Upon waking, Ning Yunhuan found herself back in her own **. The sky outside seemed to have just darkened. She felt a bit dizzy from sleeping so long. Lan Lingyan was lying beside her, one arm tucked under her neck and the other around her waist. They were incredibly close, and with the air conditioning running, the room felt somewhat stuffy.

As soon as she stirred, Lan Lingyan opened his eyes and held her even tighter:

“Awake? Are you hungry?”

Having been taken by Dongfang Aoshi without food or drink for so long, Ning Yunhuan logically should have been starving. But when she touched her stomach, she shook her head. “Maybe I’m past hungry; I don’t feel it. Right, what was all that about this time?”

Now that she was awake and had the strength, she had to ask. She couldn’t sleep anyway, and the whole affair left her feeling suppressed and uneasy. She was certain Lan Lingyan knew the reason, and this time, she hadn't been dragged into trouble by Gu Yingxi.

Lan Lingyan laughed, pulling her into his embrace and pressing her face against his chest. His expression held a dangerous glint, but his voice was soft and coaxing: “Why don't you tell me first how you knew that person was Dongfang Long? And judging by your look, you seem to know Dongfang Aoshi too. Have you met him before?”

Ning Yunhuan froze, her heart suddenly pounding violently. She remembered the time she had accidentally blurted out Dongfang Long’s name. Back then, she had been exhausted, and Lan Lingyan seemed not to have noticed; his expression hadn't shifted at all, so Ning Yunhuan hadn't given it a second thought.

She hadn't expected him to start settling accounts now. Ning Yunhuan let out two dry laughs. Lan Lingyan was far too shrewd and cunning; an ordinary person truly stood no chance against him. How could Ning Yunhuan dare tell him she was someone who had been reborn after dying? How could she utter such a secret? Lan Lingyan was such a dangerous man; she certainly couldn't confess that she had even died by his hand. Thus, she racked her brain trying to figure out how to cover the truth.

“What is it?” Lan Lingyan smiled, twirling a strand of her hair between his fingers. His gaze was playful, yet he didn't press further. Looking at Ning Yunhuan, it seemed he had already forgotten what she had asked about the situation earlier, and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. But his eyes held a shadow of gloom.

If one were to say Dongfang Aoshi was behind this incident, Lan Lingyan felt truly wronged on his behalf. Given Dongfang Aoshi’s arrogant and conceited nature, if he were to seize someone, it would either be ostentatious and complex, or showy and boastful—never so clean and decisive. Despite his urgency, Lan Lingyan hadn't been completely flustered. Upon investigating, he indeed uncovered something interesting.

On New Year's Eve at the Lin residence, Mu Jinyan had been feigning ignorance, prompting Lin Qian—who considered herself very clever—to stage a scene of wanting to teach Ning Yunhuan a lesson. He had been acting like a simpleton, believing that even if his little wife suffered a slight, she wouldn't dare complain. After all, in Mu Jinyan’s eyes, no rational person would stoop to argue with a fool.

If he won, people would laugh at her lack of magnanimity; if he lost, he’d be branded even worse than a simpleton. Because Mu Jinyan overthought things, it was only after Ning Yunhuan’s bodyguard fought back and knocked out his teeth, partially disfiguring him, that he developed a deep-seated hatred.

But precisely because he was exceptionally sinister and skilled at enduring, he didn't erupt then. Instead, he swallowed his anger, though temporarily hiding it didn't mean he planned to drop the matter forever. Mu Jinyan was an exceptionally intelligent man. He hadn't acted then, choosing instead to strike more than a month after the incident had passed.

Originally, Lan Lingyan had anticipated these possibilities and taken ample precautions. He also relied on the five bodyguards given to his wife by Father Lan, all of whom were highly skilled. He had assumed that as long as he guarded against hidden arrows, the risk of close-range harm to Ning Yunhuan was negligible. He had guarded against the tangible dangers, yet a mistake still occurred due to his overwhelming concern.

Mu Jinyan hated Ning Yunhuan, but he equally hated Lin Qian for instigating the original conflict. His nature was thoroughly vengeful. Although Lin Qian’s idea at the time was merely going with the flow, if it had succeeded, everything would have been fine. But since the scheme failed, Lin Qian naturally had to bear the brunt of his wrath.

Coincidentally, Lin Qian had just been kicked out of the Lin family. Mu Jinyan only needed to offer a subtle provocation, and Lin Qian took the bait. She had been warned by Lin Maoshan and dared not return to the Lin household. Her parents, who usually ignored her, now dared not contact her. The only one who still showed her genuine affection was her aunt, Lin Min.

Lin Qian originally only wanted Lin Min to lure Ning Yunhuan out for a thrashing to vent her anger. She dared not attempt anything more. However, she had witnessed firsthand how the bodyguards easily subdued Mu Jinyan when they struck him before, so she wouldn't dare underestimate them. Lin Min had doted on her niece Lin Qian like a daughter since childhood, so when she heard her request for revenge, she readily agreed.

Although Lin Min’s temperament had been spoiled by Father Lan, she was still his wife, and it was quite easy for her to transfer two of the security teams that Father Lan had previously managed. She hadn't intended much by it; she merely found Ning Yunhuan displeasing and wanted to help Lin Qian blow off steam. Since it wouldn't result in broken limbs, she paid no mind to what might happen if Ning Yunhuan lost her bodyguards.

Mu Jinyan was waiting precisely for this opportunity. He had people constantly monitoring Lin Qian and Lin Min. Once the moment arrived, without hesitation, he ordered his men to force Ning Yunhuan into a car. Miss Li of the Li family was also accompanying her, so he had her seized as well. After all, the Li family held considerable influence in the military, and more importantly, they always followed the Lin family's lead. The Lin family had been prosperous for too long, long enough to make him resent them.

Mu Jinyan was a man of grand ambitions; he would eventually take control of the Mu family, and in that state, he would not be satisfied with the current situation. This generation of the Lin family lacked any truly outstanding figures. If he could eliminate some of the Lin family's influence—like pruning the branches of a great tree—and absorb the strong, useful limbs for his own use, that would be truly beneficial.

Thinking of this, even Li Panpan, who was not part of his original plan, was captured. After everything was done, he intended to pin the blame on Lin Qian. Although Lin Qian had been expelled by Lin Maoshan, as long as she held the Lin surname and was alive, any trouble she caused would reflect on her parents. Li Panpan was a favored daughter of the Li family. If something happened to her, Mu Jinyan figured that even if the old master of the Li family chose not to pursue the matter out of respect for his grand-uncle Lin Maoshan, a rift would surely form in their hearts. This was an unexpected bonus.

The only mistaken abduction was Gu Yingxi. Lan Lingyan was cautious; having been deceived once, even though the intelligence suggested Gu Yingxi might have been taken by mistake, he remained vigilant. He discovered that she truly was taken by error, and his action to intercept Ning Yunhuan was purely because he needed her help to save his life. That Ouyang Zhentian had found Gu Yingxi and, upon learning she had a man, became consumed with rage, intending to kill Ning Yuncheng.

Gu Yingxi was frantic, like an ant on a hot pan, but she didn't know anyone influential. Realizing Ning Yuncheng was part of the Ning family, her only recourse was to ask the Nings for help. Unable to find Father Ning, and with Madam Ning currently in a convalescent home, she could only corner Ning Yunhuan at school. Unexpectedly, it was a wrong turn that led her to be seized along with the others by Mu Jinyan’s men.

Mu Jinyan had a clever plan, but midway through, his escort was intercepted. Dongfang Aoshi, in his usual flamboyant manner, directly rammed his vehicle, sending it flying. The news was still reporting the major collision that occurred this morning.

Such a direct and savage tactic was likely something a schemer like Mu Jinyan had never encountered. Lan Lingyan was desperate to find his wife and hadn't yet settled accounts with him, but regardless, Mu Jinyan had suffered a major loss this time.

The men he dispatched to capture Ning Yunhuan were all elites he had secretly trained since childhood, fearing the mission might fail otherwise. These men had practically grown up with him or owed him favors; their loyalty couldn't be bought merely with material wealth. He valued this operation highly, intending to shift the blame onto the Lin family, so he sent only his most trusted confidantes.

But now they had all been wiped out in one sweep. Mu Jinyan must be spitting blood right now, wouldn't he?

That effeminate man, Dongfang Aoshi, finally did something good!

Because Lin Min was involved in this scheme, as long as the Lin family existed, Father Lan couldn't truly allow her to remain in retirement. Therefore, even if Ning Yunhuan learned of Lin Min's machinations, she couldn't truly touch her. Moreover, while Lan Lingyan hadn't understood the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law dynamic before, after seeing Lin Min’s clear dislike for Ning Yunhuan, he grasped a bit of it.

Knowing about Lin Min’s involvement wouldn't benefit Ning Yunhuan in any way; it would only deepen her resentment. It wasn't necessary for a man to mediate every dispute between his mother and wife. Lan Lingyan wasn't trying to defend Lin Min; he realized that the way Lin Min had turned out was already Father Lan’s greatest punishment for her. Teaching her to be well-behaved might actually backfire. It was better to let her continue living in confusion for her whole life. But even though this incident couldn't truly harm Lin Min, Lan Lingyan wouldn't let it pass so easily.

At the very least, he had firmly noted both Lin Qian and Mu Jinyan in his ledger.

With those words deflecting Ning Yunhuan’s inquiry, she dared not press further about the mastermind. She only wished Lan Lingyan would forget the matter too.

Two days had passed since the kidnapping. During that time, members of the Li family had visited once. They were all well aware of who was behind the mischief, but since Li Panpan was only caught up in it and had mentioned that Ning Yunhuan had consistently looked after her, the Li family appreciated the gesture. After offering their thanks, they sent over several gifts for Ning Yunhuan.

ps: Just one update today~ Smooch, I’ll add an extra update tomorrow~ RO