Mi Lan had never seen Qin Hanzhong like this before.

From childhood to now, in Mi Lan's impression, her father was always a cunning and ruthless man who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

He would use anyone as a pawn, and blood ties meant nothing to him.

For some reason, Mi Lan felt a pang of sympathy in her heart: "It's not like I'm refusing the marriage. Since the Luo Family wants to ally with us through marriage, they surely won't harm us."

Qin Hanzhong raised his head, an unusually loving look in his eyes: "Girl, haven't you always wanted to know about your mother? Now, I want to tell you. I'm afraid one day, if I'm gone, no one will remember her anymore."

Mi Lan was stunned.

All along, Mi Lan had been seeking everything about her mother.

But Qin Hanzhong always evaded or changed the subject, never speaking about it.

Today, he unexpectedly brought it up himself.

However, Mi Lan didn't say a word, biting her lip and quietly waiting for Qin Hanzhong to speak.

Qin Hanzhong sighed and, without hiding anything, began to speak softly: "If I told you I truly loved your mother back then, would you believe me?"

Mi Lan still didn't say a word.

Qin Hanzhong knew Mi Lan was stubborn, much like her mother, so he continued: "I never told anyone this before. Your mother was truly a talented woman, outstanding in both martial arts and business. In fact, our Qin family's vast estate originally should have been the Mi family's, not the Qin family's."

No one knew how much time had passed, but Mi Lan's eyes turned red, and so did Qin Hanzhong's.

Mi Lan slowly began to understand the bitterness in Qin Hanzhong's heart.

Qin Hanzhong was over fifty now. As he said, he had come to the Qin family as a son-in-law, but back then, the Qin family was still the Mi family.

The Mi Family was strong, but since Mi Lan's mother was their only daughter, the family eventually fell into Qin Hanzhong's hands.

Later, under the management of Qin Hanzhong and Mi Lan's mother, the Qin family thrived. However, when Mi Lan was two years old, a sudden change completely altered the Qin family's fate.

That day, after Mi Lan's mother returned from ancestor worship, she was covered in blood and clearly dying.

Qin Hanzhong didn't know what had happened. No matter how he questioned Mi Lan's mother, she didn't answer. She only asked Qin Hanzhong to change the Mi family name to Qin and to completely cover up the Mi family's existence, but not to let the family fall.

After saying these words, Mi Lan's mother died in Qin Hanzhong's arms.

On her deathbed, Mi Lan's mother told Qin Hanzhong not to pursue her killer, because even if he found the murderer, he could never avenge her.

As long as Qin Hanzhong could protect Mi Lan and the family, everything would be worth it.

It was precisely for this promise that Qin Hanzhong had swallowed his pride all these years, just to prevent the Qin family from falling apart.

"Lanlan, I know you hate me, but some things are just beyond our control." Qin Hanzhong looked at Mi Lan with endless bitterness in his eyes: "When your mother died in my arms, I had an impulsive urge to seek revenge, even at the cost of my own life. But you were still young then. If I had died, what would have become of you? I could only endure in silence. All these years, I've tried to curry favor with others, not just to protect our family, but also to find out who killed your mother. But fate is cruel — I haven't found any clues all these years."

After a pause, Qin Hanzhong suddenly lowered his voice: "But after meeting your stepmother, I discovered that the murderer might be connected to the Luo Family, so…"

"What?" Mi Lan stared directly into Qin Hanzhong's eyes: "You mean, the Luo Family killed my mother? Are you planning to use my marriage to the Luo Family to avenge her?"

Qin Hanzhong shook his head: "I'm not sure yet, but I suspect my meeting with your stepmother was premeditated. I've been pretending not to know, but after watching closely these past few days, I'm almost certain your stepmother has close ties with Luo Zongfang."

"Then why did you lock up Brother Wu?"

"Hehe, I just wanted to protect him." Qin Hanzhong said helplessly: "I thought that after you married into the Luo Family, they wouldn't hide their intentions anymore, making it easier for me to find clues. But now, with Ye Guichen's interference, all my plans are disrupted."

With that, Qin Hanzhong glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then whispered: "But Ye Guichen really surprised me. Judging by his subordinates' skills and his own capabilities, I'm certain he's not an ordinary person. I'll secretly send someone to take you to him. You should return to Yun City with him as soon as possible, away from this place of trouble. It's my final wish."

"If I leave, what about you?" Mi Lan had never thought Qin Hanzhong had endured so much humiliation for her mother's revenge.

In that moment, her hatred for Qin Hanzhong vanished.

Qin Hanzhong forced a smile: "Silly girl, the Qi Family and the Luo Family are far more powerful than you can imagine. That boy may be a dragon in Yun City, but here in Qinghe, he's nothing more than a mudfish. Even if he's strong, can he fight hundreds and thousands alone? Also, I've heard both the Qi Family and the Luo Family have hidden aces — top experts. Ye Guichen has no chance."

"No, Dad, I'll go beg Luo Zongfang to stop giving our family trouble." Mi Lan shook her head forcefully. She realized Qin Hanzhong seemed ready to sacrifice the family to protect her.

Qin Hanzhong's eyes showed rare tenderness: "Silly girl, do you think Luo Zongfang would really let Ye Guichen go for your sake? He probably desires both you and our family. Now that Ye Guichen has provoked him, how could he not use this to establish his dominance? Don't worry, I'll have Qin Wu secretly take you away. Remember, once you leave Qinghe, never come back in this lifetime."

Qin Hanzhong touched Mi Lan's cheek, then turned and left.

Qin Hanzhong's back was slightly hunched.

Mi Lan's eyes couldn't stop the tears from flowing like rain.

At this moment, Mi Lan suddenly felt how cruel the world was.

The fairy tale-like stories had shattered her dream world completely.

"Is there really such a thing as a hero in this world?" Mi Lan looked up and sighed: "Those things are just dreams woven for fools like me. Now, the dream has ended, and it has implicated him instead."

Thinking of Ye Guichen, Mi Lan suddenly felt guilty.

"I must make him leave this place of trouble."

Thinking of Ye Guichen, Mi Lan couldn't contain her excitement anymore. She quickly took out her phone and dialed Ye Guichen's number.

But after several tries, no one answered the phone.

Mi Lan's heart was uneasy and even more fearful.

Could something have happened?

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