Chapter 44: How can that bother me
In a past life and this one, this was Yun Ya’s first encounter with Qin Du.
"Hello, Sister Yun Ya, I’m Qin Du." The little boy revealed a row of pearly white teeth, extending his hand to Yun Ya with a smile full of goodwill.
Although he was smiling, Yun Ya detected a maturity beyond his years in his eyes, making him seem older than other children his age.
"Hello, Brother Doo, I’m Yun Ya."
The little girl’s palm was soft, like a marshmallow, and Qin Du’s eyes narrowed slightly; he touched it lightly before letting go.
He turned to Yun Miao standing beside Yun Ya and tousled his hair, leaning down and fixed his gaze on his eyes as he gently said, "Hello, Miaomiao, I’m Brother Ah Du."
He spoke slowly and softly, enough for Yun Miao to read his lips. Yun Miao was shy and almost always shied away from strangers other than Yun Ya and Ji Die, but for the first time, he didn’t hide behind Yun Ya immediately and instead offered Qin Du a smile with pursed lips.
A hint of surprise flashed in Yun Ya’s eyes, followed quickly by laughter.
Yun Miao didn’t reject Brother Ah Du, which was a good start.
For lunch, Qin Zhuan cooked himself, Uncle Qin’s cooking skills were excellent, and the table was soon filled with appealing and fragrant dishes.
Looking at Qin Zhuan busy in the kitchen, Yun Ya shook her head in amazement.
Capable in the hall and the kitchen, he was surely the perfect man, but what a shame that such a man was blind.
"Yun Ya, eat more vegetables. You and Miaomiao are growing," Qin Zhuan said as he added some green vegetables to Yun Ya and Yun Miao’s bowls with concern.
"Thank you, Uncle Qin," Yun Ya said with a sweet smile.
Indeed, the food Uncle Qin made was delicious, far better than what the so-called top chefs at home made. Yun Ya ate more than usual and began to feel a bit full.
Qin Du set down a cup of hawthorn drink in front of her: "Drink this water to aid digestion."
Yun Ya looked up at him, finding that he was undoubtedly an excellent boy. His every move seemed perfect, as if the word "flaw" had no place in his existence.
Like the smile at the corner of his mouth, which was always the same curve, after a while, it might give off a false impression, yet Yun Ya felt his sincerity towards her. Perhaps he had worn his mask for so long that he couldn’t take it off so quickly.
"Thank you, Brother Ah Du."
Yun Ya took it and drank it quickly.
Qin Du’s eyes brimmed with laughter as he sat down beside Yun Ya. He instinctively reached out to touch her hair but abruptly stopped at the last moment, smoothly retracting his hand without a sound.
Qin Zhuan, wiping his hands, stepped out of the kitchen and said to Qin Du, "Ah Du, take Miaomiao to your room to play. Yun Ya, come with me to the study."
Obediently, Qin Du took Yun Miao back to his room. Yun Miao glanced at Yun Ya, who smiled back at him, and after pressing his lips together, he followed Qin Du into the room.
—
In the study, Qin Zhuan took a seat behind his desk and frowned at Yun Ya, "I saw today’s newspaper. It looks like last night’s plan was a success."
Yun Ya, sitting down on the couch, curled the corners of her mouth slightly: "That was just the first step."
Qin Zhuan looked at the small figure nestled on the couch, his shock at Yun Ya’s audacity still unabated. The child was fiendish.
She plotted such a revenge against her own father; Qin Zhuan felt more heartache than grief.
She was at the innocent age of five when others reveled in their carefree childhoods. Yet she was forced into a world of manipulation and intrigues. From now on, whatever great deeds Yun Ya accomplished wouldn’t surprise Qin Zhuan anymore.
"Yun Shen is inscrutable. He was merely careless this time. Once he realizes what happened, won’t he start investigating us? If he does, it could startle the snake and work against us," Qin Zhuan analyzed; he never underestimated Yun Shen.
"Uncle Qin." Yun Ya lifted her gaze to meet Qin Zhuan’s, startling him with her seriousness.
"Let me and Miaomiao go abroad."
What?
They were discussing Yun Shen, so why suddenly bring up going abroad? Qin Zhuan stared at Yun Ya: "What are you planning?"
Yun Ya exhaled, "Inside the country, it’s Yun Shen’s domain; wanting to do anything under his watch is risky and sneaky. Over time, it’s certain to attract his notice. There’s more freedom abroad, and Yun Shen’s reach can’t extend that far, and moreover..."
"Medical science is advanced overseas. I want to cure Miaomiao’s congenital deaf-muteness. Life’s too long for him not to hear the world’s sounds... I want to hear him call me ’Yaya’ with his own voice..." Her gaze suddenly became exceptionally tender.
Qin Zhuan looked at Yun Ya and sighed internally, "Are you really sure about this?"
Yun Ya looked at Qin Zhuan: "Otherwise, what does Uncle Qin think is the reason I set up Bai Ran and Yun Shen? He’s too preoccupied to worry about me, so now is the perfect time for me to make my exit. Once overseas, even the Emperor can’t control me, can he?"
She planned to accumulate strength and start afresh. One day, she would return to claim everything that belonged to her and Miaomiao.
Recalling the first time she saw Bai Ran, she noticed ambition in her eyes—an ambition deeply concealed from Yun Shen.
Considering the current state of the Bai Family, her plans were not hard to guess.
With a little push from someone behind the scenes, Bai Ran would become the most effective weapon in Yun Ya’s arsenal, stabbing straight into the hearts of those three people and uprooting everything.
With Bai Ran causing trouble, the Yun Family would certainly lead an exciting life during the years Yun Ya was away. She hoped Bai Ran was skilled enough not to be knocked out too soon.
Uncle Qin had always been a part of her plan; so was going abroad. She wouldn’t stay in the country any longer. With her limited power, fighting against Yun Shen was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. She decisively chose to leave, but before doing so, she wanted to leave him with a time bomb.
And the most indisputable reason was Miaomiao’s treatment. She would exhaust every means to cure his congenital disability in this lifetime.
As Qin Zhuan thought of something, concern creased his brow: "But how could Yun Shen possibly agree to let you and Miaomiao go abroad? That’s nearly impossible."
A cold, mocking light flickered in Yun Ya’s eyes: "Is that so? I have a way to make him let go."