Jing Yun kept his calm and told Sheng Xiao about what happened, who in turn glared at him when he was finished.

  “Don’t either of you know restraint? Even my mom saw you two at it.”


  Jing Yun went stiff at that.

  After all, how could a person having his first love know that he was being excessively intimate with the other?

  And in the end, both he and Sheng Minglan only had eyes for each other.

  “It’s easy with Mom since she is siding with us. But as for Sixth Brother… you know that he has a score to settle with us because of Sixth Sister. It’s not hard to hold him for now, but you would eventually have to plan for it.”


  “I plan… to meet the Xu family.” Jing Yun replied.

  He wanted the truth because he doesn’t want things to be left in such confusion. And more importantly, he would reclaim his position, and at least not be seen by Sixth Brother as a dog of the Sheng family.

  Sheng Xiao certainly didn’t know that Sixth Brother had said something like that to Jing Yun, or he wouldn’t be sitting contentedly right now.

  Whatever the case may be, Sixth Brother was a time bomb right now.

  “You should make the arrangements if you intend to meet the Xu family. Who do you intend to meet, Xu Yihong or the Xu couple?

  Jing Yun watched Sheng Xiao but said nothing, because he was leaning towards meeting the Xu couple.

  ***

  Meanwhile, Sixth Brother was restless when he returned home. He paced around his room because he was now holding a great secret.

  He really wanted to tell Grandpa Sheng so that he punished Jing Yun. What brought about that insolence of his?

  He wanted the old man to give Jing Yun a thorough beat down, and have him know what was knowing his place.

  Even so, Sixth Brother knew that the old man would punish Sheng Minglan severely as well once he shed light on the matter. While he knew that Sixth Sister and Fourth Sister had their differences, the one responsible was Mu Qiqi, which was why he wasn’t pinning as much blame on Fourth Sister.

  And Mama Sheng’s mission was therefore to watch him.

  She had received Sheng Xiao’s call, and knew that her fears were about to come true.

  Still, no one else had yet to put two and two together at the moment. After all, it was because Sheng Xiao knew very well how far the influence of Huang Yao extended that he only went to so few places with Mu Qiqi back when they were still dating.

  Right now, any single hour they could buy was one hour they could use.

  ***

  At night, Jing Yun started packing when he reached home, pretending as if he was going outstation.

  Sheng Minglan couldn’t help being puzzled. “I didn’t hear from Eighth Brother about going anywhere. Could you be going alone?”


  Jing Minglan paused then, straightening himself as he held Sheng Minglan. “I’m going to… find myself.”


  That left Sheng Minglan puzzled. “Can you explain?”


  “I’ve actually found my parents and my identity, but I’ve not met them yet. There are many questions I have in my head that need answering, which is why I intend to go to them for a bit.”


  At that, Sheng Minglan suddenly understood why Jing Yun had been behaving a little unusually recently. “Why would you only tell me that now?”


  “Because I haven’t thought about what I should do before.”


  “I’m going with you.” Sheng Minglan told him firmly then. “This way, I would know immediately if something happens to you… or I would be constantly worried.”


  “But Sixth Young Master saw us today. I’m afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from telling the chairman—that’s why I’m leaving you to stay with young master at Jing Ting. This is the only way I can be at ease.”


  “Jing Yun, I’ve said I’m going with you.” Sheng Minglan insisted. “I want to know why your family abandoned you too.”


  Helpless, Jing Yun eventually compromised. “By the time we come back to Jianchuan, news about us would spread.”


  “It would happen eventually anyway, wouldn’t it?”


  Sheng Minglan wasn’t afraid at all.

  In fact, she was a little happy.

  She had long since wanted to tell the world about who Jing Yun was, that she loved him, that she would be with him and none shall come in their way.

  “You should sleep. I’ll pack.”


  Since the Xu family had yet to move entirely into Jian Chuan, the Xu couple was still in another city.

  Sheng Minglan nodded and clenched Jing Yun’s hand. “Whatever happens… whatever storm may come, I would face it with you. I’m weak, but I fear nothing when I’m with you.”


  ***

  Jing Yun called Sheng Xiao, asking that he keep Sixth Brother in check for the time being, or at least stop anything from happening while he was still away from Jianchuan.

  He was actually cowed inwardly, and reluctant to bring trouble for Sheng Minglan, but with her so firmly holding his hand and staying with him, he wouldn’t be a man if he back down now.

  After all, they were as good as married.

  Whatever the future brings, he would do all he can to stand against the mountain that was Grandpa Sheng.

  For Sheng Minglan, he would sacrifice everything—even his own life.

  Hand-in-hand, they sat at the airport.

  This time, he would search for the answers of he was.

  ***

  “Jing Yun has become brave.” Mu Qiqi was promptly relieved when she learned that Jing Yun and Sheng Minglan had left together. “Although there’s no telling when the time bomb that is Sixth Brother would explode.”


  “Don’t you think that Jing Yun is still afraid? He’s not. He would stand in front of Sheng Minglan even if it means taking ten thousand arrows to the chest.”


  “I hope Jing Yun could get a good ending on his trip this time.”


  Unbeknownst to Mu Qiqi, however, was that Grandpa Sheng was sneakily doing something.

  Even as she was worried over Jing Yun and Sheng Minglan, she didn’t know that her own situation was the most worrying.

  After all, the old man had gotten his wish and managed to reach the Gu family, and having an initial understanding with them.

  As for whether his plan would come to fruition in three days, that would depend on whether Miss Gu would be willing to work together with him.

  ***

  On the other hand, Sixth Brother could hardly be at ease.

  Mama Sheng had caught him passing by the old man’s study many times over the day, and one could imagine how much that weasel wanted to tell the old man.

  His younger sister had already made such an utter mess of things. Was he going to do the same?

  Sixth Brother believed that he must keep his word since he could afford to give Jing Yun a day, so that he would break up with Sheng Minglan. Since the day wasn’t away, he shouldn’t go back on his word.

  Nonetheless, he didn’t expect to find that Jing Yun’s phone was out of the service area when he tried to call him, just like Sheng Minglan.

  Could it be that the pair eloped, knowing that big trouble was at hand?

  Sixth Brother’s face fell at the very thought…