Lan Lingyan’s gaze was sharp, his brows furrowed like swords. Startled by his intensity, Lin Qian gasped and burst into tears, “Sister Liu Yan…”

The girl beside them, whose face had been grim, finally managed a weak smile. She reached up to the back of her neck, unbuttoning the high collar of her lace blouse, then slid her hand inside, pulling out a platinum chain. Dangling from it was a delicate little pouch. Liu Yan untied the silk thread, revealing a small, intricately crafted silver object resembling a miniature phone. She clutched it tightly, unwilling to hand it over to Lan Lingyan:

“Ninth Brother…”

Lan Lingyan didn't even glance at her, instead fixing a look of disgust on Lin Qian. “My property, and you dare give it away so casually? Get lost from now on, and never let me see your face again, or I’ll chop off both your hands!”

Lin Qian was already white with terror. She knew Lan Lingyan was always severe with his female cousins, but for a young girl like her, having a handsome cousin with such a prominent background was a matter of great face. She desperately wanted to get closer to Lan Lingyan, yet he had always been distant towards her. To see him so intimately involved with another woman sent an indescribable feeling through her.

She knew Lan Lingyan’s reputation; he was a ruthless killer. But far from being afraid of his cruelty, the young girl was morbidly fascinated by his ruthlessness, especially since they shared blood ties. She hadn't expected him to threaten her like this, but Lin Qian knew he meant every word. If she provoked his anger one more time, he would certainly follow through.

The realization brought humiliation and fear, and Lin Qian finally broke down into even heavier sobs.

Liu Yan felt a chill mixed with embarrassment. Lin Qian was her closest friend, and upon learning of Liu Yan's feelings, Lin Qian had been helping her, even managing to secure the key to Lan Lingyan’s estate from her Aunt Lin Min as a surprise for her twentieth birthday.

This was an incredibly precious gift for Liu Yan, but she hadn't possessed it for more than a few days; she couldn't bear to part with it!

The thrill she felt today seeing the Lan family’s reaction when she revealed she had the key was intoxicating, and she didn't want to lose that feeling. But Lan Lingyan’s gaze, sharp as a falcon’s, locked onto her, making her breath catch. Despite her profound reluctance, Liu Yan had no choice. Her arm trembled slightly as she extended the key.

Lan Lingyan frowned in distaste, gesturing for his bodyguard to take the key before tossing it to the ground. After entrusting their son to Ning Yunhuan standing nearby, Lan Lingyan reached out to the large man beside him. The man retrieved a small, black, exquisite object from his waist. After drawing out a small dagger, Lan Lingyan violently hurled it down at the key on the ground.

Though the key was solid steel, the force of the impact, combined with the weight of the dagger, actually drove it deep into the lawn. It was unclear what the dagger was made of, but its sharp point managed to leave a visible scratch mark on the pure steel surface of the key. As Liu Yan and the others watched, their faces ashen, Lan Lingyan smirked and tossed the soft leather sheath that had held the dagger onto a nearby table.

“From this day forward, there are no other keys. I’m telling you all one last time: anyone who can enter this easily, other than the Madam and myself, will be held responsible!” Having said this, Lan Lingyan turned his attention to the butler, Lan Si, who was finally carrying a tray of food toward them. “If you can’t even manage something this minor, I think we might need to find a replacement butler.”

Lan Si’s face was grim. He had no idea what transpired during the short time he was preparing refreshments, but seeing the young mistress being restrained, the awkward expressions of several guests, and Ning Yunhuan’s icy demeanor, coupled with his master’s fury, made Lan Si pause only briefly. He quickly guessed that Lin Qian must have done something to offend Ning Yunhuan. Without hesitation, he immediately admitted fault, ordering someone to find a gardener to transplant a fresh patch of turf while politely ushering the guests toward the exit.

“Everyone else leave. The one surnamed Lin stays. Have someone keep her company and then send her back to the Lin family!”

With that final command, Lan Lingyan shot a cold glance at the crowd outside, then turned, looping his arm around Ning Yunhuan’s waist, half-carrying her back toward their room.

The remaining people stood with expressions of acute embarrassment. Liu Yan watched his retreating figure for a long moment before her focus finally settled on Ning Yunhuan, where it slowly froze.

Back in the room, Lan Yi was already asleep nestled in Ning Yunhuan’s arms. Lan Lingyan took their son and handed him to the somewhat flustered nanny nearby. “This is the last time. If you can’t even handle something this small, what use are you?”

The two nannies nodded frantically, assuring him and the other caregivers of Lan Yi for quite some time before taking the child. Once they left, Lan Lingyan pulled the pouting Ning Yunhuan into his embrace and chuckled. “Still angry? I thought you’d vented enough. Besides, I haven't let her off the hook yet.”

Although Lan Yi’s nose was slightly red and swollen, it would heal in a few days. Lin Qian, however, was far worse off; her prosthetic nose had been knocked crooked, requiring an entirely new surgery, one that might leave a permanent slight mark if it went wrong.

“I’m not angry, but the way Liu Yan looked at you just now… did you perhaps wrong her in the past?” Ning Yunhuan felt a pang of jealousy thinking about the look Liu Yan had given Lan Lingyan. Lan Lingyan took a moment to figure out who she meant. Only when Ning Yunhuan pointed out the curly-haired girl in the pink sweater and white short skirt did he understand:

“You mean the one Lin Qian gave the key to?”

Ning Yunhuan nodded. Seeing that Lan Lingyan clearly didn't recognize her, she felt a surge of happiness, and her expression immediately brightened. Lan Lingyan, however, suddenly looked dangerous, tightening the hand around her waist. When she shrieked and fell into his arms, he playfully pinched her waist. “You bring her up to compare with me? Darling, I’m a little displeased.”

Unable to contain herself, Ning Yunhuan burst out laughing, rolling playfully in his arms, begging for mercy. They tumbled together, Lan Lingyan’s expression shifting from danger to a gentle smile, finally settling into a tender doting gaze. Unconsciously, his face drew closer, his body pressing down on hers. His breath brushed across Ning Yunhuan’s face like a soft little brush, sending tremors and a faint tickle through her. Her body felt weak. She placed a hand against his chest. The posture they were in created an atmosphere of surprisingly sweet intimacy, and Ning Yunhuan felt her face growing hotter.

“I hit Lin Qian today. Your mother…” Her words were swallowed by Lan Lingyan’s lips, leaving only soft gasps in their wake.

The weather outside was cold and bleak, but under the dim indoor lighting, the two were intimately entwined. Lan Lingyan held Ning Yunhuan’s hands above her head, their bodies pressed tightly together, their passion blazing. At some point, a phone lying amidst a pile of discarded clothes on the bed suddenly rang.

In that heated atmosphere, the ringtone sounded jarringly loud. Ning Yunhuan, dizzy and on the verge of tears, felt her body being maneuvered into a suggestive position. As she began to struggle against the sound, Lan Lingyan, slick with sweat, pinned her down.

“The phone.”

“Ignore it.” Lan Lingyan was determined to leave some marks on her. Ning Yunhuan managed a couple of gasps, and the phone stopped ringing, only to resume a moment later.

This time, neither of them could pretend things were as before. Lan Lingyan pulled himself reluctantly out of Ning Yunhuan with a strained grunt, eliciting a groan from her too. She breathed a sigh of relief as her body felt instantly lighter, but Lan Lingyan’s expression was furious. He snatched the phone from the heap of clothes on the floor, put it to his ear with a dark look, and asked, “Yes?”

The voice on the other end said something that made Lan Lingyan’s eyes turn even colder. “She went back to complain already? Are you suggesting I should keep her locked up longer next time?”

Lan Lingyan paused, then resumed speaking with a cold laugh. “She won't have time. Besides, you and Father will be in Huaxia soon enough; isn't it better to meet then? As for Lin Qian’s matter, I don't think it’s worth wasting my time specifically discussing it.” Lan Lingyan paused again, saying flatly, “If there is nothing else, allow me to hang up.”

His tone was cultured and detached, but his movements were swift. He hung up the phone, turned it off, and tossed it onto a nearby sofa before pouncing back onto the bed, pinning the triumphant Ning Yunhuan beneath him.

Though she hadn't heard Lan Lingyan admit who called, connecting it to her earlier confrontation with Lin Qian and his implication, Ning Yunhuan guessed that Lin Qian must have complained upon returning home, and the call was likely from the formidable mother-in-law she hadn't yet met.

However, she wouldn't ask about these matters if Lan Lingyan didn't volunteer the information. Besides, she was still upset about Lin Qian! Fortunately, Lan Lingyan showed no intention of making her apologize. Instead, after they enjoyed some passionate reconciliation, they both happily dismissed the incident.

Meanwhile, Gu Yingxi had returned home. No one knew what she had told Mu Jinyan, who had apparently saved her, but the Mu family allowed her return. Gu Xian’s illness worsened, and because Gu Yingxi had been caring for the Mu family’s Second Young Master, the wealthy Mu family provided two hundred thousand yuan, instantly resolving the Gu family’s financial crisis. Gu Xian was rushed to the hospital, and everyone focused their attention on her, completely overlooking Gu Shaotao, who was becoming increasingly overwhelmed at home.

Book recommendation from a good friend: Guining

A girl is reborn and changes the fate of her past life~~RS