Lan Ji looked at Ling Yue as she entered the room, then turned to Qin Lie. Seeing his dejected expression and reddened eyes, he walked up and patted his shoulder. "Brother, the path of love is always full of obstacles."
Qin Lie gave a bitter smile. It was his own fault for wronging Ling Yue, and she would not forgive him. He deserved this punishment.
He gazed wistfully at the room where Ling Yue was staying, then turned and left the courtyard.
"Qin Lie." Lan Ji wanted to follow and console him, but didn't know what to say, so he let it go.
Qin Lie left the courtyard and knocked on the door of the neighboring one.
After a moment, a middle-aged woman with a harsh appearance opened the door. Seeing Qin Lie outside, she was slightly taken aback, her eyes filled with surprise. "Did you knock on the wrong door? This man's attire is strange, even wearing a mask on his face."
"I want to buy this courtyard. Name your price," Qin Lie stated directly.
"I'm not looking to sell the house. You must be mistaken," the middle-aged woman said, about to close the door.
"One million." Qin Lie spoke calmly.
The woman trembled, stopping herself from closing the door. She looked at Qin Lie in disbelief. "You're not joking with me, are you?" One million was enough to buy a house ten times better than this courtyard, with money left over.
Her family lived together with her in-laws and brother-in-law's family, ten people cramped in this small courtyard. It was inconvenient for using the bathroom, washing clothes, or cooking. If they had the money, who would want to live so crowded?
"I never joke," said Qin Lie.
"Let me discuss with my family." The woman desperately wanted to accept but needed her husband and father-in-law's approval to buy a house.
"Three days," Qin Lie said, then turned and left.
The woman watched his departing figure, overwhelmed with excitement, and hurried back inside. She had to share this great news; everyone would be overjoyed.
Meanwhile, at the Song family home, the family doctor finished examining Song Yanxue but found no issues.
"Could Xue Xue be allergic?" asked Mrs. Song, holding Song Yanxue's scratching hands as her face was red and swollen.
"The test results show no problems. Miss Song is not allergic," the family doctor said, unsure of the cause as he had never seen such a case.
"Can we give her something to stop the itching?" Mr. Song looked at Song Yanxue's face, scratched raw and bleeding.
The doctor took out a medicinal ointment. "This ointment is specifically for the skin. Let's try it."
Mrs. Song opened the ointment and carefully applied it to Song Yanxue's face.
"Ah!" The moment the ointment touched her skin, Song Yanxue cried out in pain, tears streaming down.
"Bear with it for a bit. It'll get better," Mrs. Song said gently, slowing her movements.
"Mom, stop. It hurts so much!" Song Yanxue pushed her mother's hand away, clutching her face as she wept. Her face now felt like countless knives slashing, like flames burning, making her wish for death to end the agony.
"Doctor Zhang, what's going on?" Mrs. Song asked anxiously.
"Let me take a look." Doctor Zhang leaned in to examine her.
Moving Song Yanxue's hands aside, they all froze at the sight of her face - swollen and beet red, even her lips puffed up like two sausages. It was both comical and pitiful.
"We should take her to the hospital for a full examination," Doctor Zhang suggested, having never seen such a case before.
Mr. Song quickly scooped up Song Yanxue and rushed out.
Even after thorough testing at the hospital, the cause of Song Yanxue's condition remained unknown.
The Song family was distraught over this.
"Ziyuan, tell me what happened at the auction today," Mr. Song said, feeling they needed to investigate the root cause.
Song Ziyuan nodded and recounted everything that occurred at the auction.
"Qin Lie actually stood up for Ling Yue?" Mr. Song was astonished. Qin Lie was known to be uninterested in women and to mind his own business. Why would he defend a discarded daughter of the Ling family today?
"Perhaps out of respect for that mysterious man, Ling Yue's uncle," Song Ziyuan said. He had heard Lan Ji call Ling Yue his niece.
Mr. Song frowned in thought for a moment. "From now on, you should interact more with Ling Yue. It would be best if you could marry her." Not long after Ling Yue left the Ling family, they fell into decline. He didn't believe it had nothing to do with her.
Ling Yue's uncle was friends with Qin Lie, suggesting he was no ordinary person. Marrying Ling Yue would only benefit the Song family.
Song Ziyuan was taken aback. His father wanted him to marry Ling Yue? Didn't he always dislike her, saying she was too unsophisticated for a noble family's daughter, unworthy of Zhou Mucheng? Why the sudden change of heart?
"Ling Yue's uncle is no ordinary person. Marrying her would only benefit our Song family," Mr. Song carefully explained his reasoning to Song Ziyuan. He may not think highly of Ling Yue, but he recognized the power behind her - strong enough to bring down the Ling family so rapidly. An entity not to be underestimated.
"I understand, Father." Song Ziyuan nodded obediently. He had no intention of marrying Ling Yue; his interest in her was mere appreciation, nothing more. He knew as part of a noble family, he should prioritize its interests. But he still hoped to find a woman he truly loved to spend his life with.
Satisfied with Song Ziyuan's response, Mr. Song took out his phone and dialed Qin Lie's number. His daughter's current condition must be related to Qin Lie. It seemed he would have to intervene personally and ask Qin Lie for a favor.
Qin Lie had just returned to the Fighting Wolves Group headquarters when his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he gave a cold smile. He could indeed cure Song Yanxue's affliction, but it was her deserved punishment.
Ignoring the incessant ringing, Qin Lie strode towards his office. Passing a group of squad members training, he ordered in a deep voice, "When you see Zhou Mucheng, tell him to come to my office."
"Yes, sir!"
A military jeep slowly pulled into the parking lot. Zhou Mucheng got out of the car, and a squad member ran over.
"Commander! The Captain wants you in his office."
A sense of dread washed over Zhou Mucheng.
"Captain!" Zhou Mucheng entered the office, apprehensive.
Qin Lie's cold gaze fell on Zhou Mucheng with a hint of amusement. "It's been a while since we've sparred. Accompany me for a few rounds today. To the training ground." Zhou Mucheng's treatment of Ling Yue would not go unpunished.
"Cap...Captain..." Zhou Mucheng tried to make an excuse. He was still recovering from Lan Ji's beating.
"That's an order."
