Chapter 871 : Burned Gowns
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The photographer could not help but praise the couple. Sometimes, he would take shots of Xie Limo carrying Yun Bixue as they walked, capturing the couple's affection for each other in the most natural and heartwarming state.
Yun Bilu hopped as she followed along behind. During the break, she called Huang Yize and told him, "Huang Yize, during the engagement shoot, my elder sister was being carried around by my brother-in-law."
Huang Yize's voice came from the cell phone, saying, "So, what you are hinting at is that you want me to carry you next time?"
Yun Bilu's intentions were exposed immediately. In a loud voice, she faked ignorance and replied, "Oh, I wouldn't dare. Are you still keeping grandfather company at home?"
"Yes."
"Eat well for lunch, okay? I'm gonna be busy again."
After a few sentences, she hung up her phone. Somehow, just hearing Huang Yize's voice and knowing that he was at home calmed her mind and satisfied her heart.
While they were taking their break, a few children ran over to play. No one had their guard up against them. After a while, the children lit the gowns on fire.
They only realized it when the nearby greenery already caught fire. It was Yun Bilu who noticed and took action quickly, calling the firemen to put out the fire. Unfortunately, the gowns were already burned.
The children who lit the gowns on fire were still singing as they ran, "Oh, oh, it's burning! Bad people! We will burn the bad people!"
Bai Yaoyao ran up and caught two of the boys, while the remaining three were caught by the bodyguards who were hidden in the shadows.
Yun Bixue furrowed her brows and stared coldly at the children. The oldest was only ten years old, while the youngest was around five years old. It was unimaginable that they were already capable of doing such things.
Yun Bixue puffed up in anger, but she was not angry at the children. Rather, she was angry at the people who tried to use them.
When they were taking the photos, numerous men of sacrifice would surround and protect them so that no one suspicious could get near. However, since they were children, no one had their guard up against them.
One could imagine what a happy occasion an engagement photoshoot should be. However, since someone had burned the gowns you were going to wear, that sort of feeling was the same as being burned yourself.
Yun Bixue clenched her fists tightly as she stared furiously at the children, as though trying to burn through them by directing all her fury at them.
Perhaps it was Yun Bixue's icy glare that made the children shuffle backwards in fright. The youngest child even said, "Bad person! You're the evil woman. You're the evil stepmother in fairy tales."
The child articulated each and every syllable clearly, chilling Yun Bixue's heart further as it spread across her entire self.
She had always thought that she had never done anything bad and never harmed any children. However, one day, if the purest of children insinuated such things about them, no one would be able to stand it.
Yun Bilu had her hand on her waist as she pointed at the children. "Who taught you kids that? How old are you? You already know how to do these bad things. Do you believe me when I say that I can get the police to arrest you, huh?"
The oldest kid retorted boldly, "We're not scared. You guys are the bad ones."
Yun Bilu gritted her teeth. "Fine then. You still think that you did the right thing?" As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves, as though she was going to spank them on their butts.
Frankly speaking, she couldn't contain her anger. If they were adults, she would have long kicked them, but since they were only kids, she could only give them a sound spanking.
Chapter 872 The Five Children
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yun Bixue's gaze darkened as she gritted her teeth. "Forget it, Bilu."
"Elder Sister, how can you just let it go? We don't know where these kids came from, much less know if someone really used them against you. They even called you evil. From what I can see, they cannot even distinguish between good or bad, that's why I have to teach them properly today." Yun Bilu was so angry that it didn't matter that they were only kids. She wouldn't settle down until she beat some sense into them.
Bai Yaoyao had her arms crossed in front of her chest as she eyed the children. "Look at them. They don't even know their mistakes. If we were to let them go right now, they might do worse things in the future."
Yun Bixue walked step by step towards the children. She kneeled down in front of them so that they were on eye level and asked, "You said that I am evil, but what did I do? Have I ever harmed you, hit you, or killed any of your family members or friends?"
Against Yun Bixue's questioning, the children could not answer at all. They were trying their best to shuffle backwards to hide and avoid her interrogation.
Yun Bixue did not give them any time to retreat as she pushed further. "Why did you say that I'm evil, huh? If you don't say it clearly, you will have to stand here for a few days without food. If you answer my question, I will let you eat."
To these five children, eating was very important since it had been a few days since they had a full meal. They cowered back before one of them voiced out, "They said that you're evil and that we would only get to eat if we burned your gowns."
"It's been a few days since we ate." The six-year-old boy hugged his stomach, showing that he was starving. His eyes were glistening pitifully.
"I want to eat too, so I will talk."
"They said you're evil and that we will get to eat if we punished the bad people."
Hearing the children's words, Yun Bixue's anger turned into sympathy as her heart squeezed tightly. She only noticed now that the children's clothes were slightly tattered, and they looked a little frail.
Her tone was gentle as she asked, "You don't get to eat every day?"
One of the boys hugged his stomach and gave her a timid look. "If we don't listen and obey, we don't get food."
That one statement stabbed into the deepest parts of Yun Bixue's heart. She suddenly found these kids really pitiful.
She asked patiently, "Where are your parents?"
The five children blinked their eyes at the same time, looking confused. Not long after, one of them sobbed loudly and wiped his eyes as he answered, "We don't know our parents."
Yun Bixue caressed them on their heads and spoke gently, "If I gave you food to eat until you're all full, will you still think that I'm a bad person?"
The five children thought about it. However, they probably did not understand that much because they shook their heads. A girl piped up, "A person who gives us nice food is a pretty elder sister."
Yun Bilu caressed that girl's head. "You're the most obedient one. My elder sister is, of course, as pretty as an angel."
Bai Yaoyao pulled Yun Bilu's hand back and whispered, "Hey, don't make things worse."
Yun Bilu pouted. She found it strange how these five children simply appeared.
At that moment, Xie Limo walked over and wrapped his arm comfortingly around Yun Bixue's shoulders. "The fire has been extinguished now. We found out that these kids were instructed by the Fang family. They couldn't do anything, so they made these kids come here. They also arranged for them to come to our wedding. It's under control now."
Yun Bilu stomped her foot in anger. "I'm going to smash the Fang family into pieces. What kind of sick person would use kids like that? I'm so mad!"
Hearing Xie Limo and Yun Bilu's words, Yun Bixue could only sigh as she caressed the children's heads.
Chapter 873 The Sudden Squall
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
With her hands on the heads of the children, Yun Bixue kneeled down and asked, "You kids don't have any family. Are you willing to follow me? I will arrange for people to make sure that you get to eat."
Hearing that they would be able to eat, the children instantly perked up.
Yun Bixue looked at Xie Limo, and he gave her an encouraging expression. No matter what she planned to do, he would support her.
Later, Xie Jiu took the children away and had Yun Bilu follow them. After all, girls were better at taking care of kids.
Because of this incident, Yun Bixue was no longer in the mood to continue with the photoshoot, so Xie Limo could only push the session to a later date.
Bai Yaoyao looked at Yun Bixue and remarked, "You're still so kind."
Yun Bixue looked at her burned gowns and sighed. After shaking her head, she replied, "Those children were quite pitiful. Besides, it's not their fault. The ones at fault are those people who used them."
"But this won't solve the problem at all. There are many children in Ning An City, so even if you help these kids, what if the mastermind used the other kids? Also, you are about to have your wedding ceremony with Young Master Xie, so it's better to find a proper solution as soon as possible." Bai Yaoyao crossed her arms in front of her chest as she said this in a worried voice.
Yun Bixue felt that Bai Yaoyao's words made sense. They had to find a solution. Out of habit, she turned and looked at Xie Limo again. "Is it better for us to find a solution now?"
Xie Limo nodded his head, and something cold shone in his magnificent eyes. He spoke plainly, "We won't let the Fang family off, but these children also reflected the problem with adolescence education in Ning An City. That's something for us to think about. I will host a major meeting when I get back and do something about it."
Hearing Xie Limo's words, Yun Bixue understood that he had something in mind.
Since the incident spoiled their mood, they packed up and got ready to head back home.
However, not long after, rain clouds covered the entire sky, and the winds started to rampage.
Facing the strong gusts of winds, Yun Bixue could hardly keep her eyes open.
Xie Limo tugged Yun Bixue along as he commented, "From the looks of it, it's going to be a squall. Get on the car quickly. Let's go back now."
Bai Yaoyao followed closely behind them, and the photographers rushed towards their cars as well.
A moment later, lightning flashed across the skies, and rain started pouring down. The team had yet to get on their cars and were drenched within seconds.
After opening the car doors and getting inside with difficulty, everyone drove back.
Because of the pouring rain, Xie Limo drove quickly, not daring to drag on any longer. "There's a towel in the compartment in front of you. Use it to dry yourself."
Yun Bixue was wringing her clothes. Upon hearing Xie Limo's words, she quickly took out the towel and was about to dry him first.
Xie Limo shook his head, his expression hardening as he said, "Don't worry about me. Dry your hair first so that you don't catch a cold."
It was rare for Xie Limo to speak so sternly, so Yun Bixue knew that she should not disturb him while he was driving. She dried her hair and eyed the car behind them from the rearview mirror. She phoned Bai Yaoyao and asked, "Yaoyao, are you guys okay there?"
Bai Yaoyao was drying herself with a piece of clothing as she replied, "Bixue, don't worry about us. We're fine. Our priority now is to get back quickly. All I can hope is for this heavy rain not to cause a traffic jam."
"Okay, tell the driver to follow our car back without stopping."
"Okay!"
The rain continued pouring as the winds howled. Since visibility was low, Yun Bixue did not dare to talk, afraid that she would distract Xie Limo and affect his driving.
Chapter 874 With You By My Side Im Not Afraid
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yun Bixue anxiously looked out the car window. The rain was pouring so heavily that a flood would be possible, and water might get inside the car.
Yun Bixue had all sorts of worry in her mind, but she could only maintain a stiff expression as she kept calm.
She looked at Xie Limo from time to time and saw his tense expression. No matter what happened in the past, Xie Limo would regard it indifferently—he had never been this serious.
She knew that problems were likely to arise from today's rain.
When they decided on the date of the photoshoot, they did not know that there would be a squall. Her expression shifted, and she rushed to say, "Limo, I think there's something wrong with the photography team."
Xie Limo caressed the back of Yun Bixue's hand and assured her. "Don't worry. Stay calm first."
Yun Bixue took in huge gulps of air. "Okay, nothing will happen."
"I've already arranged for the hidden guards of the Xie family to come."
"Okay." Yun Bixue believed that as long as Xie Limo was around, they would be safe. Even if there's any danger, she had nothing to be afraid of as long as he was by her side.
At that moment, Xie Limo's phone rang. Yun Bixue helped retrieve it from his pocket and answered immediately when she saw that it was Ji Qiongxin.
"Limo, where are you guys? We couldn't reach you earlier. I've seen on the news that there are traffic jams everywhere because of the flood. Water is getting inside the cars now. Are you okay? Your father and I are both worried sick."
Yun Bixue held the cell phone as she said, "Mum. it's me."
"Oh, is this Bixue? Are you okay? Where are you? Are you with Limo?"
Hearing Ji Qiongxin's worried voice, Yun Bixue replied, "Yes, Mum. I'm with Limo, and he's driving right now so we can get home quickly. We're safe and will be reaching home soon."
"I'm easily worried lately. Before, no matter what dangers we faced, I've never worried this much. But now that I heard your voice, I can calm down."
Yun Bixue could understand the feelings of a mother. After explaining their situation and location, they heard a sound of something exploding—the car was shot.
Xie Limo turned on the anti-bullet system to secure the car, then continued to drive calmly.
On a sloping road with accumulated water, Xie Limo swerved the car towards the side to avoid the flood. Although they were safe, it was a pretty close shave.
Yun Bixue gritted her teeth and took out the pistol in the car to ready herself.
Without knowing how long has passed since the car was shot, Yun Bixue's brows furrowed as her expression stiffened. She had just noticed that the car behind was no longer following them.
Although Xie Limo was driving quickly, the car eventually got stuck in the accumulated water, so much so that it was hard for the car to continue moving on. Water then started accumulating bit by bit inside the car.
Xie Limo gave Yun Bixue a sidelong glance then asked, "Are you scared?"
Yun Bixue hid a smile as she shook her head. She gripped Xie Limo's tense and cold arm before answering, "With you here, I'm not scared. Even if I were to die here, as long as you're with me, I'm not afraid." Right now, she only had Limo in her mind.
Seeing Yun Bixue's serious expression, Xie Limo's tense expression relaxed. He leaned sideways to drape his arm around her shoulders and asked, "Silly, do you really think we will be trapped here like this?"
"I even heard gunshots. Someone must be trying to use this chance to harm us. I will climb on the roof and do my best to shoot them down. Even if I die here, I must take down a few of them to cushion my fall. Do they think that the shooting practice I went through was useless?"
Xie Limo chuckled as he patted her back. "My wife is too cute. With me here, we won't die anytime soon."
Chapter 875 Aircraft Rescue
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xie Limo felt more at ease. Even under this situation, his wife had such a great attitude. Compared to when he first met her, her EQ had improved a lot.
Yun Bixue blinked her eyes and pushed Xie Limo's arm aside. "Hubby, do you really know how we can get out of this situation?" With the flood surrounding them, they couldn't walk even if they left the car.
Not only that, but there were gunshots around too, so there was basically nowhere to hide. If she did not think through it rationally, she wouldn't have said such things as well.
Xie Limo patted her shoulder and replied warmly, "You think that I ordered for the hidden guards of Xie family for fun?"
Yun Bixue frowned as she analyzed further. "Even if they wanted to, they couldn't fly. In this flood, how will they rescue us? Unless they plan on using a boat? By the time they reach us, it would be too late."
Just when Yun Bixue finished speaking, she heard the sound of a helicopter above them. Her eyes sparkled as she gaped. "They actually flew here?"
The hidden guards of the Xie family followed the GPS signal on Young Master Xie's car and flew over to rescue.
They have been specially trained for this kind of rescue as well. Four helicopters surrounded the car in a square formation for protection, while the guards were equipped with bulletproof attire. Each of them carried guns equipped with silencers. They would first protect the top of Xie Limo's car and surround them carefully before pulling Yun Bixue and Xie Limo up to the helicopter.
After the two of them were finally rescued, Ji Qiongxin felt at ease when she saw them come home safely. She quickly made them drink a bowl of ginger soup before rushing them to take a bath.
Yun Bixue was thinking of letting Xie Limo use the second floor's shower while she used the one on the first floor.
However, Ji Qiongxin had an open mind and said, "Since you're already married, there's nothing wrong with taking a bath together. Go on!"
And with that, Yun Bixue was pushed into the shower with her face beet-red by Xie Limo.
There had been too many dangers today, so Xie Limo simply scrubbed her back for her. After bathing and changing into fresh clothes, Yun Bixue finally felt safe.
However, the fact that she had yet to hear news from Bai Yaoyao was worrying her. "Didn't the helicopter go and rescue them? Why haven't we heard from them?"
"Stay calm and wait for the news."
Yun Bixue held on to a glass of hot water as she paced back and forth, worry evident in her face.
She looked at Xie Limo's calm expression and couldn't help but mumble under her breath, "Bilu isn't back yet either. She's not answering my calls. I don't even know if she managed to help the kids settle down or not."
"Huang Yize went to find Bilu. If it's him, Bilu will definitely be safe."
Yun Bixue nodded her head and stood by the window, looking at the pouring rain outside. Sighing, she said, "Limo, today's rain was not planned by anyone, but someone from the photography team must have leaked information. I guess someone from Tian Jing City is trying to assassinate us. They knew that we will definitely go to the capital after our wedding, so they're trying to stop us, and the only way they could do it was through assassination. This probably involves more than a single party, don't you think? Anyway, these are just wild guesses."
Xie Limo walked over and tugged her hand down to sit on the bed. "Your guesses are not bad, and your critical thinking has improved as well. That was exactly what I thought. Since they want to take us down, why don't we return the favor and take them down as well?"
Yun Bixue's eyes shone. "You mean to say that we will send someone to Tian Jing City to do what they did to us?"
Chapter 876 Heart Grown Weaker
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xie Limo tapped his slender fingers against the bed. His expression was indifferent as he replied, "That's right."
Yun Bixue met Xie Limo's resolute gaze and asked, "Hubby, the Yun family has a few men of sacrifice in the capital too. Should I order them to step in?"
Xie Limo waved his hand. "Not for now. I've made my own arrangements. Since they want to cause an uproar in Ning An City, I'll make things even worse in the capital."
"But we don't know who's behind the assassination attempt earlier. Are we going to cast our net wide?"
Xie Limo held Yun Bixue's hands and said, "Even if we don't know which family planned it, we'll surely find a lead."
At that moment, Xie Limo's expression was cold yet serene. He looked as though he was in the midst of preparation and had everyone under control.
After analyzing things in her head, Yun Bixue couldn't sit still. She continuously made calls on her phone but to no avail. She then ran to the window and looked at the torrential rain outside. Wondering when the rain would stop, she began to feel even more worried for Bai Yaoyao and Yun Bilu.
It was only mid-afternoon, but the dark clouds covered the sky, making it as dark as night.
After a while, the sounds of knocking came from outside the bedroom. Yun Bixue opened the door only to see Ji Qiongxin. Behind her were servants were carrying some dishes.
Ji Qiongxin said, "I bet you didn't have a proper meal for lunch, so I've got them to prepare these for both of you. I'm not bothering you, am I?"
Yun Bixue could see the intense concern in Ji Qiongxin's eyes. She smiled and answered, "Mom, we're fine. You're not bothering us. We were just discussing some matters."
Ji Qiongxin felt more relaxed as she said, "Eat these then, okay? Don't let your imagination run wild. You've already sent people to rescue them, so they will definitely come back." As she spoke, she got the servants to place the dishes on the study table.
"Mom, I'm sorry we made you worry."
"As long as you're safe and sound, I feel rest assured." After a moment's pause, Ji Qiongxin looked at Xie Limo and said, "There's something fishy with what happened today, but your father and I will not interfere. I know you want to settle this yourself."
Xie Limo nodded, warmth spreading through his heart. Country A was where he wanted to reshuffle the power-holders, wielding control over them. His parents had given him ample authority and allowed him to do things himself. This was how they showed their love for him.
He wouldn't say too many things to them, but among the huge Xie family, he understood his parents' expectations for him, and that the same time, he could also feel their love and warmth.
After Ji Qiongxin left, Yun Bixue arranged the chairs. Passing the chopsticks to Xie Limo, she said, "Let's eat!"
Xie Limo walked over gracefully and sat down, eating his food quietly.
Frankly speaking, Yun Bixue had no appetite at all, but since her mother-in-law had personally delivered the food to them, she must eat well to appreciate her efforts. She drank some soup first to warm up her stomach. After a while, she asked, "Does Mom know what happened?"
"She is the matron of the Xie family and is extremely astute. Do you think we can hide anything from her?"
Yun Bixue looked rather doubtful. "But Mom appeared quite calm."
"This is nothing but a small matter to her. She knows that I'll handle this well."
Yun Bixue nodded. "If I were to have such a smart son in the future, I wouldn't need to rack my brains too."
Xie Limo gently knocked on her head. "With me around, do you still need to rack your brains?"
Yun Bixue scooped a bowl of soup for him and stirred it with her own spoon. She sighed before saying, "I feel that my heart has grown weaker. I know that you're very capable, but I still feel worried. I want to share your burdens with you."
Xie Limo's lips moved slightly. With a glittering gaze, his actions turned gentle as he said, "If you already feel that way, you'll only worry even more when you have a son in the future."
Chapter 877 Going Home Safely
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
As the heir of the Xie family, he matured much faster than others his age. Even now, he understood what his parents felt. In fact, he thought that the only way to truly experience the love his parents had for him was to become a father himself!
He glanced briefly at Yun Bixue's tummy and heaved a sigh of relief quietly. Fortunately, only the two of them were around now. If she really were pregnant, she wouldn't be able to handle such a perilous day like today.
Therefore, he could only wait for things to settle down before considering to have a child.
Even though Xie Limo was occupied eating his meal, he paid close attention to Yun Bixue's expressions. She looked rather gloomy and just drank soup, rarely touching the other dishes. Using his chopsticks, he picked up a few pieces of vegetables and placed them in her bowl. He said, "Eat more. You'll have more energy in the afternoon that way."
Although Yun Bixue understood him, she simply didn't have an appetite. She could only force herself to take several mouthfuls.
She was afraid that Ji Qiongxin would get worried if they ate too little. That was why she began scooping all the dishes into Xie Limo's bowl.
Xie Limo raised his brows as he asked, "Are you trying to make my stomach burst from all these food?"
Yun Bixue couldn't bring herself to smile and just chewed on her chopsticks, staring at those dishes. After a moment, she raised her head and looked at him, saying pitifully, "I have a small appetite, but yours is rather big. Eat as much as you can."
Xie Limo understood that she was doing this because she didn't want his mother to worry. Therefore, he ate everything that he could. However, looking at her thin face, he picked some dishes and put them into her bowl. "Eat all of these, and I'll finish the rest."
Yun Bixue dug her chopsticks into the bowl and nodded miserably.
Xie Limo watched her eat her food slowly and continued to finish his portion.
...
The rain continued to pour outside. Yun Bilu, together with the five children, was stuck in a building. She had intended to buy new clothes for them so they could change out of their current worn ones, but she didn't expect the rain to be so heavy. Not only that, her cell phone's battery ran out.
Xie Jiu sent a group of men to rescue them, and she could only wait patiently.
The five children remained quiet too, not bothering Yun Bilu at all. They just stood quietly beside her and watched the heavy downpour without a word.
After a while, Xie Jiu arrived with the rescue team. The people who were stuck in the building were rescued as well, and Xie Jiu made arrangements for all five children. Afterwards, they escorted Yun Bilu and were about to bring her back to the villa.
When Yun Bilu finally got on the boat, she put on the life jacket and raincoat that the rescue team offered her. She heaved a sigh of relief, wishing to go home quickly so that her elder sister wouldn't worry about her.
After putting on the raincoat, she raised her head and saw one of her rescuers. She was completely stunned as she asked, "Huang... Huang Yize... Why are you here?"
Huang Yize raised his brows as he rowed the boat. He replied calmly, "Why? Are you surprised to see me?"
Yun Bilu began to stutter. "Erm... No..." She just felt that it was weird for him to come. Why was he dressed as a rescuer too?
Huang Yize didn't answer any more of Yun Bilu's questions. The rain pelted down so strongly that the droplets hurt as they fell on their bodies. Huang Yize retrieved another protective layer of outerwear for Yun Bilu and said, "Sit properly. You'll be home very soon."
Yun Bilu heard his solemn words and felt somewhat safe. She didn't worry anymore and closed her eyes, anticipating the time they would be arriving home.
Later, when the two of them were finally home, Yun Bixue hurriedly rushed out of the house. Seeing that her younger sister had returned, she could finally feel at ease.
Old Master Yun's tense expressions also softened as he said over and over again, "It's great to have you back... It's great to have you back..."
Chapter 878 Alarming But Not Dangerous
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Since Yun Bilu was fine, everyone was now waiting for Bai Yaoyao and the rest to return.
Finally, at five in the afternoon, an unconscious Bai Yaoyao was brought home. She had frightened the entire family, especially Yun Bixue, who was feeling very anxious and upset.
She even reproached herself. If it weren't for her, Bai Yaoyao wouldn't be harmed and become like this.
With the adverse weather outside, they couldn't even get their doctor here too, making Yun Bixue feel extremely nervous.
Xie Yaocang walked over and said calmly, "Let me take a look." As he spoke, he folded her sleeves and began examining her pulse.
Yun Bixue was taken aback. Did Master Xie know how to read a pulse? She didn't know that.
Xie Limo took a few steps forward and stood beside Yun Bixue. Lowering his voice, he said, "Have faith in him. He used to be an outstanding doctor."
Yun Bixue nodded as Yun Bilu ran down the stairs to take a look too.
After Xie Yaocang read Bai Yaoyao's pulse, he shook his head and said, "There's nothing serious. She was punched in the back of her head and might have suffered from shock. Let her rest quietly for the next few days!"
Yun Bixue was stunned. "Someone punched her? How could something like that happen?"
She turned around and looked at the guard who sent Bai Yaoyao here. She asked, "What happened?"
The guard replied courteously, "While we were rushing to rescue her, a man from the photography team named Li Zhong killed himself."
Xie Limo instructed coldly, "Do a thorough check on Li Zhong. Find out who he had contacted and talked to, and check the messages on his phone as well. Check everything thoroughly!"
"Understood!"
That photography team was an internationally acclaimed one, and the Xie family had employed their services all these years. What had made one of them betray the Xie family?
The rain continued to pour, making the entire family feel more gloomy.
On the other hand, Xie Yaocang broke the silence gracefully. "Prepare for dinner, everyone. Let's see what the news is reporting. Since they're all safe, we should feel relieved. At least no one was hurt in this weather."
With those words, Xie Yaocang calmed everyone down. He was right. It's truly a blessing that no one had been hurt.
When the TV was switched on, the house was finally filled with some sounds. Aunt Zhou brought the servants to the kitchen to cook, while Xie Yaocang spoke to Old Master Yun.
Shortly after dinner, the rain stopped, and the news reported on the rescue updates. Because of Ning An City's timely rescue efforts, there weren't many casualties.
Ji Qiongxin said by the side, "Luckily, help had arrived on time. Your wedding with Bixue won't be affected and will still push through."
Yun Bixue understood that if someone were to perish, their wedding would have to be very low-key and discreet, out of respect for the deceased. The calamity was alarming, but still, it was not as tragic. They were all fortunate that that was the case.
That night, Bai Yaoyao finally woke up. Yun Bixue, who stayed by her side, noticed that she had regained consciousness and heaved a sigh of relief. She asked her best friend, "How do you feel?"
After Bai Yaoyao's blurry vision focused, she saw Yun Bixue and grabbed her hands immediately. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. What happened to you? Why were you punched at the back of your head?"
"After we got in the car, I thought that something was amiss. I then spoke to the photography team, and everyone thought that there's something fishy too. After that, they started arguing, and in the middle of the struggle, I was punched out of nowhere. But before I passed out, I clearly heard a gunshot."
Yun Bixue considered Bai Yaoyao's words then said, "That gunshot you heard probably came from Li Zhong, the photographer's assistant. He committed suicide afterwards."
Bai Yaoyao widened her eyes and clenched her jaw. "So, he really did it on purpose!"
Chapter 879 Charity Orphanage
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
With gritted teeth, Bai Yaoyao said, "I'm still too weak. If only I had a weapon back then. No matter what, I would try to kill Li Zhong myself."
Yun Bixue held Bai Yaoyao's hands and replied, "Stop thinking about it. You just woke up and haven't eaten anything. I'll get the servants in the kitchen to heat your food up."
"I'm not hungry. Just give me some soup."
"Okay."
When Bai Yaoyao got out of bed, she asked Yun Bixue solemnly, "Your wedding is in a few days. What will happen to your engagement shoot?"
Yun Bixue was pouring a glass of water for her when she heard the question. She answered, "With today's technology, an indoor photoshoot can become an outdoor one. Besides, we were almost done after shooting the whole morning, so I don't mind."
Bai Yaoyao looked in the mirror and fixed her hair. "You're just too laid-back and don't care much about a lot of things. No wonder those people feel you're an easy target."
"After being through so much, I cherish the people around me now. That's why I don't care about anything else. Don't you feel that way too?"
With Yun Bixue throwing the question back at her, she took the glass of water and wondered. That's true. She didn't care about anything else too. What mattered to her most was the person who loved her the most.
After three days, Ning An City had returned to normal. The areas that had been destroyed by the flood were reconstructed hastily. However, the citizens felt downcast due to this disaster, and smiles were rarely seen on their faces.
Shortly after, the five families—with the Fang family leading them—were seized. Their shops and properties were auctioned away, and most of them were taken over by small to mid-ranked households who put their forces together. Once that was done, some of the smaller households who attended the business meeting quickly became powerful. During the auction, they bought the properties belonging to those noble families, and this increased their wealth and status instantly. In a split second, they joined the ranks of the noble families.
The master of the Fang family couldn't believe that they had been arrested. As the police dragged him out, he began to scream, feeling wronged.
On the other hand, Yun Bixue held the five children and stopped in front of the master of the Fang family. She glared at him and asked coldly, "Master Fang, are these kids familiar to you? You tried to harm and use them against me."
"Yun Bixue, indeed, I can't hide anything from you!"
Yun Bixue replied confidently, "If I want to find out about anything in Ning An City, I can. Now that all of your plans have fallen through, the Fang family will disappear from Ning An City. If your descendants were to read history in the future, they would know how their family met its doom."
"You... You..." Master Fang was so incensed that he passed out.
Yun Bixue just watched him coolly. She would never pity someone who tried to take advantage of children. Moreover, the Fang family had joined forces with the other four families and repeatedly tried to kill her. Only a fool would spare them.
Later, the political headquarters arranged for a meeting to discuss the recent disaster. This resulted in a series of preventive measures specifically targeting storms in Ning An City.
After seeing the measures put in place, bright smiles began to appear on the citizens' faces.
Also, Yun Bixue set up a charity orphanage in the city under the Snow Cloud Group's name. The orphanage specially adopted abandoned children and offered them proper education and care.
This move was met with praise from the citizens. Snow Cloud Group became an even more beloved and respected organization amongst them, and their product sales grew even more. What Yun Bixue did was even more effective than advertising.
The orphanage also received tremendous support from society. Many people sponsored the orphanage, and the city government also began to set up a fund for it.
With this positive energy surging through the entire Ning An City, the atmosphere instantly livened up.
Chapter 880 Announcing The Wedding
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The citizens of Ning An City were all smiling radiantly as this positive energy brightened their moods up.
Just as they were slowly feeling better, news spread across the entire city at an alarming speed—Young Master Xie and Young Madam would be holding their wedding ceremony in two days.
When the announcement was made, the wedding invitations were sent out at the same time.
The news almost stupefied everyone, but it also made them very excited. This was a wonderful piece of news in Ning An City, and it washed away the misery in everyone's hearts.
Everyone seemed to be in a festive mood. All the households began to buy red lanterns to hang outside their homes. Some of them even went to the malls to purchase new outfits, intending to wear them during the wedding day.
The crowds in the malls grew over the next couple of days, and the shop owners were all amazed and pleased. They welcomed an even more massive crowd than they usually did over the new year, and their daily sales increased sharply.
Some families even bought finer and special food, as though they were rewarding themselves over a festive celebration.
With the owners profiting from this occasion, the bonuses of their employees rose too. The customers came in consistent waves, and their faces were all decorated with happy smiles.
However, everyone was curious why they hadn't known that the two of them had been engaged earlier. After giving it some thought, they realized that Young Master Xie and Young Madam had always been low profile, and they respected the couple's privacy.
Old Master Yun's villa was decorated with colorful lanterns too. A sea of red washed over the house, and it was incredibly joyous.
Yun Bixue's custom-made gown had been flown over, and it was accompanied by other accessories such as the Ocean Star, a tiara with a dragon and phoenix design, and a traditional dress.
When Yun Bixue saw the whole ensemble, she was so happy that she couldn't even speak. They were absolutely gorgeous. As she looked at Xie Limo, her eyes were shining with excitement and unspeakable joy.
Yun Bilu exclaimed by the side, "Wow, it's beautiful! What is this? Ahh! I remember now. Isn't this the legendary Ocean Star? Oh my! I'm actually seeing it with my own eyes. I learned about it from books and the Internet, and now I've finally seen it up close! Hurry, let me touch it!"
Yun Bilu squealed in delight as she held the accessories. Picking them up, she asked Bai Yaoyao to take photos of her.
Seeing how excited Yun Bilu looked, as though it was her own wedding, the corners of Bai Yaoyao's lips twitched uncontrollably.
"Come on, Elder Sister Yaoyao. Take a picture of me!"
"I should get Young Master Huang to take them for you!"
Yun Bilu held Bai Yaoyao's hand and swayed it. Pouting, she said, "Don't do it. I'm still afraid of the look in his eyes. You should take pretty shots for me instead."
Bai Yaoyao pointed at Huang Yize, who was just walking in from outside. "Oh, your boyfriend is here now. He should be the one keeping you company, right? I have to prepare to be Bixue's bridesmaid and take a look at the heirloom tiara. I just love it!"
Yun Bilu exclaimed, "I love all of them!" She was really elated. Although she was not the one getting married, she felt happy too as she looked at her elder sister.
Huang Yize walked over and saw Yun Bilu carrying the accessories while chuckling away. She was laughing as brightly as the sun.
He reminded her, "You're so muddle-headed. Don't lose your elder sister's things, alright? Put them by the side properly."
Yun Bilu felt upset and whined, "I just want to take a closer look and take some pictures. I can't even do that?"
Huang Yize rubbed his brows and answered, "When it's your turn to get married, you'll have accessories that you like and will suit you too."