Two days after the incident, Lan Lingyan had already dismantled a minor faction by tracing it back through the captured foreign sniper. These people were nothing but troublemakers who'd infiltrated China in dubious ways. Faced with his granddaughter on one side and unrelated foreigners with suspicious entries on the other, Lin Maoshan naturally favored his grandchild. He exerted pressure to fast-track their removal while influential figures conveniently turned a blind eye. Soon after, this foreign group was discreetly escorted out of China by the Lan family.

Though these foreigners were caught, Brooklyn remained conspicuously absent. Lan Lingyan showed no urgency however - when you've already netted all the shrimp, how far can the fish possibly be?

The campus sniper incident quickly faded into history. With only two rounds fired through a suppressed rifle and relatively few people present at the gates, it never triggered widespread panic. Yet Ning Yunhuan now harbored deep resentment toward Song Minran. Unlike him who had sought to embarrass her, she wanted something more decisive - an actual lesson for Song.

Ning knew little about Song beyond his previous relationship with Gu Yingnuo and his reputation as a quiet, well-mannered man. She was actively searching for his vulnerabilities when Gu suddenly called.

Recent events had taken an unexpected turn regarding Brooklyn's failed assassination attempt which instead compromised their assets. With such reckless individuals remaining a threat, Ning retreated to the mountain estate. When Gu Yingnuo offered to visit, Ning hesitated at first but changed her mind upon realizing it presented an opportunity for retribution against Song.

Vehicles couldn't access these highlands directly so Ning instructed Gu to take a cab eastward through the city while arranging discreet transport. As Gu arrived escorted by two bodyguards, Ning watched from her second-floor room. The mountain mist was thick with drizzle today, and Gu moved unsteadily on crutches - an almost pitiful sight.

When Ning descended after changing clothes, Gu had just removed her coat and slipped into slippers. Though Lan Si's people would never allow concealed weapons inside, the indoor climate control kept it from being unbearably cold in her thin sweater. As she smiled weakly at Ning while a maid assisted with seating, Gu's breath came shallow through clenched teeth.

"This is your home?" She managed, though her pride was clearly wounded by the implicit body search earlier. While she had long known of Ning's wealth and husband's fortune - both envied by Gu Yingxi - actually witnessing the scale left her speechless.

"Would you like something to drink?" Ning asked first, prompting a feeble "Whatever you have" in response. After requesting two therapeutic herbal teas from the waiting staff, she finally questioned, "What brings you here today?"

At this, Gu straightened abruptly, eyes burning with resentment: "Miss Ning, my elder sister has returned." Gu Yingxi had recently arrived with large boxes of jewelry and designer clothes, a fact that enraged Gu. This woman who'd always managed to bounce back like some invincible creature now seemed even more prosperous - not only well-connected but apparently pregnant.

The thought made Gu's heart pound violently. How could her older sister enjoy such a life while she remained crippled? Why did fate grant Gu Yingxi everything when she, the legitimate partner, lost both her leg and Song to this woman? She simply wouldn't accept it!

"Let's set that aside for now," Ning said with an ambiguous smile laced with coldness. "Miss Gu, I need a favor regarding your boyfriend Song Minran who seems to have developed some... strong opinions about me lately."

Gu's face contorted into a grotesque grin at these words. "Boyfriend? Miss Ning is joking! You know how much I despise those two scum - why mention him as my boyfriend?" She forced out with obvious malice, her previous affection for Song transformed into venom.

Ning wasn't entirely convinced of Gu's sincerity but didn't particularly care about its authenticity. What mattered was making Song realize she meant business and possessed the means to retaliate. While money couldn't solve everything, it certainly helped - just like how she planned to humiliate him further with financial pressure.

"Fine," Ning continued as her expression darkened, "Song wanted to splash sulfuric acid on me but I chose not to pursue it then. That doesn't mean I won't now."

Gu's eyes widened in alarm at this revelation. Her pulse quickened instinctively - the perfect opportunity for retribution was suddenly within reach. "He actually planned that?" she stammered, quickly suppressing her excitement. "If he dared such an act, how exactly would you like me to assist?"

Ning detailed a scheme involving staged traffic accidents orchestrated through Gu's influence. The plan was simple but effective: have Song pursue driving lessons while setting him up for either a hit-and-run or being framed for causing one. Either way, he'd lose both money and reputation.

Though Song had attempted harm, his failure meant Ning could only deliver this minor punishment. Yet the simplicity of the trap increased its effectiveness - Song's greed would be his downfall. And should injuries occur, there were always people willing to play along for compensation.

Unexpectedly, Gu responded with fierce vehemence: "Miss Ning! This is far too lenient toward that man!" Her eyes blazed as she continued, "They ruined my life by breaking my leg and now he dares try acid on you? Only death would be fitting retribution - either let him kill someone irreversibly or have him die himself!"

Ning's eyelids twitched at this outburst. While Gu's hatred was genuine, her two lifetimes had taught Ning caution in trusting others too readily.

"What exactly do you envision?" she asked neutrally as Gu lowered her head to think. After a tense couple minutes during which her eyes turned red and face contorted with fury, Gu finally whispered, "Miss Ning, I assume your husband is quite powerful?"

Ning offered no confirmation but smiled enigmatically when Gu met her gaze.

"Then we can make this work," Gu said with chilling determination before pausing dramatically. "Previously my powerlessness prevented revenge. Now that Song has attacked you directly, let's finish him - he must die to pay for my amputated leg!"

Ning remained silent as the initial fury subsided. When Gu finally spoke again, her voice was colder than ice: "I know Song is currently conducting a crucial experiment in his lab. If your husband truly possesses such power, perhaps you could help me uncover something - like a certain opium derivative that would ensure he never recovers."

Ning understood exactly what Gu meant by this reference. She hadn't expected the injured woman to seek literal murder for retribution. This was no simple revenge plot but outright homicidal intent.

While impressed by Gu's ruthlessness (especially compared to her own relatively mild plans), a twinge of caution also flickered in Ning - an instinct sharpened through her second life. Perhaps she should be more careful about trusting this woman whose hatred had reached such monstrous proportions.

In her previous life, Gu had died too soon for Ning to witness this dramatic turn of events. Now watching this woman transformed from jilted lover into calculating executioner was... fascinating.