C7 You Have Really Come

"You sure got here fast." Qin Feng paid no mind to Zhong Yanan's expression, instead shifting his attention to Wang Gang, who stood in another corner, phone in hand, looking both wooden and embarrassed.

"Gang, was it you who snitched?" Qin Feng inquired.

"I'm sorry. I just didn't want to see you continue to make mistakes," Wang Gang replied, his head bowed, avoiding Qin Feng's gaze.

"No need for apologies. I expected as much from you," Qin Feng said, without a trace of resentment. His smile was easy and carefree as he added, "In fact, I should be thanking you."

Wang Gang was taken aback, thinking Qin Feng's response was due to being upset. He asked, "What are you thanking me for?"

With a mischievous grin, Qin Feng responded, "Without your tip-off, how could I have so easily met this lady?"

Zhong Yanan, who had been ready to rebuke him, gasped at his words, "You went through all this trouble just to see me?"

"Pretty much," Qin Feng confirmed, his eyes twinkling with slyness.

Zhong Yanan stepped back, alarmed, as if putting the pieces together. She quickly called out, "Come out now, get him under control!"

Realizing the situation was turning sour, she summoned the bodyguards hidden nearby.

But she was too late.

Before she could finish her command, Qin Feng had lunged at her like a leopard.

In an instant, he was before Zhong Yanan, gently grasping her shoulder, and whispered, "Calm down. Have your bodyguard step back."

"Qin Feng, don't you dare," Wang Gang interjected, blocking the bodyguards, his voice tinged with panic.

"Relax, I'm not going to do anything rash. I just want a word with Miss Zhong, alone," Qin Feng said dismissively, guiding the ashen-faced Zhong Yanan to the rear of the car.

"Scoundrel, release me!" Zhong Yanan fumed, yelling, "Do you have any idea who I am? How dare you treat me this way? Aren't you scared of my retaliation?"

"Of course, I'm aware of your background," Qin Feng said with a calm assurance, gently squeezing her shoulder. "Relax, I'm actually here to help you."

Zhong Yanan was momentarily taken aback. Regaining her composure, she let out a derisive snort. "And what exactly can you do for me?"

Unruffled, Qin Feng replied, "Your engagement to Young Master Lu is set for eight o'clock tomorrow evening. I'm aware of your aversion to it, and that it's only family pressure that's forced your hand."

Instantly, Zhong Yanan's shock turned to fury. "You bastard, how do you know all this? Have you been spying on me?"

With a nonchalant shrug, Qin Feng posed a question, "If I said I could free you from Lu Shaojie's clutches, would that earn your forgiveness?"

A cold, scornful laugh escaped Zhong Yanan. "And why should I trust you?"

"You don't have to," Qin Feng conceded. "But no one else can offer you the help I can. Especially now that your high-ranking uncle has been assigned a mission abroad. Without him, you have no allies in your family."

"Who in the world are you?" The revelation left Zhong Yanan chilled with fear.

Qin Feng knew her family dynamics intimately.

Ignoring her question, Qin Feng shook his head thoughtfully. "Consider what's truly important. A villa, or your lifelong happiness? If I were in your shoes, I'd take the gamble. And if you lose, you'll still have the chance to get even with me."

Zhong Yanan lapsed into silence, weighing Qin Feng's words carefully.

After a tense pause, she spoke with icy resolve, "And if you're deceiving me, what then?"

Qin Feng raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Given your status and your uncle's influence, I don't think you need to worry about that."

After a few seconds of a cold, hard stare, Zhong Yanan inhaled deeply, reigning in her rage. "Fine, I'll take you at your word this once. If you pull it off, the villa is yours. But if you fail, don't even dream of running away."

After speaking, Zhong Yanan angrily wrenched herself free from Qin Feng's grasp and hurriedly slid into the driver's seat of the luxury car before speeding off.

"Wait for us!" The bodyguards were left utterly stunned. It took them a moment to snap out of their daze and start chasing after her.

Wang Gang remained rooted to the spot, watching Qin Feng approach. A note of fear crept into his voice as he asked, "What exactly did you say to her? Is she really not going to pursue such a serious issue?"

Qin Feng didn't respond to the question. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Wang Gang's quivering, chubby face, let out a deep sigh, and said, "Gang, go back to your room and get some sleep. Rest up. You're coming with me tomorrow."

With that, Qin Feng turned and strode into the villa's grand hall.

The events of the following night were crucial to the success of the Apocalypse Plan.

If he couldn't overcome this obstacle, his rebirth in this life would be rendered pointless.

The time was now 7 p.m. on the 24th.

At Maple Resort on the outskirts of J City, Zhong Yanan sat in a corner of the banquet hall, looking forlorn in her elegant evening gown.

Behind her, a dashing young man in a pricey suit was warmly welcoming guests with a smile. This man, Lu Shaojie, would be her fiancé in just two hours.

From appearances alone, he was a perfect match for Zhong Yanan.

The handsome heir to a wealthy family was not only sophisticated in demeanor but also a well-educated PhD who had studied abroad.

Moreover, he was poised to inherit the Lu Group empire. He was exceedingly wealthy.

By all accounts, he was an exceptional catch.

Yet, Zhong Yanan found herself repulsed by him. Staring at Lu Shaojie's overly cheerful, feigned gentlemanly demeanor filled her with distaste. She couldn't resist the urge to stand and step outside for some fresh air.

"Nan, it's our engagement party today. Why aren't you mingling with the guests alongside me?" But before Zhong Yanan could get very far, a voice, rich with affection, called out from behind her.

"I'm feeling a bit under the weather," Zhong Yanan replied, stopping in her tracks to explain.

No sooner had Zhong Yanan finished speaking than a biting, sharp voice cut through the air, "If you're feeling uncomfortable, just endure it. Look how well Shaojie treats you. Marrying him is a stroke of luck for you!"

A middle-aged woman, flamboyantly dressed in a red cheongsam, strutted over with an air of command.

Zhong Yanan gave the woman a look of resignation and said, "Aunt Wang, I just need a breath of fresh air."

Aunt Wang, Zhong Yanan's stepmother, had taken the reins of the Zhong Group after her father's death.

The engagement party that evening was all Aunt Wang's doing.

Zhong Yanan was well aware that Aunt Wang's eagerness to arrange this marriage was merely to cement the investment ties between the Zhong Group and the Lu Corporation.

Her own feelings and the prospect of happiness within the Lu family were of no concern to Aunt Wang.

"The engagement ceremony is about to start; this is not the time to wander off," Aunt Wang chided, lifting her chin with her usual imperiousness. "Why can't you act sensibly? Go touch up your makeup; you're about to be in the spotlight."

"Okay," Zhong Yanan acquiesced, her eyes drifting towards the banquet hall entrance.

She thought to herself, "Where is the guy who promised to help me escape this engagement party? It looks like I've been duped."

With that thought, her heart grew heavier. She shook her head, ready to go back in for a makeup retouch, when a piercing reprimand from the entrance stopped her, "Who are you? Without an invitation, you're not getting in."

Caught off guard by the sharp rebuke, Zhong Yanan turned around and, in a flash, her eyes landed on Qin Feng.

He had actually shown up!