Yu Jinwen raised an eyebrow. The young mistress of the Nan family? Wasn't she supposed to have died three years ago?
It's said that a new official brings three fires, and Nan Song's first act upon returning to Nan Corporation was to light a blaze that sent everyone scrambling.
The management underwent a massive reshuffle, with dozens of executives—veterans and board members alike—facing sudden changes. Among them were the old-timers who, under the leadership of Nan Ningbo and Nan Ningzhu, had tried to intimidate Nan Song on her first day.
Early in the morning, Nan Ningbo's office was packed with people. Tables were pounded, chairs were kicked, and voices roared like thunder. "I don't care! I've worked at Nan Corporation for years. Even if I haven't contributed much, I've put in my time. Why am I being fired? The Nan family owes me an explanation! So, you and your niece have made up, and I'm the sacrificial lamb? What gives?"
Others joined in, shouting and demanding answers, their faces red and veins bulging. Spit flew as they yelled, their usual polished and composed demeanors replaced by ugly, snarling expressions.
Nan Ningbo's head throbbed from the noise. "Everyone, calm down, calm down…"
Meanwhile, Nan Ningzhu sat in a corner, idly playing with a new string of Buddhist prayer beads, completely detached from the chaos. As the vice chairman, his position was secure, and he couldn't care less about the turmoil around him. As long as the knife didn't cut him, he was content to let it fall on others.
Nan Ningbo tried to placate his old comrades, though inwardly he remained unbothered. As long as his position as chairman remained untouched and his interests unaffected, he didn't mind the changes below him.
In fact, Nan Song had shown him the list of personnel changes as soon as it was finalized, and they had discussed it together. "Uncle, Nan Corporation isn't what it used to be. Our finances aren't as strong, and we can't afford to keep deadweight. To save the company, I've already spent most of the money I saved over the years. If we let these parasites continue to drain the company, we'll have no choice but to sell our properties. I heard you and Third Uncle just acquired a plot of land in the northern suburbs to build a golf course…"
When personal interests were at stake, attitudes changed quickly. Nan Ningbo, who had been fuming moments ago, immediately switched gears. He slapped the list and declared, "Fire them! They must be fired!"
No more freeloaders!
Nan Song had no patience to deal with the old guard. After all, evil has its own way of dealing with evil. Leaving the company, she headed straight home.
Nan Manor, also known as Rose Garden, was originally a rose park. Because both Nan Song and her mother loved roses, Nan Ning Song had bought the land and turned it into an estate for their family of three.
It had been three years since she last returned, and Nan Song felt a pang of nervousness. Was it the unease of coming home after so long? She had been reckless for love, and she wondered if her parents, looking down from heaven, would blame her.
It was the fourth month of the lunar calendar, May in the Gregorian calendar, and the roses in Nan City were in full bloom. The climate in the north was colder, and when she left Yu Mansion, the roses there hadn't yet blossomed.
Nan Song's eyes darkened. Thinking of that man still made her heart ache as if it were being skinned alive. But since she had decided to leave, she had to try to let go.
As the car entered the estate, Nan Song couldn't wait to see the roses. But when she got out, she discovered that the rose garden her father had planted was gone, replaced by peonies overrun with weeds.
A wave of anger surged through her. Not only had they taken over her home, but they had also destroyed her rose garden! Those shameless people—did they really think she was dead?
Suddenly, she heard a burst of laughter. Turning her head, she saw two girls walking out, chatting and giggling, dressed to the nines, each clinging to a man's arm.
The one in the lead, wearing a white lace dress and a diamond tiara, stood on tiptoe and planted a kiss on her companion's lips, completely oblivious to the world around her.
It was the man who noticed someone standing nearby and gently pushed Nan Ya away. But when he saw Nan Song's face, his expression changed instantly. He stumbled back, nearly falling down the steps, and pointed at her in terror. "S-Song… Nan Song!"
The other three followed his gaze, and when they saw Nan Song, their faces turned pale. They covered their mouths in shock, and Nan Ya let out a piercing scream. "Are you a human or a ghost?"
Nan Song, dressed in white, stood amidst the peonies, her gaze icy and her red lips curling into a mocking smile. Her voice was cold and haunting.
"If you've done nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear. I've come to claim your lives, Qin Jiangyuan, Nan Ya. Are you ready?"