Volume One, Chapter 80: Sent Straight to Cremation

Meng Pei’s face twisted in agony. She tried, trembling, to call out the man’s name, but her abdomen was viciously kicked again. The blow sent her straight into unconsciousness; she felt nothing more.

Yu Mo lifted her gaze toward the newcomer. It was a stranger—his face bore deep concern, especially when he looked at her mother. He was in his forties.

Xiao Lin stared at the man before her. Memories surfaced from the depths of her mind. His face seemed familiar. As the ropes binding her hands were untied, she lifted her hand, wanting to call his name. But in the end, with all strength gone, she too collapsed into darkness.

Yu Mo rushed over and took her mother from the man’s arms.
“Mom, are you alright?”
“We need to get her to the hospital immediately,” the man said, lifting Xiao Lin. He said nothing more.

Yu Mo followed him out of the room. Outside, the two men who had been guarding the door were already lying unconscious on the ground. More than a dozen men, all dressed in black, stood around—they must have come with the man.

Just as they left the villa, a tall figure rushed over. Yu Mo froze. Mu Shaozhou opened his arms and pulled her tightly into his embrace; the worry in his eyes was unmistakable. He had feared he would never see her again.

“Thank goodness you’re safe, Yu Mo.”
Before Yu Mo could break free from his hold, two more men hurried over. Yu Mo looked up.
“Lin Xing, little brother.”

Lin Xing’s hair was slightly tousled, and his eyes betrayed panic—something Yu Mo had never seen in him before. Usually, he was always meticulous, composed, and self-assured.

Behind him was a sports car. The black mark left by the tires skidding to a stop showed just how fast and abruptly he had arrived.

“Yu Mo, are you hurt anywhere?” Lin Xing’s gaze landed on Mu Shaozhou, who was still holding Yu Mo, his hostility evident.

Yu Mo stepped out of Mu Shaozhou’s arms and shook her head at Lin Xing.

Qi Yancheng stepped forward and grabbed Yu Mo’s hand, his expression tense.
“Sis, how’s Mom?”

Yu Mo glanced at her unconscious mother, remembering that it was Meng Pei’s words that had caused her to faint.
“Brother, let’s get Mom to the hospital right now.”

Qi Yancheng took their mother from the man’s arms, casting him a long, searching look.

He hesitated, uncertain.
“Are you… Lu Ran?”

Lu Ran hadn’t expected to be recognized. He lowered his eyes, tacitly acknowledging it. For years, on Yu Hongxuan’s orders, he had secretly protected the Yu family. He hadn’t thought Qi Yancheng would recognize him.

Qi Yancheng placed his mother in his car, and Yu Mo climbed in after him. The car sped toward the hospital.

Lin Xing and Mu Shaozhou exchanged a glance. Mu Shaozhou got into his own car and followed. Lin Xing stayed behind, casting a cursory glance at the villa. He pressed his tongue against his cheek, a hint of displeasure on his face.

He spoke to his men.
“Burn this house down. It’s an eyesore.”

His men obeyed at once. As Lin Xing drove halfway down the mountain, he saw thick black smoke billowing in his rearview mirror.

Anyone who dared lay a hand on his Yu Mo—cremation was the best fate they could hope for.

He tapped on the steering wheel, feeling considerably lighter.

At the hospital, Yu Mo sat by her mother’s bedside and told Qi Yancheng what Meng Pei had said to their mother in the villa.

“Mom already knows who you are. In fact, I think she’s known for a long time—she didn’t look surprised at all. But when Meng Pei talked about abusing you as a child, it really hit her hard. That’s why she fainted. I hope she’ll be better when she wakes up.”

Qi Yancheng pursed his lips.
“It seems we never really hid anything from Mom—she knew everything. I’m sorry. I should have come to save you both the moment Meng Pei made her move.”

Thank goodness Mom and his sister were safe; otherwise, how would he ever face their father when he found him?

Yu Mo shook her head.
“It’s not your fault. It seems Meng Pei was after the password to one of Dad’s safety deposit boxes at the bank. She must have wanted something inside. I don’t think Mom knows what it is either.”
She paused.
“What is Dad’s real identity? What secret is he hiding?”

Qi Yancheng was silent for a moment before speaking.
“The man who saved us, Lu Ran—I saw his file when I was investigating Dad. He was a good friend of Dad’s. But after Dad disappeared all those years ago, why would he suddenly appear here?”

Yu Mo lowered her eyes. This Lu Ran was probably connected to their father’s disappearance or knew why he had vanished.

“He’s gone now?” she asked.

“Yes.”

Yu Mo pushed open the door to the ward. Mu Shaozhou was sitting in the corridor outside. As soon as he saw her, he stood and strode over. Yu Mo wanted to ignore him, but it was hard to do so when such a striking man kept following her.

She stopped and looked at him with obvious annoyance.
“Mu Shaozhou, please stop harassing me.”

Mu Shaozhou froze, hurt flickering in his eyes.
“Harassing?”
He glanced over and saw Lin Xing standing not far away. He clenched his jaw.
“Yu Mo, why did you block me everywhere? Even my number…”
His tone was thick with grievance. In the past, whenever he acted this way, Yu Mo would relent and forgive him.

But this time, Yu Mo’s expression didn’t change at all. She kept walking.

As she passed Lin Xing, he crossed his arms, leaning lazily against the wall, and mocked Mu Shaozhou.

“Mu Shaozhou, you’ve really broadened my horizons. The great crown prince, begging like this. Tsk tsk.”

Mu Shaozhou stopped and replied,
“Don’t think you can take advantage of the situation. Someone like you—she’ll never like you.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

“Both of you, shut up!” Yu Mo suddenly turned and shouted at the two men.

Inside the ward, Xiao Lin slowly regained consciousness. The moment she saw Qi Yancheng, her eyes filled with tears.

“I’m sorry. I failed to protect you. I let you suffer so many years in the Qi family.”

Qi Yancheng helped Xiao Lin sit up. His eyes, so like his mother’s, blinked softly as he spoke.
“Mom, it’s not your fault. My life in the Qi family wasn’t as hard as you think. Qi Weicheng treated me very well—like his own son. Everyone in that family was good to me, except Meng Pei…”

Xiao Lin wiped her tears and hugged her son tightly.

Twenty years. She had finally found her child.

Hongxuan, you’ll be back soon, won’t you?

Qi Yancheng gently dried his mother’s tears, then his eyes flashed.

“Mom, do you remember Lu Ran?”

Xiao Lin thought for a moment and nodded.
“He was your father’s good friend. After your father disappeared, I never saw him again. I don’t know why he suddenly showed up.”

Qi Yancheng looked up, understanding dawning in his eyes.

Just as he had suspected.