Chapter 50: Seizing the Family Fortune at the Slightest Disagreement?

Qin Youyou’s smile bloomed like a flower, but Lan Jin only grew more vigilant.

“So it’s come to grabbing the family fortune at the slightest disagreement?” she thought, feeling utterly speechless.

What puzzled her more was the sense of familiarity about Qin Youyou’s smiling face. Yet Miss Lan was absolutely certain she had never met Qin Youyou before.

“Sis, Professor Qin is asking you a question!” Lan Tian anxiously whispered, eager to remind her. He had no interest in fighting over inheritance, but when it came to Qin Youyou, the accomplished housewife, Lan Tian was positively enthusiastic—if not downright impatient.

Lan Jin shot her brother a withering glare, already regretting coming to the university. This was humiliating beyond words! She, Lan Jin, had always been the center of attention, admired by all. How had she ended up with such a sycophantic brother?

“In one fell swoop, my reputation is ruined!”

“This is all Qin Chuan’s fault! If he hadn’t called me over, I wouldn’t be losing face like this.”

Her mind was a tangle of indignation and frustration, but her words only grew sharper: “Miss Qin, as an educator, you ought to guide your students with the right values. Otherwise, you’re bound to mislead them.”

“But as a woman, I, too, long for perfect love and marriage,” Qin Youyou replied, her tone full of helplessness.

Lan Jin scoffed, “The Lan family’s doors aren’t open to just anyone.”

Years later, at a certain special time and place, whenever Lan Jin recalled this line while facing Qin Youyou’s ever-smiling face, she would cringe so hard she wished she could burrow three rooms and a parlor into the ground with her toes.

But that was a story for another time. In this moment, Lan Jin was supremely confident and proud.

And rightly so—she was the cherished jewel of the Lan family, after all. A mere university professor was hardly worth her notice.

As the confrontation escalated, the atmosphere grew tense as drawn blades.

Chen Mingjun hastened to smooth things over with a cheerful smile: “Miss Lan, it’s almost noon. Won’t you give me the chance to play host? Lunch is on me—let’s dine at the Glorious Restaurant just across from campus.”

Lan Jin had intended to refuse; she detested all forms of socializing. But before she could speak, Ah Wei—who until now had stood quietly behind her—suddenly interjected, “Miss, I think Professor Qin should host this meal. Let’s see if she’s willing to show you that courtesy.”

Lan Jin was taken aback. Ah Wei, who had always been taciturn while protecting her, was unexpectedly proactive today. But since it was for the sake of maintaining her dignity, she thought little more of it.

Given Qin Youyou’s prior behavior, Lan Jin had little hope for a favorable response. She suspected another verbal trap was being laid for her.

But as she turned to look, she saw that the once sharp-tongued, formidable Qin Youyou was now wearing a look of utter disbelief, her entire body trembling ever so slightly as if she’d just witnessed something far beyond imagination.

“All this over a simple meal? Is she really so stingy she can’t bear to treat us once?” Lan Jin thought coldly, feeling even less inclined to like this sweet-faced professor.

What Lan Jin could not know, however, was that just as Qin Youyou was preparing to retort, she noticed the black-clad bodyguard flashing a quick, discreet hand signal—one she instantly recognized.

It was a gesture from her childhood, a secret sign she and her brother had devised to coordinate their stories and avoid a scolding from elders.

“Could he be my brother?”

“Is my brother truly alive?”

“But how could he look like this?”

“Or is he someone close to my brother?”

Though her face remained calm, Qin Youyou’s heart was a storm of confusion. So many questions demanded answers, but she knew this was not the time.

“Very well! Miss Lan and I hit it off so well at first sight—let’s take this opportunity to deepen our acquaintance,” Qin Youyou replied, her composure restored and her tone brisk yet charming.

Her adorable, doll-like face was all smiles, radiating an irresistible warmth.

Lan Jin, after a moment of surprise, quickly regained her poise, her inner scorn only intensifying. Qin Youyou had been icy and aloof only moments ago, and now she was trying to curry favor.

Obvious—she just wanted to climb the Lan family’s social ladder. Classic tactics: playing hard to get, tailoring her approach to her audience.

“It’s just as my co-author Yu and I wrote in our ‘Handbook of Dealing with Jerks’—I can’t possibly be wrong!”

“Qin Youyou is a heartless flirt, case closed,” Lan Jin mused, her bright, clever eyes shining with self-assurance, exuding the air of someone who held the world’s truths in her palm.

“Well then, let’s take this chance to get to know each other better,” she said, hands in her pockets and a smile on her lips, feeling invincible.

But her air of supreme confidence lasted less than three seconds before Lan Tian shattered it with a single line:

“Sis, can I come to lunch too?”

Then Liu Huanyu delivered the final blow: “Jin, I’ve always thought you had the makings of an empress—let me join you for lunch as well!”

Lan Jin massaged her forehead, mastering her emotions before finally uttering four gentle yet commanding words: “All of you, out.”

Lan Tian and Liu Huanyu left the office like wilted eggplants, glancing back with every step, their faces full of reluctant longing.

“Miss Lan, shall we be off?” Chen Mingjun asked, breaking the awkward silence with a smile.

Lan Jin seized the opportunity to nod her assent, leading the group out of the office, with Ah Wei following close behind and Qin Youyou and Chen Mingjun walking together.

As they stepped outside, Qin Youyou again caught the bodyguard signaling, sending her a series of concise messages: Surveillance. Opportunity. Solitude. Act.

Qin Youyou’s brows knitted in thought as she silently pieced together the clues.

She was currently under surveillance, and needed to find any opportunity to be alone with the bodyguard, using a performance to mislead their observers.

With this realization, a wave of caution and tension swept over her, though she kept up a lively conversation with Chen Mingjun.

“Director Chen, could I have a word in private?” Qin Youyou asked suddenly.

Chen Mingjun paused in surprise, but slowed his pace, allowing some distance to grow between themselves and the others.

“What is it, Qin?” Chen Mingjun asked, puzzled.

Lan Jin interjected, “At lunch, please support me—I really don’t want to be at odds with Miss Lan.”

“And, do you know anything about that bodyguard? I’d like to get on his good side too, he might be a useful ally.”

“You have a sharp eye, Qin. He’s the Lan family head’s personal bodyguard. If you get on his good side, he’ll be able to put in a good word for you,” Chen Mingjun said, his tone growing serious. “He carries more weight than I do.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Director Chen,” Qin Youyou replied sincerely.

Though some distance away, Ah Wei’s extraordinary hearing caught every word.

“She’s as smart and quick-witted as ever, already laying the groundwork for a private conversation,” he thought with satisfaction.

After twenty years apart, their tacit understanding remained intact. The thought gave Ah Wei a surge of hope—perhaps it was time to attempt that risky plan.

“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” he resolved silently.