Evening
Yun Zhiyi clenched her pale fists tightly.
"If I've managed to claw my way back from the brink, then I'll make sure they pay for it."
Xiang Man, feeling both sympathy and frustration for her friend, sighed.
"Zhizhi, it's not that I don't want to help you, but right now, I'm barely holding it together myself. With my current situation, I'd only drag you down."
"If the Xiang family were still as influential as before, I'd have the means to pull some strings for you. But now… even this tiny apartment was something you helped me afford."
"An Yirou and Su Shen are cunning and ruthless, backed by both the Yun and Su families. Any fight we put up might be like throwing an egg against a rock."
Xiang Man urged her not to get her hopes up too high.
The greater the hope, the harder the fall.
But Yun Zhiyi wasn't one to accept things quietly. She seemed to already have a plan in mind. "What, am I supposed to sit here and let them destroy me? Xiang Xiang, I need your help to put on a show."
"A show? What kind?"
"Call my father and tell him I'm experiencing memory loss."
That Night at the Yun Family Mansion
A red sports car pulled into the estate.
Su Shen stopped the car, and An Yirou leaned over from the passenger seat.
"Brother Shen, Yun Zhiyi has been missing for a whole day. Do you think our plan will work?"
An Yirou knew that, no matter what, she was not Yun Zhennan's daughter.
Even though Yun Zhiyi wasn't particularly favored, she was still of Yun blood, and the Yun family matriarch had always hoped she would inherit the family business.
If it weren't for the fact that the old matriarch had suffered a stroke and was now lying in a hospital in a vegetative state, An Yirou might not have had any footing in the Yun family.
Fortunately, Yun Zhennan preferred sons over daughters and never planned to hand Yun Group to Yun Zhiyi. This opened a window for An Yirou and her mother to act.
In the future, the Yun family's assets would be hers and her brother's.
As long as her mother's unborn brother was born safely, Yun Zhiyi's death wouldn't matter in the least. Yun Zhennan wouldn't care, which gave An Yirou the confidence to proceed.
Still, they needed to be careful about what to say.
Su Shen smirked. "Don't worry. I've already contacted my parents to finalize the marriage between the Yuns and Sus."
"With the wedding date approaching and Yun Zhiyi nowhere to be found, the Yun family will have no choice but to let you marry me instead."
Mentioning the wedding…
Yun Zhiyi had the same intention, though she hadn't anticipated that An Yirou would try to take her place in such a way.
As they stepped into the Yun family's living room, An Yirou dropped to her knees with a loud thud.
"Uncle, Sister Zhiyi is missing. I can't reach her by phone, and no one knows where she is. I'm really worried about her!"
Yun Zhennan was sipping his tea, but before he could respond, the heavily pregnant Ding Mei chimed in.
"Yirou, get up. Why are you kneeling? Yun Zhiyi has always been rebellious and never listens to your uncle. She's probably off fooling around with some man again. What does her disappearance have to do with you?"
With that, Ding Mei turned to Su Shen with an enthusiastic smile.
"Young Master Su, you're here as well. Come, please sit down. Let's discuss this calmly."
Su Shen didn't beat around the bush, cutting straight to the point. "Uncle, I've come to formally propose to Zhiyi. My parents have already chosen an auspicious date—this month on the 15th."
"My parents have also prepared a betrothal gift. Here's a token of their sincerity, and they'll personally deliver the rest tomorrow morning."
Su Shen handed over a card that looked as valuable as it was.
Yun Zhennan, who had been troubled over finances for a project, felt as if a blessing had arrived just in time.
He immediately agreed, adopting a fatherly tone with a warm smile.
"Shen, you've been so good to Zhiyi for so many years. She's lucky to marry someone as kind and considerate as you."
In his eyes, this marriage was an incredible opportunity for the Yun family to climb the social ladder.
Yun Zhennan thought to himself, that daughter of his was finally serving a purpose.
Marrying into the Su family would resolve all the Yun family's worries.
Ever since he remarried Ding Mei years ago, Yun Zhiyi had been distant from him.
She had been living abroad all this time, choosing to work and support herself rather than return home.
The social circles whispered that Yun Zhennan had neglected his own daughter, but hadn't he provided for her in every way? She was just ungrateful and always looking to tarnish his reputation.
Unlike her, Yirou had been well-behaved and understanding since she joined the Yun family. She was far more obedient than his own daughter.
And now, with the Su family's proposal, Yun Zhiyi was nowhere to be seen, likely out fooling around.
Yun Zhennan's face darkened with disappointment.
Seeing his expression, a hint of triumph flashed in An Yirou's eyes. She knew their plan had succeeded.
Soon, she would be the young mistress of the Su family.
Because Yun Zhiyi would never be coming back.
But just then, a phone call came through.