Chapter 80 Sharing the Cake—Will You Have Some?

Not long after Lin Li returned, he took the initiative to contact Ning Yurou.

"As expected, Miss Ning is as bold as she is skilled. It seems you’re not at all afraid of Ye Aotian having other designs," he remarked.

Ning Yurou merely let out a cold laugh. "If Ye Aotian really believes he can manipulate me at will, let him try. But don’t blame me for not warning him—if he truly harbors such intentions, he’ll find I’m not so easily dealt with."

Although Ning Yurou usually appeared harmless, in truth, she was anything but simple-minded. Ye Aotian, knowing nothing of her real nature, was destined to suffer a bitter loss. But obviously, none of this had anything to do with Lin Li.

"If you don’t mind, Miss Ning, perhaps we could meet in private. There are some matters I’d like to consult you about," Lin Li suggested.

Ning Yurou was a little surprised by Lin Li’s attitude. Besides, she’d grown somewhat curious about him lately—after all, he’d left Jiangcheng abruptly, even though things had been going well for him, and had been gone for quite a while. No one knew what he’d been up to, but it was certain something unusual had transpired.

So, the two agreed to meet that evening.

Lin Li’s reasons for seeking out Ning Yurou were twofold: one, to discuss matters related to the Southern Border’s Gu techniques; the other, because Ye Aotian’s ambitions were expanding beyond mere interference with the four great families. Ye Aotian’s elaborate schemes aimed to find a suitable shell company to legitimize his capital. His next step was to bid for a Jiangcheng project. If successful, the original development would immediately be transformed into a massive entertainment city.

Yet the original intent of the project was to establish a new urban economic development zone, centered around innovative energy ventures and various supporting facilities. It had seemed a promising prospect, and many families had already invested in pre-purchased homes. Now, however, these buildings had become unfinished ruins, and one could only imagine the troubles that would ensue.

Lin Li, of course, had no wish to see such things happen. But he had to admit, if everything fell into Ye Aotian’s hands, with that man’s character, he would certainly erect an entertainment city on the site.

In that case, the hopes of countless ordinary people would be completely dashed. The local government, lacking the funds for further development, had no way to move the project forward. But Lin Li knew that if this venture could succeed, it would bring tremendous prosperity to all of Jiangcheng—a fortune he was unwilling to miss.

...

Late at night.

Lin Li and Ning Yurou met at a roadside barbecue stall.

"Who would have thought you’re now considered a major figure in the Qin family," Ning Yurou remarked, her eyes wide as she looked around in disbelief. "And yet you’re treating me to a meal in a place like this?"

She couldn’t believe he’d brought her to such a shabby venue—clearly, he was showing no sincerity at all.

"I know this place seems a bit run-down, but given the current circumstances, finding somewhere like this is already quite fortunate," Lin Li replied with a helpless shrug as he observed her expression. "Given our identities, if we met in a high-end hotel, rumors would be flying by morning."

Ning Yurou snorted. "All right, then. Out with it—why did you go to such lengths to call me here?"

Lin Li placed a list on the table. "There are some things here I don’t quite understand. You’re a renowned practitioner of traditional medicine, Miss Ning—why not enlighten me?"

At first, Ning Yurou didn’t take it seriously. She didn’t believe Lin Li could ask anything beyond her expertise. But the moment her eyes skimmed the list, her expression changed instantly.

"Are you sure you’re not joking with me?" she asked sharply.

Usually, Ning Yurou wouldn’t be so tense, but after all the recent unexpected events, her curiosity about Lin Li’s every move had grown. Especially now, seeing the items on this list, she could no longer remain composed.

"Many of these medicinal ingredients are highly toxic," she said. "If used improperly, they could easily cause someone’s death. You’re not planning to kill someone, are you?"

"I know you despise Ye Aotian, but this isn’t the way. If you’re caught, it’ll be a huge mess," Ning Yurou insisted, fixing Lin Li with a stern gaze.

Watching her so anxious, Lin Li just smiled and shook his head.

"I know exactly what I’m doing, and I understand this is no trivial matter," he replied. "Some of the items here are rather specialized, which is why I couldn’t source them immediately."

Ning Yurou eyed him suspiciously. "You don’t even know what these things are, yet you say you need them. Let me give you some advice: take the time to study them. For example, here—‘goldfish roe’—surely you don’t think that’s just the eggs of a goldfish?"

"This refers to a creature known as ‘water gold.’ It lives in water during its growth stage, feeding on plankton, and becomes a terrestrial insect upon maturity. If it’s fed gold over a long period, it’s then called ‘goldfish roe.’ This stuff is highly dangerous. And look at the other items on your list—not one of them is easy to handle."

"I don’t know what you’re planning, but are you so eager to throw your life away?" She stared at him in astonishment, unable to fathom his intentions.

Lin Li feigned seriousness. "It seems, Miss Ning, you’ve forgotten what I told you before. Perhaps these things are difficult for others, but for me, they’re nothing more than trivial matters. I just need to know how to source them, that’s all."

Without verified information, he couldn’t proceed, which was why he hoped to get some leads from Ning Yurou.

"And what benefit do I get from telling you all this?" she asked, arms crossed, a cold smile on her lips. Now that Lin Li’s determination was clear, it was time to drive a hard bargain. She was curious to see just what he was up to.

"The Qin family will be transforming its operations. There’s a large share of Jiangcheng’s pie to be divided, and your family can have a generous portion."