Recently, everyone at Jinxin Screw Factory has been on edge. They’ve heard that the company is having cash flow issues, and to make matters worse, a new batch of screws set for delivery failed the buyer’s quality inspection and needs to be redone.

Old Jin sat despondently in his spacious office, looking around at the place that had been with him for over a decade, feeling heavy-hearted.

The factory had initially jumped on the bandwagon three years ago, investing in screws related to mask machines, hoping to profit like others did. Unfortunately, they were stuck with inventory when the prices were highest, losing a lot of money.

Though the factory seems large, it’s actually all mortgaged. Every month, just the interest payments to the bank exceed their profits—it’s like surviving on past earnings.

This month has been filled with misfortunes; it feels like an invisible hand of fate is controlling the factory.

To make it through, Old Jin even mortgaged his luxury condo in the new district, originally intended as a wedding gift for his son, and took a loan of over seven million.

But as the deadline for the loan taken a year ago approaches, given the current state of the factory, it’s unlikely they can refinance, and the house faces the risk of being auctioned by the bank.

His only son is a wastrel, sent abroad to polish himself but returned having learned only to eat, drink, and have fun, without picking up any skills. He even has trouble entertaining foreign guests.

At school, he only mingled with other Chinese, failing to even practice basic foreign languages, in no position to help out at all.

Recently, he was caught for illegal dog fighting and gambling. Old Jin had to go through great lengths to get him out without leaving a criminal record.

The factory faces a dangerous situation, the future uncertain. Is bankruptcy and becoming a defaulter the only outcome?

Old Jin suddenly felt a stabbing pain in his heart, making it difficult to breathe, so he quickly took the Quick-acting Heart-saving Pill he kept in his pocket.

After a while, his phone rang. He glanced at the unfamiliar landline number, hesitating for a moment, fearing it might be the bank demanding repayment.

But once he answered, his demeanor changed to one of relief.

It was an acquisition proposal call!

If someone takes over the factory, although he couldn’t maintain his current façade of wealth, at least he wouldn’t become a defaulter!

This was a lifesaver!

After Old Jin hung up the phone, elated, and prepared to mobilize all factory workers for a thorough cleanup to welcome the prospective buyers’ inspection team, Lu Shouyue, sitting in an office at Yongcheng University sharing tea with an old professor, received a message on his phone.

He glanced at it nonchalantly; it simply read: "Done."

Lu Shouyue’s lips curled slightly, showing no hint of surprise.

He could have hit harder, but he thought involving innocents was unnecessary. For some, losing hundreds of thousands or millions could be life or death.

Forget it, spare them.

The year was ending, and he’d be getting engaged next year. Doing good to accumulate virtue seemed the right thing. What if someone jumped off a building from bankruptcy—what a sin that would be?

At times like these, he allowed himself to be a bit ’superstitious’.

Lin Wanwan was eagerly waiting to retaliate, with the video of dogs chasing a child ready to go.

If the opposition dared any tricks, she planned to post it online to let justice prevail through internet warriors.

However, Lin Wanwan would wait in vain, as the playboy was about to lose his wealthy status and would have to sell the mansion to repay bank loans, quickly finding himself squeezed into a self-built rural home with his parents, leaving no time for play.

Had the dog fighting ring not been dismantled by police, he might still gamble on dog fights for a living.

With the ring gone and former buddies thinking less of him, he’d soon have to find honest work at the screw factory to get by.

Lin Wanwan spent half a day at the modern traditional medicine shop and then had dinner with Lu Shouyue before traveling back in time to the Great Tang to sleep.

Tomorrow, she planned to take Kun Lun into the mountains to gather herbs for a few days of "wilderness survival."

Her household servants and clan members tried to persuade her against personally gathering herbs, suggesting buying from herbal farmers instead.

But Lin Wanwan firmly refused, saying her two mentors (one fictitious and the other the elder Sun who truly taught her) collected herbs personally, despite old age. As a disciple, how could she lack such dedication?

Lin Wanwan led Kun Lun deep into the mountains, instructing him to stay in her time-travel cave for a few days.

Supplies and a modified nail gun with bullets were prepared, so even if wild beasts attacked, Kun Lun could handle it. Lin Wanwan wasn’t worried.

Then, she time-traveled again, returning to the present.

Time to pack up for an overseas flight!

It was Lin Wanwan’s first time going abroad, a mix of excitement and nervousness—mostly excitement.

She brought five oversized suitcases, similar to a celebrity heading to walk the red carpet at Cannes.

The difference being, celebrities bring jewelry and clothes, while Lin Wanwan’s suitcases were filled with time-travel equipment.

Even on a private jet, standard baggage checks and customs procedures couldn’t be completely bypassed, though they were more relaxed.

For example, the same suitcase might be opened for questioning on a commercial flight, but not on a private jet.

Body scanners on commercial flights take thirty seconds, but only three seconds on a private jet.

The direct flight from Yongcheng to Lion City took five and a half hours.

Lin Wanwan took a nap on the plane, watched a movie, and had afternoon tea before arriving at nearly 4 PM.

Today is the last day of the Gregorian calendar; sudden cold hit Yongcheng, necessitating heavy coats or down jackets, while Lion City remained a summer-like thirty degrees.

Lu Shouyue typically didn’t make a big deal out of his birthday like Wang Bocheng.

But this year was different; he had a girlfriend now and wanted to introduce her to his friends. His birthday party was a great opportunity for that.

He chose this place so Lin Wanwan could beautifully wear her little dress.

Qiong State would have sufficed, but everyone was tired of it, and knowing Lin Wanwan hasn’t traveled abroad, he wanted to take her somewhere new.

Though Lion City is an independent country, it’s quite small, only a ninth of Shanghai Hai City, and a thirteenth of Yongcheng.

The Merlion is one of their iconic city spots. Lu Shouyue took Lin Wanwan here straight from the plane, leaving the luggage with their reception staff to send to the hotel.

But Lin Wanwan couldn’t leave her art unattended—it was practically a national treasure. Losing it would be a huge loss, compensation notwithstanding!

After all, not many could afford to pay for it.

So Lin Wanwan carried the art tube in her arms while sightseeing, convinced it was safest with her.