Young Devious Wife of Mr. Qin

Beneath the neon glow of Fengxi City, a high-security warehouse stood in the middle of an industrial district—secluded, fortified, and almost impenetrable to outsiders. Inside, the air was thick with cigarette smoke, the dim yellow lighting casting long shadows across the concrete floor. A group of men sat around an old poker table, their banter mixing with the occasional clink of whiskey glasses and the metallic sound of gun clips being loaded.

Lounging lazily in a chair, legs propped up on the table, was a man in his late twenties. He wore a fitted black tactical jacket, the sleeves rolled up to reveal intricate tattoos that ran along his forearm. A silver lighter flicked open and shut between his fingers, the rhythmic sound the only real indication that he was paying attention.

His phone buzzed. A message.

YanYan: Dig deeper into someone from my class.

The man's lips curled into an amused smirk as he typed back.

???: Should I remove this person from the world?

A response came almost instantly.

YanYan: No, you idiot. I like her. But she might not be so simple… and she looks like someone but I want to make sure if there is really some connection or not.

His smirk deepened.

???: Interesting. Send me the details.

Across the table, one of his colleagues—a broad-shouldered man cleaning a semi-automatic pistol—glanced up. "Something fun?"

The lounging man chuckled, tossing his phone onto the table. "YanYan found herself a new friend. Wants me to dig deeper."

Another man, sharpening a combat knife, snorted. "Must be someone worth looking into if she's getting involved."

"Maybe." He stretched, then suddenly changed topics. "By the way, have any of you ever seen Madam Rose or got any information?"

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

A moment of silence. A flicker of unease.

No one answered at first.

A third man, seated at the bar counter in the corner, finally exhaled. "No one has. Just whispers. But we all know she is the closest to him. He used to about her a lot."

The lounging man leaned back, smirking. "That's what makes her interesting."

The conversation lingered for a moment before fading into the night, leaving behind only the unspoken weight of something much bigger lurking beneath the surface.

The golden morning light filtered into Lin Yuxi's penthouse, casting soft shadows across the modern décor. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the faint aroma of vanilla candles burning in the corner.

Lin Yuxi stretched lazily on the couch, dressed in a comfortable oversized sweater, her long dark hair cascading down her back.

Across from her, Lin Xuan sat cross-legged on the carpet, a lollipop dangling from his lips as his fingers flew across his laptop's keyboard at a speed unnatural for a nine-year-old. The screen flickered with complex coding scripts, a testament to his brilliance.

Kai, seated at the armrest of the couch, sipped his coffee with a neutral expression. "Have you two finally decided which school Xuan is going to? We need to finalize it soon."

Lin Yuxi nodded. "Baicheng Academy. It's the best in the city."

At that, Lin Xuan immediately groaned and dramatically flopped onto the couch. "Noooo."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "That was fast."

Lin Xuan huffed. "School is boring. The kids there are dumb, and I already know everything they teach." He pointed at his laptop, where intricate hacking programs were running in the background. "This is way more interesting."

Kai snorted. "You're nine."

"And your point is?"

Lin Yuxi smirked. "You're going, and that's final."

Xuan pouted. "Not fair."

"You can make friends."

"Ugh. No thanks. I prefer my algorithms."

Kai chuckled at their bickering while Lin Yuxi gently ruffled Xuan's hair. "I get it, but you still need to interact with other kids."

After several more rounds of back-and-forth negotiations (mostly involving Yuxi bribing him with more technology privileges), Xuan finally relented.

"Fine," he grumbled. "But only if I approve the uniform design."

Lin Xuan was very peculiar about his appearance and what he wore. Unlike most kids his age who threw on whatever was comfortable, he had a keen sense of style—precise, well-thought-out, and borderline meticulous.

Lin Yuxi had learned this the hard way. The last time she had picked out an outfit for him without his approval, he had sulked for hours, muttering about "fashion crimes" and "aesthetic betrayal."

So when he finally relented, she knew better than to push further.

"Deal," she said, grinning, already mentally preparing herself for a shopping trip that would likely take twice as long as expected.

Kai shook his head. "The things you give in to…"

Ignoring him, Yuxi stretched. "Since Xuan is officially going to school, let's go shopping for new clothes."

Xuan wrinkled his nose. "Shopping?"

Kai smirked. "Pass. I've got work." His tone turned more serious. "Be careful."

Yuxi waved him off. "We'll be fine."

As they were about to leave, Xuan glanced up from his laptop. "By the way, Jiejie, a lot of people have been trying to dig deeper into your background. But don't worry. They won't find anything."

Yuxi's lips curled slightly. "Let them try."

The weekend crowd filled the shopping district with lively chatter. Families strolled through the wide, polished floors, couples held hands, and groups of friends gathered around the latest fashion displays.

Lin Yuxi dragged a reluctant Lin Xuan through the boutique stores, her hands already filled with shopping bags.

"Jiejie, this is unnecessary," he whined.

"You hardly let me spoil you." She held up a stylish jacket. "Try this."

Xuan sighed dramatically. "You're buying everything, aren't you?"

"Obviously."

Despite his complaints, Xuan secretly enjoyed these rare moments with his sister—when she wasn't scheming, investigating, or buried in dangerous matters. Here, she was just his Jiejie, the one who always made sure he had everything he needed.

As they passed by an old incense shop, an unusual scene caught Yuxi's attention.

Inside the elegant store, an elderly woman in her late sixties stood with quiet poise. She carried an air of noble wisdom, her every movement deliberate and refined. Despite her age, her presence commanded respect—someone who had seen the world and understood its workings.

Beside her stood a younger woman, likely an assistant or caretaker, who hovered nearby.

The shop itself was a hidden gem, catering only to those who appreciated the history and culture of traditional incense.

Then, something unexpected happened.

A commotion—sharp gasps from onlookers, a sudden scuffle.

Lin Yuxi turned her head just in time to see—

A sharp gasp. A sudden tremor in the air.

The elderly woman swayed, her grip on the ornate incense box slipping.

Then, she collapsed.

Xuan tugged at her sleeve. "Jiejie?"

Yuxi's instincts sharpened.

Without hesitation, she moved.

She caught the woman just before she hit the ground, steadying her frail body. Up close, she could see the fine lines of wisdom etched into her face, but what struck her wasn't her weakness—it was the mischief dancing in her half-lidded eyes.

"Madam! Are you alright?" Yuxi asked, her voice calm but firm.

The woman's lips parted, but instead of gasping for air or speaking in a frail whisper—she chuckled.

A soft, amused chuckle, like a child caught playing a prank.

The companion beside her panicked. "Madam! Your medicine—"

Yuxi glanced at the woman, suddenly doubting if she was actually in distress or simply… playing along with some grand scheme of her own.

The old lady's fingers tightened slightly on Yuxi's wrist. Her eyes gleaming with delight.

Her helper fumbled through her handbag with shaking hands. "Her medicine! The blue bottle with the gold cap!"

Yuxi swiftly sorted through the bag, pulling out the medicine and handing it over. The woman accepted it, but her gaze never left Yuxi. Even as she took the pill, she continued to grin—ear to ear, like she'd just found a shiny new toy.

Then, before Yuxi could even process what was happening—

"Step back!"

A deep, authoritative voice cut through the air.

Security guards rushed forward, their sharp gazes locked onto her.

The helper gasped. "No! She was helping—"

But the guards had already surrounded Yuxi.

Xuan clung to her sleeve, frowning. "Jiejie, did we just get scammed?"

Yuxi remained still, her expression unreadable.

Then, the elderly woman—still weak but grinning mischievously—lifted a single hand.

"Wait."

Everyone froze.

The woman's voice, though soft, carried an undeniable playfulness.

She turned to Yuxi, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Then, with a dramatic sigh, she clutched her chest and declared, "This child saved my life! I'm indebted! Bring her with us!"

The guards hesitated, exchanging glances.

The helper looked mortified. "Madam—"

But the old lady waved her off, grinning at Yuxi like a grandmother who had just decided to adopt a new favorite grandchild.

"Yes, yes," she mused. "I like her. Bring her along!"

Yuxi's lips twitched.

This woman…

What exactly had she just gotten herself into?