Chapter 364: Biological Mother

"If you want to know, you can ask anyone. But you can’t ask me."

Yun Zijin wasn’t about to give anyone leverage over her.

When Su Mengyao heard there was a non-disclosure agreement, she tactfully shut her mouth.

"Then I won’t ask. Let’s just think about where to eat after we’re done here."

Su Mengyao took out her phone and started searching for nearby restaurants.

"How about... this Qingjin Pavilion? The name sounds a lot like Zijin’s name."

Su Mengyao looked at the nearby places, but was ultimately captivated by a photo of Qingjin Pavilion’s entrance. "How have I never noticed how beautiful this place is before?"

’I must have been blind before,’ Su Mengyao thought.

Hearing Su Mengyao mention Qingjin Pavilion, a flicker of emotion crossed Yun Zijin’s eyes. ’Of all the restaurants, why did she have to pick Qingjin Pavilion?’

"I’m fine with whatever. I’ll go with what you guys decide."

Qin Sitong wasn’t familiar with any of the restaurants; her main role was just to go with the flow.

"I’ve been to Qingjin Pavilion before. It’s really good.

But I’ve never seen the owner. I heard they’re some big shot from overseas. But that’s just a rumor, so don’t take it too seriously."

True to her reputation as Dijing’s "walking encyclopedia," Tu Tutu even knew all sorts of secret information.

If Yun Zijin hadn’t eaten at Qingjin Pavilion with Situ Wenze and the others, she would have had no idea who the owner was.

Although she didn’t get along well with the Situ family, she couldn’t deny that the food at Qingjin Pavilion was truly delicious.

If Su Mengyao wanted to go, they would go. Yun Zijin wasn’t going to exclude Qingjin Pavilion from her list of places to eat just to avoid the Situ family.

"I have no objections. If you want to go, you can make a reservation now."

Both the main hall on the first floor and the private rooms at Qingjin Pavilion were always in high demand.

"I’ll do it!"

Tu Tutu pulled out her phone and started scrolling through her contacts.

While Tu Tutu was looking for the number in her contacts, Yun Zijin’s phone rang.

Seeing it was an unknown number, Yun Zijin decisively hung up.

’Too many scammers these days. I don’t answer unknown numbers as a rule.’

But the person on the other end obviously wasn’t going to give up that easily; the same number called again.

On the second call, Yun Zijin had a faint inkling of who it was, but she still answered it reluctantly.

"Hello..."

Yun Zijin’s greeting was listless.

"Yun Zijin, have any strangers contacted you recently?"

Xia Zhiyun’s voice came through the receiver. His opening with such a strange question made Yun Zijin furrow her brow slightly.

"No."

Even if there had been, Yun Zijin wouldn’t necessarily have told Xia Zhiyun.

"Really? Are you sure? Why don’t you think a little harder?"

Xia Zhiyun thought that since the Situ family wanted to acquire their shares, it would be much easier to buy them from Yun Zijin than from him and his father.

Situ Wenze shouldn’t be stupid enough to choose the hard way when there was an easy one.

Hearing Xia Zhiyun’s words, Yun Zijin raised an eyebrow slightly.

’I didn’t expect Situ Wenze to move so quickly. It hasn’t been long since my call with Situ Yunliang, and he’s already met with the Xia father and son.’

But things were going just as Yun Zijin had expected; the Xia father and son hadn’t yet reached the point where they were forced to sell their shares.

However, Situ Wenze talking to them had opened a crack. Before long, the pair would likely crumble.

"Of course not. Is there any reason for me to lie to you? If you only called to ask about this, then you can hang up."

With that said, Yun Zijin hung up first.

"Whose call was that?" Su Mengyao was right next to Yun Zijin and had been able to vaguely overhear some of the conversation, but not clearly. She could only tell that it was probably a man.

Su Mengyao gave Yun Zijin a teasing look.

"Xia Zhiyun."

"Huh? Why is he still calling you? I heard your relationship with the Xia family was like fire and water."

Tu Tutu interjected unexpectedly.

"That’s how I see it. But whether they see it that way, I have no idea."

’In any case, it seems the Xia father and son are more interested in easing the tension with me right now.’

On the other end of the line, Xia Zhiyun, having been hung up on by Yun Zijin yet again, nearly threw his phone.

"Yun Zijin! As expected of someone raised on the outside—you have no manners!"

Xia Zhiyun kicked a nearby stool, his expression twisting into a snarl of anger.

Knowing that Situ Wenze had already begun to make his move on the Xia family, Yun Zijin was in an excellent mood.

"I’m in a good mood today. Lunch at Qingjin Pavilion later is my treat."

Yun Zijin was itching to spend some money today.

Knowing that Yun Zijin wasn’t short on money, Su Mengyao and the others didn’t stand on ceremony with her.

Besides, they would pay her back in other ways in the future.

At noon, after their spa session was finished, the four of them happily drove to Qingjin Pavilion.

"Zijin!"

Staring at the eager face of Situ Yunliang before her, Yun Zijin only regretted not checking the almanac before leaving the house today.

"Miss Situ, good afternoon."

There was no way Yun Zijin could bring herself to call her "Mom."

"Yun Zijin, Little Aunt is your mother! What kind of way is that to address her?"

Situ Wenze was also by Situ Yunliang’s side, along with those two children.

Situ Wenze must have just left the Xia father and son and come here to have lunch with Situ Yunliang and the others.

"We only have a biological mother-daughter relationship. For the first twenty-one years of my life, I lived in an orphanage as an orphan.

How can an orphan have a mother? What you’re saying is ridiculous, Mr. Situ."

"You!"

Situ Wenze desperately wanted to reprimand Yun Zijin, but unfortunately, everything she said was the truth. He couldn’t find a single word to refute her.

When it came down to it, Yun Zijin was the most innocent victim, yet the one most deeply affected.

"We’re here to eat. Surely Mr. Situ doesn’t intend to block our way?"

Situ Wenze glanced at Yun Zijin and stepped aside.

Yun Zijin walked in front, with Su Mengyao and the others hurrying behind her.

Once they were inside the private room, the three of them quickly sat down next to Yun Zijin. "You and that Miss Situ are mother and daughter?"

"No, wait. If you’re mother and daughter, why did you grow up in an orphanage?"

"If your mother is Situ Yunliang, then... doesn’t that make the chairman of Xia Group..."

"Stop! Our business has absolutely nothing to do with Xia Zhengguang.

My existence was a complete accident. Xia Zhengguang didn’t even know I existed before.

As for why I grew up in an orphanage, you can go ask that Miss Situ."

Yun Zijin wouldn’t be the one to reveal that Situ Yunliang had abandoned her at the gate of an orphanage.

"Ask Miss Situ? Better not."

Not only would it be rude to ask about something like that, but given how protective Situ Wenze was, if they dared to ask, they’d have to be prepared for his retaliation.

"If you don’t dare to ask, then hurry up and order. Any later, and it won’t be lunch anymore."

It was already past twelve. It would take a while for the food to arrive, and by the time they finished eating, the sun would practically be setting.