Movie/TV series: Starting with Ode to Joy, I opened my own private kitchen.

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Chen Shanshan sat on a cold iron chair, her hands cuffed to the table, her face pale to the point of being almost transparent. Her eyes were vacant, as if all life had been drained from her body, leaving only an empty shell.

Yan Xiaoqiu's heart clenched suddenly, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand. She had never seen Chen Shanshan so vulnerable.

In my memory, my younger sister was always a lively, cheerful, and fearless girl. No matter how great the difficulties, she would raise her chin and stubbornly face them head-on. But now, all that remains in her eyes is despair and helplessness.

"Shanshan..." Yan Xiaoqiu murmured softly, her voice trembling slightly. She took a deep breath, pushed open the door to the interrogation room, and went inside.

Hearing footsteps, Chen Shanshan slowly raised her head. When she saw that it was Yan Xiaoqiu, a hint of resentment flashed in her eyes, then her expression became somewhat complicated. She then lowered her head, avoiding her sister's gaze.

"Shanshan, how are you?" Yan Xiaoqiu walked quickly to her side and reached out to hold her hand, but Chen Shanshan gently dodged it.

"I'm fine, you can go now." Chen Shanshan's voice was very soft, almost inaudible.

Yan Xiaoqiu's hand froze in mid-air, a pang of sorrow gripping her heart. She knew Chen Shanshan was blaming her.

"Shanshan, don't worry, I will definitely find a way to get you out of here," Yan Xiaoqiu said firmly.

Chen Shanshan raised her head, a mocking smile flashing in her eyes: "Save me? How can you save me? Su Chang has already driven me to the brink; he won't let me go."

Mentioning Su Chang sent a pang of pain through Yan Xiaoqiu's heart. She had just been turned away by Su Chang; the man had coldly and ruthlessly rejected all her requests, refusing even to see her. She knew that Su Chang was determined to kill Chen Shanshan.

“Su Chang…” Yan Xiaoqiu gritted her teeth, a resolute glint in her eyes: “If he won’t let you go, then I’ll find someone else. He has so many women around him; surely someone can speak up for him.”

Chapter 330 Preparing to Leave Lijiang

Chen Shanshan paused for a moment, then shook her head with a wry smile: "It's no use. This time, Su Chang probably won't listen to anyone."

"How will you know if you don't try?" Yan Xiaoqiu clenched her fist, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes: "Guan Juer... Guan Juer is so kind, and Su Chang values ​​her so much. If I ask her for help, she will definitely help you."

Upon hearing Guan Juer's name, a complex expression flashed in Chen Shanshan's eyes. She knew Guan Juer was one of Su Chang's most trusted women, and one of the few kind-hearted people around him. If Yan Xiaoqiu could truly persuade Guan Juer, perhaps things would still turn around.

"But...would Guan Juer be willing to help me?" Chen Shanshan asked in a low voice, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"I'll find a way," Yan Xiaoqiu said firmly. "No matter what, I'll give it a try."

After leaving the police station, Yan Xiaoqiu got into her car, gripping the steering wheel tightly with both hands until her knuckles turned slightly white. The image of Chen Shanshan's pale face and empty eyes kept flashing through her mind, causing her a sharp pain in her heart. She knew time was running out. If she couldn't find a way to save Chen Shanshan quickly, Chen Shanshan's life might be ruined.

She took a deep breath and started the car. The car slowly drove out of the Public Security Bureau's "897" parking lot and sped towards Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

At this moment, Su Chang's women are having a meal and resting in a restaurant halfway up the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Yan Xiaoqiu knew she had to find them, especially Guan Juer. She was Su Chang's most trusted woman and the only one who might be able to persuade him.

The car stopped at the foot of the mountain, but Yan Xiaoqiu didn't stop for a moment, speeding up the steep mountain road. Her mind was filled with the names of Su Chang's women: Guan Juer, Yang Tao, Li Meng, Andy, Xu Li, Tong Wei, Gao Wenruohan, Song Nuan, Zheng Shuyi, Xu Hongdou, Chen Nanxing, Song Xingchen, Han Xiaoli…

Yan Xiaoqiu knew she had to find them, especially Guan Juer. She was the kindest of Su Chang's women, and also the only one who might be able to persuade Su Chang.

After an hour of climbing, Yan Xiaoqiu's heart was pounding as she finally reached the halfway point. She knew she was about to face Su Chang's women, and their attitude would determine Chen Shanshan's fate.

She took a deep breath and walked towards the restaurant. Two female bodyguards stood at the restaurant entrance, blocking Yan Xiaoqiu's way.

Yan Xiaoqiu frowned immediately and looked at the bodyguards, asking, "I am Yan Xiaoqiu, don't you recognize me?"

One of the female bodyguards said sternly, "We know you, but we just received a notice from Mr. Su that you are not allowed to have contact with the ladies."

Yan Xiaoqiu's face turned pale instantly, her eyes revealing despair and helplessness. She hadn't expected Su Chang to be so resolute, leaving her with no hope whatsoever.

But thinking of Chen Shanshan's condition, she gritted her teeth and shouted directly into the restaurant, "Guan Guan, it's me, Yan Xiaoqiu. Can you come out and see me?"

The two female bodyguards frowned even more. They exchanged a glance and then immediately stepped forward to pull Yan Xiaoqiu away.

Yan Xiaoqiu quickly dodged to the side, her eyes firm and resolute. She continued calling Guan Juer's name towards the inside, her voice tinged with pleading.

The two female bodyguards quickened their pace and pounced on Yan Xiaoqiu together. Yan Xiaoqiu nimbly dodged their attacks.

However, she wasn't fast enough and was eventually tackled to the ground by two female bodyguards. She gripped the ground tightly, struggling to get up.

Yan Xiaoqiu was filled with anxiety and anger. She couldn't understand why Su Chang was treating her this way, or why it was so difficult to even see Guan Juer.

Tears welled in her eyes as she secretly vowed to see Guan Juer no matter what, to fight for Chen Shanshan's life.

"Stop!" Guan Juer walked out quickly, accompanied by Zheng Shuyi, her voice filled with anger and determination.

The two female bodyguards wanted to say something, but when they saw Guan Juer appear, they hesitated for a moment, and finally let go of Yan Xiaoqiu on the ground and silently stood in front of Guan Juer and Zheng Shuyi.

Ignoring her disheveled appearance, Yan Xiaoqiu knelt down in front of Guan Juer with a thud, her face streaked with tears, and said in a trembling voice, "Guan Guan, please, please plead for my sister, otherwise her life will be ruined."

Her eyes were filled with despair and pleading, and she gripped Guan Juer's clothes tightly with both hands, as if she had grasped the last straw.

Zheng Shuyi frowned deeply, and she forcefully pulled Guan Juer aside, her eyes revealing a hint of indifference and determination.

She said coldly, "Do you think we don't know what Chen Shanshan did? What makes you think we'd plead for you?"

Her voice carried obvious dissatisfaction and questioning, as if she was very disgusted by Yan Xiaoqiu's moral blackmail.

Guan Juer was also filled with conflict and helplessness. Looking at Yan Xiaoqiu's pitiful state, she couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her, but she also knew that Chen Shanshan's actions were indeed unforgivable.

She bit her lip, but ultimately remained silent, standing quietly to the side with a hint of sympathy and regret in her eyes.

Yan Xiaoqiu knew that Zheng Shuyi was Bi Ruoshan's best friend and that the two had a very good relationship. So she turned to Zheng Shuyi and tears streamed down her face like a burst dam.

She choked back tears as she said, "Miss Su, I know it was a bit much for me to ask you to plead for my sister, but as Shanshan's older sister, I really don't want to see her life ruined." Her voice was filled with pain and helplessness, which moved everyone present.

Zheng Shuyi's heart also stirred slightly. Looking at Yan Xiaoqiu's sad expression, she couldn't help but feel a little touched.

But she still shook her head firmly and said, "Yan Xiaoqiu, I sympathize with your situation, but Chen Shanshan's actions have caused great harm to others, and she must be held responsible for her actions."

Guan Juer chimed in, "Xiaoqiu, it's not that I don't want to help you, it's just that Chen Shanshan went too far this time. Don't overthink it, you're just her sister, there's no need for you to act like this."

After Guan Juer finished speaking, Zheng Shuyi pulled Guan Juer away, leaving Yan Xiaoqiu kneeling on the ground alone, tears blurring her vision.

Su Chang stood at the hotel window, admiring the beautiful snow-capped mountains in the distance, but at that moment, he felt no joy at the sight.

It was because he had just received a phone call from Zheng Shuyi. On the other end of the line, Zheng Shuyi's voice sounded hurried, even a little helpless.

She told Su Chang that Yan Xiaoqiu was kneeling in front of Guan Juer, pleading for Chen Shanshan in a humble voice... When Su Chang heard this news, she felt a surge of irritation, as if a fire was burning in her chest, but she had nowhere to vent it.

He admitted that he had special feelings for Yan Xiaoqiu. Her gentleness, kindness, and resilience all irresistibly attracted him. However, he couldn't understand or accept her boundless tolerance.

Especially Chen Shanshan—that woman who was always causing trouble and was selfish.

Yan Xiaoqiu selectively ignored Chen Shanshan's actions, always choosing to forgive her, even going so far as to set aside her own dignity to plead for her. This behavior made Su Chang feel extremely annoyed.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. The air in Lijiang was filled with the faint scent of flowers and earth; it should have been a pleasant morning, but instead, he felt only oppression. He took out his phone and dialed Zheng Shuyi's number.

"Shuyi, tell Su Chu that we'll have a great day with everyone today, and we'll leave Lijiang tomorrow." His voice was deep and firm, with an unquestionable tone.

Zheng Shuyi on the other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds, seemingly somewhat surprised: "Leaving so soon? Didn't we agree to stay a few more days?"

Su Chang frowned, her tone somewhat impatient: "I don't want to stay here any longer. Chen Shanshan's matter is being handled by a team. Let's go abroad for fun later."

After hanging up the phone, Su Chang leaned against the stone wall by the roadside and looked up at the sky. The sky over Lijiang was a clear, deep blue, with a few white clouds drifting lazily by, as if mocking the turmoil in his heart.

He knew his decision was somewhat hasty, but he simply couldn't tolerate the situation any longer. He didn't want to see Yan Xiaoqiu repeatedly lower her dignity for Chen Shanshan, nor did he want to be unable to bear it any longer and choose to soften his heart.

Upon receiving Su Chang's call, Zheng Shuyi relayed Su Chang's words to Su Chu, who immediately shared the news with everyone.

Yang Tao looked up at the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain outside the shop, and a sudden impulse welled up inside her. She patted the table, attracting everyone's attention: "Everyone, I have a suggestion."

Everyone looked up at her. Chen Nanxing put down her chopsticks and asked curiously, "Sister Peach, what's your suggestion?"

A hint of excitement flashed in Yang Tao's eyes: "Since Su Chang said he's leaving tomorrow, let's enjoy all the beautiful scenery of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain today! Anyway, we still have plenty of time, so if we hurry up, we should have enough time."

Zheng Shuyi frowned: "But Jade Dragon Snow Mountain is so big, is one day enough?"

Chen Nanxing chuckled and interjected, "Whether it's enough or not, we'll find out by trying. Anyway, we came to Lijiang to have fun, so we can't let a little mishap spoil our enjoyment."

Others nodded in agreement.

Although Xu Li felt a little uneasy, seeing everyone's enthusiasm, she didn't want to spoil the fun, so she immediately chimed in, "Alright then, let's hurry up."

The group quickly packed their luggage and headed straight for Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, led by Su Chu.

However, just as they stepped out of the restaurant, everyone saw Yan Xiaoqiu still kneeling on the ground. Her figure looked exceptionally lonely, her face filled with desolation and helplessness.

Guan Juer's heart tightened, and her steps involuntarily slowed. She glanced back at Yan Xiaoqiu, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes.

However, Zheng Shuyi and Chen Nanxing seemed not to see them and walked straight past.

Chapter 331 The Group Descends the Mountain

Zheng Shuyi even tugged at Guan Juer's sleeve and urged in a low voice, "Guan Guan, don't be soft-hearted, don't worry about her, let's go quickly."

Guan Juer hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she was pulled away by the two of them.

However, she still quietly whispered to one of the bodyguards following behind her, "Keep an eye on her, make sure nothing happens to her."

The bodyguard nodded, silently slowed his pace, and followed Yan Xiaoqiu at a distance.

Yan Xiaoqiu watched the departing figures, her heart turning cold. She knew that Chen Shanshan was likely in grave danger this time. The thought of her sister's possible fate left her deeply troubled.

She didn't try to catch up with the group, knowing it would only annoy them. However, she didn't choose to descend the mountain either, instead heading towards an undeveloped, uninhabited area beside Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Yan Xiaoqiu's steps were a little unsteady, but she still walked forward with determination. The scenery in the no-man's-land was completely different from that of the scenic area. There was no noise of tourists, only pristine natural scenery.

The dense forest, the rugged mountain path, and the occasional birdsong all gave her a sense of unprecedented tranquility.

However, this tranquility did not last long. As she ventured deeper into the area, the surrounding scenery gradually became unfamiliar and dangerous. The path beneath her feet became increasingly difficult to traverse, and the trees around her grew ever denser.

Yan Xiaoqiu began to feel uneasy, but she didn't stop. She knew she had no way back; she could only keep moving forward. Her heart pounded faster, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Meanwhile, Yang Tao and her group had already begun their ascent from the mountainside of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain towards the summit. They encouraged and supported each other as they reached the top.

"Wow, this place is so beautiful!" Yang Tao excitedly took out her phone and started taking pictures non-stop. Her face was beaming with a bright smile, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Andy, Xu Li, Tong Wei, Song Nuan, and the others also took out their phones to capture the beautiful natural scenery in their cameras.

Chen Nanxing, along with Gao Wenruohan, Tang Guoguo, and Li Meng, led five children in playful banter, seemingly having completely forgotten the unpleasantness of the previous moment. Their laughter echoed through the mountains, creating a relaxed and joyful atmosphere for the entire group.

Although Guan Juer was also awestruck by the scene before her, a sense of unease lingered in her heart. She frequently glanced back, as if searching for something. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes revealed worry.

"Guan Guan, what's wrong?" Song Xingchen and Han Xiaoli noticed her unusual behavior, and Song Xingchen asked with concern.

Guan Juer forced a smile and said softly, "It's nothing, I'm just a little worried about Yan Xiaoqiu." Her voice was tinged with worry, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around the hem of her clothes.

Han Xiaoli frowned, sighed helplessly, and said, "You... you're still too soft-hearted. But didn't you arrange for bodyguards to follow her? She should be fine." She patted Guan Juer's shoulder, trying to comfort her.

Guan Juer nodded, but the unease in her heart did not dissipate. She silently thought, "I hope Yan Xiaoqiu is alright..."

The group was immersed in the magnificent scenery of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain when suddenly, a violent tremor shook the ground. The earth beneath their feet seemed to tremble, and the trees in the mountains swayed and rustled.

The sudden tremor startled everyone, especially the girls, whose faces turned pale instantly.

"What happened? Was it an earthquake?" Yang Tao gripped Xu Li tightly beside her, her voice trembling.