After seeing off Gu Yingnuo, whose expression shifted constantly and whose eyes were bloodshot, Lan Lingyan returned home for lunch. While they were eating, Ning Yunhuan recounted how Gu Yingxi had entangled Song Minran and subsequently caused Gu Yingnuo’s accident, leaving her with a broken leg. In the sweltering afternoon, sunlight streamed through the vast floor-to-ceiling windows, making Ning Yunhuan feel utterly languid. She sipped the perfectly warmed fruit tea handed to her by the butler, Lan Si, and was about to say more when Lan Jiu stated calmly:

“The matter of the car accident was unrelated to anyone else.” He was the one who arranged it. Ever since Lan Lingyan had sent people to directly target Gu Yingxi over a year ago, he had detected that strange, uncertain factor surrounding Gu Yingxi. Every time she faced a crisis, either someone conveniently saved her, turning misfortune into fortune, or his own trusted subordinates couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for this seemingly innocent woman. This feeling was profoundly bizarre. Lan Jiu tested the waters twice, and after personally dealing with a group of men who had followed him for a long time, he stopped taking direct action against Gu Yingxi.

However, his refraining from dealing with Gu Yingxi directly did not mean he couldn’t target those around her. There are many roads to Rome; if one path is blocked, Lan Jiu simply takes another. One way or another, he would achieve his goal. As for the process and the time consumed, he considered it mere playtime accompanying Ning Yunhuan.

At first, Ning Yunhuan didn’t fully grasp the meaning behind Lan Jiu’s words, but once she did, she gasped sharply, “That was you?”

Lan Lingyan, reading a stack of documents, didn't lift his head upon hearing this. “Just finding something to pass the time for you.” Yet, because Gu Yingxi harbored so many unpredictable elements, Lan Lingyan couldn't guarantee that such an unforeseen incident wouldn't occur where the toy, when confronting Ning Yunhuan and Gu Yingxi, ended up harming the master. In his view, the Gu family was but a single tree in his sight; even if he intended to give it to Ning Yunhuan for amusement, it had to be after he was certain the branches were pruned clean enough not to prick her hands.

Gu Yingxi’s strange luck was like a thorn hidden among the branches, and the Gu family were merely her offshoots and leaves. The incident with Gu Yingnuo was merely his way of ensuring Gu Yingxi had more personal troubles, allowing Ning Yunhuan to enjoy her entertainment without any untoward accidents interfering.

His nonchalant attitude sent a shiver down Ning Yunhuan’s spine. A person like Lan Jiu was truly dangerous; his outwardly refined demeanor masked a far greater capacity for harm than those whose cruelty was plainly evident.

Lan Lingyan could sense Ning Yunhuan’s fear without looking up, yet he offered no explanation for himself. This was simply who he was; he wanted Ning Yunhuan to see the truest version of him, not a façade. He desired her genuine acceptance, not a relationship like the one between Father Lan and Lin Min—forever tender and considerate, yet eternally masked, a marriage of convenience where the couple lived separate lives behind a shared performance.

Ning Yunhuan dared not speak, but Lan Lingyan smiled faintly. “Softening already?” He hadn't even told her that Gu Yingnuo’s leg didn't necessarily need amputation; he had ordered it severed to make the drama more compelling!

“It’s not exactly softening…” She admitted that she had added fuel to the fire herself. To speak of feeling soft-hearted now made Ning Yunhuan want to laugh. Having already sided against the main heroine and boarded the ship, Ning Yunhuan felt she had already fed her conscience to the dogs in this new life. To speak of softening now was merely a reaction to the transformation she herself feared after crossing over and being reborn.

“Since you aren't softening, then just enjoy the show. Besides, who is she to blame for the car accident? Who let her surname be Gu?” In this world, there was no such thing as reaping all the benefits when it was time to enjoy them, yet refusing to pay any price when due. Since Gu Yingnuo carried the Gu surname and benefited from the advantages Gu Yingxi gained by taking a man, and knowing Gu Yingxi’s fatal allure to men, such an accident was bound to happen sooner or later.

Even if Lan Lingyan hadn't sent someone to crash into her and break her leg, sooner or later, the lustful Song Minran and his counterpart would not tolerate her presence. One mountain cannot house two tigers, let alone two sisters sharing one man. In this era, who would willingly accept a secondary role? Unless the man possessed immense power and status, compelling the woman into submission.

But Song Minran had neither wealth nor position, and Gu Yingnuo was utterly devoted to him. How could she possibly allow Gu Yingxi to take a share of the spoils?

Ning Yunhuan understood these dynamics. Although Lan Lingyan had acted against Gu Yingnuo, what he said held merit. Even if he hadn’t intervened, Gu Yingxi’s men would eventually have eliminated Gu Yingnuo. If Gu Yingxi’s men remained passive, the Grand Mechanism of the Plot would eventually have turned Gu Yingnuo into cannon fodder. She had merely been momentarily shocked seeing Gu Yingnuo. In truth, Lan Lingyan was not a good person, but what about her? If she were truly so kind and magnanimous, Ning Yuncheng wouldn't be in such a wretched state now.

She managed a bitter laugh and nodded, letting the topic of Gu Yingnuo drop and steering the conversation elsewhere.

Meanwhile, in the Gu household, after being jolted by Ning Yunhuan’s words, Gu Yingnuo started paying attention to Song Qingyun, who had recently been visiting her home almost daily under the guise of checking on his future daughter-in-law. This secret wouldn’t remain hidden from watchful eyes; the problem was that no one had ever thought to look there before. After all, even the most imaginative person would likely never consider that their own sister was sleeping with their future father-in-law.

When Gu Yingnuo discovered this reality, she nearly went mad with rage. Her suspicion toward Gu Yingxi flared, making her intensely dislike her. Naturally, every conspiracy theory came to mind. The more she scrutinized Gu Yingxi, the more she sensed ill intent. After noticing the subtle signs of impropriety between Gu Yingxi and Song Qingyun, she worried that if she hadn't discovered the affair between Gu Yingxi and Song Minran, and once she married Song Minran, if her future mother-in-law, Duan Ling, ever learned of her sister’s affair with her future father-in-law, the humiliation she would suffer was unimaginable.

And the supposed love she shared with Song Minran—was that also orchestrated by Gu Yingxi as a tactic to get close to Song Qingyun? Had Song Minran deliberately used his charm to lure her in? Were these conniving wretches using her as a stepping stone, mounting her to facilitate their own gains?

Contemplating this, Gu Yingnuo felt an urge to tear Song Minran, his father, and Gu Yingxi limb from limb. Yet, having endured several shocks, Gu Yingnuo surprisingly managed to regain her composure. Secretly, she procured some medicine from Ning Yunhuan. That shameless old man, Song Qingyun, since he was so fond of that wretch Gu Yingxi, Gu Yingnuo decided to grant his wish!

Gu Yingnuo lacked the foresight of Ning Yunhuan’s past-life experience, unaware that plotting against the heroine invited self-destruction. She directly administered some potent ingredients she acquired from Ning Yunhuan to Gu Yingxi, successfully provoking Gu Yingxi—who hadn't intended to pursue anything further with Song Qingyun—into a liaison with him. Gu Yingnuo hid nearby and filmed the explicit scene for over two hours, clutching the disc she had just finished creating, a cold sneer twisting her lips.

Next, she had planned to film Song Minran, but this time, it required almost no effort on her part; Song Minran practically threw himself at Gu Yingxi. Since her accident, Gu Yingnuo had used convalescence as an excuse, and Song Minran dared not touch her. Furthermore, the thought of his encounters with Gu Yingxi made her physically ill, leading her to refuse even simple intimacy with him, let alone fulfilling his needs. Song Minran was a young, vigorous man, newly acquainted with the delights of intimacy, and utterly unable to restrain himself. He ended up with Gu Yingxi several times. Filming Song Minran almost cost Gu Yingnuo no effort whatsoever.

Yet, the very smoothness of these events only intensified her resentment. Mutter