Chapter 13: Who Dares to Settle the Score?

Yan Qiao did not hesitate to explain: “The root cause is your altered fate. Until your original fate is restored, none of these circumstances can change. I can only help drive away those entities and prevent them from approaching you.”

Yan Qiao showed no modesty, her confidence evident.

Li Xiao twitched the corner of his mouth and unexpectedly asked, “Should I pay you for saving me tonight?”

“No need. You were incidental.”

“Then I’ll have to trouble Fourth Miss Yan to safeguard me from now on.”

“Call me Yan Qiao.” The title “Fourth Miss” grated on her ears.

“Alright.” Li Xiao’s lips curled into a faint smile, one he himself hadn’t noticed.

The assistant driving upfront, Ling, was stunned. Having worked beside his boss for years, this was the first time he’d seen him speak so much to anyone—let alone a girl. Such a scene felt surreal, beyond even his wildest dreams.

…

It seemed Fourth Miss Yan was truly extraordinary to earn such unique regard from his boss.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived home.

To their surprise, Su Min was still waiting in the living room. She stood immediately when they entered.

“A-Qiao, you’re back!” She hurried over and clasped Yan Qiao’s arm.

“Mom, why aren’t you asleep yet?” Yan Hao exclaimed. Dawn was nearly breaking.

“I slept earlier but couldn’t rest after you left. Is everything resolved? Where’s your eldest brother?” Su Min fretted over her children’s safety.

“All settled. Go rest, Mom.” Though Yan Qiao’s expression remained neutral, her heart stirred faintly.

“Eldest Brother is staying with Sister-in-Law.”

Relieved to see everyone safe, Su Min finally retreated to her room.

Yan Qiao wasn’t in a hurry to sleep. Her first act upon returning home was to offer incense to her ancestral master. Even at this late hour, the master would be pleased.

“Ancestral Master, Master, I’ve earned another offering for you tonight. At dawn, I’ll buy the finest incense.”

The remaining incense she’d brought was nearly depleted. As she spoke, the burning sticks seemed to glow brighter!

Thanks to Yan Qiao’s medicine, soul-calming talisman, and protective charm, Shen Zhiyin awoke by noon the next day. The room had been restored to its original state.

Overjoyed at her awakening, Yan Jue asked urgently, “Yinyin, how do you feel?”

Shen Zhiyin stared blankly at him, her voice hoarse: “A-Jue, are we… home? Weren’t we in Xiangzhai for an event?”

Yan Jue’s heart sank, but he pressed gently, “Do you truly remember nothing? Not even when we returned?”

She shook her head, devoid of recollection.

“It’s alright. Rest now. You’re still weak.” He caressed her cheek tenderly.

“A-Jue, what happened? Why do I ache all over?”

After a pause, Yan Jue recounted the full story.

Shen Zhiyin fell into stunned silence, struggling to believe it.

“You’re not joking, are you? This… this is absurd!”

“I swear it’s true. Ask your parents—they witnessed everything last night. I’ll call A-Qiao now.” He stood and left the room.

Shen Zhiyin stared vacantly at the ceiling, still in disbelief.

Soon, her parents, Shen Guohao and Shen Furen, entered. Shen Furen wept with relief.

“Yinyin, you’re finally awake! We were terrified!”

“Mom, Dad… Is what A-Jue said real?”

Outside, Yan Jue called Yan Qiao.

“A-Qiao, Yinyin is awake, but she’s sore all over. Is that normal?”

“Yes. It’ll fade in a few days,” Yan Qiao replied coolly, as if it were trivial.

“Good.”

“Anything else? I’m busy.” The call ended abruptly.

Yan Jue marveled at his sister’s bluntness.

What was Yan Qiao busy with? Purchasing incense, yellow paper, and cinnabar—accompanied by Yan Hao and Su Min. Yan Hao had brought her to a specialized street lined with shops selling ritual items, open only by day due to its eerie atmosphere at night.

“Boss, show us your best stock! My sister’s an expert—she’ll know if it’s quality. Money’s no issue!” Yan Hao declared grandly.

The shrewd shopkeeper, eyeing them as easy targets, smirked inwardly. To him, Yan Qiao was just a naive girl.

“Third Young Master Yan, this is our finest stock—reserved only for special clients!”

Yan Qiao studied the cinnabar, paper, and incense on display. “Price?”

“As a discount for you: 8,000!”

Yan Hao, unfamiliar with such goods, hesitated.

Yan Qiao sneered. “A shameless markup. These are worth 500 at best. Tenfold greed.”

The shopkeeper stiffened but blustered, “You know nothing! This is top-grade material!”

“Liar! How dare you cheat us?” Yan Hao exploded.

Yan Qiao turned away coldly. “Leave. Karma will collect his debt soon.”

The shopkeeper jeered, “Who’d dare confront me? Nonsense!”

No sooner had he spoken than five enraged men stormed into the shop…