Jiayi even wondered why they were seeking her out.

Such a daughter as herself, to them, should have been considered disposable, certainly not worth lamenting over, right?

Maybe they were just fulfilling a familial obligation?

As she speculated, Lin Zixun spoke again:

"No matter what, the decision is entirely in your hands. If Miss Jiayi wants to go back to reunite with her family, the Boss will accompany you personally to S Country. If you don’t want to, the Boss will also find a way to send the Chu family packing."

Her mind wavered, caught in a dilemma—to acknowledge this kinship or not, both were equally conflicting choices.

She felt that the Chu family represented an endless source of her pain.

Returning to the Chu family, she might have to resume the identity of an illegitimate daughter, facing the snobby Chu Xinyu, the betraying Nie Yixiao... and even more of the Chu family’s various characters whom she had yet to meet.

But if she didn’t recognize them, she would be a person without roots forever; moreover, there were many things she still couldn’t remember, including who had pushed her down the mountain, for what reason, and even about her biological mother—whether she really was the third party that broke up the Chu family’s marriage, whether she was dead or alive, and where she was...

Maybe the answers would only come if she went to the Chu family.

Right at this moment, Lin Zixun’s phone rang, breaking the tension in the room.

Lin Zixun answered the call, said a few words with a slight change in expression, and occasionally glanced at Jiayi.

After he hung up, Jiayi felt her heart pound uncontrollably, a strong premonition overcoming her, "Assistant Lin, what’s wrong?"

Lin Zixun paused, then said, "Mrs. Chu from S Country, Xuan Yu, learned that her daughter and future son-in-law had gone missing. She came to China personally yesterday, and upon inquiring, discovered that Chu Xinyu and Nie Yixiao were being held by the Boss. She has already gone to look for them and is now at the Empty Building."

Mrs. Chu... Xuan Yu...

The name detonated in her mind with faint familiarity.

So this—Xuan Yu, was she the lawful wife of her biological father?

Without reason, Jiayi clenched her fists, noticing her palms slick with sweat.

For some reason, the name Xuan Yu made her even more nervous than Chu Xinyu.

Facing Chu Xinyu, she only felt fear and wanted to hide.

Yet, upon hearing the name Xuan Yu, she couldn’t help but have her hair stand on end, a chill running down her spine.

Lin Zixun said, "The Boss mentioned, if Miss Jiayi is not yet mentally prepared, there’s no need to meet with Mrs. Chu now."

After a while, Jiayi’s delicate throat moved, and she lifted her face, "No, I’ll go."

Even if she felt repulsion towards the Chu family, she couldn’t hide away like a turtle in its shell.

Five or six minutes later, Jiayi walked out of Huo Garden.

George had already driven the car out of the garage and was waiting at the gate.

Once in the car, George drove Jiayi to the empty high-rise building—the Huo Family’s private punishment ground.

Because the floors of the empty building lacked rails and walls, Jiayi could already see Chu Xinyu on the second floor from the ground level.

At the first glimpse from afar, she was startled.

Other than the features that were still barely recognizable as Chu Xinyu, there wasn’t a single unmarred spot on her body.

Her hair was cut in a mess, her delicate face was covered in slap marks, her limbs were full of scars, and even her formerly beautiful and expensive manicure was completely broken, with indentations where she had been pinched...

Her entire body seemed to have been subjected to private torture.

She was sobbing non-stop, with Nie Yixiao supporting her and occasionally whispering comforting words.

On Chu Xinyu’s other side was the silhouette of a woman.

Protected by a group of people dressed like bodyguards, it was difficult to get a clear look at the woman’s face, but she appeared to be a distinguished middle-aged lady.

Jiayi inhaled sharply, "The injuries on Chu Xinyu... were they ordered by the young master?"

As she asked the questions, Jiayi felt they were superfluous.

Apart from Huo Zhenyang, who else would dare to order punishment for Chu Xinyu?

George nodded, "The Boss and Miss Jiayi, on the night you returned to Huo Garden from here, the Boss called a few subordinates and ordered them to take good care of Miss Chu. Miss Jiayi, I know she is your sister, but the Boss ordered it, we couldn’t do anything..."

Jiayi waved her delicate hand to indicate she understood.

That night, after the man had carried her to bed from the terrace, he had gone out for a long time before returning.

It turned out he had gone to arrange for Chu Xinyu to be tormented these past days.

Jiayi said nothing more and followed George upstairs.

The distance to the second floor was short, yet each step was so heavy, so prolonged.

Finally, they reached the open space on the second floor.

Apart from Chu Xinyu and Nie Yixiao, the scene was heavily occupied by men in black suits with agile builds.

On one side were the Huo Family’s subordinate bodyguards.

On the other side, the faces were somewhat unfamiliar, seemingly bodyguards brought by the Chu Family.

The atmosphere was deadly serious, heavy.

Although there were many people, aside from Chu Xinyu’s crying, no other sound could be heard at all.

George raised his voice, "Boss, Miss Jiayi is here."

The bodyguards turned around and automatically cleared a path.

Jiayi followed the path they cleared and saw Huo Zhenyang sitting directly in front of her.

Her gaze shifted slightly, and not far from the man, was a woman in a deep purple, expensive, handmade dress.

Her heart skipped a beat involuntarily.

The woman appeared to be in her forties, but she was incredibly well-maintained, her fair, smooth skin without a single wrinkle, features delicate, and demeanor outstanding. Her slightly upturned eyes were filled with confident determination, the tight line of her lips traced a nearly imperceptible arrogance.

This was an aura that could only come naturally from an elite upbringing.

Jiayi knew this was Chu Xinyu’s mother, Mrs. Chu Xuan Yu, but not her own biological mother.

Xuan Yu’s gaze met Jiayi’s for a moment, then froze.

The girl she hadn’t seen for a year had changed completely from when she was previously in S Country.

Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes calm and serene, indicating that she had not suffered in China over the past year but instead had been living a very comfortable, nourished life.

Moreover, the look of respect that emerged on the faces of the numerous Huo Family bodyguards upon hearing her name, as they automatically made way, indicated that this despised girl had been held up like a princess by Huo Zhenyang over the past year.

Then looking at the minor healed wound on Jiayi’s wrist compared to the numerous bruises covering her daughter Chu Xinyu’s body.

Her daughter, Xuan Yu’s, was a young miss from a pure and noble family of S Country lineage. Merely by accidentally hurting a wretch born of a lowly seed, she had been tortured to this state.

How could she, Xuan Yu, swallow such indignation!

But for now, even if she couldn’t swallow it, she had to suppress it temporarily.

After all, Xuan Yu had eaten more years of rice than her daughter, and she knew that this was not the time to challenge this immensely powerful man in China.

A mighty dragon cannot crush a local snake.

Xuan Yu suppressed the anger in her heart, took a deep breath, and her gaze instantly turned from ferocious to gentle as she hurriedly stepped forward to greet him.

Before she could speak, Chu Xinyu began to scream and cry.