Ning Yunhuan managed a smile. "Miss Gu, things like that can cost a life. Never mind whether we can even acquire them; Song Minran is your boyfriend, and as far as I know, aren't you two nearly engaged?" Ning Yunhuan’s implication was clear: she was wary of Gu Yingnuo setting a trap. They were both smart people pursuing the same goal, so there was no need for veiled language. Gu Yingnuo replied readily:

"Miss Ning need not worry. If you are still doubtful, I am willing to pledge my life as assurance."

Life, sometimes, proved an unreliable commodity, especially after witnessing someone like Ning Yuncheng willing to sacrifice a kidney for love. Ning Yunhuan remained silent. Gu Yingnuo glanced at her, then suddenly laughed:

"Miss Ning, I’m starting to genuinely like you. Even though I’ve broken a leg, I still intend to live. If you don't trust me, I honestly don't know what else I can offer as a guarantee. How about I sell myself to you for the rest of my life, working for you? Would that earn your trust?"

Ning Yunhuan had already been planning to deal with Song Minran. After discussing matters further with Gu Yingnuo, and just to be completely safe, she had Gu Yingnuo sign several documents, naturally including the contract stipulating that she would sell herself and work for Ning Yunhuan for life. Once everything was settled and Gu Yingnuo was escorted out, Ning Yunhuan finally called Lan Lingyan to recount the day’s events.

"Teaching Song Minran a lesson is deserved. Letting him die now would be too easy for him. This woman has a point regarding the medicine; don’t worry about that, leave it to me. Even if she tries to go back on her word, I’d like to see if she has the capability." If one’s feet are wet in the river, whether they can climb back onto the shore depends on Lan Lingyan’s permission. Having dealt with double-crosses during his kidnapping years, Lan Lingyan knew the score. Gu Yingnuo might possess some petty cleverness, but trying to overturn the tables against him was still a bit beyond her current capabilities!

Lan Jiu told him not to worry about it further; he took over the handling of his dealings with Gu Yingnuo. After all, this was his old territory. Aside from marrying into powerful families with underworld connections, the Lan family strictly forbade their wives from getting involved in these unsavory matters, lest their need for secrecy implicate their families. It wasn't just Lan Lingyan who felt this way; if Father Lan knew Lan Jiu had allowed Ning Yunhuan to get entangled in this mess, he would likely lash out at him too.

Recently, the entire Huaxia had been eerily calm. In the entertainment circles, the group of young ladies, including Li Panpan, who had already risen to prominence, were becoming increasingly famous—creating an atmosphere suffocating like the moment before a storm breaks. Lin Maoshan had already cautioned Lan Jiu: things needed to be kept within a manageable scope. Indeed, Huaxia was ripe for some upheaval. Su Ying’s father faced re-election this year. Although the Su family was propped up by the Lin family, due to regulations preventing him from serving another term, he had likely already made his own secret plans. No matter how grateful Father Su was to Lin Maoshan, gratitude was ethereal; nothing was as motivating as tangible benefits.

Father Su probably intended to step back into the shadows but wished to emulate the maneuver Lin Maoshan used when handing power to him—he had already scouted the successor for the next wave, aiming to sideline the Lin family entirely. For most people, the Lin family’s nearly century-long model of governance in Huaxia needed changing. One wouldn't understand the seductive nature of ultimate power until one had tasted it. While governing Huaxia, Father Su had autonomy over minor issues and some freedom during international visits, but major decisions still required Lin Maoshan's final say. This meant that even after his apparent retirement, Lin Maoshan remained the invisible guiding hand of Huaxia.

For Father Su, this constituted a restraint. The fact that the annual gathering place during the Spring Festival was always the Lin residence, not the Su family home, hinted at this underlying tension. To suggest Father Su held no ambitions was something neither Lin Maoshan nor Father Su himself would believe.

Gu Yingnuo’s impulsive idea to eliminate Song Minran was seen by titans like Lin Maoshan as an opportunity—a chance to reshuffle Huaxia from the ground up and completely remove Father Su from the political center. Ambition was not inherently bad; Lin Maoshan didn't fear ambition. However, since Father Su initially ascended using the Lin family’s influence, he shouldn't harbor any further notions of usurpation. It was like a retainer in an ancient noble household; the retainer remains a retainer and can never become the master. Lin Maoshan could comprehend the ambition of the man he helped elevate to power to replace him, but he could not tolerate the dog he raised growing teeth strong enough to bite the master.

Amidst this strange tension, Father Su instinctively sensed something was amiss. Ning Yunhuan had only been home recuperating for a few days when Principal Su Ying called.

"Huanhuan, how is your recovery coming along?" Su Ying, as a direct lineage member of the Lin family faction, had naturally attended Ning Yunhuan and Lan Jiu’s wedding. Regardless of the Su family’s current internal maneuvering, outwardly they were aligned with the Lin family. Given that Su Ying was significantly older than Ning Yunhuan, his affectionate use of her nickname was a calculated gesture beneficial to both sides.

Lan Si had cautioned Ning Yunhuan before she answered the call. She wasn't exceptionally sharp-witted—unlike the astute, cunning figures like Father Lan and Lan Jiu, who were as sly as old foxes. However, she wasn't foolish either. She vaguely sensed that Su Ying's call was not as simple as it seemed on the surface, so she responded cautiously: "Principal, is something the matter?"

Su Ying chuckled on the other end. "Why so formal? You can call me Uncle Su. I have some documents from your class. Since you haven't been back to school, see if you can find time to pick them up, or perhaps I can deliver them to you." Regardless of the documents, the fact that the busy principal found time to offer a personal delivery told Ning Yunhuan the matter was more complex. After managing to conclude Su Ying's call—the promising young principal ultimately securing the chance to bring the items over without further pestering—Ning Yunhuan immediately relayed the news to Lan Lingyan upon hanging up.

Lan Lingyan merely chuckled upon hearing Su Ying was coming. "He wants to gather intelligence. Ignore him; just treat it as any normal social courtesy." Lin Maoshan cherished Lan Lingyan as a grandson and needed the Lan family's help; he might leak information to Lan Lingyan, but he certainly wouldn't carelessly share sensitive matters with Ning Yunhuan out of misplaced affection. Lan Jiu knew it was better if Ning Yunhuan knew less about such things and certainly wouldn't disclose them rashly. Consequently, Ning Yunhuan remained entirely unaware. The Su family was desperate indeed to resort to such tactics, Lan Jiu couldn't help but smile.

Ning Yunhuan couldn't smile. She always felt the world of the powerful was overwhelmingly complex, and with a touch of melancholy, she ended the call. Su Ying must have been anxious because news arrived from the foot of the mountain less than half an hour later that Su Ying had arrived. After receiving Ning Yunhuan’s confirmation, the staff at the bottom of the mountain arranged a car to bring him up specifically. Su Ying’s own vehicle was parked below, guarded by the gatekeepers. A little over fifteen minutes later, Ning Yunhuan stood at the doorway and saw Su Ying running toward them across the distant lawn, holding a folder under an umbrella.

"I happened to be passing by today. I figured it might be inconvenient for you to go out in this heavy rain." As he took a towel from the butler, Lan Si, to dry his hair, Su Ying smiled at Ning Yunhuan. He was always meticulously well-kept; at around forty, he looked no older than thirty, impeccably suave. This was the first time Ning Yunhuan had seen the usually polished principal look so worn. She shook her head, indicating she didn't mind.

The servants brought freshly brewed ginger tea. Su Ying took a sip before handing over the materials he clutched. Ning Yunhuan casually flipped through them and then set them aside. They contained only inconsequential items; Su Ying used them merely as an excuse to see her. Both understood the subtext, and Su Ying paid no mind to her cursory glance at the documents. Instead, he looked around, then smiled:

"This house is quite nice, and the mountain setting too. I thought I glimpsed what might be a golf course over there from the car earlier?" He avoided any discussion of politics. Although she knew he was simply seeking an opening, Ning Yunhuan nonetheless breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, there’s a course over there. If the weather was clear in the past, Grandfather might come up for a swing or two when he was in the mood." She preferred not to engage in coy exchanges with Su Ying and directly brought up Lin Maoshan’s name. Su Ying’s expression momentarily froze, then he managed a wry smile:

"You know why I came, then?" A look of fatigue settled on his face. Ning Yunhuan nodded but said nothing. Su Ying looked somewhat discomfited, as if ashamed of his hidden calculations. After his expression flickered between various emotions, the muscles in his cheek twitched, and he swayed slightly, seemingly preparing to move closer to Ning Yunhuan. Lan Si, holding a teacup, smiled politely toward Su Ying and smoothly stepped forward to offer a refill, effectively compelling the just-rising Su Ying back into his seat.

"Since you know, I won't hide it from you. Huanhuan, for some inexplicable reason, Elder Lin seems to harbor some misunderstanding toward my father. Now that Elder Lin is quite advanced in years, my father is extremely worried about his health. Has he been doing anything lately? Is he perhaps not in Huaxia? If that's the case, Huaxia cannot function without his oversight." Su Ying’s statement was clearly a deliberate snare for Ning Yunhuan. If she confirmed Lin Maoshan was in Huaxia, she would have difficulty explaining why he wasn't seeing Father Su; furthermore, it would benefit neither her nor her junior position to be drawn into Su Ying’s maneuvering.

If Lin Maoshan truly wasn't in Huaxia, even if Su Ying couldn't trap her, he would have extracted vital information from her, meaning his visit would not have been in vain.