Chapter 195: Li Bingbing

Beijing, a certain residential community

Li Xue stepped out of the bathroom and stared in surprise at Li Bingbing changing her shoes at the door.

"Sis, are you going out?"

Li Bingbing paused, then replied calmly, "Yeah, meeting a friend."

"A friend?"

Li Xue frowned. Li Bingbing was outgoing and well-liked; she often went out for meals or gatherings.

But what time was this?

The negotiations with Huayi had failed; the team had been working around the clock, and just two days ago, Li Bingbing had been so anxious she couldn't sleep—dark circles under her eyes. Why was she suddenly going out to meet a friend?

"Yeah, this friend knows a lot of people. Might have some insider info. I'm going to ask around."

Li Bingbing, seasoned and composed, spoke with calm assurance. Li Xue nodded—this explanation made sense.

She turned toward the bedroom: "I'll change clothes. I'll come with you."

"Uh, no need. I don't know this person well. Bringing you along wouldn't be appropriate. Stay home and wait for news."

Li Bingbing found another excuse. Li Xue, hearing this, dropped the matter.

"Be careful on the way. Call if anything happens."

"I know. How old do you think I am? Are you my sister or am I yours?"

Li Bingbing grumbled as she slipped on her shoes and walked out. Li Xue returned to bed to catch more sleep, but something felt off.

Meeting a friend? Why the full makeup? And had she even styled her hair?

And that dress—she remembered buying it at Henglong Plaza in Shanghai, costing twenty or thirty thousand. She'd praised how nice it looked, but Li Bingbing had worn it only once. Now she'd paired it with silk stockings.

Normally, when meeting friends privately, her sister dressed casually—sometimes even just a baseball cap or no makeup at all.

For less familiar or more important meetings, she dressed neatly, but never this meticulously.

It didn't look like a friend meeting—it looked like… a date?!

Li Xue scratched her head. No, if her sister were dating, she wouldn't hide it.

She wasn't just her biological sister—she was also her agent. If romance caused any trouble, Li Xue needed to know in advance to intervene and clean up the mess.

Could it be that her sister had some secret burden, afraid of worrying her, going alone to face it alone?

Li Xue couldn't help imagining all sorts of scenarios.

It wasn't unreasonable to suspect—Li Bingbing's mood had been off these past two days. She wouldn't talk about it. Unusual. Now that she looked back, it seemed like she was struggling, hesitating.

No, she had to follow her and see.

Li Xue couldn't sit still. Sisters, no matter what, had to share the burden.

If something went wrong, she had to stop her sister from doing something foolish. It was just a Huayi contract—maybe they'd earn less, but no need to sacrifice so much.

She quickly changed clothes and rushed toward the community gate—but too late. Li Bingbing had already driven off.

She called—no answer.

Li Xue's heart sank. She returned home, dejected, deciding to wait until Li Bingbing came back.

Haidian, Wanquan Xinxin Jiayuan

Li Bingbing parked her car and, following the text message address, arrived at a seven-story residential building. She took the elevator to the third floor.

She knocked on the door—no response. She called. Then, scowling, she reached into the electrical meter box, pulled off a piece of tape, and retrieved a key. She opened the door and stepped inside.

The apartment was spacious—roughly over 150 square meters.

The renovation was elegant, furniture and appliances complete, but there were no signs of daily life—clearly not lived in long-term. Still, it was spotless, likely cleaned regularly.

She took a bottle of water from the fridge, checked the expiration date, drank while watching TV, waiting.

She'd seen Li Xue's missed calls but didn't know how to reply. She'd deal with it after this meeting.

On TV, the local channel aired "Little Fish and Hua Wukue," where Jiang Yuyan, dressed in imperial robes, used Xiao Yuer as a tennis racket.

Li Bingbing sipped her water. This drama had aired two months ago.

Though not yet broadcast nationally, it had achieved excellent ratings on multiple regional stations. With online rights sold, online buzz was also significant.

Coupled with the recent hit "The First Hero," Wang Pangzi's two wuxia dramas had both become wildly popular after he moved north to produce them.

Leaving aside reviews, they clearly demonstrated his strength as a commercial director.

Wang Pangzi quickly followed up with "Eight Heroic Warriors," assembling numerous stars from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the mainland. Li Bingbing played the female lead.

Rumor had it he wanted to bring in Fan Xiaopang to ride the "Double Bing" hype.

But Fan Xiaopang was busy filming "The Investiture of the Gods" and "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng," had no schedule, and with the "Double Bing" feud escalating, it was too risky to appear together—so she declined.

But Li Bingbing and her sister suspected this was likely Yu Yanli's doing.

The hotter the "Double Bing" brand became, the more they clashed—and the more valuable their potential reunion became.

As the mastermind behind the "Double Bing" rivalry and its beneficiary, how could Yu Yanli let this gimmick slip into someone else's hands?

So when Wang Pangzi tried to make it happen, Yu Yanli sabotaged it, snatched Fan Xiaopang away, and crushed Huayi's hopes—ensuring only he could ever reunite the "Double Bing" again.

Once the "Double Bing" brand grew even stronger, this gimmick alone could be worth tens of millions.

Yu Yanli made no effort to hide this.

He'd once half-jokingly, half-seriously said: "When Wang doesn't meet Wang, nothing happens. But when Wang meets Wang, attention spikes—that's a goldmine. Making a drama is a waste. It should be a commercial film—clean out the cash."

As she pondered this, the doorbell rang. Li Bingbing opened the door. Yu Yanli stepped in.

Li Bingbing couldn't hold back her irritation: "You invited me to your home—and you weren't here?"

"Well, uh—"

Yu Yanli looked embarrassed: "I don't live here normally. And I didn't expect you to come so early—I thought you'd arrive in the afternoon."

As he spoke, he searched for slippers, but there were too few—he didn't even know where the shoe cabinet was.

Li Bingbing helped him find them, changed into a pair herself, and complained about how poorly he'd hidden his key.

"Aren't you afraid someone will steal it?"

Though Wanquan Xinxin Jiayuan was a high-end community in Haidian with decent security, theft in villa districts wasn't unheard of these days.

"I don't live here much. Just some furniture and appliances—nothing worth stealing."

Yu Yanli wasn't concerned. Even if stolen, his intelligence system could track it faster than the police.

"Even without thieves, if neighbors mess around, that's bad. Be more careful."

Li Bingbing was a public figure—she was sensitive about privacy and security in her living space.

"No neighbors."

Yu Yanli explained: "Only my unit on this floor is occupied. The adjacent one is empty."

"What if someone moves in later?"

"Impossible. Both units are mine."

Li Bingbing: "???"

Yu Yanli took a key from the TV cabinet and led her to the neighboring unit. The area was similar in size, but without luxury renovation—only basic plumbing, electrical, doors, windows, and flooring installed.

"I originally bought just one. But the neighbor's business failed and sold cheaply. I bought it for peace and quiet."

"I thought about connecting both units, but since I rarely stay here, selling them later would be harder, so I left them separate."

Li Bingbing: "..."

Though Haidian's property prices didn't match the inner city or Chaoyang, this community bordered the Summer Palace, Zhongguancun, and Haidian Park, surrounded by several universities—its value was certainly several thousand per square meter.

Together, the two units totaled nearly 300 square meters—worth two or three million.

Such an expensive property, left idle like this—wasn't that a bit excessive?

"Excessive?"

Yu Yanli didn't care. He needed a private base. Two or three million was nothing to him. Besides, real estate could appreciate and retain value.

"If you two have spare cash, you could buy a few units here. Lots of schools, high appreciation potential."

Yu Yanli casually revealed a little investment tip—gleaned from his system, which predicted strong future property growth in this area.

Even without the system, it was obvious: Zhongguancun, schools, scenic spots, mature infrastructure—all designed to build a premium community. It would surely become one of Haidian's core districts.

Yu Yanli mentioned it offhand, but Li Bingbing seriously considered it.

Though she and her sister might have analyzed this themselves, analysis didn't guarantee decisive action.

But Yu Yanli carried too many commercial accolades—his insight and ability were trusted by Li Bingbing and her sister. His suggestion tipped her balance instantly.

Back in the luxury unit, Li Bingbing quickly turned to the real matter.

These past two days, she'd been anxious about dragging Yu Yanli into trouble—couldn't even sleep.

Yu Yanli paused, then began fabricating: "They haven't moved yet. Probably probing my weaknesses. Their tactics are limited: smear me, ruin my reputation, sabotage projects to make me lose money, or strike through official channels."

"Smearing me would create too much noise—easy for me to counter. They're busy dealing with Chengtian right now; they likely lack the energy or funds."

"Sabotaging projects? I operate independently. My investors are profit-sharing—no real influence. The companies I work with aren't easily obstructed. Their capabilities aren't enough."

"Compared to their background, the easiest and most lethal move would be through official channels: tax audits, bureaucratic delays, or targeting me or my inner circle."

"..."

Yu Yanli was fabricating—but also mentally simulating.

Future conflicts were inevitable. These tactics would come up sooner or later—even ones he might use against others.

Besides these standard moves, he could also use intelligence for targeted strikes, sow discord.

This idea came from his previous handling of Song Zhude.

He'd exploited hidden secrets. No one thought of a system—they immediately suspected a mole inside.

Yu Yanli could use intelligence for counter-espionage. Even if he didn't trigger internal conflict, he could breed suspicion and mistrust, forcing them to cut off their own arm.

If played skillfully, this tactic could even force a massive internal purge.

After all, in a conflict between two sides, it's not the enemy's strength you fear—it's betrayal from within.

Yan Li was lost in these thoughts, while Li Bingbing's face had gone pale.

"It can't be that brutal."

"If I don't strike hard now, am I supposed to wait until I've recovered to challenge them? These two are smart—they either don't act at all, or they crush you completely, leaving you no chance to fight back."

"Then what do we do?"

Li Bingbing was starting to panic. Before coming, she'd thought even if Yan Li couldn't resolve this, at worst she'd take a loss—and she'd make it up to him later.

But now it looked like a fight to the death. If Yan Li's billions got swallowed up, even both sisters together couldn't make up the loss.

"Don't rush."

Yan Li realized he'd hyped it up too much—what if this sister went straight to those two and begged for mercy? That'd ruin everything. He quickly backtracked.

"They're capable, but I'm not just sitting idle. If I'd been caught off guard, I might've taken a big hit—but now that I've heard the rumors, their advantage is already diminished."

"These two aren't stubborn fools. I've already tipped them off—we'll meet up and talk."

Li Bingbing said: "Then I'll go with you."

"No need. Just trust my word."

Yan Li showed off his confidence: "Relax. Those two old fools? They bully the weak and cower before the strong—they can't touch me."

Seeing his confidence, Li Bingbing felt slightly reassured, her expression complex: "This really is a trouble for you."

If not for the two sisters using Yan Li as leverage against Huayi, he wouldn't have ended up clashing with the Wang brothers.

"It's not that. I've said it multiple times—this isn't just your issue. You're just the spark. The real key is Xiao Fan. Besides, people not on the same path will inevitably clash sooner or later."

Yan Li didn't take all the credit—he comforted Li Bingbing instead, making her feel even more guilty and moved.

Since meeting the two sisters, Yan Li had always helped them.

The only thing he asked in return was a role in "Seven Fairies in Joyful Heaven."

As for helping with the Double Bing publicity stunt, yes, she had boosted Xiao Fan's profile and aided "Seven Fairies in Joyful Heaven."

But she herself gained plenty—her current exposure and buzz wouldn't exist without Yan Li's planning. It was mutually beneficial.

At most, she'd been stacked on top of Xiao Fan once more—but he'd also promised not to touch her sister, Li Xue.

Thinking it over, Li Bingbing felt deeply indebted to Yan Li—almost greedy.

Xiao Fan had gained a lot, but he'd truly worked for Yan Li. She, however, had only taken advantages without giving anything—and now she'd nearly dragged Yan Li into a massive downfall.

Li Bingbing grew more ashamed by the thought: "That show you mentioned—I'll give it my all. If that's not enough, I'll give you another one. I'll make sure you're satisfied."

"The show isn't urgent."

Having secured Li Bingbing's agreement to join the cast, Yan Li set the matter aside and bent his head to study her stockings.

"Last time you said you'd repay me—how exactly did you plan to do it?"

Seeing his expression, Li Bingbing's mood improved. She'd come today deliberately dressed up, fully expecting this moment.

This dog of a man was insatiable with lust. She had no money or resources like him—besides helping him with films, she had nothing else to offer.

Of course, Li Bingbing didn't mind—she even secretly looked forward to it.

Last time, when they'd been together with Xiao Fan, though embarrassing, Yan Li's vigor had left an unforgettable impression on her—she couldn't help replaying it in her mind.

Li Bingbing was already in her thirties, with strong needs.

Yan Li's status, personality, looks, physique, ability—and their relationship—made him a near-perfect… partner for her.

"Do whatever you want."

A woman in her thirties, experienced and worldly, was far more open than a girl—and Li Bingbing, with her northeastern toughness, was even… more straightforward.

Yan Li was satisfied. Younger sisters were pretty and cute, but sometimes it was the older ones who truly knew how to care…

…

In the morning, Li Bingbing left. She didn't return home until eleven at night.

She quietly opened the door, dared not turn on the lights, and was about to slip off her shoes and head to her room when a muffled sound came from the sofa.

"Sis, you're back."

"Mm."

Li Bingbing answered nervously and turned toward the bedroom: "Tired all day—I'm going to sleep."

But click—the living room lights snapped on. Li Xue was watching her, her eyes slowly reddening.

Her stockings were gone. Her dress neckline was loose. Her face was flushed, slightly weary.

Li Bingbing instinctively adjusted her clothes, unable to meet her sister's gaze.

Could she have guessed?

Li Bingbing had always wanted to tell her sister the truth—to end her feelings for Yan Li.

But she feared her sister's anger, feared they'd fall out, so she'd never found the right moment.

Besides, she had a selfish motive: once the truth was out, her sister would give up—and then she herself wouldn't be able to meet Yan Li privately anymore.

Li Bingbing couldn't bear to let go, so she kept delaying, even convincing herself she was watching over Yan Li to honor his promise not to touch Li Xue.

If it were purely for Li Xue's sake, Li Bingbing would've accepted being misunderstood. But with her own selfishness involved, it was no longer honorable.

So she found it hard to face her sister—and now, caught red-handed, she felt like a thief.

But Li Bingbing was wrong. Seeing this scene, Li Xue assumed her sister had done something she didn't want to see—and seeing how "broken" she looked, she couldn't help feeling pity.

Li Bingbing: "..."

It really was "tough." Last time, with Xiao Fan's help, though she'd been utterly defeated, it had still been within limits.

This time, facing Yan Li alone, and with his promise to go all out, she'd returned home too weak to drive—he'd personally brought her back.

They say a woman at thirty is like a she-wolf, at forty like a tiger—but none can withstand a real-life heavenly deity…

Too embarrassed to explain, she planned to make it up later. She offered a few simple soothing words and stumbled back to her room.

Seeing this, Li Xue grew even more heartbroken and angry. She returned to her room, thought for a moment, then sent Yan Li a text.

【You have wide connections—can you help me look into something?】

Yan Li wasn't asleep. He read the message and assumed there was trouble in Li Bingbing's team—he immediately replied to ask.

【Find out who my sister has been close to lately. The company's negotiations are stuck, and she says she's getting help—I don't trust it. Can you check?】

Li Xue didn't dare say it outright, hinting instead. Yan Li fell silent for a moment, then replied: 【Okay.】

【Thank you.】

Li Xue was moved. Yan Li had no deep financial ties to the sisters, yet he never hesitated to help.

Her sister always accused him of being promiscuous—but isn't a man who isn't promiscuous always reliable in a crisis?

If she'd been with Yan Li, today's situation might never have happened. Her sister being mistreated—Yan Li's nature meant he'd stand up for them both without hesitation.

【It's been a long time. When this busy stretch is over, let me take you to dinner. It's my thanks for all you've done for us sisters.】

"..."

On the way back to Xinxin Garden, Yan Li stared at the text on his phone, not replying.

Having two meals from one fish was fine—Li and Xiao Fan wouldn't cross-check.

But Li Xue—he truly didn't dare touch her. He honored his promise, and he understood how sensitive Li Bingbing was about this.

They were real sisters—nothing like the Double Bing situation. If he messed around, Li Bingbing would truly tear him apart…

————

The next day, Yi'an Film & Television

Yan Li arrived at his office. He hadn't even sat down when Hu Ya knocked.

"Boss, Yu Zheng is here."

"Let him in."

A moment later, Yu Zheng entered, wearing glasses: "Director Yan, hello."

"Sit."

Yan Li rose and sat on the sofa. Compared to last time, he now treated this man with greater importance.

【Monthly Intelligence X: "The Beauty's Scheme" became a huge hit. Renowned screenwriter and producer Yu Zheng discusses public controversies…】

Last time, Yan Li had noticed Yu Zheng excelled at uncovering melodramatic love triangles—controversial, yes, but also prone to going viral. He was a true "demonic pen."

Monthly Intelligence confirmed this—he was a "raw gem."

But Yu Zheng was still immature. His submitted script for "The Great Qing Imperial Harem" felt artificially profound and overly dramatic, with obvious traces of others' work.

Yan Li didn't mind controversy—but plagiarism was another matter. It would ruin his reputation.

Even if you want to borrow, borrow cleverly.

Imitation was common in film and TV. If only the structure and some character traits were similar, it wasn't plagiarism. Yu Zheng wasn't a rookie—he could've made the influence far less obvious.

So Yan Li sent "The Great Qing Imperial Harem" back for rewriting, deleting all sensitive scenes.

Yu Zheng was obedient enough—typical in the screenwriting industry. Writers get used to rewriting.

After revisions, though it still bore traces of "The Empresses in the Palace," it was far from plagiarism—merely following a trend.

Such cases were too common in the industry. Even if some controversy remained, it was harmless.

After all, if you took it too seriously, "The Empresses in the Palace" itself was just following the imperial harem trend…

But since "The Legend of Yang Yuhuan" involved some palace intrigue, Yan Li had Xiao Fan choose a wuxia project: "The White-Haired Witch." "The Great Qing Imperial Harem" was shelved.

Yu Zheng was reluctant and pushed to revive it himself.

He actually had some connections—he convinced senior executives in the film department to lobby for him, and even Xiao Fan spoke up on his behalf.

Yan Li could reevaluate "The Great Qing Imperial Harem." He'd called Yu Zheng in this trip to Beijing to discuss the project.

Yu Zheng had clearly prepared thoroughly—he'd even made a dedicated report.

After working at the company so long, he knew Yan Li wasn't the type to play superficial games—especially when it came to film and TV projects, which heavily prioritized commercial returns and corporate interests, so his focus was squarely on those aspects.

In today's TV drama market, Qing Dynasty themes are an undeniable segment.

Many popular films and TV series have been set in the Qing Dynasty, building broad influence and a solid market foundation among audiences.

Beyond the popular rumors about old-court loyalists, the film industry's obsession with Qing themes stems from several key factors: abundant historical records, trend-chasing, fictionalized storytelling, and lenient censorship.

Abundant historical records mean plentiful source material, easy adaptation, and strong public resonance.

Trend-chasing ensures both upper and lower limits of profitability; once the market is cultivated, studios naturally favor this genre to make money.

Fictionalized storytelling and censorship are especially critical.

Many dynasties are hard to adapt—fictional or secret-history plots often involve heavy distortion or even defamation, easily sparking controversy—but in the Qing context, it's far more acceptable.

Due to modern history, the Qing Dynasty has become a dumping ground: you can pour any dirt or filth into it and no one cares.

For example, in "The Qing Imperial Harem," various concubines fall in love and give the emperor green hats; in other dynasties this would be unthinkable, but set in the Qing, most audiences accept it well.

Censorship is also relatively relaxed—as long as it doesn't touch sensitive elements, approval is nearly guaranteed.

Combined, these factors have made Qing Dynasty themes a major branch of today's TV market, with Qing palace dramas especially popular.

There's a saying that 99% of male actors have shaved their heads at least once—proof of the genre's dominance.

So Yu Zheng believed "The Qing Imperial Harem" had excellent market potential, even surpassing "The White-Haired Witch."

At this stage, wuxia themes are oversaturated; "The White-Haired Witch" has low original fame, clichéd plotlines, and its only selling point is Fan Xiaopang himself—nowhere near as commercially valuable as "The Qing Imperial Harem."

Moreover, he believed "The Qing Imperial Harem" could launch stars.

"The White-Haired Witch" highlights only Fan Xiaopang, maybe adding one male lead, but "The Qing Imperial Harem" has several standout roles—just look at "The Empresses in the Palace," which launched multiple stars at once.

"…"

Worried Yan Li might counter him with the funding for "The White-Haired Witch," Yu Zheng shifted his focus entirely to this drama, aiming to replace it.

The company's current funds and personnel can barely manage two projects.

"The Legend of Xue Rengui" is being led by Yan Li himself—he wouldn't dare touch it; if he sabotaged "The White-Haired Witch," "The Qing Imperial Harem" would have a chance.

Of course, he knew this drama was meant to promote Fan Xiaopang—but couldn't they just move him over to "The Qing Imperial Harem"?

This is a Qing palace drama; the female lead is the absolute protagonist, no worse than "The White-Haired Witch."

Yu Zheng rattled on endlessly; Yan Li fell silent for a while but gave no clear response, only saying he'd consider it and get back to him.

Leaving Yan Li's office in anxious uncertainty, Yu Zheng felt he couldn't just wait—he had to act.

Fan Xiaopang was the best opening, but he dared not get too close, or he'd risk misunderstanding and backfire.

After thinking long and hard, he spotted Zhang Songwen arriving at the company—and his eyes lit up.

How could he have forgotten these people? If they all spoke up together, they'd outweigh Fan Xiaopang by half.

Plus, they were close to Boss Yan, knew more inside information—if he could extract even one or two other key figures, that'd be a new breakthrough.

Yu Zheng smiled warmly as he approached Zhang Songwen, complimenting his acting and steadily building rapport.

…

Yan Li didn't care about Yu Zheng's private maneuvers.

When you reach a certain position, countless people stand to gain huge benefits from you—and thus endlessly flatter, study, and scheme against you.

Every day, Yan Li's system triggers reports from a significant portion of people who are scheming behind his back to achieve their own ends.

Because there are too many, the system ignores non-essential and low-interaction reports—otherwise, even a compilation would overwhelm it.

Yan Li now understood why emperors and bigwigs were so paranoid.

Human hearts are fickle; when most people interact with you only for ulterior motives, and you don't know what they truly want, you can only adopt a conservative, defensive mindset.

Over time, even good people can be driven mad!

But seeing through it saves trouble—and brings its own drawbacks: too many negative thoughts and emotions, and seeing too much of it becomes unbearable.

So Yan Li often sought ways to relieve and release tension, to prevent his own mind from breaking down.

Qin Lan was Yan Li's emotional harbor—among all women, she had the fewest distractions, her heart soft and delicate, offering him the greatest care and tolerance.

When Yan Li felt suppressed or down, he loved being with her—it felt healing.

But lately, someone had emerged to compete with him for Qin Lan.

Yan Li couldn't do anything about it; Qin Lan protected him fiercely, leaving Yan Li no chance to act.

Guanghua Li

Yan Li opened the door and heard two dog barks; after changing shoes and entering the living room, he saw Qin Lan fussing over the white Teddy dog again.

"Good boy, Ball, don't move—Mommy's going to apply medicine."

Seeing Yan Li, Qin Lan patted the dog's head and beamed: "Look, Daddy's back."

"Woof woof."

Yan Li: "..."

Wang Ou would have a priceless expression if he knew he suddenly had a dog brother...

This dog of Qin Lan's was a stray she'd picked up on the street not long ago.

Supposedly, they'd met three times before; each time, the little Teddy followed her obediently all the way to her neighborhood before parting.

Qin Lan felt the dog was intelligent and fated to her, so she adopted it—even ignoring its skin condition, applying medicine daily.

At home, it clung to her constantly; she took it everywhere—even Yan Li felt neglected, making him want to throw the thing back into the streets.

To put it simply, Yan Li and Qin Lan had completely different views on dog ownership.

Qin Lan treated the dog as a pet—to play with and relieve boredom.

Moreover, since she'd lost a puppy as a child, she had emotional attachment to it.

Yan Li grew up in the countryside; dogs were kept for real purposes—tied in the yard to guard the house, fed enough not to starve.

There was some affection, but not much—and certainly not to the point of treating it like a son.

He didn't oppose Qin Lan keeping a dog, but thought it should be useful—like barking when strangers intruded.

But this little snub-nosed thing Qin Lan kept? It couldn't even scare off a big rat, let alone deter criminals.

Still, Qin Lan doted on it so much that Yan Li let it slide.

After all, Dong Xuan had You Yue as her inseparable best friend, but Qin Lan didn't have such close companions—and due to her profession, they saw little of each other; having a dog for company wasn't bad.

"Once its skin improves, take it to a pet shop and get it neutered—save it from going into heat, barking and causing chaos, and avoid a whole litter of puppies."

Still, Yan Li set one condition; Qin Lan hesitated slightly but didn't object.

When she'd gotten the dog vaccinated and bought skin medicine, she'd inquired—neutering extended a dog's lifespan, reduced illnesses, and made its temperament gentler and more obedient.

This applied to other mammals too; data showed male neutering could extend lifespan by up to 50%...

Looking at Qin Lan's eyes, Yan Li felt a chill between his legs; he stepped back subtly and warned sharply.

"What are you thinking?!"

Qin Lan slapped her own forehead—she'd gone mad. If she neutered Yan Li, what would she use to... Pei, what would she rely on to have children? She couldn't really treat the dog as her actual son.

She had calmed down, but Yan Li was still shaken.

What was wrong with these women? Had he pushed them too far?

Last time Dong Xuan threatened to poison him; now Qin Lan was even more ruthless—sacrificing her own future happiness.

No, he had to be more discreet from now on—less arrogant. The system had delays; Wanyi someone flipped their jealousy and snapped one day—*snap*—no amount of money would matter...

(End of Chapter)