Quenching

Xing Songfeng's body was covered in a layer of fine sweat, which seemed quite troublesome.

"Not only her daughter-in-law, but everyone at the table where they ate today was a reporter."

In an instant, Xing Songfeng seemed to sober up completely, collapsing weakly to the ground, sweating profusely, and pitifully looking at Wanli Fuguang, whose eyes were full of annoyance.

“I…I…cousin.”

Wanli Ruoyu, whose face grew increasingly gloomy, grabbed the ruler beside her and strode heavily toward Xing Songfeng's back.

With a "smack," a bright red bloodstain appeared on Wanli Fuguang's back.

"Cousin...cousin..."

Xing Songfeng clung tightly to Wanli Fuguang's leg and burst into tears.

Wanli Fuguang frowned, bit his lip, grabbed Wanli Ruoyu's ruler, and pleaded as he shouted.

"dad."

Wanli Ruoyu angrily shook off Wanli Fuguang's hand and cursed loudly in a fit of rage.

“You’re still protecting him. This is the result of your discipline of Xing Songfeng. How much trouble has he caused because of Kong Yanfei? He’s always causing trouble for someone else’s wife. We’re always cleaning up his messes, and we can’t even keep up.”

"dad."

"Xing Songfeng, let me ask you, are there no models left in this world? You've repeatedly disregarded the consequences for a woman."

"Uncle, I like Kong Yanfei, I..."

"Smack!" The ruler fell heavily again. Xing Songfeng's wail startled Shan Shuanglingze and Wanli Ruoyu. Xing Songfeng was then carried out by Shan Shuanglingze, Wu Haofeng, and a group of servants.

Wanli Ruoyu's stern questioning was met with Wanli Fuguang's silent biting of his lip.

"How to solve it?"

“The video has been cleaned up. The people at the restaurant have seen a lot of things. Money can shut them up.”

"Where are all those reporters? How are you going to shut them up?"

“They drank quite a lot of alcohol, so I had the forensic doctor send a report to each of them.”

Wanli Ruoyu slowly sat down, her muscles relaxing slightly.

"What report?"

"The report concluded that the director died from drinking too much."

Wanli Ruoyu picked up the newspaper again and covered her face with it.

"Then?"

“They all have some dark history, more or less. I find it out as a condition for exchange, and everyone will keep in tacit agreement.”

Wanli Ruoyu gave a soft snort, her deep voice tinged with dissatisfaction.

"exchange?"

"A table full of well-known journalists; if we were to make a move against them, it might attract attention and cause even bigger trouble..."

Wanli Ruoyu shook the newspaper and crossed her legs.

"Does the Wanli family not lack reporters?"

A disgruntled gaze peered from above the newspaper. Wanli Fuguang raised his head slightly, met the disdainful look, and then lowered it again.

"You mean, threaten them and force them to work for us?"

Wanli Ruoyu disdainfully flicked the newspaper again, and the servant beside him glared at the back of his head.

"You need to open your mind and not accept gifts that are offered to you."

Wanli Fuguang lowered his head even further.

"I understand."

"There's something else you mentioned..."

A deep, cold gaze drifted from the top of the newspaper to Wanli Fuguang's dim eyes, his downturned lips, his fist clenched and then relaxed in despair, finally landing on the desolate doorway.

"Wow."

The servant angrily snatched away Wanli Ruoyu's newspaper and forcibly pushed the calcium tablets in front of her.

Wanli Ruoyu looked down at the empty water glass, then craned her neck to look at the servant's angry back. She pursed her lips, her throat moved slightly, and she swallowed a calcium tablet.

******

As dawn broke, Huang Qiaqia put down the blood-activating and stasis-removing ointment, gently pulled down Wanli Fuguang's shirt, rubbed her chubby little face against Wanli Fuguang's chest, and parted her cherry lips slightly, speaking in a soft and sweet voice.

"Let's go to the lab first!"

"I have something to do during the day, can I pick you up from the library tonight?"

"Okay. I'll be going now."

Where is the watch you bought me?

"It's in the closet! Look for it."

Huang Qiaqia slung her backpack over her shoulder, a question mark forming in her mind: Didn't you dislike wearing the watch I bought for you?

Wanli Fuguang opened the watch box, bypassed the limited serial number, and the light blue from the strap spread onto the dial.

The surging waves below the dial are presented using cloisonné enamel, with the waves cleverly outlined by mother-of-pearl. Above, the golden scales of the carp are hand-carved from gold, creating lifelike details. The lacquer finish adds a touch of strange cherry red to the dial depicting the carp leaping over the dragon gate.

Wanli Fuguang put on the Fish Leaping Over the Dragon Gate watch with a half-smile. The diving watch on his wrist lay quietly in the watch box in the wardrobe on the second floor of Wanli's house.

******

Outside the study on the third floor, the sky was clear and cloudless. Inside the study, Xing Songfeng lay on a stretcher, shouting angrily at Wanli Ruoyu.

"Why shouldn't my cousin be the heir? Where did you put him?"

“Your cousin promised me he would discipline you properly, but you’ve caused trouble time and time again. Now he has to bear the consequences.”

With a loud bang, the study door was pushed open, and the fierce-looking Shuang Lingze returned in high heels.

Wanli Ruoyu immediately put down her newspaper, sprang up, and made room for Dan Shuanglingze.

"Honey, why did you set off and then come back?"

Wanli Ruoyu handed the tea to Shan Shuanglingze, glaring at the servant resentfully; he had deliberately kept it from her.

"Wanli Fuguang is not the heir now, so what are you going to feed and drink him?"

"Oh dear, he's a young man, with hands and feet, how could he starve to death?"

Wanli Ruoyu gently patted Dan Shuanglingze's beautiful back, softly comforting her and calming her down.

Dan Shuanglingze shoved Wanli Ruoyu's arm away and glared at him.

"Is he eating well? Is he dressed comfortably?"

"Honey, don't worry, he'll be able to eat and drink his fill."

Wanli Ruoyu chuckled and put his arm around Shan Shuanglingze's shoulder, intending to kiss her cheek, but Shan Shuanglingze pushed him away and gave him a fierce warning.

"I won't interfere with how you arrange things for Wanli Fuguang, but if you dare to let Wanli Fuguang go hungry or cold, I won't let you off the hook."

"Hehe, of course, don't worry, don't worry."

Wanli Ruoyu, with a smile, escorted Shan Shuanglingze out of the study, then turned around, her face stern, and picked up the newspaper again.

Standing to the side, Wu Haofeng observed Wanli Ruoyu's calm and unhurried demeanor and asked curiously.

"If the eldest young master isn't going to be the heir, then who will?"

Wanli Ruoyu held the newspaper, extended her index finger, and Wu Haofeng followed the finger, opened his mouth wide, took a big step, rushed to the stretcher, and slapped it down.

"Hey, why did you spank me?"

Xing Songfeng tilted his head, looking furious.

“Sir, you should make this guy your heir.”

Wanli Ruoyu withdrew her index finger, shook the newspaper, and tilted her head back.

The servant beside him looked down at Wanli Ruoyu's dark back of the head with a displeased expression.

"What did you say?"

Xing Songfeng's anger turned to surprise. He straightened his head and stared intently at Wanli Ruoyu's newspaper.