Chapter 435: I Stopped Hating You Long Ago

Chapter 435: I Stopped Hating You Long Ago

"No one stays the same forever. Haven’t you changed at all?" Yun Mu shouted.

"I haven't!"

Yun Mu felt like she was talking to a brick wall, completely pointless!

She had always thought that over the years, both she and Yunzhe, after serving as Si Nanjue in the capital, would have changed. Yet, she never expected him to remain the same stubborn, unyielding person, turning himself into a machine solely for the sake of the Yun family!

She waved her hand at Yunzhe, not wanting to waste any more words. "Fine, I don't want to argue with you about this anymore. Let's get back to the point. Besides erasing Yi Jue's memories, what else have you done? Was Liu Ling also your doing?"

Yunzhe lowered his gaze, composing himself. "Liu Ling was just a nudge in the right direction, to take your place by Yi Jue's side."

Damn it!

Yun Mu's hand was already on the dagger at her waist, ready to fight him to the bitter end at any moment.

But when she saw the depth in his eyes, hiding countless emotions—or maybe nothing at all, just emptiness—she held back.

Yunzhe used to be a child who could smile, who wanted to be close to her and be her friend.

It was the old family head, this cold Yun family, that made him this way.

In the end, it was the Yun family that failed him.

Yun Mu closed her eyes, and finally, her hand dropped weakly from her waist.

She said softly, "Yunzhe, you don’t owe me any sense of duty. The reason my father brought you back was not to have you compete for my position, but to use you to shape me, right?"

Yunzhe's eyes narrowed suddenly. His handsome face, usually calm even in anger, finally stiffened as he stared at Yun Mu in shock.

"When did you find out?"

"After I came back from the dead," Yun Mu said, looking at him. "I was too young, too ambitious, and I always saw you as my mortal enemy, so I didn’t understand my father’s intentions. After dying once, I’ve gained a clearer perspective. Looking back, although you took away many things I cherished, I also learned and gained more through you. You were my sharpening tool, the best assistant my father cultivated for me..."

"There’s more to it," Yunzhe suddenly interjected.

Yun Mu looked up, puzzled.

He stared at her and said, "Your father also said that once you became the head of the Yun family, I would become your husband."

Yun Mu’s mouth twitched, her voice suddenly dry. "That... that’s really not necessary!"

What the hell!

Is this a tradition of the Yun family?

Do they all like to groom their own? It’s said her mother was also raised in the Yun family from a young age and then married her father as soon as she came of age. What kind of rule is that?

Yun Mu coughed lightly and continued, "What I mean is, that old man is dead, right? So most of what he said doesn’t matter anymore. You’re not just a stepping stone for my rise. You’re your own person, and you should have your own life."

At this point, Yun Mu's expression became serious.

"Yunzhe, if you still want to stay in the Yun family, the position of head is yours. Of course, if you want to leave this life behind, I won’t stop you. The choice is yours."

Yunzhe stayed silent for a long time, his lips curving slightly into a cold smile under the light.

"So, I erased Yi Jue's memories, almost making you miss each other, and you don't hate me?" Yun Mu said calmly, "I stopped hating you a long time ago."

Yunzhe's jaw tightened suddenly, and he sneered coldly, "Don't hate? Ha! As if!"

Yun Mu couldn't quite understand his odd look now.

What was he getting at? She rarely let go of grudges so easily, and here Yunzhe wasn’t just ungrateful—he was laughing in that weird way?

But she’d never been able to figure Yunzhe out, so she didn’t press further. "Think it over carefully. Whatever you decide, I’ll respect it."

After speaking, she glanced at the vial on the table and then turned to leave.

Yunzhe reached out as if to stop her, but his fingertips barely grazed the edge of her sleeve. In the end, he watched her back disappear into the study.

Yun Mu, I’d rather you hated me.

...

When Yun Mu returned to her little house, she found Yi Jue sitting in her yard, cradling an even rounder Yuan Gun Gun.

The moment she stepped in, Yuan Gun Gun wriggled free from Yi Jue’s arms and leaped into Yun Mu’s. Yun Mu stroked its back a few times, and it nestled contentedly in her arms, looking docile.

Yun Mu looked up at Yi Jue, "Why’d you bring it here? I thought you didn’t like holding it before."

"What could I do? It missed you."

Yun Mu narrowed her eyes, "So Yuan Gun Gun missed me, but you didn’t, huh?"

Yi Jue stepped closer, wrapping an arm around her slender waist and pulling her in. His voice dropped to a husky whisper, "Of course I missed you. Day and night, I’ve been thinking about how to make you mine sooner."

Yun Mu squirmed, "Aunt Gu’s here—let go!"

Yi Jue smirked but let her go, leaning in to whisper, "I remember you said that night that if I did well, I could marry you."

Yun Mu tilted her head, "I did say that, didn’t I?"

"Then..."

"But your performance that night? Just average."

Yi Jue’s eyes went cold, and a frosty aura seemed to envelop him. He thought he had misheard.

"What did you say?"

Yun Mu repeated, "I said your performance was just average."

Yi Jue’s anger erupted like a volcano, sparks flying in all directions. All he wanted now was to grab her, pin her to the bed, and make her admit just how good he was!

Yun Mu could feel his dark, murderous mood. She spoke up, "But since I haven’t been with anyone else, I guess I’ll make do."

"Make do?" Yi Jue barked a laugh, glaring at her, "Then don’t you dare beg for mercy tonight!"

Yun Mu flashed a bright smile, cradling Yuan Gun Gun as she stepped closer to Yi Jue. She then leaned her red lips to his ear and whispered, "Tonight, I’ll trouble Yi Jue to go back and sleep alone."

"That's impossible. Come with me, or I'm not leaving." The man's eyes gleamed with a fierce light, his intentions all too obvious.

Delivering himself from afar!

However...

Yun Mu said with a soft breath, "What a coincidence, my period just started and isn't going away. Yi Jue, still feeling up for it?"

Her period?!

Yi Jue's face quickly darkened, clenching his teeth and glaring at the woman with a sly smile.

She had gotten him all worked up, only to drop the bomb that she was on her period!

Just then, Granny Gu stood at the door and reminded, "Master, it's getting late."

Yun Mu waved Yi Jue off, "You can head back now, I'll take the cat."

Then she bounced into the house with the chubby, bouncy cat in her arms.

For a moment, Yi Jue couldn't help but envy that silly cat.