"Miss Ning, long time no see." Instead of erupting in anger as Ning Yunhuan expected, Dongfang Aoshi, much like the previous Mu Jinzhi, clutched his chest and offered a remarkably gentlemanly salute. "It truly has been a while. Have you missed me, Miss Ning?"

"No," Ning Yunhuan shook her head honestly. Dongfang Aoshi sighed, sounding somewhat disappointed. "You are truly heartless. Unlike you, Miss Ning, I have missed you terribly since our last parting. I went to great lengths this time just to see you, wanting to properly lament my lovesickness to you. I never imagined you would be so cold; it truly breaks my heart."

Dongfang Aoshi acted as if deeply wounded, crying out while clutching his chest. This did not align with Ning Yunhuan's expectation of him immediately turning hostile upon meeting, which momentarily stunned her. However, as she quickly regained her composure, her brow furrowed. "Mr. Dongfang, if you have something to say, just say it. What's the point of speaking in riddles?" This person, Dongfang Aoshi, was perverse; the last encounter had deeply offended him. Given his petty nature and capricious temper, Ning Yunhuan absolutely did not believe he missed her—it was more likely he wanted her dead.

He usually spoke like this when he intended to play with his food, wanting to torment her thoroughly, both physically and mentally. Thinking this, a sudden idea sparked in Ning Yunhuan's mind.

Leveraging the advantage of having lived through this life once before and the knowledge gleaned from novels she had read during a previous transmigration, Ning Yunhuan understood Dongfang Aoshi better than anyone present. If Dongfang Aoshi wanted to hurt her or torment her to vent his anger, she would simply pretend to be psychologically wounded, giving him the feeling that she was completely under his control. Perhaps once he felt satisfied, he might let her live a little longer.

She just needed to hold out a little longer until Lan Lingyan arrived. Then she would surely be saved.

Having lived through several lifetimes, Ning Yunhuan absolutely refused to give up easily unless it was the absolute final moment. Even now, in this seemingly fatal situation, she would not concede defeat easily. Her life should not be ruined by these protagonists connected to Gu Yingxi!

"What is Miss Ning thinking about? Are you perhaps contemplating how to escape? That won't do, oh no." He waved his hand dismissively, chuckling softly, his eyes full of malice. The woman standing beside him also turned around. At first, Ning Yunhuan found her back vaguely familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before. But once the woman turned, she saw clearly. This wasn't just someone she had seen once or twice; it was Liu Yan, whom she had seen around Lin Qian—someone long absent.

"Miss Ning, it has been a long time." Indeed, it had been quite a few days. After Lin Qian was unfortunately sent abroad, the woman she called Sister Liu Yan, who always stayed by Lin Qian's side, seemed to vanish. Ning Yunhuan had even felt jealous of her before, so of course, she recognized her. Seeing it was Liu Yan now intensified her already strong sense of foreboding.

Dongfang Aoshi's smile deepened, radiating a certain delight. "Didn't expect this, did you? There are many more surprises. For instance, I've decided to give you a choice. As long as you agree to divorce Lan Jiu, I wouldn't mind marrying you." Saying this, Dongfang Aoshi pursed his lips. "The position of the future Madam of the Dragon Alliance—do you like it? Although I'm not entirely pleased that you were once with Lan Jiu, it hardly matters. The thought of taking Lan Jiu's possessions is rather amusing."

He didn't actually like Ning Yunhuan; he merely wanted to steal Lan Lingyan's woman. Ning Yunhuan remained silent for a moment. When Dongfang Aoshi's face began to show impatience and viciousness, she finally smiled sweetly. "Why don't you let me think about it?"

Liu Yan glanced gently at Ning Yunhuan beside him and let out a soft laugh. "Miss Ning really should consider it carefully. After all, Brother Lan Jiu is no ordinary man. It must be quite regrettable for Miss Ning to give him up. However, Aoshi can wait for your answer, but Miss Ning doesn't think it will just end with that, do you?"

It was only then that Ning Yunhuan's gaze truly settled on Liu Yan. Dongfang Aoshi chuckled alongside her. "I wonder what Lan Jiu's woman tastes like. Last time, you tricked me into touching a slutty woman. Huanhuan, you are truly mischievous!"

"But judging by Mr. Dongfang's expression, you seemed quite satisfied, didn't you?" Ning Yunhuan spoke while forcing a calm demeanor, watching Dongfang Aoshi. She intended to use the conversation to stall for time, but Liu Yan cut off what she was about to say next, turning to Dongfang Aoshi. "Aoshi, to avoid any complications later, why don't you take Miss Ning inside for a private discussion? I know Brother Jiu's personality; he is arrogant. If something has been touched by others, he would rather destroy it than take it back..." As she finished speaking, Liu Yan tilted her eyes and inclined her head toward Ning Yunhuan with polite grace. The genuine smile on her face, which was otherwise quite pure and beautiful, carried words that sent a chill down the spine.

"Pah, a pair of cheap man and woman. Dongfang Aoshi, how did that manure you threw on you last time taste?" Li Panpan, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly shuddered, a look of fierce determination crossing her face. She spat out toward the instantly changing Dongfang Aoshi, "Shameless man, only fit to be with that woman named Gu. A useless, effeminate monster like you dares to touch us? Dream on!"

Li Panpan was usually very gentle and kind. Ning Yunhuan was startled by her sudden outburst and instinctively pulled her arm, but Li Panpan quickly traced a symbol on her palm with her fingertip before pushing Ning Yunhuan away forcefully. "What right do you have to stand with me? I am the eldest daughter of the Li family. The Dragon Alliance is nothing but a mob. Dongfang Aoshi, you effeminate coward, the shameless thing to do is pick on women. Every time you kidnap this young mistress, who do you think you are?"

Her words turned Dongfang Aoshi's complexion from pale green to dark. Li Panpan continued, "Useless man, severely mentally unbalanced, you don't dare bother your father, so you only dare to take it out on women." Perhaps a casual remark from Li Panpan struck a nerve deep within Dongfang Aoshi, as she continued, "Simply trash..."

Before she could finish, Dongfang Aoshi ordered his men to shove her forward and seized her jaw roughly. "Miss Li? A woman of noble birth?" With every word he spoke, Li Panpan's face showed increasing dissatisfaction and disdain. Dongfang Aoshi narrowed his eyes. Liu Yan, sensing trouble, was about to intervene when Dongfang Aoshi reached inside Li Panpan's clothes. "I want to see what kind of expression a woman who looks down on me because of my birth puts on when I have her pinned down!" Saying this, he dragged Li Panpan toward the house, shamelessly molesting her as he went.

It had originally been agreed that he would take Ning Yunhuan. Seeing Dongfang Aoshi change his mind so abruptly, the gentle smile on Liu Yan's face froze for the first time. She quickly interjected, "Aoshi, didn't we agree..."

Before she could finish, Dongfang Aoshi freed one hand and pointed to the body of Mu Jinzhi on the ground, whose eyes had not yet closed. "I never make agreements with people. I don't feel like keeping this one now. Ning Yunhuan, you stay put for now. I want to see for myself if this Li family's eldest daughter is truly a woman or not..." Liu Yan's plan was foiled, and she looked furious. Dongfang Aoshi had already dragged the screaming and cursing Li Panpan inside. After a short while, faint female shrieks and moans began to drift out from within.

Ning Yunhuan clenched her fists. She knew Li Panpan's actions were all for her sake. As Liu Yan angrily strode toward her, she was blocked by several bodyguards left by Dongfang Aoshi. "Miss Liu, the Young Master said not to move for the time being!"

Liu Yan was not foolish and certainly did not want to end up like Mu Jinzhi. She shot Ning Yunhuan a hateful look, saying unwillingly:

"Miss Ning, you are very lucky. But you won't be so lucky forever. Brother Jiu doesn't know about this island; no one does. Even if he manages to track down the location, it will take at least several hours to arrive. By then, you will still become Aoshi's woman, and Brother Jiu won't want you anymore."

Thinking of Li Panpan being dragged inside, Ning Yunhuan felt as if her heart were dripping blood. Seeing Liu Yan speak now, she couldn't help but retort sarcastically, "If he doesn't want me, perhaps he wants you?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Liu Yan's face turned ashen, and she lost her composure. "You!"

But Ning Yunhuan no longer wished to waste breath on her. About an hour later, everyone was standing outside. Du He and the others were still wearing high heels; these delicate young ladies were not used to standing for such long periods and were all swaying unsteadily. In the room on the second floor with the open French windows, the sounds gradually quieted down. Ning Yunhuan's heart constricted. After another quarter of an hour, Dongfang Aoshi reappeared, freshly washed and wearing an expression of relaxed satisfaction:

"The taste was not bad, too bad she wasn't a virgin." As soon as he spoke, his sinister eyes fixed on Ning Yunhuan.

Just as Ning Yunhuan's calves began to cramp, the phone of a bodyguard in a black suit suddenly rang. He hesitated, glanced at Dongfang Aoshi, and said, "It's an unknown number."

The phone numbers of men like them were confidential, especially those around Dongfang Aoshi. For an unlisted number like this to get through was highly unusual. Normally, unregistered numbers should be blocked; after all, the Dragon Alliance was the largest underground organization of the overseas Chinese remnant clans, and accomplishing such a minor task was easy. But this unknown number had managed to connect. The man in black thought for a moment, then answered, but he activated the speakerphone.

ps: Late again... please forgive me. The ending is always so difficult. I try not to drag things out or be wordy, aiming for a small climax... so... writer's block hit me! Need better karma!