"Talking about this is pointless. You should go rest," Brother Qiang thought to himself. This woman is truly puzzling, alternating between being profound and childish. Such childish questions—how could she even ask them? He had no time to entertain such naivety.

"Mm, thank you, Brother Qiang." With that, Hua Yan felt the fiery pain in every inch of her skin.

Not long after returning to her pavilion, Jin entered with a complex expression, carrying hot water, while Shui brought a medicine box. They entered one after the other.

"Ouch, be gentle! Are you trying to kill me?" Hua Yan cried out like a pig being slaughtered. Jin paused in wiping her body, glaring at Shui, who was about to laugh, and her hands moved more ruthlessly.

"Jin, Sister Jin, I beg you, be gentle..."

In the Golden Triangle, after Hua Yan recovered, she became Brother Qiang's little follower every day. One in front, one behind—a perfect match, they became a notable sight at the armed base.

Meanwhile, in Haibin City, the news exploded: Asia-Pacific arbitrator Hu Li was engaged to Li Jiaojiao from the capital's influential Li family. Not only did Hu Li and Li Jiaojiao become the talk of the town, but Hua Yan also became a subject of speculation.

People said Hua Yan was abandoned by Hu Li after being played with; some claimed she had committed suicide out of love, while others said she had hidden away, heartbroken. The fairy tale of Cinderella marrying the prince shattered many Cinderella-like dreams and inflated the arrogance of the privileged daughters.

"Sir, you didn't eat lunch. I've reheated it for the third time. Please eat a little. I made zhajiangmian again," Aunt Chang worriedly looked at the dispirited Father Hua. She, too, wished she could devour Hu Li whole. How could he turn around and marry someone else when Hua Yan's life or death was still unknown?

Before the New Year, she had seen Father Hua as happy as a child, bouncing around with joy. When you're old, seeing your children find a lifelong partner is the greatest joy.

But not long after, Hua Yan disappeared, and Hu Li sought another woman. Indeed, people move on quickly. Hua Yan had been blind not to see the wolf in sheep's clothing.

"I can't eat, I can't eat... Ah, I wonder if Yan'er has enough to eat..." Father Hua's deep worry kept him sleepless and restless. Yesterday, a cautious neighbor had asked where Hua Yan was and why her fiancé, Hu Li, didn't visit often. Though the neighbor pretended it was a casual chat, the underlying mockery was unmistakable.

Though he didn't know why Hu Li was marrying someone else, such news couldn't help but upset him. The son-in-law he once valued had let him down. Could it be that hearts are truly so fickle?

"My daughter is missing, and others are moving on with their lives. How can I not be upset? Though I cannot judge others, as her father, I must plan for her future. To do that, my health is important."

"Aunt Chang, bring the food." Even if he couldn't eat, he had to force himself. He had to wait for his daughter's return.

"Coming," Aunt Chang replied, tears welling up but not falling as she hurried to the kitchen. She wiped her tears while scooping the noodles.

In a villa at the foot of the mountain, Hu Li had been holding a newspaper, reading it over and over. Hu Er, standing behind him, anxiously wanted to speak. Finally, he said, "Master, you've been sitting for hours. How about taking a walk in the back garden?"

"No need. Let's go to Muyun Pavilion."

"Ah, that's not a good idea. Father Hua will kill us..." Hu Er blurted out. Hu Li sat back down in silence.

His long inaction and engagement to Li Jiaojiao were part of his strategy. To develop Asia-Pacific, he needed to leverage certain forces. Since these people wanted certain things, he would give them what they wanted. But when to stop was not their decision.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

However, explaining this to Father Hua—would he understand? What would Hua Yan think if she knew? Would she get so angry that she would immediately return to confront him and beat him up?

Suddenly, Hu Li laughed. Hu Er was puzzled. What could make his master so happy? He hadn't seen him this way in a long time. Cautiously, he asked, "Master, what's making you so happy?"

In an instant, the smile vanished from Hu Li's face. He sighed and said, "Nothing, let's just go to Muyun Pavilion."

The car stopped by the roadside. Hu Er, noticing that his master had not moved for a long time, curiously asked, "Master, have you changed your mind? Father Hua hasn't noticed us. Should we go back?"

Hu Li glared at Hu Er, took a deep breath, and finally got out of the car. But just as he took a step, he stopped again. When he killed at six years old, he hadn't been this nervous. Now, he didn't dare to face Father Hua. The hesitation made him want to retreat.

Inside Muyun Pavilion, Hu Li only saw Aunt Chang, who immediately glared at him as if seeing an enemy and continued with her chores without a word.

Seeing his master being ignored, Hu Er felt indignant and wanted to explain, but Hu Li stopped him.

"Hello, Aunt Chang."

"Hmph," Aunt Chang snorted, continuing to ignore him.

Hearing Hu Li's voice from upstairs, Father Hua paused his descent and stood silently, listening to the conversation below. Aunt Chang continuously found faults, and Hu Li patiently endured. Father Hua noted all this, and some of his displeasure dissipated.

Suppressing his last bit of displeasure, Father Hua finally spoke, "Aunt Chang, who is it?"

Reluctantly, Aunt Chang shot Hu Li and Hu Er a deep, resentful glance before replying, "Sir... it's Mr. Hu."

Hearing this distant address, Hu Li felt a pang in his heart but suppressed it. When he saw Father Hua again, noticing the displeasure in his eyes, he couldn't bring himself to say what he had planned. "Dad..."

Father Hua's eyes darkened, and he sternly said, "I'm not your dad. Don't call me that again."

Hu Li wanted to explain, but Father Hua gave him no chance. "I don't know why Mr. Hu is here today. What is your purpose?"

"Dad, let me explain..."

"Explain? I only ask you this: if Yan'er were still here, would you do this? Where do you place Yan'er? How do you expect me to feel?"

"Dad..."

"Enough, I have things to do. I won't entertain you." With anger in his heart, Father Hua turned and went to his study.

"Dad..." Hu Li felt utterly dejected. He had so much to say, but it was all stuck in his throat, unable to be spoken. His longing for Hua Yan was something he couldn't share with anyone. He had hoped to have a heart-to-heart with Father Hua, but now he found himself treated like a stranger.

"Master, what happened? You came back so quickly," Hu Er anxiously asked when Hu Li came back down just minutes after going up.

"Let's go back," Hu Li replied, glancing at Muyun Pavilion one last time before leaving in a heavy silence. Upon arriving at the office, the secretary informed him that Li Jiaojiao was waiting in his office. Anger surged in his eyes as he strode into his private elevator.

In the office, Li Jiaojiao wandered around, touching everything. She had moved the photo of Hua Yan on Hu Li's desk into a drawer and replaced it with a crystal frame containing her own beautiful photo. Admiring the frame, she smiled, unable to get enough of her reflection.

Muttering to herself, she said, "See, now that you're nowhere to be found, you can't even keep a photo frame on this desk, let alone a young and energetic man. Hua Yan, you can never defeat me. Soon, I will be Hu Li's wife..."

"Li Jiaojiao, you're dreaming too far ahead!" Hu Li had heard every word. His veins bulged with anger, and he stormed into the room, glaring coldly at Li Jiaojiao.

Seeing the smile that had not yet faded from her face, Hu Li felt a surge of disgust.

Sitting back in his chair, Hu Li immediately noticed something different on his desk. Scanning the surroundings, he finally saw Li Jiaojiao's photo. She had brazenly replaced Hua Yan's picture. With a loud crash, he threw the frame at her feet, causing Li Jiaojiao to scream in terror.

Hu Er cautiously approached, seeing the photo of this oblivious woman. He initially wanted to calm Hu Li down to avoid further complications, but now he knew this woman wouldn't get away easily today.

Li Jiaojiao, crying, tried to elicit some pity from Hu Li, but instead, she was met with his roar, "Get out, get out!"

"You can't do this to me. I'm your fiancée..." Li Jiaojiao tearfully protested.

Hu Li, with a cruel and disdainful smile, stood up and looked down at Li Jiaojiao sitting on the floor, coldly saying, "Are you out of your mind? Our engagement party hasn't even happened yet...

You don't seriously think that just by having a title, you can compare to Hua Yan, do you? Hua Yan will always be the love of my life. You'd better behave, or neither of us will come out unscathed. Don't think for a moment that the shares your brother took from me can be taken so easily."

Hu Li had always wanted to deal with Li Dong. Now he had set a trap for him. The Li family thought they had found a great son-in-law and gained wealth.

When the time was right, the Li family's fate would be in his hands. He needed to dig an even bigger hole for them. The greedier they got, the faster they would fall.

"I've done nothing to wrong you. You can't treat me like this!" Li Jiaojiao's heart shattered into pieces. She couldn't believe Hu Li could be so cruel.

"You should know your place. Take your ugly photo and leave immediately." With that, Hu Li was done. His disgust was palpable, and he issued his final order to leave.