Chapter 19

That night, Yun Yin had a terrible dream.

In the dream, she seemed trapped in a massive cage, struggling desperately but unable to escape.

She was lucidly aware that she was dreaming, yet her eyelids felt tightly sewn shut, impossible to open.

At six in the morning, as dawn began to break, Yun Yin finally jolted awake from the nightmare.

Her eyes wide open, she stared blankly at the ceiling.

After a moment, she raised her hand and pressed it against her chest.

Thump, thump.

Her heart was beating.

She was still alive.

Now, trying to recall the dream, she found it had vanished completely, leaving only a hazy white void in its place.

Yun Yin stopped trying to remember the dream, but even with her eyes closed, sleep refused to return.

She remained awake until the sky was fully bright.

As she prepared to get up, her phone rang. The screen displayed “Big Brother.”

Yun Yang?

Yun Yin paused, then slowly picked up the phone.

The moment she answered, Yun Yang’s impatient voice snapped through the line: “Why did it take you so long to answer?”

“What is it?” Yun Yin asked directly.

“Mom’s birthday is in two days. Dad wants you to come home that day for a family dinner to celebrate.”

Yun Yin listened thoughtfully. Knowing Yun Cheng’s cunning nature, she doubted this was merely an invitation to eat.

There was likely something else he wanted her to do.

With this in mind, Yun Yin casually inquired, “Is there anything else?”

“Oh, by the way,” Yun Yang said casually, “remember to bring Pei Yu with you.”

She’d guessed correctly. The dinner invitation was just a pretext, seeing Pei Yu was the real purpose.

“I’ll try,” Yun Yin replied.

“What do you mean ‘try’?” Yun Yang frowned instantly at her evasive answer. “With you there, Pei Yu wouldn’t dare disrespect our family.”

“We’ll see.”

He knew the Yun Family was using her as leverage over Pei Yu, but it depended on whether she was willing to play along. No one could force her to do what she didn’t want to.

What did the Yun Family matter to her?

They held no sway over her whatsoever.

Yun Yang could easily detect Yun Yin’s dismissive tone. Ever since she’d started dating Pei Yu, she’d grown increasingly indifferent to her older brother.

After a moment, Yun Yang said pointedly, “A-Yin, don’t let temporary pleasures cloud your judgment. The Yun Family is your true foundation.”

Yun Yin hummed noncommittally, paying no heed to his so-called “advice.” “If it weren’t for me, do you think Pei Yu would still invest in Yun Cheng?” she asked casually.

Yun Yang fell silent.

“I know what to do. I don’t need your lectures,” she replied, her tone as indifferent as ever.

Yun Yang remained speechless for a long moment. Hearing his silence, Yun Yin hung up abruptly, tossed her phone aside, and, annoyed by the interruption, decided to stay in bed. She burrowed back under the covers.

Yun Family.

After the dial tone faded, Yun Yang’s expression darkened. Zhao Yuqin, who had witnessed the entire exchange, could tell from his face that the call hadn’t gone well.

Hesitating for a moment, Zhao Yuqin asked, “What did your sister say?”

“Does she think cozying up to Pei Yu means she’s set for life?” Yun Yang scoffed, avoiding her question.

From childhood, his younger sister had always outshone him, excelling in academics and possessing greater ambition. Even her university was a prestigious foreign institution renowned for its finance and business programs.

But what did it matter? She still couldn’t get into the company.

The thought calmed Yun Yang’s anger slightly. Even if she had Pei Yu’s backing, Yun Cheng would always belong solely to him.

Zhao Yuqin knew her son was spiraling into his usual stubbornness. She was well aware of the strained relationship between her children, who had been rivals since childhood.

Ever since Yun Yin graduated and Yun Cheng refused to let her join Yun Cheng, instead arranging a marriage alliance for her, their daughter had lost all faith in the Yun Family.

From Yun Yin’s insistence on choosing her own marriage partner to her relationship with Pei Yu, and then to orchestrating the collaboration between Yu Jiang and Yun Cheng, every decision she made was a complete rejection of the Yun Family’s control.

To secure Yu Jiang’s backing and Pei Yu’s financial support, the only course of action now was to keep Yun Yin on their side.

Clearly, everyone in the Yun Family understood this, including Yun Yin herself.

“Don’t be angry with your sister,” Zhao Yuqin sighed. “Deep down, she still cares about the family.” Though both her children were her own flesh and blood, her heart ultimately favored her son.

Yun Yang suddenly chuckled, as if struck by a thought. “She’s smart enough to know where her loyalties lie. Without the Yun Family and Pei Yu, she’s nothing.”

As a man, he understood the inherent flaws in men. Pei Yu might dote on her now, but what would happen when his affections waned? Would Yun Yin still dare to be so arrogant?

The answer was obvious.

As the saying goes, “It’s good to rest in the shade of a big tree.”

He hoped she would stay with Pei Yu. With Yun Yin’s influence, Yun Cheng would have no trouble securing Yu Jiang’s backing.

Seeing that her son had come to this conclusion on his own, Zhao Yuqin felt relieved.

That evening, when Pei Yu returned to Cloud-Veiled Lake, Yun Yin told him about her plans.

“You’re going back?” Pei Yu’s brow furrowed, as if a thought had struck him.

“Yes,” Yun Yin nodded. “I’ll grab a few things while I’m there.”

She only mentioned going back for a meal and didn’t invite Pei Yu to join her.

“Anything you need can be fetched by the driver,” Pei Yu said, clearly reluctant to let her go.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been back, and it’s my mother’s birthday. I absolutely have to go.” Yun Yin paused, raising an eyebrow at the still-frowning man. “Are you afraid I won’t come back if I go?”

Pei Yu’s eyes darkened. He neither confirmed nor denied it, simply stating quietly, “I’ll go with you.”

Yun Yin’s trip wasn’t solely about visiting the Yun Family; that was just a convenient excuse. If Pei Yu came along, her carefully laid plans would be ruined.

She gently declined, “You’ve been so busy lately. It’s just a quick trip—I wouldn’t want to take up your time.”

“You don’t want me to come with you?” Pei Yu looked up, his gaze piercing and intense.

“No,” Yun Yin replied, letting out an inward sigh. She decided to take the offensive. “How could you think of me that way?”

Pei Yu remained silent.

Mention of birthdays reminded Yun Yin to check the calendar. Beginning of Winter was only a week away.

That day marked not only the beginning of winter but also Pei Yu’s birthday.

She remembered reading about the villain’s birthday in the novel.

Beginning of Winter—the start of winter.

“…He was born on Beginning of Winter, the dawn of winter. And he died just before spring arrived, as if his life never truly experienced spring.”

This comment from the novel had stuck with Yun Yin, leaving a lasting impression.

Looking back at Pei Yu’s life in the book, it seemed the comment held true—his entire existence had been spent in the depths of winter.

Yun Yin stared at the date marked “Beginning of Winter,” paused, and then marked it on the calendar.

From that moment on, Beginning of Winter held a new meaning for her: Pei Yu’s birthday.

Counting the days, she realized she had been living in this world for nearly three months.

During that time, Pei Yu had treated her well.

It was time for her to reciprocate.

—

That night, as Yun Yin lay in bed, she stared at the chandelier on the ceiling, still fretting. She had originally planned to visit the Yun Family and pick out a birthday gift for Pei Yu while she was there.

But now that she was going with him, she couldn’t openly buy him a gift.

Right up until she fell asleep, Yun Yin was still pondering what to give him.

Before she knew it, it was Yun Mother’s birthday.

Early the next morning, Yun Yin rolled over and vaguely sensed someone beside her. She slowly opened her eyes.

“Pei Yu?”

Pei Yu stood by the bed, looking down at her. “Awake?”

His deep voice came from above. Yun Yin rubbed her slightly itchy ear. “What are you doing here?”

Apart from the first few times, Pei Yu rarely entered her room. Usually, by the time she woke up, he had already left for work. If the bedroom curtains hadn’t been drawn open, letting in the bright morning light, Yun Yin would have thought it was still early.

“Didn’t you say you were going to the Yun Family today?”

Yun Yin’s drowsy mind gradually cleared. She sat up, clutching her blanket, and stifled a small yawn with her hand. “If you hadn’t reminded me, I would have almost forgotten.”

Pei Yu: “……”

It was clear she hadn’t taken the matter to heart.

As the weather grew colder, Yun Yin still felt drowsy and had no desire to get out of bed. She mumbled, “We can go in the afternoon.”

Pei Yu knew she liked to linger in bed, but he hadn’t expected her to be this reluctant. Seeing her still half-asleep, he quietly suggested, “Why don’t we just stay here?”

For some inexplicable reason, he didn’t want Yun Yin to return to the Yun Family.

“I’ll get up soon,” Yun Yin refused.

It wasn’t that she particularly wanted to go back to the Yun Family, but her intuition told her she needed to.

The Yun Family held something she desired.

After a brief struggle, Yun Yin finally climbed out of bed.

By the time she finished her simple morning routine and ate breakfast, it was already eleven o’clock.

As they settled into the car, they exchanged only a few words before Yun Yin lazily yawned again, her eyes shimmering with a faint, watery sheen.

“If you’re tired, take a nap,” Pei Yu said, leaning closer. Their proximity meant Yun Yin could easily rest her head on his shoulder with a slight turn.

“……Mm,” Yun Yin murmured, genuinely sleepy now.

After a while, Pei Yu felt a weight on his shoulder.

He turned his head to see Yun Yin’s misty peach blossom eyes were closed, her raven-black lashes casting faint shadows beneath them. He could clearly see the small brown mole on the tip of her nose.

Pei Yu gazed at her, unable to tear his eyes away.

The driver, observing this scene through the rearview mirror, discreetly raised the partition and slowed the car.

An hour later, they arrived at the Yun Family estate.

Inside the Yun Family’s study:

“The Zhou Family has agreed to co-develop the land in the suburbs with Yun Cheng. However, the group’s funds haven’t fully returned yet, so if…”

Yun Yang’s words were interrupted by a knock on the study door.

“Come in.”

A servant entered and whispered, “Sir, Miss Yun Yin has returned.”

Yun Cheng glanced at Yun Yang. “I’m aware of the suburban project.”

Yun Yang still harbored doubts, but under Yun Cheng’s warning gaze, he remained silent.

As they descended the stairs, they saw Pei Yu standing beside Yun Yin.

“Xiao Pei’s here,” Yun Cheng greeted warmly, showing no surprise at his arrival.

“A-Yin hasn’t been feeling well these past few days, so I came along to make sure she was okay,” Pei Yu explained, his eyes darkening slightly as he casually draped an arm around Yun Yin’s shoulders. “President Yun, I hope you don’t mind my uninvited visit.”

Yun Cheng’s smile widened as he watched their interaction. “Nonsense! I’m delighted you came. How could I possibly blame you?”

Pei Yu chuckled, though his eyes remained cold. “Then I won’t intrude on President Yun any longer.”

“Forget the formalities. If Xiao Pei doesn’t mind, just call me Uncle Yun,” Yun Cheng insisted.

Pei Yu smoothly addressed him as “Uncle Yun,” and no one noticed the subtle tightening of his arm around Yun Yin’s waist.

Yun Yin’s eyelashes fluttered slightly. She tilted her head back and winked at Pei Yu.

What’s he up to now, pretending to be the big bad wolf?

After some polite exchanges, Yun Yang approached Pei Yu. “Dinner’s still a while away. Yun Cheng recently secured a new project. Would President Pei be interested in hearing about it?”

Pei Yu glanced up casually, his gaze lingering for a moment before he responded.

Yun Yang felt a flicker of awkwardness but maintained his composure. “A-Yin, why don’t you go rest? Your brother and President Pei need to discuss business.”

Yun Yin’s eyes darted between the two men. She knew exactly what Yun Yang was planning.

But to maintain her image, she agreed. “Alright, you two talk. I’ll go relax in my room.”

She set down her cup and headed upstairs, leaving the Yun family father and son alone with Pei Yu in the living room.

Given Pei Yu’s nature, Yun Yin wasn’t worried about him being taken advantage of.

The ones who should be concerned were Yun Cheng and Yun Yang.