CHAPTER 89: 085 KNIFE AND CUTTING BOARD, FISH AND MEAT (SECOND UPDATE)_2

From that moment on, his remaining life was only ignited for him.

"They should be satisfied with this pledge," the young man’s voice murmured, carried away by the wind. Yuesheng, being close by, naturally heard and couldn’t help but add, "Xiao Ma is quick-handed, he’s been no stranger to theft before, and no one can match him when it comes to sleight of hand — Brother Han, you can rest assured."

The young man hummed softly.

"However..." Yuesheng’s brows knitted together, "I just heard Xiao Ma say that Ning Zijin seems to be attending a banquet tomorrow evening. Brother Han, this could be a good opportunity. Why don’t we..." A ruthless glint crossed Yuesheng’s eyes as he made a snapping gesture with his fingers.

The young man frowned, "We mustn’t act rashly, let’s wait for news from the Azure Dragon Gang first."

Reluctant to let it go, Yuesheng wanted to say more, but the young man had already lowered his head to play with the cat in his arms, his offhand voice suffusing with coolness, seeping into his heart.

"Impatience won’t get you hot tofu to eat, Yuesheng, you should work on that aggressive temper of yours."

Yuesheng bit his lip: "I understand, Brother Han."

The rain seemed to pour down even harder, as the young man’s elegant silhouette became more and more distant within the veil of rain.

——

After much consideration, Yun Shu decided to set the location of the banquet at the most luxurious hotel in Jiangzhou, the Huadu Hotel.

This time, she spared no expense, inviting almost all the prominent figures of Manjiangzhou, which was indicative of her importance to her goddaughter.

Organizing a banquet is a challenging task. From stage lighting to guest beverages, she took full responsibility. Although she managed it with ease, she couldn’t avoid feeling somewhat fatigued.

After hanging up the phone, a cup of gardenia tea was placed before her. In front of her was the girl’s refreshingly delicate visage, a pair of clear eyes looking at her with moist admiration, instantly melting one’s heart.

"You’re still injured, why aren’t you resting?"

"Aunt Yun, I’m not much help with anything else, so I can only put in more effort here." The girl smiled softly, sat down beside Yun Shu, and naturally looped her arm through Yun Shu’s, affectionately saying, "Besides, it’s not a serious injury. I’m not that delicate; I’d get sick from boredom lying in bed."

The young girl’s coquettish demeanor pleased Yun Shu, who gently stroked her soft hair and said softly, "You, my dear, should be pampered. It would be best if you developed a princess complex."

Just then, Yun Ya walked downstairs with Yun Miao, not even glancing at the two, treating them like air and walking straight out of the living room.

"Ah... It hurts." Kang Jinxian winced. Yun Shu was startled and realized she had unwittingly pinched a mark on Kang Jinxian’s fair arm. The girl’s skin was so white it made the mark rather conspicuous.

"Ah Xian, Aunt Yun didn’t mean to do it. Does it hurt a lot?"

Kang Jinxian smiled and said, "It wouldn’t hurt if Aunt Yun would blow on it."

Yun Shu tapped her forehead fondly, "You little rascal..."

Then Yun Shu’s expression gradually cooled, and Kang Jinxian, sensing the mood, chose to say nothing more.

——

Today was the day of the advertisement shooting. Early in the morning, Jiang Li came to pick up both of them. The advertisers had never dreamed they would accept the gig; after all, Yun Ya was currently the hottest child star in the country, with countless major brands vying to sign the coveted star. The advertiser had taken a chance, and unexpectedly, the opportunity had fallen straight into their laps.

The head of the advertisers treated Yun Ya like an ancestor, the toothpaste advertisement shoot was straightforward — Yun Ya just had to pose for the camera and deliver a few lines. But it was to capture the innocence of a child and their natural presence on camera which, for a five-year-old, was challenging.

The director had assumed Yun Ya was a spoiled little princess and had even braced himself for a long battle. But Yun Ya’s performance took him by surprise, perfectly embodying what he was looking for.

He felt the girl had a certain spirit about her and thought if she entered the entertainment industry, she might become a star. As it happened, a friend of his needed such a character for a new movie, and right after the shoot, while Yun Ya was removing her makeup, he subtly brought it up with her agent, also known as Jiang Li.

Jiang Li glanced at Yun Ya reflexively, and she heard him too, smiling faintly at Jiang Li from the mirror.

After so long together as master and apprentice, a silent understanding existed between them — one look from Yun Ya and he knew what she meant.

"I’m sorry, director, but Yun Ya is about to start elementary school soon, and her family doesn’t want her in the entertainment industry, so..."

Jiang Li trailed off, careful not to offend, and the director got the hint. Though regretful, he left gracefully.

After removing her makeup, Yun Ya looked at the face in the mirror — lips red, teeth white, features exquisite.

How beautiful would this face become in a few years?

She always remembered Kang Jinxian’s jealous voice: "Ji Yunya, I will personally destroy that face of yours someday..."

She inherited all the best traits from Yun Shen and Ji Lanyi, not just intellectually but also evident in her face. Still young, her features had yet to mature, but when she grew into a young woman...

Yun Ya’s gaze grew distant, heaven had granted her the most perfect vessel. Was it a blessing or a punishment?

Everyone envied that face, men lusted after it, women wished they could mar it, but Yun Ya saw too many familiar traces on that countenance.

Yun Shen... Ji Lanyi, the two people she hated most in her life, yet they were the ones who gave her life.

Huh... All things considered, heaven hadn’t treated her too badly. At the very least, it had given her a second chance at life, and this time, she was determined to firmly grasp her own destiny and not become mere flesh on someone else’s cutting board...

Just then, a slightly shorter man walked in from outside. Seeing the person, Yun Ya’s eyes narrowed slightly, and then the corners of her lips gently curved into a smile.