If Jing Ran were merely the foremost hacker of her generation, the most wicked woman in the Li family, Li Qianfan might not have been so afraid of her.
What truly frightened Li Qianfan was that Jing Ran had personally come to Qingyun!
Even with his toes, Li Qianfan could deduce that Jing Ran's presence in Qingyun was undoubtedly about his marriage to Su Ziyu.
He stated directly, "Jing Ran's appearance signifies the Li family's firm opposition to the marriage between Li Qianfan and Su Ziyu."
"You come to the Yuan Lai Tea House on Huizhan Road. I'll be waiting for you on the second floor."
After speaking, Jing Ran ended the call.
Huizhan Road was the closest to the train station.
It seemed Jing Ran had called Li Qianfan shortly after arriving in Qingyun.
Li Qianfan dared not delay and immediately rose and hurried out.
As he drove out of the parking lot, Old Su and Shen Yun, holding umbrellas, were walking towards the warehouse.
"It's raining so heavily, where are you going?" Old Su roared.
Li Qianfan only honked his horn and continued at the same speed.
"Stinking brat, taking advantage of the situation to slack off." Old Su muttered casually, paying it no mind.
"Where is he rushing off to in such a hurry?" Looking at the departing car, Shen Yun's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
Her phone pinged with a message.
It was from Yamagata Yaqing: "Chong Chong, quickly turn off your phone and leave the company immediately! I just received news that the Li family's most wicked woman, Jing Ran, has gone to Qingyun!"
Ah? Upon seeing the message, Shen Yun's delicate body trembled.
It wasn't just Li Qianfan who feared Jing Ran. To put it this way, anyone who knew Jing Ran, with the exception of Li Qianfan's father, including Li Wujiang, kept a respectful distance from her.
Jing Ran was not only wicked. Especially with her identity as the world's foremost hacker, it was effortless for her to pinpoint Shen Yun through mobile messages, discover her true identity in the shortest time, and steal all chat records on her phone.
Shen Yun hurriedly turned off her phone, then quickly caught up with Old Su. "Mr. Su, I've found a clue about the person I was looking for. I need to go out immediately, please grant me leave."
Oh, this was important business. Go on then. Do you have any money on you? Old Su's instinctive reaction warmed Shen Yun's heart. After quickly thanking him, she turned and hurried away, her footsteps splashing through the puddles.
"What is love, that it makes life and death so desirable?" Looking at Shen Yun's retreating back, Old Su sighed sentimentally. Suddenly, a strong wind kicked up from nowhere. Caught off guard, Old Su's umbrella was blown away. His half-bald head was immediately battered by countless raindrops.
The wind grew increasingly fierce. The rain grew heavier. The sky darkened further.
Zhang Bao, driving the car, had to turn on the headlights. "This thunderstorm is really quite wicked," Zhang Bao remarked, glancing out the car window. A red car suddenly sped past him on the right.
"Driving so fast in the rain, aren't they afraid of an accident?" Zhang Bao casually commented, then paused and quickly looked back. "Director Mo, look at that car. Isn't that Director Su of Guangming Hospital's car?"
Mo Hongti, who was playing on her phone in the back seat, looked up. Despite the torrential rain obscuring her vision, Mo Hongti immediately recognized the license plate of the little red car.
"Yes, that's Su Ziyu's car." Mo Hongti nodded. "Strange, why is she driving so fast?"
Zhang Bao said, "She must have something urgent to do?"
Urgent? A flash of inspiration struck Mo Hongti's mind. She thought, "Could it be that her condition has taken a turn for the worse?" Without further thought, she said to Zhang Bao, "Zhang Bao, follow her. Remember, don't let her discover we're tailing her."
Zhang Bao didn't understand why Mo Hongti wanted to follow Su Ziyu discreetly. However, he would strictly follow Mo Hongti's orders. He immediately accelerated. The wheels spun, splashing countless puddles.
Three in the afternoon. After driving across half the city, Li Qianfan finally arrived at the Yuan Lai Tea House on Huizhan Road in Qingyun's northern district. This was mainly due to the heavy rain causing traffic congestion. Curiously, after Li Qianfan parked his car, the downpour lessened. By the time he rushed into the tea house lobby with his hands covering his head, the rain had stopped.
"Damn it, they're deliberately drenching me, aren't they?" Li Qianfan cursed and quickly went up to the second floor of the tea house. The Yuan Lai Tea House was not large, but the second floor could accommodate over a dozen guests for tea and conversation. Especially on rainy days, it was most comfortable for a few friends to sit here, brew a pot of tea, and chat. However, when Li Qianfan arrived on the second floor, it was completely empty. Only a woman in a black dress stood by the window in the southeast corner. Her figure was slender, and her hair was as dark as a waterfall, making her already translucent, snow-white skin appear even fairer.
This was Jing Ran. She had her back to the stairwell, but the moment Li Qianfan saw her silhouette, he felt an exceptionally uncomfortable aura roar silently towards him, giving him the distinct illusion that he hadn't arrived at a tea house, but at the tomb chamber of a thousand-year-old grave. He finally understood why there were no other customers on the second floor.
Li Qianfan walked over quickly, bowing and scraping. "Aunt Ran, I'm here."
Jing Ran, who had been standing by the window, slowly turned around. Her eyes, clear and black and white, had pupils as dark as ink, deep and seemingly harboring the most terrifying monsters. Every time Jing Ran stared at him like this, Li Qianfan felt an urge to go to the restroom.
"Little handsome, it's been years, and you've really grown up." Although Jing Ran was smiling, Li Qianfan thought of the idiom "spine-chilling." Especially when she slowly walked over and lifted his chin with a finger whiter than a scallion stalk, Li Qianfan involuntarily shivered.
Cold. Jing Ran's finger had no warmth at all. It was even colder than the temperature of a dead person! Jing Ran's eyes flickered, and she let out a silent, charming laugh. "You're afraid of me?" Li Qianfan's answer was quite open and aboveboard. "Being afraid of you isn't something to be ashamed of. When I was a child, you held me a few times, and I peed on you each time. From then on, I knew I was afraid of you."
"Hmph." Jing Ran withdrew her hand. "Then why weren't you afraid when you crawled under Auntie Ran's skirt?" Li Qianfan's face was filled with embarrassment. "I was only one or two years old then! Don't always bring this up, it's embarrassing."
"Haha, then we won't mention it. After all, we both know you've seen countless beauties at such a young age." Jing Ran giggled charmingly and gracefully sat down. "Come, make tea for Auntie Ran. I want to test if your tea ceremony has reached a calm state."
This was doable. The tea ceremony emphasized a heart as calm as still water. After taking a few deep breaths in secret, Li Qianfan quickly collected his thoughts and slowly picked up the teacup. While he was brewing the tea, Jing Ran said nothing, just watched him quietly.
"Auntie Ran, please." Li Qianfan held a teacup with both hands and presented it to Jing Ran. Jing Ran, with her left hand elegantly forming a orchid finger, took the teacup. She closed her eyes, took a shallow sip of the tea, and nodded instinctively.
"Not bad." Jing Ran put down the teacup and said with a smile, "Qianfan, do Auntie Ran a favor and divorce Su Ziyu tomorrow."
Li Qianfan was stunned. Wasn't this supposed to be a discussion about tea ceremony? Why was she suddenly making such a request of him? And asking him to do her a favor! Jing Ran picked up the teapot and poured Li Qianfan a cup of water, still smiling. "Your wife can only be Du Junlin."
Li Qianfan, however, asked, "Auntie Ran, have you met her?"
"Yes." Jing Ran nodded. "I came directly to Tiandong from Lingnan. Before I came, Junlin and I had a thorough conversation. She deeply regrets stabbing you seven years ago. I hope you can forgive her."
Li Qianfan smiled.
Jing Ran asked, "What are you laughing at?"
Li Qianfan took out a cigarette and said calmly, "Auntie Ran, even if you beat Du Junlin to death, she wouldn't say those words."
When her lie was exposed, Jing Ran showed no embarrassment. She merely asked, "Then tell me, what would Du Junlin say?"
"As long as I can give her a grand wedding. And personally invite her name into the Li Family Village ancestral hall." Li Qianfan stared at the teacup and said, "Let the world know that she is the village head's wife. As for how many women I have outside, what I do, or even whether I live or die, she won't care. If I'm alive, she might bear me children. If I die, she'll remain a widow until her hair turns white."
Jing Ran fell silent. After a long while, she sighed, "You've only met a few times, and you dislike each other. Why do you two understand each other so well?"
"Who knows?" Li Qianfan gave a wry smile and then straightened his attitude. He looked directly into Jing Ran's captivating eyes and said earnestly, "Auntie Ran, I'll be blunt. In this life, I, Li Qianfan, will marry only Su Ziyu. Please convey this to Du Junlin and tell her to find another man as soon as possible. Also, tell my mother. Hurry and come to Qingyun to meet my in-laws. Keeping people waiting for so long shows a lack of sincerity."
Jing Ran frowned. "Qianfan, you're not giving Auntie Ran face?"
Li Qianfan nodded. "No."
"Really, no?" After Jing Ran uttered these three words, Li Qianfan immediately felt the atmosphere around him change drastically. It was broad daylight! The dark clouds outside had dispersed, and the sun shyly revealed half its face. Yet, Li Qianfan felt as if he were nailed in a coffin and buried underground. Li Qianfan took a deep breath and said, "No."
Jing Ran stared into his eyes, which grew increasingly deep. Li Qianfan even experienced hallucinations. In Jing Ran's pupils, countless insects hissed silently, surging towards him! But his heart was already as still as water.
"As expected of Li Wujiang's only son, the Ghost Infant, the young man who could bring down the Xuanlong Banner of Li Family Village." When Jing Ran spoke again, Li Qianfan's hallucinations vanished.
Li Qianfan smiled and picked up the teapot.
"Qianfan," Jing Ran said again, her tone carrying the concern and worry of an elder. "If you insist on inviting Su Ziyu's name into the ancestral hall, neither the Shen family of Lingnan nor those vixen spirits from Misty Village will let you off. Moreover, someone from the Shen family might already be setting traps for you that you won't be able to guard against."
Li Qianfan thought for a moment and said, "I plan to go to Lingnan and kowtow to Old Master Shen to apologize when the time is right. As for certain people in the Shen family setting traps for me, hehe, I'm not an idiot, how could I be easily ambushed?"
"How about this," Jing Ran said. "Allow Auntie Ran to track your phone calls."
Before she could finish, Li Qianfan hurriedly raised his hand. "Stop!"
Jing Ran raised an eyebrow. "What, do you have anything illicit on your phone?"
Li Qianfan looked sheepish. "What man doesn't have a few little secrets?"
"Haha." Jing Ran giggled. "A kid who hasn't even fully grown hair dares to call himself a man!"
Li Qianfan's face showed indignant anger. "Auntie Ran, who are you looking down on?"
"Alright, alright, Auntie Ran was wrong. I shouldn't have hurt Grandpa Qianfan's self-esteem." Jing Ran quickly apologized, her tone teasing. This is how family members talk! Come, Auntie Ran, I'll toast you with tea! Well, my mother and son have been chatting here for a long time, shouldn't you be going?
"Trying to kick me out? I refuse to leave." Jing Ran pouted. "Since I've come to Qingyun, I have to see Su Ziyu. Otherwise, how can I report back to Li Wujiang?"
"Fine. I'll call Ziyu and ask her to come over." Li Qianfan picked up his phone. "Auntie Ran, no funny business with my phone. Please place your hands on the table where I can see them."
"Little brat." Jing Ran looked displeased but obediently put down her phone and placed her hands on the table.
"Hmm, why is Ziyu's phone turned off?" Li Qianfan frowned after dialing. Just as he was about to say something else, his phone rang. The caller ID showed Mo Hongti.
"Don't move your hands, don't move your feet. I know you can operate a phone with your toes." Li Qianfan warned Jing Ran again before answering Mo Hongti's call.
"Qianfan!" Mo Hongti's voice was filled with urgency. "Come to the provincial capital quickly! Su Ziyu might be in trouble!"
What? Li Qianfan was stunned when he suddenly heard a loud bang from his phone. Immediately after, he heard Mo Hongti let out a scream, "Ah!"