When I went home for Chinese New Year, I spent a million times more money on my foreign wife.

"This instrument is precise enough to capture the slightest life pulse." Old Sun stuffed the thread-bound book into his pocket, walked ahead, and pushed open the door to the testing room.

Chen Yang helped Katyusha into the third basement level.

Half an hour later.

Old Sun came out carrying several color development reports.

The old Chinese medicine doctor's hands are usually very steady, but today they were trembling as he held the edge of the paper.

"Mr. Chen," Old Sun handed over the report.

Chen Yang reached out and took it.

Next to the image on the paper, two tiny shadows were circled in red pen.

"Twins," Elder Sun said. "Not only that, but based on the pulse and imaging characteristics, I can basically conclude that it is a boy and a girl. They have excellent foundations and abundant qi and blood."

Chen Yang's hand, which was holding the report, paused. He stared at the two red circles.

Two. One son and one daughter.

Chen Yang turned to look at Katyusha, who had just put on her coat and walked out.

"Katyusha, there are two." Chen Yang stepped forward, spread his long arms, and pulled her into his arms.

Katyusha paused for a moment, looked down at the paper, and touched the edge with her finger.

"Boy or girl?"

"right."

Chen Yue walked over from the elevator entrance.

"Brother, I've already received the reply from the Emperor..." Chen Yue immediately sensed that something was wrong.

Chen Yang tossed the report to Chen Yue.

Chen Yue caught it, glanced at it, and immediately covered her mouth with both hands.

"Twins?" Chen Yue lowered her voice, these words carrying the weight of a deal worth tens of billions that had just been reached.

"Keep the news under wraps." Chen Yang interrupted Chen Yue's unspoken cheers. "Elder Sun, I'm troubled to personally issue the gag order. This report should only be circulated among the core high-ranking members of the Snow Palace and family members. I don't want any word to leak out before the child is three months old."

Old Sun nodded in agreement and turned to make the arrangements.

"Chen Yue," Chen Yang turned and instructed, "Notify the finance department."

"How much is in the red envelope?" Chen Yue's fingers flew across the keys on the communication device.

"No red envelopes." Chen Yang put his arm around Katyusha and walked out. "Give everyone in the Snow Palace—the cleaners, cooks, security guards, and even the gardeners in the back mountain—a 100-gram pure gold bar. Engrave it with a dragon and phoenix totem."

Chen Yue paused. Over a thousand people—this expenditure on gold was an astronomical figure.

"I want to see the gold bars in everyone's hands by 8 a.m. tomorrow," Chen Yang added.

"Okay, I'll go and adjust the vault inventory." Chen Yue turned and walked into another private elevator.

Chen Ma had just come up from the kitchen when she overheard a few words. She barely managed to keep the stew pot she was carrying from falling with both hands. Without waiting for Chen Yang's instructions, she turned and walked back to the kitchen, muttering that she wanted to scrap the entire menu and start over.

In the middle of the night, the autumn wind swept up fallen leaves.

On the small helipad inside the Snow Palace, the engine of a heavy passenger plane was already warmed up.

Ivan, wrapped in a black overcoat, stood at the boarding gate. His guards stood ramrod straight behind him.

He was waiting for his daughter. This was his final farewell before leaving China.

Two black SUVs cut through the autumn wind and stopped at the foot of the gangway.

Lei Zi pushed open the car door, jumped out, and opened the back seat.

Chen Yang helped Katyusha out of the car.

Ivan descended a few steps. He strode forward.

"Dad's going back." Ivan spread his arms wide.

Katyusha went over and hugged Ivan.

"Get some rest." Ivan patted Katyusha's back, his voice deep and resonant. "I'll come see you again before winter."

The father and daughter finished their hug.

Ivan turned to Chen Yang. The two men faced off in the night wind.

"I'm handing her over to you." Ivan straightened the collar of his windblown coat. "You've expanded too much. Those whose funding you cut off are all watching this Snow Palace from the shadows. They won't dare touch you, but they'll look for her weaknesses."

Chen Yang didn't answer. He pulled a folded photocopy from the inside pocket of his coat and handed it to Ivan.

Ivan took the copy.

He unfolded the paper by the light of the searchlight on the tarmac.

The above images and indicator parameters came into his view.

Ivan's breath caught in his throat. He brought the paper close to his eyes and looked at it again.

"Twins," Chen Yang said. "She just finished her checkup. You won't have time to drink this wedding wine."

Ivan froze, clutching the paper. As an oligarch who controlled the lifeline of energy, his fingers trembled slightly as he held the paper.

"Two?" Ivan suddenly looked up.

"right."

Ivan folded the paper neatly and stuffed it into his inner pocket, close to his chest. He stepped forward, opened his arms, and hugged Chen Yang tightly.

Ivan's large hand slammed into Chen Yang's back with surprising force, making both of their coats thud.

"Chen Yang." Ivan released him, placing his hands on Chen Yang's shoulders. "This is your responsibility. If anyone dares to disturb Katyusha during this time, you won't need to lift a finger. I will use all my power in international waters to wipe that family off the map."

"The Snow Palace isn't made of paper." Chen Yang brushed the fallen leaves off his shoulder. "As long as I'm here, it's safer than an underground nuclear bunker. You can focus on your business."

Ivan stared intently at Chen Yang. His gaze traveled past Chen Yang's shoulder to see Lei Zi's hand resting on his weapon at his waist. In the distance, on the high ground, three air defense radars slowly rotated in the night. Outside the helipad, one hundred members of the Black Kite Task Force spread out in a defensive formation with absolute blind spots. All of them wore binocular low-light night vision goggles, making no unnecessary movements, waiting only to tear apart any intruders.

Ivan was convinced. He turned and went up the gangway, waved to Katyusha, and went through the hatch.

A tremendous roar overwhelmed the wind and thunder. The passenger plane accelerated down the runway and soared into the night sky.

Chen Yang turned around and gestured to Lei Zi.

Lei Zi approached.

"Activate the highest alert level for the Snow Palace." Chen Yang spoke rapidly. "From now on, no living creature without my personal authorization is allowed to enter the core area of ​​the Snow Palace. Not even birds."

"Understood." Lei Zi pressed the headset and began giving orders.

Chen Yue quickly reported the situation.

"Representatives from two consortia in North America want to hold a video conference. It's about the rare earth quotas for the next quarter..."

"Reject it," Chen Yang interrupted her.

Chen Yue stopped in her tracks: "Cancel it? The ports they control are crucial hubs in our logistics chain."

"Cut off all my external business calls." Chen Yang opened the SUV door. "For the next eight months, unless there's a natural disaster, don't bother me with business matters. Let those tycoons find other ways to make money."

"Those old money families just issued a joint statement. If we can't reach an agreement tonight, they will freeze our cash flow channels," Chen Yue warned.

"Let them freeze it," Chen Yang said calmly. "Tell them that anyone who dares to put pressure on me at this time will have their entire parent fund on Wall Street shorted tomorrow. The hundreds of billions of dollars in my account are not just for show."

Chen Yue stopped trying to dissuade them and typed a refusal command on the virtual keyboard. Those arrogant representatives of the conglomerates would collectively experience the taste of being turned away tonight.

"Those cross-border acquisitions?" Chen Yue pressed.

"You're in full charge. If you can't handle it, just drag it out. Let them wait." Chen Yang helped Katyusha into the car.

The off-road vehicle drove along the smooth road towards the back mountain territory.

The cool autumn night breeze was blocked by the car windows.

Katyusha leaned back in her seat with her eyes closed.

Chen Yang watched the streetlights rushing past the window, his mind racing as he considered the security blind spots in each passageway.

"I'm hungry," Katyusha suddenly said.

Chen Yang immediately turned his head: "What do you want to eat?"

Katyusha opened her eyes and pondered seriously.

"Braised sea cucumber with scallions, sweet and sour pork ribs, and a bowl of chicken noodle soup."

"Okay." Chen Yang ordered the driver in the front seat, "Go straight back to the villa. Call the kitchen and have them prepare the ingredients. I'll cook."

The SUV was parked in front of the villa.

Chen Yang opened the car door and carried Katyusha out.

The autumn wind rustled through the treetops overhead, the falling leaves rustling softly. He carried Katyusha back to the warm living room, then took off his bespoke suit and tossed it onto the sofa.

"Lie down for a while. Dinner will be served soon." Chen Yang unbuttoned his shirt cuffs.

He went into the kitchen, picked up a kitchen knife, and hovered it above the cutting board.