Chapter 37
Chapter 37: Ye Wan Lan: Uncle, If You’re Here, I Can’t Make a Move
Painting was Sheng Yun Yi’s lifeblood. No one was allowed to destroy it.
To stand firm in the Sheng Family, she would pay any price for resources, for opportunities, for improvement—anything that could sharpen her skill.
The Sheng Family favored sons. Worse, her mother wasn’t the first wife and had no powerful maternal family behind her. Even with a graduate degree from the Art Academy of the Xing Man Federation Empire, she still couldn’t receive the same treatment as her brothers.
At Sheng Family banquets, Master Sheng would praise her with a casual “not bad,” then move on—never offering real support.
Under her mother’s guidance, Sheng Yun Yi learned early how to weaponize sympathy. How to draw out empathy, twist it into pity, then turn that pity into advantage.
She’d succeeded.
Among River City’s elite circle, most of the younger generation put her first.
But it still wasn’t enough. She needed more—enough to truly plant her feet in River City. Only then could she go to Yun Jing and step onto a bigger stage.
“No, He Chen.” Sheng Yun Yi wiped her tears, voice low. “I… I don’t think we should call the police.”
She looked up, worried. “Miss Ye is your friend. She stayed with you for so long. I don’t want to make things difficult for you.”
Before Zhou He Chen could answer, Fang Qing Ya’s expression hardened. “No. We have to call the police.”
Fang Qing Han frowned. “Qing Ya—”
“If you don’t want Yun Yi dragged into it, then I will,” Fang Qing Ya cut in coldly. “I have nothing to do with Ye Wan Lan, but I won’t allow her to hurt Yun Yi.”
She lifted her phone and called. “Hello, I’d like to report a case. Ye Wan Lan destroyed a painting worth over a million that belongs to my friend. I have surveillance footage as evidence.”
Property damage over a certain threshold was enough to open a case. And “over a million” was massive.
The police officer on the line carefully recorded Fang Qing Ya’s name, phone number, and ID number, then asked for details and took a statement. If the evidence already proved a suspect’s involvement, a case could be opened immediately.
Fang Qing Ya hung up and turned back, anger blazing. “Yun Yi, don’t worry. Ye Wan Lan won’t get away. Last time you were kind and didn’t call the police. This time you can’t be soft-hearted.”
“Sorry,” Sheng Yun Yi whispered. “Qing Ya, I dragged you into this again.”
“It’s not trouble.” Fang Qing Ya’s voice softened, but her eyes stayed sharp. “We’re good sisters. Of course I help you.”
Then her anger surged again. “She didn’t hurt you this time, but you spent a whole month on that painting. That’s your sweat and blood. How is that supposed to be made up?”
Zhou He Chen had held his anger in for days. Now it spilled over.
Destroying Sheng Yun Yi’s painting—how dare Ye Wan Lan?
And then Xu Li spoke up, eager to add fuel to the fire. “Brother He Chen, didn’t I tell you? I saw her buying a bunch of art supplies at that shop near the academy gate. She must’ve planned to destroy Yun Yi’s painting, then step in herself and replace her.”
“Her?” Fang Qing Ya scoffed. “Paint? Please. A cheap imitation.”
“Yun Yi, stop crying.” Zhou He Chen bent down and wiped her tears with a tissue. His voice softened. “I’ll give you an explanation.”
Sheng Yun Yi gave a faint sound of agreement and lowered her head again.
“I’m going to the station to sign the confirmation,” Fang Qing Ya said, grabbing her bag. “You wait. I’ll be right back.”
She rushed out.
—
Downtown, at Wang Jiang Nan Chinese restaurant.
“A Lan, eat more fish,” Lin Huai Jin said, using the serving chopsticks to place a tender piece on Ye Wan Lan’s plate. “Good for your brain.”
Then he turned and served Lin Wen Li a slice of beef. “And you—eat more. You’re still growing. Protein.”
Lin Wen Li took a bite, expressionless. “He’s calling you dumb.”
Ye Wan Lan finished her fish, then smiled at Lin Huai Jin. “Uncle?”
“Nonsense!” Lin Huai Jin snapped, glaring at Lin Wen Li. “All this meat still can’t shut your mouth? A Lan, don’t listen to him. I meant you’ve been busy—using your brain a lot. You need to recharge.”
That brat was vicious. Ruining his reputation as an uncle.
Xu Pei Qing shook her head, watching the three of them bicker without interrupting.
Sunlight poured through the glass, filtered through branches, and cast mottled shadows across the table. For a moment, everything felt quiet and warm.
Then Ye Wan Lan’s phone rang.
She answered.
“Is this Miss Ye?” The police officer’s voice was gentle. “We received a report. The caller claims you may be connected to an incident involving the destruction of a painting.”
“Destruction?”
“The painter is Miss Sheng Yun Yi. The painting is valued at over a million, and surveillance footage does show you. We need to ask a few routine questions to confirm the facts.”
Ye Wan Lan’s expression didn’t change. “All right. I understand. I’ll come over now.”
She stood.
Lin Huai Jin’s brows knit. “A Lan? What happened?”
“Nothing,” Ye Wan Lan said lightly. “Someone walked straight into my net.”
She gave them a brief explanation. “Uncle, you don’t need to come. I’ll be back for dinner tonight.”
“How can I not come?” Lin Huai Jin surged to his feet, anxiety already rising. “If you go alone, won’t they bully you? They’re obviously framing you!”
Ye Wan Lan had only been at No. 1 High School for counseling. What did that have to do with any painting?
Half a month had passed, and Lin Huai Jin had started to believe she’d truly turned over a new leaf.
“Bully me?” Ye Wan Lan tilted her head and smiled. “Uncle, don’t come. If you’re there, I can’t make a move.”
Lin Huai Jin froze. “What?”
Ye Wan Lan was already walking out of the restaurant. She hailed a taxi and left.
The moment she disappeared, Lin Huai Jin’s anger boiled over. “Pei Qing, I can’t just sit here! Last time Zhou He Chen’s secretary ran his mouth right in front of you. This time they’re trying to force A Lan back with such a filthy trick!”
He couldn’t understand Zhou He Chen at all.
His “white moonlight” was back—what did he still need a stand-in for?
Xu Pei Qing’s frown deepened. “I’m afraid it isn’t that simple. You follow, and we might make things worse. I’ll contact Mom and Fourth Sister.”
“All right.” Lin Huai Jin grabbed his coat.
“Dad. Mom.” Lin Wen Li finally spoke, calm as ever. “I really don’t think you should go. Last time she came to pick me up, five bodyguards from the Qin Family blocked her. One minute later, all five had their arms and legs broken.”
Lin Huai Jin yelped. “What?”
Was that really his cute, fragile, obedient niece?
No way.
He must have misheard.
Xu Pei Qing went still too, remembering how composed Ye Wan Lan had been when she faced Madam Qin.
Maybe Ye Wan Lan didn’t need anyone’s protection.
“If you go,” Lin Wen Li continued evenly, “you might just become hostages they can use to threaten her.”
He said it like a weather report. “She said she’ll be back for dinner. Then she’ll be back.”
Lin Huai Jin hesitated, caught between pacing and sitting.
Xu Pei Qing exhaled slowly. “Wen Li’s right. We might make things worse.”
She thought for a moment. “Do this: call her every half hour. Make sure she’s safe.”
“Fine.” Lin Huai Jin forced himself to nod. “Then we’ll go to the old estate and tell Mom. If something happens, only Grandmother can back her up.”
Lin Wei Lan had left the main family in Yun Jing after she married, moved to River City, and built up her own businesses over the years. She’d never returned to Yun Jing once, and no one knew why she’d been cast out of the main family.
And yet—her guqin skill was exquisite beyond question.
Lin Huai Jin had always had a strange feeling: Lin Wei Lan wasn’t as ordinary as she looked. She had to be hiding something formidable.
Xu Pei Qing called the waiter to pack up the leftovers. Then the family drove toward the Lin Family old estate.
—
Twenty minutes later, Ye Wan Lan arrived at the location the police officer had given—Gui Yuan Residence.
She knew the villa compound. Back when the Transmigrator had occupied her body, she’d followed Zhou He Chen here more than once.
And yet, no matter how much the Transmigrator schemed, she’d never once managed to stay the night.
The front door stood open.
Inside the living room, two police officers were questioning Fang Qing Ya.
Ye Wan Lan walked in.
Silence swallowed the room.
She wore a modern Chinese-style blouse embroidered with bird-and-flower silhouettes, tourmaline beads set into the frog buttons. A linen long skirt fell below it, the black-and-gold pattern shimmering faintly under the sun. Baroque pearl earrings framed her face, and a jade bangle circled her wrist.
But her beauty was overwhelming. At first glance, people looked only at her face and forgot everything else.
Fang Qing Ye paused mid-drag of his cigarette, raising a brow. “Xu Li… was she always this pretty? How come I don’t remember?”
His relationship with Zhou He Chen wasn’t close. His only impression of Ye Wan Lan had been that she was Zhou He Chen’s pathetic stand-in—clingy, humiliating, forgettable.
But now…
Fang Qing Ye glanced at Sheng Yun Yi’s tear-streaked face, then back at Ye Wan Lan.
This was a stand-in?
He started to doubt Zhou He Chen’s taste.
“Qing Ye!” Xu Li bumped his arm and jerked his chin toward Sheng Yun Yi.
Seeing Sheng Yun Yi on the verge of tears again, Fang Qing Ye clicked his tongue. “Fine. Fine. I was talking nonsense.”
He didn’t like Sheng Yun Yi.
If anything, he preferred Qin Zhi from the Qin Family—and the mysterious racer girl. Aggressive. Bold. A real spark.
Ye Wan Lan didn’t look at anyone else. She nodded politely. “Officers, I’ll cooperate with the investigation.”
The male officer muttered under his breath, annoyed, “We’re the same age. Why am I getting called ‘Uncle’?”
“It’s routine questioning,” the officer beside him said, trying to ease the tension. “As long as it has nothing to do with you, you’ll be able to leave soon.”
“I understand.” Ye Wan Lan gave a small smile. “Thank you.”
Then she lifted her gaze to the people in the room. “Who called the police?”
Sheng Yun Yi bit her lip and started to speak. “I—”
“It was me.” Fang Qing Ya stepped in front of her, eyes sharp with hostility. “What? You’re going to glare at Yun Yi? You dare do it but not admit it? You dare say you didn’t tamper with that painting? You dare say you didn’t do it because you’re jealous of Yun Yi?”
Ye Wan Lan nodded slowly. “Fine.”
Her voice remained calm. “Then you’ll learn what happens when you file a false report.”