Volume 1, Chapter 6: I am going to open a hotel room right now; I will give you three seconds to decide.

"From this day on, you are forbidden from using any excuse to approach my daughter. Do you hear me?"

Yan Fengjia looked toward Gu Qinghan. Her face was etched with deep disappointment. She simply could not believe that Yan Fengjia would commit such base and criminal acts. This was not the Yan Fengjia she knew.

"Uncle Gu, I have already said that I came to buy your lingzhi. I have absolutely no other intentions."

"Do you even have the money?" Su Chen sneered mockingly. "Your Yan family can't even afford to pay your employees' wages anymore. If it weren't for the help my family gave you back then, you would have gone bankrupt long ago."

Gu Cangfeng remained silent. He was indeed aware that the elder Mr. Yan had fallen ill with a strange condition. It was a pity that such a prominent businessman, who had fought for the welfare of the people, had raised such a worthless son.

Yan Fengjia frowned. "I didn't bring cash, but I can offer this in exchange." As he spoke, he took a pocket watch from his coat. "This watch was given to me by a fellow inmate while I was in prison. I've been told it's worth at least ten million."

Su Chen burst into laughter upon hearing this. "Yan Fengjia, have you been in prison so long that you’ve lost your mind? Don't you know that Uncle Gu is an expert in this field? What kind of piece-of-junk watch do you think is worth ten million?"

However, when Gu Cangfeng saw the diamond-encrusted watch, his pupils suddenly constricted. "Is this actually the 'Medusa's Flower,' the world's number one luxury watch?"

He had been searching for this watch for over a decade. It was not merely for its value, but for the significance it carried. Legend had it that this watch was the mark of the heir to the "Junlin" Group, the foremost conglomerate in China. Possessing it meant holding fifty-four percent of the group's equity and the highest authority of decision-making.

But soon, Gu Cangfeng's expression turned cold. "Yan Fengjia, I am truly disappointed in you. How could a convict possibly come into possession of such a watch, let alone give it to you? Do you even know its origin?"

Yan Fengjia knew, of course. "If you don't believe me, Uncle Gu, you can have an expert appraise it later. I truly am in urgent need of the lingzhi to save my father."

"Nonsense! What kind of rubbish are you spouting?" Su Chen interrupted. "Uncle Gu, stop wasting your breath on him. Drive him out."

Gu Cangfeng sighed. In the five years he had been away, Yan Fengjia had not only picked up bad habits but had even resorted to scamming him. "Enough. You leave this watch with me for now. If the Yan family ever gets back on its feet, you can come and redeem it with money."

Gu Cangfeng then ordered for the lingzhi to be brought over and handed it to Yan Fengjia. "But remember, once you take this, you are never to use any excuse to see my daughter again. Do you understand?"

Gu Qinghan's lips trembled. She looked at Yan Fengjia, hoping he would show some backbone. Yet, Yan Fengjia didn't even glance at her. "I understand. If you don't like the watch, Uncle Gu, I will have money sent over another day. Sorry to have bothered you."

With that, Yan Fengjia took the lingzhi and walked away.

"Stop right there!" Gu Qinghan shouted angrily. Yan Fengjia paused. "Is there something else, Miss Gu?"

Gu Qinghan gave a disappointed smile. "For the past five years, my tears have run dry waiting for you. Now I see clearly—you are not worth the sacrifice."

With those words, Gu Qinghan turned to her father. "Dad, I’ve decided. I am willing to marry Su Chen."

Upon hearing this, Su Chen was overjoyed. He immediately stepped forward and took Gu Qinghan's hand. "Qinghan, you’ve finally accepted me. Don't worry, I will treat you well. You can trust me."

Gu Qinghan didn't respond; she only looked at Yan Fengjia with anticipation. She didn't care about his past status or his current poverty. She only hoped that when she pushed him, he would stand up like a man.

However, Yan Fengjia only said, "Then I wish you happiness. But marriage is not a game; you should keep your eyes open."

After speaking, Yan Fengjia walked out.

"Yan Fengjia!" Panic seized Gu Qinghan. She pushed Su Chen aside and started to chase after him.

"You stop right there!" Gu Cangfeng rose in a fury. "He is a man with a criminal record! What is there for you to cling to? From this moment on, you are forbidden from seeing him again."

Gu Qinghan bit her lip, standing rooted to the spot as if all her strength had drained away.

...

Inside his car, Yan Fengjia lit a cigarette but remained parked not far from the Gu residence. He had assumed that in the last five years, Gu Qinghan would have surely married someone else. He never imagined she had been waiting for him all this time. But how could he be worthy of such sincere affection?

During his five years in prison, he had indulged himself, losing count of the women he had been with. In terms of power and influence, he might have become a titan in China, but he felt he had no face left to accept such deep feelings.

Just then, Yan Fengjia noticed Su Chen walking out. Su Chen looked thrilled and quickly dialed a number.

"Dad, it's done! Even though that bastard Wan Sanqian withdrew his investment, I've managed to win over Gu Qinghan. With the Gu family as our trump card, Wan Sanqian is nothing."

The voice of a middle-aged man came through the phone, full of excitement. "Good son, well done! With the Gu family, there's no need to care about Wan Sanqian anymore. Hurry up and make a move to get Gu Qinghan out. Find an opportunity to get her pregnant, and then everything will be secured."

"Don't worry, Dad. You know what I'm capable of. Gu Qinghan may act cold now, but once I have her tamed, you have no idea how wild she'll be in bed."

Su Chen, a man who had been with countless women, knew exactly how these "ice queens" worked. Once that valve was opened and she experienced the pleasures of a woman, she would be his to play with however he liked.

These words were heard perfectly clearly by Yan Fengjia, who immediately pushed open his car door and stepped out.

"Say that again," Yan Fengjia said, walking toward him.

"Ya... Yan Fengjia!" Seeing the chilling expression on Yan Fengjia's face—and realizing Gu Cangfeng was no longer nearby—Su Chen's expression shifted to one of terror. "Uncle Gu, help—!"

Su Chen turned to flee, but before he could, a massive force struck him from behind. Yan Fengjia grabbed Su Chen by the back of his neck and hoisted him into the air.

"What... what are you doing? I’ve already dropped the bet, what more do you want?"

"A mere betting agreement? Do you think I care about that?" Yan Fengjia warned. "If you ever dare to drag her into your Su family's interests again, believe me, I will make both you and your father disappear."

Su Chen forced a smile. "If you’ve got the guts, go tell Gu Cangfeng that! He has already agreed to my marriage with Qinghan. Yan Fengjia... you’re just an ex-con, what right do you have to compete with me?"

Yan Fengjia laughed. "It seems you really are looking for death. Fine, I’ll grant your wish."

"You... you’re going to kill me?" Su Chen panicked.

"Stop!" Suddenly, Gu Qinghan rushed out. She had intended to find Su Chen to tell him that she would never marry him, but she had arrived just in time to see this scene.

"Qinghan, Yan Fengjia is insane! He knows I’m going to marry you, and he’s trying to kill me! He said... if I didn't agree, he would find a way to drug you and get you pregnant!"

Gu Qinghan froze. She rushed forward and slapped Yan Fengjia across the face. Yan Fengjia didn't dodge; the slap was loud, but to him, it felt like nothing more than a mosquito bite.

"Yan Fengjia, why have you become so terrifying? Why are you so like a stranger?" Gu Qinghan’s eyes filled with tears, her voice choking.

Yan Fengjia frowned. "Do you believe him, or do you believe me?"

"Qinghan, don't believe him! I truly love you! Make him let go—do you want him to go back to prison?" Su Chen struggled desperately.

"Let him go!" Upon hearing about prison, Gu Qinghan hurriedly tried to pry Yan Fengjia’s steel-like grip off of Su Chen.

Yan Fengjia frowned, casually tossed Su Chen aside, and turned to leave.

"Where are you going..." Gu Qinghan hesitated.

Yan Fengjia sat in the backseat and looked over at Gu Qinghan. "I’m going to a hotel. If you trust me, get in the car. I’ll give you three seconds to decide."

Gu Qinghan was shamed and angry. "What do you take me for?"

"One..."

"Yan Fengjia, why were you in prison? Tell me, or I won't go with you."

"Two..."

"Are you even listening?"

"Three..."

"I want to see what kind of trick you're playing!" Gu Qinghan moved her long legs and climbed into the car, feeling both ashamed and indignant. "Let's go! Aren't we going to get a room?" She glared at Yan Fengjia, trying to put on a brave face.

Yan Fengjia smiled and looked at Yan Qiluo. "Drive. To the Paris Hotel."

Watching this, Su Chen’s eyes went wide. Not until the Bentley drove off did he react. He scrambled to his feet and ran back toward the Gu residence.

"Uncle Gu, it's terrible! Yan Fengjia has kidnapped Qinghan! Call the police, quickly!"