Chapter 73
Chapter 73: A Scheme Within a Scheme! Unbelievable
Lin Wei Lan didn’t stop Ye Wan Lan from a single word or action.
Six years ago, when Lin Huai Jin brought Ye Wan Lan back, Lin Wei Lan had already sensed something different in the twelve-year-old girl—something that didn’t belong.
Back then, Lin Wei Lan truly had intended to cultivate Ye Wan Lan into the next heir.
But the upheaval four years ago forced Lin Wei Lan to realize the world contained things beyond the ordinary—things she had never even touched.
Faced with the unknown, she didn’t dare move. She was terrified of triggering something worse. All she could do was observe.
Then, finally, the tide shifted.
Ye Wan Lan came back.
Four years without seeing her granddaughter, and yet Lin Wei Lan could still feel it—Ye Wan Lan was steadier than before. More mature. More unshakable.
She must have suffered much.
Lin Wei Lan sighed. The tenderness in her gaze deepened.
“Since you’ve finished with your questions,” Sir Luo said, checking the time with impatience, “where’s the Spirit-Congealing Grass? In three minutes, the deadline is officially over. I have better things to do than waste my time here.”
“No more questions,” Ye Wan Lan said calmly. “So of course we sign the supplemental contract first.”
She slid a document across the table. “Sir Luo, please.”
Sir Luo frowned. Something felt off.
Was this a trap?
He couldn’t sign a trap.
But when his eyes swept the room, he saw it: everyone except Ye Wan Lan and Lin Wei Lan looked tense, panicked, brittle with fear. Even Lin Wo Yu couldn’t hide it.
It wasn’t acting.
So it wasn’t a trap. Just desperate struggling at the brink.
“A supplemental contract?” Sir Luo’s heart loosened. He laughed. “Fine. If there’s no issue, I’ll sign.”
He flipped through it, scanning line by line, even shaking his head as he read.
There were no loopholes. In fact, it was nothing but benefit to him.
His last suspicion drained away. With exaggerated generosity, Sir Luo signed his name on Party A’s line.
“Contract signed,” he said, rapping the table. “Time’s up. Where is the Spirit-Congealing Grass?”
Ye Wan Lan didn’t hurry. She turned politely to Lin Wo Yu. “Aunt, please bring the flowerpot from the kitchen.”
“Huh?” Lin Wo Yu blinked, then nodded hard. “Okay.”
She moved quickly, almost running. Soon she returned carrying a pot covered in a black hood that hid whatever grew inside.
Ye Wan Lan lifted the hood.
A lush green plant appeared, the tips glowing faint blue.
A delicate fragrance drifted through the room. In the same instant, everyone felt it—a soothing comfort pouring straight into their spirit, pores loosening, the mind clearing as if wiped clean.
Sir Luo, who’d been smiling only a moment ago, shot to his feet.
The smile froze on his face.
His eyes widened until his pupils seemed to hold nothing but disbelief.
Spirit-Congealing Grass.
Top-tier quality.
Spirit-Congealing Grass was one of the rare herbs that couldn’t be convincingly faked. You didn’t need to taste it. You didn’t even need to inspect it up close. Your body knew.
But this was impossible.
Sir Luo’s face twisted. He reached out as if compelled, fingers straining toward the pot.
“Sir Luo,” Ye Wan Lan said gently, “this Spirit-Congealing Grass is exceptional. It’s worth eight figures. The buyer from the Global Center is still waiting.”
Her voice stayed soft. “Don’t touch it. Touch it wrong… and you might not even keep your life.”
“What eight figures?” Sir Luo roared, losing control. “It’s fake! Yours is fake!”
He looked almost feral. “How could you possibly have Spirit-Congealing Grass? Impossible!”
“You’re so certain we wouldn’t have it,” Ye Wan Lan said, unhurried, “because you cut off every channel the Lin Family had to obtain it.”
Her eyes lifted, calm and sharp. “And because someone is helping you—someone who wanted to force my grandmother back to the Lin Family main house.”
She tilted her head slightly. “But how can you be so sure?”
In a few lines, Sir Luo’s mental defenses shattered.
That was exactly how he’d judged it. That, and Madam Lin’s pleading.
Everything should have been in his hands. So when had it gone wrong—so catastrophically?
“Deal confirmed,” Ye Wan Lan said.
Her voice steadied the room like a knife resting flat on a table. “You pay ninety million and provide the Global Center buyer’s contact. We will deliver Spirit-Congealing Grass ourselves.”
Sir Luo’s forehead gleamed with sweat. He looked trapped. “No. You don’t get to—”
“Then you are committing commercial fraud,” Ye Wan Lan said lightly. “Aunt, call the police.”
Still reeling, Lin Wo Yu fumbled for her phone and dialed 110.
“Don’t!” Sir Luo barked, panic and fury mixing. “It’s such a small matter and you’re calling the police?”
Ye Wan Lan smiled, unbothered. “I’m a child. I only know how to use the legal knowledge I learned in class to protect myself.”
Sir Luo’s jaw clenched so hard it looked painful. “Fine. I admit it.”
His words came through his teeth. “I underestimated you. You really are impressive.”
Four ounces moving a thousand pounds.
Lin Wei Lan’s branch had actually produced such a terrifying junior.
He had to report this to the Lin Family main house immediately.
Ye Wan Lan’s expression didn’t flicker. “Good. Pay first.”
Sir Luo forced himself to breathe and pulled out a check with trembling fingers. “Spirit-Congealing Grass is coming with me.”
“Sir Luo,” Ye Wan Lan said, still perfectly polite, “what are you talking about? The contract clearly states we will connect directly with the Global Center supplier.”
She gestured toward the door. “You can leave now.”
“You—!” Sir Luo’s eyes went bloodshot. He’d never imagined she would trap him again even here.
Ye Wan Lan looked at Lin Wo Yu. “Aunt, keep the police on the line.”
“Enough!” Sir Luo spat, shaking with rage. “Fine. I’m leaving. I’ll remember you!”
He stormed out, heart trembling.
Ninety million—and he hadn’t even gotten to touch Spirit-Congealing Grass once.
Today, he’d finally learned what it meant to lose both the lady and the soldiers.
Inside the living room, Lin Qing Wen and Madam Lin stood frozen.
Lin Huai Jin’s mouth hung open. Something in him cracked—some long-held image of Ye Wan Lan shattering beyond repair.
Was this really his cute, weak, well-behaved niece?
“Mom,” Lin Wo Yu said, finally exhaling, “why didn’t you tell me? You scared me to death. These past few days I’ve been on edge. My heart’s been stuck in my throat.”
Lin Wei Lan smiled and patted her back. “You can’t hide anything. I couldn’t tell you. As for Huai Jin—there was no point. Everything shows on his face.”
Lin Huai Jin: “….”
He’d taken a hit for no reason. It hurt.
Lin Qing Wen and Madam Lin wisely stayed silent.
Especially Madam Lin. Her face looked worse than ever. She edged toward the stairs, light-footed, trying to slip away.
“Madam Lin,” Ye Wan Lan called, voice mild.
Madam Lin’s whole body stiffened.
Ye Wan Lan continued, “Do you know why I didn’t stop you? Why I let you go tell him we couldn’t find Spirit-Congealing Grass—why I let you worry yourself sick over it?”
Madam Lin whirled around, voice shooting up. “What are you talking about? When did I ever tell him anything?”
She tried to smother panic with volume, but it only made her shake harder.
Lin Wo Yu’s expression turned cold. “Second Sister-in-law… you went to him? You sold out the Lin Family?”
“Wo Yu, don’t listen to this filthy girl’s nonsense,” Madam Lin snapped, bluffing with empty courage. “I am Lin Family. How could I sell out the Lin Family?”
“Because only if you went to him,” Ye Wan Lan said calmly, “and acted like you couldn’t wait, would he believe even more that we truly had no Spirit-Congealing Grass.”
Her smile was almost gentle. “The Lin Family gaining this compensation… we have Second Aunt to thank.”
Madam Lin’s ears rang, as if thunder had exploded beside her.
She had predicted even that?
How?
Lin Wo Yu stepped closer, voice sharpening with each word. “You said we should advance and retreat together, but you betrayed the Lin Family behind our backs. What are you trying to do?”
“I—I…” Madam Lin stammered, unable to form a full sentence.
Lin Wei Lan’s voice cut through the room like ice. “Go upstairs. Confinement.”
Lin Yue and Lin Qin—who’d been sent away earlier and had only just returned—stood there, confused.
“Grandmother, you should rest,” Ye Wan Lan said. “Uncle, Wen Li—let’s go.”
“Huh?” Lin Huai Jin blinked. “Oh… okay.”
He followed Ye Wan Lan out, still dazed.
Lin Qin turned to her mother. “Mom, what happened?”
Lin Wo Yu exhaled, pressing a hand to her chest. “Today was all thanks to your cousin. If it weren’t for her, we’d all be moving out of the old residence right now.”
She still looked shaken. “She threw him off with a few lines and forced him to hand over a huge sum.”
Ninety million in liquid funds was no small number even among River City’s Five Great Magnate Families.
Lin Yue scoffed. “Mom, do you have to think that highly of her? Those few lines were just conning. She’s best at bewitching people.”
His tone turned sour. “Otherwise why would she have gone to be a stand-in? Why would she harbor thoughts of replacing Sheng Yun Yi?”
“Lin Yue!” Lin Wo Yu’s voice went hard—rare and sharp. “Don’t let me hear you say that again, or you’ll learn what consequences feel like.”
Lin Yue’s anger flared. “Mom, you’re biased! I’m going to tell Dad!”
“Fine,” Lin Wo Yu said unexpectedly. “Go. Stay with him for a while.”
Lin Yue’s eyes lit up. “You said it. No takebacks.”
His father wasn’t nearly as strict as his mother. That meant he could race openly.
Maybe he’d even run into that mysterious woman from Blade Pass.
Lin Wo Yu ignored him. “Qin Qin, let’s go upstairs and practice.”
“Coming, Mother,” Lin Qin said, snapping back and following her.
—
On the drive home, Ye Wan Lan received a message.
[Professor Yuwen]: My business trip ended early. My flight lands in River City tomorrow. You’re at No. 7 High School in River City, right? Excellent. I’ll go straight there to find you.