Upon hearing the news, Hua Yan became overwhelmed, realizing that things were spiraling out of control. Li Dong was abusing his power, using government departments to harass Feicui Carnival repeatedly.

Finally, she decided to have Gao Ruqing tell Li Dong that the warm jade was not his, and due to a confidentiality agreement, he had kept this a secret. Although Li Dong might find out that the warm jade belonged to Hua Yan, he would not realize that she was Gao Ruqing's business partner, which would hopefully save Feicui Carnival from trouble.

Soft pastoral music filled the cozy café. Hua Yan checked her watch; Li Dong was already late. This indicated that Li Dong was neither a considerate man nor one who cared about societal norms. Finally, he arrived ten minutes late.

Seeing that his meeting was with a young woman, Li Dong was momentarily surprised. Both skipped formalities and got straight to the point.

"My name is Li Dong. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"I'm Hua Yan. It's a pleasure to meet you as well."

"I've heard that the warm jade belongs to you?" Li Dong stared into Hua Yan's eyes, searching for signs of panic.

"It's mine, but I just found out someone wants to take it from me," Hua Yan replied, meeting his gaze without flinching. The tension between them thickened, as if the air itself could ignite with a single spark.

"I plan to buy it, not just take it," Li Dong said, maintaining his composure.

"So, Mr. Li, you want to buy my warm jade?"

"Yes, I'm willing to pay a high price for it."

"Since it's a transaction, let's follow the rules of commerce."

"That's fine." Li Dong felt a glimmer of satisfaction, thinking the warm jade would soon be his.

"A transaction follows the principle of mutual consent. No matter the price, I don't want to sell. So, Mr. Li, I'm afraid this trip was in vain."

"What?" Li Dong was caught off guard by her sudden change. His patience started to wear thin, and his face twisted in anger, feeling he had been played.

Li Dong's expression darkened, and he whispered menacingly, "Miss Hua, are you being naive? Once I set my sights on something, I won't give up. You must sell the warm jade to me, or there will be consequences. The city of the dead will have another ghost, and the moat will hold another corpse."

Li Dong, well-versed and influential, made his threats even more intimidating. Hua Yan stayed silent for a moment before saying, "Since we can't reach an agreement, I'll take my leave."

Li Dong didn't respond, just stared into his coffee. Hua Yan left the café and took a taxi to see Old Yang, knowing she needed to prepare for what was coming.

Old Yang was waiting for her, having closed his shop for the day. "I recorded your conversation. From what I see, Li Dong won't let this go. Soon, all your personal information will be in his hands. You and your family will be in danger."

Hua Yan drank two large glasses of water to calm her nerves. Talking with Li Dong had been exhausting, his presence so overpowering. Old Yang's words echoed her own fears. The situation was precarious.

"Li Dong's power is significant, but if the situation gets too big, drawing the attention of higher authorities, might that actually make things safer?"

"Your plan has merit. If you were an ordinary person, no matter how much noise you made, you couldn't reach the top."

Hua Yan pondered and said, "You mean I should reveal my identity as a special abilities warrior to the authorities? With Old Qiao's support, they would take notice?"

Old Yang smiled approvingly. "Yes, but the downside is you might never be able to leave the special abilities team and could be tasked with many dangerous missions. Unlike now, where Old Qiao can protect you."

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Hua Yan toyed with her water glass for a while. She valued her freedom, but reality often forced her to compromise. To protect her family and her belongings, she needed to grow stronger and be taken seriously. "Alright, let's proceed with your plan. It's best if my name reaches the higher-ups before Li Dong makes his move."

Returning to Mu Yun Pavilion, night had fallen. Hua Yan saw Hu Li in black, standing under the lamplight, looking her way without moving. Though she couldn't see his expression clearly, an ominous feeling crept into her heart.

As she approached, seeing the hurt and pain in Hu Li's eyes, she asked worriedly, "Hu Li, what's wrong?"

Hu Li seemed to struggle to speak, his lips heavy. After a while, he said, "Xiaoyan, do you truly see me as someone you love? Why haven't you told me about your troubles? We've been meeting these past few days, but you never mentioned anything. I've been waiting for you to speak up for so long. You've made me doubt if I really have a place in your heart."

With that, Hu Li gave Hua Yan a deep look before turning away resolutely. Hu Er, standing nearby, wanted to say something to Hua Yan but was called away by Hu Li.

Three cars roared past Hua Yan, standing in a daze, growing more distant. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, beating so fast she could hardly breathe.

No matter how busy or tired he was, Hu Li always made time to be with Hua Yan. Despite his packed schedule, Hua Yan intentionally kept the matter of the warm jade from him.

It wasn't until Feicui Carnival faced multiple inspections from various government departments that Hu Li discovered the reason: Hua Yan had attracted Li Dong's attention because of the warm jade.

He didn't ask her about it directly, but Hua Yan's increasing distraction during their time together made Hu Li hope she would open up to him so they could face the challenge together.

Days passed, and Hua Yan still said nothing, choosing instead to confide in Old Yang. This made Hu Li feel unnecessary, leading to his outburst.

Coincidentally, Cheng Yunqi witnessed this scene and blocked Hua Yan the next day on her way to school.

"I knew you and Hu Li wouldn't last long. You have no idea how powerful he really is, do you? Ha! You're too independent, even Hu Li can't stand it. Men are all inherently domineering. Regret it now? It's too late, I accidentally took some photos last night."

With that, Cheng Yunqi shoved a paper bag into Hua Yan's hands and walked away with a sneer. Hua Yan pulled out the photos, her heart aching. The photos showed Hu Li passionately kissing and embracing another woman, their bodies pressed closely together. If the man weren't Hu Li, the scene might have been appealing, a handsome couple in a romantic moment.

Thanks to her training at the special base, Hua Yan quickly determined the photos were real, not doctored. Faced with this evidence, tears streamed down her face. Her strong possessiveness made the pain of seeing her beloved with someone else unbearable.

Old Qiao had asked Hua Yan to meet some important leaders in the capital. She was at school to request leave. Initially, she planned to retrieve the warm jade from Gao Ruqing and give it to Hu Li as a gift, but now she hesitated. In the end, Hua Yan, accompanied by Old Yang, deposited the warm jade in a bank safe deposit box, accessible only to herself.

"Xiaoyan, with all that's happening around the warm jade, your father staying in Haibin City isn't safe," Old Yang said.

"Do you have any suggestions?"

"There's a small ranch in England, safe and secluded, inhabited by retired folks like me who have lost their special abilities. Your father would not only be safe there but also have good company."

"That sounds like a good plan. Let's treat it as a vacation for my father."

On the third day, when Hu Li returned to Mu Yun Pavilion, he found the place locked up with a "closed" sign. Neighbors knew nothing about the family's whereabouts.

An elderly neighbor, seeing Hu Li's anxiety, told him the family had left in a hurry late the previous night. Hu Li sat on the doorstep, trying to call Hua Yan, but her phone was off. He drove quickly to ask Gao Ruqing about Hua Yan, but Gao Ruqing claimed ignorance.

Next, he went to Old Yang's shop, only to find it closed too. Hu Li couldn't understand why Hua Yan had left so abruptly without a word. He also regretted his outburst that night.

Meanwhile, Hua Yan was sitting in the living room of a high-ranking leader's home. After some conversation, another senior leader arrived, giving Hua Yan a strange look.

"My name is Li Jiaguo. It's a pleasure to meet you, young warrior," the leader introduced himself.

"Li Jiaguo? So you're Li Dong's father?" Hua Yan frowned, displeased by Li Dong's actions and now skeptical of his father.

"You're very direct. Yes, Li Dong is my youngest son. I apologize for his behavior."

The senior leader and Old Qiao remained silent, listening to the conversation.

"Just make sure he stays out of my life."

"Ha ha, I'll be sure to tell him that. But could I see your warm jade?"

"Not right now. Perhaps in the future."

"Old Li, don't forget your promise to me," the senior leader suddenly interjected. Li Jiaguo gave Hua Yan one last regretful look before leaving.

"Don't worry, Old Li loves jade but he's a loyal patriot. He understands your importance and won't act rashly. However, avoid too much contact with Li Dong," the senior leader advised.

Hua Yan appreciated the leader's genuine concern and noted his advice. Her father and Nanny Chang had already arrived at the ranch in England. Her father said the residents were very welcoming and loved the homemade Chinese food he cooked, almost eating the plates as well. Hearing her father's laughter, Hua Yan managed a smile amid her troubles.

Hua Yan would now reside in the capital long-term, with Old Yang taking care of her daily needs. Soon, she would undergo a second round of training at the special base.