What Her Mother Left Her

Yun Huaizhu answered the media’s questions plainly and without evasion. Shortly after, the Yun Corporation’s legal department served lawyer’s letters on every gossip account that had circulated the rumors.

Less than three hours after the press conference, one handwritten apology after another began appearing online, each admitting they had believed the rumors and deliberately spread false claims.

As for whoever had started the rumors, an apology letter wouldn’t save them. Yun Huaizhu had no intention of letting them off lightly. Before she was done, she meant to stamp a bold, indelible “criminal offense” onto that person’s record.

She had meant what she said: she was a woman who believed in vengeance. No matter how much time passed, she would settle scores with everyone who had wronged her, one by one.

After the Yun Corporation’s legal department released its statement, the Jing City authorities followed close behind with an official notice on a blue background: 『On June 23, 2026, public security organs received reports from citizens that individuals had hung banners outside the World Trade Financial Building and shouted slogans such as “Someone was murdered, we want justice.” Investigation revealed that the ringleaders of the gathering were Lu, Guo, Li, and others... The three have truthfully confessed that they were instructed by someone to hang banners in a busy area. Police have detained them in accordance with the law. As for Lu’s claim that his “grandniece” had gone missing and been murdered, review confirmed this to be false. Lu Mouxin was prosecuted by judicial authorities in April 2005 for intentional injury and sentenced to ten years in prison. Due to good behavior, she was released in June 2013. Since then, public security organs have received no reports regarding Lu Mouxin’s disappearance. The internet is not a place beyond the law. We ask all netizens to abide by laws and regulations and jointly build a harmonious online environment.』

The moment those two announcements went up, public opinion flipped in an instant, and the entire internet began to sympathize with Yun Huaizhu.

@MyGirlZhuzhuIsTheBestInTheWorld: [Oh my god! She exposed her own wounds in public just to prove her innocence—Yun Huaizhu has had it so hard! Those troublemakers and rumor-mongers absolutely cannot be let off!]

@IfYouThinkImBoringThenImBoring: [Mommy! So it really was all rumors, and she’s the victim on top of it. These people are truly heartless and depraved. I suggest severe punishment @JingCityPolice!]

@TheThrivingBaobab: [Oh my god, they’re dragging out a dead woman to whip her corpse. Seen this way, it’s even more pitiful. She was only in her thirties when she passed. Could her poor health have been related to this too? She’s a total victim here. I really empathize. I can’t take it anymore—can someone please do something about these people?]

@WhyIsEveryoneSoBlackAndWhite: [Am I the only one more concerned about why the victim would give birth to a child who was... you know?]

@IAlwaysWinWithVirtueBrickIncoming: [Show some respect up there. Her mother’s been dead for years. Didn’t she already say she has one mother and only one? Or are you just showing off how clever you are?]

@PleaseMakeMeRichRichRichRich: [From all this, Yun Huaizhu is seriously incredible. She shines in whatever industry she’s in. I’m going to support her hard. She’s had it so tough! Sob sob sob]

……

Online opinion gradually shifted in Yun Huaizhu’s favor. The stock price, which had been falling steadily, finally stabilized and began to climb. If she could hold on through this week, next week would surely bring a turnaround.

These past few days, Yun Huaizhu had been on the phone with department heads all over Jing City. She had gradually learned the smooth, diplomatic language of official circles and handled those social engagements with ease.

All the hurdles had been cleared. Now there was nothing left to do but wait.

But there was one thing she couldn’t wait for.

*

In the dark, damp basement, the sealed space was covered in wall mold, and the air still seemed to reek of blood. The two smells mingled, enough to make anyone’s brow furrow.

Dressed in tight leather, Yun Huaizhu descended the basement stairs slowly. Her face was expressionless. But when she saw the person bound and kneeling on the ground, her gaze sharpened.

The man looked up, saw Yun Huaizhu, and immediately said, “Xiao Yun, I’m your uncle—your father’s cousin! Why did you bring me to a place like this? We’re blood relatives! Let me out right now! As long as you let me go, I won’t hold a grudge against you for what you’ve done to me.”

Yun Huaizhu walked slowly toward him and bent down. Her eyes were cold as a venomous snake ready to sink its fangs into him, and the look made him shudder uncontrollably.

“You... what are you trying to do? I’m telling you, murder is a crime. Do you think you can hide it forever?”

Yun Huaizhu let out a cold laugh. “Murder is a crime? What a fine phrase—murder is a crime...”

The man immediately began to squirm and crawl toward her. “Good niece, Uncle knows you’re kindhearted. For the sake of our whole family, you’ve carried the Yun family all this way. Uncle knows he’s wronged you. Once I’m out, I’ll go far away! I’ll never appear before you again!”

At that, Yun Huaizhu narrowed her eyes and smiled at him.

The man immediately edged closer, a fawning smile on his face. Just as he was about to sweet-talk her into softening, Yun Huaizhu suddenly pulled a wooden board from the leather bag beside her. It was a full centimeter thick and thirty centimeters long. She took it and began beating him viciously across the mouth.

The man was bound tightly. Under that dense rain of blows to his face, he couldn’t even get out a plea for mercy.

Yun Huaizhu didn’t count how many times she struck. She only knew that by the time her anger had somewhat subsided, the man’s mouth had been beaten to a pulp, his face was a bloody mess, and nearly half his teeth had been knocked out.

Yun Huaizhu tossed the blood-soaked board aside in disgust. “So you do remember we’re blood relatives. But you’re the only ones who know where my deepest wound is—and that’s exactly why you stabbed at it without hesitation.”

As she spoke, she suddenly seized the man’s hair. “If my people hadn’t stopped you at the docks, you’d already have fled abroad, wouldn’t you? Uncle, are you really that afraid of me? All you did was leak my mother’s affairs to the media. You didn’t commit any great crime. I wouldn’t actually kill you over something like that, would I?”

Seeing the near-madness in Yun Huaizhu’s eyes, the man shook his head desperately. But his mouth could no longer form words—only muffled whimpers for mercy.

Her hand, clad in a black lambskin glove, suddenly moved to the man’s blood-covered face. She seemed about to slap him, but then, as if something occurred to her, her other hand drew a revolver from behind her waist and pressed it to his forehead. “Uncle, take a guess—will I kill you?”

The man wept tears of regret. The already blood-soaked air was suddenly joined by the stench of urine.

Yun Huaizhu stared at him with contempt, as if he were an ant. “I used to think that no matter how useless you all were, you were still my blood relatives. When Yun Jinyu was alive, every bit of your wealth and glory came from her. After she left, I did everything to hold this family together. But you’ve disappointed me too much. This kind of bloodline is better off without. Don’t you agree, Uncle?”

“Mmph... no... don’t...”

“Bang—”

After the gunshot, the basement fell silent.

……

At ten that night, Yun Huaizhu sat in the study where Yun Jinyu had once handled business, carefully polishing the old-fashioned silver revolver.

The gun was a little old, but it performed beautifully—at least it had never jammed.

When Yun Jinyu had first placed this gun in her hands, she had looked into her frightened, helpless eyes and said—

“Baby, anyone in this world who wants to hurt you must pay the price. A person must have their bottom line. What doesn’t belong to you, you needn’t force. But what does belong to you, you must fight for and seize by any means necessary.”

Just as she polished the gun to a gleaming silver shine, she heard a woman’s high heels clicking up the stairs, along with voices calling out, “Madam, you can’t go up! The young miss hates being disturbed when she’s handling business.”

“Am I an outsider too? Something this big happened, and no one told me. Am I already an outsider in the Yun family?”

At that, Yun Huaizhu pulled open the drawer beside her and put the gun inside.

“Madam, Madam, you can’t go in—”

“Move!”

The word had barely landed when a woman in a white qipao pushed open the study door. The servant, unable to stop her in time, hurriedly apologized to the person inside. “I’m sorry, Miss. Madam insisted on coming in. We couldn’t stop her.”

Yun Huaizhu waved a hand, dismissing them.

Now only Yun Huaizhu and the woman across from her remained in the vast study.

Seeing Yun Huaizhu’s less-than-pleasant expression, Yun Jinping couldn’t help but shiver. But a moment later, she mustered her courage and stepped forward. “Huaizhu... something so huge happened online—why didn’t you send anyone to tell me? If the people I was having tea with hadn’t been gossiping about it, I never would have known.”

Hearing the faint note of grievance in her tone, Yun Huaizhu rose from the main seat and walked slowly forward. “Why should I tell you? Would telling you change anything? Aunt, don’t forget—you’re a useless person who knows nothing. When my mother was alive, you relied on her. After she was gone, you relied on me to support you.”

A flash of humiliation crossed Yun Jinping’s face. She lowered her head shamefacedly. “Hua... Huaizhu, no matter what, I’m still your aunt. How can you say such cruel things?”

Yun Huaizhu sneered. “How was I cruel? I was merely stating facts. Is it that the couture clothes I give you every day aren’t enough, or the jewelry, bags, and accessories you haven’t finished buying? Or is it that this whole affair has made you lose face in front of your tea friends and card friends?”

Yun Jinping was so flustered she couldn’t speak. Her cheeks were flushed red. “That’s not it!”

Seeing her so worked up, Yun Huaizhu continued in an icy tone, “Since it’s not those reasons, then go back and enjoy your life as a rich lady. Before my mother left, I promised her that as long as I lived, I would let you enjoy a life of wealth and ease one day longer.”

Seeing how unwelcome she was in her niece’s eyes, a heavy sense of grievance suddenly welled up in Yun Jinping’s heart. Her peach-blossom eyes—so similar to Yun Huaizhu’s—involuntarily filled with tears. “I... I just saw what happened with you and your mother, and I was worried about you... I’m sorry...”

“Enough, stop crying! The moment I see you crying with my mother’s face, I get irritated. At least she wouldn’t cry when faced with something like this.”

Yun Jinping was so frightened by Yun Huaizhu’s shout that she didn’t dare make a sound. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t hold back her tears.

Crystalline teardrops slid down her fair, lustrous face one by one. She was the Yun family’s true fragile little white flower.

From the moment Yun Jinping was born, her mother doted on her, her sister spoiled her, and everyone around her coaxed her. Her temperament was gentle and mild—or, to put it bluntly, soft and incompetent.

Yun Huaizhu’s grandmother had originally intended to raise her as the heir. Unfortunately, she had no talent for business whatsoever, and due to her weak personality, she couldn’t manage the people under her either. In the end, every venture she touched, she ruined.

That was when her sister stepped up.

Her sister—a low-grade omega—had single-handedly built the declining Yun family back up to prosperity.

Her sister was perhaps the person she admired most in her life, because she knew that someone as weak as herself could never catch up to even a fraction of what her sister was.

Later, her sister had a daughter. This daughter’s personality was exactly like her sister’s—just as strong-willed.

Although Yun Jinping was the child’s aunt, the child had always carried an intimidating aura. Especially after her sister—the one who could protect her—passed away, the don’t-come-near-me aura around Yun Huaizhu grew even stronger. Every time she saw Yun Huaizhu, she felt a little timid.

But this time, she was genuinely worried about Yun Huaizhu. Yun Huaizhu was the only blood her sister had left in this world, and this child was also her own blood relative.

In the entire Yun family, she trusted no one but Yun Huaizhu.

She knew she had no business talent and couldn’t understand contracts. Occasionally, when people came to her for signatures, she refused. Only when Yun Huaizhu asked her to sign would she sign her name without hesitation.

Later, when the Yun family was on the verge of bankruptcy, she suddenly became restless and anxious. She was afraid that her stable environment would suddenly shatter. At that time, someone told her that the Su family’s eldest young miss was the most generous—if she could please that young miss, the Yun family might still have a chance to rise again.

It was her own foolishness in a moment of confusion that had pushed Yun Huaizhu into the fire pit.

Yun Jinping bit down hard on her red lips. When she cried, she looked like a dodder flower clinging desperately to a camellia tree in a storm—so fragile and pitiful.

Yun Huaizhu got irritated at the sight of her tears. She was almost forty, yet she still cried like a child over every little thing.

“Enough, you can leave now. Stop bothering me here. I still have things to handle.”

Yun Jinping nodded weakly, then walked out of the study. As she left, she quietly closed the door behind her.

……

Yun Jinping wept as she walked out. She didn’t know where she was going when a voice suddenly came from beside her. “Second Madam, don’t be sad. The young miss is just in a bad mood right now. Once she calms down, the two of you will naturally go back to how things were.”

Yun Jinping raised her tear-blurred eyes toward the speaker. “Sister Fang, wuwu...”

The moment she thought of this housekeeper her sister had left behind, she couldn’t help but cry again.

Seeing this, Wang Yifang stepped forward and handed Yun Jinping a handkerchief. “You’re the young miss’s closest family in this world. How could she truly be angry with you? Don’t cry now, ah...”

Yun Jinping wiped her tears as she spoke. “I know I can’t help Huaizhu with anything. This time I was really worried and wanted to come see her. She’s probably still angry at me over what happened last time. It’s my fault as her aunt—I’m useless and can’t help her. If only I were younger, I’d go help her myself...”

The moment Wang Yifang heard Yun Jinping entertaining this idea, an awkward expression flickered across her face. She hurriedly urged, “Second Madam, please don’t do anything foolish. You’ve lived a stable life for most of your years. You must believe that the young miss, like the Madam back then, can hold up the Yun family’s sky. All you need to do is enjoy your blessings and not worry about the rest.”

Hearing Wang Yifang’s comfort, Yun Jinping felt considerably better. “I was only joking. Those alphas are so terrifying—how would I dare provoke them? Sister Fang, you’re the person my sister left to Huaizhu. Besides Huaizhu, I trust you the most. If anything happens with Huaizhu in the future, you must tell me. No matter what, I’m still her aunt. Even if I can’t do much, at least coming to see her would be good.”

Yun Jinping had been spoiled since childhood and had never suffered a single hardship even at this age. Aside from spending money and enjoying life, she was completely blank in every other aspect.

Wang Yifang paused for a moment, then forced a smile. “I will, Second Madam, rest assured. It’s so late now—it’s time for you to head back.”

Yun Jinping nodded slightly, then left the Yun family’s old residence.

Wang Yifang watched Yun Jinping’s retreating figure and sighed softly.

Even though Yun Jinping had begged her like this, she didn’t dare tell her about Yun Huaizhu’s recent situation. After all, when Yun Huaizhu was frustrated, she hated others crying the most.

Especially someone like Yun Jinping, who looked so much like Yun Jinyu. Yun Huaizhu despised people as weak as Yun Jinping.

……

After watching Yun Jinping leave, Wang Yifang went upstairs and knocked on the study door. Hearing the sound, Yun Huaizhu said flatly, “Enter.”

Wang Yifang walked in.

Seeing that it was Aunt Fang, Yun Huaizhu’s tightly knit brows relaxed slightly. She pulled out the files of companies recently wanting to cooperate with Mingzhu Technology and placed them on the desk. “Is everything handled?”

Wang Yifang replied, “Yes, Miss. Everything is handled. As you instructed, the man from the Yun family’s branch has had his legs broken and was thrown onto the ship. The others boarded the ship abroad overnight as well.”

Yun Huaizhu took a deep breath. “Good that it’s done. Those people are too filthy—killing them would dirty my hands. They think they can live just fine without me, don’t they? Then I’ll strip them of everything they possess first. Once they’re abroad, everything will depend on themselves. I hope they truly live as wonderfully as they imagine.”

Seeing that Yun Huaizhu’s mood was a bit off, Wang Yifang quickly agreed, “The young miss is still too kindhearted.”

Yun Huaizhu sighed softly again. “Some people just don’t know better. Rather than killing them, making them live the rest of their lives in hell—that’s what’s truly satisfying.”

Wang Yifang’s expression grew a bit grave at this. She continued to ask, “Miss, will you still go to Miss Lin’s house tomorrow?”

Hearing this, Yun Huaizhu’s gloomy expression—one that looked almost ready to fall into darkness—suddenly regained its spirit. A glimmer of light flashed in her eyes. “No rush. When I have time, I’ll go naturally. You don’t need to come along.”

Wang Yifang quickly nodded. “Yes.”

She only hoped that Lin Meng truly could pull Yun Huaizhu back from the vortex she was sinking deeper and deeper into.

……

On the way back, Yun Jinping kept sobbing. She had always been somewhat slow on the uptake. She was clearly worried about Yun Huaizhu too, yet Yun Huaizhu had always looked down on her.

Although there wasn’t much about her that warranted Yun Huaizhu’s respect either, the more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt.

She had been a spoiled freeloader for nearly half her life, knowing nothing but enjoying herself and having fun.

Her niece had suffered such a huge blow. What was so wrong with her letting out some steam on her aunt?

But Yun Huaizhu was truly too disrespectful to her as an aunt. To put it another way—was she not still Yun Huaizhu’s aunt?

Just as she was immersed in her indescribable sorrow, she had unknowingly driven onto an overpass. The next moment, she was suddenly blinded by high beams from somewhere nearby, and her vision went black in an instant.

Yun Jinping, who had long since kicked off her high heels and was driving barefoot, frantically slammed on the brakes—but it was too late. Her car seemed to hit something with a loud “bang.”

The impact jolted her in her seat, but she wasn’t injured. She was simply terrified by how dangerous it all was—

When her vision gradually cleared, she discovered that she had rear-ended a Mercedes, and the car had also come to a stop from the impact.

Yun Jinping was terrified. She watched as the person in the car was about to get out. She hurriedly unfastened her seatbelt and scrambled out of the car in a panic.

Rather than wait for the other person to come over and blame her, she preferred to apologize first.

Yun Jinping hurried to the pure black Mercedes and knocked on the window. About half a minute passed before she saw the window slowly roll down. Before she could even see what the person inside looked like, she quickly bowed and apologized. “Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to... It was the high beams from far away that blinded me, so I rear-ended your car. Should we wait for the traffic police to come and determine fault, or would you prefer to settle this privately with compensation?”

She held the bow for a while. The person in the car didn’t make a sound.

Just as she felt extremely awkward and was about to look up, the rear door suddenly opened. A woman in a black qipao with gold silk dragon patterns, wearing black stiletto heels, appeared before her.

The woman stood across from her and looked her up and down, then said, “You’re from the Yun family, what’s the name... Yun Jinping, right?”

Hearing the other woman call out her name, Yun Jinping quickly raised her head and looked toward her. In that single glance, her pupils trembled uncontrollably. Right now, she truly wanted to jump off the overpass.

How had she crashed into a tigress’s car?

She was done for. Earlier, she had even thought about making Yun Huaizhu curry favor with this mother and daughter pair.

At the thought, Yun Jinping’s legs couldn’t help but tremble. The next moment, the woman let out a light laugh. “Why aren’t you wearing shoes? Did you kick them off when you crashed?”

Only after the woman’s reminder did Yun Jinping notice her own feet, standing on the coarse asphalt and shivering in the cold. Years of pampering had left her toes round and fair, like warm white jade. Especially striking was the peach-pink nail polish on her dainty toes—quite the girlish touch.

Yun Jinping’s face flushed crimson instantly. Her eyes darted around, looking for something to cover her feet, but the length of the qipao she wore clearly couldn’t hide them.

The news about Yun Huaizhu had reached her very suddenly. She had been coming out of a gathering at the time, and since there was nowhere to change shoes, she had driven over barefoot. Her high heels were still in the car.

The woman saw this and clapped her hands. Someone came over from the car carrying a pair of white round-toe flat leather shoes. The woman laughed at her dazed, flustered state, then bent down, grasped her ankle, and helped her put on the shoes.

The woman’s hands were so warm. That burning heat traveled through her ankle to her brain, making her tremble involuntarily.

Of course, it was also possible that she had stood on the road too long and her feet were a little cold.

Seeing her timid, fearful appearance, the woman stepped forward and patted her shoulder with a smile. “It’s fine. I’m an old acquaintance of your sister’s. Since it wasn’t intentional, let’s just forget about this.”

Yun Jinping’s eyes shifted from panic to shock. “Really?”

The woman looked her up and down again, as if appraising prey. “Mm.”

Yun Jinping hurriedly bowed again in thanks. “Thank you, thank you so much, Madam Su!”