Chapter 53 The Secret from Six Years Ago

My stomach was churning and twisting, a very uncomfortable feeling.

Yu Yan had drunk too much alcohol. She rarely indulged herself like this, let alone such self-destructive behavior, but she could only cover up her discomfort with her physical pain.

After squatting on the ground and vomiting, Yu Yan felt completely exhausted and couldn't help but fall to the side, where she was caught by a strong hand.

She knew it was Uncle Yan.

"Here, rinse your mouth."

Shao Muyan supported her limp body with one arm and handed her a glass of warm water, which Yu Yan rinsed her mouth as instructed.

After vomiting, my muddled mind cleared up a bit.

She turned her head and met Shao Muyan's soft yet deep eyes, which were filled with heartache and worry, as if they were about to overflow.

She was suddenly taken aback.

In her twenty-eight years of life, Yu Yan's only romantic relationship was with Xiang Jingheng, but even during their marriage, she had never seen such a look in Xiang Jingheng's eyes.

"Uncle Yan, I'm alright..."

Yu Yan was still drunk; she felt as if she were floating in the clouds, her body unsteady on its feet.

From marriage to divorce, from abroad to returning, all the things I've experienced over the years have been more serious than this thesis incident, but my tense nerves suddenly couldn't hold on any longer. It's as if all the strength I've been holding on with has just collapsed.

They broke up just like that.

"I really don't understand."

Yu Yan bit her lip hard, causing blood to seep from her lips. Seeing this, Shao Muyan's eyes darkened, and he reached out to wipe away the blood.

"Yu Yan, don't bite so hard... What don't you understand?"

He asked softly, almost coaxing her to continue.

She needed to vent her emotions, and he was willing to be her outlet.

"I don't understand. If Xiang Jingheng cared so much about Gan Xiaoxing, why didn't he marry her back then, but instead married me?"

Yu Yan had actually thought about this problem for a long time, but she couldn't figure it out no matter how hard she tried.

She asked Xiang Jingheng, who said she was being unreasonable.

"Heh..." Yu Yan laughed self-deprecatingly, "I was too stupid, I married myself without thinking. Actually, back then, it was an accident. I had a relationship with Xiang Jingheng and soon found out I was pregnant. I was too young then and panicked. Xiang Jingheng said he would take responsibility for me, and my parents said I would take responsibility for the child... Six years ago, I was twenty-two years old and I wasn't mature enough myself."

"Six years ago..." Shao Muyan seemed to suddenly recall something, and his expression changed abruptly.

Yu Yan noticed that his expression was off. "What's wrong, Uncle Yan?"

Shao Muyan met Yu Yan's eyes. "Six years ago, I also had an accident. I've been investigating the truth of what happened back then."

He rarely showed a helpless, bitter smile, his eyes cold.

"Don't tell me you were only twenty-two back then. Six years ago, I was almost thirty and I still did such a foolish thing."

Yu Yan had no idea that Uncle Yan, who was always omnipotent, had such an experience. How could someone as capable as him be the same as her? He was probably just trying to comfort her.

She said, "Uncle Yan, it's not your fault."

"I know that some things are beyond our control and cannot be reversed at the time."

Shao Muyan said, "So, there's no need to be so hard on yourself. Figure out what needs to be figured out, let go of what needs to be let go, and let's all look forward."

He patted Yu Yan's head, and Yu Yan felt the warmth and nodded gently.

Perhaps some of the thorns buried in her heart were pulled out, or perhaps Uncle Yan and she exchanged their hidden pains and secrets.

Yu Yan felt much more relaxed.

Shao Muyan half-supported, half-carried her to the bed, leaning down slightly to ask, "Would you like some hangover soup? Or do you want to continue drinking?"

His voice was soft, so gentle it sounded incredibly tender to Yu Yan.

“...hangover soup,” she said.

Shao Muyan raised the corner of his lips. "Okay."

He didn't close the door or turn off the light, and just turned around and went downstairs.

Yu Yan tilted her head slightly, watching Shao Muyan's tall and upright figure walk down step by step. Knowing that he would be back soon, she felt more at ease than ever before.

Down-to-earth.

Yu Yan stared at the ceiling, silently repeating those two words in her heart, truly feeling somewhat intoxicated.

—

The listening device was discovered simultaneously by Yu Yan and Shao Muyan.

The required materials have been submitted, but this matter is far from over. They are not fools, and of course they need to find out exactly how the paper was stolen.

From the beginning, Shao Muyan and Yu Yan suspected that someone might have installed listening devices in their home, after all, some organizations would stop at nothing to steal secrets.

I searched almost every nook and cranny of the house, but I didn't find any bad signals.

Later, Yu Yan started disassembling her own computer.

She disassembled the laptop into pieces, but Yu Yan never suspected the little monkey stuck to it.

Until... Shao Muyan and Yu Yan's gazes fell on it at the same time.

At that moment, Yu Yan felt a chill run down her spine.

Shao Muyan took the little monkey off and asked Yu Yan, "I wanted to ask you that day, what is this?"

Yu Yan almost lost her voice for a moment, her entire throat felt blocked.

"This is... a gift from Xiang Chu."

When Yu Yan said those words, some of the answers were already obvious.

—Sure enough, this is the bugging device.

It's far away, yet right before my eyes.

Yu Yan guarded against everyone—fire, theft, and backstabbing—but never thought of guarding against her own son.

But then, Xiang Chu delivered a fatal blow to her!

When Yu Yan first discovered the electromagnetic chip on the little monkey, she knew it was sent by Xiang Chu and thought it was just an ordinary toy.

Yu Yan had gotten along well with Xiang Chu a few days ago, which made her feel good and lower her guard. She never expected that her joy would turn into sorrow. Life will always slap you in the face when you least expect it and teach you a lesson.

Let me tell you to wake up and stop being so cocky!

She was too cocky and completely unprepared, so she helped Chu Hui steal Gan Xiaoxing's thesis.

Three years ago, three years later.

She lost to the same woman both times.

They still don't learn their lesson.

—

Shao Muyan cooked her a bowl of hangover soup, which Yu Yan obediently drank.

After finishing the soup, Yu Yan leaned against the headboard, staring intently at Shao Muyan. After a moment of eye contact, Shao Muyan couldn't help but laugh.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you still want a drink?"

I'm full.

Yu Yan didn't eat much today, just drank water. The hangover soup that Shao Muyan cooked tasted much better than the wine, making her feel like she was soaking in warm water, which made her feel much more comfortable.

"Uncle Yan," Yu Yan looked directly at him, "you...aren't you going to scold me?"

Shao Muyan was taken aback, then understood what she was talking about. He put down the bowl in his hand and smiled faintly.

Why did I scold you?

Yu Yan pursed her lips. "If your students encountered this situation, would you help them in the same way?"

Shao Muyan nodded. "Yes."

Yu Yanxin paused for a moment, unable to describe the feeling in her heart.

There's nothing wrong with that answer. Uncle Yan is a very good teacher, and if he can help her so wholeheartedly, he will only be more devoted to his students.

“But I will teach them a lesson,” Shao Muyan suddenly added.

Yu Yan suddenly looked up, "Huh?"

Shao Muyan sat on the chair by the bed, arms crossed, a half-smile on his face. “I will not only scold them, but I will also make them reflect on their actions seriously and submit a self-criticism of no less than 10,000 words.”

"..."

Even though Shao Muyan said it with a smile, Yu Yan's heart tightened and she sat up straight.

Why are you so nervous?

Shao Muyan chuckled and reached out to tap her forehead. "I didn't scold you or make you write a self-criticism."

Yu Yan blushed and lowered her head in embarrassment.

"Then you..." Yu Yan raised her head again, looking at him, "Why didn't you scold me?"

Shao Muyan looked at her quietly, as if his heart was also blocked because of her low spirits.

“You’re already suffering enough. I don’t want to make things worse if I can help you share some of the burden.”

Yu Yan looked at him, her eyes unconsciously reddening.

"Okay, don't be sad, even the biggest problems will pass."

Shao Muyan stood up and patted her head with his large, warm hand. "Fortunately, this incident didn't cause any more serious consequences, and the thesis was saved. We've all learned from our mistakes."

Yu Yan nodded, holding back her tears.

When she looked up again, her eyes showed determination.

"Uncle Yan, I can't let this matter pass by in a muddled way."

Yu Yan's voice was deep, "If this incident really was a conspiracy between Xiang Chu and Gan Xiaoxing to frame me, then the nature of this matter is even more serious for me than the theft of my thesis."

Shao Muyan nodded; he understood what Yu Yan meant.

"Xiang Chu is still young. If the sapling grows crooked, it can still be pruned. It's not a good thing to spoil him."

Shao Muyan's expression also turned serious.

"However, from my observation, Xiang Chu may not have known. No matter how cunning a child is, he can't do bad things openly. Xiang Chu may have been used in the whole thing. The real bad guy is the one behind the scenes."

Yu Yan's gaze was cold and sharp, with a hint of sarcasm.

Even with Gan Xiaoxing like this, Xiang Jingheng still protects her indiscriminately; love really can make people lose their minds.