After the rain cleared, the scorching sun spilled freely through the clouds, blanketing the earth. The humid air in the atmosphere smoothed away the weariness hidden in people’s hearts, allowing them to enjoy the tranquility brought by this moment of physical and mental relaxation.

It was just noon. Lin Zhiyu, having risen early for once, sat at the dining table laden with dishes prepared according to her preferences. She had barely taken two bites when movement sounded at the entrance.

“Sir.”

The housekeeper’s warm yet firm voice echoed in the foyer. Hearing this long-unheard address, Lin Zhiyu’s chewing paused almost imperceptibly before resuming normally.

“Have you eaten, sir? Should we prepare something for you?”

Shen Yanli casually handed his coat to the housekeeper and loosened his tie, his expression calm as he began to speak: “No…”

As he rounded the corner, the figure at the dining table came into view. A flicker of surprise crossed his composed face normally at this hour, he wouldn’t see Lin Zhiyu, and her bedroom door would still be firmly shut.

As if sensing his presence, Lin Zhiyu looked up. Their gazes met briefly before she averted hers first.

Without changing his expression, Shen Yanli altered his response, turning his head slightly as he instructed quietly: “Don’t prepare anything else. Just bring an extra pair of chopsticks.”

The housekeeper paused, glancing incredulously at the food on the table and the expressionless madam.

Lin Zhiyu preferred strong flavors, while Shen Yanli typically favored light dishes. Usually, the kitchen prepared two different sets of meals. Today, Shen Yanli had returned unexpectedly without prior notice from Assistant Chen, leaving the kitchen unprepared. Seeing no intention of changing his mind on Shen Yanli’s face, the housekeeper nodded in surprise and relayed the instructions downstairs.

Shen Yanli’s return had been impulsive. After dealing with the Ji family’s messy affairs, he felt compelled to come back and speak with her.

Yet, the person he’d been thinking of wasn’t willing to acknowledge him.

Lin Zhiyu remained composed, acting as if he weren’t there. Shen Yanli didn’t initiate conversation either, quietly picking up his chopsticks and mirroring her actions when she picked up a piece, he did the same.

But he didn’t eat; he just left the food there.

Lin Zhiyu soon noticed the odd behavior. Frowning in annoyance, she called out to him: “Shen Yanli.”

What was he doing, copying her?

His expression remained unruffled, his eyes holding an innocent look as he gazed at her. Lin Zhiyu felt her anger rising, but the words stuck in her throat.

Shen Yanli was deliberately provoking her, and she refused to give him the satisfaction.

Lin Zhiyu silently lowered her head and ignored him.

“Zhi Zhi.” Shen Yanli called her softly, his tone carrying a note of helpless resignation.

Lin Zhiyu didn’t respond.

It had been half a month since they’d last seen each other. She wouldn’t see him and refused to speak to him, ignoring his words while nursing her silent anger.

“Zhi Zhi.” He called again.

Lin Zhiyu lifted her eyelids slightly, giving him a faint glance before continuing her silence.

Shen Yanli had no choice. He let out a very soft sigh and slid a contract in her direction. “An apology gift.”

He hadn’t been intentionally avoiding her.

At the very least, there were some things he needed to confirm for himself first.

Seeing his attempt to make amends, Lin Zhiyu stared at him intently, scrutinizing the sincerity in his words.

After a moment, she finally took the contract with grudging grace.

Puzzled, Lin Zhiyu slowly opened it. Inside were the agreed terms between the Ji family and Shen Yanli’s personal corporation.

She read through the contract word by word, line by line.

The final line stood out clearly and conspicuously: No further business dealings of any kind with Lu Yuchen are permitted.

Ji Xianlin is prohibited from venting anger or causing trouble with any member of the Shen family. Violation of this clause will render the contract void, and Park Hyatt Group will fully withdraw all sponsorship from the Ji family.

Ji Mingxi’s signature and the official seal of the Ji Group were prominently displayed in the Party B signature section.

Lin Zhiyu was somewhat shocked. She couldn’t understand why the Ji family would abandon Lu Yuchen such a coveted asset at this moment. Though puzzled, she was deeply curious about Shen Yanli’s methods.

She looked perplexedly at Shen Yanli, who sat composedly before her.

What had he done to make the Ji family willingly sign such a contract?

The man appeared calm and unhurried. His slender fingers lightly tapped the table as his thin lips parted: “There’s more below.”

Without explanation or elaboration, Lin Zhiyu skeptically flipped through the pages and discovered another contract underneath a Share Transfer Agreement.

Transferor: Ji Mingxi. Transferee: Lin Zhiyu.

Party A agrees to unconditionally and unreservedly transfer all 25% of the shares held in the Ji Group to Party B, and Party B accepts the aforementioned equity.

Lin Zhiyu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

For her?

Shen Yanli took in her reaction calmly. He first instructed a servant to bring a pen, then said leisurely, “Ji Xianlin made a mistake and must pay some price.”

But wasn’t this price far too steep?

Lin Zhiyu grew even more astonished. Wouldn’t the two Ji sisters despise her intensely now?

“Sign it,” he stated lightly, as if offering reassurance.

With him present, the Ji family wouldn’t dare entertain any ill intentions toward her.

She had been following recent news. Compared to bankruptcy, these shares were insignificant. Securing the entire Ji Group with this equity was a worthwhile trade.

Moreover, with the shares under her name, if Shen Yanli ever intended to take action against the Ji family, he would have to carefully consider Lin Zhiyu’s position effectively providing a safeguard for the Ji Group.

Lin Zhiyu didn’t refuse. She signed the contract with a clear conscience, treating it as compensation for that bottle of wine Ji Xianlin had thrown at her.

“Are you satisfied now?” Shen Yanli asked.

Lin Zhiyu hadn’t planned to forgive him so easily. She waved the pen before his eyes and said with a playful smile, “Comrade still needs to keep working hard.”

The girl’s brows lifted slightly, her face no longer dull but brimming with vitality. Seeing her radiant smile, Shen Yanli felt as if a feather had brushed his heart a faint, itching sensation.

He responded with a faint “Mm,” unconsciously tightening his grip on the chopsticks, though his expression betrayed nothing.

“Was this what you were doing earlier? Why did they choose to cooperate with you instead of Lu Yuchen? Isn’t he their son-in-law?” Lin Zhiyu asked, puzzled.

She deliberately set down her chopsticks and stared directly at him.

“In the world of fame and fortune, there are no absolute relationships only interests. The Ji family isn’t foolish; they know which side to align with,” he remarked indifferently, seeing through human nature with clarity.

Lin Zhiyu had barely eaten two bites. Propping her chin, she asked, “What about Lu Yuchen? Will he let this go?”

Shen Yanli tapped her bowl slowly, his voice cool and unyielding: “Eat first.”

Lin Zhiyu hesitated, wanting to say more. Why interrupt now?

Seeing his determined expression that he wouldn’t speak unless she complied she relented and followed his instruction.

Only then did Shen Yanli continue. He recounted the events at the restaurant to her unhurriedly.

Lin Zhiyu was incredulous: “They’re really getting divorced?”

Shen Yanli: “Yes.”

“Such a dramatic scene, and you didn’t take me with you!” Lin Zhiyu fumed.

Shen Yanli sighed softly, “…Zhizhi, we were just in a cold war moments ago.”

“…”

Lin Zhiyu snorted lightly, “What cold war? You were clearly avoiding me.”

Shen Yanli didn’t refute it: “Yes, I was too ashamed to face you.”

The Ji family matter hadn’t reached the level of public knowledge – he had merely added fuel to help settle things quickly.

Fortunately, this peace offering satisfied Zhizhi.

“What about the Chu family? They’re much harder to deal with than Ji Xianlin and his lot.” Lin Zhiyu changed the subject.

Shen Yanli replied with casual ease: “Not difficult.”

Lin Zhiyu was left speechless.

When the big boss said something wasn’t difficult, it simply wasn’t difficult.

Shen Yanli looked at Lin Zhiyu with a smile but remained silent. Having a military strategist at home indeed made things easy.

“There’s an auction tonight, want to go have some fun?” Shen Yanli asked.

“Are they auctioning that land in Hongzhou?”

Without hesitation: “Yes.”

The reason Lu Yuchen changed his mind about competing with Shen Yanli for Lingyang Land was because the Chu family provided guarantees, allowing him to instead bid for the seemingly insignificant Hongzhou.

Lin Zhiyu became interested. This time Shen Yanli also knew – the drama at the auction promised to be even more exciting than what she missed this morning. She nodded without hesitation.

Of course she would go.

The Southern City Auction Garden held large-scale auctions every six months. The items ranged from small jewelry pieces to large mansions and land parcels. All consigned items underwent triple authentication before being displayed and auctioned, and had never faced disputes regarding quality control, earning them great renown.

Prospective participants had to verify their assets to qualify – those with net worth below nine figures couldn’t participate. Guests with nine to ten-figure net worth could only sit in the main hall, eleven-figure net worth in platform booths, and those with twelve figures and above in private boxes.

Today’s auction items were extraordinary, and the atmosphere differed from the usual liveliness. The closer it got to start time, the more tense the atmosphere became.

All the prominent figures in Linjiang City had gathered here today, each targeting the much-discussed golden area that had been making waves for nearly a month – Lingyang Land.

Information leaked from above suggested it was a key government planning area with potential to become a central business district, offering great appreciation potential, thus attracting considerable attention.

In reality, it was false information released by authorities. Anyone who acquired it would become the primary surveillance target for government investigations into business-political collusion.

Not only would they lose both money and land, but their operations would face restrictions everywhere. In the original story, this was where Shen Yanli suffered his first setback.

In the private box, Lin Zhiyu sat on the sofa flipping through the auction catalog on her lap. The items were dazzling, with starting bids frighteningly high.

Shen Yanli leaned sideways against the sofa, his arm stretched along the backrest, encircling Lin Zhiyu completely within his territory.

She sat close enough that the corner of the catalog occasionally brushed against his thigh when she turned pages.

He glanced casually at Lin Zhiyu, meeting her puzzled gaze before patiently answering her questions.

Her heart wasn’t in it. Aside from giving more colorful jewelry a second glance, she found nothing else in the auction catalog interesting.

She listlessly put down the catalog, looking thoroughly unenthused.

Shen Yanli noticed: “Bored?”

Lin Zhiyu nodded. They had arrived a bit early, and Lu Yuchen was still nowhere to be seen.

Speaking of which, since the Ji family intended to distance themselves from him, what would he use to participate in today’s auction?

Would the Chu family provide it?

Shen Yanli discerned her question and casually explained: “Lu Xuemei.”

“Her?” Lin Zhiyu clearly didn’t believe it.

Lu Xuemei only dared to return after hiding outside for so many years where did she get so much money?

Shen Yanli replied softly, “Yes.”

As if still uneasy, he emphasized, “Zhizhi, stay away from her.”

Her methods are too dirty you’ll end up at a disadvantage.

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