Chapter 56

Ling Yue got into the gossip, subconsciously shaking her head: 'No... uh, enough!'

She didn't know how to face Ye Xiu Lan, holding back her laughter, feeling she could no longer look straight at this man—pfft-hahaha, it was too funny.

Ye Xiu Lan frowned, intuiting she might have known something; after a moment's thought he asked, 'May I ask, what did it say?'

Ling Yue: 'You really want to hear it?'

She asked repeatedly, each time getting an affirmative answer; Ling Yue glanced around—only the three of them were present, and Linlin was his younger sister, so there was nothing to worry about.

Ling Yue chuckled and said, 'Actually it's not really a bad thing, just that Old Master Ye got too excited, so...'

He'd said it a bit too much.

After Ling Yue repeated it, the room fell into a deathly silence; after a moment, a burst of strong laughter erupted: 'Brother hahaha, my dear brother!'

Ye Yi Lin laughed so hard she clutched her stomach, rolling on the sofa; Ye Xiu Lan's glance startled her, making her jump up with a whoosh, sway a bit, but she still couldn't hold back her laughter.

Two black lines seemed to drop onto Ye Xiu Lan's forehead, his expression blank for an instant as he looked at the dog: 'I believe it.'

He first realized what it meant to lift a rock only to drop it on his own foot; thinking of his childhood dominated by embarrassing incidents, he felt uneasy all over and glanced at Da Jin Mao.

Da Jin Mao perked up his neck and glanced at him: 'What's up? It's just these black histories your grandfather knows.'

Ye Yi Lin was quite adept at adding fuel to the fire, especially cutting with her deadpan remark: 'Ahhh, Ling Yue sis, don't listen—I don't believe it, unless you let grandfather say a few more...'

Ye Xiu Lan couldn't help it and flicked her forehead with a violent chestnut: 'Ye Yi Lin.'

The little girl shrank her head in fright: 'Brother, who are you trying to scare? I'm not afraid of you anymore; if you dare hit my head again, I can't guarantee those embarrassing incidents of yours... tsk tsk, our family's future, our hidden dragons and phoenix chicks! honk honk honk honk~'

She laughed so hard she gasped for breath; meanwhile, Da Jin Mao worriedly patted his knee, and Ye Yi Lin froze instantly, meeting the dog's concerned gaze.

Ye Yi Lin looked toward Ling Yue.

Ling Yue: '...'

Looks like it's my turn to translate again, right?

Ling Yue: 'It said... you, a girl, shouldn't laugh so strangely, otherwise people might think our family keeps a flock of geese.'

This is truly like a giant panda ordering takeout—bamboo shoots (the sarcasm) delivered.

Even Ye Xiu Lan couldn't help but curl his lips; of course he hadn't forgotten the matter: 'Grandfather's affair—can you resolve it? If so, the consultation fee will be doubled afterwards.'

Ling Yue still didn't know how much the consultation fee was, but hearing him say it would be doubled so lightly, she thought it should be easy and not too much.

Ling Yue nodded: 'Sure, but I need to conduct an on-site inspection first.'

She messed with the dog's body: 'Sorry, Old Master Ye.'

Da Jin Mao was especially obedient, letting her lift his paws and shake his head, his doggy eyes gazing affectionately, he whined: 'It's okay, little miss; as long as you can solve grandfather's problem, you can do whatever you want.'

He scratched his head while speaking, meeting Ling Yue's gaze; his serious expression made her laugh involuntarily: "I've examined carefully—the dog's soul isn't in its body, only the old master's soul remains. I think—" Ling Yue looked at Ye Xiu Lan, her expression grave: "I need to see the old master's body before I can draw a conclusion."

No one spoke, Da Jin Mao already barked excitedly: "Great! Great! Great! Let's go quickly!"

"Heaven knows how I am now!" Since being taken from the hospital, the old master hasn't seen his own human form, and he also worries, wondering if something will happen—after all, a dog's soul is still missing.

Obviously, Ye Xiu Lan also thought of this; he said directly: "I'll get the car ready right away, we're going to the hospital."

Ling Yue nodded, no objection.

In the car, Ye Yi Lin finally realized, glaring at the front seat: "Brother, when did you find out? Why didn't you tell me?!"

Ye Xiu Lan's dark eyes flickered: "Yesterday."

"As for telling you, do you think your big mouth can keep it a secret? Grandfather's matter is suspicious; we want as few people to know as possible."

Ye Yi Lin, filled with grief and indignation: "I, I'm not that kind of person, am I?"

Ye Xiu Lan looked at her, his eyes bright, saying: "What do you think?"

Even Ling Yue beside them saw it; Da Jin Mao at their feet shook his head knowingly, sighed, and said solemnly: "Ah, indeed we can't let this girl know—if she finds out, the whole world will know, where am I to put this old face of mine?"

"Master Ling, you agree, right?"

Ling Yue: "... That works, after all there are still people hidden in the dark who haven't been found out; such matters involving the occult are usually due to human factors."

She gave a very serious analysis, which earned the old master's strong approval.

Only Ye Yi Lin, angrily rubbing the dog's head, only then realized she was staring eye-to-eye with Da Jin Mao, and she awkwardly muttered: "Gr, grandfather QAQ"

Da Jin Mao's eyes widened, he instinctively shook his body, his messy fur swaying: "You still know I'm your grandfather? Was rubbing my head that comfortable?"

"I'm a Da Jin Mao, and you're almost turning me into a golden-haired lion king!" Saying that, he shook his head; Ling Yue looked and saw—wow, a magnificent, fluffy golden lion's head.

She couldn't hold back, laughed out loud, lifted her gaze, and met Ye Xiu Lan, who was also laughing; he quickly looked away.

Ling Yue tiptoed, the blanket under her feet soft and plush.

The car soon reached their destination—Jing Shi People's Hospital.

Grandfather Ye's room was on a high floor; they needed to take the elevator. As soon as they entered, Ye Yi Lin felt the temperature drop sharply, her exposed neck breaking out in goosebumps, and she complained: "It's autumn already—why is the hospital still running the air conditioning?"

The elderly woman sharing the elevator, holding a dog leash, laughed at this: "The hospital's air conditioning was turned off days ago; are you feeling weak, little lady? I, an old person, feel fine."

Ye Yi Lin jumped, then realized there were more people in the elevator than just them; looking closer, she saw a very kind elderly lady, though her behavior was a bit odd.

She couldn't help but say: "Grandma, why are you... holding an empty leash?"

Ye Xiu Lan's brow twitched; he couldn't resist tapping her head: "Ye Yi Lin, shut up!"

Poor Ye Yi Lin hadn't reacted yet, but Ling Yue already understood—the old lady wore the hospital's standard blue-and-white gown and held an empty, dangling leash; isn't that obvious enough?

But when she saw clearly behind the old person, she froze for a moment—how could the leash be empty?

Hearing the words, the grandmother's silver hair all shook: "What?"

"Little girl, what's with that look? I'm just walking our family's auspicious one." She muttered, turned her head to look, and instantly panicked: "Auspicious? Auspicious—how did it suddenly get lost?"

Ling Yue lowered her eyes; just then the elevator doors opened, and the family members waiting outside surged forward: "Grandma/Mom, we've finally found you!"

"How can you run around while hospitalized? Do you feel any discomfort?"

The old man saw them, blinked slightly: "Son? Daughter-in-law? Panpan? How did I end up in the hospital?"

The commotion grew, even summoning the on‑duty security; only then did everyone realize this was a hospitalized elderly person who had suffered a minor car accident a few days earlier, had recovered, and was preparing to be discharged.

As for why the elderly person doesn't remember being in the hospital, the daughter‑in‑law said helplessly: "My mother‑in‑law lost her memory after being hit by a car; fortunately she's otherwise fine."

She looked toward the grandmother still searching for the dog, unable to hold back, her eye sockets reddening, she tightened her grip on the child's hand: "Mom, stop looking, you forgot, Ji Xiang, Ji Xiang is already dead."

Little Panpan burst into tears, wailing, little hand wiping her eyes: "Grandma's dog, it's gone, waa waa waa~"

It turned out that, when the car accident happened, the grandmother's dog suddenly lunged out to block the tilting elderly person, it was itself run over and killed by the vehicle, and it was the little dog the couple had buried.

The elderly person shed tears: "How, how could this be? I just saw Ji Xiang by my side a moment ago."

Ye Yilin listening, couldn't help but feel sad.

Only Ling Yue, gazing at the dog leash nearby——there, an anxious little Teddy was desperately wagging its tail toward its owner, its brown curly fur shaking, some dirt stuck to it, it realized it couldn't shake off the dirt, nor could it slip into the little dog leash its owner had prepared, it couldn't help but flop to the ground, letting out a whimper.

"Waa waa waa~ Grandma, owner Grandma, quickly look at Ji Xiang."

It dared not touch its owner, fearing its fur would dirty Grandma; to this day, the little Teddy dog hasn't realized it is already dead, having died in that car accident while protecting its owner.

Ji Xiang followed step for step behind its owner's footsteps, just as loyally and lovingly as in life.

Ling Yue couldn't help but worry for it, she flicked her fingertip, the dog's dirty curly fur instantly became clean and fresh, the cold, yin soul was wrapped in an invisible thin film, the little Teddy was startled by its own change, instinctively knowing that this beautiful miss was helping it.

It stepped forward with tiny steps, barked twice: "Can you let Grandma see me?"

Ling Yue shook her head, the elderly person is old, her body can't take it, at most she can let Ji Xiang linger for a while, until the old person passes away.

Upon hearing this result, Ji Xiang was already quite satisfied.

It wagged its tail at Ling Yue, stuck out its tongue and licked: "Thank you, I'm going to keep Grandma company~"

The little Teddy trotted along with tiny steps, its round little eyes following her slow pace, step for step, the elderly person's face relaxed: "How do I feel... Ji Xiang... Ji Xiang is back?"

Ling Yue saw some tiny specks of light drifting down from people's bodies, merging into the little Teddy's body; it went from a yin spirit to a kind of guardian spirit existence, and if one day its memories and longing fade, it will completely dissipate in the human world.

To the side, Ye Xiu Lan, having sensed something, lightly coughed and had already stepped back into the elevator: "Miss Ling."

Ling Yue withdrew her gaze, re-entered the elevator.

This time no other incidents occurred, the elevator smoothly rose to the floor, Ye Xiu Lan led the way, skillfully bringing them inside.

Da Jin Mao also followed, walking over unsteadily; at the moment the door closed, Ling Yue seemed to sense something, suddenly turned her head, and met the gaze of a little nurse at the hallway corner, who was on the phone but kept her eyes fixed on them.

The little nurse froze, being stared at by those clear, piercing eyes, as if they could see through all her thoughts, she involuntarily clenched her phone.

From the other end of the phone came urging voices; she hurriedly organized her words, and when she looked up again, the ward door was already shut tight.

In the VIP ward, only the old master lay on the bed, his eyes tightly shut, his complexion flushed, indicating good health—he really shouldn't be lying in bed.

Ling Yue's eyes flickered; there is also a special situation: if a person's soul disappears, lacking soul to support the body, they will fall into eternal sleep, and over time will completely die.

Old Master Ye's body is still fine; this is what puzzles Ling Yue—after too long, a body without soul nourishment would enter decline, and he could hardly maintain such a vibrant flush.

After Ling Yue examined carefully, her expression changed again: "Old Master Ye's body still contains a soul."

Da Jin Mao barked, his big eyes full of confusion: "How could that be? I'm still here; whose soul is in my body?"

Ye Yilin instantly thought of the supernatural novel she'd seen, and a chill ran through her: "Could it be that some lonely wild ghost has possessed my grandfather's body?"

Ye Xiu Lan furrowed his brows, his voice low: "Is there any way to drive the soul out?"

Ling Yue: "What if I let him revive first? Let's take a look?"

She always felt this soul was somewhat off, yet it was quite intact, with no miscellaneous stuff; it's just wrapped in a layer of something that encases the soul, hindering it from taking over Old Master Ye's body.

"All right." Ye Xiu Lan's eyes darkened, he rolled up his sleeves, his tense gaze fixed on the old master.

Ling Yue lightly tapped, with a "pop", the big bubble wrapping him suddenly burst; under everyone's watchful eyes, Old Master Ye instantly opened his eyes.

Ye Yilin blurted out: "Grandfather!"

The old master sprang up, stuck out his buttocks, then suddenly braced his limbs, his throat squeezing out a few low whimpers; just as everyone thought the voice sounded familiar, the old master suddenly dropped down, crawling on all fours in a manner that drained sanity, letting out a string of barks: "Woof woof woof!"

Ye Yilin: "!!!"

Ling Yue: "!!!"

No one expected this sudden turn; Ye Yilin gasped in shock, hastily retreated, and "Old Master Ye" seemed to stick to her, limbs crawling wildly, tongue out as if wanting to lick.

Ye Yilin: "Don't come over!!!"

Before Ling Yue could stop it, Da Jin Mao dashed over, mixed with a low, hoarse whimper, lunged forward, one could see despair on his face: "My dear heavens, what lonely wild ghost is inhabiting my body, I've lost all face!"

Just then, the door was opened from outside, two middle-aged men entered one after another, the latter sitting in a wheelchair; after seeing the situation, they exclaimed in unison: "Dad?!"

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle!" Ye Yilin stared, wondering how they could have come.

Second Uncle and Third Uncle are the old gentleman's two other sons; her and her brother's father is the eldest son of the grandfather. Unfortunately, not long after she was born, her parents died in an accident, so they were raised by their grandfather.

She immediately reacted, explaining: "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, things aren't as you imagine!"

The more she said that, the less the two believed them; Second Uncle and Third Uncle exclaimed in shock: "Dad, Dad, what's going on?"

Ling Yue said nothing, then turned to look at Ye Xiu Lan; the man calmed the two with a few words, at the same time tying the old gentleman back to the bed, while Da Jin Mao lay beside the bed, almost lying on his face.

The more it looked, the more it felt wrong, and finally it barked fiercely: "Baby?"

Ling Yue examined closely, the soul inside the old gentleman's body made her frown, shocked beyond measure, she pointed and said: "What now resides in Old Master Ye's body is a dog."

Da Jin Mao lay unsteadily on the old gentleman's body, vaguely pressing down, and immediately it was irritated by the expression on its own face: "My mother, how did Baby end up on my body? My lifetime of brilliance is utterly ruined!"

The despair on its face could be clearly seen even through its fur, and like the two sons undergoing a worldview overhaul, it couldn't help but twitch.

Third Uncle looked at his own elderly father, such a fierce appearance he had never seen before, and couldn't help but say: "Dad, has his soul really been swapped?"

Second Uncle's temper was even more explosive: "How is that possible? How could there be such a freaky thing! I don't believe it!"

At that moment, he was slapped in the face by a paw from the sitting-up Da Jin Mao: "I'll give you a chance, old man, let you say that again."

Ling Yue looked over, the half-believing Second Uncle gazed at the gold-colored fur barely propping up to the chin, and she shivered violently: "Daddy Dad, I was wrong, I won't dare again!"

On the sickbed, "Old Master Ye" let out a whimper; it was Baby, who never imagined that upon opening his eyes he would become the master, without any fur, and happiness gone too—QAQ.

Old Master Ye: "Woof woof woof!"

Ling Yue: "... It says it wants to go back, a body without fur is so ugly!"

Da Jin Mao: "You want to go back? I want to go back too! Opening my eyes to become your dog—what the heck is this?!"

The old gentleman was so angry his fur all over stood on end, like a fluffy golden ball; Third Uncle hurriedly pushed the wheelchair over: "Dad, you have a heart condition, don't get angry, don't get angry..."

While saying that, he also used his hand to smooth the gold fur; this affected manner made Second Uncle involuntarily curl his lip: "Our dad is now a dog, what kind of heart condition does he have!"

Third Uncle was startled, Da Jin Mao also froze, then quickly jumped away; after turning into a dog, his health improved greatly, which is beyond doubt. But—

Da Jin Mao pounced on Haoda'er with the momentum of a hungry tiger pouncing on food: "Ghost! I'll give you a ghost!"

In an instant, the sound of a man clutching his head and wailing in pain echoed in the ward: "Daddy, Dad, I dare not! Don't hit, my head hurts!"

"Second Uncle, Third Uncle." Ye Xiu Lan's eyes darkened: "Quiet down, let's still discuss how to swap them back."

Several people looked at each other; eventually, the urgent gaze fell on Ling Yue, making her scalp go numb.

Ling Yue: "I can, but I need some materials to set up a formation to ensure the human and dog soul swap succeeds."

Soul swapping isn't really difficult for her now, but if she had encountered it earlier, it would have been troublesome.

Should we say it's fortunate or unfortunate?

After all, this is also the first time Ling Yue has encountered such a thing.

She listed the needed materials; almost instantly, Ye Xiu Lan replied: "They should all be findable; what's the earliest time?"

Ling Yue was about to answer when the hot-tempered Second Uncle spoke up, expressing strong doubt: "Isn't she your girlfriend?"

Or maybe he misheard something; how did it suddenly become a big deal? Looking at Ling Yue's delicate, pretty face, young in age, the Second Uncle couldn't help but hiss: "She's too young, is this reliable?"

Ling Yue: "……"

You still have quite a lot on your plate.

She turned to look at Ye Xiu Lan and said decisively: "Mr. Ye, swapping the dog and Old Master Ye back to their original positions requires a formation's assistance, while swapping the baby with this gentleman is quite easy." She then looked at Ye Second Uncle: "Since you doubt it, why don't you try it on Old Master Ye first?"

Upon hearing this, Old Master Ye shouted loudly: "Woof woof woof woof woof!"

Ye Second Uncle waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no, no, Master, please continue!"

He himself had no hope, so he could only pin his hopes on Old Third; who knew that upon receiving the hint, the other party wouldn't say a word.

Ling Yue and Ye Xiu Lan agreed to continue tomorrow, their gazes sweeping over the two uncles without leaving a trace.

After leaving the hospital, she didn't go home but instead found a coffee shop to sit down.

"Miss, hello, may I ask if you're alone—or—"

Ling Yue: "Waiting for someone."

She casually ordered a coffee and a piece of cake, took a few bites, when suddenly a shadow fell across from her; a man in a suit sat down, his peerlessly handsome face turning out to be Ye Xiu Lan.

The man sat upright; when he caught sight of the strawberry cake in front of her, his gaze froze for a moment: "Miss Ling."

Ling Yue smiled slightly: "It was handled quickly."

Ye Xulan nodded and got straight to the point: "At first I suspected it was my own business rival, but now I think it might be an insider."

Ling Yue showed little expression, mainly because she had already seen this once, but looking at his state she couldn't help saying: "Just get used to it..."

After saying that she realized: "Um... just pretend I never said anything."

On the contrary, Ye Xulan, whose face was usually stern, broke into a spring-like smile: "It's fine."

The talk kept circling around Old Master Ye; after leaving the ward earlier, Ling Yue texted Ye Xulan what she'd found before entering the ward, and they agreed to meet at a coffee shop near the hospital, leading to today's meeting.

The discussion was dull; according to Ye Xulan's answer, the other party was likely targeting the Ye Group, since if Old Master Ye died or fell unconscious, the Ye family without a head would naturally fall into chaos, and even with Ye Xulan holding the fort, it's hard to guarantee no one would try to profit from the confusion.

Ling Yue listened and sighed; it was still all about the inheritance.

But regarding his two uncles, who exactly is that person? Or could it be both of them?

That night, at the Ye family's old residence.

The patient woke up; "Old Master Ye" had been moved back home, but was tied up in a room, at Da Jin Mao's own strong insistence—over the phone Ling Yue could hear its heart‑rending tone: "Disgraceful! Disgraceful!"

"I never imagined I could make such an ugly face; I have to tie him up, my poor heart can't take it—if anyone saw me like this… like this…"

Ling Yue's translation also stalled, when timely inserted by her close granddaughter: "Aberrant species?"

Da Jin Mao glared at her fiercely: "Unworthy descendant!"

"Anyway, just tie him up for a day; we'll swap him back tomorrow."

And thus we have the present scene.

After a busy day, Ye Yilin, having finished her meal, squatted before the cat nest to feed Cuihua; beside her, the dog Dan eating pet food couldn't help sniffing, "So fragrant, so fragrant!"

It never imagined that one day it would crave the daughter‑in‑law's cat food so much, which seemed completely different from what it ate, with a rich, alluring aroma—even Ye Yilin the human finds it a little hard to resist.

She shook the heavy can, and while pouring the cat food she couldn't resist slipping a piece into her mouth; blushing, she said to the astonished Cuihua, "Cuihua, let me try this for you—how good is this cat food—mm~~"

With a crunching sound, Ye Yilin's eyes widened—was this cat food? Surely not some newly invented delicacy? She couldn't help pinching a few more: "One bite doesn't tell me; I'll just eat a few more."

"Miss!"

The butler, likewise preparing to go upstairs to feed the dog, stared open‑mouthed at her actions: "If you haven't eaten well, just tell me—why, why go to such lengths!"

He shook his head, utterly heartbroken.

Ye Yilin: "QAQ"

I want to say I'm just craving—do you believe me?

The old butler's face plainly wrote the two words "disbelief"; Ye Yilin knew she was done for.

The downstairs clamor didn't disturb upstairs; in the quiet room, Ye Xulan glanced to the side, where the old master lay flat on the bed, his two uncles slumped beside him.

Ye Xulan: "It's getting late; you'd better go back to your rooms to rest."

Da Jin Mao also shook out his fur, whining a few times: "Yeah, yeah, hurry up—I'm watching the room!"

Unfortunately, no one present could understand animal speech; they looked at him blankly, and after a while they trickled out one by one.

Ye Xulan closed the door, his gaze sweeping over a pile of gift boxes stacked to one side—all the materials delivered today.

His eyes flickered; the "Old Master Ye" on the bed was already snoring, lying on his belly with paws folded, a typical dog pose.

In the dead of night, a black shadow slipped into the room; shortly after, the ajar door was pushed open, and the shadow slipped downstairs lightly and neatly.

The next morning, Ling Yue arrived at the Ye residence; the servant brought breakfast first, and after the meal the dessert was a delicate strawberry cake, which made Ling Yue glance at Ye Xulan unbidden.

He remained composed, as if he hadn't noticed.

Before his identity was exposed, Da Jin Mao could still pretend to be a dog eating; now everyone knows he's the old master, and he's shameless!

So he just ate and drank in the room.

The group went up to the second floor, to the old master's room; the puppy lay dejected on the bed, its doggy look, even though already known, still an eyesore.

Da Jin Mao covered its eyes with its paws: "If I can't see it, nothing happened!"

It muttered while nervously wagging its tail.

Ling Yue: "Then I'll start preparing."

Actually the formation is simple; its purpose is to bind the souls of a person and a dog, the outside world holds many dangers, and the nature of living souls and yin souls is completely different.

She lit a few incense sticks; amidst the slowly rising sandalwood scent, Ling Yue began casting the spell, the person and dog lay in the middle of the formation, a few people by the door watched, and Second Uncle couldn't help muttering, "Who knows if it's real or fake?"

"Third brother, do you think Dad can wake up this time?"

Third Uncle shook his head, gripping the chair back with one hand: "I don't know; we need to give Xiu Lan this kid confidence—maybe Dad will wake up."

Second Uncle startled: "If Dad doesn't wake up, I'll definitely not spare him!"

"Little brat, do you really think becoming the CEO of the group is just his, and we're not? We are also Dad's sons; why is he so biased, passing us over and giving the group to him?"

He said, lowering his voice: "I'm not resigned! I also want to strive!"

These words tugged at Third Brother's heartstrings, making him unconsciously glance at the other party—yeah, who wouldn't be unwilling?

Third Uncle's gloomy gaze fell on the middle of the formation.

While they talked, they didn't notice; Ye Xiu Lan's peripheral glance, originally fixed on the ritual, flicked lightly, constantly monitoring the two's movements; beside him, Ye Yi Lin clasped her hands: "Guanyin Bodhisattva, Tathagata Buddha, Jade Emperor—no matter which deity, please protect my grandfather!"

Ling Yue bent over, lay near the dog's ear and said a few words; the dog's eyeballs rolled around following her.

At the moment the three incense sticks burned out, Ling Yue withdrew her gesture, looked at everyone: "It's done."

Everyone's gaze fell on the old master, expressions varied.

After a while, he still didn't wake up; instead, the gold fur dog slapped Second Uncle's face with a paw; he startled, his tone raised, not knowing whether shocked or devastated: "Is this my dad? Did the ritual fail?"

The situation took a sudden turn for the worse; everyone looked at her; Third Uncle wore a look of grief and indignation: "What on earth is happening? Why won't my dad even wake up?"

They still remembered Ling Yue's earlier words: once becoming a soulless shell, vitality would quickly decline; they absolutely could not delay.

Ling Yue stood to the side, looking somewhat at a loss, her guilty look obvious.

Second Uncle even jumped up and down, not knowing whether he felt relieved or something else, he demanded: "Ye Xiu Lan, is this how you, as a good grandson of the grandfather, act? Trusting a young female swindler! Fine, you're making fools of us!"

Third Uncle directly said: "Fortunately I've already found other masters; I will certainly be able to return Dad's soul to its place."

He said, clapping his hands, a pale-faced, long-bearded daoist pushed the door open, possessing somewhat an immortal wind and dao bone aura, performed a daoist salute, and said: "I am Daoist Zhenyangzi, I have greeted all patrons."

"Third brother!" Second Uncle stared at him, dumbfounded; the pain of being stabbed in the back twisted his face; no one knows better than him that once the old master's soul returns, the Ye Group will definitely be completely handed over to Ye Xiu Lan; then, we uncles who are a generation older will have to make a living under him!

Pain! Too painful!

Third Uncle glanced at him expressionlessly, silently mocking: "Idiot!"

In an instant, he changed his expression, sincerely looking at Ye Xiu Lan: "Xiu Lan, uncle's doing this is also a helpless move; who let you bring in Master Ling, who seems not that powerful?"

Then looking at Da Jin Mao, with a face of helpless pain: "Dad, wait for me, I will definitely rescue you from the golden fur."

Da Jin Mao lay on the ground without hindrance, tongue out; if you look closely at its eyes, you'll find they are a clear spring to the bottom, lacking any of the previous vicissitudes.

Unfortunately he was already completely immersed in joy, bowing and saying: "Daoist Zhenyangzi, please."

Daoist Zhenyangzi furrowed his brows, dispelled the apprehension in his eyes, and excitedly said: "What kind of formation is this? Chaotic mess, simply nonsense!"

Ling Yue laughed.

In the quiet room, it was very abrupt.

Daoist Zhenyangzi took out the talismans he had prepared, one stuck on the dog's head, one on the old master's forehead, vermilion red cinnabar on yellow paper.

Daoist Zhenyangzi muttered incantations; actually only he and Ye Third Uncle knew this wasn't a lifesaving straw for the old master, but his final death-summoning talisman!

Watching the two talismans ignite without wind, turning to ash, Second Uncle fell into utter despair; the dog suddenly let out a mournful howl, thudded, and collapsed unable to rise.

"How, how is this?" Second Uncle was completely dumbfounded; what the heck is this?

Ling Yue clapped her hands, both hands empty; if she had a bucket of popcorn or melon seeds, it would be even better.

Ye Xiu Lan's dark, deep eyes fixed on Third Uncle sitting in the wheelchair, he gave a slight smile, his tone flustered: "Master Zhenyangzi, what's going on?"

The latter twirled his beard, unhurried: "This should be a mistake during the spell, causing this Ye patron's soul to scatter during transfer; I am ashamed."

Ye Yi Lin stared blankly: "So you mean my grandfather... he's gone?"

She immediately reddened her eyes, glaring viciously: "I know, you're all in cahoots! Third Uncle, why did you do this?!"

"Grandfather, he's your own father!"

Ye Second Uncle, out of it, stared wide-eyed: "What?"

"What the heck, all this is what? The biggest winner turned out to be my third brother? The clown is actually me. JPG"

Third Uncle smiled calmly: "How could that be possible? This is just an accident."

"'Dad's death also makes me very sad.' His tears come and go, his acting superb; otherwise, he wouldn't have deceived all relatives, including Ye Xiu Lan, with his silent, honest nature."

Ye Second Uncle suddenly realized: his third brother, while he was fighting over stock dividends and positions, the third brother had been honestly working at the company, doing ordinary mid-level work; turns out he wasn't not competing, he was gathering strength for a big move!

"'Turns out the only fool is me. JPG'"

At this moment, Third Uncle tears streaming down his face, mournfully said: "Dad's death also makes me very sorrowful, but people cannot be resurrected; the dead must make way for the living, Xiu Lan, the current Ye Group is not suitable for you."

Ling Yue watched, shaking her head straight, estimating he only lacked to plainly say: "Ye Group, take it!"

Ye Xiu Lan faced him squarely, just as Ye Yi Lin had asked earlier: "Why are you doing this? Where has Grandfather wronged you?"

Third Uncle laughed loudly: "Where hasn't he wronged you? Clearly all are his close blood relatives; why only leave the company to you, shares, dividends—what are those?"

His eyes reddened as if about to drip blood: "Only the Ye Group, the Ye Group is the big thing; giving me these things is like sending off a beggar!"

He said, then suddenly sprang up from the wheelchair, moving freely, showing no trace of his previous disability.

Ye Second Uncle: '!!!'

He stared agape in shock: "Old Three, Old Three, you're faking disability?!"

His appearance was like seeing a UFO, unbelievable, and he increasingly felt he was the intellectual low point of the Ye family.

Second Uncle Ye clutched his head: "I, I… have I brought shame upon our Ye family?"

Ye Yilin: "……Second Uncle also gave me a QAQ"

The two intruders made Ling Yue also helplessly rub her forehead; fortunately, Third Uncle Ye didn't mind, he coldly smiled as he approached Ye Xiu lan: "It's a miracle—because Old Master Ye passed away, I was so grief-stricken that my legs, disabled for many years, actually got better."

Ye Yilin: "Ah… this… do you think the pair of eyes on my nose are for exhaling?"

Third Uncle Ye: "Noisy! What are you? I'm his son; you're just grandchildren!" He grew even more aggressive: "Ye Xiu lan, tell me, on what basis do you inherit the Ye family? This isn't favoritism—what is it then?"

Ling Yue looked at him and couldn't help saying: "…Hmm, isn't it possible that you're just not capable enough?"

After that meeting where they just goofed off, Ling Yue looked up the Ye family's history: Old Master Ye built it from scratch, personally founding it; among his three sons, the eldest was talented, but sadly he and his wife died young in an accident while working away. The second son once served as purchasing department manager; half a year later, the company owed one hundred million; afterwards, the third son took over, and in three months lost three hundred million.

In the end, Old Master Ye came out of retirement again, and together with the then teenage Ye Xiu lan they turned the tide; afterward he withdrew to a secondary role, and that's how things stand today.

The other two who heard this: "……"

"Who are you?" Third Uncle Ye, somewhat annoyed and embarrassed, snapped: "A fraud—what right do you have to interject?"

Ye Yilin's brows furrowed: "No bullying—"

Before she could finish, a pair of hands shielded Ling Yue; she looked up, and Ye Xiu lan stood before her, Ling Yue seeing blue‑gray veins bulging on the back of his hand.

Ye Xiu lan stared coldly at him, like a dark river: "So this is your reason for doing this—even beasts know gratitude, you're worse than a beast. Do you think that with Grandfather gone, the Ye family belongs to you?"

Third Uncle Ye's face turned ashen; after a moment he said: "Of course not. So I've already contacted the company's shareholders; we'll hold a shareholders' meeting tomorrow."

"President Ye, be sure to show up."

He laughed triumphantly, the wisdom pearl in his grasp.

Ling Yue suddenly spoke: "No wonder you chose to show your hand—it's because you still have this trump card."

"If Old Master Ye really had something happen to you, you'd actually have succeeded—too bad—"

Third Uncle Ye's face twitched slightly; before he could speak, a hoarse old voice suddenly rang out in the room: "Woof woof woof woof woof woof!"

Old Master Ye sat on the bedside, seeing everyone look over, he rubbed his head: "Sorry, I've been acting like a dog for too long, I almost forgot how to speak human."