"Sister Rong, do you even know what you're saying?" Luo Qingxuan asked, exasperated.
She had a favorable impression of Jiang Che, but she wasn't as eager as Zhang Rong. Just listen to her! Talking about something so wild after only just meeting him?
"Of course." Zhang Rong nodded confidently. Jiang Che was not only handsome but also rich—a lethal combination for her! Besides, she had been divorced for years. Why not seek some excitement now?
"Unfortunately, Sister Rong, you won't have the chance. We're leaving tomorrow," Luo Qingxuan sighed, rubbing her temples. She looked visibly tired.
Despite her glamorous career as a singer, constantly traveling across the country was exhausting. She had long grown weary of this lifestyle, but she had signed a three-year contract with her company. With two and a half years remaining, she had no choice but to continue. If she refused to follow the company's touring schedule, she would face an astronomical penalty for breach of contract.
"Leaving?" Zhang Rong frowned. "No, this time we'll be staying in Jiangbei City for a while."
She had been traveling across the country with Luo Qingxuan for months and was completely drained.
"I'd love to stay, but will the company agree?" Luo Qingxuan spread her hands, her tone filled with helplessness. She had received a notice that morning instructing her to board a flight to Qingzhou the next afternoon for a performance.
"This time, since you took such a large endorsement fee from Jiang Corporation, the company is allowing you to take a vacation," Zhang Rong said with a smile. She had only learned this news that afternoon and hadn't yet shared it with Luo Qingxuan.
"Really?" Luo Qingxuan's expression was skeptical. She had a feeling Zhang Rong was messing with her.
"Of course it's true! Would I lie to you?" Zhang Rong playfully pulled at Luo Qingxuan's hair, feigning annoyance.
"Hehe, amazing!" Luo Qingxuan cheered. "I can finally get some rest!"
A Remote Island Overseas
On a deserted island far from civilization, Lin Fan bid farewell to Xiaoshan and embarked on his journey home.
Xiaoshan had used his connections to arrange a boat. Every time they needed to leave the island, he would notify certain individuals in advance. By the next day, these people would arrive with a cruise ship, ready to transport Lin Fan and his master off the island.
This arrangement made Lin Fan realize something—his master, Xiaoshan, was far from being a solitary figure. His hidden network and influence were beyond imagination.
As the island shrank into the horizon, Lin Fan's mind drifted to the past.
If that wretched woman, Liu Qiyue, hadn't framed him all those years ago, would he—once the proud young master of the Lin family—have ended up as a vagabond on the streets?
Yet, alongside his resentment, there was also a strange sense of gratitude toward Liu Qiyue. If not for her betrayal, he would never have met Xiaoshan, the man who changed his fate. Without his master's teachings, he would have been nothing more than a spoiled heir, living a meaningless life.
"Liu Qiyue, I'm back!" Lin Fan muttered, his eyes filled with determination. "This time, I will reclaim everything that belongs to me!"
He turned away from the deck and entered the yacht's cabin. Inside were people of different backgrounds—dark-skinned men from Heizhou, pale-skinned foreigners from Yingjiang, and others from Kyushu who shared his complexion.
Lin Fan approached one of the Kyushu natives and asked, "When will we reach Kyushu?"
"Mr. Lin, we're still 4,000 kilometers away. It'll take another three days," the man replied.
"Three days..." Lin Fan nodded before turning back to his lounge.
He planned to use this time wisely, familiarizing himself with the mysterious bottles and jars Xiaoshan had given him. They might prove useful when the time came.
Lin Family Manor, Jiangbei City
In a quiet bedroom, Lin Tiannan sat weakly in his chair.
"Tiannan, it's time for your medicine," Liu Qiyue said softly, approaching him with a bowl of herbal decoction. She spoon-fed him carefully, her expression gentle.
After drinking the bitter mixture, Lin Tiannan's pallid complexion brightened slightly, though only marginally.
Over the past few days, Liu Qiyue had been gradually increasing the dosage of his medicine. At this rate, he wouldn't have many days left to live.
As drowsiness washed over him, Lin Tiannan frowned in confusion. "Why do I feel so sleepy every time I drink this medicine lately?" He looked at Liu Qiyue suspiciously, his voice laced with doubt.
He had never felt this way before, but for the past two days, sleep would overtake him almost immediately after taking his medicine.
Liu Qiyue's smile remained gentle. "That means your condition is improving. Don't overthink it. If you're tired, just rest," she reassured him sweetly.
Of course, she wouldn't tell him the real reason—his sleepiness was a direct result of the increased dosage.
Lin Tiannan nodded, too exhausted to question further. His eyelids drooped, and soon, he was fast asleep.