The Art of Teasing - Chapter 136
Chapter 136
Ye Ling packed Wen Zhengyu's personal items while household staff packed her luggage. Once the discharge formalities were complete, the two of them entered the Lian Family residence.
The moment they stepped inside, they sensed the atmosphere was off.
Lian Xin stood in the room, head lowered, hands folded in front of him, his gaze shifting toward the television.
Old Madam Zhang, holding the remote control, was watching television with Old Master Lian.
Wen Zhengyu looked at the screen — from the angle and quality of the footage, it appeared to be surveillance video. Then she saw, in a room, someone grabbing another person by the hair and forcing her face into a water basin. She recognized immediately what it was. As fast as she could, she rushed forward, nimbly turned off the television, and said to her maternal grandfather and grandmother, "It's over, it's done. Don't watch that. At your age, you shouldn't be looking at such things." She was a little flustered; it was utterly shameful. Whether it hurt or not, she'd endured it and it would pass.
Ye Ling immediately stood like Lian Xin, the two of them huddled like a pair of quails. She hated Zhao Si to death — she wished she could beat that bastard to death herself — and she also ached for what Wen Zhengyu had suffered. Even more, she feared Old Madam Zhang.
They had wanted to deal with Zhao Si themselves, but Old Madam Zhang said, "I'll handle it. You two watch carefully." She took over.
Lian Xin could make out traces of Old Madam Zhang's methods.
Ye Ling was also watching, but she couldn't see how Old Madam Zhang had done it. Every procedure followed proper protocols: whatever needed investigating, whatever process needed to be followed — meticulous and exact. Yet the case progressed with startling speed, cleanly and efficiently pushed forward. Zhao Yiyi was now under shuanggui investigation; Zhao Si was in criminal detention. Zhao San had temporarily stepped down from his post and was under investigation as well. Zhao Er, who had settled abroad for years, inexplicably shot himself at home. Old Master Zhao had suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. Zhao Chengxian was running into dead ends everywhere, like an ant on a hot pan. On the surface, the Lian Family in the capital seemed only to have good relations with the Bian and Qi families, plus Old Master Lian still had a few old war comrades he kept in touch with — nothing more. If any family member held office, in ancient terms it would be a minor local post, and not even a key position of authority.
Old Madam Zhang beckoned to Wen Zhengyu. "Come here."
Wen Zhengyu turned around, unplugged the power cord, and only then went over. "Don't watch that anymore. I didn't really suffer much — I took a couple punches and my head went dizzy. After that it was all hazy. Apart from being a little uncomfortable, nothing's wrong."
Old Madam Zhang asked, "Were you scared?"
Wen Zhengyu shook her head. "It was like a dream, but not as frightening as a nightmare."
Old Madam Zhang asked, "What kind of nightmare would be frightening?"
Wen Zhengyu shook her head and said nothing.
Old Madam Zhang insisted on asking.
Wen Zhengyu still said nothing.
Old Madam Zhang said, "I need to see if you've been left with any psychological shadow."
Hesitantly, Wen Zhengyu glanced at Old Madam Zhang, then shook her head again. "It's a dream that has nothing to do with this."
Old Madam Zhang persisted. "You still need to tell me. I've been through everything in this life — do you think I'd be troubled by a dream of yours? It's you I'm worried about. If you don't tell me, I'll only worry more."
Wen Zhengyu stole a glance at Old Madam Zhang, then, slowly and in a tiny voice, said, "I dreamed that Wen Shiyi wanted to kill my mother…" Her voice grew softer until the words faded entirely.
The room fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Old Madam Zhang patted Wen Zhengyu's hand and sighed softly. "We should have claimed you sooner — we should have claimed you sooner. It's noon; let's eat first." She rose and headed toward the dining room.
At the meal, Wen Zhengyu sat between the elderly lady and the old gentleman, serving them dishes and fussing over them to calm their nerves.
Lian Xin was very quiet, eating with his head lowered.
Ye Ling also ate in silence. She had a feeling something wasn't quite right.
After thinking for a long while, it suddenly struck her: earlier, when the old lady and the old gentleman were watching the surveillance footage, their reactions had been far too calm — even calmer than Wen Zhengyu's. It was the exact opposite of their fierce reaction when they first learned Wen Zhengyu had been beaten.
After lunch, Wen Zhengyu went back to her room for a nap. Her energy was still low.
Ye Ling stayed with her for a while, dozed off briefly herself, then went downstairs.
Outside, heavy snow was already swirling.
She sat inside nursing a cup of tea, gazing out through the glass window, lost in thought.
Before long, Lian Xin came over, poured himself a cup of tea, and asked, "CEO Ye, what are you daydreaming about?"
Ye Ling glanced at Lian Xin. "I keep feeling that the old lady has something… like she has some plan for Zhengyu, but… I can't quite put my finger on it. Forget it. I'm overthinking."
Lian Xin raised his eyelids and glanced at Ye Ling. "Why think so much?"
Ye Ling cradled her teacup, musing, "I've been thinking about that saying of the old lady's — it rings particularly true. When you strike someone, don't hit the face. If you're going to hit the face, beat them to death with one blow." Having spent so much time with the old lady, she understood perfectly well that what the old lady detested most was direct violence. For the old lady, resorting to violence meant a fight to the death.
Lian Xin asked, "Are you scheming about my family now?"
Ye Ling replied, "I suppose I count as half a live-in son-in-law, don't I?"
Lian Xin couldn't help but laugh.
Ye Ling said, "As for the Lian Family's affairs, I truly don't like meddling. If something comes up, I'll just ask you. But when it comes to things involving Zhengyu, I can't help but think a little more." The more she turned over the image in her mind — of the old lady and the old gentleman sitting there so calmly watching the surveillance footage — the more it sent a chill right through her bones.
Lian Xin laughed. "My family? We're just an ordinary, modestly well-off household."
Ye Ling thought to herself: On the surface, maybe. No high officials. Not so rich as to make the wealth rankings. Low-profile. Yet when the old lady wanted to stage that opera performance, she could assemble that many people to attend. And when the old lady was to be taken in for investigation, Qi Wei blocked it — not out of fear for the old lady, but merely wanting to block it — and Qi Wei's personal relationship with Zhao Yiyi was very good. And after that opera performance the old lady staged, after those elderly figures made such a scene, the investigation's pace suddenly seemed perfectly logical and reasonable. On the surface, the Lian Family were the victims; there was no sign of them tampering behind the scenes. Yet in reality, things were developing toward a single, crushing, death-blow.
What lay on the surface was always the simplest.
Ye Ling watched Uncle You, escorted by a gate guard, trudging from the side building through the heavy snow toward the main gate — it looked as if he were going to greet someone at the entrance. Not long after, a man in a gray trench coat followed Uncle You from the direction of the gate and approached.
The man stopped below the steps outside the door, standing amidst the heavy snowfall, not coming in.
Lian Xin also noticed. When Uncle You came inside, he asked, "Who's back?"
Uncle You said, "Ma Lu."
Lian Xin rose to greet him. As he opened the glass door, the cold air outside made him shiver. He shouted to Ma Lu, who had looked his way, "What are you standing out there freezing for? Come in."
Ma Lu brushed the snow off himself before stepping inside. Closing the door, he said, "Fourth Young Master."
Lian Xin looked up and immediately saw a scar on Ma Lu's face. "What happened to your face?"
Ma Lu said, "A bullet grazed it."
Lian Xin patted Ma Lu's shoulder and pointed to the living room sofa. "Sit." He asked him about his years in the Middle East.
Ye Ling remained sitting by the window, idly sipping her tea, unmoving, but her gaze never left the man from the moment he entered until he sat down. As for his appearance — it was the kind that would vanish into a crowd the instant you dropped him there. From the way he walked and stood, she could tell he wasn't from a military background, yet he carried an indefinable quality about him, a kind of martial vigor common to people trained in combat.
Not long after, Old Madam Zhang came down from upstairs.
Ye Ling saw Ma Lu immediately rise and stand ramrod straight, looking at Old Madam Zhang with both reverence and excitement. "Old Madam."
Old Madam Zhang said, "You've finally returned. This time I'm not taking no for an answer — even if you haven't run wild enough, you're staying." As she spoke, she descended the stairs.
Ma Lu stepped forward to support her, lowering his head with an apologetic smile. "If you say I'm to stay, then I'll stay."
Old Madam Zhang sighed. "Stay, live a settled life, and also watch over the Eighth Miss. Her two carloads of bodyguards are all useless — not one of them is worth a damn." Supported by Ma Lu, she settled onto the sofa and continued, "The Eighth Miss grew up outside the family. She knows nothing, understands nothing. When others go after her, she just takes it. She doesn't know how to fight back; she doesn't even know how to protect herself. She was raised with every comfort and indulgence — now it's too late to teach her many things, and I'm too old. I can't bear to watch her suffer, and I can't bear to make her."
Ma Lu nodded his assent.
Old Madam Zhang added, "From now on, you'll stay by her side. Take an hour or two each day and teach her. She needs to learn everything about self-protection. Who can keep watch over her every second? Oh, this source of endless worry." She then called toward Ye Ling, who was sitting nearby, "Ye Ling, come over here."
Ye Ling hurried over. "Grandmother."
Seeing that Ye Ling addressed her as "Grandmother," Ma Lu quickly stood.
Old Madam Zhang said, "Ma Lu, this is Ye Ling, the Eighth Miss's partner."
Ma Lu was mildly surprised that the Eighth Miss's partner was actually a woman, but he quickly composed himself and exchanged greetings with Ye Ling.
Old Madam Zhang told Ye Ling, "Go upstairs and wake Yu'er. Don't let her sleep too long."
Ye Ling assented and went up to call Wen Zhengyu.
Old Madam Zhang then asked Ma Lu about his years, and whether there was anyone he had feelings for.
Ma Lu shook his head. "I've never thought about it."
Old Madam Zhang said, "You ought to give it some thought. It's good to settle down and have a family, to have someone who knows when you're cold or warm. After facing life and death out there, you need to have something to look forward to."
As she spoke with Ma Lu, after a little while, Wen Zhengyu ambled downstairs, looking utterly listless.
Wen Zhengyu sat down beside the old lady, casually wrapped her arms around the old lady's arm, and leaned lazily against her shoulder, feeling a bit dizzy.
Old Madam Zhang gently patted Wen Zhengyu's back. "Sit up straight. Don't act like you have no bones."
Wen Zhengyu straightened up, her gaze falling upon Ma Lu. Seeing that he was watching her, she smiled and nodded to him, saying, "Hello."
Old Madam Zhang said, "This is Ma Lu. From now on, he'll follow you. Dismiss those two carloads of people."
Wen Zhengyu blinked in slight surprise, looking at Old Madam Zhang uncertainly. Then she thought, Those two carloads were a bit conspicuous; it's fine to get rid of them. She said, "Wen Jing stays." As for Ma Jun, that informant — she'd leave that to her grandmother.
Old Madam Zhang, rarely seeing Wen Zhengyu so decisive, couldn't help but look her up and down. "You're not afraid?" After what happened to Wen Zhengyu, most people would probably add two more carloads of bodyguards.
Wen Zhengyu replied, "In a fight, having someone cover me gives me enough time to run. If the police want to arrest me, ten carloads of bodyguards wouldn't help."
Old Madam Zhang pressed her hand to her forehead, thoroughly exasperated.
The corner of Ma Lu's mouth twitched as understanding dawned.
Old Madam Zhang said, "Ma Lu, explain things to the Eldest Miss."
Ma Lu said, "A wise man doesn't suffer immediate losses. Regardless of who you're facing, if you can run, run."
Wen Zhengyu said, "Even if they're armed with live ammunition?"
Ma Lu replied, "You haven't been abroad. In war-torn regions, when there are live rounds, that's exactly when you must run — otherwise you lose your life."
Wen Zhengyu was at a loss for words. She thought to herself, Good thing I live in this country.
Ye Ling, however, understood keenly, stealing a glance at Lian Xin and Old Madam Zhang.
Wen Zhengyu asked Ma Lu, "Were you working as a bodyguard abroad, or as a mercenary?"
Ma Lu answered, "Neither."
Old Madam Zhang slapped Wen Zhengyu lightly. "Why ask so many questions? From now on, Ma Lu will stay with you. His monthly expenses will come from your pocket — he'll report to you for reimbursement. He's responsible for your safety and he's also your coach. A security advisor, understand?"
Wen Zhengyu nodded. Her grandmother felt those two carloads of bodyguards weren't up to the job — security had just been upgraded.
Old Madam Zhang said to Wen Zhengyu, "From the time our family first rose to prosperity down to your generation, that's eight generations."
Wen Zhengyu was taken aback, startled.
Ye Ling's heart jolted violently. She felt as though she'd just heard an earth-shattering secret.
Old Madam Zhang took hold of Wen Zhengyu's hand. "I'm not asking for great wealth or rank. If we can live peacefully and safely, that is already a blessing."
Then Old Madam Zhang addressed Lian Xin. "You've muddled along all these years. It's time for you to grow up some."
Lian Xin sat ramrod straight. "Yes, Grandmother."
Old Madam Zhang stood up and left.
Wen Zhengyu watched her grandmother go upstairs. After a moment's hesitation, she whispered to Ye Ling, "Am I still dizzy? Why do I feel like Grandmother is a bit mysterious? Was she frightened?"
Lian Xin stood up, patted Ma Lu on the shoulder, and left.
Ma Lu asked, "Miss Ye, Eighth Miss, when should I report to you about our situation?"
Wen Zhengyu wasn't quite grasping the situation: wasn't Ma Lu simply supposed to accompany her in her daily comings and goings? But then she reconsidered — if Ma Lu could replace two carloads of bodyguards, he must be no ordinary person.
Ye Ling rose. "Let's go to the side hall." She cast a silent glance at Wen Zhengyu, uncertain whether to feel pleased or distressed.
Once in the side hall, Ma Lu sat properly opposite them and said, "When I was in the Middle East, I was mainly responsible for security and cleanup operations. The old lady recalled our small team and assigned me to the Eighth Miss. From now on, we're under your command."
Wen Zhengyu said, "Don't call me Eighth Miss. Miss Zhengyu or Miss Wen will do." It felt too awkward.
Ma Lu nodded. "Very well."
Wen Zhengyu then asked, "The Lian Family has business in the Middle East as well?"
Ma Lu replied, "Yes. However, these matters are not for us to disclose."
Wen Zhengyu eyed Ma Lu suspiciously. Before she could process it, she heard Ye Ling say, "Then tell us what you can."
"We operate in war zones. Major business players all have their own security teams. My brother and I are orphans. When I was seven, the old lady took us in, and we grew up in the Lian household. After I came of age, I went to the Middle East to make my way. My brother is the slow one; he doesn't have great ambitions and isn't suited for that kind of life, so he stayed by the old lady's side, eating a steady, peaceful bowl of rice. My brother is Ma Jun — I hear he's been following the Eighth Miss until recently."
Only then did Wen Zhengyu notice that he did resemble Ma Jun somewhat.
Ma Lu continued, "The old lady told me to come back and follow the Eighth Miss, so I brought all my brothers back with me. For now, the question is settlement — whether the Eighth Miss and Miss Ye will assign us quarters, or if we should find our own."
Ye Ling asked, "How many people?"
Ma Lu gave the number.
Wen Zhengyu immediately sat bolt upright. This wasn't just replacing two carloads of bodyguards — four vans wouldn't even hold them all.
Ye Ling then asked in detail: what kind of people were they?
Ma Lu explained the situation thoroughly. They were all individuals who had come through storms of bullets: each possessed formidable skills and special expertise. As he reported, Ma Lu also kept discreetly observing Wen Zhengyu and Ye Ling.
Wen Zhengyu listened quietly, lost in thought.
Through Ma Lu, Ye Ling found certain previously odd and incongruous details confirmed and falling into place.
Ye Ling asked Wen Zhengyu, "Then shall I make the arrangements?"
Wen Zhengyu nodded.
Ye Ling said, "You pick a few capable ones to follow Zhengyu directly. I have a bodyguard company — they can affiliate with it and continue doing what they're best at. Although these men are given by Grandmother, I still want to test and assess them myself. Zhao Si."
Ma Lu acknowledged.
Ye Ling added, "Zhengyu doesn't like to have many people around. One person on close escort will suffice."
Ma Lu nodded. "Understood. Then I'll bring someone over later."
Ye Ling gave a slight nod, then asked Wen Zhengyu if she had anything else to inquire about.
Wen Zhengyu shook her head.
Ma Lu said, "Then I'll take care of things first." He rose and excused himself.
After Ma Lu left, Wen Zhengyu's mind was still struggling to catch up. This was using a sledgehammer to kill a chicken, wasn't it? Someone of Ma Lu's background — she'd only ever seen people like that in action movies, and now suddenly one had materialized right in front of her. She was dazed. Her grandmother actually had this kind of hand to play?
She thought for a long while before saying, "Xin-ge seems to value Ma Lu very highly."
Ye Ling said, "I do too." Each of them was worth an extraordinary price — the sort of person you couldn't hire even if you wanted to. She suspected Lian Xin had had his eye on Ma Lu for a long time, but because the Zhao Si affair hadn't been handled properly, Ma Lu ended up assigned to Wen Zhengyu. Money was nothing; talent was everything. The people Old Madam Zhang was giving Wen Zhengyu were far more precious than any amount of wealth.
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