Chapter 15: The Primordial Echo Zither

"Firing so many people—what's the difference between this and the company going bankrupt?"

Madam Lin said indifferently, "I don't care if you're trying to please the Old Madam or whatever else, but I'll remind you: if you have the energy, you'd better focus it on the guqin. You probably don't know, but the original Lin family branch is Tianyin Workshop—"

"Beep, beep, beep."

Before she could finish, the call had already been disconnected.

Madam Lin's brows furrowed. "No talent, yet quite the temper. I wanted to tell her about Tianyin Workshop and the original family in Yunjing to broaden her horizons."

The original Lin family placed the highest importance on the seven-stringed guqin. Since she had no daughter, she could only constantly curry favor with Lin Woyu's family.

She hoped to establish a connection with Lin Qin to return to the economic center of Shenzhou—Yunjing.

Ye Wanlan had only been brought back to the Lin family by Lin Huaijin at the age of twelve; she had neither the opportunity nor the status to touch the Lin family's secrets.

Lin Qingwen smiled. "She takes your kindness for something else entirely; there's no need to keep offering your warm face to a cold backside."

Madam Lin shook her head. "That day when she examined the Old Madam's health, she truly thought she was some divine physician capable of miraculous healing."

Madam Lin felt no affection for Lin Weilan; her filial piety was driven solely by her desire to climb the social ladder.

What annoyed her was that despite years of hard work serving Lin Weilan, she had yet to receive any substantial benefits.

Lin Qingwen remained noncommittal. "Just listen to it as a joke and leave it at that."

The cause of Lin Weilan's illness had never been identified. For several years, she had been kept alive by medicinal herbs; there was no telling which day she might pass away.

Even the Su family of Yunjing, a lineage of national physicians, was helpless. What could Ye Wanlan, a mere substitute, possibly do?

"I wouldn't take her seriously. I'm just afraid the Old Madam will be blinded by her sweet talk," Madam Lin smiled faintly. "At such a young age, if she doesn't focus her mind on the right path, she won't go far."

Lin Qingwen expressed his agreement.

He didn't take Ye Wanlan to heart. In his view, she posed no threat to them as a couple, nor did she have the ability to return to the original family in Yunjing. She wasn't worth suppressing, nor was she worth befriending.

**

"Sister Lan, the application for the company name change has been submitted. It will take three to five working days, and we should be able to move into the new office building within the next couple of days." In the office, Cheng Qingli was reporting her work. "Following the list you gave me, we've contacted the people in charge. We can conduct interviews as early as tomorrow."

"Good, thank you for your hard work." Ye Wanlan patted her head. "The beginning is always difficult, but there will be results."

"It's not hard at all." Cheng Qingli's expression was serious. "Sister Lan, you've made me feel my own value. I couldn't be happier."

Ye Wanlan stood up. "Come, I'll go home to get some materials for you, and I'll treat you to milk tea while we're at it."

At this time, no one was at the Lin house. Lin Huaijin and Xu Peiqing were both working, and Lin Wenli was in class.

As soon as she entered the bedroom, Cheng Qingli's eyes fell upon the seven-stringed guqin, and she was struck with astonishment. "Sister Lan, you actually know how to play the guqin?"

Ye Wanlan nodded slightly. "A little bit."

In her past life, while recuperating at Tianyin Workshop, she had studied the guqin for a period under the Supreme Elder.

During these years of the time loop, she had continued to refine her skills, though her musical skill was still inferior to her killing techniques.

When she played the zither, her primary purpose was to kill.

"Ancient Echoes? The material of this instrument looks extraordinary." Cheng Qingli read the four characters on the body of the instrument and reached out curiously.

"Don't touch it," Ye Wanlan said flatly. "It'll kill you."

Cheng Qingli jumped in fright, stammering, "Really? Like in the TV dramas? The Six-Fingered Demon of the Zither?"

Images of martial arts masters dueling already flashed through her mind.

Ye Wanlan suddenly laughed and said unhurriedly, "It's a joke. It's just that the strings are too sharp; I'm afraid you'll get hurt."

"Sister Lan, you scared me to death." Cheng Qingli patted her chest. "That's not good; my heart won't be able to take it."

Ye Wanlan raised an eyebrow. "Get used to being startled. Once you build up your resilience, you won't collapse easily in the future."

Cheng Qingli scratched her head. Was she going to encounter something that would shatter her worldview?

She was a strong person!

After getting the materials, Cheng Qingli went to wait for the bus.

She still felt that the name "Ancient Echoes" was incredibly familiar, so she took out her phone to search online.

[The Ancient Echoes Guqin: Legend has it that it was crafted for the Human Emperor during ancient times. It has existed for millennia and later became the supreme treasure of Tianyin Workshop, passed down through generations to each Workshop Master. Countless imitations exist today, but the original remains lost to time.]

Recalling that ancient and elegant seven-stringed guqin, an incredible thought popped into Cheng Qingli's mind.

Could it be... that the Ancient Echoes in Sister Lan's hands is the real one?

As soon as the thought surfaced, she suppressed it.

Even the Ancient Echoes in the Yunjing Museum was an imitation; the real one was likely lost long ago.

The sound of a horn rang out, and the bus arrived at the station. Carrying the milk tea Ye Wanlan had bought her, Cheng Qingli boarded the bus happily.

**

Two days later, at Jiangcheng First Hospital.

Qin Xian, who had been lying there for a full week, finally woke up. The pungent smell of disinfectant filled his nostrils as he stared blankly at the ceiling.

After a few dozen seconds, Qin Xian finally regained his memories from before he lost consciousness. He roared frantically, "Where is Ye Wanlan? Did Ye Wanlan kill me?!"

Even while lying in a hospital bed, he could not believe that Ye Wanlan would dare to lay a hand on him.

A mere substitute, with no power or influence in Jiangcheng, who had to live according to their whims.

How dare she?!

"Ah Xian! Ah Xian, don't get excited." Mrs. Qin rushed over, looking panicked. "You've just woken up, and your body is still weak. You must keep your emotions stable. Yunyi, come here and persuade him."

Hearing Sheng Yunyi's name, Qin Xian indeed calmed down. He struggled to open his eyes. "Yunyi?"

Sheng Yunyi tucked the corners of his quilt in for him and asked gently, "Ah Xian, is there anywhere else that feels uncomfortable?"

Qin Xian's lips moved. "My hand..."

"Ah Xian, don't worry. Mom specifically contacted doctors in Yunjing to treat you. Your hand will be fine," Mrs. Qin said worriedly. "You must rest well; the doctor said your injuries were very severe."

"Where is Ye Wanlan?" Qin Xian became agitated again. Mrs. Qin's voice darkened. "We certainly cannot let this matter slide. Ah Xian, what do you think we should do?"

"She must die, of course!" Qin Xian's eyes were ruthless. "Mom, catch her first. This time, crush her hand. I want to see how she ever puts it back on!"

"Wait, Auntie Qin, and Ah Xian... Miss Ye is young and doesn't understand things. I will apologize on her behalf," Sheng Yunyi said softly. "It is also my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have..."

"Yunyi, this has nothing to do with you." Qin Xian's expression was sinister. "Don't get involved. I am going to kill her no matter what."

"But..." Sheng Yunyi hesitated. "Ah Xian, as far as I know, you were the one who pushed her into the water first, and her hand was also—"

Qin Xian laughed, a light, mocking sound. "Does she have evidence? She doesn't."

How could she possibly fight him!