I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.

To her, Jianfu Ling was the adulterer who betrayed Junmei Jiang during their marriage, the culprit who shattered her family; naturally, she hated him intensely.

But to Dongyan Ling, Jianfu Ling was his biological father.

When he spoke of the matter, it was as if mentioning a trivial issue unrelated to himself. As for Dongyan Ling’s wealth now, Xingyan Nie had no way of knowing.

Judging by his current demeanor, money seemed to have become the most insignificant thing to him.

Every gesture he made was filled with the contempt of someone in power.

If he could be so cold to his own father, what chance did she have?

Nie Xingyan firmly believed that a person’s character was best judged not by how they treated themselves, but by how they treated others.

Recalling her actions five years ago, she was not foolish enough to think Dongyan Ling had completely forgotten, that he would truly move on.

She could never defeat such a man.

Turning to look at Dongyan Ling, she saw him with legs stretched out and arms casually spread on the sofa, his gaze steady and serious—not joking at all.

The boy he had been five years ago had grown into a man capable of life and death decisions.

This realization steeled her resolve: some favors must not be taken lightly or accepted for free.

“Mr. Ling, I won’t comment on your family matters. Thank you for what you did today. I will repay this kindness. Goodbye.”

To her, Dongyan Ling was merely a pawn in the revenge plot against Junmei Jiang and Jianfu Ling five years ago. All love and hatred had ended at dawn.

There would be no future between them, so she hadn’t even said goodbye earlier.

They would never meet again.

With a soft “beep,” the voice-controlled door shut behind her. Leaning against the wall, Nie Xingyan took a moment to steady herself before leaving.

Inside the room, Yuan Mu was also stunned. He glanced at Dongyan Ling and pointed toward the door. “Third brother, you’re just going to let her leave like that?”

What was going on? After all the fuss, the heroic rescue, and sending him to buy this and that, just like that?

Dongyan Ling was incredibly composed.

His fingers flicked through the financial reports of Jianfu Jewelry over the past few years. Even when Nie Xingyan said she was leaving, he showed no reaction, as if he had already anticipated this outcome.

“What else could I do? It was a night full of tension—I didn’t want to scare her. Let her calm down first.”

The information that needed revealing had been revealed. Let her digest it slowly; he had all the time in the world.

Dongyan Ling’s shirt buttons were fastened all the way to his throat. If one looked closely, there were several red scratch marks on his neck, some even bleeding.

And those were just the visible ones; who knew how many more were hidden.

All those injuries were the handiwork of Nie Xingyan just now.

Yuan Mu was deeply regretful. If only he had taken a video with his phone of that scene, everyone could have seen how even the usually formidable President Ling was dominated by a woman.

“Third brother, should we call Dr. Liu to come and treat your wounds? In a few days, Youxing’s first domestic product launch will be broadcast globally. Everyone will be watching. If you appear like this on TV, it might not be appropriate.”

Dongyan Ling’s face was unblemished, but his neck injuries were serious. With such an important launch approaching, the president’s image was crucial; nothing could be neglected.

“No rush.”

...

Stepping out of the presidential suite on the highest floor, Nie Xingyan saw the night view outside the window and realized she was still in Jindi City.

The elevator was empty at first, but every few floors more people got on. Soon, it was packed.

“Did you see that? Today’s engagement ceremony was grand. Director Ling even gave ‘Heart of Flame’ as a dowry to Sisi Ling. What a lavish gesture.”

“Exactly. The grandeur of a wealthy family’s engagement is something to behold. So many luxury cars and celebrities showed up. I heard each table cost eighty-eight thousand yuan.”

The chatter and gossip never ceased as people came and went.

“Pfft, that’s nothing. Outsiders watch the spectacle; insiders see the scheme. Such a flashy engagement is surely to fleece the suckers.”

The elevator was crowded, with some admiring and others pouring cold water on the event.

Nie Xingyan felt weary and leaned against a corner, closing her eyes to rest.

“Fleecing the suckers?” Someone genuinely didn’t understand. “Marriages among wealthy families are all about appearances. How is that fleecing?”

“You don’t get it. I heard Pan-hai Real Estate hasn’t been doing well lately, and Jianfu Jewelry isn’t much better. With real estate and jewelry both sluggish, a big event like this is meant to stir up excitement. The suckers get tempted, enter the market, and then get fleeced—the money just flows in.”

That sounded reasonable. Someone else asked, “But didn’t Pan-hai recently acquire a new plot of land? Would they really need that small change?”

“You don’t understand. A friend of a friend’s neighbor works at the Development and Reform Commission and said the entire Huaibei Street area was sold to Pan-hai by the chairman’s wife of Jianfu Jewelry. It was for several hundred million, and apparently at a friendly price…”

Huaibei Street. Nie Xingyan jolted in shock.

...

At six in the morning, after a light rain, the mountain was shrouded in mist. The sky was just brightening, and the servants at the Ling family’s mid-mountain luxury estate in Clearwater Bay were already bustling.

Yesterday, the Ling and Qin families had officially formed an alliance through marriage. By tradition, Ling Sisi, the Ling family’s eldest daughter, would have breakfast with Qin Che at home. Preparations had been underway all night.

The iron gate outside the villa slammed repeatedly.

When the servants led Nie Xingyan into the Ling residence, the entire Ling family, along with Qin Che, was already having breakfast in the dining room.

Qin Che immediately noticed her and instinctively stood up but was quickly restrained by Ling Sisi.

Junmei Jiang and Ling Sisi were not surprised to see her; it was Jianfu Ling who looked shocked. Yet, being a seasoned businessman, he maintained his composed and courteous demeanor.

He quickly gestured for her to sit. “Mama Wang, bring another set of dishes.”

“I heard you went to Jindi City yesterday. Why didn’t I see you?” Jianfu Ling, unaware of last night’s events, made small talk.

Nie Xingyan ignored him. Having stayed up all night, starting her vigil here at dawn, her eyes were red and tired. She glared at Junmei Jiang with hatred. “You sold Huaibei Street?”

With a loud crash, Qin Che accidentally dropped his soup spoon, shattering it on the floor.

Junmei Jiang remained calm, sipping her bird’s nest soup with a trace of helplessness. “Xingyan, Huaibei Street was originally promised to me by Nie Xiangheng. Selling my own property isn’t illegal, is it?”

Nie Xingyan’s anger boiled over, her hands trembling uncontrollably as she spat, “How dare you say that? Was that really yours? Back then, my father was driven to desperation, begging you to sell Huaibei Street to save him, but you refused. He had no choice but to jump to his death. And now you sell it just like that?”

Back then, Nie Xingyan was still a child. Junmei Jiang had coaxed and deceived Nie Xiangheng into transferring the property rights of Huaibei Street to Nie Xingyan’s name. Secretly, she had already colluded with Jianfu Ling to sell it at a rock-bottom price as her legal guardian, effectively transferring assets during the marriage.

When the desperate funds were truly needed, Junmei Jiang cried and lied to Nie Xiangheng, claiming she was scammed in business and that Huaibei Street had long changed hands.

The truth was, over the years, this adulterous couple had been passing the money back and forth, amassing a fortune.