Night.

Tang Family Manor.

Tang Bingyun had just returned home after work. Her brows were furrowed, and her face was marked with obvious worry, a look of deep contemplation.

The reason for this dated back to the previous night. She had invited Wang Haoran to a couple’s restaurant under the pretense of having dinner. She had timed it perfectly, planning to use a knockout drug on Wang Haoran to achieve a “big win” in one go. This would fulfill her grandfather’s wish of having a great-grandchild.

However, when she woke up this morning, she realized that her monthly cycle had started, meaning the opportunity for a “big win” was gone. She had shamelessly played the role of a bad woman, only to end up with nothing.

Her grandfather was pressing hard for her marriage, constantly urging her to get engaged to Yan Guishan. Tang Bingyun was definitely unwilling to agree to this. However, her grandfather was indeed very old, and they had been arguing about the marriage issue recently. Tang Bingyun was genuinely afraid that one day, her grandfather might fall seriously ill due to their arguments.

Getting engaged to Yan Guishan was definitely out of the question. Wang Haoran, at the moment, was also not suitable to replace him as the engagement candidate. Tang Bingyun was deeply troubled.

Just then, Old Tang suddenly rushed in from outside.

“Grandfather, weren’t you bedridden and unable to move? How come you’re walking so briskly now?” Tang Bingyun asked playfully.

“Something happened to Guishan. I just came back from the hospital,” Old Tang said with a serious expression, not bothering to pretend to be sick anymore.

“Yan Guishan ended up in the hospital? What happened?” Tang Bingyun was a bit surprised.

“Remember the video you showed me earlier? Somehow, that woman’s husband, Shen Kang, found out about his wife’s affair. In a fit of rage, he gathered a group of underground thugs and kidnapped Yan Guishan, taking him to a factory,” Old Tang sighed and said, “But Guishan was quite brave, taking down about a hundred people single-handedly. Unfortunately, he got injured himself.”

“Is he seriously injured?” Tang Bingyun asked.

“There’s no life-threatening danger, but…” Old Tang hesitated.

“But what?” Tang Bingyun pressed.

“But some delicate areas suffered severe knife wounds,” Old Tang said with a peculiar expression.

“What areas?” Tang Bingyun didn’t understand.

“Well… that area,” Old Tang, not wanting to be too explicit in front of his granddaughter, gave her a meaningful look.

Tang Bingyun, no longer a little girl, understood what he meant. She was initially shocked, then suddenly delighted.

“Grandfather, about the engagement?”

“The marriage is off,” Old Tang shook his head and sighed. He wanted to find a reliable partner for his granddaughter, but he also wanted a great-grandchild. Now that Yan Guishan no longer had the capability in that regard, marrying his granddaughter to him would mean a lifetime of loneliness for her. Even if he were senile, he wouldn’t push Tang Bingyun into such a pit of fire. Besides, Yan Guishan deserved it. Who told him to mess with someone else’s wife? Now, he could live a life of celibacy.

…

In the precinct.

In a certain meeting room.

The leader sitting at the head of the conference table praised Ling Duanya, “Xiao Ling, you did an excellent job. The Crow gang was a cancer in Qingling, and despite multiple attempts, we couldn’t find substantial evidence. This time, you managed to catch them all in one go. Qingling will be much quieter now, and you deserve great credit!”

“Thank you for the praise, leader. It’s my duty!” Ling Duanya said, full of spirit. It was the first time in her years of service that she had been so successful.

“Speaking of this, it was mainly because I received a tip-off. Otherwise, the cleanup wouldn’t have gone so smoothly,” Ling Duanya mentioned another matter after her initial joy. As she spoke, a handsome young man’s face appeared in her mind.

[Ding, the female lead Ling Duanya’s favorability towards the host has increased by 10. The current total favorability is 35 (very friendly).]

[Ding, the host has influenced the plot direction, gaining 200 villain points!]

Wang Haoran, who had just finished showering, suddenly received a system notification and was momentarily stunned.

“According to the regulations, a certain amount of reward should be given to the good citizen who reported the crime. Additionally, Xiao Ling, you can communicate with him. If he’s willing, we can collaborate with the TV station to do a report,” the leader said.

“Okay, I’ll take the reward to him tomorrow and see what he thinks,” Ling Duanya nodded.

…

In a modest two-bedroom apartment.

Yang Jingwan and her parents sat on the sofa watching TV.

“Jingwan, why won’t you listen to your mother? It’s just a few words. If you talk to that Young Master Wang, your father’s project will be secured,” Li Manli earnestly persuaded her daughter.

“Jingwan, please help your father. The workers under me are waiting to start work. If we don’t start soon, everyone will have nothing to eat. Just say a word to Young Master Wang, and we can get a project. He said we could ask him for help if needed. Don’t waste such a good opportunity,” Yang Tai also urged.

The family’s current financial situation was dire, and as the head of the household, Yang Tai was eager to improve it. With many construction teams outside and fierce competition, without connections, it was impossible to secure a project. Now that a good opportunity was in front of them, they had to seize it.

“Dad, Mom, do you really think there’s a free lunch in this world? I just met him. Why would he help me for no reason?” Yang Jingwan was reluctant and analyzed, “If I ask him for help, I naturally have to give something in return. Besides being pretty, what else do I have that he might be interested in? Don’t you understand?”

“You can give him some benefits without really giving anything. Besides, Young Master Wang is so handsome. Even if you suffer a little, it’s not a big loss. If things don’t seem right, you can refuse later,” Li Manli said.

“I really doubt if I’m your biological daughter. What kind of mother asks her daughter to do such things?” Yang Jingwan said angrily.

“Mom is doing this for your own good. You can’t let Su Lang ruin your life. While Young Master Wang is interested in you, sacrifice a little to gain some benefits. It will be good for your future,” Li Manli encouraged.

“But I’m married,” Yang Jingwan sighed.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Your marriage is like not being married at all. Don’t think I don’t know. Even though you’ve been married for almost a year, you’ve been sleeping separately from that useless guy,” Li Manli said, “You don’t even consider him your husband, so why bother with so many formalities?”

“But I’m still married in name,” Yang Jingwan, being conservative, couldn’t get past her inner barrier and couldn’t treat herself as a single woman, engaging with other men without reservations.

“How did I give birth to such a foolish daughter?” Li Manli said, slapping her thigh in frustration.