Chapter 23
Chapter 23: Because She Was Born Against the Grain
In Xu Pei Qing’s mind, there was only one person who could drag Ye Wan Lan out in the dead of night.
Zhou He Chen.
Her eyes turned colder.
Ye Wan Lan had lasted longer this time. Xu Pei Qing had watched her grit her teeth and endure.
But not even half a month had passed before she’d thrown herself back into Zhou He Chen’s arms again. Disappointment settled heavy in Xu Pei Qing’s chest.
Ye Wan Lan paused.
“Don’t bother looking,” Xu Pei Qing said, voice clipped. “Huai Jin went on a business trip today. He won’t be back. Wen Li is at a three-day training camp. Tonight it’s just us.”
Xu Pei Qing knew Lin Huai Jin was soft-hearted. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have forgiven Ye Wan Lan again and again.
As for Wen Li—his classmates mocked him as an ice-carved poker face, but he was cold outside and warm inside. During those four years, Ye Wan Lan had tricked him out of his allowance more than once. He’d ended up living on steamed buns and free soup from the cafeteria.
Four years had battered both of them raw.
Xu Pei Qing wouldn’t let Ye Wan Lan hurt them again.
Ye Wan Lan didn’t flinch. She even looked unusually obedient. “No, Aunt. I went racing.”
Xu Pei Qing froze. “Racing?”
“Yes. Racing.” Ye Wan Lan slipped off her jacket. “Last time, I asked Grandma for a company. The company needs people. I need someone who understands embroidery—an intangible-heritage artisan.”
Her voice stayed steady, as if she were reciting a plan. “You can only meet him if you take first place at Little Gold Mountain. We’ll meet again tomorrow. If you’re worried, you can come with me.”
Xu Pei Qing studied her for a long moment, searching for a lie.
In the end, she said nothing. She turned and walked into her bedroom. The door shut.
Ye Wan Lan stood still for a beat, then went to her own room.
A bottle of milk sat on the table.
She stared at it, then reached out as if it might vanish the moment she touched it.
The milk was warm—not scalding, not cold. Just right.
Xu Pei Qing’s habit.
Back when Lin Huai Jin had first brought her home, there had been warm milk every night.
In that moment, Ye Wan Lan’s killing intent toward the Transmigrator who had stolen her body for four years rose to its peak.
Why could someone seize another person’s life and walk away without paying any price?
Was it truly heaven’s protection?
Too bad.
She was born with rebellion in her bones.
If heaven sent mountains and ravines to imprison her, then she would trample ten thousand mountains and split the sky itself.
Ye Wan Lan lowered her lashes, twisted off the cap, and drank the warm milk slowly.
The night was quiet. The galaxy burned bright.
That same night, news ripped through River City’s racing circle:
A mysterious female racer appears at Little Gold Mountain. Blade Pass becomes reality.
The shockwaves didn’t stop.
Lin Yue loved racing too, but Lin Wo Yu kept him on a short leash. He was still a few months from adulthood, so he could only sneak out when he dared.
“Sister, you don’t get it!” Lin Yue nearly vibrated in his seat at breakfast. “Blade Pass on Death Curve—do you know what that means to people like us?”
He waved his hands wildly. “It’s like if, out of nowhere, someone in your guqin circle played the complete ‘Formation-Breaking Tune’!”
Lin Qin glanced at him. “Impossible.”
Among Shen Zhou’s ten famous classical pieces, only three had survived intact.
“Formation-Breaking Tune” was incomplete. It couldn’t be restored.
“Exactly!” Lin Yue leaned forward, eyes shining. “That’s why I have to go see it in person—ow!”
He clutched his head. “Mom, why’d you hit me?”
“Eat.” Lin Wo Yu’s tone was light, but her eyes were sharp. “If I catch you sneaking off to race instead of resting, I’ll break your legs.”
Lin Yue went stiff. He lowered his head and ate, obedient as a kitten.
Lin Qin was already thinking about the guqin.
“Sister,” Lin Yue muttered suddenly, “good thing Ye Wan Lan doesn’t come back to the Lin Family every day to cling to Grandma. I don’t want to see her.”
He grumbled, “You never know what tricks she’ll pull next. Grandma’s already been completely fooled.”
Lin Qin didn’t answer.
But two hours later, when she spotted Ye Wan Lan on the street, she thought Lin Yue might actually be cursed.
Lin Qin didn’t even have time to turn away before Lin Wo Yu noticed Ye Wan Lan too.
“A Lan?”
Ye Wan Lan turned. Lin Wo Yu was carrying a foldable shopping basket. Ye Wan Lan nodded politely. “Aunt.”
“Why are you out alone at this hour?” Lin Wo Yu walked over, smiling. “Come to the old house for lunch. Do you like cola chicken wings?”
Before Ye Wan Lan could respond, Lin Qin cut in, impatient. “Mom, let’s go. I still need to practice.”
“It’ll only take a second.” Lin Wo Yu patted Lin Qin lightly. “Qin Qin, you go ahead.”
Then she turned back to Ye Wan Lan. “A Lan, when you come back, have your uncle tell me in advance. I’ll make soup for you.”
“I will.” Ye Wan Lan’s smile was polite, controlled. “Thank you, Aunt.”
Lin Wo Yu watched her, quietly perplexed. A daughter so well-behaved, so sweet… she didn’t feel like her brother’s child at all.
Her brother, when he went mad, could punch a hole in the sky.
“There’s some money on this card.” Lin Wo Yu slipped a card into Ye Wan Lan’s hand, careful and quick. “Take it. Your life is just beginning. Forget the past.”
“I know.” Ye Wan Lan nodded. “I’ll visit you another day, Aunt. I have business today, so I won’t go to the old house.”
“All right. Go.” Lin Wo Yu nodded, but her confusion deepened.
Business?
With whom?
Lin Qin’s jaw tightened. “Mom, why are you talking to her so much?”
Lin Wo Yu sighed softly. “Your grandmother said A Lan has had it hard. And in River City, those five great families aren’t easy to deal with.”
Lin Qin’s face stayed blank.
Not easy to deal with?
Wasn’t Ye Wan Lan the one who insisted on provoking them?
Anyone with dignity wouldn’t become a stand-in.
“Qin Qin,” Lin Wo Yu said again, “you and A Lan are the same age. If you have time, you can hang out.”
She added, “She’s Lin Family, and she’s a daughter. Sooner or later she’ll have to learn Heavenly Music techniques. When that happens, you can teach her. One more person means our chances of returning to the main family increase.”
Lin Qin didn’t reply.
In her mind, there was no universe where she and Ye Wan Lan could be friends. Ye Wan Lan probably didn’t even know how many strings a guqin had.
—
Thirty minutes later, at the Lang Ting Hotel.
With Jiang Xu Lin leading the way, Ye Wan Lan arrived at a private meeting room on the 77th-floor penthouse level.
“My aunt agreed to see you,” Jiang Xu Lin said, one hand in his pocket, wearing that lazy, roguish grin. “But she’s giving you five minutes.”
He tilted his head. “I know my aunt. If you can’t satisfy her in five minutes, she won’t ever meet you again.”
“That’s enough,” Ye Wan Lan said simply.
“Then I’ll wait for the good news.” Jiang Xu Lin stretched, yawning. “I’m going to pick up my sister.”
Ye Wan Lan nodded.
She entered the private meeting room. Quan Zhao Ning’s special assistant stepped out, shut the door, and stood guard.
Jiang Xu Lin ambled toward the elevators, still yawning.
Ding.
The elevator doors slid open.
Zhou He Chen stepped out in a black suit and walked straight toward the meeting room.
“Sir Zhou, please wait.” The special assistant moved to block him. “President Quan is discussing important matters with a client. You can’t go in right now.”
Zhou He Chen glanced at the closed door. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Oh? Someone got here before me?”
He took a step forward. “If it’s an acquaintance, I can go in and say hello.”
He didn’t slow down.