Chapter 144: Stay away from him!

The final three words were delivered with a chilling seriousness, and He Xia’s voice noticeably rose in pitch.

Nan Shiqing froze for a moment, but eventually drew a breath and nodded, "I know."

That was the entirety of her response, with not another word uttered.

"Alright, I'm heading to the company. Be a good girl and stay put at home, and for goodness' sake, stop bothering Fu Siying."

With this final instruction, He Xia turned to leave.

Just as she took her first step, however, Nan Shiqing asked out of the blue, "Are you still tangling with that toy boy?"

He Xia’s footsteps halted. She spun around to look at her daughter, furrowing her brow as she said, "Mind your own business. You should be focusing on Fu Siying instead; that’s far more important."

Nan Shiqing’s expression turned grim. She stood up abruptly and said in a deep voice, "I don't want to get involved in this either, but can you please exercise some self-control? At a time like this, you simply shouldn't be associating with him. Mu Yinyin is clearly not the same person she used to be. If she catches wind of this and manages to dig up any evidence, we’ll be ruined beyond redemption."

He Xia grew visibly irritated by her daughter’s lecturing.

Pausing for a moment, she nonetheless replied in a cold tone, "I have my own judgment about this matter. You don't need to worry."

Clearly dissatisfied with her mother's vague brush-off, Nan Shiqing pressed on with displeasure, "Your judgment should be staying far away from him. Do not have any entanglements with him right now. Besides, that young man is obviously calculating. You can't possibly expect him to remain loyal to you forever, can you? What are you going to do if he eventually plots against you, exposes you, or gets hold of something to blackmail you with?"

He Xia’s brows tightened even further. Nan Shiqing walked right up to her, catching her by the arm and pleading, "Just stay away from him now, Mom, please stay away from him!"

By the end of her sentence, Nan Shiqing’s voice was laced with agitation, clearly lacking any trust in her mother.

When it came to this particular weakness, her mother’s self-control was virtually nonexistent—so terribly poor that she had been forced to warn her countless times.

The fact that nothing had been exposed over the past two years felt to her like pure luck, largely because Mu Yinyin's father had been utterly foolish.

"Enough, I know what I'm doing. Just worry about yourself."

With that, He Xia showed no desire to continue the discussion and stepped forward to leave.

Yet, Nan Shiqing maintained her grip on her mother's arm, anticipating this reaction and having no intention of letting go.

Gazing intently at the woman before her, she maintained a resolute expression. "You need to give me a proper explanation today."

"Enough! Have you completely lost your mind?" He Xia’s expression darkened further. "How old are you, and you're still bickering over things like this? Just stay home and reflect on your actions for the next few days!"

With an abrupt jerk, He Xia shook off her daughter’s hand, pulled the door open, and strode out.

Nan Shiqing’s face turned utterly wretched. *You cannot keep going down this path!*

The door was already open; she couldn't very well scream about this matter out in the hallway.

And He Xia had no intention of paying her any heed, leaving without a backward glance.

In an instant, overwhelming frustration washed over Nan Shiqing!

Gritting her teeth, she let out an exasperated growl of fury before slamming the door shut again.

Her complexion could not possibly have looked any worse.

Time slipped away quietly.

Over the past two days, Nan Shiqing had indeed been much more obedient, making no attempts to contact Fu Siying. Despite her deep infatuation with him, she managed to rein in her emotions and kept herself from seeking him out.

And just as she had anticipated, without her initiating contact, Fu Siying truly did not reach out to her even once—not a single ounce of care or concern was shown. This realization pierced her heart with a dull ache, prompting her to bring it up with He Xia, only to be told once again to hold her ground and do nothing.

When she repeatedly demanded to know what He Xia was planning and whether any steps had been taken, He Xia merely told her that the time was not yet right and urged her to stay patient.

This only served to make Nan Shiqing even more restless.

Amidst her mounting anxiety, the day of the auction in Country M finally arrived.

Mu Yinyin and Jiang Ling had sorted out all their preparations well in advance, waiting solely for this auction.

At this moment, the two of them were in a car speeding toward the auction venue.

Jiang Ling was driving himself. Glancing at Mu Yinyin seated in the passenger chair, he spoke in a gentle tone, "Try not to be too nervous. We’ve already taken care of all the preliminary work; there won't be any more problems."

Mu Yinyin’s eyes flickered as she nodded, "I know, but..."

With a human life hanging in the balance, she simply couldn't shake her anxiety until the Azure Bamboo was safely in her hands.

"I understand, I share those concerns too. But right now, worrying is completely useless. As long as we’ve done everything we possibly can to prepare, then regardless of the outcome, at least we gave it our all."

Mu Yinyin’s gaze wavered, and with a complex expression, she finally nodded, "Okay."

Jiang Ling smiled at her and began making casual conversation.

Naturally, his sole intention was to distract her.

Mu Yinyin was well aware of his motive, but it undeniably served its purpose, gradually easing her tension and worry.

"They say this country's auctions treat everyone equally and don't use private boxes, so we'll all be seated out in the open, competing transparently. Yinyin, I’ll be the one handling the bidding later."

This was the sort of task that could easily make enemies.

Jiang Ling had no desire to see Mu Yinyin become a target for resentment.

A warm sensation bloomed in Mu Yinyin’s chest, and she smiled as she said, "I know. But we're attending together anyway; if anyone holds a grudge against you, they'll know we're a team. So it makes no difference who actually raises the paddle."

"Well, at the very least, it keeps them from seeing your face directly."

Mu Yinyin offered a soft smile and ultimately acquiesced.

Jiang Ling had always been fiercely protective and doting toward her, yet... she found herself unable to reciprocate his feelings, nor did she wish to ruin his life. A soft sigh escaped Mu Yinyin's heart. She drew in another slow breath, pressed her lips together, and fell silent.

Jiang Ling, however, had no intention of letting the atmosphere grow heavy and resumed chatting with her.

An hour later, the two of them finally arrived at the destination.

By this time, the area outside the auction hall was already a sea of people. Luxury cars of all sizes slowly pulled up to the entrance, and acquaintances exchanged cheerful greetings with bright smiles upon meeting.

Many attendees were accompanied by male or female dates, everyone dressed to the nines in formal attire.

Although today’s gathering was not a standard banquet, it was nonetheless an exceptionally formal occasion. Some people were present not necessarily to bid on items, but rather to network and negotiate business partnerships with the influential figures gathered here.

After all, anyone capable of attending this event was far from ordinary; naturally, everyone hoped to rub shoulders with the heavyweights and pave a new, broader path to success for themselves.

When Mu Yinyin and Jiang Ling stepped out of the car, they instantly drew the gazes of countless onlookers.

A handsome man and a stunning woman walking side by side formed a picturesque scene. Countless people found themselves unable to tear their eyes away. Naturally, people’s eyes were first drawn to members of the opposite sex, and after being thoroughly captivated, they couldn't help glancing at those of the same sex for comparison, which ultimately culminated in a deep, burning surge of envy.