A resounding slap landed squarely on Yun Xinru’s face. She stared at Yun Zhengfeng in disbelief.
"Grandfather, you hit me?"
She had grown up under his roof, and he had never once spoken a harsh word to her. Yet, today, he had actually struck her for the sake of this impostor?
It wasn't just Yun Xinru; even Yun Yao cast a few extra glances at Yun Zhengfeng. It seemed there was still one clever person in the Yun Family.
Qiao Lan hurriedly stepped forward to pull Yun Xinru into her arms, weeping as she cried out to Yun Zhengfeng, "Dad! Everyone here knows what Yun Yao looks like and what her temperament is. Aside from a superficial resemblance, how can this person sitting here possibly be Yun Yao?"
She turned to look at Yun Jianghai. "Jianghai, say something! Is she really Yun Yao or not?"
Yun Jianghai had already grasped the implication behind Qiao Lan’s words and rushed to chime in, "She isn't! She is not Yun Yao!"
Even Yun Yao herself felt tempted to laugh at the performance, yet Yun Zhengfeng insisted with absolute conviction that she was indeed Yun Yao.
"Enough! If anyone refuses to acknowledge Xiao Yao, they can get out of this house right now!" He then turned to look at Yun Yao. "Xiao Yao, come with me, Grandfather has something to say to you."
Yun Zhengfeng pulled Yun Yao toward the stairs, leaving the Yun Jianghai family staring at each other in bewilderment.
Inside the study, Yun Yao sat directly in the head seat, her posture languid. "Grandfather, you can speak now."
Yun Zhengfeng closed the door, and when he turned back, his face was already streaming with tears. He looked at Yun Yao with a mixture of sorrow, relief, and caution. After a long silence, he bowed to her.
"Young lady, I beg you to save the Yun Family."
A glimmer of intrigue sparked in Yun Yao’s eyes. "Grandfather, what are you saying? I don't quite understand."
Yun Zhengfeng wiped his tears and personally poured a cup of tea for Yun Yao. "Young lady, to tell you the truth, my father was one of the few diviners in this circle. Before he passed away, he cast a divination for me."
"He said that when I turned seventy, the Yun Family would face a great catastrophe."
"If a noble soul could be found to resolve it, the descendants of the Yun Family would remain safe. Otherwise, the family would be ruined and scattered."
Hearing this, Yun Yao stopped pretending. She picked up the teacup and took a light sip. "What you describe is nothing more than the rambling delusions of a dying man."
Yun Zhengfeng shook his head. "I thought the same at first, until a while ago, when I discovered evidence that my second son was embezzling funds from the company."
"He brought his own destruction upon himself; I could not save him. But shortly after, my eldest son’s family was involved in an inexplicable car accident."
"Now, my seventieth birthday is approaching. This time, I dare not gamble. I have sought solutions everywhere, but to no avail. That was when I remembered my father’s words."
Yun Yao lowered her eyes, her tone indifferent. "What words?"
"To reverse life and death, but the person is no longer the one you knew."
Yun Zhengfeng bowed to her again. "Please, young lady, save my Yun Family."
Yun Yao rested her chin on her hand, looking languid. "How can you be so certain that I am the 'noble soul' your father spoke of?"
Yun Zhengfeng sighed, his eyes filled with grief. "What my second son’s family said is true. Xiao Yao has been a vegetative patient for years; she was already at the end of her rope. As her grandfather, I know better than anyone whether she could wake up, or how much longer she had."
"She could never have woken up."
At this, Yun Zhengfeng couldn't help but clutch his chest. "Yet, here you are, standing before me, vibrant and alive. You show no signs of a long-term illness. Five years as a vegetable, as if it were all just a dream!"
"Is it possible? Of course not! The only explanation is that Xiao Yao is already dead, and you, young lady, have taken her identity."
"To reverse life and death, the person is no longer the one known—does that not describe you perfectly?"
Yun Yao loved dealing with intelligent people. She stood up, her expression calm. "I am Yun Yao, and yet I am not Yun Yao. You are right; your granddaughter is indeed dead. But this body is still hers."
Yun Zhengfeng froze, a prickling sensation creeping up his scalp. "You… are you a ghost?"
Yun Yao was incensed. "A ghost? I am not such a low-level thing! I am…" She paused for a second. "I am the ancestor of humanity."
"Forget it. Why bother telling you this? I can ensure the Yun Family does not decline for generations, but I have one condition."
Yun Zhengfeng took a long moment to steady his racing thoughts. "As long as it is within my power, young lady, feel free to speak."
Yun Yao considered carefully. "In this world, effort and reward are proportional. The Yun Family is destined for ruin; protecting you is equivalent to defying the heavens and changing destiny. I must bear a great deal of karma."
"Therefore, the entire Yun Family must hold me in the highest esteem. Furthermore, changing a tragic fate does not mean everyone in the Yun Family will be content with the status quo. Do you understand?"
Yun Zhengfeng felt a formidable pressure emanating from Yun Yao, and tiny beads of sweat broke out on his forehead. "I understand. My Yun Family is willing to honor you above all others."
Yun Yao was quite satisfied with Yun Zhengfeng’s compliance. He was intelligent and knew when to keep his mouth shut, making him the perfect shield for this lifetime.
"Don't you want to ask what ability I have to take on such a mess?"
Yun Zhengfeng added more tea to her cup. "If you hire someone, you trust them. If you doubt them, you don't hire them."
"Whether you have true power, time will tell everything." Yun Zhengfeng’s eyes welled with tears. "Even if the result is not as desired, being able to see Xiao Yao alive and by my side is enough to satisfy me."
When Yun Yao came downstairs, the Yun Jianghai family had already left; they had likely gone to investigate her true identity. However, it mattered little.
"We have plenty of time."
As she stepped out of the Yun residence, the car sent by Luohong was already waiting. The driver’s attitude was extremely cautious.
"Miss Yun, I am the bodyguard and driver arranged for you by Mr. Luo. May I ask where you would like to go?"
Yun Yao settled into the seat and massaged her temples. "Where does Su Yuchen work?"
Before coming, the driver had undergone months of professional training and knew everything about Yun Yao. This was an unspoken agreement between Luohong and Yun Yao in every lifetime. Luohong’s identity was in the public eye, preventing him from doing certain things himself, and Yun Yao was accustomed to being served; she couldn't function without a trusted aide.
"Mr. Su works at Shengshi International. He is a puppet installed by the Su Family."
Yun Yao: "..." A puppet? That man had unfathomable depths; he was a cold, calculating, and ruthless character! Only outsiders would think he was a mere puppet.
"Go to Shengshi International."
...
Chen Dong looked at Yun Yao, who had appeared out of thin air, with utter disbelief. This was... the Young Madam? Why did she seem different?
Wait! "How did you get up here?"
The elevator behind her hadn't even moved!
Yun Yao didn't spare Chen Dong a single glance and walked straight toward Su Yuchen's office.
"Young Madam, you cannot go in there!"
Yun Yao looked at Chen Dong, who was blocking her path, and smiled faintly. Yun Yao’s beauty was transcendent, her eyes holding seven parts arrogance and three parts allure—a sight impossible to forget. Chen Dong was momentarily dazed, and by the time he regained his senses, Yun Yao’s figure had already vanished.
Oh no!
Chen Dong rushed toward the office, only to witness a scene that chilled him to the core. He saw Yun Yao simply lift a hand, and the office door clicked shut. No matter how hard he pushed, it wouldn't budge. Chen Dong stood there, stunned.
"Am... am I seeing a ghost?"
Inside the office, Su Yuchen watched the woman before him with cold eyes.
"Looking for death?"
Yun Yao rested her hands on the desk and leaned in slightly.
"Not looking for death, looking for you."
Her eyes were clear and sincere, and a faint smile played on her lips.
"Su Yuchen, I want to be your legal wife. So, shall we go get our marriage certificate?"