CHAPTER 86: 083 UNFORESEEN TROUBLE INCURS THOUGHTFUL PREPARATION (SECOND UPDATE)

Only after fully confirming that Miaomiao had not suffered any harm did Yun Ya breathe a sigh of relief in her heart.

She didn’t know whether it was her threat that had been effective, or if Yun Shu had never intended to harm Yun Miao in the first place.

After all, for a child born deaf and dumb and mentally challenged, there would be no sense of achievement in bullying her; Yun Shu definitely wouldn’t do such a thankless task.

But no matter what, they could no longer continue to stay in this family.

——

At the Yan Family, Butler Uncle Yan brought an invitation.

Uncle Yan was an elder who had followed from the Capital City, having served Yan Nanmo since he was a child. He was deeply loyal to the Yan Family and had recently returned from visiting his hometown for ancestral worship.

Upon opening the invitation, Zhuang Xiyue couldn’t help but sneer, "This Yun Shu is really something. She wouldn’t let me recognize Yun Ya as my goddaughter, and now she’s taken a liking to another girl as her goddaughter. Isn’t this openly opposing me?" As she finished, she tossed the invitation aside, growing angrier as she thought about it.

Uncle Yan, hearing about this for the first time, thought for a moment before asking, "Is the young lady Young Lady is referring to the Young Miss Ji?"

Uncle Yan had essentially watched her and Yan Nanmo grow up and had witnessed their love, thus both husband and wife deeply respected the old man, causing her tone to soften unconsciously.

"Exactly, I am very fond of Yun Ya, and considering that I don’t have a daughter, and Yun Ya has now lost her mother, I wanted to recognize her as my goddaughter and love her as if she were my own. Who would have known that old witch Yun Shu would disagree and instead recognize another little girl as her daughter? Isn’t that a slap in my face?"

Zhuang Xiyue came from a reputable scholarly family and was brought up strictly, the epitome of an elegant and refined lady. That she would use a term clearly charged with personal sentiment like "old witch" showed just how deep her grievances against Yun Shu were.

Uncle Yan thought for a moment and then asked, "If Young Lady really likes the Young Miss Ji, why insist on recognizing her as your goddaughter? After all, a daughter will eventually marry off, but a daughter-in-law will stay by your side for life."

Zhuang Xiyue’s eyes lit up, "I have thought about that, but both children are too young. Discussing this now wouldn’t be too soon?"

Uncle Yan’s eyes narrowed, occasionally flashing a sharp gleam, looking quite like a sly old fox.

"It’s not too soon at all. I remember Third Young Master and Young Lady making solemn vows hand in hand when you were both five years old. Children mature earlier nowadays; it’s not early at all."

Embarrassed by Uncle Yan’s reminder of the past, Zhuang Xiyue’s cheeks flushed slightly, "Uncle Yan, why bring this up? If the children heard this, then I, as a mother, would have no authority left."

Uncle Yan chuckled, "To speak the truth, Young Lady, you have to keep up with the times. Besides, I’ve also met the Young Miss Ji, and she is indeed beautiful, as clever as you were when you were little. No wonder you like her; even an old man like me finds her incredibly charming. She’s still young now, but when she grows up, imagine how many young men will be queuing up to court her. If you are late in acting, that good daughter-in-law will end up in someone else’s family."

Influenced by Uncle Yan’s words, Zhuang Xiyue was somewhat persuaded. With Yun Ya’s potential, the scene described by Uncle Yan was bound to happen; thus, she needed to plan ahead. A daughter-in-law was indeed much closer than a goddaughter.

"Tomorrow night I will take Gege to the banquet. Emotions should be cultivated from a young age, yes, just like that...."

Uncle Yan was startled; why the young master?

Before he could say anything else, Zhuang Xiyue had already risen hastily and headed upstairs.

Young Lady, are you mistaken? Clearly, the eldest young master is the perfect match for the Young Miss Ji...

——

Hearing that he would see Yun Ya, Yan Ke was overjoyed, clapping his hands eagerly.

Yan Song paused the book he was flipping through and listened quietly to the movements outside the door.

"Gege, you must be obedient tomorrow night, understand? Look for opportunities to play with Sister Yun Ya," Zhuang Xiyue explained gently and in detail.

"Mhm mhm," Yan Ke nodded, then asked immediately, "Is Brother going too?"

Peering through the door crack, Zhuang Xiyue saw Yan Song leaning over his desk reading, his lean back straight, already hinting at the poise of a young man.

After thinking for a moment, Zhuang Xiyue shook her head, "Brother has his mid-term exams coming up and needs to review his lessons, so he’s not going."

Yan Ke showed a trace of disappointment on his face but felt a secret delight inside.

With Brother not going, nobody would compete with him for Sister Yun Ya’s attention.

With a "snap," the pencil broke.

This tiny noise didn’t draw the attention of the two people at the door.

Yan Song’s gaze fell, but he couldn’t focus on a single word anymore.

——

"Ranran, you’re pregnant now; don’t drink coffee anymore; it’s not good for the baby."

"Ranran, I’m so glad to see you. You look much more haggard. Is he not treating you well?"

"Ranran... I miss you so much..."

The thin sunlight filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the cafe, casting its light on the young man. He stood tall and graceful, exceptional in his elegance, and those pitch-black eyes, as always, held a clarity and doting affection. In his eyes, she would always be the most important person.

Her heart ached so much that she could barely breathe, panting like a stranded fish gasping for air.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes.

A bedside lamp was on, casting a dim yellow glow. She sat up in bed, hugging her covers, her slender figure seemingly more solitary and desolate.

The space beside her was empty; Yun Shen hadn’t come back again for another night.

Since they got married, the number of nights Yun Shen had come back home could be counted on one’s fingers, and even when he did return, he would stay in the study, as if he found his new wife so repulsive that one more glance would be too much.

That suited her just fine.

From the moment she decided to marry him, she knew she would never have a marriage born out of love in this lifetime.

Her eyelashes drooped as she slightly curved her thin lips.

Isn’t this perfect?

The company was saved, her brother and sister-in-law, as well as thousands of Bai Family employees, no longer had to worry about losing their livelihood, and her? She had the title of Lady Yun, and wherever she went, she was greeted with envious glances.

Very good.

She told herself over and over again in her heart, Bai Ran, you did well, you did the right thing.

But every quiet night, she dreamed of those eyes, that clear and warm embrace, that gentle and pure voice whispering in her ear, "Ranran, I miss you."

She controlled the tears that were about to spill from her eyes, her fingernails digging fiercely into the skin of her palm.

She had been afraid of the dark since she was little and always slept with a bedside lamp on until one day, a young man brought light into her life, and from then on, she was no longer afraid of the dark, because where he was, there was daylight.

But now, her world was plunged into darkness once more.

She placed one hand on her lower abdomen and murmured to herself, "Do you also think Mommy was wrong? I’m sorry, my child..."

——

At the same time in an apartment, a man walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a bath towel after a shower.

The phone on the bedside table began to ring. The man tapped to check it; it was a WeChat message.

——Uncle Yan, what are you up to?

The man curved his lips but didn’t respond. He put the phone back in its place and, while toweling his hair, walked to the window to overlook the city’s nightscape.

Unintentionally, he saw a row of bite marks on his chest. His skin was very pale, so the marks were startlingly conspicuous. Although they had been there for some time, they left a deep scar, burning into his heart with a clarity.

His finger traced over the scar as if he could feel her charm and her frenzy from that day...

It was the first and only time for the two of them.

She was drunk and in a bad mood; amid the chaos of drunkenness and passion, everything happened naturally.

It was his first time, but she seemed much more experienced, leading him all the way, tumbling and rolling in the sea of desire...

Latter...

He smiled slightly, looking down.

Men are often naturals in this respect, and all her feigned dominance crumbled under his assault. For the first time, he saw her so vulnerable and so beautiful, and he was like a madman, over and over again...

He remembered her burning skin, her enchanting features, the deep affection in her eyes that couldn’t be melted away, and how, in the heat of the moment, she bit down hard on his chest.

"You liar..."

A cold breeze blew in from outside the window, turning all wild fantasies into a cool wind that burrowed into his heart, wave after wave.

The night was so long, and his heart had grown wild with weeds.

"Ding..." The phone signaled another WeChat message. After a moment of silence, the man went over and checked WeChat.