Upon confirming Su Nan Yin's imminent arrival, Li Qian Fan knew that Chu Ya Zhi and Kang Ning wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.
They were bound to be exposed!
However, he wasn't in a hurry.
At worst, he would confess to Su Nan Yin and then ask for her help in keeping it a secret from Sister Wu Jiang.
With that in mind, Li Qian Fan took out his phone and contacted Chu Ya Zhi.
There's no need to elaborate on Chu Ya Zhi's reaction upon hearing his voice while she was "casually chatting" with Shen Mao Mao.
She immediately found an excuse, distanced herself from Shen Mao Mao, and briefly recounted that Kang Ning was currently meeting with Su Nan Yin in a private room.
"My return is truly coincidental."
Li Qian Fan secretly rejoiced. As he entered the hotel and walked up the stairs, he removed his disguise, revealing his true face.
After reaching the floor where Chu Ya Zhi and the others were staying, he directly called Kang Ning.
"Young Master, you're finally back! It's wonderful!"
Upon seeing Li Qian Fan, Kang Ning was so emotional that she almost broke down in tears on the spot.
The pressure Su Nan Yin had put on her was unbearable. It was a relief that Li Qian Fan's timely arrival instantly lifted a heavy burden from her shoulders, but that was secondary.
The most crucial thing was that Li Qian Fan had returned safely!
Whether Li Qian Fan could return safely had a direct bearing on Kang Ning's and her sick mother's future happiness.
"You did very well."
Li Qian Fan patted her shoulder and whispered, "Quickly tell me, what did my mother-in-law say to you?"
Kang Ning also knew what was most important at the moment.
She quickly and truthfully recounted everything Su Nan Yin had said to her when they were alone.
What?
She asked Kang Ning how it felt when I kissed her?
This is a joke!
Oh, oh, oh.
I see. The reason she suddenly asked that question was because she realized Kang Ning wasn't me.
If Kang Ning had said that my prior offense against her was utterly rebellious or something similar, she would have fallen into a trap.
Because she and I both knew I had never kissed her.
Mother-in-law is truly insidious—
Li Qian Fan suddenly understood.
A full seven or eight minutes passed, and Su Nan Yin, who was alone in the guest room, still hadn't heard Kang Ning return.
This made her even more suspicious that Kang Ning was an imposter.
If that were the case, why would that brat play this trick?
Where would the real brat likely be?
Black Water Forest!
A flash of inspiration struck Su Nan Yin's mind.
"Could it be that the brat has teamed up with Jun Lin and gone to Black Water Forest?"
Su Nan Yin's mind was indeed sharp.
Before Du Jun Lin left, he had visited the Zhi Zhi Club in Tian Dong Provincial City.
After that, she had vanished from the face of the earth, with no further news.
Su Nan Yin and the entire Shen family had assumed she was heading west alone, and her silence meant she had met a grim fate.
These days, Su Nan Yin would often fall into a deep melancholy whenever she thought of her Xiao Ya, yet she never considered that with Du Jun Lin's abilities, if she had indeed gone to Black Water Forest, even if she were to perish, she would have made quite a stir.
After all, the young master of the Xiang Jiang Qin family, upon his safe return, reported that Gao Ling Wang of the Gao family had already pushed into Black Water Forest with supplies and reinforcements.
The Qin family young master could ascertain most of the situation there.
However, there was no news of Du Jun Lin.
This was too illogical—
"It's highly possible that Jun Lin and Li Qian Fan have gone out together."
Su Nan Yin's conjecture became even more certain, and the brightness in her eyes noticeably intensified.
It was much better for two people to venture out together than for one to go alone.
Crucially,
Su Nan Yin knew very well that if the pair of destined rivals were to embark on a westward campaign together, they would likely forge a deep emotional bond on the battlefield of life and death!
"If this is truly the case, then after they return safely, Xiao Ya's life will surely undergo a qualitative change."
The more Su Nan Yin thought about it, the more logical it seemed.
She became so excited that she couldn't sit still any longer.
She instinctively stood up and paced back and forth in front of the table.
The door opened.
Li Qian Fan walked in from outside.
Su Nan Yin, who happened to have her back to the door, immediately turned to face Li Qian Fan and asked sternly, "Speak, who exactly are you? Has Li Qian Fan himself gone to Black Water Forest!?"
"Who am I? I'm Li Qian Fan."
Li Qian Fan, looking utterly bewildered, closed the door. "I'm not stupid, why would I possibly go to Black Water Forest?"
Hmm?
Su Ziyu stared blankly at Li Qian Fan for a long moment without speaking.
Li Qian Fan also looked confused, meeting her gaze.
"This brat, why does he seem like a completely different person after going out and returning?"
Su Nan Yin thought to herself, then finally shifted her gaze and asked, "You still haven't answered my question from before."
That question was related to her lips.
"Mom, my dear mother. Guan Yin, my good sister."
Li Qian Fan gave a wry smile. "Even if I unintentionally offended you, I wasn't as audacious as you claim. I really don't know if you've gone mad from your good son-in-law named Lin, making you inexplicably believe I'm an imposter."
Hearing him call Guan Yin (Su Nan Yin's childhood nickname) and "my good sister" so casually, Su Nan Yin immediately confirmed that he was the genuine brat.
This brat, who usually called his biological mother Li Wu Jiang "Sister Wu Jiang," would naturally address Su Nan Yin, who was no longer his formal mother-in-law, in the same manner.
Su Nan Yin, now certain that this brat was the genuine article, felt both comforted and disappointed.
Comforted—
Because she had considered Li Qian Fan as half a son since 21 years ago.
What mother would want her son to go to Black Water Forest to die?
Disappointed—
While other people's sons were rushing to Black Water Forest with full hearts, Li Qian Fan, as Li Wu Jiang's son, was hiding in the rear, simply not manly enough!
"I must have been so furious with that ungrateful scoundrel Lin Yi Feng that I lost my mind and became suspicious, thinking the brat was an imposter. That's why I asked that question that compromised my dignity, making the brat secretly mock me."
With this thought, Su Nan Yin gracefully took a seat.
"Guan Yin."
Li Qian Fan casually sat opposite her, frowning. "Your eldest son-in-law is quite something. He profits from the Lingnan Shen family's backing yet engages in acts of betrayal. Such an ungrateful wretch, shouldn't he be dealt with decisively instead of kept around?"
Since he already knew Su Nan Yin's usual tactics from Du Xiao Ya, Li Qian Fan certainly wouldn't give her the chance to lecture him.
He initiated the attack.
A sharp, to-the-point one!
Su Nan Yin's expression darkened. "What did you call me?"
Li Qian Fan picked up his teacup and said, "When I call you 'Mom,' you become suspicious. To avoid you wasting unnecessary brain cells, and more importantly, because you are indeed young and beautiful, and we are alone, I really don't want to call you 'Mom' anymore."
Damn it.
Su Nan Yin, who never cursed, cursed inwardly.
When Li Qian Fan spoke to her so casually, she truly had no good response.
After all, the brat was accustomed to it; he also spoke to his biological mother, Li Wu Jiang, in the same manner.
Furthermore, the brat had deliberately emphasized that she was indeed young and beautiful, not looking like a mother-in-law at all.
Even though Su Nan Yin knew perfectly well that the brat was flattering her, she couldn't help but feel a secret joy.
"A brat like you, so disrespectful, is fortunate not to be my son."
Su Nan Yin snorted and crossed her legs. "Otherwise, I'd have to spank you eight times a day and still might not be enough."
"Guan Yin, stop this nonsense."
Li Qian Fan said with impatience. "Just tell me directly, how do you want to deal with Lin Yi Feng for the trouble he's caused us?"
Su Nan Yin felt a blockage in her heart.
Li Qian Fan's aggressive demeanor clearly made her uncomfortable.
This was because she hadn't expected to be betrayed by Du Xiao Ya.
She could only respond passively. "The incident has already happened, and with the push from those who are trying to cause trouble, that video will soon go viral. It's too late to say anything now. You tell me first, how do you want to handle this?"
Li Qian Fan put down his teacup. "Find Lin Yi Feng tonight."
Su Nan Yin asked, "And then?"
"I don't care what the Lingnan Shen family does when they find him."
Li Qian Fan said coldly. "But if I find him."
He paused here and took another sip of tea.
The brat is playing for time, trying to gain the upper hand.
Su Nan Yin immediately understood.
Secretly grinding her teeth in annoyance, she could only ask obediently, "What will happen if you find him?"
Li Qian Fan casually uttered a single word: "Beat."
"Beat?"
Su Nan Yin's eyebrows shot up.
"Beat him to death."
Li Qian Fan's expression was cold. "Even if he reveals who bribed him and dared to plot against me, I will first cripple him and vent my anger."