Huh?

Chen Yang was taken aback. He reached a hand toward Leng Lingyun and asked in confusion, "Young Master Leng, what's wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong!" Leng Lingyun waved his hands frantically. After taking a few deep breaths, he pulled himself up from the ground and cautiously asked Sun Yuli, "Yu, what did you just call him?"

"The Nine Gates Admiral!" Sun Yuli feigned confusion. "Yang was just promoted from Commander-in-chief and granted the title of Zhennan Prince."

Leng Lingyun was speechless.

"By the way," Sun Yuli continued, "you mentioned Uncle Leng has met Yang before. Did he not tell you that the Governor is named Chen Yang?"

Again, Leng Lingyun was left speechless.

In an instant, Leng Lingyun's face flushed deep red. He lowered his head slightly, clenching his teeth so hard he wished he could find a crack in the floor to crawl into.

What in the hell?!? Boasting in front of the Governor about his Leng Family being the top family in Lingjin City? Bragging that his father had met the Governor a few times? Advising Chen Yang to retire early and offering to find him a job? Right now, those words felt like a series of invisible hands, slapping him across the face. The stinging pain was searing hot!

"Young Master Leng, I've met my fair share of rich young masters in Lingjin City, but it's rare to find someone as warm-hearted as you! Come, let me toast you!" Chen Yang first poured a glass of wine for Leng Lingyun, then raised his own with a smile.

"I-I wouldn't dare!" Leng Lingyun waved his hands, cold sweat pouring down his back. But he didn't dare refuse the drink, so he picked up the glass with trembling hands.

Leng Lingyun held the glass with both hands, his posture incredibly deferential. He managed a sheepish smile. "G-Governor, I toast you! Congratulations on being ennobled as a prince."

Without waiting for Chen Yang to speak, he tilted his head back and downed the wine in one go.

"I've imposed on you long enough. I'll take my leave now!" Leng Lingyun carefully set down his glass, stood, and slunk away in disgrace.

The Nine Gates Admiral, the Zhennan Prince! I can't afford to offend him... I absolutely can't afford to offend him...

Only after he had stepped out the main doors did Leng Lingyun let out a huge sigh of relief. He hastily wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, only now realizing his shirt was soaked through.

He immediately called his father. The news of the Zhennan Prince's arrival in Lingjin City had to be reported at once.

Inside Zang Xiang Pavilion, Sun Yuli could no longer hold back.

PFFT!

She burst out laughing.

"That guy thought he could act all high and mighty in front of you, but he just got completely humiliated. It's hilarious!" Sun Yuli's smile was as radiant as a blooming flower, and she shook with laughter, her two dimples looking especially lovely.

"He was trying to make me back off by showing his superiority," Chen Yang said with a light chuckle, shaking his head. "Still, he doesn't seem like a bad person. He doesn't have many of the typical vices of a rich heir."

"He's okay, I guess! That's why my mom keeps trying to set us up," Sun Yuli said with a pout. "But I don't have any feelings for him, not even the slightest bit."

Chen Yang just smiled and said nothing more, mainly because he had no idea what to say.

Nearly two hours later, the two bottles of strong liquor were empty.

Sun Yuli was thoroughly drunk, so Chen Yang helped her into his car and drove her home.

In the car, Sun Yuli clung tightly to Chen Yang's arm. Despite her best efforts to control herself, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

She was a strong woman, a woman who loved to laugh, accustomed to burying her troubles deep in her heart and never letting them show. But at this moment, the heartache felt like an invisible pair of hands squeezing her heart, a pressure so intense it was suffocating.

It hurts so much! She had come to Lingjin City full of joy, never imagining this would be the final outcome. Yang was still the same Yang, but now he was someone else's husband. So what about her? Heh... Why does fate have to be so cruel?

Chen Yang drove in silence. He could clearly feel the hot liquid seeping through his sleeve onto his skin.

But...

Sigh...

Fortunately, they soon arrived at the Sun Family estate.

As the car stopped, Sun Yuli lowered her head, letting her long hair hide her face, the tear stains, and her swollen eyes. She said playfully, "Yang, I have a month off. I'll call you another day."

"Okay," Chen Yang nodded.

Sun Yuli got out of the car. Before closing the door, she said, "Yang, I had a great time today. Thank you."

She knew that for him to come out for dinner tonight, he must have been under a lot of pressure.

Then, she turned and walked through the gates of the Sun Family home.

The corner of Chen Yang's mouth twitched. He lit a cigarette, rolled down the window, and smoked in silence.

Sun Yuli was different from Zhou Yufei. When it came down to it, he did have a glimmer of feelings for Sun Yuli, but now he had to be the one to snuff them out.

As the cigarette burned down to its filter, the MPV's taillights flared to life before it slowly faded into the distance.

Inside the Sun Family gates, Sun Yuli squatted in a corner, her head buried between her knees, sobbing hysterically.

A lavishly dressed woman stood not far away, her gaze as cold as ice. She gave a clipped order to a nearby servant, "Investigate him! I want to know who that damned man is! Also, arrange a time to meet with him. I want to see him!"

The servant nodded hastily. "Yes, Madam!"

Only then did the woman walk over to Sun Yuli. She crouched down and gently pulled the girl into her arms, her face a mask of heartache, her eyes filled with doting love.

...

It was late at night when Chen Yang returned home.

The living room light was on. Qin Qiu sat on the sofa, a magazine in her hands, though she kept glancing up at the wall clock.

When she saw Chen Yang's car pull in, she put down the magazine, went upstairs, and entered her room.

Standing by the door and watching her retreating back, Chen Yang's lips curved into a small smile.

「The next day.」

It was the weekend. After breakfast, Qin Qiu went to the construction site. Work on the factory for the anti-cancer drug was already underway.

Luo Sulan and Qin Mo went out for the day.

Before leaving, Luo Sulan instructed Chen Yang, "Clean the house thoroughly, inside and out. If I come back and find it's not clean, you'll be sorry! And prepare dinner!

"The Qin Family doesn't support freeloaders!"

With those words, Luo Sulan sashayed away.

Chen Yang rolled his eyes. He hired a housekeeper to do the cleaning, then arranged to meet Yang Hu at the orphanage.

At the orphanage entrance, Yang Hu grinned. "Boss, I found two master craftsmen to rush the coffin out last night. The material and the workmanship are both top-notch! It's just a little heavy!"

"It's not like you're planning to carry it yourself, are you?" Chen Yang chuckled before his tone shifted. "Winter is coming. Go check if the orphanage's heating is working and if they have enough warm clothes."

"You got it!"

Inside the orphanage, Chen Yang took a walk and found Shanshan, the little girl who had been bullied by the shrewish woman. After a few days, the swelling in her small hands had gone down considerably.

"Uncle, I missed you so much!" The little girl was beaming. She pulled a crumpled drawing from her pocket, carefully unfolded it, and held it out to Chen Yang. "Uncle, this is for you!"

The picture showed an amusement park in the background, where an adult was holding hands with a little girl in pigtails. Judging by how wrinkled the paper was, she must have drawn it a while ago, waiting for Chen Yang to visit.

"Thank you, Shanshan!" Chen Yang scooped her up into his arms. "How about I take you all to the amusement park later today?"

"Yay!" Shanshan squealed with delight and planted a kiss on Chen Yang's cheek.

Just then, a tall, thin man in simple clothes walked toward them. "You... you're Chen Yang?" His expression was a mixture of surprise, delight, and utter disbelief.

Nearby, a young woman in a red dress with long, wavy hair approached, arm-in-arm with a man.

"Huh? I-is that Chen Yang?" the woman asked, equally surprised.

Chen Yang turned his head slightly. With a deep look in his eyes, he broke into a grin. "Qiangzi. Ruolan. Long time no see."

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