149: This is an order.

Forget about beating it, Chen Yan couldn't even move a muscle.

In the next second, shadows loomed from behind as two Bodyguards blocked Chen Yan's retreat, intending to drag her away while holding her down.

"Wait," Shen Lian said in a muffled voice.

He pulled back the bedsheet; although his posture against Chu Yilan remained intimate and reliant, his expression had already adjusted. He said impatiently, "Didn't I tell you to leave?"

Chen Yan's face turned slightly pale, her lips trembling as she squeezed out, "Save me..."

Shen Lian: "..."

Although Chu Yilan's aura was terrifying, it wasn't to the point of... alright, it was.

Shen Lian raised his hand to gently stroke Chu Yilan's chin, softening his sharp features, then sat up from the man's embrace, his feet touching the floor. Seeing this, Chu Yilan leaned down, fetched the slippers from the back, and placed them by Shen Lian's feet: "Put them on."

Hearing movement from the other end of the hallway, Shen Lian gestured twice with the back of his hand, "You guys leave first, let her in."

The Bodyguards pushed Chen Yan into the room and closed the door as they left before anyone could notice.

Fortunately, Shen Lian thought, I hadn't moved to the next stage yet. Otherwise, if anything was seen, losing face would be a small matter; Chu Yilan would probably draw a blade on the spot.

Shen Lian patted Chu Yilan's arm to signal him to stay calm, then walked up to Chen Yan. After watching her for a moment, he couldn't help but sigh, "Why won't you listen to advice?"

"N-no!" Chen Yan swallowed hard, "I did have other ideas at first, but not anymore..." She was desperate to explain everything, feeling as if an invisible blade was pressed against her throat. "Ming Lin told me to find a way to ruin your reputation; he taught me this method. Shen Lian, I didn't want to either. Like you said, I have a good reputation and a fan base, but I had no choice..."

"Does Ming Lin have dirt on you?" Shen Lian interrupted.

Chen Yan's eyes reddened: "Yes."

Ming Lin... Chu Yilan's hand on his knee tapped gently. He had originally considered the other party a mere pest and hadn't taken him to heart, but who knew this person would dare to reach out to Shen Lian.

"How about this, go back and tell Ming Lin that there are too many Bodyguards around me and you didn't have a chance," Shen Lian continued. "And you really didn't have a chance. Say you'll find a way during the wrap party. There aren't many people who can get close to me, so Ming Lin will cherish the opportunity and won't do anything to you for the time being."

Chen Yan listened quietly, knowing in her heart that Shen Lian was helping her.

This person was incredibly indifferent.

"Shen Lian." Chen Yan sniffled: "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. Even after I did this, you're still not angry..."

"Because your methods are too clumsy," Shen Lian said. "There was no possibility of me falling for it."

Chen Yan: "..."

"But only this once." Shen Lian leaned down, looking Chen Yan in the eye, "If your purpose for coming in just now was still to seduce me, the one who would be ruined by tomorrow morning would definitely be you. Chen Yan, if you want me to help you, show some sincerity. I need to know Ming Lin's recent information; can you give it to me? After I deal with him, I guarantee you'll be safe."

Ming Lin used threats and inducements, giving only a little bit of sweetness, while Shen Lian didn't even give a bit of sweetness. But when he made a promise, Chen Yan felt it was feasible.

She had only recently discovered that Ming Lin was a total pervert and really didn't want to be involved with him anymore.

Chen Yan nodded gently.

"What has Ming Lin been busy with lately?" Chu Yilan asked in a deep voice.

Chen Yan didn't even have time to react and immediately told the truth: "Frequently dating the daughter of Kangsheng Pharmaceutical." A mocking smile curled at the corners of her mouth: "He's anxious to cooperate with Kangsheng and become their son-in-law."

Shen Lian: "Oh my, since we know about it, I don't know about the son-in-law part, but the cooperation is definitely ruined."

Chu Yilan understood Shen Lian's meaning.

With the atmosphere easing slightly, Chen Yan finally had the courage to peek at Chu Yilan. He had really scared her to death just now. This man wasn't in the entertainment industry; otherwise, with just this face, he would have blown up long ago. Sitting there wrapped in an ill-fitting bathrobe, his aura of a superior was fully displayed. But looking for two more seconds, a very subtle sense of dissonance rose in Chen Yan's heart.

"Hey?" Shen Lian snapped his fingers in front of Chen Yan: "Still looking?"

"He's a bit similar," Chen Yan said.

Shen Lian didn't understand: "What?"

Chen Yan paused: "The way Ming Lin presents himself to the outside world is a bit similar to this gentleman."

As soon as these words came out, both Shen Lian and Chu Yilan were stunned.

It was also thanks to her reminder that Shen Lian clearly recalled the scene when he first met Ming Lin.

Don't say it... Shen Lian noticed something and turned to look at Chu Yilan: "No wonder. I said he always put on a fake air; it seems Ming Lin has been imitating you."

Deep disgust immediately appeared in Chu Yilan's eyes.

Having received an affirmative answer, Chen Yan hurriedly left. She had arrived full of charm but left wishing she had wheels on her feet.

Never mind Chu Yilan feeling disgusted, even Shen Lian was grossed out. Ming Lin was a bit of a psycho.

"If I hadn't come, what would you have done tonight?" Chu Yilan asked.

"I would have sent her out just the same." Shen Lian double-locked the door this time and continued what he had been doing. He lowered his head to kiss the man's nose, "Chu Yilan, make the Ming Family leave Qudu."

"Is this a request?"

Shen Lian gave a provocative smile: "I thought it was an order."

Chu Yilan's pupils constricted, and a tightening sensation of numbness exploded from his tailbone. Who among those around him dared to order him? Yet with Shen Lian speaking so arrogantly, Chu Yilan found it extremely pleasing.

"Yes, Master," Chu Yilan said deeply.

Fireworks instantly exploded in Shen Lian's mind. Foreplay or not didn't matter at all anymore.

Because of the relationship between Ming Mei and Old Master Ming, Chu Yilan's treatment of the Ming Family was more indulgence than help. But even so, it had bred a lot of greed.

When the news of Chen Yan's failure came, Ming Lin's face immediately darkened. He knew this woman couldn't get things done. But Chen Yan followed up by saying that during the wrap party, Bodyguards couldn't be around all the time, so he should wait a bit longer. Ming Lin threatened her as usual, ordering Chen Yan to succeed next time, and then went back to curry favor with the daughter of Kangsheng.

But Ming Lin never expected that in just one day, the cooperation that was almost in his hands suddenly vanished.

Feng Yueshan snatched it.

Chu Yilan still played the role of ignoring it. There was someone hidden behind Ming Lin, and he had been waiting for a long time, so he wouldn't expose himself for now.

When Feng Yueshan was found, Young Master Feng stated that he liked snatching things the most.

Ding Tian International was far more powerful than Ming Lin's small company. Even with his own daughter pleading, the boss of Kangsheng still prioritized the business interests and chose to cooperate with Ding Tian.

"Ding Tian International doesn't even have a pharmaceutical industry; is he doing this on purpose?!" Ming Lin was so angry he smashed the wood carving on his desk.

On the other side, Feng Yueshan did a favor for Ning Sixian: "I don't have a pharmaceutical industry under my name, so I'll give all of this to you at a twenty percent discount."

Ning Sixian agreed immediately, but then felt something was wrong and asked a friend to look into it. He discovered that the 'twenty percent discount' was a lie; the price Feng Yueshan offered actually earned him a ten percent profit.

He's really not human.

That night, Young Master Feng was pinned to the table by Ning Sixian and forced to drink. He never tired of scamming his brothers.