Suspicions and Pretending to Know Nothing

Let's set aside the matter of Jason Jingyang and Serena Phoenixfield for now. As soon as Nolan Dongling left the study, he changed his clothes and headed to Feng Manor under the cover of night.

The Eighteen Riders were highly alert, but even they couldn't stop Lance Quinn. With his formidable skills and familiarity with Feng Manor, Lance easily avoided the Eighteen Riders and slipped into Serena Feng's room.

Serena was worried about Feng Jin's safety. Every time she closed her eyes, all she could see were scenes of Little Feng Jin being abused and crying, making her heart feel weighed down and miserable. She couldn't sleep well at all, and the moment she heard a sound outside, she realized someone had come in.

Serena didn’t call for help. Instead, she reached under her pillow for her pistol, rolled out of bed, and when the intruder approached, pressed the gun against their forehead: “Hands up. Don’t move.”

Lance did as she ordered, raising both hands and standing still, looking at Serena.

The room was very dark, and the faint moonlight outside couldn’t reach in. Serena had no idea who the intruder was, but seeing how cooperative he was, she asked, “Who are you?”

Lance didn’t answer. Serena pressed further, “Speak up. Or don’t blame me for being rough.”

She really didn’t recognize him?

A trace of hurt flickered in Lance’s eyes. He sighed softly, “It’s me.”

That voice...

Serena felt the voice was familiar, but couldn't place it right away. Seeing this, Lance looked even more hurt. "Serena, it's me—Lance."

"Lance? How is it you?" Serena groaned and smacked her forehead, annoyed at herself for forgetting Lance’s voice. Clearly, she’d been too busy and scatterbrained lately.

"Why couldn’t it be me?" Lance replied, a bit put out, then turned and sat down in a chair.

"Miss..." The guards and the Eighteen Riders outside heard the commotion and immediately called out. Serena quickly replied, "It’s nothing. Just a friend visiting. You don’t need to worry."

"Yes, ma’am." The Eighteen Riders were deeply alarmed—someone had managed to sneak into Miss Feng’s room without a sound. They felt they’d failed in their duty, but since they couldn’t barge in to check, all they could do was stew in frustration.

After dismissing the guards, Serena put away her gun, felt her way back to the bed and threw on a coat, then moved to the table and lit a candle in the dark.

The dim yellow light stretched their shadows, one standing and one sitting, until they overlapped. Lance turned his head and saw this, his gaze softening slightly.

Serena sat down across from Lance and asked, "Did you get my message?" It had only been a day—surely not? Was Lance actually in the city?

"Message? I didn’t receive anything." Lance came back to himself and shook his head.

"Then why did you come to see me?" So it wasn’t about Feng Jin? Did Lance not know about that either?

"Liancastle." Lance knew this couldn't be dragged out—if it wasn’t resolved soon, he and Serena might not even remain friends.

So he does know.

Serena let out a cold laugh, mocking, "So you know what Liancastle did?"

"I only found out afterward." Lance turned his face away in embarrassment.

This really was his fault. He hadn't expected Liancastle to be so bold, ignoring his warnings and repeatedly targeting Serena—this time going too far by working with the Taishang Emperor.

"Is that so?" Serena’s voice grew even colder. "So when I was nearly assassinated by Liancastle in the street, you only found out after the fact too?"

"Yes." He knew, but hadn’t done anything.

"So, what exactly is your relationship with Liancastle?" Serena stared at Lance, refusing to let him dodge. Lance looked back at her for a long moment before finally saying, "I used to be Liancastle’s Young Master. But not anymore."

"So, everything Liancastle is doing now has nothing to do with you? It’s all Jason Lan’s orders?" If that was true, Serena would feel a bit better. Otherwise...

She really felt she had no eye for judging people.

Lance nodded emphatically, a wave of relief washing over him.

Serena let it go. With that settled, everything else would be easier.

Unfortunately, Lance was relieved too soon. Serena pressed on, "Then, do you have any trusted people inside Liancastle?"

"Yes." Given his temperament, he would never trust outsiders completely—of course he had his own people there, though he’d never activated them.

"I see." Serena nodded, feeling a bit uneasy.

Lance had people in Liancastle, but he wouldn’t use them for her sake.

It made sense—she and Lance had no real ties, so of course he wouldn’t mobilize his trusted people for her. Still, the bitterness inside wouldn’t fade, and Serena couldn’t understand why she felt this way.

Forcing a smile, Serena pushed down her tangled emotions and asked, "Do you have any leads on Feng Jin? I don’t need you to intervene, just tell me where he is."

Lance shook his head. "I don’t know. This time, it wasn’t Liancastle’s people who acted, and after they succeeded, they didn’t hand him over to Liancastle."

It was the Taishang Emperor’s men who acted. Serena knew this, so she could tell Lance wasn’t lying. With one less lead, her worry deepened.

"Don’t worry, Feng Jin won’t be harmed while he’s in their hands." Lance’s reassurance was cold. Serena forced a smile. "I know, but Feng Jin is sick. I’m worried his body won’t hold up. What’s really going on with Liancastle? Why did it suddenly turn to Jason Lan, and what can I do about it?"

Serena knew about Liancastle’s ties to the Former Dynasty, and Lance’s identity was obvious too. But such things couldn’t be discussed openly—everyone understood without needing to say it.

"It doesn’t matter. Liancastle is just a burden to me. Using it to clear out those with divided loyalties is actually a good thing." As Lance spoke, a flash of murderous intent crossed his eyes. Serena knew he had his own plans, so she didn’t press further, though she still worried for him.

Lance and Ninth Royal Uncle were working together. Ninth Royal Uncle surely knew Lance’s true identity, yet still chose to cooperate—did that mean he wasn’t planning to let Lance live for long?

The possibility made Serena feel terrible, and any resentment she had toward Lance vanished.

"Lance, you must take care of yourself. Whatever happens, put your own safety first. No matter what, don’t give up easily—if you’re alive, anything is possible."

Serena’s words were filled with worry and unease. Lance thought she was just concerned about Liancastle, so he added, "I won’t confront Liancastle head-on."

Sooner or later, Jason Lan would destroy Liancastle himself—there was no need for Lance to act in haste.

Serena smiled faintly and said no more. One was her lover, one her friend—she couldn’t choose between them, so she simply pretended not to know anything.

Seeing Serena so downcast, Lance assumed she was worried about Feng Jin. He offered comfort and promised to help search for Feng Jin’s whereabouts, assuring her he’d make sure nothing happened to the child.

Serena had meant to refuse, but when the words reached her lips, she couldn’t say them. She only replied, "Just do your best. Don’t put yourself in danger for my sake."

"Alright," Lance answered softly, then fell silent.

The two sat quietly, each lost in thought, neither speaking. The room was silent and the atmosphere strange—a subtle barrier seemed to have grown between them.