The Dispute (Dedicated to Ai Wu's Diamond)

"What is it?" Bai Yuchen was equally curious as to why Ling Lan had asked to meet him alone.

The woman held the bone china cup, her reflection rippling across the surface of the coffee-colored liquid. A trace of distraction clouded her expression. After steadying herself, she looked at Bai Yuchen intently and asked only, "Do you know what kind of history there really was between the Ye family and the Mo family back then?"

Bai Yuchen was taken aback by her question. The last time the old man had mentioned Mo Zhicheng, he had stopped halfway through, leaving Bai Yuchen filled with doubts. Now that Ling Lan was asking again, he pressed, "What do you mean by that?"

Ling Lan had initially been testing the waters. Seeing Bai Yuchen’s counter-question, she surmised that Brother Yuchen likely did not know the intricacies of the situation either. "It’s nothing. I just wanted to ask."

"Have you found something out?" Bai Yuchen frowned, continuing to probe.

Seeing this, Ling Lan only shook her head. "No, I haven't found anything."

Bai Yuchen understood Ling Lan well. Watching her head hang low, a look of dejection on her face, he couldn't help but voice his new suspicion: "Ling Lan, are you hesitating?"

Ye Ling Lan slowly raised her eyes to look at the man sitting across from her. They often traded barbs and banter; the atmosphere between them had never been this heavy.

Bai Yuchen’s brows tightened, his gaze locked onto every flicker of expression on her face. "Ling Lan, the result of being merciful to an enemy is that all our efforts will fall short."

He lowered his voice, enunciating every word clearly. Ling Lan heard him perfectly, and ripples stirred within the depths of her dark eyes.

She looked at him. "Yuchen, did Uncle Ye do anything to the Mo family back then?" She finally broke her silence, piercing through the doubt in her heart.

Bai Yuchen was stunned. Recalling the fear and lack of composure his own father had shown when discussing Mo Zhicheng, a cloud of suspicion began to form on his face. "Are you suspecting Uncle Ye?"

"Mo Zhicheng returned to the country for revenge."

"Revenge!"

"His father’s drug addiction may have been a setup, a deliberate trap."

"So you suspect it was Uncle Ye’s doing?" Bai Yuchen stared at her, wide-eyed, unable to believe what he was hearing. "Ling Lan, how many years have you known Young Master Ye, and how long have you known Mo Zhicheng? Tell me!" He gripped the edge of the solid wood table tightly, anger erupting in his eyes. "Let me tell you: you have known Young Master Ye for seventeen years, while you have known that man for barely half a year, Ye Ling Lan!"

"This isn't about time," Ling Lan retorted urgently. "It’s about seeing the truth. He says he won’t let anyone go who caused his family’s ruin. Why does he harbor such intense hatred? Back then, the Mo corporation was thriving—did his father suddenly become addicted? Or... was there truly someone operating in the shadows to crush the Mo family?"

"I don't want to believe it was Uncle Ye’s doing either, but before we clarify the truth, I hope we can remain rational. Brother Yuchen, I asked to see you for two reasons. First, I wanted to confirm if you knew the details of this history. Second... I have already sent the documents exposing the 'Tiancheng' scandal to Young Master Ye. In six days, he will release the scandal to the media..."

Before she could finish, Bai Yuchen blurted out, "So you want me to help you stop Shenghan’s plan?" Ling Lan was slightly startled. It was only when Bai Yuchen pointed it out that she fully realized what she was worried about.

Yes, she was hesitant and anxious. But fearing that she could not persuade Young Master Ye on her own, she had rushed over overnight to discuss the matter with Bai Yuchen.

Until the truth was revealed, she did not want Young Master Ye to take such drastic measures.

Facing Bai Yuchen’s questioning, she had no reply. Her gaze drifted, feeling as though her focus was fading, blurring everything around her.

She held the bone china cup, gripping it so tightly that her knuckles turned a stark, unnatural white. The coffee in the cup had reached the bottom again. The extreme bitterness of the Mandheling lingered; she didn't know how much she had swallowed, the dark, intense liquid spreading across her lips.