"Ning Qingxue?"
Chen Yaowei let out a cold snort. "Didn't she just randomly marry some nobody? Even if her looks have recovered, she can't make any waves and isn't worth fearing. However, we shouldn't touch her for now, so as not to upset Lin Chen. We'll deal with her after Lin Chen cures my heart condition."
Once his heart fully recovered, if Ning Chen was willing to submit to him and work in his service, letting Ning Qingxue go—or even granting her some wealth and prestige—wouldn't matter at all.
But if Ning Chen was unwilling to submit, or maintained the same arrogant attitude he showed today, then anyone who could not be used by him would have to be eliminated.
At that time, getting rid of Ning Qingxue along the way would just be a matter of convenience.
...
After leaving Chen Yaowei's ward, Ning Chen went straight downstairs to find Ning Qingxue and Lin Luoxuan.
"Li..."
Seeing Ning Chen return, Ning Qingxue hurried over. She almost blurted out "little brother," but right on the tip of her tongue, she remembered she couldn't expose Ning Chen's identity.
"You're finally back."
Ning Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief, then quickly asked, "They didn't give you a hard time, did they?"
"These days, there aren't many people in this world qualified to give me a hard time. At the very least, they don't have what it takes," Ning Chen said with a smile.
Ning Qingxue: "..."
Lin Luoxuan: "..."
Especially Lin Luoxuan, whose look at Ning Chen seemed to say: *If you don't brag, will you die?*
Ning Chen couldn't really blame them for not believing him.
After all, they had always lived in Chuzhou, and the Chuzhou Chen Family held deep-rooted influence here. You could say that if the Chuzhou Chen Family stamped their foot, the entire Chuzhou would shake three times.
Under such deeply ingrained ways of thinking, it was only natural for them to assume he was just boasting.
Ning Chen originally wanted to explain, but on second thought, in half a month's time at most, his sister and the others would understand anyway, so he couldn't be bothered to say much more.
"Sis, this bank card has one hundred million on it. You and brother-in-law take it and use it." Ning Chen handed one of his own bank cards to Ning Qingxue.
One hundred million?
Except for Ye Hongli, everyone else widened their eyes, staring at Ning Chen in disbelief.
"One hundred million?"
Ning Qingxue wondered if she had misheard.
"Right, exactly one hundred million," Ning Chen confirmed. He also produced the share transfer agreement for Tianzheng Group and handed it to Ning Qingxue. "Sis, this is the share transfer contract for Tianzheng Group. Take it and just sign your name. You'll hold one hundred percent of the shares. As for the rest of the procedures, I'll have people handle them."
"Once we take over Tianzheng Group, we'll change the name back—back to Qingchen Group."
"Tianzheng Group?"
"Qingchen Group?"
This time, everyone widened their eyes again, utter disbelief plastered across their faces.
Whether it was Ning Qingxue, Lin Luoxuan, or Jiang Li, they all knew that Tianzheng Group was actually Qingchen Group, just under a new name.
The problem was that Tianzheng Group was controlled by the Chen Family.
How on earth had Ning Chen managed to get a share transfer contract for Tianzheng Group?
"Don't be surprised. Didn't the Chen Family just send people to invite me up to treat Chen Yaowei? This was my condition." Ning Chen smiled.
"Is Chen Yaowei's condition severe?" Lin Luoxuan asked immediately.
"He's dying," Ning Chen replied. "He has three days left to live at most."
Lin Luoxuan pressed her palms together, closed her eyes, and prayed devoutly, "Evildoers get their just deserts. Heaven has eyes—thank the heavens."
"That's wonderful!" Jiang Li clenched her fists.
A trace of delight also appeared on Ning Qingxue's face.
They were entirely certain that the Chen Family had taken part in the annihilation of the Ning Family back then, and the Chen Family's direct takeover of their family's Qingchen Group was one of the clearest proofs.
Seven years later, Chen Yaowei was about to die of illness.
To them, this was simply fantastic news.
"But if Chen Yaowei is about to die anyway and won't last three days, why would he give you one hundred million and hand over Qingchen Group?"
Even as she rejoiced, Ning Qingxue felt a lingering sense of unease. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
Ning Chen explained, "Because I extended his life by a month. That was the condition for saving him."
Ning Qingxue froze.
Lin Luoxuan froze.
Jiang Li froze.
All three of them stared at Ning Chen in utter bewilderment.
Lin Luoxuan reacted the fastest. "Have... have you lost your mind? Chen Yaowei, he..."
Lowering her voice, Lin Luoxuan continued, "He is your Ning Family's enemy! How could you save him? Wouldn't letting him just drop dead be the best way to get revenge?"
Ning Qingxue and Jiang Li also looked at Ning Chen; Lin Luoxuan had essentially served as their spokesperson, voicing the questions in their own minds.
Ning Chen sneered. "Just letting him die like that would let him off too easily. On the anniversary of our parents' death, I want all the enemies from back then kneeling before their graves."
Facing his sister, his expression had always been gentle, but now a trace of murderous intent finally flickered in his eyes.
It sent a terrifying chill radiating from Ning Chen that Ning Qingxue and the others could clearly feel.
"Little brother, you..."
Ning Qingxue felt a slight jolt in her heart.
Ning Chen quickly reined in his murderous aura and said, "Sis, I told you, this time I came back to Chuzhou for revenge. You've seen it yourself—I have the capability. I can take lives, and I can save them. Even if my identity is exposed, it poses no threat to my safety."
Coming back to Chuzhou this time, he had never intended to hide who he was.
Playing the pig to eat the tiger was fine, but if you play the pig too often, you really do turn into a porker.
Having the strength yet holding back and hiding behind all sorts of excuses didn't match his style of doing things, nor was it satisfying enough.
Last time, he was afraid his sister would worry, but this time, right in front of her, he had put Chen Yanran in her place and even walked right into the lair of the Chen Family patriarch. Not only did he return safely, but he also brought back one hundred million and Qingchen Group.
That should be enough to convince his sister.
"Mr. Ning is very powerful. He can walk sideways through the entirety of Chuzhou without a care," Ye Hongli stepped forward to say at that moment.
Being astute, she avoided mentioning the Asura Temple to keep Ning Chen from having to explain it, choosing instead to address him as "Mr. Ning."
Hearing Ye Hongli's words, Ning Qingxue, Lin Luoxuan, and the others finally shifted their gaze toward her.
Ning Qingxue and Jiang Li had seen Ye Hongli earlier and knew she had come with Ning Chen.
Lin Luoxuan, however, had left earlier and hadn't seen her.
Now, suddenly seeing an peerless beauty appear out of nowhere, addressing Ning Chen as "Mr. Ning" and speaking up for him, she asked curiously, "This beauty, you are...?"
"Little brother, is she your girlfriend?" Ning Qingxue looked at Ye Hongli, a slight glint of astonishment in her eyes; even she found the woman breathtaking.
Girlfriend?
A faint smile touched Ye Hongli's lips, and she shook her head gently. "I'm not Mr. Ning's girlfriend. I am his subordinate—unconditionally and completely obedient to him."
Though deep down she intended to conquer Ning Chen and make him fall at her feet, she knew she had to maintain proper boundaries and keep her position clear under normal circumstances.
Yet, despite what Ye Hongli said, both Ning Qingxue and Lin Luoxuan wore expressions tinged with suspicion.
Unconditional, complete obedience!
And so drop-dead gorgeous!
From her looks to her figure and temperament, she was flawless—virtually perfect.
Could a woman like that really be *just* a subordinate to Ning Chen?