Duan Wande was surprised, and then angry.

Yu Qin intermittently told him about her unhappiness—

She used to be proud of her birth. In her country, the Yu Group was already a very famous large enterprise. Even if she did nothing, she could live a life of worry-free food and clothing. When she was a child, she was indeed the little princess of the family. Her brother Yu Qianming, and her cousins all doted on her.

But as she grew up and understood the meaning of the family and the responsibilities she should shoulder, she was no longer willing to be a princess who was held in the palm of the hand and knew nothing. She also wanted to be a part of taking over the family burden.

It was also from this time that she found that her brothers looked at her differently. They seemed to no longer like her and were unwilling to answer her questions. She thought it was because she didn’t work hard enough and dragged them down, so she worked harder and tried desperately to catch up with them.

But they were even colder and more impatient.

A year before going abroad, she finally figured out what was going on. They were afraid that she would take away their power, especially Yu Qianming. They were biological siblings. If she was intelligent and talented in the future, she would become Yu Qianming’s biggest competitor.

She felt extremely absurd. She had never thought of competing with her brothers and sisters. She just wanted to contribute to this huge family. Why did they misunderstand her?

She wanted to resolve the conflict and invited them to travel with her. She had a favorite “secret base”, Langdie Mountain far away from the old house. In winter, Langdie Village was like a fairy tale world, wrapped in silver. The stars in the sky were so bright that they seemed to fall, connecting with the snow on the ground to form a different kind of Milky Way.

But in the end, only Yu Qianming came to the appointment, and everyone else found various excuses to refuse.

Even Yu Qianming looked worried and seemed unwilling to come.

But she was still happy that her brother could come. They lived in Langdie Village on the first day and ate the local preserved meat. She learned a song called “Flowing Cloud Ballad”. When climbing the mountain the next day, she hummed this song all the way.

On the mountain, she fell and sprained her ankle. Yu Qianming carried her on his back for the rest of the way.

She felt that the sibling affection had returned. She pulled Yu Qianming to talk about childhood things. When they made a snowman and watched the stars at night, she said frankly: “Brother, you all misunderstood me. I never wanted to fight for anything. I just wanted to be a useful person to the family.”

Yu Qianming looked at her for a while, finally smiled, and sang “Flowing Cloud Ballad” with her.

They stayed on the mountain for one night. When they left the next day, they set up a camera on the snow to take a photo.

She was very satisfied with that photo. She smiled happily, and her brother’s smile was also sincere. She thought she and Yu Qianming had finally buried the hatchet.

Perhaps, on that snowy mountain top, Yu Qianming really regained his affection and was willing to reconcile with her.

But that was a place like a paradise after all. When they returned to Cangyuan City, returned to the inexplicable interpersonal disputes and interest exchanges, the bond of blood became insignificant again.

In the end, Yu Qianming convinced the elders of the Yu family to send her to Country L. Country L needed someone who could represent the Yu family to hold the fort. It must be important enough, but not affect the Yu family’s important business in the country.

Who else was more suitable than her?

From the moment she left her homeland, she was disappointed with her family and brother. She had learned about what kind of place Country L was in advance and understood that they sent her here just to treat her as a tool completely, not caring about her life or death at all.

So she was unwilling to make even a tiny contribution to the Yu family. For those occasions that needed her, she went depending on her mood. She met a friend and sometimes even asked this friend to go instead of her.

The party where she met Duan Wande was also because she was in a good mood and the weather was good that day, so she dressed up and went.

Now, she has gotten used to life in Country L. It is not as bad as she imagined, and it seems much happier than living carefully in the country.

Turmoil is a matter between various gangs. Gangs need the support of the rich, so they will provide military protection to the rich and tacitly will not attack the rich. So she lives in the manor in Zha’an Town, and her safety is completely guaranteed.

After pouring out her heart, Yu Qin was a little sleepy, yawned, and leaned on Duan Wande’s shoulder.

Duan Wande was stiff and motionless, afraid of waking Yu Qin.

Yu Qin fell asleep in his arms and talked in her sleep: “I won’t go back to the country. They are not good to me, not as good as Wonder…”

At this point, Duan Wande gave up the plan to cooperate with the Yu Group. The Yu Group could not advance work in Zha’an Town and planned to move to other towns. But at that time, Country L was fighting fiercely. Except for Zha’an Town, other places were very dangerous. And Yu Qin showed an uncooperative attitude. Want to leave Zha’an Town? Okay, you go by yourselves.

Gradually, Yu Qin and Duan Wande’s relationship deepened. Duan Wande also told her his true identity. He thought she would be afraid and sad and leave him from then on. But she hugged his neck in surprise, “Wonder, I knew you weren’t an ordinary person.”

Duan Wande said, “Aren’t you afraid?”

“What am I afraid of?”

“I’ve killed many people.”

“Wonder, as a mercenary, has also killed many people.”

“That’s different. I, I am the leader.”

Yu Qin held Duan Wande’s face, “To survive in a place like this, if you don’t kill, you will be killed. Am I right?”

Duan Wande nodded.

“So I’m not afraid of you.” Yu Qin said, “Hasn’t my family also killed many people? It’s just killing without blood. They are no nobler than you, and they are also very hypocritical.”

“In the future, you will always have to return to your country. If I were just a mercenary, maybe I would have a way to return with you. But I… I can’t leave ‘Jasmine Tea’ behind.”

“Who said I want to return? Here is freedom, unrestrained, and my lover. Why should I go back? Guard against how they use me and punish me every day?”

Duan Wande’s pupils contracted, “You want to stay with me in this kind of place?”

Yu Qin smiled brightly, “Are you willing to keep Alice? My Wonder?”

It wasn’t difficult to let Yu Qin stay in Country L, but an explanation had to be given to the Yu Group anyway. And during this period, Yu Qin became pregnant. Their child was about to be born in this country without any guarantee.

“I want to stay here with you, but our child shouldn’t experience hardships from a young age,” Yu Qin said.

On the matter of the child, Duan Wande and Yu Qin shared the same view. The child must return to the country and enjoy the most superior growth environment in the Yu family. Their love was their love, and they couldn’t drag the child down because of it.

But how to send the child back was a problem. If Yu Qin sent the child herself, could she still return to Country L in the future? As a mother, would Yu Qin be willing to part with her child then?

And there were more realistic reasons to consider. Once Yu Qin sent the child back herself, what couldn’t be avoided was that the child would have a connection with them in the future. What would others say about this child? The seed of a cruel leader.

Yu Qin cried and shook her head, “We can’t harm him!”

Giving birth to this child might be tantamount to harming this child.

“But he is our flesh and blood.” Duan Wande hugged Yu Qin, “There will be a way. Don’t give up on him. We can stay away from him for a lifetime, but don’t give up on him.”

When Yu Qin was four months pregnant, she discovered something—her friend Shaman seemed to approach her with a purpose.

Duan Wande found out that Shaman had a blood feud with the Yu family and wanted to enter the Yu family for revenge. But Shaman was also sincerely good to Yu Qin at the same time. She cherished this friendship and didn’t mean to harm Yu Qin.

A thought popped up in Yu Qin’s mind: Why not let her replace me?

Shaman wanted Yu Qin’s identity, and she wanted to discard Yu Qin’s identity. If a suitable plan could be drawn up, wouldn’t this be taking what each needed?

She told Duan Wande her idea, and Duan Wande said to leave everything to him.

At full term, the child was born. They had already named the child in advance. Not surnamed Duan, but surnamed Yu. He would never be tainted by the killing and blood of the Duan family and would be cared for and grow up like a young master in the Yu family.

His single name was Ge, and Yu sounded like Jade (Yu). Turning war (Ge) into jade and silk (peace), pinning the simple and sincere wishes of his parents.

Yu Qin hinted to Shaman that she would not return to the country in the future and wanted to stay here to accompany her lover.

In the time before parting, Yu Qin often held Yu Ge sitting on the swing in the yard, calling his nickname, and singing the “Flowing Cloud Ballad” of her hometown to him.

Duan Wande asked, “Why do you always hum this song?”

Yu Qin couldn’t explain it for a moment, and finally said, “Maybe I still miss family affection a little bit? I think that time at Langdie Mountain, Yu Qianming really treated me as family. But the reason why a wonderland is a wonderland may lie in its unreality. It’s too beautiful, so beautiful that it doesn’t seem to exist in this world. So once people leave there, they will become as cold-blooded as before.”

“Wonder, do you know, Langliuling of Langdie Mountain is really beautiful. Stepping on the snow covered with starlight, I feel like if I keep walking, I can walk to the sky. If there is a chance, I really want to take you to see it too.”

Duan Wande comforted, “There will be a chance.”

Everything was ready. Yu Qin kissed Yu Ge goodbye, hugged Yu Ge for the last time in this life, and from then on lived incognito, giving up the identity of the daughter of the Yu family and becoming a part of “Jasmine Tea”.

Shaman found that she was missing, but the child was there. After a brief panic, she still proceeded to become Yu Qin. When Yu Ge was three years old, Shaman completed the plastic surgery and took Yu Ge back to the country as Yu Qin.

On the day Shaman left, Duan Wande and Yu Qin’s car was parked outside the airport. They watched the plane leave and go to the peaceful homeland.

Yu Qin had already cut her long hair short at that time, covering her face and weeping silently. Duan Wande hugged her, “This is the best decision we can make for him.”

Yu Qin nodded tremblingly, “But I already started missing him.”

“Then forget him. Tell yourself that he has nothing to do with us. He is not our flesh and blood.”

“I can’t do it.”

“You will do it.” Duan Wande sighed, “From today on, we will no longer inquire about any news related to the Yu family, nor ask if he is living well. Over time, you will always forget.”

Yu Qin’s eyes were filled with tears, “But what if he lives badly, if Shaman doesn’t take good care of him, if Yu Qianming harms him…”

Duan Wande said, “No matter how bad it is, can it be worse than him following us here? Alice, what the homeland can give him is peace.”

In the empty parking lot, a heartbreaking cry erupted, but the child above the clouds couldn’t hear it. He was about to rush to an unknown fate prepared for him.

The interrogation room was so quiet that only the sound of breathing remained. Ji Chenjiao’s eyes were slightly red, staring at Duan Wande unblinkingly.

He said dryly, “But why did you appear in front of me now? Is it because… of Yu Qin’s death?”

Duan Wande closed his eyes, and scenes from the past appeared before his eyes.

Xing Yongqiang was Duan Wande’s most loyal follower. Since they were still in Jinxiang Village, he had risked his life to protect Duan Wande. After arriving in Country L, Duan Wande went through life and death several times, and Xing Yongqiang was always by his side. It can be said that “Jasmine Tea” could develop to the point of controlling the entire Salingauke Town later, which was indispensable to Xing Yongqiang’s contribution.

Duan Wande also sincerely regarded Xing Yongqiang as a brother. Xing Yongqiang was slightly older than him. When they got along privately, he called Xing Yongqiang Brother Qiang.

After Yu Qin completely cut off contact with the country and came to “Jasmine Tea”, because of Duan Wande, she also trusted Xing Yongqiang very much. Xing Yongqiang knew about Shaman replacing Yu Qin, and he handled some of the details.

Yu Qin knew some medical skills in the country. Influenced by the situation in Country L, she taught herself again. When some high-level officials of “Jasmine Tea” were injured and needed treatment, Yu Qin would check first. If she could cure them, she wouldn’t risk sending them to the hospital.

Xing Yongqiang was injured most often. He really didn’t take his body seriously. Duan Wande had told him many times that the foundation of “Jasmine Tea” was now stable, and there was no need to risk his life like before. But Xing Yongqiang was used to life in the hail of bullets. If he was idle, he wouldn’t be used to it.

That year, a group of newcomers came to “Jasmine Tea”. Although their physical conditions were good, they lacked combat experience. Duan Wande intended to withdraw Xing Yongqiang and let him have a good rest, so he sent him to lead the newcomers. Unexpectedly, while leading, he led the newcomers to raid a heavy town in the east. Some territory and population were grabbed, but he himself was seriously injured.

His surgery was done by Yu Qin. In the three months of recovery afterwards, Yu Qin also often visited him in his ward, took care of him personally, and made some soup if she had spare energy.

The way Xing Yongqiang looked at Yu Qin gradually changed.

He knew from the beginning that Yu Qin was Duan Wande’s woman, and the woman he shouldn’t covet the most in the world was Yu Qin. But once human emotions erupt, how can reason control them? Every time Yu Qin appeared in front of him, it was like a flame burning on his heart. Countless times he wanted to pour out his love to Yu Qin, but he could only endure it painfully.

If Yu Qin wasn’t Duan Wande’s woman, he wouldn’t hesitate to use the dirtiest means to snatch her over. But Yu Qin happened to belong to Duan Wande, and he had sworn early on that even if he died in this life, he would absolutely not do anything to let Duan Wande down.

Days passed, Xing Yongqiang’s injury healed, and he returned to the daily affairs of “Jasmine Tea”. Opportunities to see Yu Qin became fewer and fewer. He originally thought that not seeing her for a long time would offset the thoughts in his heart. But not at all!

At the end of the year, the territory controlled by “Jasmine Tea” doubled. Duan Wande invited high-level officials to celebrate in the old nest in Salingauke Town. Yu Qin also appeared. The moment Xing Yongqiang saw her, all the missing erupted. And Duan Wande hugged Yu Qin, unaware.

At that moment, Xing Yongqiang felt for the first time that Duan Wande’s existence was such an eyesore. Why? Why could he possess Yu Qin? And why should he willingly be his dog?

Yes, the Duan family saved him. Without the elders of the Duan family, he would have died in the winter of Jinxiang Village long ago. But for so many years, he had paid back what he should pay back. He didn’t owe the Duan family!

At the party, he drank alone until he was dead drunk later. No one pulled him to chat. He had always been the most solitary one among the high-level officials. Even Duan Wande didn’t notice his abnormality, thinking he was too happy and drank too much.

The following year, “Jasmine Tea” was still growing and plundering in conflicts. Duan Wande established contact with almost all merchants and small gangs in the south of Country L. By the cost of not losing many people, he obtained a broader land than imagined. Due to doing business and making war fortune, the assets of “Jasmine Tea” also became thicker day by day.

“Jasmine Tea” no longer needed Xing Yongqiang to kill desperately like in the early days.

He became idle, and the knot in his heart deepened. He wanted to possess Yu Qin like crazy. There were not many women in Salingauke Town. Many were dusty-faced. Those who looked slightly better were already occupied by other men. He had messed around with many women, but his delusion about Yu Qin didn’t get the slightest relief. Instead, the more women he slept with, the more he felt they couldn’t compare to Yu Qin, and the more he wanted to possess Yu Qin.

Just at this time, Duan Wande hoped he would transform like other high-level officials and gave him a task to go to the north to negotiate business with another important gang “Wang Ting”. Duan Wande didn’t doubt his loyalty at all, but felt that he was lacking in negotiation, so he also sent another deputy who specialized in dealing with merchants.

Xing Yongqiang’s dissatisfaction with Duan Wande was growing. He was very reluctant to take this task, feeling that Duan Wande wanted to send him away and let a nobody monitor him. He found Duan Wande and wanted to have a big quarrel, but when he really saw Duan Wande, he couldn’t say any fierce words, only stammering that he didn’t want to go.

Duan Wande was a little impatient, but still persuaded him that making money would be the important task of “Jasmine Tea” in the future. They wouldn’t use human heads to grab territory like before. He should learn how to make money with money.

Xing Yongqiang left in silence, and the rift with Duan Wande deepened. How could he do any business? He hadn’t studied at all. In Jinxiang Village back then, he only knew how to solve problems with fists. Now asking him to make money with money, wasn’t it just wanting to see his joke?

The time came, and he had to embark on the journey north.

Originally, he could just leave the specific matters to the deputy. Duan Wande knew he couldn’t do it. The purpose of letting him go was to broaden his horizons and show their sincerity as a high-level official of “Jasmine Tea” by the way. However, he insisted on intervening in business negotiations, knowing nothing, and also pointing fingers at the deputy’s plan.

Seeing a business deal about to fall through, the deputy naturally had to stop it. At first, the deputy respected Xing Yongqiang very much and tried to reason with him with emotion and logic. But later he found that this person was simply stupid and stubborn, and also intentionally caused trouble, so he also got angry. Saying Mr. Wonder said that everything in this negotiation was decided by himself. If you don’t understand, just listen!

Hearing this, Xing Yongqiang was furious, feeling that this was Duan Wande’s humiliation to him, and immediately drew his gun at the deputy.

The deputy didn’t expect him to do this and was a little confused for a moment. He begged for mercy incoherently, but said more words that stimulated Xing Yongqiang, such as Mr. Wonder pities you, Mr. Wonder wants to find you something to do…

To Xing Yongqiang, all these were humiliations!

Gunshots rang out in the hotel. The bullet passed through the deputy’s forehead. The deputy fell in a pool of blood and lost his life instantly.

The hotel was a hotel of a local gang. Xing Yongqiang’s shot not only killed the deputy but also made the partner “Wang Ting” quite unhappy. The other party already hated him very much. Seeing him kill the reasonable deputy, they naturally were unwilling to continue negotiating cooperation with him.

The business in hand was blown just like that.

Xing Yongqiang didn’t get a single order. After returning to Salingauke Town, he was immediately locked up by Duan Wande.

Losing business was not a big deal. What made Duan Wande furious was that Xing Yongqiang actually dared to kill his trusted aide. What did he want to do? Demonstrate to him?

Xing Yongqiang was tortured out of human shape in prison. He admitted his mistake to Duan Wande, saying that he drank too much that day and didn’t control his temper. He definitely didn’t want to betray the organization or him.

For the sake of Xing Yongqiang’s past credits, Duan Wande released Xing Yongqiang. What he didn’t know was that at this time, not only was Xing Yongqiang not grateful for his grace of not killing, but instead hated him to the extreme. Those brotherhoods in the past were completely burned away by this fire of anger. Xing Yongqiang looked at his back viciously, and the only thing left in his heart was evil thoughts.

Xing Yongqiang was seriously injured and needed treatment. This was originally Yu Qin’s job, and Yu Qin also offered to take a look. But Duan Wande didn’t know if he had any telepathy or simply didn’t want Yu Qin to approach Xing Yongqiang. He stopped Yu Qin and sent other doctors to treat Xing Yongqiang.

Yu Qin didn’t take this matter to heart and also persuaded Duan Wande not to be angry with Xing Yongqiang. They were all brothers of the family. There were not many brothers left who came out of Jinxiang Village together.

Duan Wande agreed and also said that when Xing Yongqiang recovered in the future, he would personally take him to negotiate business.

Xing Yongqiang lay on the hospital bed with a faint expectation in his heart. Although he was beaten badly, he was about to see Yu Qin, which made him feel that he could endure all pain. However, the door was pushed open, and a stranger’s face came in.

He asked in surprise, “Why is it you?”

The doctor said coldly, “Mr. Wonder asked me to treat you.”

Xing Yongqiang’s eyes were about to split, and the last trace of feeling for Duan Wande also disappeared. How could he treat him like this? Trampling on his dignity and depriving him of the chance to even take a look at Yu Qin?

Xing Yongqiang thought in horror, did Duan Wande know? That’s why he didn’t let Yu Qin see him? A person like Duan Wande would absolutely not allow others to covet his possessions. He would be killed by Duan Wande!

But the sword hanging over his head didn’t fall for a long time. Duan Wande didn’t make any moves, just stopped assigning tasks to him. He changed from the person closest to Duan Wande to a neglected transparent person.

After recovering from the injury, he returned to his residence and locked himself up for a long time. He was brewing a plan. He knew he didn’t have the ability to seize “Jasmine Tea” from Duan Wande, but he could escape. Going to any gang would be fine. Anyway, he didn’t want to work for Duan Wande anymore.

But the only thing he couldn’t let go of was Yu Qin. That was the woman he loved the most, and he hadn’t tasted her fragrance yet. If he left now, he would really never be able to possess Yu Qin in his life.