Chapter 399: A Collaboration from Twenty Years Ago

Chapter 399: A Collaboration from Twenty Years Ago

Yi Jue furrowed his handsome, arched brows and squinted. "Yun Mu, you’re not thinking of going back on your word and shirking your responsibility, are you?"

Yun Mu had almost forgotten about it. She couldn’t believe this man actually took her casual remark seriously. She highly doubted he was truly incapacitated by her kick. She had only agreed to treat his injury as a way to pacify him.

Did this guy really take me seriously?

Looking at him, Yun Mu said, "I’ve thought about it, and I’m really not an expert in treating that kind of injury. But don’t worry, Yun Mu never shirks her responsibilities. Even if I’m not capable, Yunzhe is. He has expertise in various difficult and complicated illnesses. How about I ask him to come over tomorrow to take a look?"

What?

Yi Jue slammed his fist onto the sofa, his thin lips pressing into a straight line. "You want a man to treat my injury there? What were you thinking? If you’re responsible, you either treat it yourself or marry me as compensation! You pick one!"

Furious, Yun Mu threw a pillow at him, which he didn’t dodge. The pillow fell from his face, and he casually caught it.

"I must be crazy to waste time talking to you at this hour! Treat it if you want, if not, fine. It’s not my Yun family that will be left without heirs!"

With that, she snatched her car keys and stormed out.

Yi Jue quickly grabbed her wrist. "We were just joking, why are you getting so mad? It’s late, where are you going?"

"Home."

"What home? There’s no room for you upstairs. Stay here tonight, I promise I won’t bother you."

Yun Mu had indeed been exhausted after a long flight and dealing with his issue. Seeing his sincere attitude, she decided to take the offer. "You know you’re annoying."

She lightly chuckled and turned to head upstairs, returning to the familiar room. It felt like she was back in her own cloud-filled home.

Yi Jue watched her walk away and smirked.

It seemed that after not seeing her for a few days, her attitude toward him had improved significantly.

…

Meanwhile, at the Xuanyuan family.

At the moment Yi Jue drove away, Li Moran felt the air around the Xuanyuan family freshen, instantly lifting her mood. She poured herself a glass of red wine, enjoying the evening breeze and humming a tune.

Xuanyuan Xue emerged from the shadows and, seeing Li Moran like this, felt a sense of unfamiliarity. She called out softly, "Mommy…"

Li Moran was momentarily stunned by her daughter’s appearance but quickly returned to her usual self. "Xue, why are you not asleep so late? Your body needs more rest."

"I came because I heard big brother’s voice. Mommy, was what you said to big brother just now true?"

Li Moran’s eyes turned cold. "You overheard?"

Xuanyuan Xue clenched the hem of her dress. "Yes, was it true about big brother’s mother and father…?"

Li Moran’s expression turned icy as she scolded, "This isn’t your concern!"

Xuanyuan Xue had never been rebuked so fiercely by her mother before and took a step back, wide-eyed and trembling.

Realizing her emotions had gotten the better of her, Li Moran calmed herself and gently patted Xuanyuan Xue’s shoulder. "Xue, don’t concern yourself with these matters. Just focus on getting better."

Xuanyuan Xue wasn't a naive or sheltered young lady. She sensed keenly that the true purpose of her mother's return this time might indeed be far from simple.

She hesitated, then said, "Mother, I've witnessed the methods of Eldest Brother. You won't stand a chance against him. Please, don't get involved in this any further..."

"I said, this is none of your concern!"

Li Moran’s patience snapped, and she raised her voice to order a servant to escort Xuanyuan Xue back to her room. She then left, holding her glass of red wine.

As soon as she returned to her room, her phone rang.

Li Moran glanced at the caller ID, locked the door, and answered the phone with a gentle voice, "What is it so late at night?"

The low, magnetic voice of a middle-aged man came through the line, "You're back at the Xuanyuan estate?"

Li Moran twirled the wine glass in her fingers, guessing the purpose of the call. She walked slowly to the sofa, sat down, sipped her wine, and said, "Yes, since you couldn't bring that bastard back to the Yi family, I had to come back myself to chase him away."

"I've warned you that Yi Jue is not a pup that can be manipulated. He's a wild wolf that's hard to tame! By acting so rashly, aren't you afraid that the events of the past will be exposed and he'll turn on you?"

Li Moran smiled silently. This Yi Hou was as indecisive and hypocritical as ever.

She spoke leisurely, "If I don't act now, the Xuanyuan family will be swallowed whole by him! It's easy for you to stay calm when it's not your problem, but shouldn't you be worried?"

"How can I not be worried? But I've told you, Yi Jue is still useful to me!" Yi Hou's tone turned cold.

Li Moran scoffed, "All you want is the antidote to the blood disorder. The antidote is with the Yun family, not in Yi Jue's hands. Why are you so focused on him?"

"There's something you might not know. The head of the Yun family from the Southern Ming Continent, Yun Mu, is the same Yun family head who married Yi Jue in the capital! That's why I'm keeping an eye on Yi Jue."

Li Moran sat up straight instantly, "What?"

Yi Hou enunciated each word, "Yun Mu from the Southern Ming Continent is the same Yun Mu from the capital! It was not Yunzhe who developed the antidote, but Yun Mu."

Li Moran was deeply shaken.

She had thought it was just a coincidence of names. But now...

If the Yun Mu from the capital was indeed the head of the Yun family, then would Yun Mu already know about what she and Liu Ling had plotted during her previous visit to the capital?

A cold light spread in Li Moran's eyes, "I understand. I'll proceed with caution. If Yi Jue confronts you, make sure you don't slip up."

Yi Hou understood.

It had been over twenty years, and Yi Hou had originally thought that with Yi Qinglan's death and the passage of time, everything would be buried forever. But now, Li Moran had stirred the pot.

He couldn't imagine what would happen if Yi Jue uncovered everything from back then. What kind of consequences would he face?

But at the time, he had no choice but to conspire with Li Moran!

He was the eldest son of the Yi family, and the entire Yi family should have belonged to him.

So even if Li Moran didn't say it, he would perfectly cover up the events of the past to ensure Yi Jue found nothing.

He answered calmly, "I understand. But I must remind you, it's best not to provoke Yi Jue lightly."

Though Li Moran felt disdain, her voice remained gentle, "Don't worry, we've been partners for many years, and we are perfectly in sync. Good night."

On the other end, Yi Hou clenched his teeth tightly, seemingly struggling to suppress the urge to smash his phone.

After a long pause, he set the phone down.

Meanwhile, Li Moran gazed into the night outside, lost in thought.

Yun Mu, Yi Jue?

How could she break the unbreakable bond between them? How could she turn the tables and gain the upper hand?