Rebirth: The Time-locked Girl
Chapter 357 Exposed Directly! [1 more update]

Chapter 357: 357 Exposed Directly! [1 more update]

A casual remark seemed to drop like a boulder on a calm surface, unleashing towering waves.

Zhou Hechen was frozen, his entire body stiffened on the spot, unable to grasp the meaning of what Zhou Heyuan had just said.

What did he mean... he mistook someone for Sheng Yunyi?

Sheng Yunyi never went to South City?

Zhou Hechen stood there like a soulless puppet, motionless.

Suddenly, Sheng Yunyi’s mind exploded.

She turned incredulously to look at Zhou Heyuan, her expression barely concealing shock and panic, her limbs icy cold.

As a child, she indeed never visited South City, for Madam Sheng had always been strict with her, demanding she study Zither, Go, Calligraphy, and Painting, keeping her busy till late into the night, naturally leaving no time to travel to other cities.

Thus, years ago, when the Zhou Family brought Zhou Hechen to thank the Sheng family, she was filled with doubts.

At that time, however, Madam Sheng calmly accepted the life-saving grace and told her that from then on, she was Zhou Hechen’s savior.

Afterward, she used this identity to elevate her status and gain more resources.

Sheng Yunyi had considered the possibility of being exposed, but certainly not when she was completely unguarded!

And to be exposed directly by Zhou Heyuan!

"Second brother, what’s been with you these past few days? I ask you things, and you never reply?" Zhou Heyuan, seemingly oblivious to Sheng Yunyi’s distress, still wore a smile as he tapped the table, "Who exactly did you mistake for Yunyi? I don’t mean anything by it; I just want you to reflect on your feelings for Yunyi and not hurt her."

Zhou Hechen snapped back to reality. His face was pale, and his lips quivered, "I, I..."

He didn’t know how to respond, as he hadn’t considered this point at all.

After all, before Sheng Yunyi was ousted from the Sheng family, all aspects made her a suitable Matriarch of the Zhou family.

Moreover, looking through the lens of a life saver, his feelings for Sheng Yunyi couldn’t be fake.

Realizing his loss of composure, Zhou Hechen struggled to calm the tumultuous waves in his heart, "Brother, what are you implying? Someone else saved me."

"I’m just asking you," Zhou Heyuan replied with a faint smile, "I wasn’t the one saved, so of course, I wouldn’t know who it was."

Zhou Hechen’s face grew even whiter.

At that time, due to severe exhaustion, he was dizzy and saw nothing but heard a voice.

Later, he heard that Sheng Yunyi was in South City then; the timing and whereabouts matched, so when he went to confirm with the Sheng family, he got a positive answer.

Now, could it be the information he heard was all deliberately released by Patriarch Sheng?

After all, his kidnapping wasn’t a secret among the five major families.

Zhou Hechen, as if driven mad, dashed out of the hospital room before Sheng Yunyi could stop him.

"Big, big brother, what are you talking about?" Sheng Yunyi forced a smile, "I have been to South City, I—"

Zhou Heyuan said just three words: "Get out."

Sheng Yunyi’s face turned as white as paper as she left.

"Brother, how did you know Sheng Yunyi never went to South City?" Zhou Zhiyun handed him a glass of water, curiously asking, "You just turned her pale."

Zhou Heyuan finished the water in his cup and said indifferently, "I found out four years ago but never mentioned it."

He didn’t care about the resentments between Zhou Hechen and Sheng Yunyi, but they should not have implicated his savior, Ye Wanlan.

"Then who really saved second brother?" Zhou Zhiyun frowned, "I can’t believe this whole thing was a misunderstanding from start to finish."

"I don’t care, I don’t have the leisure for it," Zhou Heyuan said indifferently, "Zhiyun, are you currently working in Miss Ye’s company?"

"Yes." Zhou Zhiyun spoke cautiously, "Miss Ye is truly kind. When she found out I had also established a charity foundation for the poor, she made a substantial donation. Furthermore, Pulling the Sky Company strives to promote intangible cultural heritage..."

Zhou Heyuan patted her head with a smile, "I know, so from now on, the Zhou Family will stand by her side."

Hearing this, Zhou Zhiyun was shocked, "Big brother?"

She knew Zhou Heyuan’s ambitions, knowing he wouldn’t easily submit to others. Why would he say such a thing?

"A man dies for those who appreciate him," Zhou Heyuan sighed softly, "Miss Ye is a born sovereign."

During the day and a half since he woke up, through Zhou Zhiyun’s narrations and some intelligence he received, he had come to realize what it means to strategize from behind the scenes and win from a thousand miles away.

Zhou Zhiyun nodded, then spoke again, "But as for second brother..."

"I’ve given him plenty of opportunities," Zhou Heyuan closed his eyes, "If he doesn’t cherish them, what can be done?"

Zhou Zhiyun quietly nodded and said no more.

**

Lin Family.

"How come you’re leaving after just two days?" Lin Huaijin was reluctant, "Don’t forget the New Year’s Eve in half a month."

"I know, uncle," Ye Wanlan replied. "I’ll come back early because I also represent my school in this year’s calligraphy competition."

The preliminaries and semifinals of the calligraphy competition were held in Jiangcheng, with the final ten contestants proceeding to Yunjing for the finals next year.

"That’s good," Lin Huaijin said, patting her shoulder and hesitating for a moment, "Regarding your grandmother’s matter, don’t keep it weighing on your mind. After so many years... sigh."

Ye Wanlan shouldered her bag and spoke softly, "I know, but I still want to try."

As long as the situation hadn’t reached an irreparable state, she wouldn’t give up.

Hearing this, Lin Huaijin felt a pang of heartache.

Ye Wanlan was already mature for her age, having experienced a foreign spirit invading her body, yet she still took on so much, and he couldn’t help.

"Ah Lan, whatever you want to do, go ahead," Lin Huaijin said earnestly. "At least, your uncle will always be behind you."

Ye Wanlan was moved, raising an eyebrow, "Then I’ll remember what uncle said. You’ll probably start to get busy in the next few months."

Lin Huaijin nodded, "The chemical sector issue you mentioned? No problem, leave it to me."

"I’ll organize the data and hand it all to uncle when the time comes," Ye Wanlan nodded.

She left the Lin Family with Yan Tingfeng, taking a private plane back to the Southern Frontier.

The days Ye Wanlan returned to Jiangcheng, the filming crew did not halt their progress, capturing all major cultural relics and historic sites of the Southern Frontier.

"Miss Ye is back just in time," the director grinned, "Next, we’re heading to the next site, the former residence of the Prince of Chu, where we really need Miss Ye’s expertise."

Prince Xiang Qingtian of Chu was controversial throughout history.

Some said he harbored ulterior motives, seeking to seize power.

Others claimed that after failing to secure succession, he recognized that he was less capable than Ning Zhaozong and willingly guarded the Southern Frontier to protect Shenzhou.

Prince Xiang Qingtian’s life was anything but peaceful.

Born in turbulent times, he died in conquest.

Military campaigns spanning over four to five decades, yet he met an unpeaceful end, wrought with disappointment for later generations.

Ye Wanlan paused for a moment then smiled slightly, "Alright."

Rong Yu suddenly laughed, "I remember Student Ye skipped the questions about the Prince during the quiz. Is it because you don’t like the Prince?"

"No," Ye Wanlan paused, then smiled, "Just didn’t feel like answering."

Rong Yu: "..."

Having good grades, she could afford to be capricious.

"Speaking of which, the headquarters of the Divine Strategy Army is also not far from the Southern Frontier," Professor Shen chimed in with a laugh, "With these upcoming shoots, there’s a lot to capture."

"Everyone come back inside!" Xing Yue shouted suddenly. "It’s about to rain in maybe ten more seconds."

Hearing this, the director’s face changed, and he was the first to rush inside.

The Southern Frontier was not only full of snakes and insects but also extremely unpredictable weather.

Sure enough, within seconds, dark clouds gathered, delugiating the area with rain.

Thankfully, with Xing Yue and Rong Qi able to foresee this erratic weather, the entire crew avoided a downpour.

"Miss Ye, someone is looking for you again," the assistant director came running, stuttering, "It’s someone from the Zhou Family of Jiangcheng but seems like a madman. If you prefer not to meet, we’ll have someone send him away."

Ye Wanlan spoke indifferently, "No need, I’ll meet him."

"Let’s go," Yan Tingfeng held an umbrella, shielding her from the rain, "Let’s see what it is together."

The rain continued to pour with no sign of lessening.

Under Yan Tingfeng’s protection, no rain touched Ye Wanlan.

The "madman" mentioned by the assistant director turned out to be Zhou Hechen who had raced all the way from Jiangcheng. He was soaked to the skin and utterly disheveled.

Ye Wanlan stood still, three meters away from him.

Zhou Hechen showing up here almost instantaneously led her to surmise that Zhou Heyuan had commenced his maneuvering.

She didn’t mind adding fuel to the fire.

Killing held no appeal; tormenting the heart was the best method.

"Back then," Zhou Hechen raised his head, his eyes filled with hope, "was it you who saved me?"