cotton socks.
It would have been even better if she no longer called Li Qianfan "Uncle-in-law."
"Zhuang Wujian's move to force me to do something I don't want to do by using Xiaoni Tang's situation is quite brilliant."
Li Qianfan sat opposite Luo Huayin and took the cup of water handed to him by Ma Rongna.
"What are you saying?"
Luo Huayin said displeasurably, "No matter how much you are my grand-nephew. From now on, when you mention Zhuang Wujian, you must call her Mother. After all, she gave away the daughter she raised for 20 years to you for free. If you have any conscience, you should call her Mother. And you shouldn't complain so much about going to Hancheng to visit your mother-in-law."
Li Qianfan didn't know what to say.
He didn't know how Yao Yao, who had been living with her all these days, communicated.
Could it be that anyone who could play with Luo Huayin was definitely mentally unwell?
"Alright."
Li Qianfan stood up, "Then we'll set off for Hancheng in a few days."
Luo Huayin asked, "Why not leave today?"
Li Qianfan walked out, "I'm waiting for something, and I still have two things to deal with."
The thing he was waiting for—
Was a tarnished bronze cross!
Ever since he learned that Jessica treasured this item, Li Qianfan had hoped to sell it for a good price.
However, Jessica was very cunning.
She did not announce it publicly and even made a fake to fool people.
When Li Qianfan handed this item to Su Nanyin, Su Nanyin secretly had people research it for a long time but found no use for it; it could only be kept in the safe, letting it continue to rust.
Useless things were nothing but scrap metal!
Li Qianfan had no hobby of collecting antiques and just wanted to find a good opportunity to sell it to Jessica.
This good opportunity—
Was the incident where Jessica, using Bai Ziyan's information, resold it to the Dark Web and made a net profit of two hundred million US dollars!
After Su Nanyin received Li Qianfan's call, she would dispatch a specialist to bring Chu Yazhi and deliver this cross to Modu.
Li Qianfan returned to the East Courtyard.
He sat on the sofa and called Jessica.
Jessica quickly answered and asked in a low voice, "What, do you want to serve me like a dog again? Tell me, where are you now? I can be by your side within 24 hours."
Li Qianfan—
What was wrong with women's brains these days!
"Alright, then bring five hundred million US dollars to Modu in Dongtu."
Li Qianfan said casually, "I haven't seen my son in a long time, and I miss him. I want to go in and see if he's doing well."
This time it was Jessica's turn—
She asked coldly, "Do you really think that serving me like a dog once means I have to give you five hundred million?"
Li Qianfan said slowly, "Yesterday, while browsing a flea market in Modu, I accidentally found a cross. Judging by its appearance, it looks very much like the tarnished bronze cross you mentioned to me once."
What!?
Jessica was shocked.
Then she understood and gritted her teeth, "Li Qianfan! I knew it was you who stole our cross. You refused to admit it before. You thief, scoundrel, robber."
Li Qianfan let her scold him, his face full of complacency.
After she finished scolding, he said, "Six hundred million. One hundred million is for your mental distress from scolding me. You don't have to give it, but I will put that cross up for auction in Europe."
Jessica stopped scolding but smashed something.
Heh heh.
Li Qianfan sneered, "You know Jiao Yin is my woman, yet you still sold the news of her submission to me to the Dark Web for a net profit of two hundred million! It almost caused her to be assassinated. Do you think I can forget this debt?"
Jessica fell silent.
"Within 24 hours, get your ass over here. If you're late, I won't bother."
After Li Qianfan finished speaking, he ended the call.
The sky gradually darkened.
Li Qianfan had dinner in the West Courtyard and then returned to the East Courtyard.
Since President Jiao San left Modu, Li Qianfan had been living like a monk for half a month.
The key was that after the empress returned to Sijiu, feeling guilty, she no longer dragged Jiao San to have video conferences at night.
And every time she called, she was cold and rushed.
This stark contrast was truly difficult to accept.
Li Qianfan often video-called Zi Yu, Chong Chong, Chu Yazhi, and the others.
But he was too embarrassed to reveal his true, scoundrel nature during the video calls.
Alas.
Also.
The little virtuous wife next door occasionally gave him flirtatious glances.
But was Mr. Qianfan such a casual person!?
After all, the little fox had made it very clear that if the little virtuous wife wanted to serve her uncle-in-law, she had to do it with her.
But the little fox wouldn't open her arms to him until Li Qianfan gave Zhuang Wujian the betrothal gifts.
"A little monster with a long tail, do I care? Humph."
Li Qianfan, unable to sleep, suddenly thought of something and got out of bed to open the closet.
Inside were a pair of fishnet stockings—
He put the fishnet stockings under his pillow, and his heart felt much more at ease, and he soon fell asleep.
Swish.
Rustle.
Li Qianfan, fast asleep, was suddenly awakened by the rustling sound outside the door.
"Judging by the footsteps, with the center of gravity forward, this is a woman. But it's not the little fox. The little fox's footsteps are lighter than the visitor's. It's not Ma Rongna either; Ma Rongna doesn't have martial arts skills. It's not Jiao San; if Jiao San were really coming back, there would be no need to tiptoe."
As Li Qianfan analyzed this, a light click was heard from the wooden corridor outside the door.
He immediately deduced that the visitor had leaped from the living room onto the second floor by stepping on furniture like the display cabinet.
This woman who came late at night had excellent lightness skills!
Who could she be?
Li Qianfan continued to snore softly but kept his eyes open in the darkness, watching the bedroom door.
The master bedroom door was slowly pushed open.