Han Yanyan found herself feeling averse to the idea of getting too close to the task target, as the details remained fresh in her mind. From the beginning, she had no intention of using seduction or underhanded tactics. In a world that respected strength above all else, she realized that using charm to lure was truly a sign of weakness. Even if a strong person were to take the bait, it was more akin to looking down at a pet.

When faced with life-and-death situations, what good would a pet do?

Tang Ke had reached his teenage years and was restless, his possessiveness as a man growing stronger each day. To avoid any uncomfortable situations, Han Yanyan decided to take action and guide things along.

It was a weekend. In the past, Tang Ke would return home on weekends, but since Xin Ya's passing, he mostly stayed at the estate.

A servant knocked on his door, "Miss, the family head asks for you to come to the study."

Tang Ke agreed and quickly changed his clothes before heading over. Upon arriving at the study, he knocked only to find the door slightly ajar, with no one responding. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside, discovering the room was empty. He guessed he might have come too early.

He made his way to the sofa and sat down, waiting for Han Yanyan, when he suddenly heard the voice of the family head.

Puzzled, he followed the sound and noticed the door to the study's inner room was also ajar. The study was used for official matters and to meet guests; Tang Ke had been in here several times. However, he had never entered the private inner room. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to step back to avoid peeking.

But then he froze.

He had heard Xin Ya's voice.

There was no way Tang Ke could mistake his mother's voice. But Xin Ya had passed away; how could her voice be coming from the inner room of the family head's study?

Tang Ke pushed open the door to the inner room, only to find it was empty. There was a bed, a bathroom, and a treatment pod. He stood at the edge of the bed, eyes wide, staring at the wall.

On the wall directly opposite the bed, a projection appeared, playing a video.

"I never thought my brother-in-law would be exposed to radiation; he must have suffered a lot," the family head said.

"So you want to get into Dongchen, huh?" the family head continued, "Dongchen is indeed the best; all of Han's children attend Dongchen."

"Then Xin Ya, my little bunny..." The family head smiled, "What will you give me in return?"

To help Tang Ke with his future, Xin Ya had sought help from the family head, who wanted something in return. Xin Ya had agreed.

When the moment arrived, her pride ultimately held her back. She was filled with fear and shame, wanting to back out.

Han Jun had pressured her.

At that large desk, a powerful Spiritual Level S fighter overwhelmed an ordinary woman with only a Spiritual Level B.

The woman did not cry; she looked lost and broken, hugging her knees. The first thing she said once she collected herself was, "You promised me, please don’t forget."

The man had promised her a good future for her son.

Tang Ke's fingers trembled.

The video shifted through various scenes—some in the study, some in this inner room, and others in different places. Time and again, Han Jun reveled in tormenting Xin Ya. His abuse evolved, of course. After her time in the treatment pod, she came out unscathed, as if reborn.

Tang Ke saw Han Jun sitting at the end of the bed, smoking and waiting for her. As the pod opened, she crawled out, her skin flawless, fresh like a newborn.

Han Jun looked at her, smiling, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

Xin Ya hung her head low, expressionless. But when the man stood and walked towards her, she instinctively stepped back, fear written all over her face…

Tears finally streamed down Tang Ke's cheeks as his fist clenched tightly, his teeth grinding in rage.

The light projector suddenly shut off. Outside, there was noise, and Tang Ke instinctively hid behind the door. Through the crack, he saw the man who had violated his mother entering the study.

In that instant, killing intent surged within Tang Ke! His feet twitched to move! Just then, Han Yanyan followed and stepped into the room.

Tang Ke came to a sudden halt.

“I'll handle this operation,” she declared, sitting down at her father's desk.

The family head leaned back, looking at her, “She is your birth mother.”

“She is a fool who sold out the family's interests for her own gain and then turned back on her word. She relied on us to take the head seat but couldn’t see her own worth, foolishly thinking she could betray us,” Han Yanyan said coldly, “Plus, since she can send people to assassinate us, why can’t I go after her? I have always said, the Yin family is mine. Since it is mine, I should be the one to deal with it.”

“Are you sure you can go through with it?” he asked.

“I have hardly spent any time with her; our bond is nothing more than a mere genetic link. Why would you doubt my resolve?” Han Yanyan sneered, “I am the heir you have nurtured; please have a little faith in yourself.”

The family head smiled with satisfaction. “Good, it’s up to you then.”

He then asked, “What about those around you? Which one do you fancy?”

“I’m only eighteen, thank you.”

“Choose early; I’ll know how to prepare for it,” the family head said, “Among them, I favor Gao Pei the most.”

Han Yanyan flatly rejected him, “Gao Pei himself is ambitious; he wouldn’t settle for being a mere son-in-law of the family head. Besides, with our family’s ties to the Yin family, the Gao family is cautious now. Their attitude isn’t warm anymore. Gao Pei still wants to mimic my mother’s path by leveraging our strength to regain power in the Gao family.”

The family head lit a cigarette, remaining silent for a moment, then asked, “What about Tang Ke?”

“Ah,” Han Yanyan said playfully, “I thought you wouldn’t include him on my list of potential husbands.”

Taking a drag and exhaling, the family head said, “He has no family background, relies on our support, and with a Spiritual Level S+, in theory... he is indeed the most suitable candidate.”

Han Yanyan replied coolly, “I thought you were getting old and a bit senile. You overlook the best choice and instead offer me a bunch of unsuitable candidates. It seems I was mistaken; your mind is still sharp. The head seat could easily last you ten or twenty more years.”

“Old man here can still sit for another twenty,” the family head said, “You better erase those thoughts of seizing power from your mind.”

He paused and added, “Tang Ke… don’t ruin him.”

Han Yanyan smirked, “Why are you worried? I haven’t inherited any peculiar habits from you. My personal preferences are bright and healthy; I never intended to ruin any lovely boys. I’ve spent enough effort turning him into his current self.”

The family head huffed.

“But speaking of which…” Han Yanyan rested her chin on her hand, smiling.

At eighteen, her smile was enchanting, captivating all.

With her most beautiful lips, she uttered the most venomous words directed at the boy behind the door—“Mother was your little bunny, and her son is my little bunny. Isn't it quite amusing?”

In Tang Ke’s mind, it felt like an explosion.

When Han Yanyan and the family head left, he found himself stumbling out. He didn’t return to his room but headed straight back to the apartment he shared with Xin Ya.

Since Xin Ya's passing, he hadn’t been here often, often haunted by memories that lingered in the air. The apartment was spotless, cleaned by a robotic housekeeper, just as it had been before.

Yet, the place felt cold and lifeless, lacking even a hint of warmth. That gentle smile that had once welcomed him home was no longer there.

Like a ghost, Tang Ke stepped into the room.

Since Xin Ya's demise, the apartment had remained untouched. Her bedroom, her art studio—everything preserved. He pulled the white cloth off the easel, revealing her final unfinished piece.

On the canvas, gray and black formed large patches, with the center pitch dark like a black hole, as if it were absorbing everything, rendering one helpless.

Tang Ke moved to another room; the dark space held little, save for a treatment pod at its center. Shortly after they had moved into this apartment, this pod had been brought in.

She said he would need it later. Yet, in truth, he used it rarely. Most of the time, after training, they went straight to the school's treatment room for physical repairs. At the estate, the western district also had treatment pods prepared for them.

Tang Ke’s hand brushed over the control panel, activating it with his spiritual energy. A soft glow lit up the dark room, and he accessed the usage records since the day it was unboxed.

User: Lin Xin Ya.

…