After three years of misplaced affection, Mrs. Yu is no longer willing to pretend to be obedient.

Jane bit her lip and simply pretended not to hear.

She had said the same thing to Yu Yunting before, but he didn't believe her at all. He even mocked her for being scheming and cunning, saying that she even had a birthmark that was exactly the same as her sister's.

It's somewhat normal for her to deliberately imitate her sister's makeup, style, and tone of voice, but this is the first time I've heard of someone even imitating a birthmark exactly. Is this something worth learning?

Yu Yunting's eyes flickered, his expression shifting unpredictably.

Jane looked at her mother again. Wang Shuqin's expression was also complicated, as if she was sad, relieved, and even a little happy.

After that, Yu Yunting became very silent. The Jian family seemed to sense his reluctance to speak, so they didn't bring up any further topics. Wang Shuqin also looked a little pale and seemed to have no desire to communicate.

The meal was finished quietly.

"Zhou Ze'an was demoted. Is it related to what happened that night?" After dinner, Jian Hui invited Yu Yunting to the tea room for tea, while Jian Sen and Jian Ailing stood on the balcony enjoying the breeze.

Although he hadn't personally experienced what happened on his birthday, Jensen had heard some of it. He somewhat regretted entrusting Jane Ailing to Zhou Ze'an that day.

Jason believed there was nothing between them, but he couldn't control what his brother-in-law might think.

"Demotion?" Jane Ailing's eyes widened as she stared in astonishment at the man beside her. "What happened?"

"I don't know what happened either." Jason shrugged. "My birthday was on a Sunday, and the following Wednesday, the company's senior management suddenly called Zhou Ze'an over to a meeting. I don't know if they scolded him or what, but on Thursday, the R&D department issued a notice demoting Zhou Ze'an from manager to director."

Jane Ailing clenched her fist. "Is this... related to Yu Yunting?"

"That's why I asked you, I didn't know," Jason said, somewhat helplessly. "But Chairman Ming went to Tianheng for a meeting on Monday, so I'm not sure if it's related."

She looked up at the sky and gave a bitter smile.

What difference does it make if we have it or not?

Anyway, she couldn't possibly go and question Yu Yunting about why he still wouldn't let Zhou Ze'an go.

As long as he didn't actually do anything to harm Zhou Ze'an, she had nothing more to say.

I never expected that Ze'an would be harmed by her time and time again.

She's like a plague; nothing good ever comes of it once you get involved with her.

No, actually we can't blame her entirely; if we're going to settle scores, we should include Yu Yunting as well.

If I can leave him smoothly, won't there be fewer messy and troublesome things?

Fortunately, she was sick this time, otherwise he might not have let it go so easily.

As long as you stay with this man, you have to live in constant fear, always trying to guess what he's thinking. Otherwise, if you accidentally anger him, this is what will happen.

"By the way, don't mention this in front of Ze'an. He doesn't want me to bring it up, especially not in front of you." Jason sighed. "Just pretend you don't know anything."

"Hmm...I understand."

On her way home that evening, Jane looked out the window at the street scene without saying a word.

"Jane Ailing, tell me the truth." In the silent car, the person next to me suddenly spoke, "Whose red string is that?"

She frowned, somewhat annoyed, wondering why Yu Yunting was so fixated on such a small object.

"Don't you already know the answer in your heart? Whoever you think it is, that's who it is. There's no need to ask me anymore, you wouldn't believe me anyway."

Just trust the answer in your heart.

In the dark car, Yu Yunting suddenly chuckled softly, "Tell me, I want to hear the truth from you."

Thinking of Zhou Ze'an, although Jian Ailing was somewhat tired and annoyed with Yu Yunting, she was also somewhat afraid and wary, and dared not give him attitude as recklessly as before.

She turned her head and looked into Yu Yunting's eyes in the dim light. "I don't remember. But I think it should be mine. I wouldn't need to take my sister's tattered red string, and she certainly wouldn't leave anything with me. I don't know if this answers your question."

She couldn't see Yu Yunting's expression clearly, but his breathing became somewhat rapid, making him seem angry.

Jane smiled wryly and turned her gaze back to the window.

Fine, he insists on hearing the truth, but he doesn't like to hear it and gets angry if he does.

I don't know what they're after.

"You got lost in Maple Mountain, didn't you?"

Unexpectedly, he brought up the topic again.

Thinking about this incident, Jane Ailing felt inexplicably angry for a long time.

The last time they went to a hot spring together, everything was fine, but Yu Yunting suddenly brought it up and started yelling at her without even asking what happened.

Why are you suddenly bringing this up? I've already said what I needed to say last time, there's nothing more to say.

"Do you remember who you were with back then?"

Jane Ailing frowned and turned her gaze back to Yu Yunting.

The streetlights shone through, and she could clearly see his amber eyes, which seemed to faintly gleam with anticipation.

Jane swallowed hard, her heart suddenly racing.

This time, she seemed to be able to guess what kind of answer Yu Yunting wanted to hear.

But... should she give him this answer?

"Hmm...it seems to be an older brother, we got lost in the mountains together for a few days." Jian Ailing carefully considered her words and responded in accordance with his words.

Upon hearing her answer, Yu Yunting remained silent for a long time and did not respond to her further.

The car drove back to Yunsong Bay, and the two returned home, walking up the stairs one after the other.

"Come to my room after you take a shower," Yu Yunting said from behind her.

"I...I'm not feeling well today." Jane touched her stomach.

"It's okay, come here." After saying that, Yu Yunting walked into his room.

Watching him close the door, Jane Ailing returned to her room with a heavy heart.

Yes, she ultimately chose to lie.

Jane Ailing had absolutely no recollection of ever seeing an older brother. She simply felt that this was the answer Yu Yunting wanted to hear, so she cautiously went along with his words.

She didn't dare to be too definitive at the time, so she could only say some ambiguous things, subtly implying that the person next to her when she was lost was him.

If she wasn't mistaken, Yu Yunting must have gotten lost in the mountains and met a girl there.

Perhaps it was because the girl was wearing a red string that left such a deep impression on him, which is why he was so excited when he saw it.

As for her older sister… Jane Ailing wasn’t sure if Yu Yunting had mistaken that girl for her sister. But in her memory, her sister had never been lost in the mountains.

Perhaps his sister impersonated the little girl from his memory, or perhaps she used some of her experiences as a pretext to get close to Yu Yunting.

But coincidentally, she was the one who had actually gotten lost, and she happened to have an identical red string. This accidental encounter led Yu Yunting to believe that she was the little girl who had gotten lost with him.

That cautious and perceptive man could be so childlike in his naiveté when it came to such matters.

Didn't he ever consider that if his sister could lie to him, could she do the same?

The style of that red string was so ordinary, wasn't it everywhere? What's so strange about having two similar ones? She couldn't even remember where she got it from.

But if this makes Yu Yunting believe that she is the girl in his memory, it won't do any harm for Jian Ailing.

She was already determined to leave, but before leaving, she still hoped that she could get along normally with Yu Yunting during this time, and preferably live peacefully together.

Doesn't Yu Yunting always say she's scheming? If she really were scheming, it would probably fit her character, right?