She froze; last night she had been too exhausted, and Huo Zhenyang did not allow anyone to wake her, so she slept like a log throughout and was completely unconscious.

After a while, she came to her senses and wanted to throw off the blanket and get out of bed.

Qiao Yongyong stopped her and said, "Don’t worry, Young Master Huo has already called your daddy and mommy, so there’s no need for them to worry."

She still wanted to get out of bed: "I know, but I’m fine now."

Seeing her insist on leaving, Qiao Yongyong became anxious, grabbing her wrist: "Why leave? It’s better to stay here and recover. Back at Green Island Garden, it’s just you and Zaizai alone, and you can’t even go downstairs. If you go back, who will take care of you? Even if you can barely take care of yourself, who will look after Zaizai? During this period, you and Zaizai should move in here. We have servants and doctors, everything is well-provided for."

Jiayi found Qiao Yongyong’s insistence on her staying somewhat suspicious and a bit amusing: "Miss Qiao, why are you so eager to have me stay at the Huo Mansion?"

Qiao Yongyong pursed her red lips and coughed twice: "Because I want you and Young Master Huo to reconcile."

Of course, Jiayi would not believe that Miss Qiao, a wealthy heiress, would take an interest in someone else’s relationship. She realized the truth.

It was because of Brother Yixiao.

When Qiao Yongyong first returned with Huo Zhenyang, Jiayi thought there might be something between Qiao Yongyong and Huo Zhenyang.

But a woman’s intuition is quite powerful.

It wasn’t long before she realized that the one Qiao Yongyong fancied was actually Brother Yixiao.

With her past with Nie Yixiao, and the proposal from a while back, Qiao Yongyong must know about it as well.

From this point of view, it was obvious that Qiao Yongyong would be delighted if Jiayi got back together with Huo Zhenyang.

Jiayi did not expose her but merely said: "Thank you for your concern, Miss Qiao. However, I can bring Zaizai and temporarily stay with my daddy and mommy. There’s no need to trouble the Huo Mansion unnecessarily."

She was now no one from the Huo Family; staying at the Huo Mansion, what would it look like?

Qiao Yongyong’s expression changed, and seeing that Jiayi had already stood up and was limping towards the door, she took a deep breath and called out:

"Miss Chu. There’s something I think it’s necessary to tell you about."

She stopped in her tracks.

"You must already be aware of my identity," Qiao Yongyong stated quietly.

Jiayi nodded.

"Then, do you know the purpose of Young Master Huo bringing me back this time?"

Jiayi was stunned; he had always been closely linked to the Longding Society, and Qiao Yongyong was the heiress of the Longding Society.

All along, she had thought Qiao Yongyong was just here in Yunling for leisure, and Huo Zhenyang, as the host, would of course entertain her and accompany her throughout.

But later, it seemed not to be the case...

Nie Yixiao’s bodyguards were protecting Qiao Yongyong so thoroughly that she hardly ever left the villa; it didn’t look like a leisure visit at all.

Now that Qiao Yongyong had said this, Jiayi’s heart was inexplicably pounding hard: "Why?"

"He went to Mexico City to investigate Huo Zhenxuan, the second young master, and I, following my brother’s wishes, have come back this time to help Young Master Huo expose Huo Zhenxuan. Huo Zhenxuan was sent overseas by the old master, and over the years, he has been in Mexico. I guess you might have heard that a few months ago, he returned to the country."

Huo Zhenxuan...

This name, though still fuzzy in her memory, had been heard many times by her when George and Auntie Li helped her recover her memories and spoke of old times from a few years back.

Back then, because of a crime of assault leading to disability, Huo Tianpei had sent the second young master overseas, effectively banishing him from the family, turning him into an outcast.

From then on, Huo Zhenyang faced no competition for power and truly became the sole helmsman of the Huo Family. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"The second young master returned to the country?" Jiayi’s eyes shifted.

"Not only did he return, but it seems he was well-prepared," said Qiao Yongyong, word by word, "The murder case involving the young master’s cousin is definitely related to him, and your wrongful accusation was also connected to him. He used your case to threaten the young master, stating that if the young master agreed to resign as the CEO of the corporation, Huo Zhenxuan would produce evidence proving you did not commit the murder."

Jiayi’s palms sweated, and her throat moved, "He... agreed to the second young master’s terms."

"Otherwise? Do you really think that the surveillance evidence of you entering the apartment being found, and the lawsuit proceeding so smoothly, was just good luck? Your freedom was traded for with his position as the head of the corporation."

Qiao Yongyong’s words echoed in Jiayi’s ears, spreading like ripples, making her feel momentarily dazed.

Only to hear Qiao Yongyong continue: "...After ensuring you were safe and that you would be fine, he came to Mexico and contacted my brother to investigate the private behavior of the second young master in Mexico City over the years."

Qiao Yongyong admitted, she had her own selfish reasons for telling Jiayi all this—if Jiayi and the young master could make amends, then Brother Yixiao would naturally be hers.

However... looking at it now, it seems to amount to doing a good deed as well.

This was the first time in her life Qiao Yongyong felt like she was doing something good.

After a long while, Jiayi’s eyes flickered: "That is to say, Xiaolei’s death is related to the second young master; he deliberately used this case to frame me."

Qiao Yongyong nodded: "After the second young master returned, he got involved with the new madam of the Huo Family. The young master suspects that Xiaolei’s death is not unrelated to the madam, and it was the second young master who helped her cover up, and then framed you. However, there is currently no solid evidence, and it’s not wise to rashly accuse the madam. But rest assured, Su Yan and the second young master are in the same boat; once the young master takes down the second young master, Su Yan won’t fare any better."

Su Yan...

Jiayi’s palms clenched tighter, and cold sweat broke out on her back.

Xiaolei’s death, was it really related to her?

Was it really Su Yan who murdered Xiaolei and then colluded with Huo Zhenxuan to frame me, in order to threaten Huo Zhenyang?

Just how ruthless has she become...

Seeing that Jiayi didn’t speak, Qiao Yongyong prepared to quietly leave, but then she saw Jiayi snap back to reality and stand up, unable to help feeling helpless: "I’ve said so much, you’re not still planning to leave, are you..."

"I just want to go to the bathroom, have a bath, and tidy up."

She hadn’t cleaned up since falling into the pit early this morning.

She could even smell the sweat on herself.

Qiao Yongyong sighed: "You’re still not used to your foot, can you manage by yourself? The bathroom floor is slippery, what if you fall? Should I go find a maid for you?"

Jiayi was not used to being attended while bathing, so she shook her head: "No need, I’ll be careful. Thank you."

Just as Qiao Yongyong was about to speak, the footsteps of a man approached from behind, and his voice drifted over: "You go out first, I’ll help."

Naturally, those words were aimed at Qiao Yongyong.

The two women looked toward the source of the voice and saw Huo Zhenyang standing at the doorway, not knowing when he had come upstairs, his dark eyes fixed on Jiayi as if no one else was there.

Unable to resist teasing, Qiao Yongyong said: "What does the young master mean? Are you offering to give Miss Chu a bath?"

Jiayi’s face inexplicably heated up, and she glanced at Qiao Yongyong.

Huo Zhenyang, however, had long been accustomed to Qiao Yongyong’s casual talk, unperturbed, and instead followed up with her tease, shrugging:

"If you know, then why not go out?"

His handsome face showed nothing but disdain for the third wheel.