Inside the study, Grandpa Luo pulled out a document from a drawer and pushed it across the desk to Luo Yunyan. His expression was kind, warm.
“This is something I decided on the day you were born. I originally planned to give it to you on your coming-of-age ceremony… but I’m a year late.”

Luo Yunyan opened it and saw: a share transfer agreement. All of the Luo shares under Grandpa Luo’s name—a full 15%—were being given to her?!

“Grandpa, I can’t accept this…”

“Can’t? What do you mean ‘can’t’?” Grandpa Luo interrupted her sharply. “When your grandpa says it’s yours, it’s yours! No one else gets a say—and no one dares to object!”

Yunyan gave a wry smile.
“Grandpa, you know that’s not what I meant. It’s just… I’m not short on money.”

“Oh? So you’re saying my things are too insignificant to bother with, is that it?” His eyes narrowed, voice stern.

Yunyan choked on her words and could only obediently sign her name at the bottom.

Grandpa Luo’s expression eased as he beamed with satisfaction.
“Yanyan, do you know how to play chess? It’s still early—how about a game with this old man?”

“Sure.” She helped him over to the board and sat opposite.

Once seated, she gestured for him to play black and go first.

As he placed the first piece, he spoke casually,
“Ah Zhe told us in advance that you’d lost your memory, and asked us not to bring up the past. Whether you really forgot, or just don’t want to talk about it, I won’t pry. But Grandpa still wants to know—have you been okay all these years?”

Yunyan’s hand paused midair before placing her piece calmly.
“Yeah. I’ve been fine. It’s all in the past now, isn’t it?”

“That’s good, that’s good. And from now on, things will only get better.” Grandpa Luo’s gaze softened but carried a hint of unspoken pain. “Now that you’re home, whatever you want to do, go for it. You’ve got the Luo and Su families behind you—you’re not alone anymore.”

A warmth stirred in her chest.
“I know. Thank you, Grandpa.”

He waved a hand dismissively.
“What’s with the ‘thank you’? You’re my granddaughter. If anything ever troubles you, come to the family. If your brothers can’t handle it, come straight to me. No one bullies my girl.”

His eyes were filled with encouragement and expectation. After a moment’s hesitation, Yunyan asked softly,
“Grandpa, how much do you know about Song Construction?”

“Song Construction?” He frowned. “That’s the company that used to belong to the Jiang family, right? A second-rate clan before?”

She nodded.

Grandpa Luo’s expression twisted with distaste.
“That Song Hao is a parasite who married into the Jiang family. The Jiang daughter took a liking to him, so he became a live-in son-in-law. Then the Jiang couple died in a car crash, and not long after, his wife passed from illness too—leaving behind a son and a daughter.”

“But while her body was still warm, Song Hao changed the company’s name from Jiang to Song and brought in his mistress and two illegitimate kids!”

“It’s said that illegitimate girl was actually older than the Jiang daughter’s kids by a few months. And then the rumors came that the two Jiang children ran away from home… Tch, I say he and that mistress orchestrated it! That boy was younger than you—just three years old. How could he have run away?”

As Grandpa Luo ranted, he suddenly paused—realization dawning.
“Wait… didn’t those two children go missing the same year as you?”

“To be exact, the same day. In the same car.”

A boom seemed to echo in his mind.
“But we reviewed the park’s surveillance back then. It only showed you being taken into a car with fake plates. There were no signs of other children!”

“They were unconscious, lying in the car already. The footage couldn’t capture that,” she replied calmly.

Grandpa Luo’s voice shook.
“So… you were just collateral damage? It was that mistress’s doing?!”

“From what we’ve uncovered, yes. I witnessed her selling a child, and she had the traffickers grab me too—likely unaware I was from the Luo family.”

“Hmph! Our Luo family is far beyond the reach of scum like them! That man and his mistress are filth! Filth that should’ve been wiped out 15 years ago!” Grandpa Luo slammed the table in rage. “Yanyan, I’ll have your brother take action immediately. We’ll crush them today!”

Yunyan quickly soothed him.
“Grandpa, don’t get worked up. I want to handle this myself. I’ve already collected all the evidence. I’m just waiting for the right moment.”

“What’s there to wait for?! You think we need an astrologer to pick a lucky day to bring justice?!” he huffed. “If I’d known back then, I would’ve had them exiled from the capital years ago!”

Weren’t you just being the calm and rational patriarch a moment ago? ‘Do what you want, you’ve got our support’—now look at you, ready to declare war. Seriously… old tyrant grandpa unlocked.

Yunyan sighed inwardly.
“Yes, Song Construction can disappear anytime, but the Jiang name must return to the ranks of first-class families. That’s what matters.”

That cooled Grandpa Luo down a little.
“You’re right. What about the two children?”

“Jiang Ziang is helping me run Pluto. He returned to the capital recently. Jiang Yingyue… passed away nine years ago. She died protecting me and Ziang. Taking back the Jiang family legacy is a promise I made to her. And only Ziang and I can fulfill it.”

A shadow briefly crossed Yunyan’s eyes, her long lashes hiding the simmering hatred beneath.

Grandpa Luo was stunned. Then he let out a heavy sigh.
“Then in a way… our Luo family owes the Jiangs.”

“Don’t think of it that way. The bond between us is already beyond obligation or debt. This is something only Ziang and I can do.”

“Alright. I won’t interfere. But… will you share your plan with me?”

Yunyan arched a brow.
“Song Construction signed a massive overseas contract last week. They’ve already started liquidating assets to fulfill it. And we have a lot of illegal activity evidence on the others—they’ll all be going down.”

“Hahaha! You sly little fox!” Grandpa Luo burst into laughter. “What about the return banquet—could that be a good opportunity? Publicly unmask them for what they are?”

Yunyan blinked.
“But wouldn’t that ruin all of Grandma and Mom’s effort planning the party?”

“Just now, downstairs, you didn’t say a word—that’s because you were still thinking, right? Debating whether to act before or after the banquet? Afraid it might affect Luo family’s reputation?” He shook his head.
“The Luo family isn’t so fragile.”

“And we’re family. From where I stand, better to settle it on that day. A clean break with the past. With hard evidence, no one can accuse you of being impulsive. And know this—whatever happens, we’ll always have your back. This family will never blame you for something so small.”

A tightness crept into Luo Yunyan’s chest. Her eyes stung.

Since Jiang Yingyue’s death, she hadn’t shed a single tear. But in the few days since returning home, she’d had to hold back more than once.

Tsk, must be a bug. Better have Jiang Yining check my pulse when she gets back.

Grandpa Luo pretended not to notice. He let out a soft sigh.
“Back when you were little, your grandmother always said she hoped to pass the Luo family down to you. I didn’t agree. I thought—our little princess shouldn’t have to do this dirty, exhausting work. Isn’t spending money at home good enough?”

“So I looked to your brothers. But those rascals all pretended not to understand. In the end, Ah Zhe stepped forward. He’s done a great job. But now I see… he doesn’t have what you have. You’ve got that extra bit of fire.”

“Big brother is excellent. The company’s doing great under him. But if Grandpa keeps talking like this, you’re going to lose this chess game,” she teased, eyeing the board.

Grandpa Luo quickly looked down.

Originally, his black pieces had completely encircled her white ones. But with that one move, she’d flipped the whole situation—her white stones had carved a bloody path through. A comeback from certain death.

“You sneaky girl! Throwing a smokescreen while playing your move!” he huffed, standing up.
“This round doesn’t count! I’m hungry—let’s go eat.”

Still, his heart was complicated.

Chess is like life…

Had she, too, clawed her way back from death?

(End of Chapter)