Chapter 114: Blue爵 Manor

Jun Ruohan sneered repeatedly. “Ha, there are many things in this world that are hard to believe. Isn’t it just as difficult for you to believe that Rui’er would do something like this?”

“Ruohan,” the patriarch of the Jun family reminded her in a deep, disapproving voice.

“Aunt.”

“Great-aunt.”

The father and son of the Jun family also felt somewhat angered.

Madam Jun’s sobs grew louder.

“All right, I’ll leave it at that. As for Rui’er’s matter, I am powerless,” Jun’s wife said, her swollen, tear-streaked eyes fixed on her. “Really…wu…there’s…no other way? Could it be that my Rui’er…”

“I have no other way, but you might,” Jun Ruohan’s meaningful gaze swept over everyone, laden with significance.

The Jun patriarch and his son exchanged a brief look, as if confirming their suspicions.

Jun Ruoshen’s mind flickered with thought. He pondered aloud, “What about the company? Great-aunt, do you have a plan?”

Jun Ruohan lifted her teacup and took a delicate sip. “If Huang Pu’s Deep Affection can use such a method, why can’t we?”

“Great-aunt, you mean to…”

——

“President, the Musi Group and Sliya Group in Country M, the Mingyi Branch, the Ali Group in Country Y, and the Pingyuan Sheng Company in Country G have all been facing unexplained complaints and suppression. Some senior board members are hastily selling their shares, causing the overall stock price to fall by 5%. Some partners have expressed intentions to withdraw investment. This is beginning to affect the headquarters. Currently, it’s only these companies, but I suspect this is just the beginning. Mo Five and Mo Six have already left headquarters to handle the sudden incidents in Country M. Mo Two and Mo Three are investigating in Country G, while Mo Four is in Country Y. Mo Seven and Mo Eight have roughly located them, but their operations are spread out and sporadic…”

Mo One held the documents and explained the unexpected events urgently. When he looked up, he found their president seemingly lost in thought, staring at his ring.

He nearly cried. It was the first time he had seen the president so indifferent to such a crisis.

“President… so… what should we do next…”

The man lifted his head, turning the ring idly on his finger, entirely nonchalant. “The old man has finally made his move? I was wondering how long it would take. Chi—”

——

“President… what about us?”

“Have Mo Seven and Mo Eight continue their survey. Don’t leave any stone unturned. This time, I want them all — no one returns alive.” The man’s voice was bone-chilling cold, colder than the winter ice, his eyes full of icy ruthlessness.

“Yes.”

“I’ll be going abroad. Mo Nine and Mo Ten will follow Ranran. I’ll also send some people from headquarters to keep an eye on those behind the scenes. Not a single one is to be spared. Inform the team Gong Yi sent last time—they can move now.”

“Yes, I’ll arrange it at once.”

Mo One took the orders and left. At that moment, Huang Pu Deep Affection’s private phone rang.

“Big Brother.”

“We’re all at Qingsiya. When do you plan to leave?”

Qingsiya was Gong Yi’s private airport. Lin Yan and Ouyang Mufeng were already preparing to board. They knew this sudden, widespread incident was surely the work of Old Master Huang Pu, and Huang Pu Deep Affection had been waiting a long time for this day.

“You go ahead. I’ll come over this afternoon, first to Country G.”

“Hmm, that’s what I thought. Then we’ll proceed as planned.”

Huang Pu Deep Affection stared at his darkened phone, lost in thought. Finally, this day had come—he had waited so long!

He would make him regret making this move, showing him how wrong his choice from many years ago had been.

——

Shangguan Ranran looked at the caller ID and put down her pen. “Mr. Huang Pu?”

“Ranran, I’m going abroad this afternoon. How about you come to the Bay Villa at noon?” The man’s pitiful voice rang softly in her ear, nothing like the demon who had interrogated her last time.

“But what happened?”

“Nothing, just some matters to attend to. Don’t you miss me? I might be gone for a week.”

“A week?” Shangguan Ranran was surprised. They had only once been apart for a month; otherwise, they seemed to be together constantly. This sudden separation unsettled her thoughts, but she no longer wished to go to that Bay Villa.

——

“Then come to my Blue Duke Manor,” Shangguan Ranran suggested.

It was her private residence, a coming-of-age gift from her parents, located at the junction of City A and City B. The scenery was beautiful and unique—a perfect retreat, far from the city’s noise yet without the rural clamor of chickens and ducks.

Even the surrounding land had been purchased and planted with rare teas: green tea, yellow tea, black tea, kuding tea, oolong, Biluochun, Tieguanyin, and more.

They had hired skilled artisans to manage the cultivation, selecting the finest leaves each harvest to send to her grandfather and Ye Grandpa. The rest were transported to the villa, with the final portions given to their mentors.

There were also clusters of clumping bamboo, peace lilies, Brazilian iron trees, miniature palms, pothos, and other plants.

The backyard boasted a vast orchard of peach and apricot trees, along with a variety of precious flowers—begonias, epiphyllum, peonies, roses, hibiscus, murraya, jasmine, cherry blossoms, wintersweet, and many others from various countries, cities, and seasons. Flowers blossomed year-round, filling the air with poetry.

All these were tended by dedicated gardeners. After Shangguan Ranran took over, she named it Blue Duke Manor. She only spent a brief amount of time there each year.

Conveniently, there was a private airport nearby, so Mr. Huang Pu wouldn’t have to travel back and forth.

“Blue Duke Manor? Ranran, are you actively inviting me?”

A young lady inviting him to her private residence—could he interpret this as a subtle invitation?

“Mr. Huang Pu, you’re overthinking.”

She simply hadn’t been there for a long time and wanted to introduce her domain to Huang Pu Deep Affection. Nothing more.

“All right, I’ll come pick you up now.”

“Understood, Mr. Huang Pu.”

Shangguan Ranran put down the phone and hurriedly returned to her work.