"What are you doing here?"
Xie Ning looked up to see Fang Jiawen, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time, walking out of the administration building. They ran into each other, and Fang Jiawen let out a sneer.
"Oh, so you’re not dead?" Xie Ning’s tone was just as aggressive, and she looked very impatient.
Fang Jiawen was about to explode with anger. Without a second thought, she raised her hand and sent a Wind Blade flying at Xie Ning. "That’s right, sorry to disappoint you, Miss Xie! I’m not dead. In fact, thanks to you, I even got a superpower!"
"You want to fight me with superpowers in front of the administration building?" A flicker of interest appeared in Xie Ning’s eyes as her fist was instantly coated in a layer of metal, and she smashed the Wind Blade flying toward her to smithereens.
Seeing her first attack miss, Fang Jiawen immediately fired several more Wind Blades. "What’s the matter, scared?"
"Scared? Not really. But you’re the one who attacked first this time. Don’t go crying later that I’m the one breaking the base’s rules." With a few punches, Xie Ning knocked Fang Jiawen’s Wind Blades away. Several Metal Spikes materialized in her hand and shot forward, violently piercing Fang Jiawen’s shoulder.
"AHH!!" Fang Jiawen fell backward, crashing heavily into the administration building and landing sprawled on the ground.
Everyone on the first floor of the administration building’s lobby was startled. Someone quickly got up to call security over to check on the situation.
"No need to look. Just help her to the infirmary." Yu Tianfeng walked past, glanced at the pathetic-looking Fang Jiawen, and turned to head outside.
"Dr. Yu... Dr. Yu." Fang Jiawen grimaced in pain, clutching her wounded shoulder as she struggled to get up.
Yu Tianfeng walked straight out of the administration building and strode up to Xie Ning. "Hey!"
Xie Ning tilted her head. Startled by the sight of his fair, handsome face, she paused for a moment. "Who are you?"
Yu Tianfeng was clearly taken aback as well. He shook his head in front of Xie Ning. "It’s me! Me! Yu Tianfeng! I miss two days of meals, and you already don’t recognize me?"
Xie Ning looked astonished. "Yu Tianfeng?? This is what you look like?!"
Yu Tianfeng ran a hand through his messy white hair. "I’ve always looked like this. What’s with that weird expression?"
"Dr. Yu, who knew you were so handsome?" Ji Taixian also leaned in, looking Yu Tianfeng up and down. "I was used to seeing you all scruffy and unkempt. I never expected such a handsome face to be hiding under that messy exterior."
Yu Tianfeng didn’t feel like Ji Taixian was complimenting him at all and gave him a silent look.
Xie Ning pushed Ji Taixian’s head back. "Yu Tianfeng, did you just see Fang Jiawen? She provoked me, so I knocked her into the building. By the way, is she still your assistant?"
"I saw," Yu Tianfeng nodded. "Don’t worry about her. She stopped being my assistant a long time ago. My assistants now are two young men, and they’re a great help to me."
"Oh, okay." Xie Ning nodded. "Then let me talk to you about something serious. Come over here for a second."
Xie Ning glanced at the security guards who had rushed to the entrance of the administration building and were now staring at her menacingly. She waved Yu Tianfeng over.
Yu Tianfeng followed her down the stairs and was pulled all the way across the street by Xie Ning.
"Yu Tianfeng, we’re planning to leave the base at ten tomorrow morning. Are you coming or not?"
"Of course I’m going with you!" Yu Tianfeng nodded eagerly. "I’ll go wherever you go."
Xie Ning pondered for a moment. "In that case, get your resignation letter ready and leave it in your drawer. Go back and prepare everything tonight. Don’t tell anyone else. Can you do that?"
Yu Tianfeng nodded. "The last time you suddenly said you were leaving, I already got everything ready. I’ve written up all the handover documents and everything. All you have to do is say the word, and I can leave immediately."
Xie Ning nodded at him and made an "OK" gesture. "Then come find us tomorrow morning. It’s a deal."
...
「Fengting Garden」
"This is outrageous!" Zhang Zhennong slammed his fist hard on the mahogany table, his square-jawed face showing a towering rage.
Zhang Biyun sat on a stool to the side, looking aggrieved as tears streamed down her face. "What do we do now, Brother? Maybe... I should just swallow my pride and go apologize to Song You’ai."
"It’s already midday. The Town Square is in an uproar because there wasn’t any water this morning."
"Hmph, apologize?" Zhang Zhennong sneered. "They are Superpower Users who belong to the base. It’s their duty to work themselves to the bone for the base! Grab the new contract and come with me."
"But that Song You’ai is Xie Ning’s mother. She’s always been so stubborn because she has Young Master Gu backing her up." Zhang Biyun was crying a river of tears, looking utterly heartbroken.
Zhang Zhennong clenched his fists tightly and sneered. "I didn’t want to make a move so soon, but they’re just asking for it. Zhong Bao."
"Eldest Young Master." A subordinate stepped forward with a fawning smile.
"Take all the betrothal gifts we prepared to Bamboo Orchid Garden. Bring Quan and De with you, and follow me."
"Yes, Eldest Young Master."
Zhang Zhennong turned and hugged his sister, who was crying as if on her last breath. His face was full of affection. "Don’t worry, Yun’er. From now on, Xie Ning will be your sister-in-law. In our Old Zhang Family, she won’t have any say. Gu Chen and the others might spoil her, but we won’t."
A trace of smug delight flashed through Zhang Biyun’s heart, but her face showed only trepidation. "But if we do this, what about Young Master Gu...?"
"Hmph, Gu Chen has gone to the Capital. The mountains are high and the emperor is far away—he’s too far to do anything! By the time he finds out, hah, Xie Ning will have already borne your brother three children. Do you think Young Master Gu would want a piece of damaged goods like her?" Zhang Zhennong laughed heartily as he walked out.
Zhang Biyun pressed her lips together, a triumphant smirk appearing on her face.
’Xie Ning, you think you’re so arrogant, don’t you?’
’Hah, let’s see how you can act so arrogant from now on.’
...
"BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG!"
Song Youzhi grabbed a large wooden club from by the door and walked toward the iron gate, his face full of anger.
But before he could get close, the entire iron gate suddenly fell to the ground with a loud CRASH. It had been forcefully kicked down from the outside.
Several burly thugs carrying large chests walked into the courtyard and threw them heavily onto the ground.
"Who are you?" Song Youzhi’s muscles tensed as he stared at the hostile-looking group before him.
"Are you blind? Can’t you see this is the Eldest Young Master of the Zhang family? Where are Song You’ai and Xie Ning? Tell them to get out here. Our Eldest Young Master is here today to present a betrothal gift! Why aren’t they out here yet?"
"Betrothal gift?" The couple, Song Youyi and He Shuping, walked out of the house. "Have you people lost your minds? What betrothal gift?"
Suddenly, a violent gale swept across the yard, heading straight for Song Youyi, who had just spoken.
"Youyi!" Song Youzhi cried out in alarm. He rushed over to shield his younger brother, punching the Wind Vortex away with both fists.
The Wind Ability User who had attacked sneered, "Not bad. You actually managed to block my attack. Looks like you’ve reached Second Order as well."
"SPLASH!" A bucketful of cold water suddenly drenched him from head to toe, leaving him soaked like a drowned rat.
Zhang Zhennong looked up and stared coldly at Song You’ai. "You’re just in time. Sign this new contract!"
A contract flew toward Song You’ai, but without even glancing at it, she punched it away.