Chapter 6

Lei Ao presented a black card with both hands and said respectfully, "Your Lordship the Divine Lord, this is a Supreme VIP card issued by the Dragon Country Chamber of Commerce. It is valid nationwide. Please accept it."

"Thoughtful of you."

Although Luyun was not in need of money, this was Lei Ao's heartfelt gesture after all. After a moment's thought, he accepted the black card.

After a short while, Luyun recalled a matter of utmost importance and asked, "Has there been any breakthrough regarding the fire at the Sunshine Orphanage fifteen years ago?"

He had only asked Lei Ao to investigate this matter yesterday. Just a single day had passed, and he hadn't expected an answer so soon, but to his surprise, Lei Ao nodded heavily.

"Reporting to Your Lordship the Divine Lord, there has indeed been a breakthrough."

Lei Ao truly lived up to being the first to discover Luyun's identity; his efficiency in getting things done was remarkably high. He slowly explained:

"I specifically looked into Excellence Real Estate and tracked down a foreman who was in charge of the relevant construction project back then. According to his confession, that fire was indeed their doing."

Lei Ao had expended a great deal of effort to crack that foreman's mouth, resorting to both coercion and enticement before finally getting the answer he wanted.

Luyun didn't care how he got the information; all he wanted was a result.

Upon hearing that the fire was indeed related to Excellence Real Estate, two beams of cold light suddenly shot from Luyun's eyes.

"Excellence Real Estate, you're courting death! Who is the mastermind behind it?"

"Chen Ping," Lei Ao replied. "He is a member of the Chen Family in Jiangbei, primarily engaged in the real estate business. Over ninety percent of the real estate resources in Jiangbei are controlled by him, but..."

"But what?"

"But my primary forces are distributed here in Nanjiang. I can't reach into Jiangbei," Lei Ao said with a bitter smile.

The geographical location of Jiangcheng was rather unique, built alongside the water with the Zhang River running from west to east right through the middle, dividing Jiangcheng into northern and southern regions.

South of the Zhang River was the territory of the Prince of Nanjiang, Lei Ao, while north of the Zhang River, the Chen Family held the greatest influence.

After pondering for a moment, Luyun said, "No matter, I have my own way of resolving this. Where is Chen Ping of the Chen Family now?"

"According to the information I've obtained, he should currently be in Nanyun Province."

"Nanyun Province?"

"Yes. In the middle of next month, which is the fifteenth day of the eighth month, it will be the sixtieth birthday of the Chen Family's patriarch. Chen Ping made a special trip to Nanyun Province to prepare the gifts."

"He certainly has a sense of filial piety."

Luyun sneered.

That fire back then had almost burned him and his sisters to death and had tortured Grandpa Wu into such a state. This account naturally had to be settled thoroughly.

However, since Chen Ping had gone to Nanyun Province, he would be allowed to enjoy his freedom for one more month.

"On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, I will personally deliver a heavy gift. Chen Family, do you dare accept it?"

Luyun stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes slightly narrowed, and an invisible pressure instantly permeated the air.

Lei Ao couldn't help trembling in his heart.

On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Jiangbei was likely to experience an earthquake!

***

After Gu Anqi left Qingcheng Tower, she looked completely out of her wits. Seeing a stray dog barking frantically at her on the road, she couldn't help picking up a stone and hurling it at it.

"Even you dare to mock me, you damn dog!"

"Awooo~"

The stray dog let out a miserable yelp and fled in panic.

Yet seeing this scene only made Gu Anqi feel even more bitter inside. Wasn't her current predicament just like that stray dog?

Instantly, a sense of desolation welled up from deep within her.

"I won't accept this!"

"Ye Qingcheng, didn't you just hook up with the Prince of Nanjiang? You hypocritical bitch, I despise you!"

In Gu Anqi's eyes, the reason the Prince of Nanjiang had stepped in to help Ye Qingcheng today must be because the two of them had some shady dealings, while Luyun was merely a kept toy boy raised by Ye Qingcheng...

The relationship among the three of them was simply scandalous and demoralizing.

Unwilling to accept this defeat, Gu Anqi resentfully dialed a phone call: "Dad, I agree to marry into the Chen Family. I'll marry them immediately!"

Chen Ping had a son named Chen Zi'ang, a notorious playboy in Jiangcheng. Virtually no woman targeted by him could ever escape his clutches.

In recent years, the innocent young women who had fallen victim to him numbered in the tens, if not a hundred.

Until one day, while Chen Zi'ang was indulging in his hedonistic pleasures, a mysterious female assassin suddenly burst in and sliced off his manhood with a single snip.

This incident caused a massive sensation at the time.

The Chen Family was furious, once offering a bounty of ten million to capture the female assassin, but the search ultimately came to nothing.

And so, Chen Zi'ang was transformed overnight from an unbridled, romantic young master into Jiangcheng's most infamous eunuch.Not long ago, the Chen Family suddenly issued a marriage proposal, and the target of this proposal was none other than Chen Zi'ang.

Although it was well known that Chen Zi'ang was physically incomplete, the announcement still caused countless socialites and beauties to flock toward him. After all, the status of the Chen Family was unmatched; as long as one could marry into such a powerful clan, one would be set for life. Whether he was "incomplete" or not was entirely beside the point.

Gu Jianming, acting on the off-chance that it might work, sent over a photo of his daughter. To everyone’s surprise, Chen Zi'ang took a fancy to her at first sight. An ecstatic Gu Jianming broke the news to Gu Anqi, but upon hearing that the person she was expected to marry was Chen Zi'ang, she immediately showed intense resistance. She had no desire to live a life of loneliness and sexual frustration.

But now, Gu Anqi had changed her mind.

There was no longer a place for her in Nanjiang; if she stayed here, she would never be able to catch up to Ye Qingcheng. Gu Anqi, of course, would not accept that. She would go to Jiangbei, she would marry into the Chen Family, and she would use their power to take revenge on Ye Qingcheng. And as for that damned pretty boy, Luyun—she would make him kneel at her feet and lick her heels like a pug!

***

By this time, Luyun had returned to the CEO’s office.

Ye Qingcheng sat before her desk, resting her chin on her hand, lost in thought. The swell of her chest, pressed against the edge of the desk under her uniform, was visibly distorted.

"Little Luyun, I am so sorry."

Ye Qingcheng was still feeling guilty about slapping Luyun earlier. Seeing him enter, she stood up at once, causing her ample bosom to bounce uncontrollably. Luyun feasted his eyes on the sight, yet kept a straight face, pretending to be angry. "If apologies were useful, what would we need the police for?"

Ye Qingcheng pouted, looking wronged. "Then what do you want me to do?"

Luyun scanned the room, spotted a bottle of mineral water on the desk, poured out the remaining water, and crushed the bottle. "The bottle is crushed now. If you say 'sorry' to it, will it return to its original shape?"

Ye Qingcheng froze for a moment. Then, she picked up the bottle, covered the opening with her soft, pink lips, puffed out her cheeks, and blew air into it.

"The bottle is crushed, but you just need to blow into it and it’s fine..."

Suddenly, Ye Qingcheng realized the implication of her actions. A blush rapidly spread across her cheeks, and her beautiful eyes widened. "You little scoundrel! You dare tease your own sister!"

She grabbed the bottle and threw it at Luyun. Luyun dodged it hastily and said with an innocent expression:

"Sis, what are you talking about? I meant that my heart was hurt, just like this crushed bottle—it’s not something that can be fixed with a single 'sorry.' Where did your mind go?"

"I..."

Ye Qingcheng’s face turned even hotter. She cursed under her breath, blaming her fourth sister, the "Monster King," for always telling racy jokes in front of her and leading her down a dark path. Suddenly noticing Luyun’s strange gaze, Ye Qingcheng became bashfully furious. "Don't look at me with that weird expression!"

Luyun chuckled. "Sis, you wouldn't happen to be the type who seems cold on the outside but is actually a closet romantic..."

"Ah, ah, ah, shut up!"

Ye Qingcheng completely abandoned her cold-goddess image and lunged at Luyun, claws bared.

"Sis, that’s a foul—you're tackling me."

"And you still have the nerve to speak!"

"..."

The siblings scuffled for a while, ending only when Luyun surrendered.

"In all seriousness, the billion-dollar orders from the Prince of Nanjiang and the other major families today—was that because of you?"

Ye Qingcheng straightened her clothes, regaining her goddess-like composure; it was as if she were a different person entirely.

Luyun nodded and said seriously, "Yes. Because I am Divine Lord Yuntian, the Prince of Nanjiang fears me, which is why he sent over five billion in orders."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Little Luyun, I’ve noticed you’ve changed. You’ve become quite the smooth talker. Didn’t you say earlier that you’d spent fifteen years on a mountain practicing immortality? How did you suddenly turn into Divine Lord Yuntian?"

"Er..."

Seeing his eldest sister’s skeptical expression, Luyun had to come up with another excuse. "Actually, I’m a miracle doctor. I cured the Prince of Nanjiang’s mother, and he’s just returning the favor."

"Now that sounds plausible."

Luyun: "..."

These days, it’s really hard to be an honest man.

As the two were chatting, Ye Qingcheng’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID and immediately made a silent gesture to Luyun. "It’s your fourth sister, the Monster King."

Fourth Sister, Wang Bingning, was a beautiful reporter. According to the eldest sister, her fourth sister was currently in Cambodia investigating a kidnapping case involving a King Gigi and would not be able to return to the country for some time.Ye Qingcheng quickly finished her phone call, and Lu Yun asked curiously, "What did the Fourth Sister say to you?" "Nothing much, just asking about the new product launch. I almost blurted out that you're still alive," Ye Qingcheng said with a playful flick of her tongue. "Hehe, I wonder what the Fourth Sister's reaction will be when she comes back to the country and sees me." Ye Qingcheng thought about it seriously and said, "I think she'll probably be so excited she'll pull down your pants to check your birthmark." By evening, the siblings drove away from the company. Instead of heading back to Luvin Villa, they went to a bar called "Night Rose". Lu Yun said righteously, "Sister, your brother here is innocent and pure. How could you bring me to a place like this?" Smack! Ye Qingcheng slapped the back of Lu Yun's head and retorted crossly, "What are you thinking? This is a bar opened by your Third Sister. Didn't you say you wanted to give her a surprise? Here's what we'll do..." She suddenly leaned over to whisper a plan in Lu Yun's ear, a cunning gleam flashing constantly in her beautiful eyes. After listening, Lu Yun gave a strange expression and said, "Sister, you usually look so cold and aloof, I didn't expect you to be even more wicked than me." "Less nonsense, hurry up and get your ass out of the car." Fully utilizing the advantage of her long legs, Ye Qingcheng kicked Lu Yun right out of the car, parked the Porsche in the parking lot, and went into the bar alone. Lu Yun wandered around the neighborhood for a bit. Seeing a nice-looking bracelet at a street stall, he bought it. Twenty minutes passed before he strolled leisurely into the bar.

Chapter 15: Making a Bet

Night Rose Bar. Several wretched-looking men were huddled together, making comments. "A supreme beauty, truly a supreme beauty! This figure, this face, a goddess through and through. The ordinary-looking women around her look completely low in comparison." "She's definitely a hundred-percent stunner, but she's just too aloof. In less than twenty minutes, she's already rejected seven men who tried to chat her up." "Hehe, you guys don't get it. Goddesses with top-tier looks and figures like this are all here to hook up with rich tycoons. How could they possibly look at losers like us?" "Fatty, you sure know a lot. But how come I remember you were the first one whose attempt was rejected?" "Ahem..." The wretched Fatty put on an awkward expression. "I didn't say I wasn't a loser." "Look, the eighth suitor has appeared. Wait... isn't that young master Tang?" "Hey, it really is young master Tang! It's over, the goddess is about to be conquered. That's the Tang family's young master, known as the Goddess Harvester. He never fails when he makes a move." "How about we place a bet on how long it takes young master Tang to conquer that top-tier beauty?" Just as Lu Yun walked into the bar, he overheard the men discussing. He walked over and said, "What are you guys betting on? Count me in!" "You?" The men looked at Lu Yun simultaneously, scanning him like a pair of scanners before offering a disdainful chuckle. "A poor loser like you shouldn't come join the fun. Save your money for the bus ride!" Wearing a street-stall outfit like that, calling him a loser was giving him too much credit. Unfazed, Lu Yun pulled out a hundred-dollar bill and said, "I bet that guy fails to pick her up." "One hundred bucks? You really are a rich bastard, aren't you!" The corners of the men's mouths twitched in unison. Judging by the way Lu Yun flashed his cash, anyone would think he had pulled out tens of thousands! A sharp gleam flashed in the wretched Fatty's eyes as he took the hundred-dollar bill and said, "I'll take that bet with you. If young master Tang fails to pick her up, I'll pay you five hundred." A mosquito's leg may be small, but it's still meat. Why turn down free money? At that moment, Lu Yun asked again, "What do you guys think my chances are if I go chat up that beauty?" "What? You're going to chat her up?" As soon as those words left his mouth, everyone burst into laughter, holding their stomachs. "Pfft, hahaha! Bro, are you sure your brain wasn't caught in a door when you left the house? With that pathetic look, you want to pick up women? Are you trying to kill me with laughter, hahaha!" Lu Yun, however, said earnestly, "What if I succeed?" "If you actually manage to pick her up, I'll live-stream myself shoving a five-speed electric fan up my ass." Fatty, being a tough guy, laid down the challenge on the spot. "Good, remember what you said." Lu Yun smiled and walked confidently toward a bar counter. At the bar counter sat a beauty dressed in urban professional attire. She was holding a glass of red wine, swirling the fine liquor with great elegance. Viewed from the side, her cheeks were slightly flushed. Particularly her chest, which perfectly fit the description: ridges when seen from the side, peaks from the ends. At that moment, a dashing young master was already chatting her up—none other than Tang Lei, the eldest young master of the Tang Family. "Beauty, the moment I laid eyes on you, I felt this place wasn't suitable for you." "Why is that?" "Because it's too vulgar, and it doesn't match your noble temperament." "Hehe, do you usually use lines like this on girls?" "Not necessarily. I was just searching for someone, a female lead worthy of wearing this Star of Dreams. Now it seems I've found her." Tang Lei opened his palm to reveal a deep blue crystal pendant. This was the latest limited-edition crystal pendant released by Swarovski, with only a hundred pieces sold worldwide. Tang Lei had been fortunate enough to buy one. When it came to girls, who didn't love pretty jewelry? In the past, Tang Lei had used this very crystal pendant to lure countless youthful, beautiful women into hotels. Of course, he was only playing around; afterwards, he would simply toss a bit of money at those women to dismiss them. There was no way he would actually give the Star of Dreams to them. Today, Tang Lei had come to Night Rose Bar specifically to hunt for new prey. The moment he laid eyes on Ye Qingcheng, he was infatuated. This woman was simply too beautiful. Her face, her figure, and her temperament all completely eclipsed every woman he had played with before. Tang Lei swore he had to win her over, so he resorted to his usual trick. However. To his surprise, Ye Qingcheng merely glanced lazily at the crystal pendant and looked away. "Sorry, I'm not interested." Rejected! Not only Tang Lei, but even Fatty and the others who had been standing nearby with pricked-up ears were stunned. Could there really be a woman in this world who didn't care for gold and silver jewelry? Playing hard to get, huh? Tang Lei shared the same thought, so he prepared to launch his next round of attacks. But at that moment, a figure suddenly appeared beside Ye Qingcheng. "Yo, this pretty little thing has a plump chest and a round butt, perfect for having babies. I wonder if you'd do me the honor of accepting this humble person's gift?" The newcomer was none other than Lu Yun. He wore a frivolous expression, spinning a bracelet made of plastic beads on his finger. Tang Lei was completely dumbfounded. Where the hell did this bumpkin pop out from? His language was crude, his actions flirtatious, and the funniest part was that bracelet of his—anyone could tell it was cheap junk bought off the street for a few bucks. Where did he get the nerve? Not far away, the wretched Fatty and his companions also nearly tumbled to the ground, feeling so awkward they could scratch out a two-bedroom apartment with their toes. "Okay!" Who would have thought that Ye Qingcheng would actually break into a sweet smile, happily take the plastic bead bracelet, clutch it to her chest, and beam with delight? Instantly. "Holy crap!" "Holy crap!" "Holy crap!" Fatty and his friends' eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets. In their wildest dreams, they never expected such an ending. So the beauty was into this kind of thing! If she'd only said so earlier, I could act like a hoodlum too. Fatty felt utterly depressed. His companion beside him seemed to recall something and teased, "Fatty, he succeeded now. When are you going to live-stream the five-speed electric fan?" "Screw your grandpa! Let's get the hell out of here before he notices!" Fatty immediately wobbled his hefty backside and rolled out of the bar like a round ball. Lu Yun naturally noticed Fatty's retreat, but he didn't care. Betting with Fatty had just been a joke anyway. Meanwhile, Tang Lei stood frozen like a statue. It took him a long time to snap back to reality, and he said in disbelief, "Beauty, take a good look. That bracelet of his is just a piece of street junk worth a few bucks." "What do you mean, a few bucks of street junk? I clearly spent more than a dozen silver dollars on this," Lu Yun protested indignantly. The corner of Tang Lei's mouth twitched. Is there any difference between a dozen bucks and a few bucks? At this point, Ye Qingcheng also spoke up, "A gift isn't about how expensive it is, but about who gave it. As long as there's thought behind it, it's a treasure." Hearing this, Tang Lei became even more unsettled. Just now, when I offered you the Star of Dreams with such sincerity, you didn't even bother to take a second look. Yet as soon as this bumpkin shows up and flirts with you, you actually say he's thoughtful? I feel like you guys are messing with me. How could Tang Lei not realize by now that he had been played by these two!

Chapter 16: Rose Queen

Tang Lei's expression darkened. Before he could fly into a rage, however, a bewitching voice suddenly drifted over: "Young master Tang, what could possibly make your expression look so unsightly?" Everyone raised their eyes to look. They instantly froze. From the second-floor staircase of the bar, a beautiful woman was slowly walking down, her willow-like waist swaying gracefully and her jade legs moving in a gentle rhythm.