Chapter 32: Refusal to Cooperate

Chapter 32: Refusal to Cooperate

Initially, Lu Nansen's accusation of infidelity was meant as a jest.

Unexpectedly, it turned out to be prophetic.

Feng Shuo's call came in swiftly.

"Master, Lady Yun visited Huo Jinzhou at the hospital this noon. Afterward, she spent the afternoon observing him from a café across the hospital. In the evening, she followed his car out of the city... Master, are you still there?"

Noticing the growing silence on the other end, Feng Shuo's voice dwindled.

Huo Tingcheng's temples pulsed with veins, his fingers gripping the phone so tightly they turned white. He bellowed in a low, ominous tone, "Track Yun Mu's location for me right now!"

Lu Nansen exploded with curiosity, his face alight with gossip.

"Holy crap, no way! That girl actually dared to cheat? I heard she and Jinzhou were engaged since childhood. Could it be that she still harbors feelings for him? Tingcheng, are you wearing a green hat?"

Huo Tingcheng's brows knitted together, his expression cold and stern.

"Silence!"

If Yun Mu dared to...

At this moment, Yun Mu had already followed Huoshan into an abandoned factory in the outskirts.

After Huoshan's group brought the elderly person inside, they left within minutes.

Once Yun Mu confirmed that they were far away, she gently pushed the door open and entered.

A chilly and damp wind blew in.

In the dim light, Yun Mu spotted the elderly person lying on a simple bed, who was none other than Aunt Zhang from Yun Xiaosha's memories.

However, five years had passed, and Aunt Zhang appeared much older and frail, her face bearing an unnatural pallor.

"Aunt Zhang?"

Yun Mu called softly, quickly approaching and crouching beside the bed.

Aunt Zhang faintly opened her eyes, recognizing Yun Mu despite the veil covering her face.

"Miss, it's you, Miss?" A glimmer of light flickered in Aunt Zhang's hazy eyes as she eagerly held Yun Mu's hand. "Miss, I've finally seen you. You've grown up."

Yun Mu was not Yun Xiaosha, and thus did not share the same affection for Aunt Zhang.

She gently withdrew her hand and asked, "Aunt Zhang, how did you end up here?"

"It was Young Master Huo, the second son. He said he could bring me to see Miss, so... I came," Aunt Zhang replied, her excitement soon turning into a violent coughing fit. Her breathing hastened, and her complexion took on an abnormal pallor.

Yun Mu was slightly alarmed and promptly placed her hand on Aunt Zhang's pulse.

"You're poisoned," Yun Mu exclaimed. "The poison has already spread throughout your body. It seems you've been poisoned for some time."

Aunt Zhang waved her hand weakly, saying, "These old bones of mine weren't going to last much longer anyway. To have seen Miss one more time... that's enough for me..."

It appeared that Aunt Zhang was well aware of her poisoning and imminent death, yet had mustered the strength to meet her one last time.

Observing Aunt Zhang's trembling body and weakening voice, Yun Mu hurriedly asked.

"Aunt Zhang, who could have poisoned you? Is it related to the fire five years ago?"

Aunt Zhang's lips quivered, about to speak, but her emotions overwhelmed her, causing her to faint once more.

This couldn't continue. Aunt Zhang had suffered from the poison for too long; she needed to be rushed to the hospital immediately!

Yun Mu helped the unconscious Aunt Zhang to her feet and was just about to leave the abandoned factory.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside, followed by a beam of light.

The dimly lit factory was instantly illuminated.

Huo Jinzhou had arrived.

Behind him came a group of burly bodyguards. With a cold and menacing gaze, he glanced at Yun Mu and smirked. "Yun Mu, you plan on taking my people without even informing me?"

Yun Mu paused, a chill radiating from the corners of her eyes as she glared at Ho Jinzhou.

"Aunt Zhang is a servant of the Yun family. There's no need to inform you."

"Yun Mu, you're truly becoming more intriguing to me. You actually thought of following Huoshan here. But it's useless; I've been prepared for you, lying in wait like a hunter at a rabbit warren."

"Huo Jinzhou, it seems the Second Young Master enjoys being challenged, how peculiar!" Yun Mu looked at him with a cold expression. "Shall I fight my way through, or will you step aside on your own?"

The captivating fox-like eyes of the young maiden shimmered with an enigmatic and chilly radiance, exuding arrogance and dominance as if she considered everyone else beneath her notice.

Truly...

It arouses disgust yet inexplicably draws one's gaze for more than a fleeting moment.

Huo Jinzhou's sword-like brows rose in amusement as he mocked, "Look closely; every one of them is a skilled expert. Do you really think, with your bare hands and a burden in tow, you stand any chance at all?"

Yun Mu's expression remained unchanged.

Huo Jinzhou continued, "However, if you insist on taking Aunt Zhang with you, it's not entirely impossible. But there's a condition."

Yun Mu shot a chilly glance at Huo Jinzhou. "If you're here to ask for a night together, forget it!"

Huo Jinzhou's face darkened, and he said coldly, "Do you really think I'd be interested in an ugly and venomous woman like you?"

Yun Mu looked at Huo Jinzhou with a mocking smile. "Then tell me, what conditions do you have?"

Huo Jinzhou's gaze was shrouded in darkness as he replied, "Put this substance in Hao Tingcheng's food, and I'll agree to let you take Aunt Zhang away."

With that, he threw a delicate medicine bottle towards Yun Mu.

Opening the lid and taking a light sniff, Yun Mu understood its contents.

It was a refined poison, colorless and odorless. Just a single drop was enough to end someone's life.

The victim wouldn't immediately fall ill but would gradually weaken until they perished from a loss of vitality a week later.

This kind of poison was indeed suitable for someone like Hao Tingcheng, who had been plagued by illnesses since childhood. Even if they were to die from poisoning, it would be difficult for others to suspect foul play.

Yun Mu chuckled softly. "You've put effort into finding this poison. But why should I agree to your terms?"

Huo Jinzhou remained unperturbed, his expression radiating confidence.

"I am aware that you were highly reluctant to marry Huo Tingcheng, to the point of attempting to flee the wedding. Should Huo Tingcheng meet his end, you would be free, and whether you choose to stay or leave, I assure you will not be wronged. Furthermore, I have learned of your affair with the CEO of Imperial Duke Group. If I were to divulge this information to Huo Tingcheng and the old master, you wouldn't even know the cause of your own downfall. Therefore, you have no choice in the matter!"

"Who says I have no choice? I choose to refuse!"

Yun Mu's words carried weight and resonance.

Huo Jinzhou's icy gaze narrowed slightly. "What did you say? Yun Mu, don't refuse the toast only to ask for the penalty later!"

Yun Mu's face remained expressionless as she shrugged.

"I gain nothing by killing Hao Tingcheng, and I'd only give you leverage over me. Do you, Huo Jinzhou, truly believe that you're the smartest in this world, capable of controlling everything?"

Yun Mu scoffed inwardly.

He was utterly foolish.

Hao Tingcheng was the CEO of the Imperial Duke Corporation; eliminating her would be as effortless as crushing an ant!

Upon having his hidden intentions exposed by Yun Mu, Huo Jinzhou's expression darkened like still waters.

"It seems we have reached an impasse. You won't be taking Aunt Zhang's life with you!"

"Whether she leaves or not is under my control."

Yun Mu placed Aunt Zhang back on the bed behind her and stretched, ready to face them all.

"Come at me, all of you together!"

Her posture was incredibly arrogant!

Huo Jinzhou sneered. "What I meant is that Aunt Zhang has been poisoned, and the entire Imperial Capital only has me with the antidote. Even if you take her away, it would be futile."