Chapter 404: Seizing the Opportunity to Stir Up Trouble

Chapter 404: Chapter 404: Seizing the Opportunity to Stir Up Trouble

Seeing that Wang Chenning didn’t get it, Luo Yuqing rolled her eyes, but she didn’t say much in front of the others.

After they took the elevator back to their rooms, she summoned Wang Chenning to her room and had Zhao Xiao’an come over as well.

With Zhao Xiao’an present, Luo Yuqing got straight to the point. "I hear Dai Xingfeng doesn’t get along with his rival. And since Dai Xingfeng is someone your grandfather has a high opinion of, what do you say? Should we take this opportunity to stir up some trouble and make things lively around here?"

"Use Yan Dongling?" Zhao Xiao’an stared at Luo Yuqing in surprise. "What’s your plan?"

"First, I’ll get the details on the guy who’s trying to coerce Yan Dongling. Once we know who he is, we can tailor our plan accordingly." Luo Yuqing seemed a little excited. "People from prosperous places are bound to have brighter futures. Let me put it this way: in matters like this, we can’t always be living in someone else’s shadow!"

Both Zhao Xiao’an and Wang Chenning were sharp; they immediately understood what Luo Yuqing was getting at.

Wang Chenning smiled. "In that case, find a way to get more useful information out of Yan Dongling during the tour today."

"I’m the only one for the job!" Luo Yuqing said no more, simply pulling out her phone to make a call, instructing someone to gather the information she needed and have it ready before noon.

"All set!" After putting her phone away, Luo Yuqing stretched languidly in front of Zhao Xiao’an and Wang Chenning, completely unconcerned with the eye-catching figure she cut. "These little episodes make the trip to Gusu worthwhile. Come on, let’s go have some fun. The sights in Gusu are actually quite nice!"

Then she offered her own suggestion. "Hanshan Temple isn’t actually that interesting, and the Maple Bridge Night Mooring spot is all hype. Why don’t we go to Zhuozheng Garden this afternoon? It’d be much more pleasant to sit and admire the spring scenery there than to keep running around outside."

"Sounds good to me." Wang Chenning had no objections.

Although Yan Dongling hadn’t gotten what she wanted from Wang Chenning, she showed no sign of it while guiding their group, maintaining a high level of professionalism.

When the group arrived at Huqiu, she personally arranged for a tour guide. She even supplemented the guide’s commentary with additional cultural and historical anecdotes about the location.

The woman was quite knowledgeable, and she handled things with swift efficiency.

"She’s not bad. If you want to bring her into the fold, she could be molded into something great." Luo Yuqing had been watching Yan Dongling’s performance the whole time. As they finished their tour of Huqiu and were about to leave, she whispered to Wang Chenning, "She’d be a capable helper in the future. Besides, a woman her age knows the score. You give her a little tap, and she’ll know exactly which position to take."

"Why does your mind always go there?" Listening to Luo Yuqing, Wang Chenning was struck by how she’d started off so seriously, only to drag the conversation into the gutter with her last two sentences. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes. "Are you some kind of pervert?"

"Of course not!" Luo Yuqing rolled her eyes right back at him. "Aren’t I just looking out for you? If I were to... serve you alongside her, I certainly wouldn’t feel any pressure!"

Wang Chenning simply ignored her, walking over to join Yang Xiaofei and Zhao Xiao’an.

Luo Yuqing was unbothered.

After lunch, the group first went to Liu Garden and then on to Zhuozheng Garden.

The restaurant where Dai Xingfeng was hosting them for dinner that evening was near Zhuozheng Garden.

Besides, a tour of Zhuozheng Garden wouldn’t take the entire afternoon.

After lunch, Luo Yuqing pulled Wang Chenning aside again. "I’ve got the info we need," she whispered. "What Yan Dongling said was true; it’s really happening. And she’s still single."

As she said this, Luo Yuqing grinned like a sly little fox.

Wang Chenning ignored her expression and urged her to get to the important part.

Luo Yuqing told Wang Chenning that the man with designs on Yan Dongling was named Miao Jianhang, also known to everyone as Old Fourth. He was a known womanizer, rumored to have many lovers. However, because he had plenty of people to speak up for him, he’d never faced any real trouble.

Finally, Luo Yuqing shared the most crucial piece of information: Miao Jianhang was on good terms with Zhang Guoping’s father, Zhang Jinshe. The story was that ten years ago, Miao Jianhang had taken the fall for Zhang Jinshe over some incident, after which the Zhang family had rewarded him handsomely.

Miao Jianhang owed much of his current success to that event.

And what’s more, he was one of Dai Xingfeng’s rivals.

After hearing Luo Yuqing’s explanation, Wang Chenning fully grasped the crux of the matter.

"So, what’s our move?" Wang Chenning didn’t commit to a position, instead asking Luo Yuqing for her opinion.

Luo Yuqing replied, "Once we get to Zhuozheng Garden, I’ll take a walk with Yan Dongling alone and feel her out. We can discuss this again tonight."

"Alright."

After touring Liu Garden, the group arrived at Zhuozheng Garden.

While the gardens of Jiangnan each had their own merits, their overall styles were quite similar. There wasn’t a fundamental difference between Huqiu, Liu Garden, and Zhuozheng Garden.

So, upon entering Zhuozheng Garden, both Yang Xiaofei and Zhao Xiao’an had had enough of walking. They wanted to sit down, rest, and quietly soak in the spring atmosphere over some tea.

Li Fuzhen and Li Yanxian felt the same way. Only Luo Yuqing was still eager to explore.

So, Wang Chenning arranged for Yan Dongling to accompany Luo Yuqing on a walk, while he sat with the other women.

"Is that Yan Dongling asking you all for a favor?" Li Yanxian asked Wang Chenning curiously after they had ordered tea and snacks and sat down. "She’s been acting a bit odd."

"You don’t need to worry about that," Wang Chenning replied with a chuckle. "Whatever happens, just think of yourself as a spectator."

Li Yanxian rolled her eyes.

Li Fuzhen chimed in with a smile. "Chenning, you may be young, but you already carry yourself with the air of a leader. With a few more years of experience, you’ll be truly formidable. I’ve seen a lot in my time, but I’ve never met a young man as impressive as you."

"Thanks for the compliment, Sister Li." Wang Chenning smiled. "I happen to think I’m pretty capable myself, which is why I want to accomplish something great. I plan to seize every opportunity that comes my way, so I’ll be counting on all of you for your support."

"Of course!" Li Fuzhen’s smile grew even more brilliant. "After receiving your treatments, I feel like a completely new person—like I’m aging in reverse. For that debt of gratitude alone, I must repay you. I’ll do everything in my power to help!"

"You’re all my witnesses!" Wang Chenning gestured toward the other women. "If Sister Li ever decides she’s unwilling to help me, you all have to back me up!"

In response, he didn’t get their support, but three simultaneous eye-rolls.

Wang Chenning paid them no mind, continuing to sip his tea and banter with them.

Around three in the afternoon, Wang Chenning received a text from Lin Qiuning: "Bai Qianxun got into a fight with my brother. My brother is threatening to kill him. What should I do?"