Chapter 34: Fifteen Years Ago Part 2

She had dared to provoke Qu Wu like that, counting on the presence of Qu Ning and Meng Xin to ensure Qu Wu wouldn’t dare act. But she hadn’t expected that this girl would be the very first to step in front of her.

Qu Ning said to Qu Wu: “Father told you to go back. You should head back first.”

After this whole scene, Qu Wu couldn’t stand to remain seated any longer. He stood up, picked up the wristband from the table, and fixed his eyes venomously on Ye Fengwan, warning viciously: “If I find out you’re connected to the Rebel Alliance, I definitely won’t let you off!”

Ye Fengwan responded calmly: “As long as you have evidence, feel free to come find me anytime.”

Qu Wu stormed off in a fury.

As for Ruan Ming at that moment, her heart was pounding wildly. Perhaps because she had indulged this woman in the car earlier, now, right in front of so many people, Ye Fengwan had taken hold of her hand beneath the table and was gently stroking her index finger.

Just a second ago, she had been confronting Qu Wu fiercely.

Ruan Ming couldn’t help but glance at that person out of the corner of her eye.

There she sat, perfectly composed, her long hair falling beside her neck, a faint, ambiguous smile at the corner of her mouth—chatting with the female bodyguard beside her.

As if the hand beneath the table holding hers wasn’t even her own.

Seeing that this meal could no longer be salvaged, Qu Ning sighed and said: “With the Rebel Alliance situation, the Base Chief already personally reported it to Commander Meng two days ago. The Commander’s stance is to resolutely crack down, with no leniency whatsoever.”

As he said this, he glanced over the several people present. Seeing no changes in their expressions, he then withdrew his gaze and said: “Little Wu’s temperament is rash. I hope you’ll all be understanding of him.”

Ye Fengwan responded flatly: “As long as he doesn’t provoke me to my face, I have no objections.”

Meng Xin was slumped in his chair, looking lazy and indifferent, as if none of this concerned him in the slightest.

And so the meal ended hastily and shallowly.

Everyone rose from their seats. Ye Fengwan discreetly let go of Ruan Ming’s hand, stood up as well, and exited the dining room shoulder-to-shoulder with her.

“I’ll take you back.”

Ruan Ming said nothing, silently following her toward the off-road vehicle.

Once both were in the car, Ye Fengwan rolled down the window and waved towards Qu Ning.

Shangguan Yu also got into Meng Xin’s car. The three cars, one after another, slowly departed.

Halfway through the drive, a profound silence fell within the car. Seeing they were about to reach Territory 32, Ye Fengwan finally spoke: “The purpose of this meal Qu Ning arranged was mainly to probe Huang Yu and Meng Xin. You were just incidental.”

But Ruan Ming didn’t respond to this statement. Instead, she suddenly asked: “That earlier truck incident—your accomplice was Huang Yu, wasn’t it? She’s the one with the Rebel Alliance.”

Ye Fengwan’s heart leaped. “How did you guess that?”

Ruan Ming turned her head to look at her. “Barring any surprises, those men in black that night were actually a trap you deliberately set, hoping to lure the enemy in. You just didn’t expect them to accidentally break into my territory. And Huang Yu, after receiving your message, quickly relocated and repositioned—which is why she arrived so swiftly.”

“When facing me, you still showed some gratitude and remorse. But when facing Huang Yu, there was much more of a sense of ‘taking it for granted.’ If you weren’t on the same side, your reaction wouldn’t have been like that.”

As she spoke, the car had already driven into the territory and stopped outside the large courtyard gate.

Ye Fengwan pulled the handbrake, turned her head to look at her, and said frankly: “You’re very sharp. Now that you know all this, will you keep us at arm’s length from now on?”

Ruan Ming shook her head. “Since you and she are partners, then three years ago, the person who pulled me off the high-speed motorcycle—considering her Esper Ability—couldn’t have been anyone but Huang Yu. She’s saved me multiple times. How could I ever keep you at arm’s length?”

Hearing this, Ye Fengwan felt deeply gratified. She knew Ruan Ming’s character and principles. Now, hearing her speak these words in person, she wasn’t surprised. She smiled, as if having made a momentous decision, and said to Ruan Ming: “Her name isn’t Huang Yu. She’s Shangguan Yu—the granddaughter of the previous Base Chief, Shangguan Ling.”

Upon hearing this, Ruan Ming felt a jolt of shock.

Ye Fengwan continued: “Fifteen years ago, Qu Wanshan orchestrated a rebellion, colluding with several Generals from the Military Region to assassinate Shangguan Ling and seize power.”

Ruan Ming murmured: “But wasn’t the previous Base Chief said to have died of a heart attack…”

“Of course not. That was just their method of deceiving the base’s common people. Do you know why I’ve remained in Base One all this time?”

“For the Qu Family’s organic farm?”

Ye Fengwan replied: “That’s one reason. But there’s another reason: my father.”

“My father’s name is Ye Wei. He was the Director of the previous Research Institute. After Qu Wanshan came to power, he ordered my father to establish Lab 2, specifically to research Esper Ability genetic engineering, and demanded they conduct related experiments. They arrested countless Espers and ordinary people, the goal being to develop Ability Awakening serums and methods to unlock Multiple Abilities. My father couldn’t bear to see survivors turned into experimental subjects and refused Qu Wanshan’s demands.”

“Later, he died. The lab’s stated cause was that he was attacked by a frenzied Contaminated Entity and died after failed emergency treatment.”

“In that lab, many researchers were my father’s students. But many had already been bought off or threatened by the Qu Family—including the current Institute Director of Lab 2, Fang Changqing, also one of my father’s students. Later, a senior fellow apprentice secretly revealed the true cause of my father’s death to my sister: he had been coerced by Qu Wanshan to lead the experiments. Because he refused, he was ultimately murdered.”

“After my father’s death, my sister was the only Brain Domain A-Rank Esper left in all of Base One. Qu Wanshan was convinced that if Lab 2’s experiments could succeed, it would have to be through my sister. But back then, she was only sixteen years old. And as it happened, she was attacked by a Contaminated Entity in the lab, causing her legs to be infected with Dark Uranium elements. Qu Wanshan didn’t dare pressure her too much; he could only let her recuperate first…”

“Later, when I awakened my Esper Ability—Brain Domain S-Rank. My sister was terrified Qu Wanshan would force me into Lab 2 for experimentation, so she found a way to conceal my true ability. Even later, we developed the New-Type Cactus, along with Purification Grass, solving the base’s food shortage problem in one stroke. With these two research achievements to her name, Qu Wanshan attached greater and greater importance to her. As a result, her life was secure, and she gained the capital to negotiate with him. And me, wearing the label of ‘useless,’ was able to protect myself as well.”

“But you still went to Lab 2 later,” Ruan Ming said.

“Yes. Lab 2’s experiments had been making no progress. The Awakening serums they developed had severe side effects. Qu Wanshan couldn’t touch my sister, but he still held a sliver of hope and arranged for me to join them. However, inside, I repeatedly caused trouble and achieved nothing, deeply disappointing him. It wasn’t until later, when I took care of Qu Baichuan and Cui Rong, that he flew into a rage. My sister, afraid I’d completely enrage them, quickly had me transferred back.”

Ruan Ming looked at her. “So Qu Baichuan and Cui Rong really were killed by you—not just experimental accidents?”

Ye Fengwan replied: “I did it. I killed Qu Baichuan because he was the one who executed my father! I lurked in the shadows until I finally got the opportunity. As for Cui Rong—he hurt you. After that day when we… afterwards, I investigated you and rooted him out. Besides, both Qu Baichuan and Cui Rong were key operatives trafficking civilians from the Safe Zone. Those two absolutely couldn’t be left alive.”

After hearing all of this, Ruan Ming looked at the woman before her and felt an involuntary pang of ache.

“When did you start cooperating with the Rebel Alliance?”

Ye Fengwan replied: “Actually, my sister, Shangguan Yu, and I grew up together as children. After the Shangguan Family fell from power, Shangguan Yu was sent away. Back then, we were all only about ten years old or so. Because of her extension ability, she frequently adjusted her facial contours. Over time, she came to look nothing at all like a member of the Shangguan Family. After my father passed away, I began reaching out to her.”

Having said all this, Ye Fengwan let out a deep breath.

The road ahead was long and fraught with obstacles. They still had so much to do.

Ruan Ming took a long moment to digest all this information. Her lips pressed tightly together. “For the crocodile fishing—call Sister Yu to join us.”

Without looking at Ye Fengwan, she continued on her own: “Her ability should be able to help. Otherwise, relying on just the two of us, how could we possibly manage it?”

Upon hearing this, Ye Fengwan’s eyes shone with tenderness. She said warmly: “Alright. I’ll talk to her about it later.”

Just then, the sound of a bicycle bell jingling came from the direction of the territory entrance.

Ye Fengwan turned her head to look toward the territory entrance and said: “Ah Yuan is back. I’d instructed Bai Xing to have him bring back the soil conditioner for you.”

A smile finally broke across Ruan Ming’s face. “I wonder—after drinking the water, did Institute Director Ye get a bit better?”

Ye Fengwan: “She’ll get better. She told me to protect you well. But until today, it’s still been you protecting me all along.”

“But does she know about me?”

“I promised you I wouldn’t tell those secrets to anyone, including my sister.” Ye Fengwan smiled. “She probably figured it out herself.”

Ruan Ming bit her lip, happiness brimming uncontrollably in her heart. After a moment, she asked: “After spraying the conditioner, how long until we can plant?”

“One month. Then I’ll measure the soil data once more.”