Lin Zhiyu couldn’t help but take a deep breath, pondering for a few seconds before saying, “Shen Yanli, you really resemble a reckless ruler right now.”

“Lu Yuchen must despise us to the core. I can almost feel his murderous aura spreading toward us.”

Flaying and skinning, dismembering, and then tearing the body into pieces!!

At this thought, she shuddered twice in succession, feeling a chill run down her spine as she frequently glanced backward.

Shen Yanli, on the other hand, appeared calm and composed. He looked at her and spoke lightly, “Not us.”

Only you.

Lin Zhiyu turned her head back with an expression of disbelief.

Is this fair? Abandoning an ally after achieving a goal?

She spoke earnestly, “Shen Yanli, legally, I am still your wife. You’re being too heartless.”

Shen Yanli was amused by her words. “In business, this is called self-preservation.”

Lin Zhiyu: “…”

I didn’t see you thinking this way when you were sabotaging him earlier.

Lin Zhiyu adjusted her posture and knelt on the sofa. With her hands on her hips, she looked arrogant. “Don’t even think about it. If you don’t protect me properly, I’ll spill all your secrets.”

Shen Yanli: “All?”

Lin Zhiyu: “Yes, all!”

Shen Yanli couldn’t help but chuckle softly. He leaned closer, supporting himself on the sofa and lowering his body toward her. “Zhizhi, are you aiming for mutual destruction?”

She threw a left hook at his chest. “This is called perishing together.”

No one gets to live.

A trace of grievance appeared on Shen Yanli’s face as he teased her with a smile at the corner of his lips. “Well, it seems I must protect Mrs. Shen properly then.”

Her slender, pale palm patted his shoulder solemnly as Lin Zhiyu spoke with profound sincerity. “Between husband and wife, it’s only natural. So, I’ll leave it to you, Mr. Shen.”

Shen Yanli: “No need for formalities. It’s my duty.”

Today’s auction was divided into two sessions. The first session concluded with Lingyang Land as the finale, followed by a half-hour break before resuming.

The service staff in the private booth remained on duty and witnessed the entire scene, their gazes filled with admiration as they looked at Lin Zhiyu.

This husband-taming skill was something they could spend half a lifetime learning.

Shen Yanli lowered his eyelashes, his gaze fixed intently on her slender fingers resting on his shoulder.

Lin Zhiyu followed his line of sight, assuming he was unwilling to let her touch him. She pursed her lips, curved her eyebrows into an apologetic smile, and slowly withdrew her hand.

Shen Yanli caught it mid-air, holding her soft fingertips as he asked, “Zhizhi, shall we hold hands?”

Lin Zhiyu widened her eyes, staring at him in stunned silence.

What was he asking?

Shen Yanli’s expression remained composed, as if those words hadn’t just come from his mouth.

Lin Zhiyu blinked, only managing to utter an “Ah?” after a long pause, her face still full of shock.

Shen Yanli glanced around the room and whispered temptingly near her ear, “Zhizhi, how can we appear like a newlywed couple like this? If word reaches the old man ”

He paused, putting on a considerate expression as if thinking on her behalf. “He’ll grow suspicious of us.”

Due to his proactive approach, the distance between them had narrowed to almost nothing. Shen Yanli leaned sideways, supporting his head with his long arm as he watched her. Unconsciously, Lin Zhiyu found herself enveloped by his tall frame within his domain.

Her fingers were surrounded by warmth as Lin Zhiyu’s gaze plunged into an ocean, the turbulent waves pulling her into boundless waters.

His long, well-proportioned fingers brushed against hers, causing her pinky to tremble uncontrollably.

“Alright?” He lowered his voice, coaxing her back to attention.

Lin Zhiyu stared at him in stunned silence before quickly bowing her head and responding, “As you wish.”

Her flushed earlobes betrayed her inner thoughts to the world, though she subsequently tried to hide them by covering them with her hair, like the proverbial ostrich burying its head in the sand.

A faint smile flickered in Shen Yanli’s eyes as he leisurely caressed her slender fingers, taking in every nuance of her reaction.

At some point, her long dress had come to rest over his trousers. The snow-white skirt enveloped the black suit, its translucent fabric unable to completely conceal the dark hue beneath, with the hem faintly revealing a mark that did not belong to her.

The second half of the auction commenced amidst the bustling atmosphere. Apart from the Lingyang Land, the highlight that captivated everyone’s attention was the finale lot of this session “Brocade South Lake,” the sole surviving masterpiece left to the world by the venerable Gu Zhangcheng.

This painting held irreplaceable collection value, both culturally and historically.

Most of the remaining bidders present had stayed specifically for this piece.

When Lu Yuchen was notified that the auction had resumed, he was still on a phone call.

“How much can I get if I liquidate all the properties under my name?” An urgent male voice echoed through the corridor.

Lu Yuchen frowned impatiently as he waited for the response.

“Sir, eighteen million,” the other end replied promptly.

Clearly dissatisfied, Lu Yuchen commanded, “Sell all the shares.”

“Sir, please reconsider. The longer you hold onto your shares, the more their value will appreciate. Now is not the optimal time to sell.His mind was consumed with the fury of having been played for a fool; he was in no mood to heed any advice. This act of defiance seemed to provide him with an outlet for his pent-up emotions.

“Who’s the boss here, you or me? I’m not paying you to disobey my orders. Do as you’re told. If you don’t want the job, leave. The company has no use for someone like you.”

“Apologies, boss. I’ll proceed with the sale immediately. Will a transaction price of twenty million be acceptable?”

“Transfer it to my account right now. And sell the Lingyang Land immediately even at a loss, sell it now!” he urged frantically, hanging up before waiting for a reply.

Lu Yuchen’s knuckles turned white from gripping his phone too tightly. His gaze drifted into the distance, eyes filled with resentment.

The owner of that private booth was undoubtedly Shen Yanli.

He had always prided himself on understanding Shen best if Shen wanted something, he would stop at nothing to obtain it.

So what about the Lingyang Land? Why had the bidding been halted midway?

Something must have gone wrong.

Was that woman from the Chu family also part of their scheme?

At this thought, his expression darkened considerably, his eyes turning icy with simmering rage, ready to erupt at any moment.

Checking his phone again, he saw that his chat history with Ji Xianlin had shown no new messages since this morning. Given her nature, even if she were ill, she wouldn’t neglect to keep tabs on him.

It had been a full two hours since they arrived here. With the commotion involving the Chu family before the auction started, he refused to believe Ji Xianlin hadn’t received any news.

Yet there had been no call from her. After much deliberation, he decided to call her himself.

The phone rang for a long time with no answer, stirring a growing unease within him a fear that things were slipping beyond his control.

If he hadn’t secured the Lingyang Land, it would have been one thing. But now, having staked everything for Hongzhou, he couldn’t afford to lose the Ji family’s support.

As long as the Ji family could assist him for even one more day, his predicament could be resolved that much sooner.

After repeated reminders from the staff, he finally let it go.

Whatever it was, they could discuss it when he returned home.

Ji Xianlin had always firmly believed his words nothing would go wrong.

When she pushed open the private room door, Chu Shiyi had just set down her phone. How could she not inform her family about today’s spectacle?

Whether to cooperate with him now was entirely up to her family.

What did it matter if a penniless noble son had the Jilin project? He couldn’t possibly turn the tables anyway.

She watched calmly as Lu Yuchen approached, scrutinizing his feigned nonchalant expression. “So, Young Master Lu? Have you gathered the funds?”

Lu Yuchen calmly resumed his seat. “No need for Miss Chu’s concern. I’m hardly at the point where buying a plot of land would bankrupt me.”

Chu Shiyi nodded with an understanding air. “Is that so? I was overly worried. I thought, how could the esteemed son of the Shen family exhaust his assets over a single piece of land?”

“My mistake. I even mentioned it to Father, thinking I could ask if he’d lend you some emergency funds. If you’re interested, Young Master Lu, you can tell me, and I’ll convey your message to him.” “I believe he’d understand your situation, wouldn’t he?”

Lu Yuchen’s expression remained unmoved. “Thank you for your kindness, Miss Chu, but it likely won’t be necessary.”

Chu Shiyi pressed further: “In that case, shall we abandon the joint venture for the Hongzhou land? How about we bid separately?”

“Of course, as you wish, Miss Chu.” He raised a hand, signaling the staff to draw open the curtain.

Two bidders took their positions on either side one representing Lu Yuchen, the other the Chu family.

Earlier, Chu Shiyi had proposed to him on her father’s behalf: trading half of Jilin for policy information, with half of Hongzhou as collateral.

Now, with projects but no startup capital, even if he were given more land, he couldn’t develop it. Better to let the Chu family take it all.

Let each rely on their own abilities and see who emerges victorious.

With Chu Shiyi’s sudden shift in attitude, Lu Yuchen understood the Chu family’s intent they were forcing him to surrender Jilin?

He couldn’t help but sneer. If the neighboring room truly held Shen Yanli, it was uncertain who would win this land.

Let them fight he would simply wait and reap the rewards.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhiyu was also racking her brains. Unlike her leisurely composure in the previous round, she stared at the blank paper on the table, unusually perplexed.

The Chu family was a variable. In the original storyline, Chu Shiyi had no role at this stage normally, the Chu family wouldn’t appear until the Ji family had completely collapsed.

Perhaps the minor changes she’d set in motion had created a butterfly effect, accelerating everything.

She sighed, troubled by the extensively scribbled paper before her. After writing for so long, she had finally reached a day where she struggled to put pen to paper.

Lin Zhiyu lifted her head and gazed at Shen Yanli, who remained as composed as ever beside her.

Unnoticed, he had been twirling a strand of her hair around his fingers for some time. The fine, dark hair coiled around his slender index finger, and Lin Zhiyu watched, momentarily dazed, feeling an inexplicable guilt as if she were dragging a serene monk into worldly affairs.

Yet he seemed unaware, captivated by the stray lock of hair, failing to notice her unease.

Only when the strand was gradually pulled from his grasp did he snap back to reality and look at her. His deep, dark pupils shifted from irritation at the interruption to a flicker of tenderness, swiftly concealed within his gaze.

Lin Zhiyu withdrew the strand of hair from his hand and tucked it aside. Lowering her head to tidy it, she failed to notice the storm of emotions swirling in his eyes.

Shen Yanli sighed softly at his momentary lapse, gazing at Lin Zhiyu with complex emotions in his eyes.

Zhizhi, what am I to do with you?

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