Chapter 131 A Good Hand Played Wrong

Shao Muyan was lying on the bed, separated from Yu Yan by a wall.

Even though more than an hour had passed, that restless heart was still pounding, faster than the second hand of a clock.

My phone vibrated; it was a message from Song Cheng.

Has Yu Yan passed away?

Thinking of this troublemaker, Shao Muyan didn't know whether to curse him or thank him.

【Um. 】

Another message came quickly: "Nothing happened?"

"..." Shao Muyan replied to him: 【Get lost.】

Song Cheng calmed down.

Turning off his phone, Shao Muyan covered his eyes with his arm, slowly processing everything that had happened that night.

It's alright, there's been some progress.

—

The next morning was Thursday.

Shao Muyan said he had promised his teacher he would go to Meisuli this afternoon. He had originally planned to ask Yu Yan yesterday if she would go with him, but she came over instead.

"I'll go." This time, Yu Yan didn't refuse. "I've already arranged the time."

Shao Muyan had mentioned this to her a while ago; she had wanted to visit her grandparents in Meisuli for a long time.

“Okay.” Shao Muyan smiled.

If Yu Yan is willing to go with him, that would be wonderful.

The two of them got ready and went out, planning to have breakfast together at the cafeteria.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they went downstairs, they saw Principal Mu's son, Mu Sheng, walking his dog. Old Master Mu was sitting on a bench by the flower bushes, watching Shao Muyan and Yu Yan walk out of a unit door.

They looked at each other and were all stunned.

Shao Muyan and Yu Yan both looked a little awkward, but they still stepped forward, bowed, and greeted each other.

"Uncle Yan, Sister Yan."

Mu Sheng was a junior high school student, at the age of adolescence and still not fully understanding anything. His clear eyes were full of surprise: "You two are living together?"

"..."

What was a perfectly normal "roommate" relationship was transformed into something inappropriate by the way this child described it so sweetly.

"Don't talk nonsense." Yu Yan widened her eyes, trying to scare the child. "We're just roommates."

"Oh, oh, oh."

Mu Sheng gave an "OK" sign. "I understand. I promise I won't go out and spread rumors."

Yu Yan thought to herself: You'd better be.

Shao Muyan tapped Mu Sheng's forehead, knowing that explaining things would only make matters worse. He exchanged a glance with Yu Yan and they both decided to leave it at that.

The two of them continued to work separately in the morning, each busy with their own tasks.

After a brief derailment, it seems to be back on track.

As soon as they entered the research center, the students rubbed their hands together and hunched their shoulders, saying, "The weather is getting colder and colder, and winter is just around the corner."

Looking at the desolate branches outside the window, Shao Muyan couldn't help but smile, feeling that his spring was coming.

...

While Yu Yan was extremely busy these past few days, Xiang Jingheng was also so busy that he practically slept at the company.

As the tax bureau investigated, accounting problems were found in several subsidiaries of Xiangshi Technology, and two of Xiang Jingheng's half-brothers were imprisoned.

Chairman Xiang was so angry that he was throwing tantrums at home every day, and everyone in the Xiang family and company was on edge.

Mrs. Xiang is still making sarcastic remarks at home, since it wasn't her son who went in.

It's better if those others go in; in the end, the family fortune will only belong to her, Jinglan, and Jingheng. Let's see how those little vixens can still be so smug now.

Xiang Jinglan shared the same sentiment and specifically instructed Xiang Jingheng not to meddle in these matters, saying, "Have you forgotten how they bullied us when we were kids? I'll remember this grudge for the rest of my life."

Xiang Jingheng frowned. He knew the principle that the family's fate was intertwined; if those few really went down, it would be detrimental to the Xiang family or Xiang's Technology.

He accompanied Chairman Xiang on his errands and had to deal with Gan Xiaoxing's occasional harassment.

Gan Xiaoxing really suffered this time after being kidnapped.

She spent several days in the hospital, her body wrapped in bandages, her face covered in medicine and gauze, suffering immense physical and mental devastation.

The last time she was kidnapped, Yu Yan stood in front of her and Xiang Chu to protect them. She fought an exceptionally fierce battle with those men, fighting ten against one. Of course, she was outnumbered and paid a terrible price.

At the time, Yu Yan was hitting her while telling her to cover Xiang Chu's eyes, afraid of scaring the child.

But she could only cower in the corner and watch helplessly as Yu Yan's legs were broken by those people, and how she was hung up and humiliated...

Gan Xiaoxing never imagined that such a thing would happen to her one day.

She thought she had the courage and ability to resist, but she completely overestimated herself. She was utterly defeated. She didn't have Yu Yan's abilities or courage.

When she was being tortured beyond measure, Gan Xiaoxing longed for someone to come and save her.

She shouted Xiang Jingheng's name in her heart. She wished Yu Yan was still alive. If Yu Yan were still alive, she wouldn't have to suffer all this bullying. She could let those beasts do whatever they wanted to Yu Yan.

...But no one came to save her, and no one cared about her anymore.

Gan Xiaoxing hated it, she hated it so much.

Why does she have to endure all this? She is clearly a favored daughter of heaven, a darling of God, isn't she?

Who stole her luck?

The hospital ward's television was broadcasting news about Yu Yan's collaboration with Huaxiang Technology. The new chip developed by WD Research Lab has achieved several original breakthroughs in materials and device design. Now, Yu Yan is leading her research team and Huaxiang Technology's laboratory to continue in-depth research into cutting-edge chip technologies, aiming to develop a revolutionary ultra-low-power chip to solve the technical challenges of domestically produced chips.

Yu Yan has been directly referred to by official media as a "chip genius" and a rare female scientist in China.

Looking at Yu Yan's numerous accolades and countless honors, and then at her own current disheveled state, Gan Xiaoxing became even more certain that Yu Yan must have used some underhanded tricks to steal her luck.

All this fame, fortune, and honor should rightfully belong to her!

But now she can no longer stand up straight.

She was ostracized by the scientific research and academic communities, and her reputation in the online celebrity world was ruined. She couldn't even pursue a controversial online persona anymore, as her previous accounts were banned.

She didn't dare to open it, because if she did, she would see videos about her, but instead of the praise that Yu Yan received, there would be nothing but sarcasm and insults.

Gan Xiaoxing used to be the center of attention wherever she went, always the most dazzling star. She had never experienced anything like this before.

When I review my own hand, I keep thinking: How could I have played such a good hand so badly?

She was angry with Gan Tai every day, asking Xiang Jingheng why he hadn't come to see her yet.

"If he had handed the money over to those bandits earlier, would I have been ruined like this? I don't care, Xiang Jingheng has to take responsibility for me for the rest of my life. He can't get rid of me!"

Mrs. Gan has been exhausted by her family these days, and her face looks much older.

"Xing, stop making a scene. Jingheng has already been good enough to you. You threw his son into the water, almost killing Xiang Chu. Do you think he can forgive you?"

Speaking of this, Gan Xiaoxing was still in the wrong, but she quickly became righteous again, "I was just joking, I didn't really want to do anything to Xiang Chu. Besides, I've already paid such a terrible price, isn't that enough? Mom, you really have to find a way to get Xiang Jingheng over here. He cares about me, and he'll soften when he sees me like this. Who else would want me now but him?"

Looking at her daughter's disfigured face, Mrs. Gan thought to herself, "You've done this to me. Xiang Jingheng isn't a fool. How could he possibly give up such a good ex-wife and choose you instead?"

But what her daughter said was right; nowadays, apart from Xiang Jingheng, they really have no other good match.

Gan Tai hardened her heart and said, "Fine, then I'll go all out one more time. But Xiaoxing, you promise Mom you can't be willful anymore. Jingheng is only responsive to gentle persuasion. If you really want to win him over, you'll have to change your temper."

Gan Xiaoxing nodded like a chick pecking at rice, her face full of determination.

"Don't worry, I'm sure I can get Jingheng. As long as he's willing to come, I will never let him slip through my fingers again."