Guided by Li Jiaojiao, Hua Yan and her team quickly arrived at the back entrance of a five-star hotel. A waiter was already waiting nearby. They entered through the cargo passage and reached a room on the fifth floor at the corner.

The waiter whispered to Old Yang, "They've been given the secret drug. You can go in now."

Old Yang nodded and instructed Wu Lin and Li Jiaojiao, "You two stay outside. Hua Yan, come with me." He swiped a card and pushed the door open. Once Hua Yan had also entered, the waiter closed the door behind them.

Outside, Wu Lin glanced at Li Jiaojiao, who was pouting, with a disdainful smirk. Old Yang had left him there not to avoid him but to keep an eye on Li Jiaojiao.

"This room is quite spacious," Hua Yan remarked casually.

"Yes, you'll have to work hard," Old Yang said, gently patting her head with a touch of affection.

Hua Yan smiled lightly and looked at the four or five people lying on the large bed. "They won't suspect anything when they wake up tomorrow?"

"No, once we leave, someone will perform deep hypnosis on them. When they wake up, they will only remember what the hypnotist has implanted. This time, the drug is a success; there's no need to worry. Let's begin; time is limited."

Hua Yan nodded solemnly and began to expand her perception, using her abilities to scan every corner of the large room. As time passed, she became increasingly disheartened; she couldn't find any trace of the confidential documents.

They had hoped they wouldn't find anything, so Li Jiaojiao wouldn't benefit. However, realizing they had found nothing left them equally frustrated.

"Still nothing?" Old Yang frowned.

"No, it seems it's not here. We should head to Donghai. We've used up most of the time Old Qiao allotted us; we don't have much left. We need to move quickly."

"I'm not sure if this is our misfortune or Li Jiaojiao's," Old Yang said wryly. Hua Yan also smiled helplessly as they left.

Back at their place, Li Jiaojiao, knowing they hadn't found anything, preemptively suggested leaving before Old Yang and the others could say anything. Old Yang and his team were naturally pleased. Thus, Li Jiaojiao, who had been just tagging along, left.

Hua Yan and the team then set off for Donghai and soon returned to the capital. They finally retrieved the confidential documents, though the documents had been swapped. The three parties involved had no idea the items had been replaced. Old Yang mentioned they would play the long game to catch the bigger fish, so they would let them go through some trouble before leaving the mainland.

In a distant manor abroad, Cheng Wei and Cheng Cheng sat facing each other, their expressions grim. Cheng Wei's greying temples were particularly striking. Seeing his father's state, Cheng Cheng felt pained but didn't know what to say. Their power in the mainland couldn't be flaunted, and it was understandable that the confidential documents couldn't be sent out.

"When will the items arrive?" Cheng Wei asked with a complex tone.

Cheng Cheng understood his father's conflict. He hoped the items could be sent out to justify his actions. But at the same time, his father secretly wished they wouldn't fall into foreign hands. "Smoothly, they should arrive around the Chinese New Year. There's been no change in Second Brother's situation; Old Yang from the Third Department is still looking after him. Hua Yan is also staying with him."

"Did they get any doctors to treat your second brother?" Cheng Wei asked uneasily.

Cheng Cheng felt conflicted. Word was that Hua Yan had sought a master-level foreign doctor to treat Cheng Xiang. If it weren’t for her, those in the mainland might not have been so attentive to his treatment. As long as Cheng Xiang had a breath left, he could be used as leverage to lure the Cheng family. "Father, don't worry. They've found doctors to treat Second Brother. You know Hua Yan appears unfeeling, but she has a soft heart. Second Brother is well cared for."

Although Cheng Cheng might be exaggerating and not telling him everything, seeing his relaxed expression assured Cheng Wei that his second son was indeed being well taken care of. "Didn't you say that the young master of the Hu family in Germany has announced his intention to marry Hua Yan? Is that true?"

"It's true. I've had people verify it. Currently, that young master is in Haibin City. I heard their Asia-Pacific expansion is going very well. The Hu family has even extended an olive branch to us. What do you think, Father?"

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"Cooperation is possible. Though their family is powerful, our foundation is also solid. Initially, I thought their large family had many enemies, so I hesitated to cooperate. Now, I hope to use the Hu family to get your second brother out of the country. As for Hua Yan, I still need to avenge your second brother's shooting. If it weren't for her, how would your second brother have been shot and turned into a vegetative state in the mainland?" Cheng Wei's tone grew colder, sending chills down those who heard it.

Cheng Xiang's injury and vegetative state were partly his own doing, but Cheng Cheng, having no fondness for Hua Yan, didn't mention that. He fully supported his father's intention to punish her. "Father, you intend to negotiate with the Hu family to leverage their power to get Second Brother out of the country and capture Hua Yan?"

Cheng Wei looked at Cheng Cheng with approval. "Yes, you also mentioned that the Hu family is not fond of Hua Yan as a daughter-in-law. I believe they would be more than happy to hand her over to us. Inform the Hu family of our intentions tomorrow and discuss the details with them."

"But I heard that Hu Li is not an ordinary person; he's quite formidable. Are we underestimating him?" Cheng Cheng, who had been closely following domestic news, paid even more attention to the Hu family’s affairs due to their potential cooperation. He was well aware of Hu Li’s capabilities.

"No matter how capable he is, he cannot compare to his father. Just follow my instructions," Cheng Wei said decisively.

Just as Cheng's mother called them to eat, their conversation was interrupted. Back in the capital, Hua Yan immediately took a comfortable bath and slept deeply upon returning home. After a night and a day, she woke up to find the house filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year.

Since the day before their return, Lao Hei and the others had thoroughly cleaned the house from top to bottom. They had also picked out window flowers and door gods, which were ready to be put up on the 29th. The whole family was dressed in new clothes sent over by Hu Li, and tobacco, alcohol, and drinks had been delivered by Hu Er.

When Old Yang stepped out, he was quickly surrounded by old friends from the military district, who chatted with him. During the conversation, they frequently praised his good fortune in having a son-in-law like a son. Old Yang was so pleased that he couldn't stop smiling, even in the cold weather.

At home, Da Pang had already started marinating the chickens and ducks. Yellow millet flour was also prepared, ready to make fried cakes to satisfy Hua Yan's cravings. Lao Hei, along with the guards, had cleaned up the animal pens in the yard, and the dead branches and leaves were nowhere to be seen. Everything was ready for New Year's Eve. However, Hua Yan felt a small regret in her heart—her father, being far away, couldn't be counted on, and Hu Li wouldn't be able to spend the New Year with her either.

While Hua Yan was troubled by this, Hu Li was also becoming increasingly agitated each day. Every day he returned home to find his mother, who had moved into his villa, bringing in large bags of clothes and accessories. Seeing the empty, cold villa made him think of the interesting stories Hua Yan had told him about her past New Year's celebrations.

The more he thought about it, the more restless Hu Li became in the living room. But seeing his mother joyfully arranging her new clothes and jewelry, he held back. After all, he couldn't really leave his mother home alone. In the end, he could only sigh and call Hua Yan in the evening to alleviate his longing.

On the 29th, Hua Yan didn't sleep in. She woke up as soon as the sunlight shone through the curtains. After washing up, she went downstairs and saw Old Yang carrying hot water to Cheng Xiang's room. Her joyful heart turned sour, and she followed to help. Together, they changed Cheng Xiang into new clothes, hung up good luck charms, and stuck up the character "Fu" in his bedroom. The once clear and faintly medicinal-smelling room immediately took on a more festive atmosphere.

Cheng Xiang's face also appeared much rosier. Hua Yan and Old Yang were delighted to see this and then enjoyed a delicious breakfast prepared by Da Pang, consisting of shrimp porridge, corn cakes, pickled cabbage, pickled small peppers, and a plate of smoked beef. They ate with much chatter and laughter.

After breakfast, Hua Yan joined Lao Hei and Da Pang in putting up good luck window decorations and door gods. Lao Hei also hung large red lanterns on the main gate and the house doors.

The red lanterns swayed in the wind, making the courtyard look even more festive. Though they were busy like spinning tops all day, the family sat on the large sofa after dinner, chatting intermittently and resting.

"Tomorrow afternoon, I'll start stewing the meat, but when we make dumplings in the evening, Xiao Yan, you'll have to help. Otherwise, there are too many people eating and too few making them. Even if I had three heads and six arms, I couldn't fill all your stomachs," Da Pang said, his chubby face trembling as he spoke with a frown.

Lao Hei glared at the jesting Da Pang without saying a word, but he mentally set aside time for the next evening, planning to lend a hand. After all, besides Hua Yan, the men had quite the appetites.

Hua Yan and Old Yang laughed, assuring Da Pang they would help the next evening. Except for the guards who couldn't leave their posts, on the second night, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of meat, and around the long table, Hua Yan and Da Pang prepared dumpling wrappers while Lao Hei and Old Yang wrapped dumplings. They had a television nearby, watching the Spring Festival Gala as they worked.

"The gala looks grand and beautiful, but the content is rather bland. It's quite boring," Old Yang said regretfully.

"Yes, but if there were no gala, we'd miss it," Da Pang replied, his hands never stopping while his eyes remained glued to the TV. Hua Yan admired his ability to multitask.

"Why isn't Xiao Yan saying anything?" Lao Hei asked, noticing Hua Yan focused on making dumpling wrappers.

"I don't have Da Pang's multitasking skills."

"Admire me, huh? Not everyone has this talent," Da Pang boasted, puffing out his chubby chest. Before he could finish, Lao Hei, annoyed by him, reached out and smeared some flour on his face.

In an instant, flour drifted like light rain around the long table as Da Pang and Lao Hei continued to playfully smear each other with it. Their noisy and joyful laughter echoed throughout the house.