Chapter 403: Investigation
Chapter 403: Chapter 403: Investigation
"Yes," Yu Mingche nodded again.
The investigation lasted nearly an hour, covering everything from his educational background and work experience to his credit assessment and even his physical examination reports from the past three years. When Zhou Yan finally closed his tablet, Yu Mingche felt as if he had been forced to relive his entire life. The dark, difficult path he had walked, full of struggles, flashed before his eyes, scene by scene.
"Mr. Yu, all the information you’ve provided—especially the fact that your birth mother is unknown, your maternal bloodline is unclear, your father died young and not of natural causes, and your own history of mental illness—will be disclosed to your Contractor. Do you have any objections to this?" Zhou Yan asked, his gaze scrutinizing Yu Mingche.
Under normal circumstances, if this were a standard Contract process, Ning Xuan’s elders would have gathered this information for her in advance and submitted it to the management center. The center’s only job would be to verify it.
However, Ning Xuan was an orphan and knew nothing about these procedures, which meant the Bonding Relationship Management Center had to gather and organize the information itself before confirming it with Yu Mingche.
"No objections," Yu Mingche said, feeling numb.
Ning Xuan had never asked about his father or mother, nor had she ever brought up his past. As a result, he had never spoken to her about these things.
’I wonder if Ning Xuan will even care about any of this.’
"Additionally, you’ll need to sign this Asset Transparency Agreement. After the Contract is formed, none of the properties under your name can be sold or undergo major restructuring without your Contractor’s permission. Any expenditure exceeding 500,000 must also be approved by your Contractor." Zhou Yan produced a thick file listing all of Yu Mingche’s assets.
Given Yu Mingche’s current status, his personal information was highly confidential. However, if he wanted to hold a Contract ceremony through the Bonding Relationship Management Center, he had to open his records to them. Of course, the center could only view this information during the authorized time window and was required to sign a non-disclosure agreement, preventing any leaks of his personal data.
Yu Mingche took the stack of documents and reviewed them carefully. After confirming there were no errors, he signed his name, signifying that he was relinquishing absolute control over his personal assets.
"Mr. Yu, we have also contacted your father’s uncle and younger brother. They are willing to attend your Contract ceremony as your immediate family," Zhou Yan said.
"No. I don’t need any immediate family to attend." Yu Mingche’s expression changed as he refused.
"That is not for you to decide. If you are truly unwilling, you may explain your reasons to your Contractor and obtain her consent. She can then submit an application to the management center to refuse the invitation of immediate family," Zhou Yan replied, strictly by the book.
Yu Mingche fell silent. He subconsciously touched his stomach, a bitter expression on his face.
Yu Mingche had decisively chosen to have a womb implanted simply because he wanted a child of his own bloodline. When he learned that he and Ying Yaoshi shared the same Contractor—and that their Contractor possessed a Divine Bloodline—he went through with it without a second thought.
Being forced to recall the past today had dredged up many memories he had tried his hardest to forget.
The Yu Family was a clan that took the Divine Beast Nine-tailed Fox as its totem. Legend had it that the Yu ancestor’s Companion Spirit was a Mythical Level Nine-tailed Fox. Every member of the Yu Family aimed to awaken a Mythical Level Nine-tailed Fox of their own. It was said that his father, Yu Shouyue, had awakened his Companion Spirit at the age of eight—and it just so happened to be a Mythical Level Nine-tailed Fox. From that day on, Yu Shouyue became the pride of the entire clan.
Yu Mingche wasn’t clear on the specifics of what happened later. He only knew that after coming of age, Yu Shouyue left to gain experience, disappeared for fifteen years, and returned with a one-year-old son.
Yu Shouyue had carried and given birth to this child himself. The child’s birth mother was unknown. Because of this, Yu Shouyue’s Spiritual Power Level had declined, and he had problems with his energy circulation.
As for Yu Mingche’s younger brother, it was rumored that the family had used certain methods to have a woman sleep with Yu Shouyue, thereby conceiving and preserving his bloodline.
Therefore, that brother was his half-brother, sharing the same father.
Ever since he could remember, Yu Mingche had been ostracized by his relatives. They all said that he and his unknown birth mother were responsible for his father’s death—that he had killed his own father, the genius and hope of the entire family.
Yu Mingche was in a daze. He didn’t even know how he saw the investigator out. After the investigator left, he just sat there stunned in the drawing-room, with no desire to move.
Their accusations and curses echoed in his mind, turning his blood to ice.
"My lord, Lord Governor, someone has delivered a calling card at the door. Please take a look." A young Attendant, seeing Yu Mingche come to his senses, quickly handed the card over.
Yu Mingche took the calling card and opened it. It was from Chairman Wang of the Controller Protection Association.
Ning Xuan was a member of the Controller Protection Association, and her legal rights were protected by it. Since Ning Xuan had submitted the application for a Contract ceremony, the Controller Protection Association would also be investigating Yu Mingche’s background.
The thought of facing another round of questioning made Yu Mingche’s face pale. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, a sour feeling rose in his stomach, and then came a violent, churning nausea.
Yu Mingche held the calling card, unmoving, for a long time. Once the feeling finally subsided, he said, "Show Chairman Wang in... No, go and inform Miss Ning first."
Yu Mingche couldn’t refuse Chairman Wang’s investigation, but he decided to tell Ning Xuan everything first. He had to see her reaction, see if she could accept his background. If she couldn’t, he was prepared to leave.
Meanwhile, in the Alchemy Room, Ning Xuan and Lan Xin had been fooling around for the better part of the day. Ning Xuan was pleased in both body and mind. Lan Xin, in contrast, looked thoroughly ravaged. His lip was bitten, his once-silky hair was a mess, and his body was covered in colorful marks. A string of bite marks adorned his snow-white neck.
However, after a few releases, Lan Xin’s mind was much clearer than before. When the smart butler materialized to relay the message, Lan Xin looked at the bright sky outside and was suddenly overcome with shame.
These few days were critical, with various departments coming to verify information. He was supposed to be helping his master with Alchemy, but instead of doing any actual work, he had enticed his master into fooling around. If he caused a delay in his master’s important business and Lord Yu found out, he would surely not be forgiven.
Lan Xin’s eyelashes fluttered. "Master," he said to Ning Xuan, "important matters come first. You should go."
"You wait for me here. Don’t go anywhere. We still haven’t done the Alchemy. I’ll be back soon." Ning Xuan had been having a lot of fun, but the potions still needed to be made. She had to complete today’s original goal.