Reborn and married in a swapped marriage, my aloof husband is too ruthless.

"Something's happened in the city again!" The servant's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the silent night.

Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking.

The epidemic had just subsided, how come another incident has occurred?

We haven't even finished eating this melon yet, and here comes another one?

It turned out that although the epidemic was under control, the city's commercial order was in complete chaos.

Some unscrupulous merchants took advantage of the situation, hoarding goods and driving up prices, resulting in extremely uneven distribution of supplies.

"This is simply taking advantage of a national crisis and profiting from it!" Su Jinxin's face turned pale with anger, and her fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

She worked so hard to stabilize prices and finally brought the situation under control, but these people are causing trouble again!

What's even more troublesome is that some small businesses, unable to adapt to Su Jinxin's redesigned business operation model, have united to resist her adjustments.

They felt that Su Jinxin had threatened their interests and cut off their source of income, so naturally they were resentful.

"Miss Su, you're trying to kill us!" Several small business owners cried and wailed, as if Su Jinxin were some heinous villain.

Yan Cheng'an looked at Su Jinxin's furrowed brows, gently took her hand, and softly comforted her, "Don't worry, I'm here for you." He knew Su Jinxin's ambition and determination, and he also knew how heavy the burden on her shoulders was.

He was willing to be her strongest support, to face all the storms with her.

Su Jinxin grasped Yan Chengan's hand in return, feeling the warmth of his palm, which calmed her down considerably.

She took a deep breath, her eyes resolute. "These people won't learn their lesson until they're faced with dire consequences! Since they won't listen to reason, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

She turned and ordered her servants, "Go and fetch the owner of Pharmacy Sun here!"

Yan Cheng'an was slightly taken aback. Sun, the owner of the pharmacy?

Hasn't he already been punished and imprisoned?

He was about to ask when he saw Su Jinxin's lips curl into a meaningful smile, "There are some scores that haven't been settled yet..."

When Boss Sun was brought to the Su residence, he looked like a wilted eggplant, completely listless.

He couldn't understand how he had been released from prison when he had already been locked up.

Could it be that the government officials have had a change of heart and are preparing to let him go?

Before he could be happy for long, he saw Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan sitting side by side in the main hall, and a chill instantly ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

He then realized that he had not been released, but rather "invited" by Su Jinxin.

"Miss Su... Miss Su..." Boss Sun stammered, his heart pounding like a rabbit in his chest.

Su Jinxin smiled slightly, but the smile sent a chill down Mr. Sun's spine.

"Mr. Sun, how have you been? I heard you've been reflecting on your past mistakes in prison and repenting. I've invited you here specifically to talk about your 'repentance experience'."

Mr. Sun was sweating profusely. This wasn't an invitation for a chat; it was clearly a trap!

"Miss Su, I know I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again!" He knelt down on the ground with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly.

Ignoring his pleas for mercy, Su Jinxin cut to the chase: "I'll give you a chance to make amends." She paused, her tone meaningful, "Help me persuade those troublesome small business owners to behave."

Mr. Sun was taken aback, but then he realized that Su Jinxin wanted him to act as a persuader!

Although he was cunning, he was well aware of Su Jinxin's methods and dared not be negligent in the slightest, so he quickly agreed.

Under Su Jinxin's coercion and enticement, Boss Sun used his silver tongue to persuade her.

His skill persuaded several influential figures among small business owners.

With these people defecting, other small businesses followed suit, and Su Jinxin successfully stabilized the business order and regained control of the situation.

Yan Cheng'an watched Su Jinxin strategize and control everything with admiration in his eyes.

He silently walked behind Su Jinxin and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Su Jinxin was slightly taken aback, then turned to look at Yan Chengan. Their eyes met, and everything was understood without a word.

As evening fell, Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan finished all their business and strolled in the garden of the Su residence.

"Jin Xin, you were amazing today!" Yan Cheng'an exclaimed sincerely.

Su Jinxin smiled and said, "These are nothing! It's just a small matter."

Suddenly, a servant rushed over, "Master, Madam, Magistrate Li requests an audience!"

Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan exchanged a glance, a hint of doubt rising in their hearts. This Magistrate Li has always been inactive, so why did he suddenly come to visit today?

Su Jinxin raised an eyebrow. "Let him in."

She wanted to see what Magistrate Li was really up to.

Magistrate Li, with his protruding belly, jogged into the Su residence, his fawning expression brighter than the summer sun.

"Miss Su, Young Master Yan, how have you been?" He bowed respectfully, his posture extremely humble, as if he had become a completely different person.

Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan exchanged a silent glance, wondering what Magistrate Li was up to.

When the epidemic was causing widespread panic, he was the first to back down. Now he's rushing to get close to us.

Su Jinxin smiled slightly, her tone tinged with a hint of teasing: "What brings Magistrate Li to my humble abode today? Has some major event occurred in the city that requires us to 'wait and see'?"

She deliberately emphasized the phrase "wait and see" to subtly criticize Magistrate Li's previous inaction.

Magistrate Li's face stiffened, and he gave an awkward smile, quickly explaining, "Miss Su is too kind. I have come today to make up for my previous mistake and hope to do my bit to help Miss Su."

He paused, carefully observing Su Jinxin's expression. Seeing that she was not angry, he continued, "This humble official is willing to fully cooperate with Miss Su to assist you in managing the city's commercial order and ensuring that everything is in good order."

Su Jinxin raised an eyebrow. This Magistrate Li was indeed a wise man who knew who the "big boss" in the city was now.

She didn't refuse; after all, having more helpers is always better than having more enemies.

"Since Magistrate Li is so sincere, then I will accept it without being impolite."

Magistrate Li was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly pledged his loyalty: "Miss Su, rest assured, I will do my utmost and die for you!" Yan Cheng'an, standing to the side, silently rolled his eyes. This Magistrate Li's face changed faster than flipping through a book.

With the active cooperation of Magistrate Li, Su Jinxin's business empire achieved unprecedented success in its first large-scale business event after the epidemic, with profits far exceeding expectations.

The people of the city also praised Miss Su's business acumen and Magistrate Li's efficiency.

At the celebration banquet, Su Jinxin raised her glass to thank everyone for their hard work.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the lively conversation, she keenly sensed a cold gaze fixed upon her.

She glanced around discreetly, but found no one suspicious.

Yan Chengan noticed Su Jinxin's unusual behavior and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"

Su Jinxin shook her head. "It's nothing. Maybe I'm overthinking it."

She downed the wine in her glass in one gulp, but a sense of unease rose within her… “Yan Chengan, don’t you feel…”

Su Jinxin put down her wine glass and rubbed her temples. "Yan Chengan, don't you think... things have been a bit too peaceful in the city lately?"

Yan Chengan raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "Isn't peace good? Do you want to experience another epidemic?" He knew, of course, that Su Jinxin didn't mean it that way.

This woman has a sense of smell more acute than a hunting dog, and her business acumen is frighteningly accurate.

“Peace is good,” Su Jinxin said, stroking the jade bracelet in her hand, her tone meaningful, “but this peace is a bit abnormal. The matter of the Sun pharmacy owner should have implicated a whole bunch of people, so why is he the only one playing a solo act? And this Magistrate Li, who used to want to stay far away, is now as eager as a lapdog. Something just doesn’t feel right.”

Yan Cheng'an also dropped his joking expression and pondered, "You mean, someone is secretly manipulating all of this?"

“Perhaps,” Su Jinxin said, her gaze sweeping across the brightly lit streets outside the window. “After the epidemic, the city is in dire need of rebuilding, which is a good time for all parties to reshuffle the deck. The owner of Sun Pharmacy is just a small fry; there might be bigger fish lurking behind him.”

"So what do you plan to do?" Yan Chengan got up and walked behind her, gently massaging her shoulders.

Su Jinxin closed her eyes, enjoying the moment of tranquility, a confident smile curving her lips: "Of course... it's about casting a long line to catch a big fish!"

Over the next few days, Su Jinxin appeared to be handling business affairs calmly, but in reality, she began to lay out her plans, casting an invisible net.

While keeping Magistrate Li in check and using his network of connections to gather intelligence, she also secretly investigated the interpersonal relationships of the owner of Sun's pharmacy, trying to find out the mastermind behind it all.

Everything seemed to be going according to her plan, until one day, Guard Zhang rushed into the study, pale-faced and speaking urgently: "Madam, something terrible has happened! Doctor Wang... Doctor Wang, he..."

Su Jinxin's heart tightened, and an ominous premonition arose within her: "What's wrong with Doctor Wang?"

"He...he's dead!" Guard Zhang's voice trembled. "And...his manner of death is exactly the same as that of those who were infected with the plague before!"

Su Jinxin and Yan Chengan exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and confusion in each other's eyes.

Hasn't the pandemic ended?

Why do the same symptoms keep recurring?

Could it be that... the epidemic has never completely disappeared?

"Let's go take a look." Su Jinxin made a quick decision and got up to walk outside.

Just as she reached the door, she saw Magistrate Li rush in, sweating profusely and panting: "Miss Su... Miss Su, something terrible has happened! In the west of the city... there are... more people infected with the plague!"

Su Jinxin's steps suddenly stopped, a chill running from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

She turned around abruptly, her gaze fixed intently on Magistrate Li, and said, word by word, "Magistrate Li, are you sure... it's an epidemic?"

Magistrate Li trembled at her sharp gaze and nodded repeatedly, "Absolutely true! I saw it with my own eyes!"

Su Jinxin took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.

She realized that things were far more complicated than she had imagined.

Behind all this, it seemed, was an unseen hand, pushing her step by step into a huge vortex… “Yan Chengan,” Su Jinxin’s voice was as cold as ice, “I think…”