"Later, when I learned that my wife could only be a daughter of the Yun Family, I really resisted. I was a teenager, right in the middle of my rebellious phase. To show my defiance, I secretly ran away from home to protest the Mo Family Legacy Rule. Guess what happened? The first person I met after running away was Nora Yun. The moment I saw her, a voice popped into my head: 'I've found you.' Then, like a fool, I silently followed her for a long, long time, walking her all the way home. It was only then that I realized she was the wife my family had arranged for me the moment I was born."
I can't describe how I felt at that moment. It was really, really complicated. The person I had been resisting turned out to be the girl who made my heart race at first sight. I rushed home like a madman, knelt before my grandfather and parents, and told them I was willing to obey the Mo Family Legacy Rule—because I had fallen in love with that girl. That feeling was truly mysterious, like fate itself, like searching a thousand times in the crowd, only to turn around and find her standing where the lights are dim.
Because I ran away from home, my family punished me harshly. But I wasn't upset—in fact, I was happy. I had met the girl I wanted. That was the age when my feelings first blossomed, when I first understood what it meant to like someone. From then on, I started deliberately getting close to the Yun Family, to Nora Yun. Nora was still very young back then, skinny and fragile but with determined eyes and a calm personality. She didn’t seem like a girl just over ten, more like someone my own age.
I don’t need to repeat how outstanding she is. Every part of her was fatally attractive to me—I couldn’t take my eyes off her. My family saw that I liked Nora Yun, and of course they were happy; my parents were relieved. As long as Nora Yun grew up, I could marry her and we’d be happy together. But then, a serious illness struck, and Nora Yun was unconscious for three days and nights. The first thing she said when she woke up was: 'I saw my little sister. I have to protect her. That’s my duty as an older sister.'
At the time, everyone thought she was delirious from the fever, but I knew her eyes were so clear and determined. Of course, I didn’t believe she had a little sister either. The Yun Family only had one young lady—where would a sister come from? As we grew up, she became more and more exceptional, drawing my attention even more. Finally, when she turned sixteen, I confessed my feelings to her. She was stunned and blurted out, 'You belong to my sister, so why are you chasing me?'
How could I have believed that? I treated her even better, did everything I could for her, fought desperately to win over every rival. You probably know, right? Eric Jiang was my biggest rival—his feelings for Nora Yun were just as strong as mine, maybe even stronger. But I was too proud to give up easily. So I used my advantage of being close to her, and the whole Mo Family showered her with affection.
Nora Yun always responded to my pursuit with indifference, but she never rejected me. Finally, she nodded and accepted my feelings. I can’t describe how ecstatic I was at that moment. But something still felt off. I felt like I hadn’t gotten all of Nora Yun, like something was missing. Or maybe I was mistaken about something. Around that time, Nora Yun’s health started to decline—she’d get sick and feverish all the time. I didn’t care about anything else; I just wanted her to live healthily.
We finally got engaged. The day before the engagement, someone told me Nora Yun cried all night and burned a lot of things. My heart ached when I heard that, but I forced myself to ignore it. I cherished this hard-won happiness and wouldn’t let anyone ruin it. I told myself, this is destiny—no one can escape it.
On the day of our engagement, Nora Yun said to me: 'If this is what you want, then I’ll let you have it. Fortunately, my little sister is free—she doesn’t have to bear anything she doesn’t want. Since you’ve decided that person is me, then so be it.'
I really didn’t understand what she meant by those words. No matter how I asked, she wouldn’t explain any further. These mysteries haunted me. And then, on the day Nora Yun passed away, she held my hand and said: 'Max Mo, I’m sorry—I can’t walk with you any further in this life. There are so many things I haven’t done, but it’s too late now. If you ever meet my little sister, please, please protect her for me.'
All those mysteries became clear the day I met you. The first time I saw you, I thought it was just a coincidence. I didn’t think you had any connection to the Yun Family. But as I investigated further, I got your DNA... Don’t look at me like that—with the Mo Family’s resources, getting someone’s DNA is a piece of cake. I compared your DNA with Nora Yun’s, and the result shocked me!
I secretly found Grandma Yun and asked her if there was another Nora Yun in this world. Only then did she tell me—you are the little sister Nora Yun always talked about! You really are a Yun Family member, the one Nora Yun always wanted to protect. As I spent more time with you, I suddenly understood what I’d been missing all those years.
This feeling is so mysterious, I can hardly believe it—especially since I’m an atheist. But there’s just this sense, telling me that you and Nora Yun were always one. She’s a part of you, and you’re a part of her. I know it sounds irresponsible, but that’s truly how I feel. Nora Yun is the form, and you are the spirit. When your form and spirit unite, that is...
Hearing this, Cecilia Gu was so excited she jumped up and blurted out, "Zara Yun!"
Max Mo smiled gently and said, "Yes, when the two of you unite in form and spirit, you become another Zara Yun."
Cecilia had never told anyone about her strange dream.
No one knew she’d had such an absurd, unbelievable dream.
No one knew that, in her dream, she had already met Nora Yun and Zara Yun.
But how did Max Mo know...
What on earth is going on?
Why does it always feel like destiny is at work behind the scenes?
"I’ve known for a long time that there’s a portrait of Zara Yun hanging in Yuanshan Village, and I’ve snuck in to see it myself. To be honest, the first time I saw Zara Yun’s portrait, I really hallucinated—I felt like she was looking at me with an apologetic gaze. My great-grandmother was a princess of the Qing dynasty, so I do have Manchu blood, but my mother is Han, so the Manchu side doesn't really count anymore."
"Zara Yun was once a consort in the Qing dynasty, and she even had some ties to my Mo Family. These are all old family stories, so I won’t go into them. That day when we went to Yuanshan Village together, to be honest, I wanted you to see that portrait—I wanted to see how you’d react. And I was right."
"You really are the other half of Zara Yun! I’ve found what I was missing all those years. So now, let me answer your earlier question: You and Nora Yun were always one, both the most important to me. How could I ever choose who matters more, or who I love more?"
Cecilia keenly caught on: "The one you love is... Zara Yun?"
Max Mo smiled and shook his head: "Yes, and no. Zara Yun is a predecessor, an ancestor—how could I love an ancestor? What I love is Zara Yun’s spirit! And you, who carry that spirit, naturally have that same quality. So how could I not be moved by you?"
"Back then, Zara Yun was astonishingly talented, brilliant, and skilled in martial arts. She was the only woman in the Yun Family’s history to appear as a military general, but also the most tragic. Nora Yun was gifted, but frail and sickly. But you..." Max Mo paused, then continued, "You’re blessed with enviable health. You truly carry the Yun Family’s most perfect genes, and your children will surely be exceptional too. Now I finally understand why my great-grandmother insisted I marry you before she passed away."
Cecilia couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.
She never imagined her healthy genes would be so coveted.
After all that talking, Max Mo was a little thirsty.
Seeing the weariness in Cecilia’s eyes, Max Mo immediately stood up and said, "It’s getting late. You should rest early. The Yun Family’s business is my business too—my grandfather ordered me to protect your whole family. If anything happens, call me anytime. My phone is on for you 24/7."
Cecilia nodded quietly.
She needed time to process all these stories.
Because all of this was just too shocking for her, wasn’t it?
After seeing Max Mo off, Cecilia sat on the sofa in silence for a long, long time.
Zara Yun... Could it be that there really is some kind of connection between us?
Then... who exactly is Max Mo?
Just as Cecilia was lost in thought, the phone rang.
Cecilia saw it was a call from her assistant Xiao Wang and immediately answered.
Soon, Xiao Wang’s tearful voice came through the phone: "Madam, it’s over, it’s over! The CEO already knows you’re not home! You told me to keep it a secret, but I couldn’t anymore. The CEO is furious and says he’s going to fire me! Boo hoo hoo..."
Listening to Xiao Wang’s voice, Cecilia’s heart suddenly sank.