Page 47

The more the aunt looked at Chu Yuening's youthful and beautiful appearance, the more pained she felt.

"A young lady like you still has your whole life ahead. When you reach my age, you'll understand that men can't be relied upon. Listen to Auntie, dig out as much money as you can. That way, even if you don't have a man, you won't have to worry about being short on cash."

"Oh, I see."

Not paying much attention, Chu Yuening absentmindedly acknowledged her words and then searched for the cabinet exuding a golden aura. With a cloth in hand, she wiped against the wooden surface.

In the next instant, the cabinet door swung open.

The contents inside made the chattering aunt scream in shock.

"What bad luck! How could such a thing exist?!"

Inside the cramped cabinet was a funeral plaque bearing Hua Hongye's name. The incense burner was filled with gray ashes, and three unburned incense sticks stood upright within it.

Beneath the plaque was a rectangular iron box containing a large bundle of intertwined black and white hair pressed under soil. The hair was dry, brittle, and lacked luster, resembling dried corn silk. Unseen by others, a faint golden aura permeated the strands.

Chu Yuening immediately grasped what they were planning to do.

Contemplating the construction site's array and the thirteen innocent lives lost, he gave a cold smile.

"Planting vitality."

To aid those who should have already perished in defying the heavens and extending their lifespan, four-tailed golden fish were placed, a plaque was set up, and the hair of the dying was used to create an illusion of death to deceive the underworld. Since the Hua Xin Tower was closest to the construction site, positioning the plaque there would draw even more vitality.

It was a Heaven's Wrath Life Borrowing Formation.

A single life could only exchange for three days of vitality.

The aunt, frightened, hastily closed the cabinet. Suddenly, a voice sounded from outside the door. A man in his thirties, with a grim expression, asked, "What are you doing?"

"The General Manager!"

Startled, the aunt quickly pulled Chu Yuening aside. "We received orders to clean."

Hua Bin gave Chu Yuening a cold glance before instructing the aunt, "Without my permission, no one is allowed to enter the Chairman's office and rummage through things."

The aunt nodded repeatedly.

Hua Bin then turned around and pushed a wheelchair in from behind. Seated on it was a bony old man, covered with a thick blanket. His eyes were closed, his head drooping, exuding a putrid aura of death, yet he clung to life.

Chu Yuening stood still, and black aura swirled around Hua Bin as well. Amidst the churning darkness, one could catch glimpses of golden vitality.

As Hua Bin brought the occupant in, his face darkened as he scolded, "Why aren't you leaving?"

"We'll go," the aunt said hurriedly, lifting the bucket. The water inside sloshed, spilling onto the floor, and she prepared to mop it up. But Hua Bin's anger flared again, "Get out!"

The aunt trembled in fear and, before leaving, quickly pulled Chu Yuening away.

Once outside the door, the aunt allowed her panicked expression to show. Looking up at Chu Yuening, she said, "The general manager has a worse temper than Young Master Three, and they've never gotten along since they were young. If he finds out you're Young Master Three's woman, he'll definitely make things difficult for you. Quick, leave."

Chu Yuening had never imagined that within just a dozen minutes, the aunt's fertile imagination would have already assigned her the role of Young Master Three's beloved companion.

Unfortunately, the Life Borrowing Star Killing Formation wasn't set up in the office.

The battlefield was still elsewhere.

Hua Bin must be involved in this matter, hence her desire to locate the site and dismantle it, all while keeping close tabs on him.

Sitting idly in the guest area, she was suddenly startled when the elevator doors opened, revealing two individuals who were visibly surprised to see Chu Yuening.

Fang Jingguo, dressed in a suit with a briefcase tucked under his right arm and a golden watch adorning his left wrist, looked perplexed as he saw her. "Yuening, why are you here?"

Chu Yuening had also spotted Fang Jingguo and, in that instant, regretted not bringing the IOU; otherwise, she could have demanded payment.

At the same time, she expressed her displeasure. "Why are you two here again?"

Fang Jingguo had been preoccupied with company affairs. Upon hearing from Chu Yi that the sisters couldn't afford their rent, he initially intended to visit them personally but eventually decided against it.

Given his long-term development in Hong Kong and limited contact with the mainland, his bond with the sisters wasn't particularly strong. Nonetheless, they were his offspring.

He placed great importance on blood ties, and after the sisters moved out of the Fang residence, he had instructed Tian Yuezhi to show them more concern.

"Father is here for business matters, discussing investment cooperation with Chairman Hua. In a while, Owen will return from the UK, and we can all have a family reunion dinner together."

Owen referred to Fang Jingguo's eldest son, who was studying abroad in the UK.

"Family reunion dinner?" Chu Yuening scoffed. "Sorry, Yuening and I can have our own family dinner. We're not that close with the Fangs."

"Hey, you're being disrespectful," said a man in his twenties standing beside Fang Jingguo. His blond hair clashed with his tailored suit, and he glared at Chu Yuening with a menacing expression.

"You dare talk to Father like that? Watch out, or I won't go easy on you."

"Caleb, don't speak to your sister like that," Fang Jingguo interjected, aware of Chu Yuening's resentment. He glanced at his gold watch. "The master performed a ritual last night and said that discussing with Chairman Hua at this specific time will secure the investment. Let's not waste any more time and go inside."

Fang Jingguo was frazzled due to the recent loss of significant orders. He knew there was an issue with the company's feng shui, so Tian Yuezhi had helped invite a master, but the results were minimal.

Any help from a master was better than none.

Having arranged a meeting with the Hua Xin Group for a collaboration, he had asked the master for a blessing the day before to boost his chances.

This time, he had to secure the investment to save the company from its crisis.

Understanding the importance of funding, Fang Kaize ceased his argument and flashed Chu Yuening a taunting smile.

"If you're worried about bad luck, you shouldn't be smiling," Chu Yuening observed, raising an eyebrow as she noticed the dark aura around both men.

Indeed.