When Ling Qingyu and Yang Qingyue met Gu Yi, the trio prepared to eat. Although it was already past lunchtime, their busy schedules had delayed them.
Gu Yi had been troubled and anxious since the mission began, but her excitement soared upon receiving the primary objectives of the operation.
As more people were airlifted to the hospital and the probability of successfully retrieving the entire hostage population increased, Gu Yi couldn't stop thinking for even a single moment.
She knew how many benefits she would gain once news of their success spread. She also realized she likely owed her future rise to Ling Qingyu.
Because of this, she had only snacked lightly to quell her hunger. When Ling Qingyu returned, the mood brightened, and only then did she finally have the time to relax.
For Ling Qingyu, it took a while for her combat mindset to dissipate. It only fully vanished when she hugged Yang Qingyue tightly. Meals taken outside could never compare to her home cooking.
Moreover, the recent "battle" had drained her soul and energy, which needed replenishing—especially her body fluids. Yang Qingyue, too, had shed cold sweat, and even though Ling Qingyu was safe and sound before her, her earlier worry lingered.
This led to both hunger and weakness, made worse by Ling Qingyu's 'antics' in bed. In other words, all three of them were starving, having missed the gourmet meals prepared by Ling Qingyu's five-star chefs.
As for the Spirit Fox operatives who had participated in the mission and Tang Ziyi, they had enjoyed their meals much earlier.
Fortunately, Ling Qingyu didn't witness the girls' teasing smirks; otherwise, she might have exploded in frustration.
Before eating, Yang Qingyue dragged her mother aside to whisper something. From Ling Qingyu's perspective, her movements seemed a little unfriendly.
Clearly, she hadn't taken lightly her mother's decision to exploit Ling Qingyu by sending her to the battlefield.
On the other hand, Gu Yi was dumbfounded by her daughter's stunning words. Where was the lovely, pampered daughter she had spoiled all these years?
The once "little cotton-padded jacket" she had cherished now seemed to be "leaking air."
Damn Ling Qingyu! Why must she take the blame for everything? Gu Yi wasn't the one who had asked Ling Qingyu to go to the battlefield in person. She knew Ling Qingyu must have secrets she couldn't share.
Could she count on her? Gu Yi sighed and accepted the blame. She made solemn promises, explaining that Ling Qingyu wasn't part of the original plan.
By now, Yang Qingyue was no longer naive; she could see what was really going on. Though she still held Gu Yi partially accountable, her anger was no longer as strong.
As a young police chief, she understood the stakes and the hidden agendas. Snorting, she returned to the table.
Gu Yi shot Ling Qingyu a glare, to which the latter shrugged and smiled bitterly. Inwardly, Ling Qingyu grumbled about her mother-in-law—why couldn't she just take a little blame in exchange for huge gains?
So pretentious. Ling Qingyu suspected Gu Yi was secretly smiling while playing the wronged party to elicit guilt.
No matter. Even if Gu Yi would soon become her elder, Ling Qingyu wasn't about to back down when it came to claiming what she deserved.
"Let's fill our stomachs first," Gu Yi said, taking a seat. Ling Qingyu and Yang Qingyue followed suit and began eating.
Hmm, wait a moment, Where was Assistant Su?" Ling Qingyu tried to scurry her eyes around to spot the missing figure but didn't think much when she saw Gu Yi not mentioning her subordinate's whereabouts.
No one brought up business during the meal. It was peaceful and warm—loving, even—if only Gu Yi weren't there acting as a giant lightbulb.
Naturally, the trio began discussing matters after finishing their lunch. Yang Qingyue talked about potential arrangements and decisions from the higher-ups.
Gu Yi added her opinions and predictions, while Ling Qingyu nodded and interjected when the topics were relevant.
By the end, all three felt their horizons had broadened, and everyone left with new insights.
Yang Qingyue departed first, needing to tackle more work. After all, even as the boss, she couldn't go overboard squeezing her own sister—Cai Ning—too much, lest she resign!
Ling Qingyu and Gu Yi left the dining hall and strolled through the backyard. Surrounded by flowers, lush vegetation, and lively decorations, Ling Qingyu quietly accompanied Gu Yi.
Her role was done. Now, it was Gu Yi's turn to reciprocate. Thinking about the deal they had struck, Ling Qingyu's smile grew.
Y-20 aircraft, private airfields, and exclusive permissions inaccessible to ordinary elites—she now had the capital to face the Qin family head-on, albeit slightly.
Her grudge against them had never faded, even after 600 chapters. The enmity that had killed her original self—someone with ambition and lofty goals—still burned.
Even though she carried on for that girl, the original her could no longer witness this success.
"You'd better treat my daughter well in the future. If you dare hurt her…" Gu Yi paused. "You'll find out how I earned this position."
Ling Qingyu nodded solemnly, touching her chest. "Cross my heart and hope to die. I would never, ever hurt her—not even slightly. It's impossible.
Even if my anger overwhelmed my sanity, I'd just destroy rival companies and clean up others who aren't righteous."
Companies: ??? F&&K Y&&
Gu Yi nearly burst out laughing at Ling Qingyu's declaration but controlled her expression with sheer willpower.
This child—why did she have to add that last line and ruin the mood?
The reason for Gu Yi's stern warning wasn't a lack of approval for Ling Qingyu; rather, it stemmed from her fear of her daughter getting hurt. She could clearly see that Yang Qingyue really didn't deserve Ling Qingyu.
Though she understood love wasn't something that could be measured, Gu Yi still carried scars from her own experiences.
Her betrayal had stung despite the lack of closeness with her spouse. Though she had invested in her career to comfort herself, the toll it had taken meant she spent far less time with Yang Qingyue than most parents.
It was a wonder her daughter hadn't grown up crooked under the Yang family's rigid system.
What Gu Yi didn't realize was that she had, in fact, spent more time with her daughter and disciplined her more thoroughly than many other aristocratic families.
Yang Qingyue's original attributes and cleverness were undeniable, but her discipline and self-improvement had driven her success.
Sure, her talents and resources played a role, but without hard work, she wouldn't have achieved such outstanding results.
Luck, too, had been on her side. Meeting Ling Qingyu had propelled her directly into the sky.
Ultimately, apart from Ling Qingyu's gender, Gu Yi was satisfied with her. Even without Gu Yi's help, Ling Qingyu was destined to climb to the top and overwhelm the elite someday.
Should she be glad that she managed to jump onto the chariot just before the wheels started rolling?
Seeing Gu Yi deep in thought, Ling Qingyu refrained from interrupting and simply followed her steps. Despite her calm demeanor, Ling Qingyu took Gu Yi's words seriously, though she wasn't intimidated by her mother-in-law's methods.
As for the implied threats about how Gu Yi had secured her current position, Ling Qingyu believed them without hesitation. She and Gu Yi were similar in many ways.
"I never expected your group to achieve this result. It completely exceeds my expectations of you," Gu Yi said seriously.
"Congratulations, Lady Gu. The future looks bright for you," Ling Qingyu chuckled.
"I feel like I've boarded a thief's ship," Gu Yi clicked her tongue.
"Oh, how could you say that? I'm sure you'll have nothing but praise for me in the future when you look back on this timeline," Ling Qingyu replied with a teasing smile. "By the way, where's Assistant Su? I almost forgot she exists."
Assistant Su: Finally, someone remembers me again.
"I sent her away for some tasks. She's needed elsewhere."
"Can you share what tasks she's handling? I'm curious—if I may, of course."
"It's nothing confidential. Which parent doesn't want their child to have a smoother path? Although baby eagles can't always fly under their parent's wing, every step needs to be proportional."
Ling Qingyu nodded in agreement. Her mother-in-law was clearly working to clear the way for Yang Qingyue, ensuring no unnecessary tribulations or harsher challenges would block her path now that she had matured.
Well, another bloodbath is on the horizon. How many more heads will roll this time? Well, it didn't matter since Ling Qingyu and her confidantes weren't affect. That also included the people she was familar with.
Additionally, she trusted Gu Yi's discipline. No innocents shall be implicated amidst the power struggle. If Gu Yi needed her cooperation, Ling Qingyu was happy to oblige, particularly intelligence work in electronics. Athena's existence was too powerful in this world.
Suddenly, Gu Yi broke the silence. "It's you I'm worried about."
"What do you mean, Mother?"
Gu Yi rolled her eyes and walked away. Not "Aunt Gu" anymore but "Mother"… The audacity! Yet somehow, her eyes carried a trace of amusement.
Ling Qingyu chased after her mother-in-law, smacking her lips a few times. Fortunately, she had received excellent news: her mother-in-law had completely accepted her presence.
The two headed toward the chairs and table set up to enjoy the garden's relaxation and leisure. Ling Qingyu gestured to the maids nearby to bring tea and sat down with Gu Yi.
"What's wrong with me?" Ling Qingyu asked, pressing her mother-in-law to elaborate. Clearly, Gu Yi's words didn't come without reason.
"Well, I'll explain since you'll figure it out on your own soon enough anyway," Gu Yi replied, shaking her head as she leaned back against the wooden recliner, though she maintained an upright posture.
Ling Qingyu leaned forward, propping her elbows on the table as her mind raced through various possibilities. A flash of insight crossed her thoughts. She wasn't entirely certain, but her guess seemed highly likely. "Some people see me as an eyesore?"
Though phrased as a question, her tone carried firm conviction.
Gu Yi observed Ling Qingyu's sharp intuition and silently praised her. She nodded once before shaking her head twice. "That depends on your next move."