After Prison, She Shocks the World
Chapter 109 Madame Chu Critically Ill

Chapter 109: Chapter 109 Madame Chu Critically Ill

Yunhui approached Uncle Yun at a slow pace. With every short step she took, she scrutinized him closely. The way her clear, innocent eyes fixed on him nearly drowned him in a sense of unbearable shame.

In his entire life, the person he had wronged the most was Yunhui. Leaving her stranded and defenseless in Yunxi Lane, to face a family legacy spanning over a century all by herself, with no one to help her.

"Since you’re back, go on in and take a look," Yunhui said.

"You don’t hate me?"

"Hating people is too tiring; it’s unnecessary. It’s good that you’re back. You should live in Yunxi Lane from now on."

"Don’t move out," Uncle Yun couldn’t help but urge. "Miss Ya Rui has been eyeing Yunxi Lane. If you leave, she’ll immediately claim it and the Chu Family Embroidery House for herself. And the embroidery manual in Old Mrs. Chu’s possession? Are you willing to just hand it over to someone else?"

Yunhui almost laughed. "Is this why you came back?"

Uncle Yun didn’t dare to look Yunhui in the face. "I... I also wanted to see you."

"Dad, I’ve lived for over forty years. Ever since I can remember, my life has revolved around embroidery. I love it deeply, and for the most part, I’ve been happy. I can even accept the setbacks and malicious disparagement I’ve encountered along the way." Yunhui’s expression gradually turned sorrowful.

She gazed at the high walls encircling Yunxi Lane and said softly, "It was a nightmare for you and Fu Ya, but wasn’t it a nightmare for me too? You both left without a word, leaving only me behind. I’ve struggled to keep things going for over twenty years, and I think that’s enough. Anyone can try to persuade me, but you shouldn’t be the one to do it."

"Are you really content to let an outsider take over Yunxi Lane?" Uncle Yun persisted.

"I’ve seen Ya Rui’s work. I believe she’s someone who genuinely loves embroidery. Entrusting Yunxi Lane and the Chu Family Embroidery House to her wouldn’t be a bad thing."

"You..." Uncle Yun suddenly flared up. "Are you really willing to give up embroidery?"

"I don’t need to give it up. I’ll continue to embroider, just not as a representative of Yunxi Lane, and certainly not of the Chu Family Embroidery House. Every piece I embroider in the future will represent only me, myself."

Seeing that everything had been loaded onto the truck, Yunhui said, "You work for Ya Rui, so you can look after Yunxi Lane for her. I trust she will respect Yunxi Lane."

"She’s just a businesswoman; she only cares about profit!"

Yunhui shook her head. "I’ve seen her embroidery. I believe in her character. I’m leaving now. Goodbye."

Uncle Yun watched Yunhui’s retreating figure, the tightness in his chest growing heavier.

He drove his own daughter away for an outsider!

What on earth was he doing?

Fu Chan waited until Yunhui was settled in the car before starting the engine.

"We’re leaving now."

Yunhui smiled at him tenderly. "Mm, no need for special goodbyes. I’ve already said them over the past few days. When we get home, I want to get two cats. Can I?"

Fu Ruyun and Fu Ruhui immediately grew excited.

"Yes, yes! Get cats!"

"Mommy, I love cats too!"

Yunhui joined the children, chanting, "Daddy, we want to get cats!"

Fu Chan was most susceptible to her wheedling. "Once we’re settled, you can have as many as you like."

Previously, because of the embroidery work at home, Yunhui had never kept pets. She worried they might snag the embroidered pieces or silk threads, or that their scent might cling to the embroidery.

Now, she wanted them.

「*」

When Fu Bing received Uncle Yun’s call and learned that Yunhui had moved out of Yunxi Lane, she mentally reviewed the events of the past few days. She began to understand what Ren Ye had told her about Old Mrs. Chu’s intentions.

Ren Ye wouldn’t tell her directly about her mother, but he would guide her to discover things for herself.

With Ren Ye’s astuteness, he must have anticipated Yunhui’s possible reactions.

Was he deliberately giving Yunhui a pretext to leave Yunxi Lane?

To outsiders, she and Ya Rui of Ya Garden were good friends. If people knew the mistress of Yunxi Lane was leaving, they would expect her to inform Ya Rui, prompting Ya Rui to step in and annex Yunxi Lane.

The Chu Family Embroidery House was already showing signs of decline, and Yunhui was powerless to reverse it.

Her departure was what could bring new vitality to the Chu Family Embroidery House.

Fu Bing realized that Ren Ye’s every move was played with astonishing precision, enough to make one marvel.

Fu Bing left her room and saw Mu He standing beside a new car. "Where’s Wu Shi?" she asked.

"He had urgent matters to attend to and needed to leave for a while."

Brother Han couldn’t always stay by Miss Fu’s side under the identity of "Wu Shi." The Qin Family had encountered quite a few problems recently, and he had to return to deal with them.

Fu Bing secretly breathed a sigh of relief; she hadn’t known how to face Wu Shi anyway.

"Accompany me to Yunxi Lane," she said.

"Alright."

When Fu Bing arrived, Fu Chan was finishing up the cleaning.

Fu Chan glanced at Fu Bing, his attitude cold. "You’re certainly well-informed."

"Did my mother live here in the past?"

"More or less."

"Why didn’t the Fu Family like her?"

"Because she was an accident," Fu Chan said flatly. "She was ’dealt with’ like an accident."

The word "dealt with" was indeed cleverly chosen.

"Why?"

"Because two children were enough. A third wasn’t needed. But then everyone found out the Fu Family had another child, Fu Ya, cast out, which was a huge slap in the face to the Fu Family."

Fu Chan maintained a calm expression as he said this.

Regardless of Fu Ya’s situation, it wouldn’t affect his own interests or status.

The Fu Family’s assets and resources were all his.

Neither Fu Ning nor Fu Ya could take any share from him.

The larger the influential family, the more pronounced the preference for sons over daughters; the resources allocated to boys and girls were completely different.

Fu Bing asked, "May I go inside?"

"Of course. This place will soon belong to your good friend anyway." Fu Chan said this, then ignored her and drove away.

Fu Bing walked along the ancient stone-paved path. It was completely different from those found in tourist spots, marked everywhere by the erosion of time. Ancient trees flourished with vibrant green, their vitality even more striking in the antique, picturesque environment.

Her mother once lived here.

Even if I still don’t understand her past, I can catch glimpses of it now.

Her parents didn’t want her, and her maternal grandmother was a woman so strict she bordered on obstinate. Her upbringing must have been anything but pleasant.

Yet, Mom never mentioned any of it. She gave me enough space and love, allowing me to grow up freely.

Fu Bing gazed at the pavilions and terraces of Yunxi Lane. A long time ago, her mother must have stood somewhere here too, looking up at this same sky, feeling this same wind.

At this thought, her heart instantly softened.

Fu Bing murmured, "Mom, do you want to come back?"

Naturally, no one answered her.

Fu Bing had no inclination to admire the architectural merits of the place. She gave it a cursory look around and then walked out.

Just as she got into the car, she received a call from Ren Ye.

"Old Mrs. Chu is critically ill. Get over here quickly!"

Fu Bing’s heart lurched. "Mu He, to the sanatorium, as fast as you can!"

Without hesitation, Mu He started the car and sped away from Yunxi Lane.

Fu Bing pressed her lips together tightly. Her heart felt as if it were being loosely gripped by a giant hand, one that could clench and crush it at any moment.

She knew Old Mrs. Chu’s critical condition was partly her doing.

Her appearance had accelerated Yunhui’s departure from Yunxi Lane, thereby shattering Old Mrs. Chu’s last shred of hope.