In Shuangbai Village, Nan'ai City, clear river water flows over the small bridge at the easternmost edge of the village.
A simply dressed woman threw the washed clothes into a washbasin, then bent down to the riverbank and used the water to wash away the dirt on her hands.
"Sister Ou, are you still washing clothes? You have guests." A villager passing by the river called out.
"ah?"
"Oh, what? Look at that black car, isn't it parked in front of your house?" The villager said with a laugh as he walked across the small bridge.
Sister Ou glanced at her front door; the stark scene, just a few hundred meters away, unfolded clearly before her eyes. She picked up the laundry tub, suppressed the unease in her eyes, and walked towards her front door.
Only when they got closer could they see who it was.
Jiao Yuyin's appearance was truly beyond Sister Ou's expectations. She had thought it might be a member of the Jiao family, but she never expected it to be this decadent third young master who had been detached from the Jiao family for many years.
"Third Young Master," Sister Ou greeted him, placing the laundry tub in the yard. Then she straightened up, looked at Lu Yu standing next to Jiao Yuyin, glanced at him, and said, "I saw the news when you got married last year. It was great, very good. This rural courtyard is quite dilapidated, so please sit wherever you like."
After finishing her sentence, Sister Ou went about hanging up the laundry herself.
"Sister Ou, it's been a long time. Aren't you going to ask me why I came to see you?" Jiao Yuyin led Lu Yu to a shady spot in the courtyard and found her a chair to sit on. Then he turned and walked over to Sister Ou.
The clothes on the clothesline were hung up one by one.
The air in the countryside is clear and the ultraviolet rays are strong, making the scenery under the sunlight appear white.
Jiao Yuyin sat down at a gray wooden table next to the clothesline.
"I'm quite curious to know how you found me." After hanging up the clothes, Sister Ou sat down opposite Jiao Yuyin.
The two people in the sunlight could clearly see the changes in each other's expressions.
Jiao Yuyin shook his head and smiled, saying, "Back in the Jiao family, you doted on my second sister the most. My second sister was murdered, and I think... you should know that..."
Sister Ou's eyelids twitched slightly, very slightly. She tried to hide her panic and didn't say a word.
After a long while, Sister Ou seemed deflated. "If you've come here to ask about the Second Miss's cause of death, I think you've made a wasted trip. I don't know."
Jiao Yuyin did not miss Ou Jie's reaction. He pointed out, "Pregnancy, miscarriage, and then suicide. I think that if someone is determined to investigate, this matter cannot be kept secret."
"you--!"
Sister Ou's breath hitched, and her pupils dilated, revealing the horror she was still gripped by.
There was no gradual process of mutual probing.
Jiao Yuyin dropped a bombshell upon arrival. Unless this man was a fool, it proved that the Third Young Master before him was no longer the颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it implies a state of listlessness, decadence, and lack of ambition) Third Young Master. Instead, he had come prepared after accumulating sufficient power.
Jiao Yuyin didn't give Sister Ou time to calm down and continued, "I came here because I really have a question that I need Sister Ou to answer. My second sister was murdered after she became pregnant. Why didn't my father stop it? Was it because he couldn't or didn't want to? Or rather..." Jiao Yuyin paused for a few seconds, "Let me put it another way. My father is the one who orchestrated everything behind the scenes, right? Are you and Xin Chao currently under house arrest by my father? Give me an answer, and I'll get you out this time."
The emotions in Sister Ou's eyes shifted from horror to despair, and finally she suddenly laughed and said, "You've investigated this far, and your father still hasn't broken your legs."
"Sister Ou, don't you believe I can save you?" Jiao Yuyin glanced at Lu Yu without leaving a trace.
"I won't say a word about the Jiao family," Sister Ou said slowly. "Third Young Master, you're still too green. Don't think you're capable just because you manage a few more companies. You have to investigate everything. Take my advice, don't fight with your father. You can't win. No one in the Jiao family can beat him."
"What? My second sister fought with my dad before?" Jiao Yuyin caught a glimpse of the truth and wouldn't let it go.
Sister Ou hadn't expected Jiao Yuyin to be so perceptive. She regretted her words, but after a moment's thought, as if nothing else mattered, she didn't answer him, instead saying to herself, "It's too late... If you ask me... the power was out all day..."
Jiao Yuyin said, "All the surveillance cameras in the village are out of service, so you can speak with confidence and don't need to worry."
"Heh..." Sister Ou chuckled and sighed, "You've certainly prepared well. It seems you won't let this go easily. But threatening me won't be easy. Even your father couldn't do it, so do you think you can make a name for yourself?"
“You think I would threaten you with your daughter Xia? You’re overthinking it.” Jiao Yuyin instantly understood what Sister Ou meant and said, “You never have any contact with Xia, so the Jiao family’s affairs don’t affect her. Isn’t that why you say you’re not afraid of the Jiao family’s threats?”
"Anyway, Xia doesn't recognize me anymore..." Sister Ou looked at the sky in a daze, as if recalling a memory. "In my world, there has always only been Second Miss Hua Chang. I don't care about anyone else."
“I know Sister Ou has always been like this. But my second sister’s death was shrouded in mystery. Haven’t you thought about avenging her? My second sister was harmed by my eldest sister, Jiao Hua’an, because she was pregnant. What about my father? Why was my father so careful in handling my second sister’s case? Was it because of Tao Peng’s pharmaceutical factory? Because my second sister discovered Tao Peng’s pharmaceutical factory, right?” Jiao Yuyin expressed his conjecture, trying to elicit more memories from Sister Ou.
"I've already said, I won't give you the truth you want." Sister Ou snapped out of her reverie. "It's enough that Xin Chao can live; that's what I promised the Second Miss. The Third Young Master was able to find me, which means he put in the effort to investigate. Although I don't know how much you actually know, I can't say anything in order to fulfill the Second Miss's last wish. Don't try to find Xin Chao either. Keep your mouth shut, and I can save my life. If you speak, not only will I lose my life, but Xin Chao will too."
Jiao Yuyin glanced at Lu Yu and saw that Lu Yu's left thumb was resting on the tip of her index finger. That was the gesture the two of them had agreed on before they came.
Jiao Yuyin received the signal that Lu Yu had successfully heard the truth, and felt a little relieved.
“Sister Ou, are you sure you don’t want to come with me? At least I can arrange for someone to protect you.” Jiao Yuyin stood up.
"Good luck to you." Sister Ou splashed the bottom water of the laundry basin towards the door.
It's obvious enough to drive customers away.
Jiao Yuyin didn't linger and led Lu Yu into the car.
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