Chapter 227 Threatened

Chapter 227 Threatened

When Yun Shuiyao woke up, she found herself in an unfamiliar room.

She sprang up and checked her body, finding herself unharmed. Her heart pounding, she scanned the room around her.

"Click—"

The sound of a lighter igniting a cigarette.

Beside an antique screen, a man in a black trench coat exhaled a smoke ring, seemingly having waited for a long time. He lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over Yun Shuiyao.

"Miss Yun Shuiyao, right?"

Seeing the man's imposing presence and cold smile, she recognized him as the master mentioned by the man who had knocked her out.

She took a deep breath to maintain her composure. "Who are you? Why did you bring me here?"

Smoke curled around the man's fingers as his eyes fixed on her. He smiled. "Miss Yun, there's no need to be nervous. I merely need your help."

Hearing this, Yun Shuiyao's tension eased slightly.

"You seem like a powerful person. How could I possibly help you? You've got the wrong person."

The man's smile remained unchanged.

"Since I've come to you, it means you can help. And... no one else will do."

"Speak plainly."

The man pulled out a photo and got straight to the point. "I want this jade pendant."

Yun Shuiyao's gaze flicked over the photo, her heart leaping into her throat. She took a deep breath. "Impossible!"

As she spoke, the sound of a gun being cocked rang out in her ears.

Immediately, a dark muzzle was pressed against her temple.

Yun Shuiyao's body trembled violently, fear overwhelming her. "Killing me won't help. I can't give you the jade pendant!"

"You can't give it to me because it's not in your possession! The token and passphrase from END were all stolen by you!"

Yun Shuiyao was shocked once again.

"How do you know? Did Yun Mu tell you? Is Yun Mu sending you to threaten me into giving up the jade pendant?"

"Don't worry; I'm not associated with Yun Mu," the man reassured her. "If you hand over the jade pendant, I can guarantee that END will never pursue your secret again."

Because he would take full control of END.

Yun Shuiyao sneered. "The jade pendant is not with me."

"But you know who has it, don't you? I don't care how you get it, but I must have that jade pendant!" the man insisted.

The jade pendant should be in Huo Tingying's possession.

But getting it from Huo Tingying was impossible!

Moreover, Yun Shuiyao knew what the jade pendant represented. Who knew if this man would silence her after obtaining it?

Just as she was about to refuse, the man's voice turned low and menacing.

"Think carefully before you answer. I have a short temper, and if I don't get the jade pendant, the next time someone comes for you, it will be END."

His lips curled into a chilling smile. "If they find out you're a fraud, do you think they'll let you die easily?"

Yun Shuiyao gritted her teeth and clenched her fists tightly.

She had no choice but to comply!

After a moment, she regained her composure.

"I can help you get the jade pendant, but I have a question."

The man gestured for her to speak.

"Is the current Yun Mu real or fake?"

The man's brow twitched.

His smile faded slightly. "This Yun Mu is not the same as the other Yun Mu."

Yun Shuiyao's pupils dilated. After a moment, she burst into mocking laughter. "I knew it! I knew it!"

How could a fool suddenly become so smart and skilled?

A dead man who fell into the snowy mountains couldn't possibly be alive!

...

In the living room.

Huo Tingying descended the stairs after finishing his call, seeing Yun Mu sitting on the sofa, lost in thought with a cup of water.

"What are you thinking about?"

Yun Mu put down the cup, refocusing. "I was wondering what schemes Yun Shuiyao, Huo Mingying, and Huo Jinzhou might be concocting together."

"A bunch of fools together are still just fools. Are you afraid you can't outplay them?"

"Words may be so, but it's easy to dodge an open attack and hard to guard against hidden arrows."

What she truly worried about was whether Huo Tingying was really part of the Huo family, and how she should bring up the topic with him.

Huo Tingying noticed the conflict in the little woman's eyes. He walked over, took her hand, and led her towards the dining room.

"Those three are nothing to fear. I didn't eat much at tonight's banquet, so I had the servants prepare some late-night snacks."

Yun Mu felt a slight relief, a faint smile on her face as he led her to sit beside the table filled with dishes she loved.

"You didn't eat either; let's try them together."

She placed a piece of meat on his plate.

He had just finished work, still carrying a stern demeanor. He picked up the meat from his bowl, tasted it, and nodded, "It's good."

Yun Mu watched him intently.

"Just now, Ji Ming sent a text. The herbs I cultivated according to your mother's recorded method were very successful and made a fortune at the auction house."

"Then congratulations, Mrs. Huo is truly excellent."

"The one who's excellent is your mother. With her talent, there must have been many men chasing after her back in the capital, why did she end up with your father, that scoundrel?"

Huo Tingying's chopsticks paused slightly, and he frowned.

Yun Mu took a breath and quickly said, "I didn't mean to insult your father. I meant your mother deserves better..."

"It's fine. Calling him a scoundrel is putting it mildly."

Seeing that he wasn't bothered, she continued to serve him food, but inside, she was sweating. She probed further.

"Did your mother have any friends in the capital back then?" Seeing Huo Tingying's gaze turn towards her, she added, "I admire your mother's medical expertise and want to learn more about her."

This little woman could lie without batting an eyelid.

Huo Tingying's eyes narrowed, and he raised an eyebrow.

"If you want to learn more about her, you can go see for yourself."

He took out a key, the same one the old maid in the villa wanted to give Yun Mu, which could unlock the belongings of Huo Tingying's mother.

Huo Tingying's brow furrowed, "Why, do you still think we're contract spouses and refuse to accept it?"

"Accept it! Why not?"

Not only was the medical knowledge inside invaluable, but perhaps she could find clues about Huo Tingying's true identity.

Yun Mu grabbed the key and started drinking soup from a bowl.

Having just taken a bath, her long hair was loosely braided, and her fair, radiant face gleamed under the light.

Her swan-like neck tilted as she drank the soup, adding a touch of childishness to her actions.

He smiled slightly and served her more food, "Eat slowly."

She hastily ate a few bites, "I'm full. Didn't we move your mother's box here last time? I'll go open it now."

So eager?

"It's in the last room at the end of the corridor on the second floor."

Yun Mu immediately put down her utensils and hurried upstairs in her slippers.

The man watched her back, his gaze deepening, his thoughts drifting away.