Unexpected Second Chance at Love

Chapter 986: She’s the reason

"Ah Ling..."

Grandfather Ji rose from the couch the instant his granddaughter re-entered the room. His weathered hands tightened into fists, as if that could hold back the years of fear and worry that always shadowed her steps.

Lin Hui and Xu Long had returned ahead of her, briefing everyone on what had happened to the man they captured. The man they’d captured was dead. Before his end, he’d confirmed what many had already suspected—Yue Ling had been the target all along.

Grandfather Ji had known for years that his granddaughter’s world was painted in darker shades than most could bear. She had killed before—too many times—and yet the weight of that truth never lessened. Each time she walked through fire, he feared she left more of herself behind in the flames.

He took a step toward her, wanting nothing more than to close the distance, to check her hands, to hold her as though that alone could shield her from a life she never should have been forced to live.

But Yue Ling lifted her hand, halting him.

"I’m alright, yeye," she said evenly. "I’m sure Lin Hui and Xu Long already told you what happened, and I do not regret doing what I did."

Crossing the room, she lowered herself onto the couch beside him, her hand coming to rest atop his.

"Even with that man gone."

She murmured, her voice firm but tinged with an undercurrent of steel."

I will find Jingxu and bring him home."

From the side, Liu Shan snorted a short laugh, the sudden sound slicing through the tense silence. All eyes turned toward him. He didn’t look up right away, fingers flying across the keyboard with practiced speed.

After a few rapid taps, he turned the laptop toward the group, his expression a mix of smug and grim disgust.

"That man should be thankful he got it easy by dying. He’s the lowest of the lowest on this planet."

After the video call from the masked man, Liu Shan had decided to dig deeper into the man they captured. The further he searched, the filthier the trail became—like lifting a stone and finding rot crawling beneath. What he found made his stomach churn. If Yue Ling hadn’t ended him, Liu Shan would have gladly done it himself.

The Gui twins stepped closer, their shadows falling across the laptop screen. They leaned in, scanning the information. For a moment, neither spoke—until their eyes widened, the words sinking in.

"Trafficking and rape of minors."

Gui Tian Lan’s voice was low at first, but the venom in it was unmistakable. His fists clenched, knuckles whitening as his jaw tightened.

"Someone bring that man back to life. I’m going to skin him alive."

The older twin’s entire frame trembled, his chest heaving with barely restrained fury. His breathing grew uneven, and it was clear the images in his mind were not just of the man’s crimes, but of old wounds long buried.

The air around him felt heavier, the temperature in the room almost dropping with the sharpness of his rage.

A steady hand settled on his shoulder. Gui Zhongmin stood beside him, equally enraged, though his face betrayed the effort it took to remain grounded. His grip was firm—not just an anchor for his brother, but a silent reminder that losing control now would serve no one.

"Death was by far too easy for him."

From her seat, Yue Ling’s eyes softened at the sight of them. She knew their past—the deep scars this kind of crime ripped open. But the man was already gone. No amount of fury could resurrect him.

Her gaze shifted to Liu Shan.

"Did you find anything else?"

He shook his head, leaning back with a sigh as he raked a hand through his hair.

"Other than that bastard, nothing. Either they’ve got a tech specialist that’s even better than me, or they’ve been doing this long enough to erase their tracks perfectly."

Yue Ling nodded, her expression thoughtful. He was right. With the right skill, almost anything could be uncovered in the digital world. But the complete absence of a trail... that spoke of experience. It meant their enemies had been at this for a long time. Long enough to know every blind spot, every way to make evidence vanish.

Silence settled over the room, thick and heavy. She didn’t rush to fill it. Instead, she let her mind work, sifting through every detail they had so far, every name, every possibility.

Finally, after a long pause, she parted her lips.

"Look into Ji Chu Hua."

Every head turned toward her.

Grandfather Ji’s brows drew together, his gaze sharpening. Around them, the others exchanged confused looks. The air seemed to tighten, as though even the walls were waiting for an explanation.

"Are you saying... she’s involved in this?"

His voice was low, hesitant.

"Are you sure?"

He had never cared much for Ji Chu Hua—her arrogance, her selfishness—but she was still his granddaughter by blood. Accusing her of something like this was almost unthinkable. And yet...

His voice was heavy, almost unwilling to shape the words.

Yue Ling met his gaze—bluish-green eyes like her late father’s—locked on his, unflinching.

Her hand tightened around his, thumb brushing across the back in a small gesture of comfort.

"She’s the reason I found out about your illness."

His eyes flickered, confusion and unease mixing into a shadow of dread.

"She threatened me." Yue Ling continued, her tone darkening.

"She threatened me with Jingxu’s life and your health. She wanted me to break. She thought by doing this, I would step down from the position."

Grandfather Ji’s eyes clouded.

"How... how did she know? I never told her..."

His voice trailed off, memory flickering in his expression—the unannounced visit. Ji Chu Hua upstairs, claiming she’d gotten lost. He had thought nothing of it at the time. Now... it was obvious. She must have seen his diagnostic report.

"She made a copy of your diagnosis report. She demanded that I reject the position of Chairman of Ji Corps. If I didn’t, she’d hurt Jingxu or reveal your illness to the company. And..."

Her voice cooled, sharp as glass.

"She also wanted me to call off the wedding."

Lu Tian, sitting on the armrest beside her, froze.

The dangerous shift in his expression was enough to ice the room’s air. His gaze darkened—not with simple anger, but with the kind of wrath that promised consequences.

How dare someone threaten his wife to leave him!

Yue Ling removed her hand from her grandfather’s and placed it gently over Lu Tian’s, grounding him.

"But I didn’t accept," she said softly. "Nothing will stop me from marrying you."

Some of the tension in his shoulders eased. He leaned down, resting his head on her shoulder with an almost boyish stubbornness.

"You’re not allowed to leave me," he murmured. "You’re responsible for me for life."

Yue Ling smiled faintly, patting his head. But the moment was brief.

"I know, and I’m not going anywhere."

Her eyes returned to Liu Shan.

"Search every surveillance feed you can get on Ji Chu Hua. Find out where she’s been and who she’s spoken to in the past week. Start your search with the underworld. She mentioned she has contact with people who would do anything for her."

If her guess was correct, Ji Chu Hua’s shadow stretched far darker than they’d imagined. It wasn’t a coincidence. It couldn’t be. The timing was too sharp, too deliberate.

The moment Yue Ling refused her offer, her brother was taken, and this after Ji Chu Hua had looked her straight in the eye and threatened both him and Grandfather Ji.

Her brother’s kidnapping might have been framed as a ransom for money, but Yue Ling knew better. The demand for her to personally deliver the payment was no simple whim, it was a calculated move.

The money was secondary. What they really wanted... was her—to lure her into their grasp and, once she was there, make sure she never walked away.

The pieces fit together with a cruel precision.

Liu Shan’s fingers were already moving before she finished the sentence.

From across the room, Ju Suo looked up from her laptop.

"Boss," she said, tilting her head, "does that mean you’re going to meet them?"

"Yes."

Yue Ling replied without hesitation. She felt Lu Tian tense again, but didn’t acknowledge it. Her gaze swept the room.

"If it means I can get into their hideout, then yes. I will bring Ji Jingxu home."

The masked man wanted money—something she had in abundance. But money was just the bait. Once she had her brother back, the people who took him wouldn’t walk away untouched.

Lu Tian straightened, disbelief flashing across his face before turning serious.

"I’m going with you."

"I know you’re worried," she said, turning to him, "but I can do this."

Her palm cupped his cheek, her smile calm but resolute.

"You know I can."

"Exactly."𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He said, voice low.

"And that’s why I’m worried. If something feels wrong, I’m not sitting back."

She met his eyes for a long moment, then nodded.

"I know."

Xu Long, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke.

"We’re forgetting something. That bastard’s asking for nine hundred million yuan. Isn’t that... a little high?"

He knows that his boss and lady boss are multi-millionaires, but with their time limit, it’ll be tough to make arrangements. As he thought this, a laugh sounded to his left, and he looked at Tang Zhonghui. He pursed his lips and wondered why the man was laughing.

"What’s so funny?"

Xu Long asked, brows knitting.

Tang shook his head, arms crossing.

"I’m laughing at what you’re thinking."

He leaned forward, eyes narrowing

"Don’t worry. That much is nothing for my boss."

Xu Long blinked.

"Nothing?"

Before Tang could elaborate, Gui Zhongmin stepped in.

"What he means is—yes, she’s a multi-millionaire from her work. But..."

He leaned closer, lowering his voice.

"Once she accepts her inheritance as the Han heiress, she’ll be a billionaire overnight. That’s why nine hundred million is nothing to her."

Xu Long’s mouth fell open. Slowly, his gaze drifted to Yue Ling, realization dawning.

She hadn’t been born with a silver spoon. She’d been born with a diamond one.