From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

The man in black appeared suddenly like a ghost; his black figure was like a black lightning bolt, instantly shattering the festive atmosphere of the banquet.

Yan Rugo's gaze locked onto him swiftly, like that of a hawk. Her sharp eyes were like two gleaming swords, as if trying to pierce through the black clothes and see his true face hidden in the shadows.

The surrounding noise seemed to be gradually silenced by an invisible hand, and everyone's eyes were focused on the uninvited guest like spotlights. The air seemed to freeze, and a tense atmosphere permeated every corner. You could even smell the oppressive atmosphere.

Yan Rugo clenched her fists without making a sound, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force, and she could feel the slight stinging pain of her nails digging into her palms.

The man in black sneered, a laugh like an ice blade slicing through glass, breaking the suffocating silence.

"Yan Rugo, how dare you ruin our plans!" His voice was deep and muffled, like the sound of a drum, carrying a hint of coldness, and hissing like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, sending chills down one's spine.

"Disrupt your plans?" Yan Rugo raised an eyebrow, her red lips curving into a mocking smile like a burning flame. "I really don't know what ability a mere young woman who has just returned to the family has to ruin your 'grand scheme'? Why don't you tell me, so I can broaden my horizons." Her tone was contemptuous, her voice clear and crisp like a silver bell, showing no sign of being intimidated by the black-clad man's imposing presence, her words carrying an undeniable power.

The man in black's face darkened. "Stop pretending! That new trade route you proposed is clearly aimed at us!"

Yan Rugo chuckled softly, her laughter as clear and melodious as a mountain stream. She looked around and could see the eyes of her family members. Worry shrouded their eyes like dark clouds, yet there was also a glimmer of curiosity, like a few rays of sunlight shining through the clouds.

She sighed inwardly, realizing that this whole affair was destined to happen.

"Brother, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. My suggestion was for the benefit of the family, how did it become a 'plan' against you? Could it be that you're doing something shady?"

The man in black was speechless, as if a stone was stuck in his throat.

He glared fiercely at Yan Rugo and squeezed out a sentence through gritted teeth: "You...you just wait!" After saying that, he turned around and disappeared into the crowd, moving as fast as a ghost, leaving only a slight whistling sound.

Yan Rugo looked in the direction where the man in black had disappeared, a cold smile appearing on her lips, a smile as cold as the winter wind.

"Wait and wait, do you think I'm afraid of you?" She turned to look at the male lead, her eyes filled with determination.

The male protagonist held her hand tightly; his hand was large and warm, and he gave her a comforting look.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here."

“Manager Li,” Yan Rugo suddenly turned to Manager Li, who was trembling with fear, her gaze falling on him like a searchlight, sharp and all-knowing.

"Manager Li, you said before that the warehouse accounts didn't match up, and that five thousand taels of silver were missing, is that right?"

Manager Li trembled in fright, like a startled rabbit, and stammered, "Yes...yes, Miss Yan..."

Yan Rugo's lips curled into a cold smile as she turned to the direction where the man in black had disappeared. Her voice was clear and strong: "This 'brother' accuses me of harming the interests of certain people with the new trade route I proposed. Then I would like to ask, is the whereabouts of these five thousand taels of silver also related to this new trade route? After all, as far as I know, the profits from this route far exceed those of the past."

The figure of the man in black, hidden in the shadows, visibly stiffened, as if he had been frozen in place.

Yan Rugo's words struck at his weak spot.

This five thousand taels was what he secretly transferred to win people's hearts.

Now that Yan Rugo had exposed him in public, he immediately lost his composure, and his panicked breathing became rapid.

Seeing his silence, Yan Rugo became even more certain.

She looked around and could feel the admiration in the eyes of her family members, their gazes like a warm spring breeze brushing against her face.

She continued, "The new trade route I proposed will not only bring greater profits to the family, but also benefit more people. Yet some people are secretly embezzling and enriching themselves. These are the real parasites on the family!"

The man in black hiding in the shadows had a livid face, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails almost dug into his flesh. He could feel his anger rising like a volcano about to erupt.

He hadn't expected Yan Rugo to be so difficult to deal with, managing to corner him with just a few words.

He originally wanted to take this opportunity to undermine Yan Rugo's status in the family, but unexpectedly, she outmaneuvered him instead.

As the male protagonist watched Yan Rugo speak eloquently, his eyes were filled with love and pride, his gaze like a deep, still lake.

He walked to her side, gently took her hand, and offered her silent support.

Yan Rugo felt the warmth of his palm, a warmth like the winter sun, and her heart warmed. She then grasped his hand in return.

The air around them seemed to warm up because of their interaction, and an invisible understanding flowed between them like a gentle stream.

"Looks like someone's getting impatient." Yan Rugo turned to Xu Nanzhu and whispered, a sly smile playing on her lips.

The male lead smiled, his smile filled with a hint of doting affection, like a flower blooming in spring.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

Yan Rugo nodded slightly, but her gaze turned back to the direction where the man in black had disappeared.

She always felt that things weren't that simple...

Suddenly, a servant rushed over and whispered a few words in Old Master Xu's ear.

Old Master Xu's expression changed, and he suddenly stood up, the teacup in his hand wobbling and almost falling.

Seeing that the time was ripe, the man in black, who had been hiding in the shadows, reappeared with a sinister and smug smile on his face, as if victory was in his grasp. That smile was like a glimmer of light in the night.

"Miss Yan, how have you been?" He slowly took out a stack of papers from his sleeve and waved them in front of everyone, the papers making a slight rustling sound.

Yan Rugo's heart tightened, and an ominous premonition welled up in her mind, like dark clouds obscuring the sun.

The stack of papers had a familiar off-white hue; they were her manuscripts from when she was improving papermaking techniques!

How did it end up in his hands?

Her pupils contracted slightly, like a startled cat, but she forced a calm smile and said, "Of course I'm familiar with it. This is my manuscript on improving papermaking techniques. What, you want to compliment my handwriting?"

The man in black sneered, "Beautiful? Miss Yan, you're joking. These manuscripts are irrefutable evidence that you colluded with outsiders and betrayed family secrets!"

"What?!" The crowd erupted in uproar, the sound like a surging sea.

Suspicious gazes pierced Yan Rugo like needles, making her feel suffocated, as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping her throat.

She looked at Xu in disbelief, only to find a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, a doubt like a tiny crack.

"Impossible! This is definitely a fake!" Yan Rugo shook her head violently, her heart pounding like a drum, she could hear her own heart pounding wildly in her chest.

"Whether it's a forgery or not, everyone can tell at a glance." The man in black distributed the manuscript to the family members, a smug smile on his face.

Yan Rugo took the manuscript and examined it carefully. Her face gradually turned pale, like a blank sheet of paper.

These manuscripts are almost identical to her handwriting, even mimicking some of her subtle habits perfectly.

If she hadn't written it herself, she would almost have believed it to be true.

"System, please help me analyze this!" Yan Rugo anxiously called out to the system in her mind, her heart as pounding like a cat on a hot tin roof.

"Beep—Forgery detected. The ink composition is different from the host's usual ink, and the paper fiber arrangement is also different." The system's voice sounded just in time, like a clear spring in the desert, instantly restoring her composure.

Yan Rugo took a deep breath, the air like a refreshing breeze entering her body. She raised the manuscript above her head and said loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, please take a close look at the texture of this paper and the color of the ink. This is clearly a forgery!" Her voice was loud and firm, echoing in the hall.

Upon hearing this, everyone examined the manuscript again carefully and indeed discovered its flaws.

The man in black's expression changed drastically, as if he had been struck by lightning.

"You...you're spouting nonsense!" the man in black shouted, his voice weak and menacing, like a rooster being strangled.

Yan Rugo sneered, "Slander? Let's see who's crying wolf! This forgery may be clever, but it can't fool my eyes!" She pointed to several subtle differences in the manuscript and spoke eloquently, exposing the black-clad man's lies one by one. Every word she spoke was like a bullet aimed at the black-clad man.

Everyone suddenly realized what was going on, and their eyes were filled with admiration as they looked at Yan Rugo, their gazes as bright as stars.

The male protagonist finally felt relieved, his eyes filled with pride, as if he possessed the most precious treasure in the world.

Just when Yan Rugo thought the matter was over, Butler Wang rushed in, pale-faced and flustered.

"Something terrible has happened! Miss, the shop...something's happened at the shop!"

Yan Rugo's heart sank, and a bad premonition surged into her mind, as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

"What happened?"

Butler Wang's voice was urgent: "Someone...someone is maliciously vandalizing the shop, and now...now the shop is in complete chaos..."

Yan Rugo's expression changed, and she suddenly stood up. She could feel the chair being pulled back a little by her, making a "creaking" sound.

She walked quickly outside, her footsteps as rapid as drumbeats.

"Prepare the car! Let's go to the shop!" The male protagonist followed closely behind, his gaze resolute, like a burning torch.

"I'll go with you."