Shen You’an led Zhang Jian to the open area.
The celestial phenomenon ended, everything returned to normal, and the surrounding lights flickered on.
A tall figure stood not far away, as if waiting specifically for her.
"Gu, please help me pass a message to Mr. Gao—something’s come up, I need to leave."
Gu Bichen glanced at Zhang Jian and nodded slightly. "I’ll accompany you."
Shen You’an’s gaze swept past Gu Bichen, landing on the large tree behind him. Her brows knitted slightly as she stepped away without hesitation.
Gu Bichen watched Shen You’an’s figure disappear gradually into the night and chuckled softly: "That family has some nerve."
At this moment, another tall figure silently emerged from behind a large tree.
The youth paused for a moment before stepping away. "Let’s go."
"Li—Li... Mr. Liu," Huang Zhen hastily scrambled after, looking utterly disheveled and panicked.
She had just attempted to confront Shen You’an when that girl unexpectedly sprang up behind her, scaring Huang Zhen nearly to death, making her think she’d bumped into a ghost.
Before she knew it, whatever the girl asked, she answered—spilling out everything to her.
By the time she realized something was wrong, it was already too late.
Shen You’an struck her neck with a swift knife-hand, rendering Huang Zhen unconscious.
When she woke up again, she found the youth standing above her, looking down expressionlessly.
"Mr. Liu, why are you here?"
The youth’s lips curved into a cold smile, his glasses reflecting the moonlight, while the emotion in his eyes remained unreadable.
"Shouldn’t I be asking you that, Mrs. Song?"
Huang Zhen immediately scrambled to her feet, playing the victim first: "You surely saw it, Mr. Liu—it was that girl surnamed Shen who attacked me first! She stole my gold bracelet! I want to call the police!"
Suddenly, the youth’s hand reached out and clamped around Huang Zhen’s throat. His slender, ice-cold fingers effortlessly locked onto her vital points.
Huang Zhen’s back pressed against the tree as the sudden turn of events left her utterly petrified.
A faint sound of distant conversation drifted over—Shen You’an and Gu Bichen talking not far away.
The youth leaned close to her ear and whispered gently, "If you dare make a sound, you’re dead."
So gentle, yet so ruthless.
Huang Zhen was terrified to the point she didn’t dare move a muscle, feeling as though she’d instantly fallen into a boiling inferno of hell.
The sound of footsteps gradually faded. The youth suddenly released his grip, retreating a step.
With the force removed, Huang Zhen collapsed to the ground as if her bones had melted away.
The youth pulled out a tissue, meticulously wiping the fingers that had touched her skin, his demeanor as cold as frost.
"The Yongrui Fund has been soaring high these years, relying on government support. After living well for so long, you’ve forgotten your place, haven’t you?"
The youth’s tone was perpetually elegant and gentle, but to Huang Zhen’s ears, it sounded as terrifying as the devil’s voice.
With just one word from Governor Liu, the Yongrui Fund could be obliterated in an instant.
And he—he was the sole treasured son of Governor Liu.
The youth discarded the tissue and turned to leave.
"N—no...," Huang Zhen scrambled out after him in desperation.
"This is merely a misunderstanding. Please, let me explain..."
Why would Liu Runxi help Shen You’an? This realization sent Huang Zhen’s mind into a chaotic whirl.
"Instead of wasting time arguing, why not clean up the mess?"
The youth walked away without even turning his head.
Huang Zhen collapsed to the ground, dumbfounded.
No matter how hard she wracked her brain, she couldn’t understand—why would Liu Runxi meddle? Could it be...
A thought crossed her mind, making her eyes widen in horror.
"Auntie, Auntie, what happened to you?" Song Xiaojing found her there to see Huang Zhen sitting on the ground like she’d lost her mind.
"Where’s Shen You’an? Where’s Uncle? What on earth happened?" Song Xiaojing asked anxiously.
Huang Zhen suddenly raised her head, her eyes coldly fixed on Song Xiaojing.
"Weren’t you saying you’re quite close with Mr. Liu?"
Song Xiaojing was startled by Huang Zhen’s glare and struggled to suppress her fear. "Y—yes, I am! Otherwise, why would he come to my birthday party? He usually never attends these extracurricular events...."
"Fool. He didn’t come for you; he was...."
Thinking of the recent warning she received, Huang Zhen abruptly fell silent.
In Qingzhou, going up against the Liu family was akin to courting death.
She still couldn’t quite gauge the attitude of Mr. Liu, so words couldn’t be spoken carelessly.
"From now on, you have to curry favor with Shen You’an. Please her, make her happy."
Song Xiaojing stared in disbelief. "Auntie, what are you saying? You want me to flatter Shen You’an, that country bumpkin? Impossible!"
The disdain in her tone was boundless.
Furious, Huang Zhen slapped her across the face and coldly warned: "Do as I say."