Chapter 5
Chapter 5: A World-Class Unsolved Mystery
Ye Wan Lan did not bother replying.
She had barely logged out of WeChat when Cheng Qing Li’s call came through.
“Sister Lan, did you see it? Something’s seriously wrong!”
Ye Wan Lan put the phone on speaker and began straightening the bookshelf. “What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? Of course there’s a problem!” Cheng Qing Li sounded frantic. “Forget offending the Zhou Family—if you offend the Qin Family, you’ll be blacklisted in the modeling world!”
“Good.”
Ye Wan Lan smiled faintly. “I was planning to leave the industry anyway.”
Cheng Qing Li went silent, like she’d misheard. “Leave the industry? Are you insane?”
Ye Wan Lan’s face and figure were truly top-tier, and the modeling world did not demand acting talent the way entertainment did. Plenty of people would kill for her conditions.
Cheng Qing Li had even heard older colleagues say Ye Wan Lan fought tooth and nail to squeeze into the modeling scene. How could she just quit?
Ye Wan Lan did not answer directly. “Qing Li, have you ever thought about changing jobs?”
A month ago, after Sheng Yun Yi returned to the country, Huang Chi Entertainment cut off the Transmigrator’s resources to prove loyalty—then tossed her to Cheng Qing Li, the new hire the company was already sidelining.
The Transmigrator had chosen to leave Ye Wan Lan’s body because she had been driven into a dead end, with nowhere left to go.
But as far as Ye Wan Lan was concerned, as long as she was not dead, she could force a path through.
Cheng Qing Li’s voice softened, uncertainty creeping in. “Sister Lan…”
Ye Wan Lan said calmly, “Why don’t you keep working with me?”
Cheng Qing Li’s eyes stung. “If you’re leaving the industry, how am I supposed to follow you?”
“Leaving doesn’t mean I’m going to sit around doing nothing. I just don’t like being in the spotlight. I have other goals.”
Ye Wan Lan let out a soft laugh. “I need people. A lot of people.”
Cheng Qing Li blurted, “What goals?”
Ye Wan Lan said, “First, we set a small goal. Like earning one hundred million.”
Cheng Qing Li went quiet.
In the end, she reached a single conclusion: Ye Wan Lan had lost her mind.
The call ended.
Ye Wan Lan pulled a book from the shelf.
Its pages were yellowed with age, but it had been preserved extremely well.
She opened it—and at that moment, someone knocked.
Ye Wan Lan set the book down and went to the door.
“Uncle.”
“Since you’re home, you’re fixing all your bad habits.”
Lin Huai Jin strode in and swept his gaze over her. “If I catch you running back to Zhou He Chen again, I’ll break your legs.”
Ye Wan Lan answered obediently, “No problem, Uncle.”
She agreed so quickly Lin Huai Jin hesitated. “Your mental state…”
Something about the Ye Wan Lan in front of him was unsettling.
She was steady as a mountain—yet beneath that mountain, waves surged like a stormy sea. He could not tell when they might crash hard enough to shatter everything.
A quiet violence. Calm and savage at the same time.
Ye Wan Lan smiled. “I’m fine.”
This was a society ruled by law. She could hold herself steady. She was not going to kill people at random.
Lin Huai Jin rubbed the back of his neck. “I heard No. 1 High School recently hired a psychological counselor from Yun Jing. Supposedly they specialize in relieving student stress.”
He paused, then tried carefully, “How about… you go see them?”
Ye Wan Lan’s smile did not change. “Sure. Thank you, Uncle.”
Lin Huai Jin noticed the book lying open and let out a sigh. “You used to read this once a day. You practically wore it out.”
The page showed an old historical record:
“In Shen Zhou Year 1723, during the Yong Shun era, an unknown force invaded. Princess Jing’an was torn apart by chariots. Emperor Yong Shun hanged himself to protect the common people. Princess Yong Le burned herself to death in Yong Le Palace. The Ning Dynasty fell. History calls it the Wan Jun Zhi War.”
That disgraceful war left Shen Zhou more than a century behind the rest of the world.
Even now, no one—not even the world’s Strategic Research Institute—had ever identified the invaders from three hundred years ago.
It had become a world-class unsolved mystery.
Lin Huai Jin shook his head, sighing again. His eyes drifted to the qin in the room. “This has been sitting here forever. When are you going to play something, Ting Ting?”
Then he frowned. “Do you even know how to play the qin?”
Ye Wan Lan considered it. “When I’m killing someone.”
Lin Huai Jin stared at her.
This was not mild sickness. This was serious.
Killing with music—wuxia novels really had rotted her brain.
Lin Huai Jin pinched the bridge of his nose. “Tomorrow, you’re going to No. 1 High School to see that counselor. I’ll make the appointment. If things are bad, we’re admitting you.”
Ye Wan Lan nodded meekly. “Whatever you say, Uncle.”
“Your aunt…”
Lin Huai Jin stopped mid-sentence. In the end, he only turned and left.
The memory of how warm and happy they used to be made his chest ache.
How had a family ended up like this?
He did not dare hope they could return to the past. He only hoped his niece’s life could return to the right track—so he’d have an answer for his brother.
—
The next day, 8:00 a.m., River City First Hospital.
“A Xian still hasn’t woken up?”
Zhou He Chen stood outside the ICU, expression grim.
“Not yet.” The secretary kept his head lowered. “Miss Ye… Miss Ye hit him too hard. She…”
Two days had passed, and he still could not wrap his mind around it. How could that thin body contain such terrifying strength? She had beaten Qin Xian—who had trained boxing since childhood—so badly he was ruined.
“He Chen, that young lady Ye has gone too far.”
Madam Qin dabbed at her tears. “I know you spoil her, but look at what she’s done.”
Her gaze sharpened. “Let Auntie remind you—Yun Yi is back.”
“Auntie, don’t worry.” At the mention of Sheng Yun Yi, Zhou He Chen’s tone softened. “I’ll handle it.”
“That’s all I needed to hear.” Madam Qin’s voice turned pointed. “He Chen, some women like to play hard to get. Don’t fall for it. Auntie hopes you’ll get things settled before A Xian wakes up. Otherwise…”
If the Qin Family made a move, Ye Wan Lan would be skinned alive even if she survived.
Zhou He Chen said evenly, “I understand, Auntie.”
“Auntie. He Chen.”
A gentle voice interrupted.
Zhou He Chen turned. The tension between his brows eased at once, and a smile finally appeared. “Why are you here so early?”
“You haven’t been eating properly these past few days. I’m worried your stomach will act up.”
Sheng Yun Yi held out a thermal lunch box. “No matter how busy you are, you still have to take care of yourself.”
“Thanks for the trouble.” Zhou He Chen’s gaze softened. “Your hands are for painting. Don’t cook anymore.”
“Yun Yi is here.” Madam Qin clasped her hand warmly. “It’s been so long. You’re even prettier.”
“A Xian still hasn’t woken up?” Worry settled between Sheng Yun Yi’s brows. “How did it get this serious?”
Madam Qin sighed. “With you here, he’ll recover faster.”
Sheng Yun Yi nodded.
After staying a while, she rose to leave.
“I’ll walk you out,” Zhou He Chen said.
“No need.” Sheng Yun Yi smiled. “You’re busy. I’m going to the studio.”
Zhou He Chen glanced at the secretary. “Take Yun Yi back.”
“Yes.”
The secretary drove her out. At the next intersection, the light turned red, and the car slowed—stuck outside River City No. 1 High School.
The secretary’s eyes flicked to the side. His brows drew together.
In the rearview mirror, Ye Wan Lan was walking toward the gate.
He rolled the window down. “Miss Ye. Stop.”
His gaze was hard, threaded with ridicule. “Sir isn’t in this car. What are you following us for this time—trying to do something to Miss Yun Yi again? Why don’t you build up some virtue for yourself instead?”
The secretary watched her warily.
Sheng Yun Yi turned in surprise, but she never saw the girl’s face—only her passing the car and walking straight through the gates of No. 1 High School.
The secretary froze. “She isn’t…”
So she had not been tailing sir’s car at all?
His frown deepened. He lowered his voice. “Sorry, Miss Yun Yi. I overreacted. I was afraid she’d hurt you again.”
“It’s fine.” Sheng Yun Yi’s voice stayed gentle. “He Chen said she never went to high school. Why would she be going to the high school division at No. 1 High School?”
The secretary forced a small smile. “Maybe she wants to raise her education. But it won’t help.”
“It does help. A high school diploma is still better than middle school.”
“Of course, Miss Yun Yi. I heard you got into Harbor City Art University at sixteen. Truly admirable.”
“Everyone has their own strengths.” Sheng Yun Yi sighed. “He Chen likes classical music, but no matter what I do, I can’t learn it well.”
The secretary rushed to flatter her. “That’s not true. If it’s you, sir will like it either way.”
Sheng Yun Yi gave a faint smile and did not respond.
The light turned green. The car pulled away.