Chapter 12 : Old Scores and New Grudges

• Gritting her teeth, Ding Ningqiu caught up with Huo Jingran's footsteps and softly said, "Husband, I spent two hours preparing this. Even if you're not hungry, it wouldn't hurt to take a bite, right?"
• After speaking, she even threw a seductive glance at Huo Jingran.
• Huo Jingran coldly glanced at her for some reason. Ever since the incident where Ding Ningqiu made him nauseous, he found her more and more displeasing to the eye, especially when she acted cute and seductive. It reminded him of the food he ate yesterday.
• "I already said I've eaten. I'm going upstairs. Don't disturb me if there's nothing important," Huo Jingran coldly replied before striding upstairs with long legs.
• Watching Huo Jingran disappear upstairs, Ding Ningqiu became furious. She couldn't understand what she had done wrong.
• At that moment, a maid approached her and asked softly, "Madam, the soup seems to have cooled down. Would you like me to heat it up?"
• "Heat it up? Get lost!" Ding Ningqiu snapped rudely, sticking out her neck.
• The maid was frightened and quickly fled.
• The butler, Li, observed this and furrowed his brows even deeper.
• In his eyes, Ding Ningqiu was no different from a foul-mouthed woman. She was clearly unfit for the position of the young mistress of the Huo family.
• However, Ding Ningqiu was also the person his young master had been searching for desperately for six years. He could only sigh silently.
• Noticing Li passing by, Ding Ningqiu called him over and glared at him. She didn't dare to say anything too harsh and asked, "Butler Li, what do you have in your hand?"
• Li stopped and respectfully replied, "The secretary unfortunately passed away. This is the latest investigation material sent by the police. I'm taking it to the young master."
• Ding Ningqiu was taken aback. These past few days, she had been so absent-minded that she had forgotten about her own plan. She slapped her forehead and, noticing Li's puzzled gaze, walked over and took the material from his hand, flipping through it.
• After reading a few pages, she widened her eyes in shock and pointed to a photo of a bead at the crime scene of Fang, the secretary. She said to Li, "I think I've seen this bead somewhere."
• Li looked at the photo carefully and asked in confusion, "Madam, did you just say you've seen this bead before?"
• Ding Ningqiu nodded heavily and said with certainty, "I remember now. The waitress who drugged my husband wore a bracelet with beads like this on her wrist. The texture and size were almost identical."
• This was crucial information. Li asked, "Madam, are you sure?"
• Ding Ningqiu nodded firmly and said to Li, "I'm sure. When we were both waitresses at the Jiangling Hotel, I always found her behavior strange. She was always cautious, so I couldn't help but pay more attention to her. It must have been her who killed Secretary Fang. When Secretary Fang struggled, he broke the bead bracelet on her wrist!"
• Li pondered for a moment and said to Ding Ningqiu, "I will report this to the young master."
• Ding Ningqiu hummed in agreement and watched Li hurriedly go upstairs. A smile slowly formed on her lips as she thought, Xiaoxi, you can't escape this time. With old scores and new grudges, even if you run to the ends of the earth, you won't be able to escape death.
• Study.
• After hearing Li's account, Huo Jingran was furious. He ordered Li, "Spread the word and use all the power of the Huo family to make sure that woman has nowhere to hide!"
• Li bowed slightly and looked at Huo Jingran, asking, "Young master, should we inform the police about this information?"
• "No need. Can't my Huo family kill a woman?" Huo Jingran furrowed his brows.
• "Last time the assassination failed, and that woman has disappeared without a trace." Li continued.
• "In that case, send more people. Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground in Jiangling, we must find that woman!" Huo Jingran growled.
• Li nodded slightly, seemingly thinking of something, and said, "Young master, the female assassin dared to target Secretary Fang. It seems like a provocation. I'm afraid her next target will be you."
• Huo Jingran was taken aback.
• "In two days, you will be going to Sucheng for a memorial ceremony, which gives the female assassin an opportunity. In my opinion, it might be better not to go to Sucheng this year." Li looked at Huo Jingran, waiting for his answer.
• "No." Huo Jingran waved his hand and said coldly, "I must go to Sucheng. No one can stop me."
• Li pondered for a moment and then said, "Since the young master insists on going, we need to bring more bodyguards. The female assassin is cunning and ordinary bodyguards might not be able to handle her."
• After thinking for a moment, Li said, "I have a good friend from many years ago who currently holds an important position in the military intelligence department. He should have some highly skilled special police under his command. If the young master agrees, I will visit him tomorrow and ask for his help in selecting some elite personnel to protect your safety."
• Huo Jingran nodded slightly. "Leave this matter to you."
• For two consecutive days, Lu Yanxi felt listless as she sat in her room, staring blankly at Huo Jingran's information.
• Yesterday, she had already spoken to Lao Zhang on the phone. The organization was currently discussing strategies to send her to Huo Jingran in a reasonable manner.
• Lu Yanxi was afraid. She was afraid that Huo Jingran, who had been her husband six years ago, had a real connection with the drug trafficking organization. She was even more afraid that the assassins were sent by Huo Jingran himself.
• Just as she was lost in thought, her phone, lying on the bed, rang and brought her back to reality.
• She glanced down and saw that it was her master calling.
• She answered the call.
• "Xiaoxi, I have great news to tell you!" Zhang Xu's voice sounded excited.
• Lu Yanxi, feeling both anxious and nervous, asked, "Did the organization agree to send someone?"
• "No."
• Oh no, a bucket of cold water poured over her.
• Lu Yanxi instantly lost interest and casually said, "Then what's the good news?"
• Zhang Xu chuckled and said, "Let me tell you, I never expected this. While we were still discussing how to send you to Huo Jingran without arousing suspicion, the housekeeper of Huo Jingran came to me today. He said that Huo Jingran will be going out of town in a few days and asked me to select a group of elite personnel to protect him."
• "So, what you mean is that now I can be sent to Huo Jingran in a reasonable manner?" Lu Yanxi said with a cold expression.
• "Smart!" Zhang Xu said excitedly, "This makes things much easier for us."
• "My dear master, have you ever considered that this might be a trap? The Huo family intentionally came to you and asked you to find bodyguards. Maybe it's to lure me out and send assassins after me," Lu Yanxi said with a face full of helplessness.