Chapter 186: They Were Mistaken

Hearing footsteps, Old Master Zhu and Zhu Yunchang turned their heads in unison and saw Ling Yao and Ling Xuemei slowly walking into the guest room.

Old Master Zhu’s gaze fell on Ling Xuemei’s beautiful face, and he was slightly stunned. A sense of familiarity surged through him.

He stared at Ling Xuemei’s eyes. They were similar, very similar. These eyes made him feel like he was seeing his deceased wife.

Zhu Yunchang was also stunned when he saw Ling Xuemei, but he quickly dismissed his fleeting guess. The woman in front of him just happened to look a little like his mother. There were many similar people in the world. It was impossible for her to be his little sister just because she looked alike.

“Dad! You wanted to see me?” Ling Yao smiled at Ji Yanting.

Ji Yanting nodded slightly, pointing at Old Master Zhu and Zhu Yunchang, “They’re here to apologize to you.” He had already decided to sever ties with the Zhu family, so he naturally wouldn’t give them any good face. They had bullied his daughter, so he, as her father, would naturally stand up for her.

“Oh?” Ling Yao raised her eyebrows with interest, her beautiful eyes sparkling with a hint of playful amusement. She turned to look at Old Master Zhu and his son, Zhu Yunchang.

Zhu Yunchang managed to squeeze out a smile, looking a little awkward and uncomfortable. If it had been before, he wouldn’t have cared about a little girl like Ling Yao.

But now, the Ji family, the Lu family, and the Chu family, three major families, were all against their Zhu family. They had no choice but to lower their status and come here to apologize in person.

“I’ve investigated what happened today. It was indeed our Zhu family’s fault. So, my father and I came here to apologize to you.”

He stood up, picked up an exquisite box on the table, walked to Ling Yao, and handed it to her, “This contains a set of emerald jewelry. I hope you’ll like it.”

He opened the jewelry box to let Ling Yao see the jewelry inside.

This set of emerald jewelry was a family heirloom of their Zhu family. It was considered a treasure and was rarely shown to others. Now, they were giving it away. He felt really heartbroken. But the Ji family and their Zhu family were both major families in Beijing. They wouldn’t care about ordinary gifts.

Moreover, if they didn’t show some sincerity this time and get Ling Yao’s forgiveness, their Zhu family would be kicked out of the major families in Beijing. So, they could only bear the pain and part with it.

Once this crisis was over, they would get their revenge sooner or later.

Ling Yao glanced at the jewelry box lightly, a faint smile playing on her lips, “Since you’ve given it with such sincerity, I won’t refuse.” Over the years, the Zhu family had tried to kill her and her mother more than once. Now, accepting these things was only fair.

Zhu Yunchang looked at the jewelry box with a heartbroken expression, “Then what happened today…”

“I haven’t taken it to heart.” Ling Yao smiled. It was the Ji family, the Lu family, and the Chu family who wanted to deal with the Zhu family. What did it have to do with her?

Hearing this, Zhu Yunchang and Old Master Zhu both breathed a sigh of relief, “Thank you for your magnanimity, Miss Ji.”

Then, they chatted with Old Master Ji and Ji Yanting for a while before getting up to leave the Ji family.

“Yaoyao, why did you forgive the Zhu family so easily?” Ji Yanting looked at Ling Yao disapprovingly. Although this set of jewelry was indeed good, the Ji family wasn’t lacking in such things.

Ling Yao blinked, a mischievous smile flashing across her face, “Dad, I never said I forgave them. They misunderstood. Besides, with the Zhu family’s narrow-mindedness and vengeful nature, if they had a chance to turn things around, they would definitely bring endless trouble to the Ji family. Since we’ve already taken action this time, we might as well go all out and make sure they never have a chance to turn things around.”

Ji Yanting couldn’t help but laugh, “I thought you really forgave the Zhu family. You little rascal.” If it had been just their Ji family, they wouldn’t have been able to deal with the Zhu family. But now it was different. Besides the Ji family, there was also the Lu family and the Chu family.

“I’m just collecting a little interest.” Ling Yao revealed a sly smile, gently shaking the jewelry box in her hand.

“You!” Ji Yanting shook his head helplessly, his eyes full of affection. He reached out and gently rubbed Ling Yao’s hair.

Old Master Ji, standing beside him, also showed a look of complete relief and joy. When Ling Yao accepted the Zhu family’s jewelry earlier, he thought she was superficial. Now, he realized he had misunderstood her. His granddaughter was not superficial at all. Instead, she was intelligent, witty, and scheming. She was truly extraordinary, worthy of being a descendant of their Ji family.

Ling Xuemei felt a little uneasy. After meeting Old Master Zhu and Zhu Yunchang, an indescribable feeling lingered in her heart, unable to be shaken off. It was an inexplicable feeling.

“Xuemei.” Ji Yanting called out several times.

Ling Xuemei finally came to her senses as if waking up from a dream, “Did you call me?”

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you distracted? Are you feeling unwell?” Ji Yanting looked at Ling Xuemei with concern.

Ling Xuemei shook her head gently, “I’m fine. The food is ready. Let’s go eat.” Perhaps it was her disgust with the Zhu family that made her feel so strange.

Old Master Zhu and Zhu Yunchang had just returned home when the phone on the table rang.

Zhu Yunchang went over and picked up the phone. After listening to what the other person said, he nodded with a smile and put down the phone.

“Dad! I found my little sister.”

“Really? Where is she?” Old Master Zhu was extremely excited. It seemed that Ling Xuemei wasn’t his daughter after all.

“She’ll be in Beijing tomorrow.” Zhu Yunchang said happily. They had been looking for their sister for over forty years. Finally, she was coming home.

“Good, good.” Old Master Zhu was overjoyed. His daughter had been found. His wife could rest in peace now.

At this moment, a train was speeding along the tracks. The scenery outside the window was constantly changing like a movie.

A middle-aged woman sitting by the window was excited, her eyes filled with anticipation and excitement. After getting off the train, she would be a city dweller. From then on, she would enjoy a life of comfort, wealth, and luxury.

This transformation all stemmed from an event that happened three days ago.

At that time, several strangers suddenly came to their village, saying they were looking for something. They showed a photo as a clue. Anyone who could provide a clue would receive a generous reward.

She was also tempted, so she went to look at the photo. When she saw it, her memory instantly flooded back. Wasn’t the person they were looking for the treasure her parents had left her?