Chapter 39: Who Gave You Permission to Treat My Leg

All along, Leng Ningxue had believed that many things in this world were not as simple as they appeared. In her eyes, most matters remained within the bounds of her understanding—until this time, when Lin Li’s involvement truly opened her eyes to what it meant for there to always be someone stronger.

He was merely a subordinate at Qin Guosheng’s side, yet seemed to have a thorough grasp of their current predicament. Since Leng Ningxue had met Lin Li, every decision he made secured the greatest possible benefit for himself. On several occasions, he had been the unseen hand guiding events, while reaping the rewards in the end. Even Ye Aotian’s actions unfolded just as Lin Li had anticipated; for Leng Ningxue, this was indeed a terrifying thing.

Had it been before, Lin Li would never have answered such questions so readily. But the situation was different now: he had successfully established a partnership with Leng Ningxue. If the two of them intended to navigate the troubles ahead, they at least needed to ensure their current cooperation could proceed smoothly. Mutual trust, even in part, was essential.

“These years, in the eyes of many, Qin Guosheng’s task for me was simply to stay by Qin Lang’s side and protect him so he could grow up untroubled,” Lin Li said, his tone resolute. “But in truth, my mission is far more daunting than most imagine. I’ve quietly established a powerful intelligence network. They can gather information from all corners of the world, and through these reports, I’ve managed to grasp the current state of affairs.”

Lin Li’s words were so certain that Leng Ningxue believed them without question. After all, this was a realm she had never touched before; whatever Lin Li said, she accepted without a trace of doubt.

“So the reason you know so much is because you’ve already uncovered much about Ye Aotian, and so you knew he would seize on these matters,” she replied.

It sounded simple, but the cost was considerable. Leng Ningxue stood beside Lin Li, watching his silhouette. Lin Li lit a cigarette and gazed out the window; if only things were truly as simple as they seemed.

“In fact, it’s all just a high-stakes gamble,” he said quietly. “Everything is merely my own speculation. If Ye Aotian had done even one thing differently, there was every chance I’d have failed.”

Though Lin Li spoke these words with a smile, it seemed as though he meant them more to comfort Leng Ningxue.

As someone who understood the world’s hidden workings, Lin Li found his task almost too easy. Leng Ningxue, for her part, now trusted him completely. While they conversed, inside the intensive care unit, Ning Yurou had already begun her work.

This time, Su Lan had not come along. Having just taken control of the entire Qin family, Su Lan needed all her time to solidify her position—this was a crucial moment, and she could not afford to be distracted.

At first, Lin Li hadn’t paid much attention to the situation. Given Qin Lang’s current state and the long delay in treatment, he thought the young master would likely end up paralyzed.

“It’s such a pity about Young Master Qin, to be beaten into this state,” one of the bodyguards sighed. “He couldn’t even kill his enemy in the end.”

What pride Qin Lang once possessed had now been reduced to utter disgrace. When Lin Li appeared, the bodyguards all lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes, as if afraid of him for some reason. Only Lin Li remained calm. Others might find this odd, but only Lin Li knew—this was his own unique method. His mere presence was enough to remind these men of his power.

But when Lin Li saw Ning Yurou’s treatment plan, he was dumbfounded. He had only hoped that Qin Lang would survive—paralysis would not have been a bad outcome. Yet, confronted with this final course of treatment, Lin Li was at a loss for words.

It seemed the woman had not understood Leng Ningxue’s instructions at all. She was using the legendary “Thirty-Two Ghost Needles”—clearly intending to restore Qin Lang to full health.

Neither Su Lan nor Lin Li wanted Qin Lang dead, but they certainly did not want him recovering in full. The ideal was for him to linger, half alive, sparing them a great deal of trouble. Who would have guessed that Ning Yurou intended to heal him completely—what a farce.

Just as Lin Li was fuming, he suddenly realized something was amiss; Ning Yurou’s actions weren’t directed at Leng Ningxue, but at himself.

“Could it be that my plan was discovered, and Ning Yurou deliberately sabotaged it?” he muttered. “Or is it because I’ve grown too close to Leng Ningxue, and she’s worried for her safety, so she’s using this opportunity to retaliate against me?”

Puzzled, Lin Li could not fathom Ning Yurou’s motives. After a while, the treatment was over, and Ning Yurou emerged.

When Lin Li saw her, he immediately put on a friendly smile and greeted her. But Ning Yurou gave him no courtesy, merely snorting coldly and glancing at him with disdain. Her tone made it clear—she had nothing but contempt for Lin Li.

Leng Ningxue, standing nearby, had intended to introduce the two of them properly, but the awkward encounter left her at a loss. She realized, to her embarrassment, that she had never learned Lin Li’s name.

“Lin Li. I’m Miss Leng’s friend,” Lin Li said calmly.

Ning Yurou scoffed. “Ningxue, you know, I’ve never liked making friends. And not just anyone is worthy of being my friend.”

Her words were harsh, but they reflected her true feelings. Lin Li might have seemed harmless on the surface, but in Ning Yurou’s eyes, he was thoroughly devious and sly. After all, anyone who associated with the likes of Qin Lang could hardly be decent—let alone someone who had aided Qin Lang in murder and arson.

Lin Li had not expected Ning Yurou to speak so bluntly, and felt somewhat perplexed. This wasn’t like her at all. Lady Ning was supposed to be cunning, not tactless.