Chapter Seventeen: This Was Not the Only Unfortunate Event

Fang Yun looked at the black backpack before her and couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. Chen Yuanlin, being the kind of person who would betray others for personal gain, naturally assumed everyone else was the same—selfish and profit-driven.

Unfortunately for him, he had never truly seen Fang Yun for who she was. She never stooped to betray friends for the sake of benefit. Still, she feigned hesitation as she took the backpack. Why refuse something given freely, especially from Chen Yuanlin? Seeing the pained expression on his face, she took pleasure in adding to his frustration.

“I haven’t seen him much lately either, but the day after tomorrow, Master Ma is hosting a banquet for him. I suppose you and Ji Qingwan are invited as well. You should be able to see him then,” Fang Yun said.

At these words, Chen Yuanlin’s expression darkened considerably. Indeed, Ma Qibo hadn’t invited just Li Wangcheng; several companies on the intermediary platform were also on the guest list. But with the Chen family’s decline, Ma Qibo simply looked down on them and left them off the invitation.

Fang Yun had only recently managed to confirm the list’s authenticity. It wasn’t until Chen Yuanlin came to her today and revealed his intentions that she was certain Ma Qibo hadn’t extended an invitation to the Chen family.

Though the Chen family was excluded, the Ji family was not. The Ji family was quite cunning; the women were all as delicate as white lotuses, and the men even more so. Upon arriving at Dongming Mountain, they immediately allied with the Xia family. Without the Xia family’s support, the Ji family’s decline following the Chen family would have been only a matter of time.

To secure their future, the Ji family would never refuse Ma Qibo’s invitation. Even if they couldn’t get close to Ma Qibo, mingling with the other families would be a significant step forward.

Truthfully, Fang Yun sometimes couldn’t understand these people. At a time like this, they still played the capital game—it was as if they were eager to hasten their own demise.

Chen Yuanlin took a long moment to collect himself before forcing a stiff smile. “Thank you, Xiaoyun. I’ll need your help with the introductions that day.”

Fang Yun neither accepted nor declined, watching as he left with a strained expression. She guessed that after venting his anger at home, he would pester Ji Qingwan to take him along to the banquet.

Fang Yun didn’t realize that her misfortunes for the day were far from over. After seeing Chen Yuanlin off, she returned to her tent, dropped off her things, and prepared to go out again.

This time, however, Shang Xingbing caught her and stopped her from sneaking away alone.

“Fang Yun, don’t wander around. It’s chaotic here, and if something happens with no one around, our leader will hold us responsible,” he warned.

Fang Yun felt a bit embarrassed. “Don’t say such nonsense,” she rolled her eyes. “I’m just going for a walk. What could possibly happen? You’re just jinxing it.”

“Alright, alright. How about I come with you, then?” Shang Xingbing raised his hands in surrender, offering a compromise.

Knowing he wouldn’t let her go alone, Fang Yun reluctantly agreed.

But they hadn’t gone far when they ran into an unexpected figure.

“Stop!” A sharp command made them halt.

Seeing Ma Zhen and her group from afar, the two planned to turn and avoid them, but Ma Zhen’s sharp eyes caught sight of them immediately.

It was obvious that Ma Zhen was here looking for Li Wangcheng. Neither Fang Yun nor Shang Xingbing knew Li Wangcheng’s current whereabouts. These past days, Li Wangcheng had been assisting the military, moving to different locations daily. Only those who went with him knew where he was at any given time.

Shang Xingbing, having witnessed Ma Zhen’s arrogance last time, felt his scalp tingle at the sight of her.

Just as he was about to suggest ignoring Ma Zhen and leaving quickly, her people rushed over and surrounded them.

The onlookers who had wanted to watch the commotion quickly retreated upon seeing Ma Zhen’s aggressive behavior; some timid ones slipped away unnoticed.

Fang Yun sighed inwardly, thinking she should have listened to Shang Xingbing and not jinxed herself. Barely out for a short while, and already facing such trouble.

She had felt unlucky just encountering Chen Yuanlin today. Had she known Ma Zhen would show up, she wouldn’t have left the tent. On such a cold day, arguing outside was far less pleasant than warming herself by the fire.

But now that it was happening, there was no way to avoid it. She could only face whatever came her way.

“Seeing me, and you turn to leave? Do you think so little of me, Ma Zhen?” Ma Zhen strode along the freshly cleared path, now lightly dusted with snow, approaching with her usual sneer.

Meeting her gaze, revulsion surged within Fang Yun. The humiliations Ma Zhen had inflicted in her past life were still vivid, making her fists clench tightly.

Meanwhile, when Chen Yuanlin came looking for Fang Yun, Ji Qingwan suddenly went to his tent.

Not finding him inside, she asked the Chen family next door. Their faces were strange, but they all said Chen Yuanlin had gone out on business and wouldn’t specify further, arousing her suspicion.

Back in her tent, Ji Qingwan pondered and sent someone to spy on Fang Yun.

“What did you say? Chen Yuanlin went to see that shameless woman?” Ji Qingwan’s face twisted with anger.

She suspected Chen Yuanlin was getting impatient to find Fang Yun since she had blocked his attempts to get close to her.

With no progress from his subordinates, it made sense he was anxious. But she hadn’t expected him to lose his composure so quickly, seeking her out in just a few days.

Ji Qingwan’s fury contorted her face. After calming herself, she asked again, “What did he say to that shameless woman?”

The man she sent hesitated before answering cautiously, “They spoke at a distance, so I didn’t hear what they said, but…”

Under Ji Qingwan’s cold glare, the man dared not hesitate and revealed that Chen Yuanlin had given supplies to Fang Yun.

“Slap!” Ji Qingwan slammed her hand on the table in anger.

“Fang Yun! Shameless woman! How dare she accept those supplies!”

Her anger was understandable. The Chen family’s supplies now relied almost entirely on her. The supplies Chen Yuanlin gave to Fang Yun were essentially Ji Qingwan’s.

Chen Yuanlin had gone all out to get close to Li Wangcheng, but he never expected Ji Qingwan’s people to witness his actions.

“Go! Call the others. Even if my supplies go to the dogs, that shameless woman Fang Yun must not benefit!”

When Ji Qingwan arrived with her people, she happened upon the scene of Ma Zhen and her group surrounding Fang Yun and Shang Xingbing.