Chapter 9 - 006 Foolishly Unrepentant
Back at the Ji Family estate, Ji Die carried the sleeping Yun Miao back to her room. After tucking Yun Miao in, Ji Die gently closed the bedroom door behind her. As she turned around, she jumped at the sight of Yun Ya standing right behind her.
"Miss, how come I didn’t hear your footsteps? You scared me to death."
Yun Ya spoke indifferently, "Aunt Die, come to my room, I have something to tell you."
Ji Die felt the young miss was being secretive and curious, yet she followed her nonetheless.
After closing the room door, Ji Die saw Yun Ya walking towards the window. Her small figure seemed inexplicably lonely, a child of merely five years old... Ji Die thought she must be overthinking it.
"Aunt Die, do you remember Uncle Qin?" Yun Ya suddenly asked.
"Are you referring to Qin Zhuan, the former Chief Steward of the Ji Family?" Ji Die was extremely surprised. Yun Ya had been only one and a half years old when Qin Zhuan left the Ji Family. Ji Die did not expect her to remember him.
Yun Ya nodded, "Yes, that’s him."
"Why would Miss suddenly bring him up? After all, Butler Qin was expelled by the old master and he decreed that no one in the Ji Family should ever mention this man again."
Qin Zhuan’s father and Yun Miao’s maternal grandfather, Ji Huaixi, were as close as brothers. Following the death of Qin Zhuan’s father, Ji Huaixi, in order to take care of his dear friend’s only son, brought him back to the Ji Family. At that time, Qin Zhuan was twelve years old and fell in love at first sight with the ten-year-old Eldest Miss of the Ji Family, Ji Lanyi. However, Ji Lanyi was proud and disdainful towards the son of the ruined household. Not only did she look down on him, she often bullied him. But Qin Zhuan was akin to a masochist; the more Ji Lanyi bullied him, the more devoted he was. To protect Ji Lanyi, he gave up opportunities to study abroad and stayed to become a butler in the Ji Family.
Ji Huaixi was pleased with the prospect of Qin Zhuan and Ji Lanyi together, but Ji Lanyi was inherently rebellious and never gave Qin Zhuan a chance. Later, at a banquet, she became deeply infatuated with Yun Shen and pursued him aggressively, thereby extinguishing any chance for Qin Zhuan.
After Yun Shen and Ji Lanyi got married, Qin Zhuan continued his silent guardianship without ever overstepping his bounds. However, one night, when Qin Zhuan was drunk, he attempted to take liberties with Ji Lanyi. Had Yun Shen not arrived in time, his honor would have been compromised. Enraged, Ji Lanyi demanded that Qin Zhuan be expelled from the Ji Family. Ji Huaixi had no choice but to dismiss Qin Zhuan and ordered that from that day forward, no one in the Ji Family was to rebuke him.
Once, two maids were smitten, discussing how handsome Qin Zhuan was, and Ji Lanyi overheard them. She strode forward and slapped each. She ousted both maids from the Ji Family. Since then, the relationship between Ji Lanyi and Yun Shen grew colder, and Ji Lanyi’s temper became even more volatile. She also became stricter towards Yun Ya.
In the Ji Family, Qin Zhuan’s name was taboo, a disaster waiting to happen if Ji Lanyi heard it.
Ji Die had grown up with Ji Lanyi and was naturally familiar with Qin Zhuan. That gentle and elegant man, who treasured the Miss as his life, how could he have hurt her like that? Even after so long, Ji Die still found it hard to believe.
Her eyes lowered, a flicker of bitterness passing fleetingly.
"Uncle Qin loved Mother as his own life, how could he have demeaned her? I believe it was all just a misunderstanding. Uncle Qin, with his outstanding talent, chose to be a mere butler in the Ji Family, which shows how extraordinary his feelings for Mother were. How could he have insulted her like that?" There was a hint of mockery in Yun Ya’s heart. Ji Lanyi, you squandered such a good man. Look at the kind of person you chose as your partner. If you were given another chance, would you have any regrets?
Yun Ya knew too well the nature of Ji Lanyi’s character, stubborn until the bitter end. Perhaps it was the final blow that was too harsh to accept, and that’s why she chose to disappear. But Yun Ya knew that Ji Lanyi was still alive. That kind of person was selfish to the core; who knew when she might make a comeback. However, Yun Ya would never pin her hopes on Ji Lanyi. To her, a living Ji Lanyi was worse than a dead one.
Uncle Qin, such an outstanding man, must have been blind to fancy Ji Lanyi to such an extent that he remained devoted without regrets. Surely, in his past life, Uncle Qin owed Ji Lanyi a debt, and in this life, Ji Lanyi had come to collect it.
"Indeed, Big Brother Qin, with his bright and clear character, would feel pity for a long time if young miss got bitten by a mosquito. How could he possibly hurt her? It was also because the old master spoiled the young miss too much; seeing her wronged, he chased him away."
"Can you still get in touch with Uncle Qin now?" This was Yun Ya’s intention. She wanted to find Uncle Qin. Yun Ya’s memories before the age of one and a half were very vague, but she vaguely remembered that he was very fond of her and Miaomiao. The current Uncle Qin should still be in the early stages of starting his own business. Even though he couldn’t compare with the Ji’s, his business was quite impressive. After a few years of development, coupled with Uncle Qin’s diligence, hard work, and business acumen, Qin’s had become one of the leading conglomerates in the country over a decade later.
"Big Brother Qin left back then without leaving any message, and there has been no news of him these years, I really can’t contact him."
Yun Ya frowned slightly; looking for a person like this was akin to finding a needle in a haystack, but she wouldn’t give up: "Aunt Die, think carefully, did Uncle Qin ever mention if he had any other places to live outside?"
After thinking carefully, Ji Die replied, "Now that you mention it, I do remember something. Big Brother Qin had a house that his parents left him, it seems to be in... Causeway Bay, yes, Causeway Bay. He said that place held his parents’ memories, and he would occasionally go back to stay there for a while." At that time, Qin Zhuan had only mentioned it casually, but Ji Die remembered Causeway Bay because it was the second richest district in Jiangzhou after the Redwood Villa District. Houses there were extraordinarily expensive, and only the rich and noble could afford to live there.
Since it was a house his parents left him, Uncle Qin, who valued relationships and loyalty, probably wouldn’t have sold it. She said to Ji Die: "Aunt Die, I must find Uncle Qin; can you help me?"
Ji Die nodded solemnly: "Young miss, don’t worry, Aunt Die will definitely help you find Uncle Qin." She didn’t know what the young miss wanted to do; she only knew that she would unconditionally obey the young miss’s commands. Ever since that incident last time, she understood the young miss’s difficulties. Such a big child had to consider so much; her heart ached for her and could only do her utmost to help her.
"Aunt Die, from now on, in this house, I can only trust you and Uncle Chang." Yun Ya’s black eyes calmly watched her, devoid of sadness or joy, merely stating a fact flatly.
Yet it made Ji Die’s eyes red, and she couldn’t help but rush over and hug her tightly: "Young miss, don’t be afraid, Aunt Die will always be with you, no matter what decisions you make, Aunt Die will always support you."
From the angle invisible to Ji Die, Yun Ya’s lips curled up slightly, a sinister smile emerging. Those dark eyes were deep and unfathomable, like the abyssal sea, an endless hell.
...
When evening came, Yun Shen finally returned. Yun Ya heard the commotion downstairs, her eyes gleamed with a mocking sheen.
Yun Miao was completely absorbed in playing with a jigsaw puzzle, unaffected by anything outside. Yun Ya touched his hair, gave him a command, and then got up and left.
Miaomiao would only listen to her. She told him to stay in his room and not go anywhere; even if the earth shook and mountains crumbled, he would definitely not leave the room even for a step.
Yun Shen loathed and detested her as if she was fished out of a cesspit, not to mention the deaf, mute, and senseless Miaomiao. Given this, it was best to let her face it all alone.
Yun Ya came down from upstairs, her face bearing a joyful smile. Looking at the tall and upright figure standing in the hall, she flew to him like a little bird: "Daddy, you’re finally back, Yaya missed you so much."