Li Nanfang had suggested to Li Qianfan that he shouldn't go to Modu for now and could return to Qingyun in Tiandong to rest for a while.
After all, besides President Jiao San, there was no one else there who would scheme against Li Qianfan.
The key was that Old Father Su and his wife treated Li Qianfan like their own son, showering him with immense familial warmth.
In short—
Whether it was the slow pace of life in Qingyun, or Old Father Su's great paternal love, both had a refining effect on Li Qianfan's soul in his current state.
Li Qianfan also decided to return to Qingyun, and by the way, give Su Nanyin a few days to calm down.
But just as Li Qianfan was drinking with Little Luoluo (Luo Huayin) until dawn and preparing to call the two from Zhanxing to return to Qingyun together, President Zhao called at the opportune moment.
President Zhao wanted to personally understand the matter of Dai Paipai, who had attempted to assassinate Su Nanyin.
Li Qianfan had no choice but to postpone his plan to return to Qingyun and went to meet President Zhao.
After he truthfully reported everything, President Zhao slapped the table and flew into a rage, scolding him as useless mud that couldn't be plastered on a wall.
He was a fool who forgot the bigger picture for lust—
How could he have let Dai Paipai go, knowing she was bound to kill Su Nanyin?
Was Su Nanyin, who was willing to give everything for him and do anything he asked, more important?
Or was Dai Paipai, who was now controlled by the dark web and whose risk factor was increasing daily, more important!?
Regardless, Li Qianfan was thoroughly berated by President Zhao.
President Zhao, with an unprecedentedly stern tone, demanded that he provide Su Nanyin with twenty-four-hour close protection until it was confirmed that Dai Paipai had escaped the Eastern Lands.
If—
If Su Nanyin, who was currently shouldering many responsibilities, had her personal safety threatened in any way again, President Zhao would personally take a stick and break Li Qianfan's legs!
Li Qianfan, who had been thoroughly scolded, was covered in cold sweat.
If he could have retorted—
Li Qianfan would definitely have asked President Zhao, "We agreed that I was here in Armament as a golden opportunity, with freedom of action. But now you're tying me down here. Isn't this going back on your word?"
But he dared not.
He could only endure the humiliation and repeatedly agreed to President Zhao's orders.
Moreover, he was also worried that Dai Paipai, hiding somewhere, might launch another assassination attempt on Su Nanyin.
And so.
Li Qianfan, who had intended to return to Qingyun and enjoy a few relaxed days, was forced to remain in Si Jiu.
At night.
In the best guest room in the central courtyard, one of the three from the caterpillar bite would accompany him (talking, cooking, playing games, etc.).
During the day.
He would escort Su Nanyin to work, never leaving her side.
However, for these past few days.
Apart from essential work-related communication, Su Nanyin had not said a single word unrelated to work to Li Qianfan.
She treated him entirely as a work secretary, and although she would smile at him, it carried a clear sense of distance.
On the way to and from work, Su Nanyin, who used to habitually sit in the front passenger seat when he drove, now sat in the back.
She would place her laptop on her lap and work with intense focus.
Li Qianfan knew.
Although Su Nanyin had appeared understanding when she asked him to move out of the backyard, to the point of being a textbook example,
from the moment she told Li Qianfan to move out of the backyard, their previously casual and intimate relationship could never return to what it was.
She constantly reminded herself that she was Li Qianfan's elder.
She only wanted to work as frantically as possible within her limited lifespan to clear as many obstacles as possible and pave the way for Du Junlin to smoothly take over Armament in the future.
Otherwise—
When people meditated in private Buddhist halls, didn't they hold prayer beads and chant sutras, instead of holding laptops and working?
Even though the caterpillar bite had believed Su Nanyin's lie about her being pregnant,
they had begun to doubt Su Nanyin's reason for driving him out of the backyard, claiming she feared Li Qianfan might accidentally harm the child.
Whatever the specific situation, the caterpillar bite dared not ask for details.
They could only watch as the atmosphere in the Su family became more bizarre with each passing day.
The sense of relief and freedom to do whatever he pleased upon returning home was gone.
No more playing cards.
After dinner each night, the caterpillar bite would split into two groups: two would accompany Su Nanyin, and one would accompany Li Qianfan in the central courtyard.
However, it wasn't just Su Maomao and Du Yaoyao; even Shen Chongchong didn't dare to stay overnight in the central courtyard.
Su Nanyin seemed to be oblivious to the change in the family atmosphere, acting as if she saw and heard nothing.
She devoted all her energy to her work.
Tonight.
If it hadn't been for Su Maomao's call reminding her if she was coming home for dinner, the engrossed Su Nanyin wouldn't have realized it was already dark.
She tidied her things and walked to the door as usual, her gaze unwavering. However, her peripheral vision caught sight of Li Qianfan's phone.
A fleeting glimpse—
Su Nanyin saw Luo Huayin's avatar and screen name (Tailgating Pretty Girl. Kids these days just come up with bizarre screen names. Tailgating, isn't that crashing into the car in front?), and she saw the message inviting Li Qianfan to the socialite discotheque.
She also saw Li Qianfan's reply to Tailgating Pretty Girl: "See you at the usual spot in an hour."
After Li Qianfan sent the message and looked up, Su Nanyin had already walked out of the room.
Sigh.
Watching her back sway from side to side as she walked, Li Qianfan's gaze turned cold, and he let out an inexplicable sigh as he thought of the phone he had seen in her drawer that afternoon when he went to get her files.
"Vice General Manager Su, are you just returning home now?"
As soon as Li Qianfan closed his office door, he saw Helan Tingmei approaching from the west (from the office of the Second Deputy General Manager).
Helan Tingmei's personal secretary was selected from the eight major teams of Armament and was named Liu Yan.
Liu Yan's name was ordinary, and her appearance was petite and delicate, but she was an expert in Sanda combat, making her a very suitable secretary for Helan Tingmei.
"Yes."
Su Nanyin stopped and smiled at Helan Tingmei, who was approaching.
She knew very well that Helan Tingmei disdained her and Li Qianfan.
She also knew that Helan Tingmei, as the Second Deputy General Manager, had never concealed her ambition to become the Great General Manager of Armament, and was the biggest obstacle to Yaoyao's successful ascent to power.
However, they both maintained superficial civility.
As they walked together down the long alley, they casually discussed work matters.
Exiting the alley.
Helan Tingmei, out of basic courtesy, made a gesture of inviting Su Nanyin to board first.
But just as Li Qianfan opened the car door and Su Nanyin was about to get in, Helan Tingmei suddenly said, "Vice General Manager Su, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."
"Just say it."
Su Ziyu stepped onto the car, looked back at Helan Tingmei, and smiled faintly.
"Your complexion—"
Helan Tingmei hesitated for a moment before saying, "It seems... not as good as it was a few days ago."
Oh?
Was that so?
Su Nanyin was clearly surprised and instinctively reached for her compact mirror to check.
Women.
The more beautiful a woman was, the more she cared about her appearance.
But just as Su Nanyin was about to open her small bag, she quickly retracted it and chuckled, "Perhaps my work intensity has been quite high these past few days. After all, if I don't catch the president of the dark web and eliminate some trash pests, I won't be able to relax, which affects my complexion."
"Actually, it's not just your complexion; you look visibly much worse than you did a few days ago."
Since Helan Tingmei had already spoken, she no longer beat around the bush.
She stated the truth frankly: "The key is that you've given me the impression that you've aged at least five years in just one week. Originally, I shouldn't have said this so directly. But your change is too significant, and I really couldn't help myself. Please don't mind it, Vice General Manager Su."
What?
I've aged at least five years in one week!?
Su Nanyin's heart trembled, and the smile on her face suddenly stiffened.
"On the contrary, Secretary Li."
Helan Tingmei then looked at Li Qianfan, who was also subconsciously looking at Su Nanyin, and said, "I feel like you look several years younger than you did a week ago."
Liu Yan, standing behind Helan Tingmei, couldn't help but nod, "Yes. Secretary Li's complexion indeed looks several years younger than it did a week ago."
Liu Yan dared not comment on Su Nanyin, but she still dared to speak the truth about the good-natured Li Qianfan.
"Is that so?"
Li Qianfan raised his hand and rubbed his face, then chuckled, "Could it be that my recent insistence on using women's cosmetics has achieved remarkable results?"
He certainly wouldn't, like those legendary effeminate men, have to rub various cosmetics when going out or appearing on camera.
In fact.
After being reminded by Helan Tingmei, Li Qianfan also noticed that Su Nanyin, whom he saw every day, indeed looked several years older than she did a week ago. His heart found the answer: "So, as long as I maintain a certain distance from her, she will stop rejuvenating! She will even return to her original appearance (Su Nanyin's original appearance was also noble, sexy, and charming, but far less so than now)."
Especially when Helan Tingmei and Liu Yan both couldn't help but say that he looked several years younger over the past week.
Li Qianfan's heart skipped a beat: "Could it be that she truly possesses the evil art of absorbing Yang for eternal youth, as Seventh Master (Seventh Elder of the Li family village) said? As long as I maintain a close relationship with her, I grow old and she stays young. When we distance ourselves, she ages, and I will resume the normal aging speed after being activated in 209?"
Ha.
Liu Yan chuckled, "Secretary Li, you use women's cosmetics too? What brand are you using? Recommend it to me."
"No problem. Forget it, I'll give you a set."
Li Qianfan nodded with a smile.
"Alas, it seems I need to pay more attention to rest in the future."
Su Nanyin, who had also been staring at Li Qianfan for a moment, sighed and said, "Otherwise, I'll quickly turn into an old woman. Helan, I'm leaving now."
The car started.
Neither of them spoke, just like in the past.
Li Qianfan drove with concentration.
Su Nanyin, sitting in the back, looked down at the laptop on her lap.
But Li Qianfan knew that her mind was surely in turmoil.
As the car passed an intersection—
Su Nanyin suddenly spoke, "Call Maomao and tell her I'm not coming home for dinner tonight. I'm going to find a place to have a drink tonight."
"Okay."
Li Qianfan nodded instinctively. As he picked up his phone, he casually asked, "Where are you going?"
Su Nanyin looked out the car window and said lazily, "I've been in Si Jiu for so long. Except for the socialite discotheque, I've never been to any other nightclubs. I'll go there."