Volume One, Chapter 11: Damn You

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“Uncle, what do you mean by that…” Ning Yunyun couldn’t believe what she had just heard, her face paling slightly.

Li Shiyan’s gaze was cold and indifferent, his words growing increasingly cruel: “What I mean is, if you’re truly that heartbroken, you might as well die with her. Stop crying and wailing like a lunatic here. Anyone who didn’t know better would think your Ning family has been utterly destroyed.”

Ning Yunyun hadn’t anticipated such a drastic shift in his tone, nor that he would show her no respect or tenderness whatsoever.

Only then did she realize that his earlier words telling her not to cry were not out of concern.

“What, don’t know how to die with her?” Li Shiyan raised an eyebrow and smirked. “It’s easier than you think. Just bash your head against the corner of a table—blood and flesh mashed, bones fractured and twisted. If you’re lucky, you might see your own brain before you die. That beats more than ninety-five percent of people in the world.”

His words sent a chill down Ning Yunyun’s spine, her face turning completely pale as tears welled up uncontrollably, yet she dared not let them fall.

It wasn’t just Ning Yunyun; the gruesome scene he described made the other women nauseated and fearful, covering their mouths.

Only Ning Yu, standing behind, nearly stifled a laugh.

“Li Shiyan!” Old Master Lin roared angrily. “Enough of this!”

No one but the old master dared to speak to Li Shiyan like that, much less interrupt him.

Li Shiyan grinned mischievously, waved his hand dismissively, and strode forward.

Ning Yunyun had never witnessed such a tense and oppressive atmosphere. As Li Shiyan approached, she instinctively stepped back two paces, pressing herself against Ning Yu behind her.

Ning Yu’s feet were already sore and weak; she stumbled backward without time to retreat and nearly fell to the ground.

A firm hand gripped her arm tightly, steadying her. The man’s imposing scent of pine resin was overwhelming and invasive.

All eyes turned to Ning Yu and Li Shiyan.

“Thank you, uncle,” Ning Yu said softly before he could speak, then stepped back two paces to create some distance.

“You two ladies of the Ning family are quite interesting,” Li Shiyan said with an ambiguous smile before striding away.

Once he left, Ning Yu relaxed considerably, offering incense in respect. She glanced to the side and saw Lin Haoyu’s mother chatting happily with Ning Yunyun.

“Yunyun, don’t take what happened just now to heart. Seeing you cry so heartbroken, I know you’re a sentimental child. Nowadays, children like you—sentimental, well-mannered, and polite—are rare. You’re the perfect candidate for a daughter-in-law,” Lin’s mother patted Ning Yunyun’s hand and glanced at Ning Yu.

“On the contrary, if you married someone cold-blooded who couldn’t shed a tear when a relative passed away, that would truly bring unrest to the household.”

Ning Yu sneered inwardly—no doubt. Ning Yunyun and Lin Haoyu had somehow ended up in bed together and still managed to flatter Li Shiyan simultaneously. They were indeed fit to be daughters-in-law. How could that not be a form of cunning social maneuvering?

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“Mom… why say such things now?” Lin Haoyu gave his mother a warning look.

Lin’s mother was soon called away to discuss other matters, and the topic was dropped.

When Ning Yu returned to the guests, she overheard Ning’s mother ordering, “You’ll stay with Haoyu tonight. I’ve already discussed with Old Master Lin. We’ll remain at the Lin family’s old estate for three days. After the funeral and subsequent arrangements are over, we can discuss your engagement to Haoyu. The Lin family has arranged it so that you and Haoyu share a room. You know what to do; I don’t have to teach you.”

Ning Yu frowned slightly and looked at her mother: “Do you think this is appropriate right now?”

The Lin family was freshly bereaved. Was this really the time to seduce Lin Haoyu?

Seeing her mother’s half-dried tear stains, Ning Yu almost laughed.

Ridiculous.

“This is the best and most fitting opportunity. If you can’t handle this well, you can forget about even looking at him for the next year,” Ning’s mother said coldly.

No doubt, Yan Yan.

This was the Ning family’s sole and most effective leverage, and Ning Yu’s greatest weakness.

Ning Yu clenched her fists and forced a smile. “I’ll do my best, but if it’s not my fault, I won’t take responsibility.”

Her gaze inadvertently swept over Ning Yunyun’s face.

Ning’s mother nodded and repeated her instructions: “As long as you manage this well and keep things in control, Lin Haoyu will be firmly under your spell. No matter when the engagement happens, you will be the first daughter-in-law of the Lin family’s main branch.”

Ning Yu nodded, not ignoring the jealous, resentful look Ning Yunyun shot her.

Soon, the Lin family servants arranged their quarters.

The Lin family estate was vast. Apart from the main courtyard where Old Master Lin lived, the eastern, southern, and western gardens housed the first, second, and third branches, respectively. The western garden was Li Shiyan’s.

The fourth branch was dwindling, and Li Shiyan seldom returned home.

So seldom that Old Master Lin had to repeatedly summon him under the pretext of the funeral to see him.

Ning’s father, mother, and Ning Yunyun went to the guest quarters, and Ning Yunyun was reluctant to leave.

At nightfall.

Lin Haoyu looked at Ning Yu sitting by the bedside, his heart swelling with joy: “Xiaoyu… have you agreed?”

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Ning Yu didn’t answer but smiled lightly. “Go take a shower.”

To Lin Haoyu’s ears, that was an invitation. He grabbed his clothes and rushed to the bathroom.

Unfortunately, as he came out, his phone rang.

Ning Yu watched him hang up, but the calls kept coming. It seemed an urgent matter; he hung up and redialed repeatedly, until the fifth call.

She pursed her lips: “If you have something important, you should go.”

A flicker of awkwardness crossed Lin Haoyu’s face, quickly masked: “Xiaoyu, don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”

With that, Lin Haoyu grabbed his clothes and phone and left.

There was no blaming her this time.

Once he left, Ning Yu no longer bothered to feign sweetness or obedience. She kicked off her shoes and saw her feet swollen and red, aching terribly.

Thirsty, she slipped on her slippers and headed out to get a glass of water.

Just a few steps outside the room, a hand suddenly gripped her firmly from the darkness, dragging her into the next room!

The room was pitch black, no lights, no voices.

Ning Yu pressed her back against the cold, hard wall, the sharp scent of pine resin mixed with alcohol filling her nostrils.

“What are you doing?”

“Doing… you.”

The man’s voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping a blackboard—unpleasant yet unsettling.

Ning Yu looked at his jawline. In the cramped space, the stench of alcohol on him was so strong it nearly made her dizzy.

His palm slid over her waist, rough and calloused, pressing against her back, his body flush against hers.

“You’re really naive if you think Lin Haoyu will be coming back tonight.”

She wasn’t that naive.

Tonight, Ning Yunyun wouldn’t let Lin Haoyu return. Ning Yu had seen it; she was capable of that.

Ning Yu grabbed his wandering hand, lowering her voice: “Li Shiyan, have you lost your mind? This is the Lin family estate!”