Chapter 649: Zhang Yaqian's Best Friend, Ling Qingcheng!
A murderous aura?
Of course, it wasn't Susan or some other woman who had come to kill; this murderous aura was very unfamiliar.
Shen Anyu raised an eyebrow, looked in the direction of the sensation, and his eyes immediately lit up.
He saw an extremely beautiful woman dressed in a black business suit, exuding an aura of such commanding presence it seemed to suck the air out of the bustling mall entrance. The energy she projected was not of a martial artist, but of a monarch—cold, absolute, and utterly dominant. She stood as a stark monument of power against the casual backdrop of shoppers.
Beneath a cascade of thick, dark hair was a face of exquisite, sharp-edged perfection. Her eyes were keen, like polished obsidian, missing nothing and judging everything. Her lips, naturally a pale rose, were thin and pressed into a line of perpetual authority. A perfectly sculpted chin, held high with innate arrogance, completed the portrait of cold, untouchable nobility. It was a face that promised both immense beauty and merciless ruin.
At a single glance, it was obvious this woman possessed a will of unyielding steel. Her entire being was a declaration of strength. The custom-tailored, high-end business suit she wore was a second skin, its sharp lines and dark fabric accentuating a figure that was both elegant and formidable. In her hand, she held a limited-edition Chanel bag, not as an accessory, but as a casual symbol of a fortune most could only dream of. Her family background was clearly nothing short of extraordinary.
The true proof of her status, however, was parked silently at the curb behind her: an extended Rolls-Royce, a gleaming black behemoth worth at least fifty million yuan. A vehicle like that signaled one of three things: either her man was incredible, or the man she kept was incredible, or she herself was incredible.
This woman, a vision of beauty and power, embodied the first and third qualities flawlessly. And soon, Shen Anyu mused, she would also possess the second.
Ling Qingcheng!
The name echoed in the upper echelons of Hangzhou's society. She was one of the city's ten wealthiest individuals, and more impressively, the only female billionaire among them. After inheriting the Ling family's vast assets, worth tens of billions, she didn't simply rest on her laurels. With a preternatural talent for business and an iron-fisted approach, she had single-handedly driven the Ling Group's market value soaring past the one-hundred-billion mark in just a few short years.
Yet, it wasn't just her wealth and talent that made Ling Qingcheng a constant topic of whispered conversation. It was her devastating beauty. In a world where countless men fantasized about being swept off their feet by a wealthy heiress, Ling Qingcheng was the undisputed queen of their dreams—gorgeous, powerful, and unimaginably rich. She was the ultimate fantasy.
"If I were kept by Ling Qingcheng, I'd be willing to drive a luxury car and live in a villa for the rest of my life!"
A simple post like this had exploded online, garnering millions of views. The comment section was a tidal wave of agreement, with an endless stream of replies that spawned an entire internet meme.
"If I were kept by Ling Qingcheng, even if I had to fly a private jet and live on a superyacht, I'd be willing!"
"If I were kept by Ling Qingcheng, even if I became a multi-billionaire myself, I'd still be willing!"
"If I were kept by Ling Qingcheng, even if she put me on a leash and called me her dog, I'd be willing!"
"If I were kept by Ling Qingcheng, even if all I did was wash her feet every day, I'd be willing!"
The variations grew more and more absurd, cementing her status as a cultural phenomenon.
'Ling Qingcheng? And she's directing a murderous aura at me?' Shen Anyu's brow furrowed in thought. 'We're complete strangers. Why would she want to kill me?'
Then, the pieces clicked together in his mind.
'Oh, right.' He remembered a detail Zhang Yaqian had shared. Ling Qingcheng and Zhang Yaqian were best friends, practically sisters. She must have seen the photo of him that Yaqian kept. Now, seeing him here at the Xihe Shopping Mall, flanked by the equally stunning Liu Ruyan and Zhong Lingyin, she had undoubtedly jumped to a conclusion. The fierce loyalty of a best friend was now laser-focused on him, branding him a two-timing scoundrel who needed to be put down.
Just as this realization dawned, Shen Anyu felt the atmosphere around him shift. The air grew heavy, charged with a different kind of hostility. Two more murderous auras, smaller but far more intimate, erupted beside him.
They came from the women holding his arms.
Apparently, his gaze had lingered on the magnificent Ling Qingcheng for a fraction of a second too long. Both Liu Ruyan and Zhong Lingyin's expressions had transformed. Liu Ruyan's lips curled into a half-smile that held no warmth whatsoever, while Zhong Lingyin's face became a mask of pitiful sorrow. But beneath their carefully constructed facades, a potent mixture of resentment and genuine killing intent began to simmer, rising off them in evident waves.
Liu Ruyan crossed her arms, a move that made her already ample chest even more prominent. The pressure was a silent, dangerous challenge. She sneered, her voice dripping with venomous sugar. "You dog of a man. Your eyes just can't stay in your head, can they? One look and you're already hooked. What a scumbag!"
Zhong Lingyin, on the other hand, bit her pale pink lower lip, her beautiful eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she gazed up at him. Her voice was a soft, wounded whisper. "Brother Shen, let's go home. The flowers you have at home smell so much sweeter than the wild ones outside."
Shen Anyu could only manage a wry chuckle. The jealousy was practically a physical force. "Alright, alright. Let's go home," he said, his voice placating.
Without missing a beat, he smoothly took Liu Ruyan's left hand and Zhong Lingyin's right, his touch both reassuring and asserting control. He steered them towards the Xihe Shopping Mall's parking lot, their path taking them directly past the statuesque Ling Qingcheng. As they passed, their eyes met for a fleeting, charged moment—a silent clash of wills. He then led his two companions to a discreet black Porsche and drove away, heading back towards the Jinxiu Mountain Villa.
Ling Qingcheng's gaze remained fixed on the retreating Porsche, her eyes as cold and sharp as shards of ice. She turned to her driver, her voice calm and devoid of emotion. "Follow that Porsche."
After issuing the command, Ling Qingcheng turned, her movements an exercise in fluid elegance, and settled into the plush leather of the Rolls-Royce's back seat.
Her female assistant, seated opposite, asked with professional concern, "General Manager Ling, aren't you going to inspect the new stores in the mall?"
Ling Qingcheng leaned her head back against the seat, closing her magnificent eyes. A faint, almost imperceptible sigh escaped her lips. "There's something more important to do."
The assistant immediately understood. She said no more, lapsing into a respectful silence.
Though her eyes were closed, Ling Qingcheng's mind was a storm of complex emotions. Just a few days ago, her best friend, Zhang Yaqian, had shyly confessed that she had found a man. She had shown Ling Qingcheng a photo of them together—a man who was undeniably, breathtakingly handsome.
At the time, Ling Qingcheng had been genuinely happy for her. She had even gone out of her way to help Zhang Yaqian cover her tracks. The Zhang family's rules were notoriously strict; without Ling Qingcheng's intervention, it would have been impossible for Yaqian to stay out overnight with him.
But today… today she had come to inspect a flagship store, only to witness that same beloved man openly holding and caressing two other women of stunning beauty. The intimacy between them was blatant, a clear sign that their relationship was far from casual.
Her best friend, the innocent and trusting Zhang Yaqian, was being cheated on. A vast, verdant forest was growing right over her head.
A pang of regret shot through Ling Qingcheng. If she had known Zhang Yaqian had found such an unreliable, philandering scumbag, she never would have helped them. It felt as though she had personally pushed her friend into a pit of vipers.
She had always known Zhang Yaqian was far more intelligent than her pure, innocent appearance suggested. On the surface, she was the naive young lady of a wealthy family, but underneath, she was clever and astute. Because of this, Ling Qingcheng hadn't pried too deeply, trusting Yaqian's judgment to choose a good man.
But it was now painfully clear that Yaqian was still too young, her heart too easily swayed. She had misjudged him completely, falling for a serial cheater. How was this man any different from her despicable former fiancé, Zhao Tao?
'Yaqian, oh, Yaqian,' Ling Qingcheng thought, a cold fury solidifying in her chest. 'I will make sure he learns his lesson for hurting you.'
'But first, I need irrefutable evidence.'
She knew her friend. If she just made accusations, Yaqian might not believe her. It could even damage their lifelong friendship. She needed photos, videos—concrete proof that couldn't be denied. Ling Qingcheng was a woman who always planned before acting. If she was going to help her best friend tear down this scumbag, she would do it with meticulous, obvious precision.
Business could wait. The lifelong happiness of her dearest friend was infinitely more important to a woman who, despite her icy exterior, cared with a fierce and profound loyalty.
"Brother Shen, that woman… she seems to be following us?" Zhong Lingyin said softly, glancing into the side mirror. With her cultivation of the Martial God Art now having broken through to the Innate Realm, her senses were exceptionally sharp. She could feel the persistent focus of the vehicle behind them, even though the extended Rolls-Royce was keeping a significant distance, with several other cars between them.
"Husband, is that your woman too?" Liu Ruyan's expression had softened somewhat after Shen Anyu had taken her hand and obediently returned home. In truth, her anger wasn't that deep; it was more a flash of jealousy. Now, her charming eyes danced with mischief as she leaned in. "If she's one of yours, just let her follow us home. We can't let another sister be left out in the cold."
Shen Anyu shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "She's not my woman."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the expressions of both Liu Ruyan and Zhong Lingyin visibly brightened. The tension in the car dissipated instantly. Despite their teasing words, neither of them could truly tolerate their man bringing home a new woman every other day.
"She will be in the future," Shen Anyu added casually.
"You dog man!" Liu Ruyan huffed, rolling her eyes in exasperation. She yanked her hand back, turning away from him with a theatrical flair.
"Brother Shen, you… you're certainly honest." Zhong Lingyin didn't know whether to laugh or cry, leaving her utterly speechless.
"That's right, how could my honest and reliable little gentleman be a false name?" Shen Anyu replied with a grin.
[Akarin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me and keeps these daily updates flowing!
Want to read 50 chapters ahead or just want to help keep a shameless translator alive? (My livelihood actually depends on this, haha 😭). You can support me directly here:
(P.S. Just remove the brackets and replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters): patreon[.]com/AkarinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/AkarinTL
🔗 All My Links: linktr[.]ee/AkarinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]