The matter had to be traced back to before Lin Xin’er transmigrated into 《All Splendor Fades》.

That day, Ji Ting was unusually not holed up in the research institute, and Lin Xin’er also had no ‘work’ to do, so the two of them stayed at home.

Ji Ting was bustling around in the kitchen preparing lunch, while Lin Xin’er lounged in the bedroom browsing the internet as she waited for the food.

The middle school class group chat was as noisy as ever.

【Daodao: Xiao Dai, when are you coming out to play soccer?】

【Xiao Dai: You want to play soccer? I’ve been looking for teammates forever =.=】

【Ah Pei: Daodao, I just saw you recently……】

【Daodao: When?】

【Ah Pei: ……Your photo.】

【Daodao: Where?】

【Ah Pei: On Jiayuan.com^[1]dating website.】

【Daodao: Do I look more handsome now?】

【Ah Pei: Hahaha~ I just love your sense of humor.】

【Daodao: You mean I don’t? Then you probably mistook me for someone else.】

【Ye Long: You guys are planning to play soccer?】

【Xiao Dai: Just thinking about it.】

【Ye Long: Been thinking for a while?】

【Xiao Dai: For years……】

Lin Xin’er couldn’t help but chuckle at the screen. Just as she placed her fingers on the keyboard, she heard Ji Ting shouting toward her bedroom, “Xin’er, come out and help bring the food.”

“Okay.” Lin Xin’er responded and casually left the computer.

As soon as she entered the kitchen, the aroma of fried rice filled her nose. Her mouth watered at the sight of the golden omelet rice on the plates. “Xiao Tingting, I didn’t know you could make omelet rice!”

While taking off her apron, Ji Ting replied, “Pour some ketchup on it. There’s a new bottle in the fridge.”

“Got it.” Lin Xin’er opened the fridge and sure enough, saw a brand new bottle of tomato ketchup.

Maybe because of the condensation on the chilled glass bottle, she had a hard time opening it.

When she finally twisted it open, she used too much force, and the ketchup flew out of her hand— straight toward Ji Ting.

Although Ji Ting reacted quickly and caught the ketchup bottle that had ‘thrown itself’ at her, quite a bit of tomato sauce still splattered out of the mouth of the bottle and landed on her.

Red splashes dotted her white coat, standing out vividly.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” Lin Xin’er hurriedly grabbed a cloth to wipe it clean, but Ji Ting took the cloth from her hand and said, “This won’t come off easily. I’ll take it to the dry cleaner.”

And thus, the flashback ended.

But…… something still felt off.

What exactly was it? There was a constant sense of dissonance tugging at Yin Yin.

“Actually, the reason I came this time was mainly to—”

Qian Cai’s voice startled Yin Yin. She interrupted him before he could finish, “Young Master Qian, how is Little Magpie doing lately?”

The smile on Qian Cai’s face froze. He stood stiffly in place, as if someone had struck his pressure point.

Yin Yin’s eyes were full of cheer, yet that gaze sent chills down Qian Cai’s spine.

After a long pause, he finally found his voice, “I’m not sure who this ‘Little Magpie’ Miss Yin is referring to.”

Yin Yin raised her brows in surprise. “You don’t know?”

Qian Cai shook his head. “I do not.”

Yin Yin tilted her head. “Then how did you know the ‘Little Magpie’ I mentioned is a person and not a bird?”

Qian Cai froze once more.

Yin Yin curled her lips into a smile and walked to the table to take a few sips of tea.

Seeing Qian Cai’s odd expression, Yin Dongjiang asked with concern, “Xiao Qian, are you feeling unwell?”

Qian Cai snapped back to his senses and cupped his hands toward Yin Dongjiang. “I’m feeling a bit under the weather today. I’ll come back another day to pay my respects.”

After speaking, he cast a subtle glance at Yin Yin before turning to leave. Yin Yin set down her teacup and followed him. “Father, I’ll walk Young Master Qian out.”

Once they stepped outside Yin Manor, Qian Cai could no longer suppress himself. His expression turned cold as he asked, “Miss Yin, how did you find out about Little Magpie?”

Yin Yin gave a slight smile. “If you didn’t want others to know, you shouldn’t have done it in the first place.”

“You—!” Qian Cai’s eyes flared with rage. Yin Yin patted his shoulder and said, “Relax, Young Master Qian. As long as you don’t pester me again, I promise this secret dies with me.”

Qian Cai’s fists clenched so tightly they creaked. If Yin Yin weren’t the eldest miss of Yin Manor, he would have already found someone to silence her permanently.

“I hope Miss Yin remembers what you said today.” He said through gritted teeth before storming off.

Yin Yin watched his angry figure disappear, feeling immensely satisfied.

She turned around cheerfully, only to see Ling Long standing behind her.

With a grin, Yin Yin approached. “Thank you so much, Young Master Lin. But seriously, who would’ve thought Qian Cai and Hu Lingling were having an affair? If Mu Dingxiu finds out that his dear brother is fooling around with his beloved third wife…… Hahaha! Watching two great families turn against each other will be so entertaining.”

Ling Long: “……”

This young lady truly thrived on chaos.

Yin Yin, still excited, added, “And Qian Cai actually called Hu Lingling ‘Little Magpie’. What a tacky name. I can’t believe he could even say it out loud.”

Ling Long replied calmly, “I heard that’s the name he calls her whenever they make love. He says her voice is as sweet and pleasant as a magpie’s.”

Yin Yin: “……”

How could he say such shameless things with a straight face?! This completely clashed with his character setting!

Ling Long glanced at Yin Yin’s slightly flushed cheeks and couldn’t help but smile.

After a few steps, he lowered his voice and asked, “Miss Yin, do you know who I really am?”

Yin Yin stiffened at the sudden question. After composing herself, she answered, “Of course. Lin Yuqi, a traveling merchant passing by.”

When Ling Long simply stared at her in silence, she added, “Or…… does Young Master Lin have another identity?”

Ling Long looked down slightly and asked, “Why did you assume I knew Qian Cai’s secret?”

“Uh…… I was just trying my luck, to be honest. I didn’t expect you actually knew.”

Under Ling Long’s clear gaze, Yin Yin started feeling a bit guilty. She dropped her head to stare at her toes, when Ling Long’s voice rang out above her, “Miss Yin, I don’t give out information for free.”

Yin Yin was stunned for a moment. She raised her head and asked, “How much is this intel worth?”

Ling Long replied, “You said it yourself— this information is enough to turn two great clans against each other. How much do you think it’s worth?”

Yin Yin: “……”

She should’ve negotiated the price with him before asking! Baidu (a multinational technology company specializing in Internet services and artificial intelligence) was still the cutest— it had never once asked her for money!

Swallowing nervously, Yin Yin said, “You name your price. As long as it’s within my means, I’ll do my best to meet it.”

A glint of mischief flickered in Ling Long’s eyes. “Buying my intel doesn’t necessarily require money. It could be information for information, items for intel, or even…… people.”

“People?” A chill ran down Yin Yin’s spine. Could Ling Long possibly be dabbling in human trafficking on the side?

“Although I don’t know how you discovered my identity, since you already know, I won’t hide it anymore. My real name is Ling Long, and I’m the leader of Zhuwang. I came to Yin Manor this time mainly to investigate Du Qianqian.”

Yin Yin’s eyes darted. She asked, “Is there something wrong with Du Qianqian?”

Before Ling Long could answer, Yin Yin quickly added, “Wait! If this question also costs money, you don’t have to answer it.”

Ling Long let out a soft chuckle. “She might be the missing princess from Prince Luo Manor.”

“Princess?” Yin Yin forced an awkward smile. “Well, good for her, then.”

The original Yin Yin had also known that Du Qianqian was a princess, but had never told her. Ling Long, due to Prince Luo’s request, hadn’t yet informed Du Qianqian either. And before he could, Du Qianqian had leaped off a cliff to her death after being framed by Yin Yin— never learning her true identity.

Ling Long looked at Yin Yin and said, “Miss Yin doesn’t seem surprised at all.”

Yin Yin immediately put on a shocked expression. “Princess?! She’s actually a princess? Oh my gosh!”

Ling Long: “……”

He quietly regulated his breath and continued, “Now I need to find the man who kidnapped the young princess back then. Only he knows whether Du Qianqian is truly that baby girl.”

Yin Yin did know who had taken Du Qianqian. That man was once the number one martial artist in the world, childhood friend of Prince Luo, and had even been given a noble-sounding name by his father— Renyi^[2]benevolence and righteousness.

Too bad he had forgotten his surname was Jia.

After kidnapping Du Qianqian, Jia Renyi disappeared from the Jianghu. No one knew why he had done it.

Some speculated that he and the princess consort had been having an affair long ago, and that the young princess was actually their child.

Yin Yin mentally rolled her eyes at the melodramatic plot and turned to Ling Long, saying, “Then I wish you a safe journey, Young Master Lin.”

Ling Long said casually, “I’d like Miss Yin to come with me.”

“Why?!”

“Why not?”

Yin Yin: “……”

In 《All Splendor Fades》, Yin Yin had gone with Ling Long to find Jia Renyi— but that was only because she had shamelessly tagged along. The one rightfully at Ling Long’s side was the female protagonist, Du Qianqian.

At the time, Ling Long had developed a sense of pity for Du Qianqian after a heart-to-heart in a dark room, and didn’t want her to be bullied by Yin Yin again, so he had brought her along.

Now…… could someone please explain what was going on here?

Yin Yin looked at Ling Long and whispered, “Can I refuse?”

“You can’t. You owe me.”

“……Can it wait until I finish dealing with Fang Li?” She didn’t want to go through all that trouble for nothing.

Ling Long thought for a moment and said, “Alright.”

Yin Yin let out a breath of relief, then asked, “Why didn’t you go straight to Jia Renyi in the first place?”

Ling Long glanced at her and countered, “Which do you think is easier— finding a servant girl from Yin Manor, or finding Jia Renyi?”

Yin Yin: “……”

“It’s a pity Du Qianqian has no clues on her. Master Yin doesn’t remember much about the incident either. In the end, we’ll still have to find Jia Renyi.” As he spoke, Ling Long’s gaze swept lightly over Yin Yin. “You, on the other hand, seem to know quite a bit.”

“I know nothing!” Yin Yin immediately raised her hand and swore to the heavens.

Ling Long studied her for a moment but said nothing. From his observations over the past few days, this young lady seemed to be hiding quite a few secrets and had suddenly become much sharper. Keeping her around might be useful.

That was the real reason he wanted her to accompany him to find Jia Renyi.

Yin Yin also studied Ling Long for a moment before asking hesitantly, “One last question.”

Ling Long signaled with his eyes for her to go ahead.

“Is Ling Long your real name?”

It was a question Yin Yin had wondered about back when she read 《All Splendor Fades》. ‘Ling Long’ really didn’t sound like a real name.

Ling Long’s eyes flickered slightly. “That intel’s expensive.”

Yin Yin’s face twitched. “……Then please don’t answer.”

But Ling Long’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he softly said, “It isn’t.”

Yin Yin immediately covered her ears. “I didn’t hear anything— I heard nothing at all!”

Ling Long’s amusement deepened. Just then, Du Qianqian walked over and noticed the lingering smile in Ling Long’s eyes. Her brows furrowed.

Having lived one life already, she knew exactly what kind of person Ling Long was.

He had always been indifferent, seemingly uninterested in anything, and carried an air of detachment from the world around him.

But Du Qianqian believed that she could become the one exception— the person who could stir his emotions. In her last life, she had run out of time. In this life, she had done everything to please Ling Long.

And now, he was smiling because of Yin Yin?

Du Qianqian’s fists clenched tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms. Taking a deep breath, she forced a sweet smile as she stepped forward. “Eldest Miss, Young Master Lin, Master invites you both to dine.”

At the mention of ‘dining’, Yin Yin’s stomach growled loudly in response.

She looked instantly embarrassed. Ling Long said, “Miss Du’s cooking truly is exceptional.”

Du Qianqian smiled sweetly. “If Young Master Lin likes it, I’ll cook for you every day.”

Yin Yin froze. What the hell?! Was this a proposal? Girl, have some restraint!

Ling Long, however, showed little reaction. He neither agreed nor refused as he followed Du Qianqian into the courtyard.

Yin Yin stared blankly at Ling Long’s snow-white figure and suddenly froze.

She had just realized what was off.

On the day she had transmigrated, Ji Ting had been wearing a white coat— the coat Yin Yin had dirtied.

But the one Ji Ting had picked up from the dry cleaners and left on the sofa…… was maroon.