"Alright, bring my things in," Kang Jinse said to someone outside the door. Soon after, a woman in her twenties with braided hair came in, pulling a trolley suitcase with her left hand and carrying a bag with her right.
The woman was thin, wearing a pair of black-framed glasses, and looked plain and obedient.
Ji Yunya watched the woman, the smile on his lips growing purer.
Su Ye felt a gaze on her and looked up to see a doll-like beautiful girl watching her with a pair of clean and bright eyes. Although the gaze seemed pure, there was an unsettling calmness and mockery in it that didn't match her young age, causing Su Ye to freeze for a moment.
This girl must be the Ji Family's little princess, the so-called prodigy Ji Yunya. Despite her young age, she indeed seemed extraordinary.
Yun Ya quickly shifted his gaze. Su Ye, Kang Jinse's personal assistant and the person she trusted the most—Kang Jinse still didn't know at this point that this seemingly obedient and clever assistant would one day stab her in the back ruthlessly.
As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. This Su Ye might be useful to manipulate.
"Hmm, Aye, take my stuff up to my room," Kang Jinse commanded with the air of a lady of the house.
"Yes," Su Ye answered, her hands lifting the luggage effortlessly as she climbed the stairs. She didn't need Kang Jinse to specifically instruct her and went straight into Yun Shen's bedroom, which had previously belonged to Yun Shen and Ji Lanyi. Kang Jinse was making herself right at home.
Kang Jinse glanced at Yun Miao, who was quietly and obediently eating her meal, a hint of contempt flashing in her eyes. A mute and deaf child, and on top of that, mentally challenged—what's the point of this child being alive?
But Ji Lanyi really could bear children. Although these two were twins, the difference between them was staggering. One was clever and lively, the other mentally challenged and mute, practically invisible. Apart from their looks, they were as different as heaven and earth.
Yun Ya walked over to Kang Jinse holding Yun Miao's hand, "Aunt Jiang, this is Miaomiao. He's very obedient and well-behaved."
Kang Jinse glanced at the quiet boy standing beside Yun Ya. The boy was indeed pretty, especially his eyes, which were unforgettable, but he was far too quiet and also mentally challenged and mute. Impatience crossed Kang Jinse's eyes, but she smiled and patted Yun Miao's head, "What a well-behaved and pretty child."
Yun Miao flinched and moved closer to Yun Ya, causing Kang Jinse's gaze to turn cold, and her smile to slowly fade away.
This child really can't be presented in public. No wonder Ji Lanyi never took this child out of the house; it would be embarrassing.
Yun Ya smiled at Yun Miao, "Miaomiao, this is Aunt Jiang. She will be our new mother, don't be afraid, she's very nice."
Only then did Yun Miao slowly approach Kang Jinse, head bowed down and hands fidgeting with the corner of his clothes, seeming uneasy.
Kang Jinse's patience had run out.
"Alright, I'm tired. I'm going to rest upstairs for a bit." With that, she got up languidly and walked upstairs in her high heels.
It wasn't long before Yun Ya heard Kang Jinse's voice from upstairs, "Throw all these things out."
"Sister Jiang, how should I dispose of these?" It was Su Ye's voice asking.
"Do you really need to ask me? Take them out and burn them. Should we keep them overnight?" Kang Jinse's voice was full of irritation and impatience.
Ji Die clenched her teeth and couldn't control the urge to rush upstairs, but Yun Ya's soft and sweet voice gently said, "Aunt Die, what are you going to do?"
That light and airy voice caused Ji Die to stop in her tracks instinctively. She turned around, her eyes bloodshot, "What right does a mistress have to strut around the Ji Family home? The young miss cherished her jewelry and handbags the most, how dare that woman?"
"Why wouldn't she dare? She has father's affection, and that's the capital she needs to show off. Aunt Die, acting impulsively is the devil, you should calm down now." Ji Die was shocked that a five-year-old girl could speak so calmly. She looked at the pretty, doll-like girl in front of her, her eyes dark and bright, like whirlpools deep and unsettling, terrifying in their tranquility.
Ji Die felt a tightness in her heart under that gaze. This kind of young miss was something she had never encountered, yet inexplicably, she found comfort in her presence.
"Miss, what's wrong with you?"
As Yunya led Yunmiao upstairs, passing by Ji Die, she heard a soft voice, muffled as if spoken in a dream.
"To destroy someone, one must first drive them mad, just wait."
Ji Die looked at Yunya's retreating figure in shock, so thin and small, yet for some reason, she appeared steadfast and tall in Ji Die's eyes.
The young miss...
The contrast was so stark it made her shiver involuntarily.
After that, Ji Die really did settle down. Aside from taking care of Yunya and Yunmiao, she didn't involve herself in anything else. Even when the Ji Family's servants were completely changed within two days, Ji Die made no comment. Kang Jinse, who had initially wanted to find a way to get rid of this stubborn woman, saw her compliance and decided to let her stay a few more days.
During these two days, Yun Shen was busy with the takeover of Ji's and didn't even have time to drink water, let alone return home. Kang Jinse, on the other hand, would leave home early in the morning with her makeup beautifully done, and return drunk at night. Yunya and Yunmiao stayed in their own rooms, without meeting anyone.
That morning, Kang Jinse left early again. Yunya saw the red Audi A3 slowly leaving the Ji Family Manor's gates from her window, onto Panshan Road. Yunya then let the curtain fall.
Ji Die opened the door and came in, "Miss, everything is set. Let's go."
Yunya nodded, dressed Yunmiao in his coat, and led him out the door.
A black Volkswagen sedan stopped at the gate. Ji Die opened the back door, intending to bend down and lift Yunya into the car, but was rejected by Yunya: "I'll do it myself."
She climbed into the car using her hands and feet, and seeing Ji Die move to lift Yunmiao, Yunya said indifferently, "Aunt Die, let him do it himself."
"But the young master, he..."
"No buts. I can't protect him forever. Some things, he must try on his own. This is an essential step he must take." Otherwise, what's the difference from raising a useless person?
Yunya smiled and extended a hand to Yunmiao, "Miaomiao, come up by yourself."
Yunmiao hesitated for a moment, then pulled himself up into the car, refusing to be discouraged by his initial failures. He looked up at Yunya's encouraging gaze, grunted in agreement, and finally climbed into the back seat of the car.
Yunya took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying with a smile, "Miaomiao, you did great."
After receiving the praise, Yunmiao pursed his lips and smiled quietly.
The driver was a middle-aged man, about eight feet tall, with well-developed muscles, a leopard's head and ringed eyes, and a harsh mien. At first glance, he looked ferocious. Yunmiao was scared when he first saw him, especially with the dark blue tiger head tattoo covering half of his face, clearly someone who seemed to have emerged from the underworld. However, Yunya knew that beneath his fierce appearance lay a kind and sincere heart.
The man's name was Chang Hong, usually called Uncle Chang. He had been saved by the grandfather during a time of trouble and joined the Ji Family as a driver to repay his debt, responsible for Yunya's travel and safety. Yunya didn't know his background and had never seen him act, but she knew he was no ordinary person.
Yunmiao rarely went out, often confined to the house by Ji Lanyi, only able to look out at the world through that small window. Watching the scenery flash by the car window, Yunmiao excitedly tapped on the glass, making some restrained monosyllabic noises.
As he pointed at the outside world through the window, he turned and smiled joyfully at Yunya. The sunlight coming through the car window splintered the shadows, and his delighted smile warmed like that of a little angel.
Yunya's smile became even more tender, her eyes twinkling as if touched by sunlight, and in a moment, like mist, they cleared.
At Jiangzhou Television Station, the staff had been waiting. When they saw the little girl who got out of the car, their hearts nearly melted.
So this was the child star that the television station was preparing to promote. Wow, the executives really have good taste. The hottest trend right now is this type of little girl. One could almost foresee the explosive popularity of the girl once the show aired, as well as the stream of advertisements and investments to follow.