C15 Preparing for the Rainy Day

On the second day's morning, Gu Mingfeng and Lin Qingwan concluded their visit to the Lan Family and arrived at the port, escorted by the Lan Family's venerable butler.

As the butler bid them farewell on the ship, his eyes lingered on the box in Lin Qingwan's hands, inwardly sighing at the loss of the rare imperial green jade.

Aboard the cruise ship, Gu Mingfeng and Lin Qingwan settled into first class. Gu Mingfeng was engrossed in his laptop, sifting through emails. His time with the Lan Family had put company business on hold, and he was eager to catch up.

Lin Qingwan watched him, momentarily lost in thought. His deep, captivating eyes contrasted sharply with the scars marring half of his face, a blemish on his otherwise striking features. A smile played on her lips as she found herself anticipating the day she would see his true face.

Feeling claustrophobic, Lin Qingwan stepped to the ship's edge, gazing out at the undulating ocean. She tilted her head slightly and called out in a particular direction, "Is everything taken care of?"

Aofeng, feigning an adjustment to his tie, approached her. "All taken care of. Those two were Lan Yan's men."

Lin Qingwan nodded and dismissed him with a wave, and Aofeng vanished as swiftly as he had appeared. His presence on the journey back to the capital was essential for handling delicate matters discreetly.

Embracing the sea breeze, Lin Qingwan spread her arms wide, her dress billowing. Memories of her past life's bitter end rose within her, and she released a piercing cry to the heavens, her voice echoing long after.

Returning to the cabin, she encountered a young couple engrossed in their laptop, discussing the Lan Family's stocks. They seemed intent on a significant investment.

Lin Qingwan paused before offering a word of caution, "You'd do well to think it over before investing. Barring any surprises, the Lan Family's stock is likely to decline. The former patriarch has just died, and the new heir's daughter is embroiled in scandal. Such news could shake investor confidence, and while their empire is vast, even a minor fluctuation is inevitable."

No sooner had she finished speaking than she caught a complex look directed her way. Lifting her head, she found herself locking eyes with Gu Mingfeng.

Gu Mingfeng spoke with a nuanced tone, "You've caught me off guard; you seem to know quite a bit."

Lin Qingwan felt a twinge of alarm, fearing her identity might be under scrutiny, yet she quickly approached Gu Mingfeng with a smile and looped her arm through his, "Second brother, it's really no big deal. Did you think I spent all my time star-chasing? Many of those celebrities are into the stock market, so of course, I picked up a thing or two."

At the mention of her past follies, Gu Mingfeng's face grew stern. He briskly shook off her hand and strode back to his seat with a frosty air.

Deep in thought, Lin Qingwan realized she needed to concoct a plausible explanation for her newfound demeanor—how else to account for knowledge she shouldn't possess? For now, her former obsession with celebrities might serve as a convenient cover, but what about later?

Taking a seat beside Gu Mingfeng, she watched his long fingers dance across the laptop keyboard, the screen a dizzying array of corporate figures. After a moment's contemplation, she looked up, her expression bright with curiosity, "Second brother, I so wish I could be like you! What do all these numbers mean? I can't make heads or tails of them. Maybe when I return to the capital, I should go back to my old school to enrich my knowledge?"

Previously, Lin Qingwan had attended a prestigious school, but her preoccupation with celebrity culture had kept her from focusing on her studies. Coupled with the harassment and humiliation she endured from her aristocratic peers, she had eventually ditched school to follow her favorite stars around the world.

"Return to school?" Gu Mingfeng lifted his gaze, scrutinizing her, "Are you certain?"

"Absolutely." Lin Qingwan almost patted her chest in assurance. If she could just get back to school, she could explain away her current knowledge as something learned in class or gleaned from books.

However, after observing her for a moment, Gu Mingfeng shook his head and redirected his attention to the laptop screen, "If you're thinking of using this as an excuse to leave home and resume your star-chasing escapades, forget it. Grandfather will never consent."

Lin Qingwan inwardly fumed, cursing to herself. Old Man Gu really did meddle too much—after all, she was only an adopted daughter. What an unnecessary fuss he was making.

Gu Mingfeng turned to look at Lin Qingwan, who was visibly downcast, and spoke in a measured tone, "If you're serious about returning to school and are certain you won't revert to your old ways, I'm actually in favor of it... Grandpa's birthday is coming up soon. If you manage to win his affection, he might just grant your request."

A spark of hope ignited in Lin Qingwan's heart. After a moment's contemplation, she abruptly rose, fetched her suitcase from the storage cabinet, and hurried back to Gu Mingfeng's side. "Second Brother, the jade in here was a stroke of luck—it's mine, and you can't lay claim to it."

Without looking up from his keyboard, Gu Mingfeng's expression remained unchanged as he responded nonchalantly, "Relax, I have no interest in it. But don't be under the illusion that a mere piece of jade will please Grandpa—it's a trivial item, after all."

Lin Qingwan was well aware that a piece of jade was mundane, but what if it were exquisitely carved?

She remembered from her previous life, during the meeting of the nine great families, how Old Man Gu had lusted after her toad jade carving. It wasn't merely for its lifelike appearance, but because the master carver of toads had retired, leaving no more of his works in the world.

The harder something is to obtain, the more desirable it becomes!

And as fate would have it, Lin Qingwan knew exactly where the reclusive master was now.