CHAPTER 72: 069 WORK UP A COCOON TO TRAP ONESELF

Seeing the news, Kang Jinse threw her phone down in a rage, thinking, "Bai Ran really moves fast."

No, she couldn’t just sit back and wait to die. If Bai Ran truly gained control of public opinion and Yun Shen had to marry her because of the impact, what would become of Kang Jinse then?

After pondering, she called someone’s number.

In Jiangzhou, the Ning Family was like bandits. There’s an adage that the soft are afraid of the hard, the hard fear the ruthless, and the ruthless fear those with nothing to lose. The Nings were exactly like that, not caring about their lives, and no one wanted to invite trouble by provoking them. Hence, people would avoid the Nings whenever possible.

Ning Qinghua, the Boss of the Ning Family, didn’t really run the show. His power was mostly held by his capable daughter, Ning Zijin. So, he lived a life of debauchery and indulgence. Kang Jinse had seen him once at a banquet and had evaded his attempts to flirt with her.

The Nings had a proclivity for debauchery in their bones, especially Ning Qinghua, who took it to the extreme. However, he was said to be incredibly generous with women, who would throw themselves at him even though they knew he easily gave in to their demands.

If Ning Qinghua could deal with Bai Ran, Kang Jinse felt it would be worth it, even if she had to give up something in return.

After weighing the pros and cons, Kang Jinse decided to take the gamble.

Hidden in the bathroom, Kang Jinxian listened as Kang Jinse made the call, her eyes flickering with thought.

——

Uncle Qin called to say that the visa had been processed and she could leave at any time.

However, Yun Ya still needed the right moment; at least for now, it was not the time to leave.

As the news of Bai Ran’s pregnancy flooded the media, the atmosphere at home grew colder. During this time, Kang Jinxian accompanied Kang Jinse to the Ji Family house twice. Kang Jinxian’s obedient and innocent demeanor won Yun Shu’s heart, almost as if she was seen as her own daughter.

Yun Ya watched this with merely a hook of his lip and a cold laugh, as if a scene from his past life was reenacting before him.

Meanwhile, the people tracking Kang Jinse reported that she had secretly met with Ning Qinghua and spent a night at his estate.

What did this prove?

Human nature, always so sordid.

One second they profess their love for you, the next they can hop into bed with another man without hesitation. In the end, it’s all for their own desires. Kang Jinse repeatedly declared her love for Yun Shen, but in truth, she was in love with the power and wealth that the title of Lady Yun would bring her.

She was waiting for these people to entrap themselves.

——

Yun Ya, escorting Yun Miao down the stairs, approached Kang Jinse and Kang Jinxian, who were engaging pleasantly with Yun Shu. The moment Yun Ya appeared, the air fell silent.

Kang Jinxian instinctively lowered her head, anxiously fiddling with the hem of her clothing.

"Grandma, Aunt Jiang, Aunt Ah Xian," Yun Ya greeted them with a smile, her expression sweet and innocent.

Yun Shu’s lips curled slightly, "What’s the occasion?"

"I’m going for the last recording of the show. I might be away for a while this time, Grandma, so try not to miss me too much." Having openly clashed with each other, Yun Ya knew Yun Shu wouldn’t dare do anything to her, frequently managing to infuriate her to the point of turning pale within the confines of what was manageable.

Over time, Yun Shu had raised her self-control to a new level, rendering their usual verbal sparring ineffective at provoking her.

"Oh, take care, it’s not safe outside. Go and come back early," Yun Shu instructed tenderly.

"Thank you for your concern, Grandma. Miaomiao and I will be on our way now, Aunt Jiang, Aunt Ah Xian, goodbye." Yun Ya waved to the two of them, pulling Yun Miao toward the doorway, while outside the estate, a car sent by the show’s crew was waiting for them.

"This girl seems a bit different now," Kang Jinse said seemingly offhandedly.

Yun Shu’s eyes grew colder, and she curled her lips coldly: "People always change."

Kang Jinse narrowed her eyes slightly, smiling as she lowered her gaze.

Ji Yunya, oh Ji Yunya, you’d better pray for good luck. No matter how clever you are, you’re just a powerless little girl. With just a flick of Yun Shu’s fingers, she could snuff you out. Do you really think relying on public opinion will stop Yun Shu from acting against you?

Ridiculous, naive.

----

The final session of the show was recorded in the misty and rainy water towns of Jiangnan.

Grass stretching long, kites flying high, and the beautiful, graceful waterscapes of Jiangnan, like a shy young girl, elegant and gentle, with a light breeze and slanting rain.

From the moment she entered this place, Yun Ya felt a boiling blood within her.

The air here was so familiar, the sky so blue, the streams so clear.

Because this was the place where she had lived for ten years in her previous life.

Yun Ya truly did not expect that, in her lifetime, she would set foot in this place again.

This recording session would last for three days and would be completed in this small village. After the day’s filming ended, Ming Han brought Yun Ya and Yun Miao back to their residence, which was barely better than a cowshed with its drafty windows and uncomfortable beds. Ming Han despised it bitterly, internally cursing the show’s crew and thinking that Yun Ya, a pampered princess, would burst into tears. But once again, Yun Ya subverted his expectations.

The young girl silently made the bed and thoughtfully lit a mosquito coil, knowing that there would be many mosquitoes at night.

Then she took Yun Miao to wash up, without uttering a single complaint. Ming Han thought to himself that his level of maturity and awareness couldn’t match that of a child.

He crouched beside Yun Ya, holding his toothbrush cup, and asked out of curiosity, "Little Yun Ya, if you don’t like staying here, I can request the show’s crew to find you and Yun Miao a different place."

Yun Ya, while brushing her teeth, turned to look at Ming Han and after spitting out the water, said clearly and briskly, "No thanks, I really like it here."

She did truly like it, everything was so familiar; just the thought of it could make her smile in her dreams.

Well, Ming Han felt his question was unnecessary; the brightness and sincerity in the little girl’s eyes left him unable to say another word.

Aren’t children of wealthy families supposed to be pampered and delicate? Why doesn’t Little Yun Ya follow the usual pattern? But he found himself growing fonder of Yun Ya the more time he spent with her.

After everyone else had fallen asleep, Yun Ya opened her eyes. She first looked at Yun Miao sleeping by her side to ensure she was sound asleep, before getting up and getting dressed.

She pushed aside the door curtain and stepped out. In the empty main hall, Ming Han slept on a broken stool, covered with his own clothes. Perhaps feeling cold, he rubbed his arms and mumbled something, then soon his snores resounded one after another.

Because Yun Ya was a girl, to avoid certain sensitive issues, Ming Han had never shared a bed with Yun Ya, even though they were publicly known as father and daughter.

Yun Ya walked past him and headed outside. The stars and moon hung low tonight, reflecting off the lake’s surface, sparkling and beautiful.

She ran swiftly in one direction, the night trailing behind her, the wind passing by her ears, and she kept running steadfastly toward a particular destination.