3 Endure for a Moment, and the Path of the Heart Shatters

Originally, given your qualifications, transferring to the headquarters in Haicheng would have been more than attainable. Yet you refuse to leave Qingshui Town because of your senior brother—he disappeared here.

The old detective’s face darkened the moment Yun Ran mentioned his emotional burden. Now, hearing her reason for staying unwillingly in Qingshui Town, his veins bulged with tension. Inwardly, he thought: I absolutely cannot let Yun Ran continue.

Before he could interrupt, Yun Ran stopped of her own accord.

“Do you want me to go on?”

The interrogation room was always recorded. The case involved many sensitive details that must not be casually exposed.

At this moment, the detective’s wariness toward Yun Ran peaked. But he didn’t see it as a calculated move on her part. Instead, he believed she must know something. If not for her youth, he would have suspected she was involved back then.

“These things, anyone who searches online or reads the reports knows about them. There’s nothing surprising here.”

Seeing the detective’s stubborn demeanor, Yun Ran remained unruffled. If a police officer were so quick to trust people, that would be a disaster.

The standoff was brief before members of the Yun family arrived. To others, she was nothing but a troublemaker, so only an assistant and a lawyer showed up.

No matter how much the Yun family disliked Yun Ran, as long as she remained the third Miss Yun, they had to clean up her mess.

After leaving the station, the lawyer briefly explained a few things and handed her the keys to an apartment.

“Madam’s intention is for you to settle down here for a while, not to return to the old family mansion for now. If anything comes up, just call me.”

Yun Ran forced a smile. This was hardly a motherly gesture; many stepmothers would at least pretend to care for the sake of appearances.

After escorting Yun Ran back to her apartment in Qingshui Town, the lawyer left.

“Hmph, I don’t care to go back to the Yun family mansion and face your scowls!”

The Yun family owned orchards and tea hills locally. These were not prime assets, so they had been entrusted to distant relatives.

These cadet branches fawned over other Yun family members but treated her, a burden brought in by Qu Ying, with barely concealed disdain. Outwardly polite, they constantly whispered behind her back.

Qu Ying knew everything but, for the sake of her carefully maintained image, allowed it to continue.

Yun Ran was genuinely angry. Were it not for the Yun family still holding her guardianship, she would have crushed the family in an instant.

But endurance was impossible. After all, she wasn’t a ninja turtle. Others could endure for peace, but she endured with her spirit breaking.

That very night, she called Meng Yue, the mistress of her stepfather Yun Shaotang, determined to stir up trouble.

Meng Yue nearly hung up when she heard Yun Ran’s voice. Previously, the original Miss Yun had almost ruined her face defending Qu Ying’s interests.

Yet when Qu Ying found out, she blamed the original for cruelty and oddly showed special mercy and generosity to Meng Yue.

Not only did she arrange a secure living for her and her son, she also gave a hefty settlement.

Her magnanimity earned universal praise within the Yun family, and Yun Shaotang even transferred a villa into Qu Ying’s name, making her the biggest winner.

Meanwhile, the original Miss Yun, who had stood up for others, became a laughingstock, isolated inside and out.

On the phone, Meng Yue cautiously said, “Third Miss, I swear I won’t go after your father anymore!”

“No, you will!” Yun Ran insisted.

Meng Yue was close to tears. She only wanted wealth and status, not to risk her life.

“Third Miss…” she began.

“Either you go to my stepfather, or I’ll come to you. Decide.”

Meng Yue was already afraid of Yun Ran. Now that many called her a little madwoman, her fear deepened.

“Okay, I’ll go! I’ll go!”

After hanging up, Yun Ran felt invigorated. She would reclaim everything the original had surrendered for Qu Ying.

She wanted to see if, without the original as a decoy absorbing all the fire, the Yun family could still live harmoniously.

Was Qu Ying, the unassuming and virtuous Madam Yun, truly capable of peaceful years?

After three leisurely days, she finally adjusted to her current identity.

One morning, after a late-night binge of dramas, she was sound asleep when a knock came at the door.

Yawning, she opened it to find the casually dressed old detective.

“Why did you only come now?” she muttered.

The old detective, named Song Ye, had kept her under surveillance for days but was told she hadn’t left her apartment once in three days.

He had no choice but to come in person.

“You knew I was coming?”

“You put me under watch for days, got no results, so I had to come myself.”

Song Ye was momentarily stunned.

Yun Ran yawned again. “I’ll change clothes, then take you to your senior brother.”

Song Ye, who had been composed until then, lost his composure. After over twenty years as a detective, he had never been so impatient.

Yun Ran quickly donned a white jumpsuit and slung a crossbody bag over her shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

Though full of questions, Song Ye followed, curious to see what Yun Ran was up to.

Outside, Yun Ran made no pretense, sliding into the passenger seat as if she belonged.

Leaning back with closed eyes, she said, “Drive southeast for half an hour. Then you’ll see your senior brother. Don’t disturb me while I sleep.”

Perhaps it was her certainty that compelled Song Ye to obey.

Half an hour swiftly passed. Song Ye looked out at a barren stretch of land, suspicion creeping into his eyes, almost asking if Yun Ran was playing him.

At the precise moment, Yun Ran opened her eyes and pointed ahead.

“One minute left. He will pass here. Miss this chance, and you’ll never see him again.”

Song Ye’s heart skipped a beat as he fixed his gaze on the direction she indicated.

A minute later, a man wrapped tightly in clothing appeared, looking especially strange.

Nearby, other officers following Song Ye’s car got out and approached the stranger, instantly on guard.

Before Song Ye could get close to the man, who showed only his eyes, a pungent odor hit him—but he didn’t recoil.