CHAPTER 38: 035 SLOWLY BOILING THE FROG

Having received Yun Shen’s promise, Kang Jinse settled down at home with ease.

Yun Shu placed great importance on Kang Jinse’s unborn child, and Kang Jinse lived a life practically fit for a princess.

Apart from her three meals a day, Yun Ya usually stayed in the room with Yun Miao, avoiding Yun Shu and Kang Jinse to prevent discomfort. Now, even when facing them, she was bound to be at a disadvantage.

The fetus was unstable during the first three months, and even more so considering her previous tendency to miscarry. Yun Shu had hired a gynecologist who moved into the house, specifically to take care of Kang Jinse’s health. For the time being, Kang Jinse had no opportunity to trouble Yun Ya.

That day, as usual, Teacher Jiang came to tutor Yun Ya. When she left, there were two tag-alongs by her side.

Upon leaving the Ji Family Manor and sitting in Teacher Jiang’s small car, Yun Ya stared out the window, lost in thought.

Teacher Jiang glanced at Yun Ya and shook her head helplessly, "You wanted me to deceive your family to bring you out. Tell me, what do you want to do?"

Yun Ya replied indifferently, "They are not my family."

Teacher Jiang looked at Yun Ya through the rearview mirror. The young girl’s expression was indifferent, her resounding words still echoing in her ears.

That beautiful and elegant lady was her grandmother, but she seemed far from a simple character, always treating Yun Ya with indifference. It was clear she disapproved. The other pregnant woman must be her father’s rumored girlfriend. She too didn’t seem easy to deal with. Growing up in such a family, one could imagine how much hardship she endured, provoking a surge of pity in others.

Yun Ya handed a piece of paper to her, "Teacher Jiang, I need to go to this place. Thank you for your trouble."

Teacher Jiang kept one hand on the steering wheel while taking the paper with the other, opening it to see an address written down to the exact house number.

After memorizing it, Jiang Li clasped the note in her palm and smiled, "Do we need to be so formal in our relationship? Teacher promised you, I’ll make sure you get there safely."

——

Teacher Jiang parked the car properly and led Yun Ya and Yun Miao into the residential complex. The security in the building was excellent; entry required a card, and without it, one had to register with the gatekeeper. After Teacher Jiang showed her ID and left her contact information, they were allowed inside.

Upon finding the exact house number, Teacher Jiang looked at Yun Ya.

Yun Ya, a bit nervous, held Yun Miao’s small hand tightly, took a deep breath, and said calmly, "Teacher Jiang, please help me press the doorbell."

Teacher Jiang didn’t know who Yun Ya was here to see, but he asked no questions and silently did as asked.

After the doorbell rang three times, there was no answer.

It rang another three times, still no response.

The light in Yun Ya’s eyes slowly faded. It wasn’t the right time; he wasn’t home.

Seeing Yun Ya’s obvious disappointment, Teacher Jiang consoled, "We can always come back tomorrow..."

Just then, with a "ding," the elevator door opened, and a man stepped out. Seeing the three people standing at the door, he appeared somewhat startled.

"Who are you?" The gatekeeper had mentioned someone was looking for him, which had puzzled him, for his social circle was small, and nearly no friends knew his address. He hadn’t expected it to be such a refined man.

However, he didn’t recognize him.

And the two kids, they were really beautiful, he thought to himself, suddenly feeling that something was amiss. These two kids, why did they look so familiar...

All three turned to look at him.

The man stood at one meter eighty-two, clothed in a black suit with handsome and proper features. His demeanor was steady and serious, with restrained and calm eyes. He carried an air of solemnity with him, extraordinary and graceful in his movements.

Seeing the visitor clearly, Yun Ya’s nose suddenly felt sour, as he remembered how he used to hold her when she was little, calling her his little princess, and how a grown man could become utterly helpless when she cried.

"Uncle Qin...." she muttered.

The man’s face suddenly changed, disbelieving he stepped back, "You... who are you?"

"I am Yun Ya," Yun Ya sniffed, turning her head to look at Yun Miao: "This is Miaomiao."

Qin Zhuan’s gaze fixed tightly on Yun Ya’s face. It was her, really her, her eyes and brows so much like Lanyi....

He strode over and embraced Yun Ya in his arms, the big man now somewhat beside himself, "Yun Ya, it really is you, Uncle Qin thought he was seeing a hallucination."

Yun Ya leaned into his arms, feeling the man’s stable presence, and gently closed her eyes.

"It’s me, Uncle Qin, I’m Yun Ya."

——

"What? Yun Shen has gone too far, monopolizing the Ji Family’s assets and even audaciously bringing in his mistress right through the front door. I will never let him off," Qin Zhuan slammed his palm on the coffee table, his face the color of iron, his hands’ veins bulging.

After leaving the Ji Family Manor, he deliberately avoided everything related to the Ji Family, even distancing his business dealings from the Ji’s. He was like a snail, withdrawing into his shell, disregarding the outside world, yet he hadn’t anticipated the myriad of disasters that befell the Ji Family after his departure.

He looked at Yun Ya and Yun Miao with heartache. How much had these two children suffered?

"Grandfather has passed away, Mother has gone missing, and the Ji Family now is no longer the Ji Family," Yun Ya narrated calmly, seeing Qin Zhuan freeze in shock, she sighed inwardly.

Uncle Qin, who is so loyal and affectionate, receiving such blows, who knows how heartbroken he would be.

Qin Zhuan suddenly covered his face; Yun Ya saw his shoulders shake and heard his muffled sobs.

Even a strong man has tears, but he doesn’t tend to shed them lightly until the moment of utmost sorrow.

The Ji Huaixi he respected and adored, the Ji Lanyi he was infatuated with and protected, one by one, they left him, and he, completely oblivious, pathetically thought they were living well.

"Yun Shen, I will kill you...." His eyes turned blood red, filled with intense hatred.

He had long known Yun Shen’s intentions in marrying Lanyi were impure, but Lanyi never believed him. Later, he lied to himself, thinking Yun Shen would treat Lanyi well, but now, he could no longer deceive himself.

Everything was because of Yun Shen, this man who had long plotted to take over the Ji Family’s property, causing Uncle Ji’s death and Lanyi’s harm and disappearance. He would spend his whole life, if necessary, to avenge Uncle Ji and Lanyi.

"Uncle Qin." Yun Ya called out, that sweet yet calm voice instantly pulling him back to reality. He turned to look at the little girl in front of him. Her eyes were calm and beautiful, dark as fog, inscrutable.

"Do you have the strength to contend with Yun Shen? Rashness and impulsiveness will only get us killed faster. I didn’t come to seek you out today to have you heatedly and recklessly go after Yun Shen."

Qin Zhuan looked at Yun Ya in shock. He couldn’t believe such words were spoken by a child of merely five years old. He knew Yun Ya was smart from a young age, but this was entirely beyond just being clever, wasn’t it?

"Yun Ya, you...."

Yun Ya looked at him quietly, "Uncle Qin, I prefer to boil frogs in warm water, watching them enjoy themselves, and then one day, they die in extreme pain and shock." Her light tone, akin to a somnolent murmur, suddenly made Qin Zhuan break out in a cold sweat.

Those eyes slowly veiled with a layer of mist, dark, serene, and mysterious.

"Uncle Qin, are you willing to help me?"