"Wan'er, why don't you try calling Gu Yan again?"
"Yeah, Wan'er… 130,000 is really too much."
Wu Lili and Xie Baiwei were getting anxious.
Normally, whenever they went out to eat or shop, Shen Wan'er would pay first—and once Gu Yan found out, he'd immediately transfer the money back. Sometimes he'd even feel so proud about it that he'd post screenshots on his Moments.
In the past, the moment Gu Yan heard he was paying for Shen Wan'er, he'd be happier than anyone.
So how did things turn out like this today?
Not only did Shen Wan'er call personally—he didn't even answer.
The two women were completely dumbfounded.
What they'd conveniently forgotten was that not long ago, they were the very ones telling Shen Wan'er to wait for Gu Yan to come crawling back and admit his mistake first.
Shen Wan'er bit her lip.
Her pride made her reluctant to call again, but—
She glanced at the restaurant owner nearby. The polite smile on his face was starting to fade. There was no way they were leaving without paying today.
With no other choice, Shen Wan'er dialed Gu Yan's number again.
In her mind, even if Gu Yan really was busy, seeing two missed calls from her in a row should've made him realize something urgent was going on. At the very least, he should answer.
But as the call went through, something happened that left her completely stunned.
[The user you dialed is powered off.]
"…Powered off?"
Shen Wan'er froze.
How was that possible?
Gu Yan… turned off his phone?
Just because she called him?
Her expression darkened, irritation bubbling up uncontrollably.
Why wouldn't he answer at such a critical moment?
The restaurant owner was clearly running out of patience. Left with no alternative, Shen Wan'er opened the LV bag Gu Yan had given her and slowly took out a small box.
She stared at it, reluctant.
This was the gift Gu Yan had given her just a few days ago—when he asked her to be his girlfriend.
She'd only worn it a few times, mostly to show off in front of her friends.
But now…
She opened the box.
Inside lay a dazzling diamond ring.
Wu Lili and Xie Baiwei's eyes widened instantly. They swallowed hard.
"Wan'er… is that a gift from Gu Yan?"
The jealousy in their hearts exploded.
They weren't worse than Shen Wan'er in looks or family background—so why was Gu Yan obsessed with her alone?
Damn it.
If Gu Yan had chosen them, maybe they would be the future Mrs. Gu by now.
Shen Wan'er nodded silently. She looked at the ring one last time, then handed it to the owner, her voice stiff.
"Boss… can I use this to pay?"
The restaurant owner took it, examined it briefly—and his eyes lit up.
Oh?
A Tiffany diamond ring.
"Miss, are you sure you want to use this as payment?"
He was secretly delighted. With one look, he could tell this ring was custom-made. It was definitely worth far more than the bill.
Seems like whoever was chasing this so-called 'socialite' was no small fry.
Shen Wan'er clenched her fingers.
She didn't have a choice.
All the jewelry she owned—gold, silver, diamonds—had been given to her by Gu Yan. Though she helped manage her family's business, those were company funds. She didn't have that kind of cash on hand.
If she wanted to leave, this ring was the only option.
"…Yes. Can we go now?"
She picked up her bag, her expression ugly.
Today had been humiliating from start to finish.
And it was all Gu Yan's fault.
If he had just answered the call and paid like before, she wouldn't have had to give up the ring.
The restaurant owner nodded, smiling again.
"Of course. You're welcome to come again next time."
Once outside, Wu Lili and Xie Baiwei immediately started fanning the flames.
"Wan'er, Gu Yan is way too much! Hanging up on you like that!"
"Exactly! You have to give him a proper talking-to!"
"If he dares not answer your calls again, I'd curse him out on the spot!"
"If you two really got together, he'd definitely bully you!"
Shen Wan'er's face grew darker with every word. Her fists clenched, her mood sinking fast.
Gu Yan had always been at her beck and call. Today's behavior left her feeling deeply unsettled.
She took a deep breath.
"…You're right, Weiwei. I won't pay attention to him anymore."
The two girls exchanged a glance, amusement flashing in their eyes.
—
The next morning, at the entrance of the Leng residence.
Leng Ling'er came out with her backpack slung over one shoulder, yawning.
"I'm so sleepy… so tired. Why do I even have to go to school?"
Mid-complaint, she suddenly thought of something. Her drowsiness vanished instantly. She looked around nervously.
When she saw that everything was exactly the same as usual, she let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Phew. Looks like that pervert actually listened."
"Yes! Crisis over!"
She giggled, hopped onto the flashy modified electric scooter parked nearby, put on her helmet, and zipped off toward school, cheerful and carefree.
Less than a minute after she left—
Click.
The door of a luxury car parked by the roadside slowly opened.
Gu Yan stepped out.
He watched Leng Ling'er's retreating figure, raised an eyebrow, and curled his lips slightly. Casually, he lifted a finger in her direction.
"Idiot kid."
Then he walked straight into the Leng family home, as naturally as if it were his own.
—
Inside the study.
Leng Qingqiu was doing what she did every day—improving herself.
Finance.
Biomedicine.
Management.
Book after book lay open around her.
Before losing her sight, Leng Qingqiu had been recognized as the most gifted woman in Jianghai City. Her IQ had once been measured at 260, causing an international sensation. Combined with her photographic memory, she was widely considered someone destined to stand at the very top of the world.
Which was exactly why, after she went blind, some felt pity—
But more felt relief.
In recent years, there'd been no news of her at all. Most people assumed she had grown decadent, resigned herself to darkness, and would live out a lonely life as a blind woman.
That was the illusion she deliberately created.
The enemy was hidden in the dark.
So she chose to disappear into the shadows as well—quietly absorbing knowledge, controlling pieces from behind the scenes.
After years of accumulation, she had already built an enormous hidden force.
She had even uncovered part of the truth about what happened back then.
For example—
The killer wasn't an ordinary person.
He was a warrior.
Thinking too deeply, a dull ache spread through her temples.
"…Haa. Time to rest."
Leng Qingqiu exhaled, leaning back in her chair, tilting her head slightly to ease the discomfort.
For years, she had woken up at four every morning, pushing herself relentlessly.
Not only for self-improvement—but also to secretly oversee key matters of the Leng Group.
After all…
She was the true person in control of the Leng Family.
Leng Xingan was merely the figurehead.
At the same time, she was quietly nurturing her own power.
What Leng Qingqiu didn't realize—
Was that the moment she tilted her head back—
Gu Yan was already standing right behind her.