C26 Collect Some Interest from Fang Yuan

"Seventeen years ago?" Yi Lanyou blinked. "Something that happened before I was born?" If her memory served her right, Yuan Hui had divorced Yi Haoen seventeen years ago. Clearly, something significant must have occurred back then.

"Yes, back then, the Yuan family's company, your maternal grandfather's business, went bankrupt for some reason, and afterward, he disappeared," Yi Haoen explained.

"Do I have any uncles or aunts?" Yi Lanyou inquired further.

"You have two uncles who also disappeared along with your grandfather," Yi Haoen sighed. "All that happened seventeen years ago. Your engagement was arranged shortly after your mother and I got married."

"Oh," Yi Lanyou acknowledged with a nod.

"The individual you met today is the offspring of two of your grandfather's close friends. The engagement was with Uncle Long's son, who is two years your senior. His name is Long Tianqi," Yi Haoen elaborated.

"I understand," Yi Lanyou said, nodding. She then ventured cautiously, "Dad, must I really marry Long Tianqi?"

"The Loong family has always been a prominent household in Z Country," Yi Haoen replied, sidestepping her question. "Having the Loong family as an ally would greatly benefit the Yi family's business prospects."

He was forthright with Yi Lanyou, revealing the true nature of the arrangement: it was a marriage of political convenience.

"Why me?" Yi Lanyou looked up at Yi Haoen. "Dad, is that the reason you brought me back?"

"No," Yi Haoen replied honestly. "Your return has nothing to do with the engagement."

"I see," Yi Lanyou said, nodding in understanding.

"It's now 8:30 pm, and it's getting late," Yi Haoen observed, glancing at the clock. "You should get some rest."

"Alright, Dad," Yi Lanyou agreed, her gaze falling on the dress laid out on the table. She added, "Dad, if you run into the maid on your way out, could you ask her to bring me a pair of scissors? I'd like to check for any loose threads on my new dress."

"Sure," Yi Haoen agreed with a nod.

Shortly after Yi Haoen departed, the maid entered with the scissors and then closed the door behind her.

As the door shut, a profound look crossed Yi Lanyou's eyes.

If the engagement wasn't the reason, what was Yi Haoen's true purpose in bringing her back? Why did her grandfather's company go under seventeen years ago? Where had her grandfather and uncle disappeared to?

With a slight squint, Yi Lanyou pondered. If she were truly worthless, Yi Weihai wouldn't have bothered to bring her back. So, what could the reason be?

Nobody invests time in someone without seeing some potential benefit. There was definitely something she was missing.

This realization made Yi Lanyou increasingly anxious. She felt as though she was stranded in the middle of an ocean, surrounded by whirlpools, alone in a fragile boat. One false move and she'd be swallowed by the vortex, leaving no trace behind.

Despite racking her brain, Yi Lanyou couldn't piece together any clues. As time ticked away, she massaged her throbbing temples and resolved to set these worries aside for later. Tonight, she had more pressing matters to attend to.

The glint of the scissors under the lamplight brought a sly smile to Yi Lanyou's face. Tonight, she planned to exact a small measure of revenge on Fang Yuan.

When the time was right, Yi Lanyou switched off the light, arranged the pillow beneath the covers to resemble a sleeping form, and concealed herself in the narrow space between the closet and the wall, scissors gripped firmly in hand. She knew Fang Yuan and Yi Rui'er all too well; they were sure to come tonight to ruin the dress. If they couldn't have it, they'd rather see it destroyed than let someone else enjoy it.

As expected, just past one in the morning, the key turned in the lock of Yi Lanyou's securely fastened door. She heard a faint rustling and shrank further into her hiding spot.

A beam of light from a flashlight swept across the room's floor before settling on the closet. Two shadowy figures crept closer, one opening the wardrobe while the other cautiously eyed the figure under the covers on the bed.

"Found it!" The whispered exclamation was Yi Rui'er's, elated as she grasped the gown hanging in the closet.

"Tear it up!" Fang Yuan, lurking behind, glared at the gown in Yi Rui'er's hands with malicious intent.

"Okay!" Rui'er was just about to muster her strength when a cracking sound behind her sent shivers down her spine.

The sound was terrifying in the silence of the room. Her hand shook, inadvertently tearing open the shoulder strap she had been fiddling with.

Fang Yuan shuddered as well; she had distinctly felt the noise originate near her ear, sending a chill down her neck. She was petrified and before she could react, the lights in the room suddenly flicked on.

Yi Lanyou, brandishing a pair of scissors in one hand and clutching a swath of long hair in the other, shouted, "What are you doing in my room! Get out!"

Rui'er, upon realizing they'd been caught by Yi Lanyou, showed no fear. Instead, she stood tall and defiant, "Why so aggressive? How dare a bastard like you be so insolent!" At this hour, her father and the others were sound asleep, and their room was tucked away in a corner of the mansion, so their noise wouldn't disturb the adults. She was confident Yi Lanyou wouldn't dare tattle, and even if she did, they could simply deny everything.

Fang Yuan, however, lacked Rui'er's boldness. She glanced at the long hair in Yi Lanyou's grasp and reached back to touch her own head with trembling hands. It took a deep breath for her to fully grasp the situation. Yi Lanyou had cut off her most prized possession—her hair!

Yi Lanyou stepped back and swung the door open, "Out of my room, now!" Her voice was loud enough that, even if it didn't reach the master bedroom, the servants could certainly hear.

"Yi Lanyou..." Fang Yuan's eyes blazed with fury as she balled her fists, "I'm going to kill you!" With a ferocious yell, she lunged at Yi Lanyou.

Yi Lanyou, seeing the attack, bolted, screaming for help as she ran.

Fang Yuan's cries of vengeance and Yi Lanyou's pleas for help echoed throughout Yi's mansion, alerting everyone.

Rui'er was dumbfounded; this turn of events was completely unexpected. Without a moment to ponder, she dashed out after them.

The pursuit between them continued until they reached the living room, where it turned into a standoff around the sofa.

"Yi Lanyou, I'm going to kill you!" Fang Yuan's rationality was hanging by a thread. All she could think about was exacting revenge on Yi Lanyou, despite Yi Lanyou holding scissors and herself being empty-handed.

After all, it was her cherished long hair at stake!