Chapter Twenty-Six: Seeing Qin Rao Again
Since Yun Yao gained favor, his treatment at Cuiwei Manor has undergone a dramatic change.
Especially in those less publicized relationships and social interactions. Every once aloof and taciturn butler or servant has changed their demeanor, becoming kind and amiable, and even has many people who flatter them in private.
The most obvious example is Steward Cheng, who recommended Yun Yao to the madam in the first place. On this day, Steward Cheng excitedly called Yun Yao aside and told him in a friendly manner that he had arranged for him to meet someone outside the manor.
"Yun Yao, this usually requires a special application, but I happen to have another special approval opportunity. I don't need it myself, so I'll let you use it," Butler Cheng said with a smile. "By the way, Qin Rao and the others have been wanting to see you again these past few days. We could talk to you about your father's matter, what do you think..."
Yun Yao realized that she hadn't heard any news about her father's case for a while, so she agreed to Butler Cheng's arrangement, even though she really didn't want to see Qin Rao and the others again.
The day we met, the sky was overcast, like the calm before a storm.
Because she was worried about news about her father's case, Yun Yao arrived at the place she had arranged to meet with Butler Cheng a little early, only to unexpectedly run into three people chatting happily.
He hid under the tall shade of the camphor tree, watching Butler Cheng, Qin Rao, and Zhao Shi chatting and laughing inside the house. Yun Yao couldn't hear what the three of them were saying, but for some reason, this scene made him feel uneasy.
The boy had a keen intuition, though he didn't quite understand at the moment that this discomfort was actually the disgust he felt when he saw these three people gleefully celebrating their dirty gains after devouring his flesh like vultures.
At this moment, Qin Rao, who had just been talking to Butler Cheng, suddenly stopped. As if sensing something, she raised her sharp eyes and warily scanned the outside of the window.
With just one glance, she saw Yun Yao under the shade of the tree.
Qin Rao was stunned for a moment, staring blankly at the boy who had been haunting her dreams these past few days.
Following Qin Rao's gaze, Zhao Shi and Butler Cheng also saw Yun Yao, and they stopped their conversation somewhat awkwardly.
Butler Cheng strode out and welcomed Yun Yao inside. "Oh dear, Yun Yao, you've come so early! I didn't even notice. Come in quickly, Qin Rao and the others have been waiting inside for a while."
Yun Yao entered the house, ignoring Qin Rao's burning gaze that seemed to set him ablaze. He only said to Butler Cheng, "I just arrived not long ago, Butler Cheng, thank you for your help this time."
Butler Cheng smiled kindly and waved his hand, saying, "It's nothing, no trouble at all. Yunyao, time is limited, you talk to them, I'll wait for you outside."
After Butler Cheng left, Zhao Shi glanced at Qin Rao and then at Yun Yao, feeling awkward. He simply greeted Yun Yao and followed her out. Only Qin Rao and Yun Yao remained in the room.
Qin Rao gazed at the boy she hadn't seen in so long, her heart filled with both excitement and bitterness.
Once upon a time, she and Yun Yao were inseparable lovers, but now, she can only visit him as an old friend of his mother.
The boy looked a bit thinner than before, but his eyebrows were still like distant mountains and his eyes were like stars, so handsome that people couldn't take their eyes off him.
The thought that the scenery that only she could enjoy was now being seen by another person made Qin Rao feel a surge of jealousy.
She spoke with a hint of bitterness in her voice, "Yun'er, are you... are you alright? That lady, is she good to you?"
Yun Yao ignored her inexplicable emotions. He glanced at Qin Rao and asked bluntly, "Qin Rao, what happened to the news you had Butler Cheng bring me about the postponement of my father's trial? Has the situation changed recently?"
Qin Rao glanced at the boy with complicated emotions. She could only smile bitterly at his cold attitude; she had indeed wronged him first, so how could she still have any expectations? After Yun Yao left, Qin Rao found that she had actually developed a conscience and was even capable of self-reflection.
At this moment, she had no choice but to suppress her emotions and tell the boy the news from outside: "Yun'er, you don't need to worry too much about your father's case. As I told you last time, not only has the second trial of this case been postponed, but it seems that there will be changes to the group of people in charge who were recently transferred here. Now it seems that the news of the transfer is true, and there is a high probability that a new leader will be parachuted in soon. Moreover, judging from this situation, the person who originally led the retrial in the case is unlikely to have an advantage."
At this point, Qin Rao turned to look at the lush, ancient trees and verdant vegetation of Cuiwei Villa outside the window, and sighed softly, "In the economic field, that lady is a top authority. Without her, some concepts would never have come into being."
She looked at the boy again, her expression a mix of emotions, and said, "We really made the right choice. What's that word, 'dimensional reduction attack'? Your father's case, which seems to have caused a stir in the city, is actually just an insignificant pebble in the context of Cuiwei Manor. Why use a sledgehammer to crack a nut? There are plenty of people willing to do the work."
Qin Rao's pointed and meaningful words left Yun Yao silent. He wondered if he had been drawn into a vortex even larger and deeper than the one in Nanhang. He felt as insignificant as dust, and feared that he had no choice but to drift along with the current.
Looking at the young man's calm face, Qin Rao couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion. She coaxed him as before, saying, "This time your father really has to thank you, Yun'er. Without you, he would be in jail until he dies. Also, there are countless people outside who envy and are jealous of you. They don't know who you are, but they are extremely envious of the new favorite who has won the favor of that lady. These guys can't wait for the lady to expand her harem so that their people can also have a chance to get a share."
Yun Yao frowned as he listened, and couldn't help but interrupt Qin Rao: "Madam is not that kind of person." He glanced at Qin Rao and continued, "Madam is not you."
This glance ignited Qin Rao's anger, and the jealousy that had been churning within her since she entered resurfaced. She couldn't help but blurt out, "Yes, yes, that lady is such a noble, sacred, and transcendent person, how can I compare?"
She stared at the young man and said sarcastically, "Yun Yao, I wonder if your beloved wife is still so sacred and detached when she releases her desires on you every night?"
Yun Yao was shocked. His first reaction was not anger, but to quickly look around and shout in alarm, "Qin Rao, are you crazy!"
Qin Rao felt a pang of regret and fear after her impulsive words left her mouth. Fortunately, the surroundings remained quiet, and no one came out to punish her for her disrespect.
Yun Yao glanced at Qin Rao with some anger, unable to help but resent her for speaking without thinking.
Seeing Qin Rao's unusually guilty expression, Yun Yao recalled the scene he had just witnessed of Qin Rao, Butler Cheng, and the other two laughing and joking, and felt even more uneasy.
A fire burned within the boy, tormenting him yet offering no outlet. For some reason, he suddenly recalled Xing Yu's earlier words: Xing Yu had indignantly speculated that Qin Rao must be colluding with Yun Yao's father in prison. These two, both deeply connected to Yun Yao in some way, might have conspired to orchestrate everything that was happening now…
Although Yun Yao didn't want to believe that his father would betray him with Qin Rao at the time, at this moment, he had an urgent urge to prove something.
Taking advantage of Qin Rao's still somewhat flustered state, Yun Yao suddenly opened the door unexpectedly and asked, "Qin Rao, have you seen my father again? What did you talk about?"
Qin Rao was taken aback, but quickly recovered and said with a fake smile, "Yun'er, what are you talking about? How could I have the time to visit someone in prison? Or do you want me to go see your father for you?"
Qin Rao reacted quickly, but Yun Yao had already keenly caught her initial look of surprise and guilt. Yun Yao closed his eyes in despair, then swayed and collapsed into a chair. The boy was in immense pain; his dearest father really did know everything, yet he still forced himself to remain silent…
"Yun'er..." Qin Rao was startled by the boy's reaction. She quickly stepped forward to support him, but before she could even touch him, the boy pushed her away.
Yun Yao, her eyes red and swollen, looked at Qin Rao with resentment and pain. "Go away! I don't want to see you right now! Go away!"
Qin Rao had no choice but to repeatedly urge the young man to calm down, explaining that she truly hadn't conspired with Yun Yao's father. But Yun Yao was no longer interested in her sweet talk and chased her out. Seeing this, Butler Cheng didn't dare provoke him and could only let Yun Yao calm down by himself.
Just then, the gloomy sky suddenly started pouring rain again, and a cold wind carrying damp, chilly air swept through the room.
Yun Yao lay slumped on the table, suffocating in agony, wanting to cry but unable to shed a tear. He never imagined that his father, who had doted on him since childhood, his own father, could treat him like this... Had the hardship and fear of imprisonment completely changed him, making him disregard blood ties and sell his son for personal gain?
In her anguish, Yun Yao tried to find various reasons for her father's behavior, but ultimately she could not convince herself otherwise.
He wandered into the torrential rain outside like a lost soul, wanting the cold rain to extinguish the agonizing flames in his heart, or perhaps he simply didn't want to think about anything, only wanting the rain to wash away everything, to wash away his gloomy, manipulated, and deceived life...
He walked aimlessly in the rain, not knowing how long he had walked, until someone called his name and grabbed him, at which point he lost consciousness and fainted.
...
In the medical room, Butler Cheng watched his wife arrive with trepidation. He had never seen her with such a pale face before. His heart pounded, and he became even more cautious.
Yun Yao had been running a high fever and was in a coma ever since he got caught in the rain that day. His wife found all sorts of top-notch doctors and nurses for him, and tried every possible method before he finally started to improve somewhat.
The lady sat by Yun Yao's bedside, gently stroking the boy's pale face. Butler Cheng stood by, not daring to make a sound.
At this moment, the lady called out to Butler Cheng in a low voice, "Shiyao, Dr. Lin from the Provincial Intermediate People's Hospital just came to see you and said that Yun'er's prolonged unconsciousness is due to emotional distress. Do you know the reason?"
Butler Cheng's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly stepped forward respectfully, replying, "Madam, Yun Yao did meet with an old friend from his parents' side. I dare to guess that it might be because of Yun Yao's father's matter..."
He recalled his deal with Qin Rao, and now was the perfect opportunity. So he gave his wife a detailed report on Yun Yao's father's case, concluding, "I am ignorant, but in my opinion, Yun Yao is a loyal and righteous child. He must be too worried about his father's situation in prison to be so troubled..."
At this moment, Yun Yao, who was unconscious in her hospital bed, was completely unaware of all that had happened...
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