After the funeral, only Mo Lan returned to Family Jing. Jing Yiran was nowhere to be seen.

  His men reported to Jing Zhongxiu about the happenings at the funeral.

  “Lord, Second Master said that everyone in the family is the murderer, and he is going to kill the lady’s murderer.”


  The bodyguard, dressed in black, who conveyed the message was panicking. He was afraid that Jing Zhongxiu would get very furious.

  Jing Zhongxiu looked calm on the surface, but sounded really cold. “Get him back. Why does he have to fall for such an obvious trap? Shame on him! Once he is back, he will be grounded for half a year.”


  Jing Yiran was found by the bodyguards in a popular bar. He was clinging to a hot girl, dancing in the swimming pool. He was still wearing his trademark sinister smile as if nothing out of ordinary had happened.

  “Second Master, please come home with us.” The bodyguard-in-lead whispered in his ears, courteously. Despite the politeness, he still sounded quite intimidating as if he would use force if Jing Yiran didn’t follow him.

  Jing Yiran was looking like a typical wealthy boy and put his arm upon the bodyguard like he was his buddy. “Oh yeah? Am I not allowed to relax when my mother died? Must I stay at home to do the filial deeds for her? It is much more fun here than at home. There is no murderer here, only beautiful girls. I am going to be here for a while. When I get bored, I will return. Tell them not to worry!”


  The beautiful girl next to him got frightened upon hearing what he said. She was aghast that he was partying when his mother had just died. She slipped away quietly without even saying goodbye.

  “See, you rude people! You scared away my beauty. Who will keep me company in bed tonight, huh?” Jing Yiran said in a flirty manner to the bodyguard.

  The bodyguard-in-chief was already used to this dandy side of Jing Yiran. Without changing his expression, he said in a low voice, “Sorry, Second Master.” Then he ordered his men to carry him out.

  Jing Yiran didn’t struggle or protest. He was still smiling, yet his eyes were cold, creating a conspicuous contrast with the smile on his face.

  Mo Lan walked upto Jing Yiran as soon as he entered the living room. She had been worried about him ever since he disappeared earlier in the day. She was scared that he would do something stupid because of Zhang Rong’s death. Seeing him back intact, she let out a sigh of relief.

  She had raised Jing Yiran all by herself. Because of his identity, Jing Zhongxiu and Jing Tianyuan had not had any feelings towards him post his birth until he was seven or eight years old. That was when they started to accept him little by little.

  Mo Lan paid much more attention to Jing Yiran than to Jing Yichen when she was bringing up the boy. She was worried about everything – he might fall, he might feel cold and he might starve, so she kept indulging him all the time. Mo Lan favored him whenever he was bullied by Jing Yichen.

  Mo Lan’s heart was hurting for him even now because she could see the pain and fury in his eyes after his mother’s death.

  “Ran, where were you? It is so late now. Go to your room and try to sleep. Don’t think about anything. I will help you and won’t let anything happen to you.”


  She held his arms and pulled him down on the sofa. Then she asked the servant to bring a food tray in front of him.

  He hadn’t slept or eaten in the entire day. Even the strongest man needed sustenance.

  “I told the servants to make your favorite yam porridge. Eat one bowl and don’t drink anymore alright? Very bad for the health……”


  Mo Lan kept nagging him but Jing Yiran didn’t accept her care. He suddenly burst into a wild laughter and then flipped the tray containing the porridge and the exquisite dishes on the floor. Bowls and plates clattered on the ground, spilling the food in the entire room.

  Startled, Mo Lan took a step backwards.

  “Don’t want anything to happen to me? Alright then, kill the Elder Master of Family Jing. Where is he? Is he so scared that he ran away? Is he scared of me killing him?”


  Jing Yiran bellowed crazily standing in the living room.

  Mo Lan knew that Zhang Rong’s death was not an accident. But she did not believe that Jing Yichen was the culprit. He was an arrogant man, and would have admitted had he committed the crime.

  She was distressed seeing Jing Yiran behave in this manner. “Chen has nothing to do with it! Are you stupid enough to suspect your own brother? Someone is setting a trap to cause misunderstanding between the two of you. You mustn’t fall for that!”


  Jing Yiran flung off Mo Lan’s hands disdainfully. Mo Lan was in her 70s and was not strong enough to handle his force. She fell onto the ground and hurt her knees. Blood came out and she cried out in pain.

  Startled, the Butler who had never expected that Jing Yiran would push the old lady with such force, immediately spoke with the doctor through the walkie-talkie, ignoring Jing Yiran who was smashing things like a mad man.

  Then he went up to the old lady, “Lady, are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere? I have called the doctor. He is on his way!”


  Mo Lan nodded in pain, “I am fine, Lu. Take care of Ran so he doesn’t hurt himself.”


  Jing Yiran smashed all the cups and vases in the living room. He even smashed the chairs and tables as he cursed and laughed alongside.

  “I am mad? No! It is you who are mad to believe him. No one believes me. We are currently in a situation where either he or I will die. Peace? My mother is dead, and you will never have peace in the family. I will do everything without your help, so Family Jing will never- ever- be – in – peace!!”


  He said each word with hatred and he bellowed furiously. The phrase “never-ever-be-in-peace” echoed across the entire villa group.

  Jing Zhongxiu came out of the bedroom, frowning. He bellowed from the top, “Enough! Shut up now. Go to your room! Any more misbehaviour and you will never be allowed in Family Jing again!”


  That was when he saw an injured Mo Lan lying on the ground. Outraged, he went downstairs, and slapped Jing Yiran hard on his face and pushed him towards the broken porcelain pieces.

  It was the first time that Jing Zhongxiu had slapped Jing Yiran since he was born.