Wu Qingyi's eyes lit up at his consent. She leaned closer, her voice gentle yet brisk with purpose. "Then could you please arrange a driver for me?" she asked. "I need to go to Royal Meridian Mall, near Xincheng Plaza Station. Just drop me off and pick me up later, I won't take long."
The moment Wu Qingyi mentioned Royal Meridian Mall, Wang Lingxuan barely registered it. His entire body went rigid the instant the words "Xincheng Plaza Station" slipped from her lips. That name struck his heart like a sudden blow. His fingers tightened unconsciously around the armrest of his wheelchair, his chest tightening as an inexplicable panic surged within him. In his mind, that station no longer sounded like a destination, mostly it sounded like a farewell.
A single thought echoed relentlessly in his head: She's leaving.
No matter how calm her voice had been, no matter how casually she had asked, Wang Lingxuan could not shake the feeling that once she stepped out toward Xincheng Plaza Station, she would walk straight out of his life, never to return.
Despite the unease twisting in his chest, Wang Lingxuan still instructed Wang Hao to arrange a driver according to her request. The moment Wu Qingyi's figure disappeared beyond the door, the warmth around him vanished as if it had never existed. His expression darkened, and a chilling aura spread through the small apartment, so sharp that even the bodyguards stationed far outside instinctively straightened their backs. Aunt Qiao froze mid-step, her heart tightening. Wang Hao also sensed the sudden shift, this was the calm before a storm. The silence was heavy, oppressive, as though the air itself dared not move. Both of them exchanged worried glances. They knew that when Wang Lingxuan's emotions spiralled like this, his temper could flare at any moment and this time, the cause was clear. For the first time, it wasn't business, betrayal, or rivalry that unsettled him but it was the fear that she might not come back.
Wang Lingxuan's voice cut through the air, each word ground out through clenched teeth.
"Wang Hao, make sure the Civil Affairs Bureau remains open until midnight. If I don't have the marriage certificate in my hands by twelve midnight, immediately initiate the process to bankrupt the Liu family and ensure no one is able to acquire them afterward." Wang Hao instantly understood the storm raging beneath his master's cold exterior. He straightened and replied without hesitation, "Understood, Master." Yet in his heart, he could only pray. Pray that Wu Qingyi would return. Because if she didn't, Wang Hao knew all too well that there would be no telling who would end up bearing the full brunt of his master's wrath.
At the old mansion, Fang Liyun swiftly summoned a maid whose figure closely resembled her own. Without wasting time, she offered her fifty thousand in exchange for the woman's old clothes. The maid agreed at once after all who would refuse such a sum for garments she had already planned to discard? More importantly, she knew better not to ask questions if she wished to keep her well-paid position.
Once Fang Liyun obtained the clothes, she changed into them and carefully applied makeup, dulling her refined features until she looked like a factory worker hardened by years of labour. Her noble aura was completely concealed. Taking advantage of the servants' back entrance, she slipped out through the path usually used by the maids, leading to the staff cottages arranged by the Wang family. It was the safest route as it's easy to escape through, and even if a bodyguard happened to see her, they would mistake her for an ordinary servant. Thus, without alerting anyone, Fang Liyun successfully disappeared from the mansion. She headed straight for the Celestial Crown District Residential Area, determined to meet her son at Greenwillow Estate.
(Greenwillow Estate was the property where Wang Lingxuan had lived before temporarily moving into the old single-room apartment.)
On her way to her son's residence, Fang Liyun's car passed by the towering silhouette of Royal Meridian Mall. The glass façade gleamed under the afternoon sun, exuding an air of luxury and refinement. Her gaze lingered on it for a brief moment before a thought crossed her mind. No matter how dissatisfied she felt, no matter how strong her resistance was, she could not meet her future daughter-in-law dressed in a maid's worn-out clothes. So, she chose to make a brief stop at the mall both to change into more presentable attire and to purchase a few gifts, a gesture of courtesy for the first meeting with her future daughter-in-law she refused to neglect, regardless of her personal feelings. If she was going to see her son's bride, she would do so with dignity. "Stop the car," Fang Liyun ordered calmly. The taxi slowed to a halt at the mall entrance.
When Fang Liyun stepped into a luxury boutique inside Royal Meridian Mall, not a single salesperson came forward to greet her. Their gazes slid past her as if she were invisible or worse, unworthy. Unbothered, Fang Liyun walked deeper into the store, her eyes calmly scanning the neatly arranged racks. She stopped before a silk long dress, its fabric shimmering softly under the lights, and reached out to examine it. Before her fingers could even brush the material, a sharp voice rang out. "Stop right there!"
The store manager hurried over, her face twisted with disdain. "What do you think you're doing? Do you know how expensive that dress is? If you damage it, who's going to pay for it?" Her eyes swept Fang Liyun up and down, mockery thick in her gaze. "How did someone like you even enter this mall? We don't allow beggars here."
Fang Liyun's patience finally snapped. Her expression darkened as she replied coldly, "Is this how your store treats customers? If I weren't in urgent need of …." Before she could finish, the manager scoffed loudly, cutting her off. "Oh? Urgent need?" she sneered. "Let me guess…. Humm… you're here looking for a job?" She laughed scornfully. "Do you really think you're qualified? Our standards aren't so low that we'd hire a beggar like you." Her tone hardened as she pointed toward the entrance. "Now get lost before you embarrass yourself even more."
Fang Liyun merely curved her lips into a faint smile and asked calmly, "And what if I refuse to leave?" The manager's face twisted in fury. "Security! Throw this beggar out immediately!" At her shout, three to four security guards rushed into the store, moving straight toward Fang Liyun. At this moment, a trace of regret flashed through Fang Liyun's eyes. She cursed herself for leaving her bodyguards behind, and her assistant, whom she had called to help choose gifts had yet to arrive. Still, she remained composed.
Just as one of the guards stretched out his hand to grab her, a sudden blur flashed past. Before anyone could react, the guard was sent flying several meters away, crashing heavily into a display rack with a loud bang. The entire shop fell into stunned silence. Gasps echoed around as everyone stared in disbelief at the scene before them. Their shock deepened when they turned toward the attacker. Standing there was a slender young woman with delicate features and a fragile appearance, someone who looked as though a strong wind could knock her over. Yet it was this very girl who had just delivered a kick powerful enough to send a fully grown security guard flying. No one could believe their eyes and it was none other than Wu Qingyi.
Fang Liyun looked at the girl who had stepped forward without hesitation, the only one who had shielded her from humiliation. A wave of gratitude surged in her chest, warming eyes that had long been used to cold scrutiny. Yet it wasn't just gratitude, she found herself momentarily captivated by the girl's striking beauty and fearless bearing. A sudden, almost ridiculous thought crossed her mind: If only this girl were my daughter-in-law… Startled by her own fancy, Fang Liyun quickly composed herself when the girl's gentle yet concerned voice reached her ears. "Pretty sister, are you alright?" the girl asked softly, her brows knitted with worry. "Did you get hurt anywhere?"
Fang Liyun blinked, momentarily dazed at being addressed as pretty sister at her age. Before she could even process the words, the security guard who had been sent flying earlier clutched his ribs and howled in agony, his voice trembling. "I—I'm the one who got kicked! Shouldn't you be asking me if I'm hurt?!" His protest cut short midway as another wave of searing pain tore through him, leaving him sprawled on the floor, gasping like a fish out of water.
The remaining security guards instinctively stepped forward, intending to seize Fang Liyun. However, the moment they met the girl's cold, piercing gaze, their steps faltered. A chilling pressure seemed to descend upon them. Then they watched as the girl moved calmly, unhurried yet resolute, positioning herself squarely in front of Fang Liyun. Her slender frame stood like an unyielding wall, silently declaring protection. Faced with her presence, the guards exchanged uneasy glances and did not dare make another reckless move.
Fang Liyun stared at the scene in stunned silence. In all her years, decades spent navigating power, status, schemes, and cruelty, no one had ever stepped forward to shield her like this, certainly not a complete stranger. This girl didn't ask who she was. Didn't weigh gains or losses. She simply acted…. A strange warmth stirred in Fang Liyun's chest, she slowly shook her head, her voice calm yet heavy with meaning "I'm fine…"