The banquet was a good one, and Shen You’an began to seriously eat and drink.
"This fish is excellent—soft, tender, and flavorful."
Lan Xiping: "You still have the appetite?"
"Don’t spoil the mood. Golden fish at ten thousand per pound isn’t something you can eat any day. Miss this chance, and you’ll regret it."
Lan Xiping was speechless. Someone as wealthy as her said something so miserably cheap. Even if golden fish cost a million per pound, it wouldn’t stop her from getting sick of it.
"Are you serious?"
Shen You’an responded earnestly, "Every penny should be spent wisely. Save wherever you can. Now eat."
Having said this, she picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks and placed it onto Lan Xiping’s plate.
"Is Lv Group’s trouble solved?" Shen You’an casually asked.
Lan Xiping choked, took a sip of water, and slowly said, "You don’t seem like someone who’d care about such minor matters."
"If it’s worth attention, it’s no minor matter."
"Wei Xia was caught, with solid evidence of transferring assets. But Lv Hui is no angel either. The two can continue being a couple in prison. Behind Lv Group’s crisis this time is Lan Jing Capital playing tricks. Lan Jing Capital is rising quickly—I still need to investigate further."
"You helped Miss Lv with such a big problem. Didn’t she thank you?"
Shen You’an’s tone was serious, but Lan Xiping caught a hint of mockery in her eyes, leaving her at a loss for words.
"You’re not getting any younger—you should think about dating. I think Miss Lv would be a good match..."
The clink of chopsticks striking the plate resonated crisply.
Shen You’an raised her eyes.
Lan Xiping stared at her with a blank expression.
Shen You’an sighed helplessly, "Pretend I said nothing."
Lan Xiping took a long look at her, silently lowering her eyes.
After the banquet ended, Shen You’an and Lan Xiping left the building. Several guests watched them from afar, hesitating to approach.
But while they pondered, the pair strode off, their distant silhouettes fading from view.
In the parking lot, Leng Shan and Leng Yunyang personally came to see them off.
Shen You’an got into the car. Outside the window, Leng Yunyang smiled warmly and said, "Safe travels."
The four words, "safe travels," were stressed unusually, as though hinting at something.
Leng Shan gazed at the departing sedan, heavy concern etched in his eyes.
"Grandfather, are you worried about him? You’re overthinking. Yu Ruohuan is nowhere near his match. Just wait and see... Ah, why are you hitting me?"
Leng Shan raised his cane and struck Leng Yunyang on the back without hesitation: "You little brat, throwing all my words to the wind, aren’t you? Watching Jing Zhan push your sister down the stairs with your own eyes? If Mr. Amos hadn’t acted in time, your sister would now be nothing but a corpse. How could you be so heartless..."
Leng Yunyang initially took the beating obediently, but something in the elder’s words sparked his defiance. He grabbed the cane firmly and said, one word at a time, "I only have one sister. Her name is Leng Xuexi. The others? Just stray cats and dogs—they don’t matter."
Leng Shan froze. The young man standing before him now towered over him; he had to tilt his head to meet his gaze.
A willful mind, one he could no longer control.
"What a calamity." Leng Shan exhaled deeply, retrieving his cane.
He turned his back. "I’ll leave the guest farewell to you. I’m headed to the hospital to check on Xingshuang."
With that, he hobbled away, the curve of his back stooped, his age vividly apparent.
Leng Yunyang pressed his lips together. "The weather forecast says there’ll be snow this afternoon—take care on the road."
Leng Shan’s steps halted momentarily before continuing leisurely onward.
——
The black sedan drove steadily along the highway.
Cold Moon Building was located on the outskirts, flanked by desolate factory buildings, the snow painting the surroundings with an added air of bleakness.
Ahead lay a fork in the road. Left led to the city; right connected the airport and the highway.
The black car signaled a right turn.
It stopped at a red light.
The suburbs were already barren, and recent snowfall had left the roads slick. Few vehicles were roaming the streets; at the intersection, only this one car awaited the light.
When the green light came, the black sedan turned right, heading for the main road leading to the airport.
Since this road linked to the city, traffic grew mildly denser, though the vehicles moved at modest speeds.
Dark clouds churned across the sky, seemingly preparing for yet another snowstorm, oppressively dimming the heavens and earth—and the mood along with them.
Shen You’an wasn’t particularly fond of snowy days; they always reminded her of unpleasant memories.
She slouched lazily in her seat, her frail figure enveloped in black leather upholstery, her pale skin eerily striking against the backdrop, almost dazzling.
Lan Xiping glanced over and swiftly averted his gaze, his fingers involuntarily clenching tight.
The driver peeked in the rearview mirror. "We’ve got company."