After returning home, Yang Mian simply washed up and lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Yet her thoughts drifted involuntarily to Huo Yanshen.
That man seemed to be shrouded in a layer of mystery, hiding too many unknown secrets. Deep inside, she felt an inexplicable curiosity, wanting to peel away that veil and uncover the truth.
The next morning, sunlight slipped through the gaps in the curtains and gently fell across her face.
She slowly woke up, eyes half-open, and glanced at the alarm clock—only to realize she had overslept.
The house was quiet. Aside from the housemaid Yang Ma, no one else was around.
Hearing movement, Yang Ma quickly came out from the kitchen with a kind smile. “Miss, you’re awake. I’ve kept breakfast for you. I’ll bring it out now.”
“Okay, thank you,” Yang Mian replied.
She sat at the dining table and ate her breakfast slowly.
Enjoying a meal alone felt especially comfortable to her; whether the others were home or not didn’t matter.
In her heart, this family no longer had warmth or affection.
While cleaning up, Yang Ma casually said, “Madam took the Second Miss to the hospital for a follow-up check-up. And the Master went to work.”
Yang Mian only gave a faint “Mm.”
After hesitating for a moment, Yang Ma seemed to gather her courage and said, “Miss… you should be careful around the Second Miss.”
This immediately piqued Yang Mian’s interest. She frowned slightly. “Hm? Why do you say that?”
“I actually saw it myself the day the Second Miss fell down the stairs,” Yang Ma lowered her head, her voice trembling. “Miss… I’m sorry. I was just afraid of trouble, so I never dared to say anything.”
These past few days, Yang Ma had been in constant inner turmoil. She knew the Madam and Master favored the Second Miss while completely ignoring the Eldest Miss.
She feared that speaking the truth would bring retaliation from the Second Miss.
The Yang family offered good pay, and she needed the money to treat her sick daughter, so she chose silence.
“You saw it?” Yang Mian put down her chopsticks and stared directly at Yang Ma.
“Yes… I’m sorry, Miss,” Yang Ma’s eyes turned red. “I have a daughter with an illness that needs a lot of money for treatment. I didn’t dare speak. I was afraid the Second Miss would hate me and drive me away.”
She recalled that day vividly—how she had witnessed the Second Miss, Yang Huan, stage an act of self-inflicted framing. Shock and fear had filled her heart.
A person who could be so ruthless even to herself—how vicious must she be?
If the Madam and Master were reasonable people, she might have had the courage to speak. But in reality, they were blinded by favoritism, doting on an outsider while ignoring their own biological daughter.
The poor Eldest Miss, after being brought back to the family, not only received no love, but also had to endure jealousy and framing.
Yang Ma sighed inwardly, feeling it was deeply unfair.
Yang Mian listened quietly, sensing her conflict and helplessness.
At least in this family, there was finally one person who wasn’t blind.
In truth, Yang Mian already intended to sever ties with the Yang family. Yang Ma’s silence only accelerated that plan.
“What illness does your daughter have? If I have time later, I’ll take a look,” Yang Mian said.
“She… she has a mental illness,” Yang Ma quickly waved her hands. “It’s alright, Miss. I don’t want to trouble you. I’m afraid she might hurt you, and you still have school.”
“It’s fine. I’ll just take a look. I’m already late anyway—I’ll go to school at noon,” Yang Mian insisted.
She had noticed faint traces of death aura on Yang Ma, something that only appeared on someone nearing death.
She understood immediately—this was not an ordinary illness. There was something dirty involved, and she needed to see it herself.
Although timid and cautious, Yang Ma was not a bad person. Yang Mian would not blame her for her earlier silence.
“Thank you so much, Miss,” Yang Ma finally agreed.
“Mhm. I’m done eating. Let’s go,” Yang Mian said, quickly finishing her breakfast and leaving the house with her.
Yang Ma’s home was a cramped rented apartment where she lived with her husband and daughter.
With a click, the door opened.
At a glance, Yang Mian saw a girl tied to the bed.
The girl lay quietly asleep, her face so pale it held no trace of blood—like a corpse.
“This is your daughter?”
“Yes,” Yang Ma nodded. “Since the incident, I had to tie her up. She goes into violent fits and bites people. I can’t let her harm the neighbors, so I had no choice but to lock her up at home. But her treatment costs a lot, and the Yang family pays well, so I have to keep working there.”
Yang Mian looked at her with firm seriousness. “Your daughter is not mentally ill. She’s been possessed by something dirty.”
The moment those words fell, Yang Ma’s face turned deathly pale.
Her eyes widened in shock and disbelief, her lips trembling.
“What… what did you say? A… a dirty thing? How is that possible? We’ve always been honest people—we’ve never done anything evil. How could we attract something like that?”
Yang Mian nodded slightly, understanding her reaction, but continued seriously.
“Does your daughter only go crazy at night and become violent, while sleeping normally during the day?”
“Yes! Yes, exactly!” Yang Ma nodded frantically, tears forming. “Miss, you’re amazing—you even knew this! Please, save my daughter!”
Yang Mian sighed softly.
“That’s because the thing inside her only comes out at night when yin energy is strongest. And based on the condition, it has been inside her for almost two years.”
“If it isn’t removed soon, your daughter won’t survive much longer.”
Yang Ma nearly collapsed on the spot.
Like someone drowning grabbing a lifeline, she suddenly grabbed Yang Mian’s arm tightly, crying uncontrollably.
“Miss, please save my daughter! I’ll do anything—anything at all! Even my life, I don’t care!”
“Go close the curtains,” Yang Mian said.
“Okay.” Though she didn’t know what Yang Mian intended to do, she had no choice but to believe her now.
The hospital had been unable to find anything.
Yet the young lady only took one look and immediately saw the problem.
The Eldest Miss… must be a hidden expert.