Chapter 187: Flame

Grandmother Dean had mentioned earlier that besides Lu Yunze and Jiang Sui, another guest had brought gifts today.

As it turned out, that person was Lü Ziyi. She had said earlier that she was leaving for private matters, but she had actually gone to a nearby convenience store to buy “a few” cans of drinks.

The two groups had arrived here with the same goal, yet the air became thick with tension the moment they met.

“What a coincidence, you’re here to do good deeds too?” Lu Yunze initiated the conversation.

“Coincidence, my foot. Don’t think we’re on the same page.” Lü Ziyi’s tone was sharp. “I just bought too many drinks and couldn’t finish them, so I decided to share them with the kids.”

As she spoke, she picked up the drinks from the ground.

‘Does she really have to be so competitive at a time like this?’ Jiang Sui couldn’t help but think to herself.

“I didn’t expect you to come to a place like this. Could it be some kind of new exhibitionist play?”

“That’s right, it’s—”

Before Jiang Sui could finish, Lu Yunze covered her mouth with his hand.

“We are simply here to visit these children and Grandmother Dean.”

He gestured toward the empty box nearby that hadn’t been packed away yet.

Lü Ziyi snorted, her twin tails swaying slightly.

“What you want to do is none of my business. I’m certainly not jealous just because you bought more than I did.”

…Why would there be anything to be jealous of?

Lu Yunze was left speechless.

Just then, the children surrounded them.

Lü Ziyi’s expression changed instantly, revealing a gentle smile for the first time.

“Don’t rush, one by one. Everyone will get some.”

“Wow! Thank you, Sister Lü!”

“I’ve never had this before!”

“Sister Lü is the best!”

Facing the children’s enthusiasm, she didn’t say anything, but she was unusually careful with her movements.

After the drinks were distributed, the children dispersed.

Lü Ziyi coughed and returned to her usual stubborn self.

“I was in a good mood today and bought too many, that’s all.”

She actually stayed behind to help.

Despite her wealthy background and arrogant personality, she didn’t hold back at all when it came to work.

When cleaning, she carried the tools by herself to the furthest room, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work.

The cleaning task, which would have taken a long time, was cut in half because of her help.

Lu Yunze thanked her, but she still kept a cold face.

She really was a classic case of a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Jiang Sui stroked her chin from the side, lost in thought.

‘This person… perhaps she could be of use.’

Although she was competitive and treated Luo Yao and Lu Yunze as rivals, her nature wasn’t bad.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come to a place like this to do charity work.

On the other side, Lu Yunze was working efficiently without holding anything back.

“Jiang Sui, go fill this bucket with water.”

“Understood.”

Watching the water gushing from the faucet, Jiang Sui suddenly felt a strange sensation.

‘Isn’t this just another chore?’

She had wanted to take this opportunity to get closer to Lu Yunze, but it had turned into babysitting and cleaning…

How was this any different from being a maid in the Luo family?

Just as she was carrying the bucket back, she ran into Lü Ziyi.

The two made eye contact, and the atmosphere grew subtle.

“You’re that maid… sorry, I forgot your name.”

“Jiang Sui.”

“Nice name.”

Lü Ziyi paused and suddenly asked:

“Are you very close with Lu Yunze and Luo Yao?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Sui answered naturally.

“Then let me ask you, how do they treat their subordinates usually? Do they abuse them, like forcing them to work overtime or withholding their salary?”

“Huh?”

Jiang Sui was stunned.

Lü Ziyi, however, wore a look of confidence.

“If you feel like you can’t stay there anymore, you can switch sides to the righteous path. Leave the Luo family and join our Lü family or the Execution Division.”

“…”

Jiang Sui finally understood.

‘She wants to use me to learn about her competitors.’

“By the way, you just said ‘switch to the righteous path’…” Jiang Sui narrowed her eyes. “Do you know any secrets about the Luo family?”

Lü Ziyi was taken aback.

After a moment of silence, she spoke:

“If I had to say, my supervisor has always been suspicious of the Luo family’s rise.”

The Luo family wasn’t a traditional secret arts family but a new power that had risen rapidly in the last ten years.

Their growth was shockingly fast, even leaving the old-established Lü family behind.

Therefore, the Execution Division had been investigating the Luo family in secret.

They just didn’t dare to act rashly due to the Luo family’s influence.

Jiang Sui’s eyes flickered.

‘The Execution Division is also keeping an eye on the Luo family.’

Then, Lü Ziyi might be her bridge to the Execution Division.

However… was the Execution Division truly reliable?

She would need to observe that a bit more.

“The benefits for joining the Execution Division are great,” Lü Ziyi continued to persuade. “Even if you aren’t a Secret Arts Practitioner, you could do administrative work. It’s very safe.”

Just then—

A scream rang out from the distance.

Both were startled and rushed to the courtyard.

Grandmother Dean had collapsed on the ground.

The children were surrounding her, crying and shouting.

Lü Ziyi’s expression changed, and she immediately stepped forward to examine her.

Jiang Sui looked toward the gate.

Lu Yunze was blocking the way.

Standing in front of him were several strangers who clearly weren’t there for any good.

The leader cursed and rushed forward, only to be knocked down by Lu Yunze with one strike.

“I didn’t expect this…”

Lu Yunze’s expression turned cold.

“To think there are people who would extort the elderly and children.”

“And even more unexpected, that I would run into it.”

These men had been here before, threatening the Dean to pay protection money.

They had even threatened to destroy the orphanage and kidnap the children.

The Dean couldn’t afford to pay and could only barely manage to deal with them.

Yet these people didn’t know when to quit and had come back for a second time.

“Who the hell are you? A pretty boy?”

“Brothers, get him!”

The group relied on their numbers and rushed forward.

But they were quickly beaten to the ground by Lu Yunze.

Still, they refused to give in and spewed threats:

“Even if you’re not here, we’ll be back!”

“However much you hurt me, I’ll hurt those kids that much more!”

Lu Yunze’s knuckles cracked, and his eyes were almost bloodshot.

“You want to stop me?” he said in a low voice.

“No.”

Jiang Sui walked to his side, her tone gentle.

“I’m just reminding the Young Master that if your clothes get dirty, you can leave them for me to wash.”

She wasn’t some saint.

When it was time to act, she wouldn’t hold back either.

“…Thank you.”

Just as the atmosphere was about to spiral out of control—

“Wait!”

Lü Ziyi spoke up.

She walked over quickly and held up her mobile phone.

“Don’t move just yet. I know these people.”

“Are you sure?” Lu Yunze asked.

“Do you want to scare the children?”

That single sentence made Lu Yunze stop.

He looked at the fearful faces of the children and took a deep breath, stepping back.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Lü Ziyi curled the corner of her lips and pulled a card from her pocket.

“Special Agent of the Execution Division, here to enforce the law with the police.”

She flashed her identification and her phone.

“I’ve recorded everything you just said.”

“And your identities have been confirmed—you’re repeat offenders.”

The faces of the thugs turned pale instantly.

Power, at times, was truly convenient.

Lu Yunze let out a sigh of relief.

“Is Grandmother okay?”

“I’ve already called an ambulance; she’ll be fine with timely treatment.”

Lü Ziyi nodded and turned to look at the group.

Her eyes were cold.

“Now, it’s your turn.”