Chapter 23: Laying the Trap

Qin Guosheng was unaware that when he had clashed with Ye Aotian earlier, Lin Li had already quietly eliminated every single one of his trusted aides. The remaining people were no longer the loyal followers of Qin Guosheng; now, they all looked to Lin Li for direction. From the moment Lin Li bound the system to himself, he began systematically removing Qin Guosheng’s men, one by one. The entire operation was executed so discreetly that not even the most vigilant could detect it. No matter how cautious Qin Guosheng was, he could never have imagined that everything he had painstakingly built would unravel so quickly at Lin Li’s hands.

Meanwhile, Ye Aotian was also moving swiftly into action. Though Leng Ningxue had been kidnapped before, Ye Aotian eventually led his people to rescue her, earning her gratitude. Yet what surprised Leng Ningxue was how profoundly Ye Aotian had changed after this event; gone was his former reserved demeanor, replaced by an aura of undisguised dominance.

“Miss Leng, perhaps now you believe what I told you before,” Ye Aotian said seriously as he looked at her. “In this world, every cause has its effect. Lin Li didn’t rise step by step by mere chance; he carries many secrets you know nothing about.” He seemed almost desperate to prise open her mind and pour all his thoughts inside.

Leng Ningxue responded calmly, gazing at Ye Aotian’s earnest expression. “So how should I address you now?” she asked.

Ye Aotian, rather flamboyantly, turned away to look into the distance. “You’re too polite, Miss Leng,” he said. “I am just an ordinary person who happened to discover these things and decided to help. I know you must feel grateful, but there’s no need to dwell on it—I never leave my name behind when I do a good deed.”

Leng Ningxue nearly lost her composure at this display. Was this man a little touched in the head? Still, she managed to restrain herself.

“Well, thank you for your help this time. But I need to rest now,” she said, employing a few tricks to successfully deceive Ye Aotian.

Once Ye Aotian left, Leng Ningxue immediately took out her phone and dialed a familiar number. The voice on the other end was male.

“Miss Leng, perhaps now you believe what I’ve been telling you,” he said. “Of course, if you still find Ye Aotian reliable, our cooperation can end here.”

It was Lin Li on the line. He had planned all this long ago, knowing Qin Guosheng’s first move upon return would be to create trouble, and the best way to counter was to kidnap Leng Ningxue. With her in Qin Guosheng’s hands, Ye Aotian would be at his mercy. Naturally, Lin Li would seize the chance to intervene—just as he did this time, although he could have easily left with Leng Ningxue, he deliberately refrained, so as to escalate the conflict between the Leng and Qin families. For Lin Li, everything was just beginning to fall into place.

“How did you know about this man?” Leng Ningxue asked, still unable to believe the things Lin Li had told her. The details revealed that Lin Li knew more than he let on.

“I’m sorry, these are my secrets—I can’t share them lightly,” Lin Li answered. “If I’m right, Ye Aotian will soon do everything possible to cooperate with your family, and it’s very likely your father will try to marry you off to him.”

Leng Ningxue hadn’t been concerned about Ye Aotian’s abilities—his strength meant little to her. But upon hearing Lin Li mention the possibility of a marriage alliance between her family and Ye Aotian, she was instantly unsettled. No matter what, she couldn’t understand such a development.

“Are you sure?” she asked. “Ye Aotian may be prominent, but he’d never catch my father’s eye.”

She spoke with absolute certainty; in her view, the odds were nearly zero. Of course, she acknowledged that unforeseen circumstances could arise.

Yet Lin Li’s tone was unwavering. “I know you won’t believe me, but whether you do or not, this is the reality before us,” he said, with no emotion in his voice.

Though Leng Ningxue was unwilling to accept this, she had to admit that everything Lin Li had predicted so far had come to pass. She could choose not to believe him, but if it all proved true, what would she do? Since Lin Li had revealed this at such a crucial moment, she knew how she should respond.

Understanding this, she quickly asked, “You must already have a plan. So what do you intend to do next?”

This was the response Lin Li had been waiting for. “Actually, this is an opportunity for both of us. Ye Aotian will approach your father in another way, and your task is to ignite conflict between Ye Aotian and Qin Guosheng. Help me eliminate Qin Guosheng, and I’ll help you deal with Ye Aotian.”

Even if Lin Li hadn’t said so, Leng Ningxue would never have let Qin Guosheng off. The chaos he caused upon returning was intolerable, even for the strongest. Her only problem was a lack of support within her family, forcing her to proceed cautiously. But if Ye Aotian was as formidable as Lin Li claimed, using him to take down Qin Guosheng was indeed the best strategy.

The question was how to make Ye Aotian follow her lead.

Lin Li continued discussing the matter with her, essentially clarifying the entire sequence of events. Ye Aotian was unaware that he was already on borrowed time. Lin Li couldn’t guarantee his destruction, but he would ensure Ye Aotian suffered greatly.

Having accomplished all this, Lin Li finally breathed a sigh of relief. The most crucial thing was for Leng Ningxue to trust him and work with him. Without her, Lin Li alone would not be able to control the situation.