Chapter 155: Chapter 155: A Mother’s Worry
Madam He’s morning began with perfection. Sunlight found its way through the curtains, a faint scent of coffee filling the air, and the slow rustle of papers across her desk.
Then her phone buzzed.
She reached for it lazily, not expecting much. One glance at the message froze her hand midair.
[The patient survived.]
Her grip on the phone tightened. The calmness around her shattered in an instant.
"What?" she yelled, the word sharp enough to cut.
Her reflection stared back from the polished surface of her desk, but her eyes burned.
Another message followed.
[He Yuchen is still at the hospital. Security is tight. Lin Mei has been detained.]
She threw the phone onto the table.
For a long, dangerous moment, Madam He said nothing. Her breath came out slow and unhurried. But this time, her lips trembled slightly.
"She survived..." she repeated under her breath. "How... inconvenient."
She stood, her heels clicking softly across the marble floor as she walked to the window. From there, the garden below looked peaceful, trimmed hedges, swaying trees, a world that didn’t know what she’d done.
Madam He’s reflection appeared faintly against the glass, the picture of refinement and control. But inside, fury simmered.
"After all these years," she murmured, "her daughter lives... yet again."
Her fingers traced the edge of her teacup absently, as if remembering something bitter.
She still remembered that woman—the soft voice, the gentle smiles, the way he used to look at her. Yun Li’s mother. The friend who had betrayed her without ever realizing it.
And now her daughter was here, married into the He family, holding everything that should have been hers.
It was supposed to end quietly. A subtle mistake. No evidence.
But fate, it seemed, had a cruel sense of humor.
A knock came at the door.
"Come in," she said coolly.
Her butler entered carefully and discreet. "Madam, I’ve just received word from the resort. The manager says Lin Mei is missing."
Madam He’s gaze snapped toward him. "Missing?"
"Yes, Madam. She was under guard last night, but this morning, she disappeared without a trace."
A low hum escaped her lips. "So she’s running."
The butler hesitated. "Should I—"
"No," she cut him off smoothly. "Let her run. A frightened servant is more useful alive than dead."
He bowed slightly, understanding her meaning.
When he left, Madam He picked up her phone again. Her manicured finger hovered over the screen before she typed slowly.
[Find her before he does.]
She sent it and set the phone down, her expression cold once more.
"Yun Li," she murmured, almost softly. "You should’ve just stayed dead, played the part they gave you. But now..."
Her gaze drifted back to the sunlight spilling across her desk. "Now you’ll make me finish what I started."
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Yun Li propped her head against the headboard of the bed.
She placed a finger on her chin, in deep thoughts. Then it all clicked—
Madam He. She was the only one capable of doing something like this.
She remembered her wedding which took place just a few days ago. She remembered how Madam He had collapsed after taking the drink.
But it turned out, it was either for she or He Yuchen. If it weren’t for Yue Ning’s timely intervention, then she or He Yuchen would have been the one to collapse.
Yue Ning warned her. But Madam He... she didn’t care. She targeted her.
A shiver ran down Yun Li’s spine when she recalled how she felt life draining away from her.
"He Yuchen... I have to tell him." She murmured under her breath.
"No. That would be a waste of time. He Yuchen trusts his mother a lot."
Yun Li bit her lips. How could she expose the old lady’s secret? Yue Ning would have helped her but she was in the hospital as well.
They both survived. There was no doubt that Madam He will strike once again.
While she was lost in thoughts, the door creaked open, and Yun Meili—her mother walked in quietly.
"Lili, my child."
Yun Li snapped her head instantly, her eyes instinctively widening.
"Mom, you’re here?" Her tone carried surprise as she watched her mom take a seat.
Yun Meili took her daughter’s hands. Her eyes were red and it seemed like she cried.
"Did you cry?" Yun Li asked carefully as she observed her mother.
"Why wouldn’t I? It hasn’t even been a week since you got married to He Yuchen, but you’ve already been poisoned.
Yun Li squeezed her mother’s hands gently, forcing a faint smile. "I’m fine, Mom. Really."
Yun Meili’s eyes filled with worry. "Fine? Lili, you’ve been poisoned! Only a miracle saved you. My heart can’t take this."
Yun Li nodded, swallowing the knot in her throat. She could hardly tell her mother the truth. She couldn’t tell her that someone close in the He family wanted her dead. Not yet.
"I just... I need to rest," Yun Li said, trying to steady her voice. "Everything will be fine."
Yun Meili shook her head. "No, it won’t. This shouldn’t have happened. How could anyone dare...? You just got married, and now—" Her voice cracked, and she took a deep breath. "I don’t want to imagine losing you, Lili. You’re my only child."
Yun Li forced a small smile and pressed her forehead gently against her mother’s hand. "I know, Mom. I’m here, and I’m going to stay. That’s all that matters."
For a while, silence filled the room, broken only by the rhythmic beeping of the monitor. Yun Li’s mind raced.
Her pulse quickened. "Mom... I need to be honest with you about one thing," she said carefully. "I... I have a feeling about who tried to hurt me."
Yun Meili frowned. "Who?"
Yun Li hesitated, then shook her head. "Not now. I can’t be sure and I can’t involve anyone yet. Please don’t worry. For now, I just need to recover."
Her mother looked into her eyes, worry and love mixing in her gaze. "You must be careful, Lili. Whoever did this will think you’re weak if you don’t show strength."
"I will be careful," Yun Li promised, hiding the storm in her mind.
The door opened quietly, and He Yuchen stepped inside. He looked at her, his face softening at the sight of her speaking normally.
"You’re getting better," he said simply. "Aunty." He gave a small bow to the older woman who sighed in response.
"I am," Yun Li replied. Her eyes flicked toward him, the weight of what she knew pressing against her chest. She had to navigate carefully, protect herself, protect Yue Ning, and keep the truth hidden... at least for now.
He Yuchen pulled a chair close and sat beside her bed. "How are you feeling now?"
"Better," she said softly as a cold knot of resolve settled in her stomach.
The man she married — the son of the woman who might have wanted her dead — had no idea what was coming next. And Yun Li intended to keep it that way... for now.