After much deliberation, Gu Yingxi couldn't even figure out whose child she was carrying. Seeing Song Minran's terrible expression and Ning Yuncheng's mocking look beside him, she covered her face in sorrow and ran out again.

Gu Yingnuo watched Gu Yingxi’s retreating figure, then glanced at Song Minran’s cold face, and let out a quiet laugh.

She understood this man, Song Minran. Although his relationship with Gu Yingxi was not exactly proper, this man possessed an extremely severe chauvinism. Even if Gu Yingxi wasn't his official girlfriend, if the child she carried turned out not to be his, this man would certainly go mad.

Now, as long as Song Minran and Gu Yingxi weren't getting along, seeing their pained expressions was enough to satisfy her.

Song Minran was indeed feeling stifled. He didn't truly love Gu Yingxi, but she was his woman, and he held a possessiveness over her. The thought that the woman considered his might be carrying another man's child made him deeply uneasy. For several consecutive days during his experiments, his face was perpetually grim, the resentment in his heart building until it had no outlet.

Gu Yingxi’s belly was already beginning to show. It hadn't even been two months, and while clothing concealed it, the slight bulge was noticeable when she undressed. Gu Xian had advised her several times to terminate the pregnancy while the father remained unknown, but Gu Yingxi refused, citing that it was a life. This situation only exacerbated Song Minran’s displeasure.

When unhappy, he inevitably recalled the name Ning Yunhuan, a woman who had previously offended him or displeased Gu Yingxi, as Ning Yunnuo had once mentioned.

Song Minran began to ponder how he could vent this built-up frustration by taking it out on someone else. If he continued to suppress it, the fire in his heart would eventually erupt, not only incinerating his reason but potentially consuming Gu Yingxi along with it. After all, she had once been his woman; even with a night of shared intimacy, he couldn't bear to truly harm her, despite hating her for not guarding her virtue. Furthermore, there was the matter of Gu Yingnuo; he held a genuine affection and tenderness for the now-lame Gu Yingnuo, and he did not want the truth to hurt her.

Once his mind was set, Song Minran started considering a method that would allow him to vent his anger while simultaneously taking revenge on behalf of the two Gu sisters. Although he was intelligent, due to his background and status, Ning Yunhuan, at any rate, came from a family with some means; the Ning family resided in a villa community, making it difficult for him to approach her directly. His only opportunity lay within the campus. This matter, like the previous one, could not escalate too much. Although Professor Fang held some status, if an actual death resulted, even Professor Fang might not be able to suppress it, as he was not a figure of real authority, despite his reputation. Song Minran only sought retribution; he hadn't lost his sanity to the point of jeopardizing his future and career just to release some anger.

He was a chemistry major, and while many substances in his field could kill imperceptibly, such actions were difficult to manage and easily left traces. At most, he could engineer minor, untraceable incidents, just like last time, which would genuinely cause Ning Yunhuan trouble and, ideally, leave some lasting impact on her.

Under these circumstances, Song Minran considered poisoning her desk drawer or school bag. However, the school had cracked down severely after the previous incident; surveillance cameras were installed in every classroom, and corridors were monitored. Using the classroom again was out of the question. Moreover, Song Minran had no opportunity to access Ning Yunhuan’s bag. As for her car, he had covertly followed her several times on campus, only to discover that her car was always parked outside the school grounds, never in the campus parking lot. All his current methods were thus rendered useless.

Since poison couldn't be used to teach Ning Yunhuan a lesson, Song Minran had to devise an alternative plan.

After thinking for several days, an idea finally struck him. He merely wanted to engineer an "accident" that would injure Ning Yunhuan without being fatal—ideally, something that could be resolved with a small monetary compensation. Although the Song family had originally been ordinary, Song Minran’s mother, Duan Ling, had pulled a fast one on him during her divorce from Song Qingyun. For reasons unknown, after the divorce, Duan Ling handed Song Minran a bank card containing one million Yuan. He spent all his time either at school or at the Gu residence, and this money remained unused. As a researcher, Song Minran didn't highly value wealth; if he could use this money to teach Ning Yunhuan a lesson, he felt it would be well worth it.

A few days later, while conducting an experiment in the lab, Song Minran, distracted and irritable, combined several chemicals in a test tube, resulting in an explosion. Fortunately, the quantities were small, causing no serious injury. When he flinched, only a few sparks landed on his white lab coat, and he sustained a minor burn on the back of his hand. The workbench was a mess, and as everyone rushed to extinguish the small flames, Professor Fang pulled down his mask and asked with visible impatience:

"Minran, what has been going on with you lately? You've been so absentminded." Although this minor accident was insignificant, the lab contained many highly volatile and explosive materials; even a small spark could trigger a major incident. Professor Fang had overlooked Song Minran’s recent slip-ups, having heard about his parents' divorce and feeling a degree of affection for his star pupil. But today, committing such a serious, elementary error tested the professor’s patience. The lab’s funding came directly from the state, not from small school grants; messing up now would carry consequences.

"I apologize, Professor," Song Minran replied, his brow furrowing slightly. Beneath his glasses, a spark of excitement flickered in his eyes. He was in no mood to elaborate to the professor now, so he simply admitted fault:

"I've been troubled by some family matters recently, causing you worry. I assure you this will not happen again." Since he had owned up to his mistake quickly, and given that Song Minran was highly regarded by Professor Fang—who planned to have him as his assistant after graduation—the professor certainly wouldn't press the issue. Moreover, no major disaster had occurred. Thinking of his family troubles, the professor sighed:

"Alright, I know you’ve been having a difficult time. If you haven’t composed yourself yet, take a break before continuing; don’t push yourself. I can see you’re not getting enough rest; ensure you are well before conducting experiments in the future." He genuinely noticed the dark circles under Song Minran's eyes. However, Song Minran, preoccupied with his plan, lacked the patience to converse further with the professor, merely nodding vaguely while beginning to clean up the mess he had just created.

At this moment, Song Minran felt intensely excited. Previously, he had only considered using substances that damaged the skin or disrupted internal bodily functions to cause problems, constantly struggling with how to approach Ning Yunhuan. But the moment this minor explosion seared a small wound on the back of his hand today, Song Minran didn't feel pain; instead, he felt like he had finally found a way.

He had been thinking too narrowly. Common laboratory reagents weren't limited to the poisons he had previously considered. There was something as common as sulfuric acid, which he had forgotten. This substance was extremely corrosive. If he took just a small amount and feigned an accidental collision with Ning Yunhuan, it would be enough to make her suffer—as long as he didn't splash it in her eyes, it wouldn't be fatal. A bit of pain and some lasting trouble, the compensation wouldn't be much, and he could still take it out on her when he felt down later. She likely wouldn't suspect it was intentional!

The thought made Song Minran so agitated that he could barely focus on his remaining experiments. He hastily concluded his morning work, requested leave from Professor Fang early, and confirmed that Ning Yunhuan’s department had afternoon classes. Clutching a small vial of sulfuric acid he had discreetly prepared, Song Minran quickly grabbed his overcoat and left the lab.

The issue of Brugelin's escape had not yet been resolved, and Lan Jiu had strictly warned Ning Yunhuan against unnecessary outings. However, perhaps having learned a lesson, Brugelin seemed to have gained some wisdom and had gone into hiding. Lan Jiu had cast a wide net for half a month, but he hadn't reappeared.

Back in England, the Green family had officially announced to the media the removal of Brugelin from his position as clan leader. Even if the public didn't know Lan Lingyan was seeking revenge against Brugelin, the Green elders viewed the situation as Brugelin first failing to secure beneficial contracts in Huaxia, and then, during the family crisis, being utterly incapable of containing the situation within reasonable bounds. His incompetence led to losses nearly impossible to calculate for the Green family. Not only would this year’s wine supply be lost, but the customers they lost represented intangible resources. Crucially, several priceless bottles in the Green family cellar—items considered their signature treasures—were damaged. This was not just a financial loss; to outsiders, it symbolized the Green family's forfeiture of their symbolic capital.

And perhaps because he had seen Lan Lingyan that day, Brugelin was thoroughly terrified, fearing Lan Jiu would continue to pursue him. After the great fire at the Green winery, Brugelin had fled England under the protection of his confidants and had not shown his face for half a month.

Ten days ago, Lan Shi’s contacts in Italy reported that he had appeared there before vanishing again.

With Brugelin delaying his reappearance, everyone understood he was hiding in the shadows. The feud between the two parties had reached an irreversible, kill-or-be-killed point. Although the Lan family wasn't afraid of Brugelin’s uncle’s influence in Italy, an open attack is easier to dodge than a hidden arrow. It was impossible for Ning Yunhuan to remain confined at home forever just to evade Brugelin. With the New Year only a few months away, Lan Lingyan didn't want such troubles looming over the holiday. Thus, under his father’s furious reprimand, he decided to employ the tactic of "luring the snake out of its hole."

Initially, he planned to use himself as bait. But since Brugelin hadn't shown himself for days, it indicated the depth of his hatred and that he had learned shrewdness from Lan Lingyan—avoiding direct confrontation. After several days of calm, to ensure the safety of Father Ning and Mother Ning, Lan Jiu finally agreed to Father Lan’s suggestion: using Ning Yunhuan as bait. Father Lan lent him an elite squad from the Lan family—personnel whom Lan Jiu previously hadn't had the authority to command—to covertly guard Ning Yunhuan. With these preparations made, Ning Yunhuan only resumed her classes half a month ago, after resting at home for nearly a month.

The men Father Lan dispatched were naturally exceptional. It was highly unlikely that Brugelin would detect their presence while they shadowed Ning Yunhuan. Since even Brugelin couldn't spot them, Song Minran, who possessed some talent but was solely focused on chemistry, and whose cunning didn't equate to strategic brilliance, was even less likely to see through the arrangement.

That afternoon, Song Minran walked toward the direction where Ning Yunhuan was just entering the school gate, carrying a pile of books topped haphazardly with items that appeared to be laboratory equipment. Lan Ge, the bodyguard accompanying Ning Yunhuan, felt a slight vibration in the diamond stud earring he wore. After listening intently for a moment, he couldn't help but roll his eyes and took two steps forward, whispering:

"Madam, the intended 'accident' is approaching." Since Lan Ge carried the Lan surname, it proved his capabilities were worthy of it. Those raised by the Lan family were top-tier in both intellect and physical prowess. These two bodyguards sent by Father Lan were typically stern figures; in all the time they had been with Ning Yunhuan, she had never seen them display any expression other than cold stone. Now, thanks to Song Minran, she witnessed a look of sheer exasperation on the face of a bodyguard whose expression was as unyielding as granite.

As for how she knew the approaching "accident" was Song Minran, it was because Song Minran's movements, which he believed to be discreet, were entirely under the observation of the Lan family members...

With the Brugelin situation ongoing, Ning Yunhuan didn't even know the full extent of the personnel Lan Lingyan had placed around her. While Song Minran's actions might have worked against an ordinary person—he wasn't a professional stalker, so his movements lacked true finesse—against someone unsuspecting, he might have succeeded. But attempting such clumsy tactics against someone with status, especially while Ning Yunhuan was already on high alert for Brugelin’s appearance and her guards were tense, made the situation almost laughable.

"What is he trying to do?" Ning Yunhuan asked, her mouth twitching slightly in exasperation. Lan Ge's eyelids jumped. To them, Song Minran looked like a clown hopping about, completely unaware of his performance. If his methods were more sophisticated, perhaps they would have paid closer attention. But while they were vigilantly watching for threats from Italy, having this self-important man—whose every move was transparent—operating with such clumsy caution was truly ironic.

"Eagle Seven passed by him and reported the smell of sulfuric acid on the items he is carrying," Lan Ge replied, touching his ear. Ning Yunhuan instantly understood.

While they spoke, about three to four minutes later, Song Minran appeared in their line of sight. Ning Yunhuan pretended ignorance of Lan Ge's report, but instead of proceeding into the campus, she subtly took a few steps back. Lan Ge and the other guard moved to stand on either side of her. Suddenly, Song Minran seemed to bump into someone entering the school; he stumbled, lost his balance, and staggered back several steps with small thuds, causing the items in his hands to fly upward.

Ning Yunhuan saw clearly that this movement looked staged by Song Minran himself. He made a move as if to retrieve his scattered items, then turned his head. Spotting Ning Yunhuan, who seemed to be retreating near the school entrance, his eyes lit up, and a faint smile touched his lips. He shouted, "Everyone watch out, these are experimental materials..." while staggering toward Ning Yunhuan. When he was about four or five paces away, seeing that Ning Yunhuan and her companions were backing away, he hardened his resolve. Catching the falling bottle, realizing he couldn't get close enough to her as planned, and noticing the two bodyguards beside her, he seethed internally and decisively uncorked the bottle. Adopting a falling posture, he threw it forcefully in Ning Yunhuan's direction as he collapsed.

Whether this attempt would succeed was beyond his control, but Song Minran was unwilling to surrender such a rare opportunity. He knew Ning Yunhuan was wealthy; he could only attempt something like this once. Any further attempt would surely be met with defense. This act of desperate, all-or-nothing aggression was left entirely to fate.

At this moment, even Song Minran, who typically trusted neither heaven nor spirits, offered a silent prayer. Ning Yunhuan, having been prepared, had already turned and retreated a few steps. However, Lan Ge’s pupils constricted. Ignoring everything else, he grabbed Ning Yunhuan’s hand and sharply pulled her to the side. A swift rush of air sounded, followed by a faint poof, and a small hole appeared in the earth of a nearby flowerbed. A piece of foliage, pierced through, sputtered blue smoke and vibrated intensely.

"Sniper…" Lan Ge quickly murmured. A faint whisper seemed to echo, immediately followed by the sound of the bottle Song Minran threw landing—a soft hiss as the liquid splashed onto the ground, creating a string of tiny popping bubbles, like hot oil hitting a pan.

Ning Yunhuan had heard Lan Ge’s warning and knew that Brugelin, who had been lying in wait, had finally revealed himself, though she hadn't expected it to be at this precise moment. She stared coldly at Song Minran, who was lying on the ground, looking disappointed at the spilled sulfuric acid pooled before him, and a ruthless determination hardened her heart.

She had vaguely suspected that Song Minran, who appeared the most gentle and harmless in her previous life, was not as inept as he presented himself. Now, she saw his petty schemes confirmed. Though she didn't know why he targeted her, since he dared to play such petty games, Ning Yunhuan certainly wouldn't let him off the hook.

After that faint sound, even Song Minran, lying on the ground without seeing the bullet, sensed something was terribly wrong. This time, without waiting for Lan Ge to pull her, she saw that Song Minran’s hands were empty, and she bolted toward the security office. While the campus appeared outwardly peaceful, with Lan Lingyan’s people inside, there was no guarantee others weren't present too. Going anywhere felt unsafe. The security office, at least, offered substantial cover; even if a bullet pierced the glass, they couldn't see through it. Once Lan Ge and the others located the sniper's position, this crisis could be averted. She lacked the skills of Lan Ge and the others, but she certainly wouldn't add to the chaos.

After one more soft hiss, Ning Yunhuan, having lost a shoe in her haste, managed to duck into the security office and sit down. She noticed the security guards inside looking surprised. Outside, a knock sounded: "Madam, we have found them."

It was the bodyguards. Ning Yunhuan paused, stunned, just as the security office door was violently shoved open. Before she could fully react, the bodyguards outside breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the interior situation.

The foreigner hiding in a high-rise building about three hundred meters away was apprehended with surprising ease. Father Lan’s men had been lying in wait for so many days; they were certain to uncover any lapse in vigilance. Once they showed a flaw, capturing them was only a matter of time.

No one on campus knew about the perilous event that had just unfolded. Song Minran, who had fallen near the main gate, was being helped up by several classmates. As a genius in chemistry, despite being severely imbalanced in other subjects, Song Minran was quite popular within his department. Coupled with his refined appearance and excellent chemical aptitude, he garnered favor among many female students. Seeing him fall, several rushed to help him up. One girl knelt anxiously before him, patting the non-existent dust from his trousers:

"Student Song, what happened? Why did you fall? Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Shall we take you to the infirmary?"

"It feels like I twisted my ankle." Song Minran hadn't really wanted to go to the hospital. The fall he’d deliberately taken earlier had only resulted in scrapes; he’d controlled the impact precisely, so there shouldn't be anything serious. However, seeing Ning Yunhuan suddenly emerge after inexplicably hiding in the security room made him uneasy. He felt guilty about his actions that day, and now that Ning Yunhuan had bodyguards nearby, any potential confrontation might end badly for him. After a moment's hesitation, Song Minran nodded, allowing his classmates to help prop him up. A strange sense of worry settled in his gut, and when he glanced back, his eyes met Ning Yunhuan’s icy stare, sending a shiver down his spine.

Though physically unharmed, Ning Yunhuan had certainly been thoroughly shaken today, and a slow burn of anger brewed within her. If Song Minran’s sudden stunt hadn't thrown everything into chaos, she wouldn't have ended up in such a dreadful state. Even though nothing disastrous ultimately occurred, the sheer disgust of the cockroaches was enough. She resolved then and there that Song Minran needed to be taught a severe lesson.