Vol. 1 - Chapter 221 - Unforseen

At that time, HuMing had warned her to be cautious of Han ShuYi. However, back then, she had already been blinded by Han ShuYi. Looking back now, it was clear that HuMing was right.

She had been misled by Han ShuYi all along, and her current predicament was ultimately a result of her own choices.

For a moment, Li Yue felt a surge of complex emotions.

In truth, the outcome no longer mattered to her. She had already distanced herself from the eye of the storm and now lived among ordinary people.

Whatever happened beyond this point had nothing to do with her.

As for why she had brought Han ShuYi back, it was likely because she wanted closure—to crush any remaining illusions she held.

She intended to carve out her own path with her own hands.

This was Li Yue's choice.

Han ShuYi lowered his head slowly, realizing that Li Yue had no intention of helping him.

He understood that if he asked to stay here, she would undoubtedly refuse.

"Li Yue, can I borrow your phone? This will be my final request."

"Fine. Make your call and then leave."

Her words were like a dismissal order, leaving Han ShuYi momentarily stunned. Still, he took the phone from her and looked at her again.

"Li Yue, do you still resent me? Do you hate me for saying I didn’t like you back then?"

Li Yue raised her eyebrows at his words, gazing at him in confusion. Then, as if realizing something, her expression softened.

"Han ShuYi, don’t worry. I don’t harbor any resentment towards you. I just want you out of my life. Whatever you do has nothing to do with me, so don’t overthink it."

"Rest assured, if I can successfully return this time, I’ll repay you."

Li Yue didn’t respond, only offering a faint smile. She had heard similar promises from him before.

In all this time, Han ShuYi hadn’t visited her once, nor did he even know where she lived.

She doubted he would keep his promise.

Rather than pin her hopes on Han ShuYi’s words, it was better to abandon expectations and continue living her life.@@novelbin@@

Han ShuYi dialed a number, and soon, a voice came through the phone.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Mom, it’s me! It’s ShuYi!"

"ShuYi? What have you done? Why don’t you even dare to come home?"

"Mom, don’t believe what HuMing said! He’s lying to you! I didn’t do those things. He’s framing me!"

There was silence on the other end of the line, leaving Han ShuYi anxious, dreading the sound of his father’s voice cutting in.

He had called his mother because she was the only one who might still believe in him. If even she doubted him, then nothing he did would matter.

With that desperate hope, he made the call to Zhou WenLi.

But soon, her voice came back on the line.

"ShuYi, if you say none of this is true, then tell me—do you know who is framing HuMing?"

"I don’t know!" Han ShuYi replied truthfully.

He had been manipulated all this time without ever seeing the person’s true face.

The other party’s influence was overwhelming, leaving him no chance to investigate.

Now, with his mother asking him this, panic set in. He feared she had already been swayed by HuMing.

"ShuYi... HuMing has a photo of you dining with another man. Your father says that man is an assassin. Shortly after, HuMing was attacked by him. If you say you had nothing to do with it, do you think I can believe you?"

Zhou WenLi’s voice was heavy with exhaustion. For the first time, she sounded utterly disillusioned with her son.

When did her son become like this?

Had his return to their family been part of someone else’s scheme? But why her son?

Han ShuYi froze in place. He never imagined that a photo of him with Sui Zhao would surface, and that it would be HuMing taking it!

So, from the moment Sui Zhao appeared, had everything been under HuMing’s control?

Sui Zhao had openly interacted with him, unafraid of his inquiries into his identity, because he had ensured there would be no trail to follow!

From the very beginning, HuMing had been manipulating him.

He had seen HuMing as a pawn, yet in the end, he had become one himself.

The realization hit him hard, leaving him speechless and motionless.

On the other end of the line, Zhou WenLi’s voice continued.

"ShuYi, come home and explain everything. Maybe HuMing won’t pursue this any further."

"Mom, I’m your son! Why do you believe HuMing over me?!"

"Because HuMing has evidence, and you don’t! If you’re innocent, why was your first reaction to run away instead of coming home? If you’ve done nothing wrong, I’ll help clear your name!"

Zhou WenLi’s voice rose sharply, a tone Han ShuYi had never heard from her before.

Since his return, Zhou WenLi had always been indulgent, supporting him no matter what he did.

Even when faced with trouble, she had never been angry with him.

Han ShuYi knew it was because of her guilt toward him.

But now, during this call, that guilt seemed to be fading away.

He couldn’t accept it.

"Mom, so you don’t plan to believe me either?"

His voice was filled with bitterness. Watching him speak on the side, Li Yue’s expression turned unexpectedly vibrant.

She hadn’t anticipated Han ShuYi saying such words to his mother.

Though she held little affection for Zhou WenLi, she acknowledged that Zhou WenLi truly cared for Han ShuYi.

Who would have thought even Zhou WenLi no longer believed in him?

No wonder Han ShuYi was so distraught.

‘Looks like HuMing has been busy since his return.’

Li Yue thought silently, continuing to observe without speaking.

Meanwhile, on the other end, Zhou WenLi closed her eyes, consumed by silence.

This was her son, and she couldn’t bear to see him lost in his delusions.

She knew she bore an inescapable responsibility for how things had turned out.

Taking a deep breath, she finally spoke.

"ShuYi, let’s meet. Stop running away."

"Will you bring them with you?"

Both of them knew who "they" referred to.

"No. Just you and me. Tell me everything—what’s really going on."

"Fine. I’ll meet you. Mom, don’t let me down."

The call ended, leaving Han ShuYi clutching the phone, his emotions churning.

He couldn’t believe his mother had been brainwashed by HuMing!