Chapter 9: Flattering Without Reason—Either a Scheme or a Thief

In order to avoid arousing suspicion, Wen Nuan waited a little while before entering the house after Wen Changming returned.

When Wen Nuan walked in, Wen Changming immediately dropped his previous stern demeanor, his whole attitude softening.

“Xiao Nuan, you’re back! Come inside and rest for a bit. Your  Aunt Xiulian is cooking, and we’ll eat together later!”

Flattering without reason—either a scheme or a thief. Wen Nuan was no longer the naive fool who could be easily swayed by a few kind words.

Besides, Wen Changming had just visited the clinic, and now his attitude had changed so abruptly. It made Wen Nuan suspicious—could it be that Wen Changming was trying to poison her?

“We’ve already severed ties, so it wouldn’t be right for me to eat with you at the same table. Thank you for the offer, but I won’t be having dinner!”

“Now, don’t say that. No matter what, you’re still my dear daughter. A piece of paper can’t just cut off everything between us.

I reflected on things this afternoon. I realize that I was wrong before. I understand that you’re upset.”

Wen Nuan was even more surprised when she heard this. This wasn’t Wen Changming’s usual style! Could it be that she had guessed correctly?

For Wen Changming to speak to her in such a gentle, soft tone, this was something that had never happened in two lifetimes. Wen Nuan’s guard was raised even higher!

“What do you mean by that? You no longer want to sever ties? Do you want to take the money back from me?”

“Xiao Nuan, no matter what, I’m still your father. Let’s not bring up severing ties anymore. As for the money, that was left to you by your mother. Keep it for yourself. After all, when you go to the countryside, you’ll need something to rely on.”

“Well, that’s rare!”

Wen Nuan looked up at the sky, a hint of sarcasm in her voice as she said:

“So the sun must have set in the west today, not the east. Team Leader Wen, your sudden epiphany really caught me off guard!”

Wen Changming, unable to hold himself together after Wen Nuan’s biting sarcasm, couldn’t stop the trace of malice that flickered in his eyes. Wen Nuan caught it immediately.

As expected, Wen Changming was plotting something. It wasn’t about money—it was about her life!

Wen Nuan replayed the words she had said and the actions she had taken today, her mind forming a clearer picture of what was really going on.

The thing that triggered Wen Changming’s murderous intent wasn’t the few hundred yuan, but likely the dowry chest she had been insisting on reclaiming.

Knowing how valuable the items in that chest were, Wen Changming must have entertained the idea of silencing her.

If Wen Nuan were gone, no one would be left to know that those precious things were in his possession.

Thinking about the dowry chest, Wen Nuan couldn’t help but recall her mother. Though she was young at the time, she remembered many things.

Especially the times her mother would hold her and open the dowry chest to show her its contents. Among them was a set of seals passed down through the Qi family, said to be the private seal of a prince from the Qing dynasty.

The most important part of these seals was the rumor that within them lay the secret of a treasure hidden in the prince’s residence.

Of course, whether the story was true or not could not be verified, and Wen Nuan didn’t know for sure. But what she did know was that the set of seals would be extremely valuable in the future—far beyond her understanding at the time.

So, in order to make Wen Changming feel the loss, she had specifically insisted on claiming her mother’s dowry chest—not because of the elusive treasure, but because of its true worth.

However, Wen Nuan suspected that Wen Changming placed so much importance on this chest because he was likely eyeing that treasure.

Following this line of thought, Wen Nuan felt like things were becoming clearer.

Throughout history, wealth has always been the root of many conflicts. It wasn’t uncommon for couples to fall out or siblings to turn against each other in the pursuit of inheritance.

And for Wen Changming, Wen Nuan was nothing more than an insignificant daughter.

Especially now that this daughter was no longer under his control—she became even less important than the treasure he was so focused on.

“Xiao Nuan, I know you’re upset,” Wen Changming said, his tone softening. “Don’t worry. When you come back from the countryside, I’ll make it up to you properly.”

Wen Nuan replied, “I understand your intention. But if you really want to make it up to me, there’s no need to wait until I return from the countryside. You can do it right now. How about this? Give me an extra two thousand yuan, and I’ll forgive you immediately.”

“I don’t have two thousand yuan!”

Wen Changming, frustrated and angered, couldn’t help but shout.

Wen Nuan, unconcerned, yawned and lazily replied, “If you can’t give it, forget it. I’m tired today and don’t want to eat. I’m going to bed. Goodbye!”

“You…”

As Wen Nuan turned to leave, Wen Changming’s expression twisted into something fierce. But then, as if recalling something, his face quickly softened.

“Xiao Nuan, I know you don’t want to eat with us. Since that’s the case, I’ll have Xiu Lian pack it for you separately, and you can eat in your room. There’s braised pork today—if you don’t eat, it’d be such a waste!”

Wen Nuan stood in the room, her eyes darkened. Since Wen Changming was so persistent, she decided to see what his true intentions were.

“No need to go to so much trouble. Since Team Leader Wen has invited me so warmly, I can’t refuse anymore. Let’s all eat together.”

Having achieved his goal, Wen Changming’s expression finally relaxed, and his voice became even softer.

“Alright, then. You rest for now, and I’ll call you when the food’s ready.”

“Mm.”

Once Wen Changming left, Wen Nuan quickly stepped into the space.

As the master of the space, everything inside it was naturally under her control. She didn’t even need to look around; with her eyes closed and a thought, she could sense everything in the bamboo house.

She opened the cabinet, and in the top drawer, there was a box of elixirs. These pills were ordinary and could be taken by anyone.

Wen Nuan picked up one pill labeled Bai Jie Dan.

As the name suggests, Bai Jie Dan was used to neutralize a hundred poisons. As long as it wasn’t an exceptionally rare and deadly poison, this pill could generally detoxify it.

In addition to the Bai Jie Dan, Wen Nuan also grabbed another type of pill, Da Li Wan.

After taking Da Li Wan, one could temporarily increase their strength to five times its normal capacity. However, the downside was that its effect only lasted for about four hours.

Fortunately, after taking the Da Li Wan, there were no side effects, so Wen Nuan felt more at ease.

She placed a Bai Jie Dan in the inner pocket of her clothing, prepared for any emergencies, and then swallowed the Da Li Wan.

The pill melted instantly in her mouth, and in that moment, Wen Nuan felt her entire body filled with an overwhelming surge of strength.

Having worked from a young age, Wen Nuan’s strength, while not as great as a man’s, was considerably stronger than most girls’.

Now, with her strength boosted fivefold, Wen Nuan was fully prepared to deal with whatever schemes Wen Changming might have in store for her at his “feast.”