Evening
Li Yuye returned to the castle.
He entered the spacious living room and settled into the European-style sofa.
The fact that Yun Zhiyi had left without a word filled the air around him with a chilly tension.
Most women would do anything to be close to him, but not her. She had calculated her risks, taken what she wanted, and then disappeared.
"A heartless woman who uses and discards!" he muttered coldly.
Just then, Feng Ze walked in quickly, holding a stack of documents.
"Sir, I've found the information."
"Yun Zhiyi, 23 years old, daughter of the chairman of Yun Group in Jin City."
"These are the remnants from last night's car accident. We recovered various items from the scene, including steel rods and other tools used in the attack."
Feng Ze placed the photos and details on the table.
"In all honesty, she's had a rough time. She was chased down relentlessly—she must have been terrified, which is probably why she clung to you so desperately in the forest. You have to admit, she's got good instincts, choosing the best possible protector!"
Li Yuye didn't want to hear more. His voice turned icy.
"Last night was a one-time incident. Don't mention her to me again."
Feng Ze froze, unsure of what to make of his boss's reaction.
After all, it was Li Yuye himself who had ordered him to look into her. Why the sudden change?
But Feng Ze didn't dwell on it. Having worked with Li Yuye for years, he knew his habits well.
Clearly, the young master had tired of Yun Zhiyi after just one encounter.
He must have been so fed up that he allowed her to leave right under his nose.
Because if he truly wanted her, his usual way was to possess and control, keeping her within reach at all times.
Yun Zhiyi sat in the back of a taxi.
At last, she had left that remote, lawless area and returned to the bustling heart of Jin City.
She closed her eyes briefly, unable to shake the vivid memories that lingered in her mind.
That man, biting her lips. "Your first time, hmm?"
"Hold tight…"
The tenderness with which that mysterious man took possession of her was enough to haunt her.
But Yun Zhiyi knew last night had been nothing more than a fleeting encounter—something she needed to forget.
She had to reclaim her life and repay the humiliation she had suffered.
Wounded and exhausted, she had nowhere to go.
Returning to the Yun household wasn't safe. Her father was biased, and her stepmother and stepsister would love nothing more than to see her gone for good.
After some thought, she made her way to her best friend Xiang Man's apartment.
At the door, Yun Zhiyi pressed the buzzer. "Xiang Xiang, are you home?"
It was Saturday, and Xiang Man was off work, relaxing at home.
Hearing the bell, she hurried to the door in her slippers.
The sight of Yun Zhiyi left her stunned. "Zhizhi, what happened to you? You look like a mess!"
Xiang Man had no idea what Yun Zhiyi had been through the previous night.
Once inside, Yun Zhiyi spoke calmly.
"Xiang Xiang, An Yirou and Su Shen tried to kill me."
Xiang Man was horrified, then scoffed, "I've always known An Yirou was bad news. She struts around in Chanel and Hermès, flaunting her money from the Yun family like some tacky show-off. She looks like a cheap fox with all that garish styling."
"...Wait, aren't you supposed to marry Su Shen? How are he and An Yirou…? Ugh, don't tell me those two scumbags are together!"
Yun Zhiyi didn't deny it, letting her silence confirm the truth.
"Xiang Xiang, I'm going to hold a wedding with Su Shen. I'll send invitations to every powerful person in Jin City. I want him to be utterly humiliated at that wedding."
Yun Zhiyi and Su Shen's relationship wasn't a secret within high society.
Everyone knew how "devoted" Su Shen was to Yun Zhiyi.
Who could have guessed that the most "devoted" man in Jin City was secretly plotting with her stepsister to kill her and seize her family's wealth? The cruelty of it all was staggering.
Wasn't Su Shen so concerned about his reputation?
Then she'd strip away that mask of his.
Let everyone see who Su Shen truly was.
And An Yirou, always playing the pure and innocent girl? She'd make sure everyone knew the depths of her shamelessness.
Anger and determination burned in Yun Zhiyi's heart. Her voice was resolute.
"If they dare plot against me, I won't let them get away with it."