Chapter 436: Yun Mu’s Hair Loss

Chapter 436: Yun Mu's Hair Loss

For some reason, Granny Gu never seemed to like Yi Jue much.

After seeing Yi Jue leave, she slammed the courtyard gate shut with a loud "bang—" and couldn't help but mutter to Yun Mu.

"Head of the Yun family, I know you like Yi Jue, but he's too unruly, just barging in like that. Your marriage isn’t even close to being settled!"

Yun Mu thought to herself, there's actually been a lot more than that settled. They've already gone through both a marriage certificate and a divorce certificate once.

But she didn’t dare tell Granny, afraid it would shock her.

"Granny, it’s late—you should get some rest."

"You should get some rest too, Head of the family." Granny knew Yun Mu didn't like her nagging, so she didn't say much more. She picked up Yun Mu's discarded coat and walked out.

Halfway there, Granny exclaimed in surprise, "Head of the family, why is there so much hair on your coat?"

Hair loss?

Yun Mu glanced at the coat in Granny's hands and saw that the back was indeed covered with strands of hair.

But she didn't pay much attention, saying, "I’ve probably been spending too much time in the lab and not resting enough."

Granny started nagging again, "I’ve told you before, the lab isn’t a place for a girl. There are so many harmful substances there, and you spend over ten hours a day in it. Look at you—you’ve even got dark circles now!"

Yun Mu laughed, "I know, I know. Starting tomorrow, I’ll cut back on lab time, okay?"

"That’s better."

Yun Mu lingered a bit longer before slipping off to take a shower.

But as she dried her hair in front of the mirror, her movements suddenly froze.

She spread out the white towel, which was now covered with hair. She reached up and grabbed a handful of hair from her head, pulling out a large clump.

Damn, at this rate, I’m going to go bald!

She looked in the mirror again and noticed not just dark circles but also fine lines at the corners of her eyes.

Now Yun Mu was really panicking.

Her face was her fortune! She was counting on it to make a living after stepping down as the head of the Yun family!

It must be from all the time in the lab and staying up too late! It has to be!

She quickly dried her hair with a blow dryer, turned off her phone, and went straight to bed.

...

Meanwhile, in a basement in Wu City in the Southern Ming Continent.

In a dark, damp corner, Liu Ling was tied up, covered in filth and wounds, curled into a shivering ball.

The Southern Ming Continent was naturally cold, with even summer temperatures staying low. Wu City was even colder year-round.

After losing a lot of blood and going days without food or water, Liu Ling’s lips were blue from the cold, and she could barely keep her eyes open.

"Water… please…"

She mumbled.

Finally, someone brought her a bowl of water, and she eagerly bent forward to gulp it down.

The warm water finally brought back some of her strength and clarity.

Just then, she heard the sharp click of high heels on the floor.

A subtle scent drifted in, and she knew who had arrived without even looking up.

It was indeed the one who had kidnapped her.

This time, she really wanted to get away.

The medicine Yunzhe had given her was enough to prevent her illness for a year, and the money Li Moran had provided was sufficient for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life. She really wanted to leave and stay under the radar until Yun Mu developed the antidote.

But she never expected that upon arriving in Wu City to catch a connecting international flight, she would be kidnapped at the airport.

Then, she was locked up in this place.

She tried to escape, but was met with a brutal beating and endured three days and nights of starvation and cold.

Now, her willpower was at its breaking point.

Yi Yanran had anticipated this, which is why she chose to show up now.

She cast a disdainful glance at the disheveled Liu Ling and sneered, "You must have been thrilled to hear that I was forced to marry that idiot Xuanyuan Xun, weren't you?"

Liu Ling shook her head weakly.

Yi Yanran continued, "At first, I suspected Yun Mu had set me up, considering our past conflicts. But when your foster mother, Liu Yan, told me you had run off with all the family's money and that you had visited the Xuanyuan family late at night to meet Li Moran before vanishing, I realized I was mistaken."

"Liu Ling, I never saw this coming! Truly, the quiet ones are the most dangerous. Who would have thought a meek little thing like you could turn into a venomous snake and strike back!"

Liu Ling knew arguing would be pointless. She mustered all her strength to struggle, trying to inch closer to Yi Yanran.

"I... I was wrong, Miss... Please, spare my life, I beg you..."

Yi Yanran burst out laughing as if she had just heard the funniest joke, "Spare you? Have you lost your mind? I went through all this trouble to capture you, and I never planned to let you leave alive!"

Liu Ling pleaded desperately, "No... please, let me go, I can tell you a secret!"

Yi Yanran naturally didn't believe her, "In your condition, you still think you can fool me? Liu Ling, you ruined me! You made it impossible for me to live peacefully, so I'll make sure you can't live either!"

Terrified, Liu Ling blurted out, "I really know a big secret! About Yun Mu!"

Yun Mu's secret? Yi Yanran narrowed her eyes, staying silent.

Liu Ling continued, "You can investigate a place called the Imperial Capital. There, Yi Jue married a lady from the Yun family of the Imperial Capital. Although they share the same name, they are completely different people!"

"What do you mean? What two people?"

"Do you believe in resurrection and possession?" Liu Ling asked.

"Of course not!" Yi Yanran kicked Liu Ling's body, causing her to cry out in pain, a hint of blood rising in her throat. But Liu Ling gritted her teeth and persisted, "I don't believe it either! So there must be one person impersonating the other! You can uncover Yun Mu's true identity and see who she really is!"

"Then who do you think she is?"

Liu Ling smiled eerily, "Is it possible for someone who's been dead for over a year to suddenly return to life? But true or not, if you use this to threaten Yi Jue—who loves Yun Mu deeply—he'll surely help you escape Xuanyuan Xun to keep Yun Mu's secret safe!"

Yi Yanran froze, seemingly swayed by Liu Ling's words.

"Are you certain Yun Mu's identity is in question?" Yi Yanran scrutinized her.

Liu Ling insisted, "Absolutely! If you doubt me, just lift Yun Mu's veil and see for yourself!"

"Why would you spill such a huge secret to me?" Yi Yanran asked suspiciously.

"My fate rests in your hands."

Yi Yanran laughed lightly, "True enough!"

Liu Ling's fingers, clenched on the ground, tightened as she stared hard at Yi Yanran.

Yi Yanran, if you dare use this secret against Yi Jue, I swear you'll die without a grave!

She knew Yi Jue all too well—his methods were merciless.

He trusts only the dead to keep their silence!