72: Grandmaster, please spare my life!

The Feng Family was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Under the pincer attack of the Ling Corporation and the billions from Ma Yifei's super tycoon system, the Feng Family retreated steadily and was already on the brink of collapse.

As for that new energy project, it was entirely a trap set by Ling Xian.

Not a single cent went into new energy; every penny ended up in the Ling Corporation's pockets to be used to crush the Feng Family.

Ling Xian even estimated that before the Feng Family fell, he could swindle over ten billion in cash flow out of Ma Yifei.

This was a terrifying amount of cash flow that even a hundred-billion-dollar conglomerate would eye with envy.

The art studio at Jiangnan University.

Feng Yixue sat before a canvas, her brush suspended in mid-air, her eyes hollow.

She hadn't been like this before.

Ling Xian saw through her worries the moment he arrived, but he didn't point it out.

"Miss Feng, is something on your mind?"

"No, nothing." Feng Yixue shook her head, unwilling to say more.

Ling Xian turned up the pressure.

"I am the heir to the Donghai Ling Corporation.

I know your father is investigating me.

I'm also aware of your family's situation.

I can give the Feng Family a contract that guarantees a profit without any risk."

Feng Yixue shook her head stubbornly.

She couldn't accept charity, especially from Ling Xian, for whom she had developed feelings.

This favor was too heavy; she couldn't repay it.

Moreover, it was too simple; she didn't believe the heir of a major corporation would engage in a losing business deal.

Without profit, who would help the Feng Family weather this crisis?

"Fine. Contact me whenever you've thought it through."

Ling Xian didn't push her and turned to leave.

At a time like this, boiling the frog in lukewarm water was the best approach.

Not long after Ling Xian left,

Feng Yixue's phone began to ring incessantly.

She hung up in annoyance, but it soon rang again.

"Ma Yifei, aren't you annoying?"

Indeed, the person on the other end was Ma Yifei.

"Sister Yixue, I really didn't know the Fu Family was targeting your Feng Family.

If I had known, I definitely wouldn't have invested.

Let's find a place to meet and discuss this." Ma Yifei was also feeling flustered.

He had clearly just followed the system's mission, yet it resulted in Sister Yixue ignoring him.

Who could he even complain to about this?

"I don't want to talk to you. If you want to meet, then show some mercy and stop attacking my Feng Family!" Feng Yixue hissed, already loathing this ungrateful wolf in her heart.

Just as Ma Yifei was about to agree, the super tycoon system's new mission appeared.

[Ding! High-reward time-limited mission: Crush the Feng Family.]

[Mission Time Limit: One week!]

[Mission Reward: 50 billion in cash, 1,000 system points! (20 billion in startup funds can be advanced!)]

[Failure Penalty: Immediate obliteration.]

Staring at the terrifying 50 billion reward, Ma Yifei swallowed the words he was about to say.

Besides the generous reward, it was because the failure penalty was too horrifying.

But how was he to know that the super tycoon system didn't actually have a so-called failure penalty; it was all a lie to deceive Ma Yifei.

"Sorry, Sister Yixue, I can't do it. I'll explain to you later."

With that, he hung up the phone.

But Feng Yixue didn't believe a word Ma Yifei said.

She had already ingrained the image of Ma Yifei deliberately approaching her into her mind, naturally harboring hostility toward him.

"Heh... they're all liars. Including Ling Xian, everyone is a liar."

Feng Yixue was naturally insecure, and the idea of Ma Yifei deliberately approaching her was deeply rooted.

The ethereal sense of security maintained by her kind heart shattered instantly.

"Mom, what should I do? Why can't I help Dad at all?" She threw her paintbrush down in anger.

She realized her interest in painting was useless to her family... the Feng Family was about to collapse.

Father Feng's phone was now full of bad news: bank loan recalls, supplier stockouts, customer contract terminations... every single thing pointed to one person—Ma Yifei!

Feng Yixue didn't go to Jiangnan University for several days, afraid that acquaintances would see her haggard appearance.

Watching her father's struggle, her heart ached.

"No, I can't just watch my father's life's work be destroyed."

Suddenly, she thought of her many suitors.

She sent a message.

[Feng Yixue: Young Master Wang, I need a favor.]

[Young Master Wang: Miss Feng, what wind blew you my way?]

[Feng Yixue: Young Master Wang, sorry to bother you, but I need to borrow money! Help my Feng Family through this crisis.]

Seeing this, the smile on Young Master Wang's face vanished.

[Young Master Wang: There's no real sentiment between us, Miss Feng. Why would you say that?

The business world is like a battlefield. What kind of status does Brother Ma have?

He's playing a grand game of chess!

We can only hope to get some scraps by following him; how could we dare to interfere?]

In the Jiangnan social circles, Ma Yifei now had the nickname 'Wealth-Giving Boy.' Who wouldn't want to make friends with him?

Coupled with the blessing of luck, many wealthy second-generation heirs imagined Ma Yifei was playing a grand game.

They wanted to join him in his ventures to show off their own abilities, so who would dare oppose him?

Of course, part of it was also because Young Master Wang's pursuit of Feng Yixue had yielded no results.

[Young Master Wang: Feng Yixue, for the sake of my past feelings for you, don't oppose Brother Ma Yifei. If you become his woman, maybe this can be perfectly resolved.]

Seeing this, Feng Yixue blocked Young Master Wang without a second thought.

Next, Feng Yixue contacted many people.

Brother Li, Young Master Zhao... even her Best friends all kept their distance.

Feng Yixue's heart sank bit by bit.

"When everything was fine with the Feng Family, these people couldn't wait to cozy up to me.

But as soon as a crisis hits, they all run faster than anyone."

A friend in need is a friend indeed; for the first time, Feng Yixue deeply understood the weight of those words.

The wealthy second-generation heirs who used to pursue her did so not just for her looks, but because she was the only child of the Feng Family.

Marrying her was equivalent to 'eating the household' and monopolizing the entire Feng Family's assets.

But now, these proud assets were vanishing, and she might even end up with massive debts.

In an instant, Feng Yixue was physically and mentally exhausted, and all her previous painting time was cut out... Meanwhile, at Zhian Hall.

Ling Xian looked at the three large characters on the plaque, and after confirming it was correct, he walked inside.

As the copper bell chimed, Wei Zhiruo thought it was another person who had heard of Zhian Hall and come for a consultation, so she said casually without looking up,

"Sit over there first. Wait until I've finished grinding this medicinal powder."

Ling Xian sat there obediently, waiting for Wei Zhiruo to finish her work.

Because Su Ran had left, Zhian Hall no longer had that strange smell.

"Alright, come over and let me examine your condition."

Wei Zhiruo's tone was relaxed, carrying the ease of someone enjoying life.

But when Ling Xian actually stood before her, her brows twitched, and she suddenly stood up.

Their eyes met, and she was at a loss for words.

"Um..."

Before she could finish, there was a thud.

Wei Zhiruo decisively knelt on the ground and wailed, "Grandmaster, have mercy! Zhiruo knows she was wrong!"