I was somewhat perplexed by Liu Zexi's actions. Had she followed me just to get a glimpse of the Water Moon Guanyin?
What was this woman trying to do?
Watching the receding taillights of the car, I shook my head in frustration, completely unable to fathom her thoughts.
The next time I saw Yan Yuhe, her complexion was even worse than before. She was wearing a plain pajama set, her hair pulled up high, and she sat on the sofa with a dazed look in her eyes.
"Miss Yan?" I called out, and she slowly came back to her senses.
I took out the Water Moon Guanyin from my travel bag and placed it on the table. Her face lit up when she saw it, and she leaned in to examine it closely.
After a long while, she let out a sigh and looked at me, "Mr. Xiang, you've truly helped me a great deal."
I smiled and said, "You're welcome. Since I've retrieved the Water Moon Guanyin for you, what about the matter you promised me?"
She smiled and replied, "Please wait a moment."
Saying that, she stood up and went into the study. A moment later, she emerged from the study holding a notebook with a cowhide cover.
Upon seeing this notebook, for some reason, my heart suddenly grew tense.
She walked over and handed the notebook to me.
I quickly took it and was about to open it when Yan Yuhe said, "Mr. Xiang, actually, there's one more thing I need your help with."
Hearing this, I frowned. "What is it?"
"My Yan family is now in disarray, and I can't manage everything alone," she said, her haggard face showing more fatigue.
I sighed. "Miss Yan, I'm just an outsider. I'm afraid I can't help with your family's affairs. Don't you have two brothers? Do they not care at all?"
She gave a bitter laugh. "My eldest brother isn't involved in the antique circle. He has his own clothing company and practically ignores family matters."
"What about your second brother?"
As I asked this, I felt a sense of helplessness. I knew very well that her second brother was the culprit who harmed her father, yet I had to pretend not to know.
"Him?" Yan Yuhe sneered, pulling out an agreement from under the coffee table and placing it in front of me.
I looked at it with some confusion. It turned out to be a "family division agreement."
I hadn't expected Yan Hongguang, the second son, to be so brazen. Not only was he addicted to gambling, but he had also harmed his own father, and now he was thinking of dividing the family.
"This was delivered today. This is my second brother's plan," Yan Yuhe said, her voice tinged with anger.
"How is Uncle Yan doing now?" I asked.
"His life is out of danger, but it's uncertain when he'll wake up," Yan Yuhe said bitterly.
"Doesn't your eldest brother care about family matters at all?" I asked.
She sighed and fell silent, seemingly having some unspoken difficulty. I didn't want to press further, so I said, "Don't think too much about it. I don't know what to say about these things, but I truly lack the ability to help."
Although I sympathized with Yan Yuhe, I really didn't want to get involved in the Yan family's affairs anymore.
Not to mention that we had only met by chance, and I didn't know how I could help in such matters.
Yan Yuhe gave a bitter smile. "I understand..."
As she spoke, she looked at the notebook in my hand. "Mr. Xiang, you can open the notebook now."
Reminded by her, I hesitated and opened the notebook.
The notebook was filled with diary entries, with very detailed dates.
The time span was vast, and the entries were jumpy.
After flipping through it for a while, I couldn't find any useful information. I finally reached the year my father had his accident, but the information for that year was incomplete.
There were clear tearing marks on the pages, and all information about that year was gone.
Seeing this, I looked up and saw Yan Yuhe watching me calmly.
"Miss Yan, what is the meaning of this?" I asked, frowning.
She looked helpless and smiled bitterly. "Mr. Xiang, are you really unwilling to help me one more time?"
"We had an agreement. Once I helped you retrieve the Water Moon Guanyin, you would..."
Before I could finish, she said, "Yes, I did promise you. And I haven't broken my word. I am giving you the journal now."
I let out a cold laugh. "Miss Yan, do you think this is very amusing?"
"Mr. Xiang, please don't be angry," Yan Yuhe said with an innocent expression. "I'm also forced to do this... I really need your help now."
"Is that so?" I closed the notebook and tossed it onto the table. "Since you're not keeping your promise, there's no need for us to talk further."
After speaking, I prepared to stand up and take the Water Moon Guanyin and leave. However, at that moment, two bodyguards appeared beside me without my noticing.
Yan Yuhe said, "You can leave if you want, but you can't take the Water Moon Guanyin with you."
"What do you mean?"
"The Water Moon Guanyin was a cultural relic that my Yan family was preparing to donate to the museum. It was stolen before, and now it's simply being returned to its rightful owner," Yan Yuhe said expressionlessly.
I hadn't expected this woman to play such a trick on me at this critical juncture.
This woman, who appeared demure and harmless on the outside, turned out to be a formidable character.
"What exactly do you want me to do?" I asked, suppressing my inner anger.
She smiled slightly. "I've already made it clear. As long as Mr. Xiang is willing to help me one more time, I will give you whatever you want."
"Do you think I would still believe you?" I sneered.
"Whether you believe it or not is up to you," Yan Yuhe said. "You can choose not to believe."
Our eyes met. I let out a breath, feeling my resolve crumble.
Seeing this, Yan Yuhe waved to the two bodyguards beside her, signaling them to leave, and then invited me to sit down and talk.
With a belly full of anger, I sat on the sofa and looked at her.
"As long as the Yan family retains the position of president of the Guanggu Association, I can give you whatever you desire."
Yan Yuhe said this and slowly stood up, walking towards me. She sat directly on my lap, looking at me with a seductive gaze.
I froze, my mind struggling to keep up.
A faint scent of her body entered my nostrils, immediately making me feel parched and restless.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
She pursed her lips, smiled, and put her arm around my neck, her face drawing closer and closer to mine. Just as she was about to kiss me, I abruptly pushed her away.
"Miss Yan, there's no need for this act. Don't you think doing this is beneath you?" I said.
Unfazed by my words, she gave a bitter laugh. "I have no other choice right now..."
"If you truly want my help, you don't need to resort to such tactics," I said. "I can help you, but you must give me the complete journal first."
"You have to help me get things done before I can give it to you," Yan Yuhe stated firmly, refusing to back down.
For a moment, we were at an impasse.
I hadn't expected things to develop this way; honestly, it had all caught me off guard.
Why was Yan Yuhe so insistent on the Yan family maintaining the presidency of the Guanggu Association, no matter the cost?