Second Madam didn’t understand the reason for Xia Ziyu’s intense emotional fluctuations.

Seeing her appear dumbfounded, Second Madam couldn’t help but emphasize her words:

“What’s so impossible? Your cousin is thriving in Pengcheng, isn’t it precisely because of her relationship with the Pengcheng mayor? Of course, she’s quite capable herself. The electronics plaza Du Zhaohui set up in Pengcheng was planned with your cousin’s guidance. Think about it – with both family background and ability, how much does your cousin mean to Du Zhaohui… But you’re in a miserable position, especially since you’re at odds with your cousin. When Du Zhaohui wins Zhao Ji, guess what will happen to you?”

She would be a useless pawn, destined to be discarded.

After speaking, the Second Madam quietly waited, waiting for Xia Ziyu to make her choice!

Anyone with half a brain would know what to do now – working for Du Zhaohui offered no benefits and only brought danger, so naturally one should switch ships. In the entire Du family, only the Second Branch could contend with Du Zhaohui.

Second Madam was using psychological warfare, first exposing Xia Ziyu’s identity, then revealing shocking news layer by layer, aiming to make Xia Ziyu panic.

Only when Xia Ziyu panicked could the Second Madam exploit the weakness and break up the alliance between Xia Ziyu and Du Zhaohui.

Little did she know that Xia Ziyu’s current panic wasn’t due to Xia Xiaolan and Du Zhaohui’s alliance, but because of her wariness and fear of Liu Fen.

Was Liu Fen also favored by heaven?

Was this the reason for her constant failures – because Liu Fen was so inconspicuous that she had never paid attention to this timid woman, allowing Liu Fen to manipulate everything from the shadows?

Xia Ziyu couldn’t help but tremble.

When did Liu Fen begin to change…

Not when she got together with Wang Jianhua.

How could Liu Fen have watched helplessly as she snatched Wang Jianhua away?

After all, Wang Jianhua was destined to—

It must have been when Xia Xiaolan attempted suicide by hitting the pillar!

Xia Xiaolan’s attempted suicide changed everything off course. She had always thought it was because of Xia Xiaolan, after all, Xia Xiaolan was already formidable.

She had overlooked the biggest suspect – Liu Fen!

It was Liu Fen!

Heavens, how could she have been so negligent! But did Liu Fen notice her abnormality… She must have! She never imagined there could be a second person with the same experience. Initially cautious, she had grown bolder after tasting success.

No, it was her parents, those hopeless cases, who held her back, completely failing to execute her instructions perfectly!

Xia Ziyu was now fearful, panicked, and angry.

Having convinced herself that Liu Fen was Heaven’s second chosen one, she felt terrified thinking about how she had been completely exposed to Liu Fen for so long while the other remained hidden.

That’s why she kept failing, why things went downhill, forcing her to smuggle herself to Hong Kong – wait, don’t panic, even if Liu Fen married the Pengcheng mayor, could she extend her reach to Hong Kong?

She had emerged stronger from her desperate situation; if not for the other’s secret persecution, she wouldn’t have achieved her current success.

As Xia Ziyu’s expressions kept changing, Second Madam grew impatient:

“Fifth Sister, you need to think this through…”

Both frightened and excited, the extreme emotional changes left Xia Ziyu parched:

“Do I have any other choice? I’m just a helpless woman. Whoever can help me secure my position in the Du family and maintain my current lifestyle, that’s who I’ll choose as an ally.”

“Good, I like your straightforwardness!”

Second Madam seemed delighted, “Since you’re willing to ally with us, we should show mutual sincerity. If you need any help, just ask.”

This was certainly not Second Madam’s kindness, but mutual benefit.

She would help them, and they would help her – holding leverage over each other would build trust. Xia Ziyu didn’t mind; she was already being threatened by Du Zhaohui. Now that the Second Branch was willing to help her withstand Du Zhaohui’s pressure, how could she refuse?

Moreover, she truly needed the Second Branch’s help.

Du Chengrong’s favor was enough, but her foundation in Hong Kong was too shallow. She had no useful subordinates or informants. To maintain an image of being without desires or ambitions before Du Chengrong, she naturally couldn’t cultivate her power base… She could only borrow others’ strength!

Xia Ziyu suppressed her tumultuous emotions and slowly curved her red lips:

“I do have one thing I need Second Sister’s help with. I’d very much like to know about my cousin’s mother, my former Second Aunt’s current situation. Besides being the mayor’s wife, I’d like to know everything else about her!”

Huh?!

What an odd fixation.

Second Madam thought Xia Ziyu’s focus was rather skewed.

Knowing both yourself and your enemy ensures victory – shouldn’t she be inquiring about Xia Xiaolan?

Strange that she wanted to investigate Xia Xiaolan’s mother instead… Ah, was this woman planning to pull the rug out from under Xia Xiaolan by taking down her biggest supporter?

That was one approach.

With Liu Fen, Xia Xiaolan was the mayor’s stepdaughter, but without blood ties, such family relationships were naturally weak. Without Liu Fen, Xia Xiaolan would have no connection to the Pengcheng mayor—

“Alright, I promise you.”

No more words were needed.

The Second Branch wouldn’t help Xia Ziyu for nothing.

Helping Xia Ziyu three parts now meant she would return ten parts later – a very reasonable requirement.

…

“Investigate Liu Fen?”

In Pengcheng, Ye Xiaoqiong received this order with bewilderment.

How had Xia Xiaolan’s mother gotten involved in this matter?

The Du family’s grudges, her grudges with the Zhou family, her grudges with the Yuan family – no matter how you calculated it, it shouldn’t involve Xia Xiaolan’s mother.

That person had nothing to do with any of this.

“Second Young Master—”

“Just investigate as told. This is Xia Ziyu’s request, it’s an internal Xia family conflict. Do you think I would do anything to a stranger?”

Du Zhaoqi’s two sentences left Ye Xiaoqiong speechless.

Second Young Master indeed wasn’t such a frivolous person.

It seemed Xia Ziyu was indeed Fifth Madam Vivi, and the Second Young Master had confirmed this and allied with her.

Ye Xiaoqiong’s heart tightened:

“Second Young Master, I understand!”

After hanging up, Ye Xiaoqiong fell into a dilemma.

More and more people were getting involved in this matter, and she feared one day everything would spiral out of control.

Her revenge was supported by Du Zhaoqi.

Du Zhaoqi didn’t keep useless people; she had to prove her value.

But proving her value meant dragging innocent people into this?

Ye Xiaoqiong was torn.

Perhaps she had been wrong from the start – she shouldn’t have relied on others’ power for revenge, but should have followed her original plan to gain recognition through her abilities, truly making a name for herself—

“Do I still have a way out now?”

Ye Xiaoqiong smiled bitterly. Opening her drawer, she could see the photos He Shiyuan had given her, showing Yuan Han in various unseemly states, reminding her not to forget her hatred.