Sun Ruying had never suffered such pain and grief in her life. She’d long accepted that she could never have her father’s affection and recognition even how much she tried to work hard. In his eyes, there couldn’t be anyone better than Meixiu and Weijun. However, when she gave birth to Qiushan, it was the happiest day of her life.

Her husband, whom she’d learn to love over the years of being together also, cherished their youngest daughter. It was all because she was a sickly child that needed their utmost attention that Qiyan distanced herself slowly from them. Both she and her husband tried to look after both children, but their eldest preferred to be pampered with materialistic lavishness while Qiushan was spoiled with love.

“How could this be? My poor Qiushan, who did this to her?” Sun Ruying almost choked on her own tears. She hadn’t seen her daughter for months and had been running in circles just to find her. Never in her dreams did she think of the possibility of her daughter being dead.

“I told you to talk to Qiyan, but as expected, she didn’t reveal anything to you.” Lu Xinyi buried her hands back inside her side coats, breathing out. Everything was what she’d expected. Knowing her cousin Qiyan, she would try her best to deny her involvement with her sister’s disappearance.

Sun Ruying refused to believe her. She shook her head, trying to convince herself that her niece was a little demon who was trying to get between her and Qiyan.

“Do you know Xi Yunchuan?” Lu Xinyi suddenly asked.

Of course, Sun Ruying knew him. Wasn’t he the eldest son of the CEO of Redux Entertainment? However, what did he have to do with this?

“Qiyan sold Qiushan to him as his mistress. Can you believe it? Your daughter sold her own sister to seal a business deal with a sexual predator. Xi Yunchuan kept Qiushan in a basement in one of his summer residences, raped, and impregnated her. When my people rescued her, it was already too late. She had suffered internal bleeding and was carrying the bastard’s child.”

Remembering how Qiushan suffered in Xi Yunchuan’s hands, Lu Xinyi’s voice trembled. Her body shook not because of the coldness of the winter but because of Xi Yunchuan. Xi Yunchuan and the Sun family didn’t deserve Sun Qiushan.

It was hard for Sun Ruying to believe Lu Xinyi’s words. She had met Xi Yunchuan several times, and she didn’t think he was capable of such things to her daughter. He was an extremely intelligent, charismatic, and talented man. Many people look up to him with respect.

Could she blame her? For someone who hadn’t seen Sun Qiushan in her last moments, they’d never think that a man like Xi Yunchuan can harm her. However, the proof that Sun Qiushan’s body was now buried ten feet below the ground was also an undeniable truth.

“You don’t believe me?” Lu Xinyi chuckled as if she knew what was going on in her aunt’s brain. “I also would’ve believed that you have the audacity to talk bad about my mother when, in truth, her blood stained your hands. Do you now understand? You helped Sun Mingai to hide the truth about my mother’s death, and your eldest daughter killed her sister.”

“Zhang Qing will show you the evidence against Xi Yunchuan and Qiyan later. You may dig her remains and get the body tested if you still choose not to believe that she’s dead with her child. As for your other daughter, don’t blame me in the future… if she continued to plot against me.”

Lu Xinyi turned her back, ready to leave with her bodyguards. Now that she’d done the part of their deal, there’s no point to stay here and watch her aunt. Zhang Qing was left behind, presenting a folder filled with documents and pictures taken from the place where Sun Qiyan handed over her sister to Xi Yunchuan.

As the car drove her back at the Imperial Residence, Lu Xinyi opened the window and inhaled the crisp, cool air. It was starting to snow again. Glittering snowflakes fell soundlessly, taking their time before they reached their destined places of rest, enveloping everything in a calm, silent coldness that was comforting in its own special way.

“Miss…” There was a hint of hesitation on Jiao Jiao’s voice as she called her mistress’s attention. She wanted to ask what Lu Xinyi would like to do next. She didn’t dare ask if Lu Xinyi was alright. Clearly, Lu Xinyi was distraught upon hearing the truth behind her mother’s death.

“Jiao Jiao, if I ask you to kill someone, will you do it for me?” Lu Xinyi’s question caught Jiao Jiao and the Fu siblings off guard. They couldn’t fathom what was going on in her mind. Did she want to seek revenge at Sun Mingai for pushing her mother to her end?

Fu Shuren glanced at Jiao Jiao over the rear-view mirror, telling her to watch her words.

“Miss Lu, if you are worried that Sun Mingai will go after you, you needed not to worry about her. Anyone who dares to kill you will end up dead instead. We will not allow anyone to harm you.” Jiao Jiao played safe. In truth, she also didn’t know how to answer Lu Xinyi truthfully. It was the first time for her and the Bloody Wolves to serve one master.

They never thought that Lu Xinyi would question their loyalty. So far, they had done their best to protect her from danger, apprehending stalkers and paparazzi; making sure that they wouldn’t be able to invade Lu Xinyi’s privacy.

“My mother could have survived if they brought her to the hospital,” Lu Xinyi started. “However, maybe their greed got the best of them and let her die slowly.” It was unbearable for her to imagine the pain her mother had gone through in her last moments.

“If I end up killing them in the future, then I’m no better than the Suns.” She laughed with sarcasm.

“Miss, if you kill someone who intends to kill you, that’s called self-defense. If you think your life is in danger and there’s a threat, would you be willing to get shot without a fight? As for your first question, we’ve handled assassination missions before, but Miss Lu, will you be able to bear the consequences and guilt?” Fu Shuren chimed in.

Lu Xinyi looked away and didn’t utter a single word, not even when they reached the Shen Mansion.

“I didn’t say I want you to kill someone for me. I was merely curious if you’ll hesitate to execute my orders,” she finally said. “However, if things come to worse, I trust that you’ll not turn your backs on me and abandon me.”

“You have my word, Miss Lu.” Fu Shuren promised her loyalty for the second time around.

When Lu Xinyi entered the main house, Xiao Bai was lying on the floor with her two dogs. The twins decided to play with them. The poor white tiger had colorful ribbons on his head which were probably Little Yuyan’s hair ties and clips while the two Akita dogs had capes on their backs as if they were superhero dogs.

The scene instantly filled Lu Xinyi’s heart with warmth. She spent another hour playing with them, forgetting the stressful day she had. She didn’t even realize she dozed off on the couch while waiting for her husband to come home.

Lu Xinyi woke up and heard the twins’ footsteps pattering across the tiled floor towards the front door to welcome Shen Yi. She rubbed her eye and sat up, her sleepiness delaying her brain to register what was happening. It was only after seeing her husband bending down to give the twins a hug, his black coat still covered with snow, did she seem to wake up. She was waiting for him to know the truth about the relationship of her mother to the previous Young Master Shen and the accident.

“Have you been good to Mommy? I hope you didn’t tire her out,” he murmured.

“We’re good! We stayed home and waited for Mommy to come home,” Little Yuyan replied.

“That’s good to hear.” Shen Yi whispered as he stood, his eyes laying on his wife who stood behind the twins with a somber expression. “Xinxin?”

Her feet moved swiftly across the floor and threw her arms around her husband. Her parents had suffered while her husband was hurt. She regretted not knowing anything about it. She buried her face in his shoulder as she sniffled quietly.

“You’re late,” she chastised him.

“I know.” Shen Yi breathed quietly as he buried his nose into her hair. He knew she was seeking him for reassurance after her confrontation with Sun Ruying. “I’m here now. I’m not going anywhere.”