"Great Grandmother, did you send for me?"

A beautiful voice echoed ethereally in the living room. A young girl, dressed in a light blue gown walked down the stairs ever so elegantly. Her hair was like the fiber of the universe; smooth yet striking at the same time. Her complexion was indescribable. It was natural, untouched, and beautiful yet modest. The likes of which could captivate and tame even the most wicked of men.

Even the ever-knowledgeable old European lady stared in awe as she replied with tone of praise. "My word. I have never thought that I would see such a beautiful sight in my life. When I arrive to the Dragon City, I've heard of the two beauties of Dragon City. I would never have thought that the Zhuang Family had been raising a third. What a sight. I must say that I have lived long enough and yet I haven't seen it all."

"Mengchen, please greet Madam Diana," instructed Lady Zhuang with a smile.

"Yes, my lady."

Lan Mengchen nodded gently with the utmost respect and waltzed towards the old lady. She then lifted her skirt slightly and bowed in the manner of which one would bow to a royal family member.

"It's my greatest pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Madam."

"The pleasure is mine." Madam Diana smiled back. "I hope that we can work together from now on and always."

"Work together?" Lan Mengchen arched her silky eyebrow and cocked her head.

"Let me explain." Lady Zhuang interjected. "Bifan was hurt and is currently rehabilitating in the hospital. He is incapable of being in your company. Since you have no friends in Dragon City, I was worried for your well-being. Hence, she has something for you to do."

"Oh my. How thoughtful." Lan Mengchen gasped. There was a glint of happiness in her voice.

She had already spent more than two months in the Zhuang Family and had displayed absolute obedience. She was, after all, the future daughter-in-law of the Zhuang Family. However, the truth was that she was only a prisoner to the Zhuang Family!

She could never leave the confines of the mansion and was locked in to lounge around all day, every day. If she had done nothing to change that, she would be sick!

"That is as expected," said Lady Zhuang. "Madam Diana is an expert in investment. As such, she has a project that she had high hopes for. When the time comes, we, the Zhuang Family will provide a piece of land and Madam Diana will provide the resources to build a factory. You and Madam Diana will be handling the project together."

"You're but a young fragile little girl. You need to expose yourself to the society before you can truly be part of the Zhuang Family. Only that, you could stand on your own two feet amongst the circle of glitterati. I am doing this for your own good!"

Despite the idea sounding like concern, the old lady's ulterior motive was to train the girl. When she is capable of conducting her own business, only then would she have the honor of standing alongside the Zhuang Family. Otherwise, she would only been treat like an empty vase; a useless decoration in the Zhuang Family.

No matter how Lan Mengchen tried to read the old lady, Lady Zhuang had proven to be unpredictable. There was no telling what the old lady had schemed. It was also the same for the old lady.

Despite her kind looks and thoughtful words, the lady was selfish and self-centered. If she had not been that way, she would not have listened to the words of a Daoist priest to force Lan Zhengguo to let her daughter married to Zhuang Bifan.

Lan Mengchen was too used to the ugly side of the society, unknown to the two of them. However, she did not care about it at that moment. As long as there was a chance for her to get some freedom, she would do it. After being held captive for such a long duration, she deeply understood the true meaning of freedom. If she could, she would run away with Chen to an unknown place to live their life to the fullest. That was only a dream she could not fulfill. She had no choice as she had the Lan Family to take care of and Chen had his own agenda. So, she had to plan it carefully and take action only when the situation was certain.

Chen had to be stronger to be on the same level as the mighty Zhuang Family.

 Lan Mengchen was conflicted. She had high hopes for Chen to be stronger and she had to be strong at the same time. She would only become a dead weight to Chen and she did not want that!

The opportunity that was present to her by the two old members of two different strong families was too good to let it slide. She would only be able to strengthen her wings with a little taste of freedom!

Lan Mengchen wore a mask of gratitude and bowed once more to the old lady. "My deepest gratitude to Great Grandmother! I, Lan Mengchen shall be of good use and would never let you down!"

Lady Zhuang smiled and nodded. She turned to Madam Diana with her arms behind her back and said, "Madam, I'll be indebted to you for taking care of Lan Mengchen."

"Rest assured that I will treat her as well as my own granddaughter." Madam Diana nodded back.

"I thank you." Lady Zhuang turned to Lan Mengchen and said, "You are to follow Madam Diana for today. The rest, however, depends on yourself. The family will now leave you on your own."

"Yes, my lady. I shall do my best." Lan Mengchen nodded.

After that, the two ladies left the mansion. Lan Mengchen knew that being allowed to leave the confines of the mansion was a rare chance. However, she also knew that the Lady Zhuang was not a woman without a plan. Opportunity would always have risk following closely behind.

"Grandmother!"

At that moment, a middle-aged man walked into the living room and greet the old lady.

The man was Zhuang Bifan's father, Zhuang Hao!

"Have you visited Bifan in the hospital? How is the boy?" asked Lady Zhuang.

"Yes I have. The boy hasn't change. Whenever the thought of women comes to his mind, his pe-his… well. He will bleed from his groin." Said Zhuang Hao as he frowned and gritted his teeth. "If I found out who was behind this, I will have his entire body reduced to ashes!"

"Calm down. Huangfu Mumin will be back soon and I have already made a call. Bifan will be fine in no time if Huangfu Mumin is back."

"I understand. I am sure he will save Bifan since he and grandmother know each other!"

Zhuang Hao calmed down yet he was still restless. "Even if Bifan is healed, I will not rest until the man behind this brutal act is caught!"

"I concur. I have figured out a few steps. I want you to find some men to keep an eye on Lan Mengchen. Perhaps you could find something." The old woman narrowed her gaze as she spoke. The glint in her eyes suggest something ominous.

"You doubt Lan Mengchen's loyalty?" asked Zhuang Hao. "I am sure that the case had nothing to do with her. I've checked it a number of times!"

"The case has still yet to conclude. It has been two months and you had already spent most of your resources finding nothing!"

Lady Zhuang sighed. "Indeed. She had nothing to do with Zhuang Bifan. However, I know something was odd when Lan Mengchen was left unscathed. The person behind the attack of Bifan was vengeful. How could the person behind this allow Lan Mengchen to walk away harmlessly?"

"We have all the reason to suspect her even though she swore that she was unconscious when the incident took place."

"The girl is innocent. That would be for the best. However, if she does meet up with the person behind the attack… Hohoho… You know what to do." There was an old saying, when one has lived for far too long, one would become a villain. The old witch was planning something so profound that no one could uncover her true intention. The main reason she had allowed Lan Mengchen to walk free was to lure Chen out of his den!

"Yes, grandmother."

Zhuang Hao was thrilled. "If the main culprit surfaces, be it a good or holy spirit, I will have him taste the hammer of justice!"

The old lady guffawed on her way out of the mansion.

…..

"AH CHOOO!"

Chen Xiaobei rubbed his nose after sneezing all of a sudden. He went home and grabbed Hong Haier, who was watching a beautiful lady streaming something on his phone, back to Chen's room.

"W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Hong Haier quickly ran to a corner and hugged himself tight. "Are… Are you trying to… violate me…?!"

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