Chu Fang reached her front door and fumbled through her bag for the keys, looking visibly flustered. Her face held a trace of fear, like soone who thought she was being followed.
Thankfully, when she glanced back, she didn’t see the masked man from earlier. That allowed her nerves to gradually settle.
She opened the door, and with a bang, shut it behind her. It wasn’t until she stepped into her ho that she finally relaxed, letting out a long breath.
Her back slid slightly down the door as she leaned against it.
She didn’t stay in that position long. Snapping back to reality, she stood up and looked at the neatly arranged shoe cabinet. After standing there for a mont, she pulled out her pair of winter slippers.
Kicking off the uncomfortable heels she’d been wearing, she changed into the cozy slippers.
Once she’d arranged the shoes properly, Chu Fang stepped back and gave the whole cabinet a once-over. Seeing everything perfectly in place, she finally nodded in satisfaction.
She was the kind of person who always sought perfection—
Even in the smallest of things.
With that done, Chu Fang walked into the living room and imdiately saw her mother sitting alone in a chair.
Her hair had turned mostly white. Though she was only just over fifty, she looked far older—especially her eyes, which seed completely lifeless.
Chu Fang approached and placed her hand gently on her mother’s shoulder, about to call out to her—
But her mother suddenly raised her arm and brushed Chu Fang’s hand away.
Still wearing that blank, soulless expression, she just stared at Chu Fang.
Silent.
Even though Chu Fang knew about her mother’s condition, it still gave her a bit of a scare. Thankfully, her mother didn’t have any outbursts, which helped her relax a little.
“Mom, I’ll go make you sothing to eat…”
“……”
No response.
Chu Fang had expected this, but a flicker of sadness still crossed her eyes. It quickly faded—
Replaced by a flash of resentnt.
She had to find out where Li Chongming was staying now…
Her mother continued to stare at her blankly for a while, then slowly turned her head back toward the television, as if she hadn’t seen Chu Fang at all.
Sighing, Chu Fang stood there watching her for a mont. Then she turned away and started taking off her coat.
She slipped her hand into one of the coat pockets to check it before hanging it up—but froze.
She felt sothing.
A crumpled piece of paper.
She paused, then slowly pulled the paper out and unfolded it with both hands.
An address appeared before her eyes.
It was marked as the current residence of Li Chongming.
For a mont, Chu Fang stood there stunned. It didn’t take long for her to piece things together.
She imdiately thought of the masked man she’d bumped into earlier.
Her brows furrowed tightly.
The more she tried to recall his face, the harder it was. He’d been wearing a mask, only his eyes showing. And at the ti, she’d been worried he was up to no good—
So she’d hurried away and hadn’t paid much attention to his appearance.
Now, thinking back… it had to be him!
But… who was he?
And why would he give her Li Chongming’s address?
Her mind filled with questions.
Chu Fang was a clever woman—but clever minds often invited endless speculation.
No matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn’t figure it out.
That masked man…
What was he after?
Ye Rong was feeling more and more exhausted.
It was like everything had started to spiral out of her control. The businesses her late husband had left behind had begun to change after his death.
People who used to treat her with respect… were now starting to make moves.
Ye Rong knew exactly what they were doing.
They were convinced that with Li Zhengmao gone, the Li family was headed for collapse.
To soone like Ye Rong, who’d always seen herself as exceptional, that kind of humiliation was unbearable.
Almost like she wanted to prove sothing, she began pouring her full energy into her work—determined to show those who thought she was just a pretty face what she was really capable of.
Without Li Zhengmao… I, Ye Rong, can still make sothing of myself!
And it won’t be any less than what he accomplished!
The lighting in the room was bright.
She sat in a custom-made chair, in front of a desk that clearly cost a fortune.
She looked like she was working.
But when her eyes landed on the stack of paperwork piled up on her right, Ye Rong couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. She stared blankly for a mont—
Then reached up, took off her gold-rimd glasses, and set them on the left side of the desk. Crossing one leg over the other, she pinched the bridge of her nose with her right hand.
Just looking at her, you wouldn’t guess she was already over fifty.
She had taken excellent care of herself, and people often praised her for it.
Of course… there were also so nasty rumors.
No one knew which lowlife had started it, but the gossip went that Ye Rong had stayed so youthful because she practiced so kind of dark art—
Feeding on the vitality of young n to preserve her youth.
The first ti she heard that, Ye Rong had been furious. She’d sent people to investigate, but they couldn’t trace it back to anyone.
The truth behind her youthful appearance was twofold: ticulous self-care and occasional costic injections from a beauty specialist.
Still, as the years went by—even if she didn’t want to admit it—Ye Rong could feel herself aging faster.
Feeling weary, Ye Rong looked over at the stack of docunts again and let out a sigh.
She was just about to stand up and go take a relaxing bath—
When a knock ca at the door.
Knock knock.
Two light raps reached her ears.
Ye Rong sat back down and called out,
“Co in.”
The door opened. In walked her full-ti driver—
The sa man who had secretly t with Liu Changqing before…
Li Quanzhang.
He carried a cup in his hands. After stepping inside, he gently closed the door behind him and walked over to her desk, placing the cup in front of her.
Ye Rong said nothing—just stared at him.
Once he’d finished, Li Quanzhang gave a slight bow and turned to leave.
But just as he was about to walk away, Ye Rong suddenly grabbed his wrist.
He looked over at her.
Ye Rong stared at him—though aging, he still had a strong, sturdy build.
A different kind of thought began to stir in her mind. She hesitated only briefly, then said,
“Tonight… co to my room.”
Those words reached Li Quanzhang’s ears.
His expression didn’t show anger—
Nor did it show excitent.
He simply looked at her, eyes cool and indifferent.
It was a long mont before he finally spoke.
“Madam… you really are just as the Master said. Absolutely filthy.”
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