Ye Jiuliang smiled contentedly, leaned in to peck his lips lightly, "Good boy."

Her voice was soft and tender, as if she was coaxing a three-year-old child.

Li Mochan’s temples throbbed with black lines as he watched her push the door open and get out of the car.

The little rascal, he’d settle accounts with her tonight.

Pushing open the glass door, Ye Jiuliang stepped into the newspaper office with a light step, looking as comfortable as if she were strolling through her own backyard.

"I’ll have a beef bento box."

"I want one too."

"One at a time, slow down, I can’t remember all this."

The open office was noisy and clamorous, turning into a market at mealtime had long become the norm.

"Looks like I’ve arrived just in time, right at mealtime."

The cool voice sliced through the air, successfully suppressing the chaotic noise of the office.

That voice.

That tone.

Sounds a bit familiar.

Everyone turned their necks, following the source of the sound towards the entrance.

Against the light, the slender figure of the newcomer leaned against the door frame, her indifferent and cold aura seemed unreachable.

The woman’s delicate features forcefully captured everyone’s gaze; those black, agate-like eyes, cold as a deep pool.

Just one look was enough to make people involuntarily falter.

In an instant, silence fell all around.

Everyone’s faces turned a mix of green and purple, truly, one should neither speak of people in the daytime nor of ghosts at night.

What wind had blown this ancestor over?

Ye Jiuliang looked over them with interest, their dumbstruck expressions amusing her as she straightened up slightly.

She descended two steps in one leap, walking over casually.

With each step she took, the people around her retreated one by one.

Working together for so many years, this was the first time they had achieved such a high degree of silent understanding.

Watching them avoid her like a plague, Ye Jiuliang paused in her steps, a thin, chill smile playing on her lips.

"Why are you all backing away?"

The crowd looked terrified.

Their expressions seemed to say, please, don’t come any closer.

In the capital, who didn’t know that Ye Jiuliang was temperamental, with tactics both tough and ruthless?

They, the common people, could not afford to offend her and had no interest in provoking her.

Ye Jiuliang’s eyes swept over them, her voice carrying a hint of coldness, "Who is Guo Fan?"

Everyone looked at each other, their hearts skipping a beat.

Could it be that she was here to settle old accounts?

"Isn’t anyone going to tell me?" The cool voice rose again, causing everyone’s hearts to tremble in fear.

Ye Jiuliang reached for the decorative vase on the table, her hand clad in a black glove gripping the grey-white vase with a visual impact.

She tilted the vase, her gaze landing on the glass wall across from her.

"One, you tell me, two, I smash this place to bits, your choice."

The vicious words scared everyone to the point of turning pale.

"Guo Fan is in the editor-in-chief’s office, upstairs," stammered someone, their lips trembling.

"Tell him to roll down here, now, immediately," Ye Jiuliang hooked her lips in a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, "Got it?"

The young man nodded quickly and ran towards the stairs, his steps unsteady.

Setting down the vase, Ye Jiuliang pulled out a chair and sat down, her straight legs crossed, her casual movements both cool and assured.

The people opposite huddled together for a sense of security, not daring to breathe too loudly.

Shortly after, rapid footsteps came from the stairwell.

"Editor-in-chief."

"Editor-in-chief."

Seeing their superior arrive, everyone seemed to have found a lifesaver and visibly relaxed.

Guo Fan followed behind He Ming, and upon seeing the woman sitting in the chair opposite, his complexion slightly changed, palms sweating coldly.

It was over.

At first, when He Ming heard from his employees that Ye Jiuliang had arrived, he was somewhat incredulous, but now that he saw the person opposite, his heart suddenly leapt into his throat.

He raised his hand to adjust the glasses on his nose bridge and squeezed out a polite smile, "Miss Ye."

Not in the mood for pleasantries, Ye Jiuliang’s gaze swept lightly, the corners of her eyes shimmering with a piercing chill, "Are you Guo Fan?"

He Ming lowered his stance, "I am He Ming, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper."

Her gaze passing over him, Ye Jiuliang looked towards the man cowering behind He Ming, her eyes resting on his work badge.

It boldly displayed the name "Guo Fan."

"It’s you," her smile at the corner of her lips became enigmatic.

Recognized, Guo Fan’s face turned ashen.

All eyes were riveted on Ye Jiuliang’s every move, and when they saw her stand up, their hearts that had just settled were twisted again.

Ye Jiuliang stepped forward and stopped a meter away from He Ming.

"Move aside." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

The cold, terse words hit him like a slap, the imposing manner nearly suffocating He Ming.

He unwittingly stepped aside; seeing this, the others hurriedly shifted their positions accordingly.

In an instant, only Guo Fan stood alone in his original spot.

"Miss Ye, I...I..." After struggling for a while, he still couldn’t muster a complete sentence.

"Made quite a bit of money these past few days, haven’t you?" Ye Jiuliang asked, her tone mild as she casually placed her hand in her pocket.

"Spreading rumors about my husband, having fun, were you?"

Guo Fan’s face paled, legs trembling.

"Who told you to spread the rumors? Speak for yourself, or would you prefer I help you do so?"

"I...I...I..." Guo Fan was on the verge of tears, nearly ready to kneel before her.

If he spoke out, that person would surely not let him off.

But if he didn’t, Ye Jiuliang wouldn’t either.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, he was truly stuck between a tiger and a dragon.

A minute passed without the desired answer, and Ye Jiuliang grew impatient.

Her sudden move was so swift it went unseen by those nearby.

Ye Jiuliang grabbed his wrist with one hand, twisted it behind his back, and gave his shoulder a gentle nudge with her other hand.

Then, she deftly tripped him with a lift of her toe.

Guo Fan lurched forward, his upper body crashing onto the desk, and everything on it scattered to the floor.

The clatter resounded in everyone’s hearts, the atmosphere turning tenser still.

The acute pain in his wrist blanched Guo Fan’s face. Before he could get up, Ye Jiuliang’s hand pressed on his head.

"Spreading rumors to my level, are you tired of living?"

Her voice, cold as ice, echoed overhead, and Guo Fan didn’t dare to struggle.

"If you hold back any longer, I’ll dislocate your arm right now, and if you keep silent, I’ll dislocate every bone in your body. Go ahead, try me."

Witnessing the striking beauty utter such ruthless threats, everyone involuntarily shuddered.

Fortunately, they weren’t the ones who had leaked the information.

Indeed, pies don’t just fall from the sky.

The severe pain in his wrist intensified, cold sweat beading Guo Fan’s forehead, feeling as if his hand was nearing being crippled.

Unable to endure it, he caved in, "I’ll talk, I’ll talk."

Ye Jiuliang scoffed coldly but didn’t let go of his hand.

"A woman gave me money to do it. She was wearing a hat and a mask; I don’t know who she is. She said that as long as I did as she instructed, I would receive a hefty reward," Guo Fan spilled everything, not daring to conceal anything further.

"Miss Ye, please have mercy, spare me this once, I won’t dare again."