CHAPTER 83: 080 CICADA MOLTING

Early in the morning, Uncle Qin called. The hospital was all set, and the procedures for going abroad were ready. He asked when Yun Ya would leave.

"Wait a little longer." Yun Shen and Yun Shu were about to make their move, and she was planning to slip away. Yun Shen would never dare to announce her death to the public, and she even had an idea how Yun Shen would deceive the outside world with excuses.

She must leave without any worries; otherwise, with the concerns of Yun Shen and Yun Shu left behind, she would not live peacefully abroad.

"Uncle Qin, send two people to protect Miaomiao and me in secret. There might be some incidents happening soon."

Qin Zhuan immediately sensed that something was amiss, "What are you planning to do? Don’t scare Uncle Qin... I really can’t bear the pain of losing you again."

Yun Ya’s eyes briefly warmed as she hooked a tender smile on her lips, gazing out at the clear blue sky.

In this gloomy life, there was finally a bit of warmth left.

"No one cherishes life more than I do, Uncle Qin, rest assured. I still have to treat Miaomiao’s illness and watch him grow up."

So, how could she joke with her own life when no one cherished this hard-won second chance at life more than she did?

——

Days flashed by.

Three days later, at the breakfast table, Yun Shu announced that a banquet would be held the following evening to introduce Kang Jinxian as her goddaughter to the public.

During her days at the Yun Family, Kang Jinxian had been well-behaved and filial, stealthily endearing herself to Yun Shu.

Yun Shen glanced at Kang Jinxian, just as the young girl’s clear eyes looked back at him, as pure as a stream. He subconsciously paused, then gently curled his lips at her.

Kang Jinxian quickly averted her gaze, her heart racing, fingers tightly clutching the hem of her sleeve.

Bai Ran frowned slightly, then her eyes quickly flashed a trace of scorn as she smiled amiably.

"Such a lovely girl. I really like her just by looking at her. You’ll be the star tomorrow night, so make sure to dress up beautifully. After lunch, your sister-in-law will take you shopping for clothes." She turned her head to look at the silent Yun Ya.

"Yun Ya will also go."

Yun Ya nodded in agreement: "Alright."

Seeing this, Yun Shu’s brows furrowed slightly. She privately did not want Ah Xian to get too close to Bai Ran. Although Bai Ran was now her daughter-in-law, deep down, she did not acknowledge it.

But seeing Bai Ran smiling so kindly and affectionately, she couldn’t find the words to refuse.

"Ah Xian, remember to be obedient when you go out, understand?"

Kang Jinxian bowed her head and obediently replied, "I understand, Aunt Yun."

After breakfast, Yun Shen went to work at the company, and Bai Ran led Kang Jinxian and Yun Ya out. Yun Ya was worried about leaving Miaomiao alone at home but thought that Yun Shu had no reason to harm Miaomiao for the time being. So, he instructed Miaomiao to stay in his room and not go anywhere, and he locked the door from the outside before leaving.

Miaomiao was best at staying alone. He was too quiet and well-behaved; there was no need to worry that anything might happen to him by himself.

Bai Ran took the two to the largest shopping mall in the city and entered a well-known domestic children’s clothing chain store.

It was Kang Jinxian’s first time in such a bustling place. The decor was too luxurious, and the clothes were so pretty that she couldn’t take her eyes off them.

Yun Ya glanced indifferently over those clothes, extremely calm by comparison. It made Kang Jinxian look like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, completely out of place.

Bai Ran’s thin lips slightly curled, after all, she came from the countryside, unable to change the rusticity in her bones. When compared to Yun Ya, the true princess, she immediately revealed her true form.

After selecting two pieces of clothing for each of them, Bai Ran led them to the café on the first floor of the mall.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was a plaza teeming with people, and the whole city’s hustle and bustle was in full view. Kang Jinxian felt somewhat panicky, continuously drinking water to cover her embarrassment.

Bai Ran and Yun Ya chatted about some casual topics, to which she listened and felt dizzy, all the while enviously gazing at Yun Ya’s profile.

She had a delicate appearance, a noble air, and an elegant manner of speaking. Despite her young age, she already showed a glimpse of her splendor just sitting there quietly.

She was like a lotus blooming above the clouds, pure, elegant, and exuding fragrance.

As for her, she was like a wild chrysanthemum growing by the roadside, anyone could step on it carelessly.

Her hand, concealed by her sleeve, clenched into a fist instinctively, pressing down the jealousy and bitterness deep in her heart.

The lotus couldn’t withstand a single blow, but the wild chrysanthemum possessed a tenacious vitality.

Soon, the consequence of drinking too much water came. Kang Jinxian didn’t want to say it, but she really couldn’t hold it any longer.

"Sister-in-law, I need to use the restroom."

Bai Ran nodded, "Okay, I’ll take you."

However, Yun Ya stood up first, "I’m quite familiar with this place. Aunt Bai, I’ll take her."

Bai Ran raised an eyebrow, "Okay then. The café is crowded, so be careful."

Yun Ya took the initiative to grab Kang Jinxian’s hand, and Kang Jinxian subconsciously tried to pull away, but the other person held on tightly.

Yun Ya turned and gave her a purely benevolent smile, "Aunt Ah Xian, you must hold my hand tightly, or you’ll get lost and won’t see Grandma anymore. You might even be sold by human traffickers into the deep mountains to become a child bride."

She distinctly saw a flash of malice in the other’s eyes. Kang Jinxian’s heart skipped a beat, and in that moment of distraction, Yun Ya had already pulled her away.

Bai Ran rested her chin in her hand and looked out the window with a preoccupied expression.

"Ranran?" A familiar voice suddenly sounded beside her ear. Bai Ran’s whole body stiffened for a moment, and quickly recovering her smile, she turned her head towards the newcomer.

----

Yun Shu tried to turn the door handle, but the door was unexpectedly locked from the inside.

Huh, they treated her like a thief.

She ordered Ah Huan, "Bring the keys."

Ah Huan quickly fetched the keys and thoughtfully unlocked the door, pushing it open.

This was the first time Yun Shu entered Yun Ya and Yun Miao’s room. It was large, clean, and tidy, not at all like a child’s room.

"Yun Miao?" she called out, then remembered the child was deaf, and immediately curled her lips mockingly; even if she screamed her throat hoarse, the other party wouldn’t hear.

Hearing what seemed like a faint noise coming from the balcony, Yun Shu adjusted her hair and stepped toward the balcony.

A sliver of sunlight refracted in, casting the cold gleam in the bottom of her eyes into even sharper relief.