18: Chapter 18 The Cold and Aloof Female CEO! You're nothing more than a pet I kept...

Su Wanyun wept uncontrollably, her shoulders shaking violently. Her usually impeccable long black curly hair was messily plastered against her cheeks and neck, stained with glistening teardrops.

She clutched Zhou Liangan's sleeve tightly, her sobbing voice intermittent and thick with congestion. "Liangan... Mom is sorry... These past years... These past years, you've suffered so much..."

Zhou Liangan sat on the sofa, his body leaning slightly forward, offering helpless and gentle comfort.

He reached out and patted Su Wanyun's smooth back, his palm feeling the trembling beneath the woman's delicate skin.

His voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, carrying just the right amount of heartache. "Mom, don't cry. I understand. Let the past be the past; we just need to have a good life from now on."

After a long while, Su Wanyun finally stopped crying.

She raised her hand and wiped the tear stains from her face with her fingertips.

That face of a cold and aloof, noble Ice Queen, which usually made people afraid to look directly at her, now had a slight redness from crying, yet it revealed an unquestionable firmness.

She looked at Zhou Liangan, her eyes full of solemnity, and said word by word: "Liangan, don't worry. From now on, Mom will definitely spend more time with you and make up for all the maternal love you missed."

Zhou Liangan nodded slightly, his tone carrying a hint of deeper meaning. "Mom, with the scale of the Su Family, you must have heard about certain things, right?"

Hearing this, Su Wanyun couldn't help but blink. Her beautiful peach-blossom eyes fixed on Zhou Liangan, filled with a trace of confusion. "Liangan, what do you mean by that? How come Mom doesn't quite understand?"

Zhou Liangan smiled slightly, leaning back against the sofa into a more comfortable position, his voice lowering a bit. "In less than three months, Spiritual Qi will revive. By then, I'm afraid the entire world's structure will be shattered, and all forces will be reshuffled. That's a once-in-a-thousand-year opportunity, isn't it?"

"Spiritual Qi revival!"

Hearing this, Su Wanyun's beautiful eyes widened instantly. "I have indeed heard some rumors, and there have indeed been some whispers in the circle recently, but they were just rumors after all. Liangan, tell Mom, do so-called Ancient Martial Artists and Spiritual Qi really exist?"

The reason the Su Family could stand tall in the provincial capital all these years, and even show signs of becoming the leader, was due to Su Wanyun's sharp instincts and well-informed sources.

She had naturally heard rumors of Spiritual Qi revival, but those messages were too ethereal, and she had always dismissed them as smoke bombs deliberately released by some people, never taking them seriously.

Zhou Liangan nodded heavily, his tone resolute. "That's right, Ancient Martial Artists and Spiritual Qi do exist. It's just that the Spiritual Qi in the world is too thin now, and the number of Ancient Martial Artists is extremely small, almost to the point of being as rare as a Phoenix feather. Currently, Martial Artists at the entry-level of Ancient Martial Arts only have slightly better physical fitness than ordinary people; they are far from the legendary abilities to fly or travel through the earth. Plus, the authorities intentionally control the number of Ancient Martial Artists and suppress related Legacies, so Ancient Martial Artists are becoming fewer and fewer, almost becoming a legend."

Sure enough, Su Wanyun's reaction was exactly as he had expected.

Su Wanyun's beautiful eyes were full of shock, her breathing becoming rapid. She stared at Zhou Liangan, her voice trembling slightly. "Son, you know so much, could it be that you have become an Ancient Martial Artist?"

Zhou Liangan didn't hesitate at all, nodding lightly with a hint of appropriate shyness on his face. "This is also the reason why I have changed so much. Speaking of which, it's a coincidence. Half a year after you and my father divorced, my Master was traveling the world and came to Jiangcheng. He accidentally discovered me and said my bone structure was unique, that I was a one-in-a-million Cultivate Genius, suitable for Cultivate, so he introduced me to the path of Cultivate and made me a true Ancient Martial Artist."

These were naturally all made up by Zhou Liangan. The so-called Master was just a reasonable excuse he found for his strength, intended only to make Su Wanyun completely convinced, thereby paving the way for his subsequent plans.

Su Wanyun's beautiful eyes widened further, her red lips forming an 'O' shape. She stared at Zhou Liangan and only regained her senses after a long time. Her tone carried a bit of reproach but also a bit of pleasant surprise. "You brat, you actually hid such a big secret! Why didn't you tell me such an important thing yesterday?"

Hearing this, Zhou Liangan showed a helpless, wry smile. He spread his hands. "My Master once specifically instructed me that he has made countless enemies in his life, with foes everywhere, both at home and abroad. Without his permission, my identity as an Ancient Martial Artist must never be revealed to anyone, otherwise, it would invite a fatal disaster. I deliberated for a long time before deciding to tell you."

Su Wanyun looked enlightened upon hearing this and nodded slightly, considering she understood Zhou Liangan's predicament.

But immediately after, her beautiful peach-blossom eyes revealed a trace of resentment. She reached out and poked Zhou Liangan's forehead, her tone carrying a bit of dissatisfaction. "Fine, it seems that in the eyes of you brat, your mother is an outsider? Even hiding this kind of thing from me?"

Seeing this, Zhou Liangan immediately started laughing. He reached out and grabbed Su Wanyun's slender, jade-like fingers, shaking them slightly, his tone carrying a bit of flattery. "Of course you are not an outsider! You are my own mother, the person I am closest to in this life! So after thinking about it, I decided to reveal my identity to you, Mom. After all, we are a family, aren't we?"

His sweet words made Su Wanyun overjoyed, and her previous resentment vanished instantly.

Zhou Liangan had used all his effort, making up the Master's instructions and acting cute, finally managing to fool the meticulous Su Wanyun.

However, the benefits of fooling Su Wanyun, the helmsman of the Su Family, were beyond imagination.

That afternoon, Su Wanyun had someone directly send an unlimited Centurion Black Card. The card was pitch black with exquisite patterns engraved on it; it felt heavy in the hand, exuding a low-key luxury.

Su Wanyun even patted her chest and promised that as long as Zhou Liangan needed it, the entire Su Family's resources could be at his disposal.

Besides that, Su Wanyun also pushed a person to him.

A great beauty with a hot, tall figure, elegant temperament, and stunning appearance.

This was the successor that Su Wanyun had been painstakingly cultivating recently. Not only was she proficient in finance and management, but her fighting skills were also quite good. She was a stunning Ice Queen with a cold temperament and a hot figure that made people nosebleed.

Su Yixue!

Su Wanyun waved her hand and transferred Su Yixue from the headquarters to Zhou Liangan's side, under the pretense of having her take care of Zhou Liangan's daily life and assist him.

Zhou Liangan was actually quite interested in this beauty his mother had given him.

He walked out of the villa.

Su Yixue was leaning against a brand-new Lamborghini Urus. The sunset glow spilled onto her, casting a layer of golden halo over her.

She was wearing a wine-red suspender slit fishtail dress, outlining her delicate and graceful figure. Her waist was so slender it seemed it could be snapped with one grasp.

At the slit of the skirt, a pair of straight and slender jade legs were exposed. She wore black lace-trimmed over-the-knee socks, and her feet were in ten-centimeter high heels, which set off her body proportions to near perfection.

Her long black curly hair was draped casually over her shoulders. Her facial features were as exquisite as an artwork carefully carved by God. Her pair of beautiful phoenix eyes were slightly upturned, revealing a coldness that kept strangers at a distance. Her whole body exuded the aura of a noble and sexy Ice Queen.

Seeing this beauty, Zhou Liangan couldn't help but sigh inwardly; Su Wanyun's move was a bit too generous.

Su Yixue had naturally heard of this young Master of the Zhou Family—arrogant, domineering, and unlearned, a famous playboy in Jiangcheng.

Therefore, the moment she saw Zhou Liangan, a trace of disgust and disdain flashed imperceptibly in those beautiful phoenix eyes. It was only because of Su Wanyun's order that she didn't flare up on the spot.

Su Wanyun was even more direct. She took Su Yixue's hand and placed it into Zhou Liangan's hand, smiling meaningfully. "Liangan, Yixue is a smart and capable child, and her appearance is one in a million. You two should get along well in the future."

Su Yixue seemed to have known about this for a long time; there was no surprise on her face, only a trace of imperceptible resistance in her cold eyes.

Therefore, when the two left Su Wanyun's villa and got into the Lamborghini Urus, Su Yixue completely tore off the mask of docility on her face.

She skillfully started the car and slammed on the gas, a strong sense of push-back coming through.

The car drove steadily on the road. Su Yixue looked straight ahead, her red lips parted slightly, her tone cold and devoid of emotion, getting straight to the point. "I already have someone I like. I won't marry you, so you'd better give up early."

She paused, then added, "However, so as not to make Aunt Su sad, in front of Aunt Su, we can pretend to be a loving couple. But remember, you must not touch a single finger of mine, otherwise, I will definitely make you pay a painful price."

Hearing this Heaven-Defying remark from Su Yixue, Zhou Liangan couldn't help but widen his eyes, his face full of astonishment.

He sensed Su Yixue; the woman's primal yin was still there, so she could be considered clean. Although her speech was Heaven-Defying, she could still be trained.

Zhou Liangan couldn't help but sneer, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "Baby! Are you having a fever? What kind of nonsense are you talking about! If I didn't know better, I would think I was the one who was my mother's foster child, and you were her biological son."

The way Su Yixue's brain worked was just too unique.

Did she really think Su Wanyun valued her ability?

Honestly, there is never a shortage of talent in this world.

This woman really thought she was something!

Hearing this, Su Yixue's face sank instantly.

She slammed on the brakes, the tires rubbing against the ground with a harsh sound, and the Lamborghini Urus stopped abruptly on the side of the road.

Su Yixue turned her head sharply, her beautiful phoenix eyes staring fixedly at Zhou Liangan, her eyes full of cold anger. "So, in that case, you must have ulterior motives for me?"

Zhou Liangan was startled by her sudden braking. After steadying his body, he looked at the Ice Queen beside him speechlessly and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Stop it! You wouldn't happen to want to laugh me to death, and then rightfully get rid of the engagement between us, would you? Su Yixue, this trick of yours is a bit too clumsy." Zhou Liangan said with a smile.

Su Yixue's face turned even colder, a cold look appearing in her beautiful eyes, her tone filled with heavy sarcasm. "Zhou Liangan, it seems you really don't understand reality. Do you know how much money I have earned for the Su Group in these few years? And you? You are just a playboy who only knows how to indulge in pleasure! If it weren't for Aunt Su, you wouldn't even have the qualifications to see me."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Zhou Liangan's face slowly faded, the temperature in his eyes fading bit by bit, and the coldness grew thicker.

He leaned forward, squinting slightly, his tone icy. "Su Yixue, I think the one who doesn't understand reality is you. Have you forgotten? You are just a dog raised by my mother!"

This sentence was like a sharp knife, piercing deeply into Su Yixue's heart.

Her body trembled violently, her face turned pale instantly, and the anger in her eyes was replaced by humiliation.

Zhou Liangan, however, showed no mercy and continued: "From now on, you are my dog! Without my mother, do you think you could have today? Could you have everything you possess now? Graduating from a prestigious university, entering and leaving high-end places, wearing brand-name clothes, and holding a high salary? Su Yixue, recognize your own identity, don't be ungrateful."

Lies never hurt anyone, but the truth is a sharp blade!

Su Yixue was an orphan who grew up in an orphanage. It was Su Wanyun who took her out, paid for her education, taught her skills, and gave her everything she had now.

In a sense, she was indeed a dog raised by Su Wanyun, an obedient, excellent dog.

Su Yixue stared at Zhou Liangan with her beautiful eyes, her eyes filled with tears, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Her lips trembled slightly, and it took a long time for her to squeeze a few words through her teeth. "Get out of the car."

Hearing this, Zhou Liangan couldn't help but sneer, his tone full of disdain. "Is the car you're driving yours? This is my mother's property! The clothes you wear, the jewelry you put on, the bags you use, which one wasn't bought with my mother's money? Including you, you were trained single-handedly by my mother. A dog, actually unable to know its own identity, daring to bark at me, are you worthy?"

As Zhou Liangan spoke, his cold gaze swept over Su Yixue's delicate and graceful figure wrapped in the fishtail dress...