The old clock on the wall ticked and tocked, its final three hands converging on one point...
In the master bedroom, a lavish and grand chamber, Yun Jianzhong had already drifted into dreams. A dim lamp on his bedside table cast a yellowish glow.
"Knock knock~"
The man slept soundly, showing no sign of waking. Instead, the woman beside him frowned and slowly opened her eyes.
Hearing another knock from outside the door, the woman sat up, revealing her silk pajamas. The exposed skin bore visible red marks.
With a timid glance at her sleeping husband beside her, the woman hesitated, debating whether to call out. Finally, amidst the persistent knocking, she took a step back and softly called out, "Jianzhong, Jianzhong..."
After calling for a long time, the man showed no reaction, and the knocking from outside the window grew more urgent.
The woman had no choice but to crawl forward a step, reaching out to push the person on the bed. The man impatiently swatted her hand away, turned over, and continued to sleep.
"Jianzhong... it seems someone outside is looking for you with urgent matters."
Yun Jianzhong, thoroughly annoyed by the constant disturbance, roared, "What could possibly be so important now?! Are you calling for ghosts!"
Just as he closed his eyes, he abruptly opened them again and yelled towards the door, "Come in!"
The bodyguard outside finally breathed a sigh of relief, opened the door, and quickly walked in, head lowered, eyes not daring to stray, "The situation over there is collapsing!"
As expected, he knew it must be something related to that group of old relics.
He never used to sleep well, but now he slept so soundly he couldn't be woken. This was the power of money and influence!
And he was increasingly enjoying this feeling of standing at the peak of Mount Yun. Cigarettes and women were nothing compared to this, this was what truly drove one mad with obsession!
Yun Jianzhong burst into laughter, his cackles filling the spacious room...
After a while, he finally stopped, a wicked smile curling his lips. "Let's go, time to send off my little brothers and sisters!"
And perhaps to see how they were "getting along."
Taking only two steps, Yun Jianzhong seemed to remember something. He turned and cast a meaningful glance at the bodyguard, saying nonchalantly, "I'll go first. You go and summon the old madam."
"Yes, sir!"
As the main door slammed shut with great force, the woman, clutching the blanket, trembled all over...
...
In the dim basement, the moon gradually hid behind the clouds. The last trace of light in the room vanished, plunging it into complete darkness...
The shattered clothes and large patches of blood on the floor also melted into the gloom.
"Drip... drip..." Liquid occasionally slid from the dagger, seeping into the earth...
"Sister... Sister, I... I'm sorry!" Yun Zhihuan lay on the ground, his eyes fixed in Tong Muqing's direction, slowly shedding tears of blood.
His life had been a failure. It wasn't just his sister he had wronged; it was also Dad, Mom, Yan'er, and... Rou'er!
Tong Muqing was also weak and exhausted. The effects of the medicine had worn off, leaving her bones feeling brittle. A normal person would have died long ago. She was merely relying on the residual effects of the medicine to sustain her last breath.
Whether she lived or died made no difference to her. She simply didn't want Zhihuan to depart in self-reproach...
It wasn't that she didn't want to use the agreement to secure her brother's freedom, but rather... Yun Jianzhong would never let them go. Therefore, even if she signed, he would not honor his promise.
It was just... she felt she had failed their deceased parents by not taking good care of her brother, leading them into such a predicament! And the fruits of their labor were about to be buried by Yun Jianzhong's hands.
"It's me, Sister... who has wronged you..." Before she could finish speaking, a gush of blood spurted from Tong Muqing's mouth, smearing half her face.
"Sister! How... how are you?!" Yun Zhihuan's expression instantly turned to agony. In fact, there was no need to ask, as she no longer spoke...
Yun Zhihuan fumbled with his large hand on the cold ground, finally grasping something icy. The blood on it slid down his hand towards his wrist...
"Scraaape~" The sound of a blade piercing flesh echoed.
Tong Muqing immediately realized what was happening, her pupils widening. She wanted to say something, but in her haste, she opened her mouth, only to emit a soundless gasp.
All that emerged was a sorrowful sob, "Wuwuwu..."
"Creak~"
The grand door on the east slowly rose, accompanied by a burst of cheerful applause.
"Clap clap clap~"
"Amusing, so amusing. Yun Zhihuan, Yun Zhihuan, this dagger wasn't meant for you to use like this. You truly are irredeemably foolish, both with your sister, and with... your brother, hahaha..."
He had once considered him a formidable opponent. Little did he expect that both of them were so easily defeated. He hadn't even done much, and these two were already powerless to resist!
On the contrary, his own sister, whom he had never taken seriously, had easily obtained what he had always pursued.
He had initially thought she merely possessed some intangible favor and was just a mere decoration, but he never imagined that a decoration could be so blinding.
He... would simply remove it!
"Yun Jianzhong, you... what do you mean by that?" Could he possibly...
"Exactly what you're thinking! Why do you think you were always sickly since childhood! Of course... big brother fed you some things, ah hahaha!"
Yun Zhihuan's eyes blazed with fury. He tried with all his might to stand up, but no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't move an inch.
No wonder, when he was almost better before, his body would inexplicably worsen again!
And later, when his father secretly sent him to a secluded place, the medical care he received wasn't extensive. At that time, his body had been seriously ill for some time. Miraculously, after a period, he had recovered!
"Yun Jianzhong!" So, he had this intention from that time? And how much more was hidden from them?
Seeing their gazes filled with resentment, Yun Jianzhong felt a surge of satisfaction. He lightly snapped his fingers, "Mom, what are you doing outside? Come in!"
A bodyguard helped a middle-aged woman in. Although still young, her temples were streaked with white, and her face was etched with wrinkles.
Yun Jianzhong didn't know why, despite consuming so many tonics and consulting the best doctors, there was no visible effect.
And Yun Jianzhong's words struck the two like a bolt from the blue, shattering their hearts.
He had a mother? Wasn't his mother dead? If his mother hadn't died, their family wouldn't have taken him in!
Yun Zhihuan's eyes were bloodshot. He strained to open them wide, trying to get a clear look at the woman's face. If he didn't clarify this, he would die with regret!
Yun Jianzhong, seeing his demeanor, chuckled and said kindly, "Young Master wishes to see his mother? Take him to see her!"
Mother?
"What do you mean?" Yun Zhihuan's anger surged, causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood. He slumped powerlessly onto the ground, his consciousness gradually fading...
"Because, you see... Dad and my mother were a couple. The three of us were already registered on one roster, while you... have been removed!"