Chapter 31: Grudges Born in the Heart

Dongzi's arrival let this conflict settle into superficial calm.

Su Xiyan gave him a look, indicating the matter was already settled and there was no need to say more.

Dongzi was inwardly surprised that Su Xiyan could fight Yan Zixin to a draw, and a hint of admiration for Su Xiyan arose in his heart.

Yan Zixin took the shares in hand, gave Su Xiyan a cold glance, then turned and left arrogantly, as if her earlier daughterly demeanor had merely been an act.

After Yan Zixin left, Yan Laotaiye's face, already full of wrinkles, seemed to have aged even more.

"Xiwei, don't be angry with me; Zixin is a premature baby, raised delicately since childhood and has become accustomed to being willful."

"She knows only a crying child gets candy; it's my fault for not disciplining her well."

Su Xiyan lowered her eyes and shook her head. "I'm not angry, and I dare not anger Grandfather."

Yan Laotaiye smiled. "You're still angry; now that Dongzi has come, hurry back to your room and keep Moci company."

"Today's matter ends here."

When Su Xiyan finally reached the laundry room after many twists and turns, all the clothes had already been washed, dried, disinfected, folded, and neatly stacked to one side.

She instantly felt something was wrong; as she picked up her own clothes and reached out to touch them,

Su Xiyan's face grew solemn,

Oh no....

Her Jade Ruyi was missing!

After searching the laundry room several times, Su Xiyan found nothing.

The sole token that could prove her identity was lost, and Su Xiyan's heart was filled with anxiety.

Could it have been taken by a servant of the Yan family?

If so, if they handed it to Steward Liu or Old Master Yan, would they see through her purpose in coming to the Yan household?

If this Jade Ruyi ended up directly in Yan Moci's hands, seeing one identical to his, what would he think?

With a tangled heart, Su Xiyan unconsciously walked again to the rockery she had visited during the day.

However, I don't know if it's because of what happened with Zhang Chengye, but now the area behind the rockery is off-limits.

The spot where Su Xiyan now stands is exactly beneath Yan Moci's window.

After waiting a long time for Su Xiyan's return, Yan Moci, feeling somewhat irritated, came to the bedside and, by chance through the window, saw Su Xiyan standing downstairs.

He narrowed his eyes and murmured, "Why are you standing there instead of going back to your room?"

Then he saw that after standing for a while, Su Xiyan seemed tired from standing; she slowly squatted, curling herself into a small ball, revealing a fluffy head with a cowlick sticking up.

Grandmother attempted suicide and was hospitalized; the whereabouts of the Jade Ruyi are unknown.

How she still considered herself clever, only to end up being clever in her own foolish way.

Even though they were separated by two floors, Yan Moci could clearly see that Su Xiyan's spirits were low.

He turned his head and asked, "Was she bullied?"

Dongzi hesitated slightly, "When I brought people over, the turmoil had already subsided.

"Old Master Yan gave the eldest daughter 5% of Huading shares; the eldest daughter-in-law was wrongfully accused for no reason, so I suppose she might feel a bit upset."

Yan Moci chuckled low, "She's not without cause, but I simply can't bear to see her like this.

"Yes, boss."

Su Xiyan let out a long breath, "Su Xiyan, nothing can bring you down.

"If the Jade Ruyi is lost, go find it back; if that really isn't possible, isn't there still Yan Moci's piece?"

"As for grandmother, I believe she will surely have good fortune!"

After regaining her composure, Su Xiyan turned and headed back inside.

Su Xiyan's return was so swift it caught Yan Moci off guard; he hadn't expected her to adjust her emotions so quickly.

As a result, when the door opened, not only did Dongzi inside stiffen for a second, but Yan Moci's face also became inscrutable.

Looking at Yan Moci's expression, Dongzi trembled, wondering if the boss would fly into a rage over his inadequacy and silence him on the spot.

"No, no, the boss definitely isn't that kind of person."

"Moreover, he just clearly said the bell! Only two and a half minutes have passed!"

"Dongzi, did you just speak with the eldest daughter-in-law?"

"Ah? Yes, boss."

Yan Moci coldly said, "I'm very dissatisfied with how you handled this; don't let me see you again within a week."

Dongzi,???

What on earth is this misfortune? It would be better to say he simply stepped into the room with his left foot, appearing even more alluringly wild and unreasonably troublesome.

Su Xiyan also felt puzzled; why did she open the door to see Yan Moci looking for trouble?

"If you won't let Dongzi come for a week, who will take care of your daily life?"

Watching Dongzi leave pitifully, Su Xiyan disagreed, saying, "It's practically written on your face that you don't want me to look after you."

Yan Moci pursed his thin lips, "Steward Liu."

Su Xiyan scoffed, "Hey, do you know Steward Liu is quite old and also has to look after Grandfather? Don't go adding to his workload!"

Yan Moci gave a cold laugh, "Very good."

He turned his head to look at Su Xiyan, "Then from now on, my daily life will have to rely on you, Madam Yan.

After all, this ought to be your duty, right?"

What does "lifting a stone only to drop it on one's own foot" mean? Su Xiyan finally understood.

She immediately changed her tone, "Steward Liu has looked after you for so many years; he surely knows you better than I do."

Yan Moci languidly sat back on the bed, saying leisurely, "Steward Liu is old; it's better not to increase his workload."

Su Xiyan gave an embarrassed laugh, "I think he certainly wouldn't mind."

Yan Moci gave her a wanton glance, "Sorry, but I mind."

"Since you live in the Yan Family, you always have to give something, right?"

"You!" Su Xiyan was really furious.

The irritation she had just soothed surged up in his heart; with a running start, she lunged and fiercely pressed Yan Moci down.

She gritted her teeth and said harshly, "Yan Moci, do you believe I'll turn you into a real vegetative state right now?"

Yan Moci had just almost thought a tiger was lunging at him—what on earth did Su Xiyan eat to grow up like that!

How can there be such monstrous strength!

Feeling the pain of his ribs being struck, he ground his teeth.

"Little girl, if he doesn't properly teach her a lesson today, tomorrow she'll really dare to ride on his head and run amok!"

Yan Moci straightened up, and their positions instantly flipped.

Su Xiyan looked at Yan Moci in disbelief, "Yan Moci, what are you trying to do!"

Yan Moci smiled with three parts aloofness and four parts wickedness, perfectly concealing his indulgence in the depths of his eyes.

He slowly drew near, murmuring enticingly, "Yan Yan, if you don't behave, you'll have to be punished."

Faced with such Yan Moci, Su Xiyan wanted to struggle, but no matter how she tried, she couldn't break free; her usual all-powerful strength seemed to have been completely unloaded at this moment.

In Su Xiyan's slightly trembling pupils, all that was reflected was the slowly approaching figure of Yan Moci, their breaths intertwining and entangling.

Just as Yan Moci was about to touch Su Xiyan, an uncontrollable sense of helplessness swept over her entire body, and the emotion she had been struggling to suppress suddenly erupted.

"Whimper..."

Su Xiyan's sudden despairing moan, like a young beast, left Yan Moci stunned on the spot.

Are you really that aggrieved?

Do you hate him to this extent?

Yan Moci's eyes filled with extreme darkness, anger surging in his chest, he coldly laughed and said:

"Su Xiyan, you wouldn't really think I want to do something to you, would you?"

"I, Yan Moci, haven't sunk to the point of needing to force a woman."

Along with Yan Moci's icy words, the belated grand fireworks sound also rang out.

"Boom!"

"Snap!"