WWML 12

chapter 12

Miserable cries of pain rang out beside her. The butler snapped out of his daze and looked down at Aunt Lin.

She had fallen to the ground, both hands clutching her knees, her face twisted up in agony.

He swallowed hard and turned his head with difficulty. When his eyes met the young girl’s, there was a flicker of fear in them.
“Miss Qingning, Madam Lin, she just—”

Gu Qingning toyed with a glass marble between her fingers, her knuckles slightly bent.
“If you want to speak for her,” she said mildly, her tone laced with danger, “your ending might be worse than hers.”

Her voice was calm, but there was a sharp, violent edge beneath it.

The butler immediately fell silent, his face paling.

Gu Qingning slipped the marble back into her pocket and leisurely opened the jewelry box.
“Call Cheng Yu,” she ordered, “tell her to get back here. Now.”

The jewelry box had no lock; it opened easily.

Inside lay an emerald-green imperial jade bracelet, a top-grade sapphire necklace, and a diamond ring the size of a pigeon’s egg—
No “most expensive,” only “more expensive.”

Gu Qingning clicked her tongue. “Nice stuff.”

She lifted her gaze to the butler, her lips curving into a cruel smile.
“Ten minutes. The countdown starts now.”

The butler trembled, fumbling for his phone. His fingers shook as he dialed.

The call connected quickly. On the other end, Cheng Yu sounded irritated—she’d been interrupted mid-card game.
“Say what you have to say, and make it quick.”

“Madam, there’s been… an incident at home. Please come back right away.” The butler spoke cautiously, well aware of her temper.

“What incident? Isn’t it just that little brat Gu Qingning came back?” Cheng Yu had already received Aunt Lin’s message and was driving home.

The butler glanced nervously at Gu Qingning—and the heavy iron hammer resting nearby.
“Miss Qingning said… if you’re not here in ten minutes, she’ll start smashing the jewelry in your box.”

At the words ‘jewelry box’, Cheng Yu’s voice changed. “What jewelry box?”

“…The one in your safe,” the butler answered hesitantly.

“What did you just say?” Cheng Yu’s voice cracked with rage, like a lit firecracker.
“How did she even open the safe? Who let her into my bedroom?”

The butler winced as his eardrums rang. “Madam, you’d better hurry back.”

Otherwise, those sky-high-priced jewels wouldn’t survive—but he didn’t dare say that aloud.

Enraged, Cheng Yu gripped her phone tightly and shouted,
“Keep an eye on her! Are all those guards just decorations? Grab her! If even a single thing of mine is damaged, none of you will be spared!”

She hung up and snapped at the driver, “Step on it!”

The driver, stunned but terrified, pressed harder on the accelerator.

The breeze outside was warm and gentle, but inside the house, it felt like the dead of winter—cold to the bone.

Aunt Lin, still aching from the pain, had quieted down. Watching Gu Qingning handle those priceless jewels, she didn’t even dare to breathe loudly.

Suddenly, the girl’s cool gaze turned toward her. Aunt Lin froze in terror—it felt like being stared down by a demon.

Gu Qingning’s lips curled into a faint smile that never reached her eyes.
“Which of these trinkets does Cheng Yu like the most?”

In one hand she held the jade bracelet, in the other a sapphire necklace.
“This one… or this one? Hmm?”

Aunt Lin glared at her, seething, but didn’t dare to curse as she had earlier.

Gu Qingning tilted her head slightly. “What do you think?”

The butler nearly dropped to his knees under her icy stare.
“I—I don’t know,” he stammered, his face crumpled with dread.

It had only been three days. How could a person change this much?

“Then which one do you think is the most expensive?” she pressed.

“I really don’t know.” The butler hugged himself, despair written all over his face. Where did this demon come from?

Gu Qingning arched an eyebrow and set down the sapphire necklace.
“Then I’ll start with this one.”

The butler watched her pick up the imperial-green jade bracelet and almost had a heart attack.

He glanced at the clock on the wall—two minutes left.

It’s over.

Third Young Master, if you don’t come soon, there’s going to be trouble.

Seconds slipped by. Both the butler and Aunt Lin were drenched in sweat.

“Time’s up.” Her voice was soft, almost playful.

Gu Qingning lifted the bracelet and began tapping it against the table, one tap after another.

Each tap sounded, to the onlookers, like stacks of red banknotes flying away.

Then—hurried footsteps sounded at the door.

Cheng Yu burst in with a team of guards, her perfectly styled hair now in disarray from the rush.

She clutched the doorframe, gasping for breath.

And then—a flash of green caught her eye.

Her face twisted with fury as she stormed forward in her heels.
“Gu Qingning! If you dare break that bracelet, I—”

A sharp CRACK! echoed through the room.

The sound struck straight through Cheng Yu’s heart.

She stared at the shattered jade pieces on the table, her face turning a blotchy mix of purple and green.

She actually dared—!

Gu Qingning brushed her hand over the jewelry box, her slender fingers hooking onto a sapphire necklace.
“This necklace looks nice,” she said lazily, “but I wonder if it’s sturdy enough to survive a smash.”

Cheng Yu snapped out of it, eyes bloodshot. “Gu Qingning, put that down!” she snarled through clenched teeth.

Gu Qingning’s gaze flickered with amusement.
“Judging by your expression, you must really like this one.”

She placed the necklace back on the table—then casually picked up the iron hammer.

“So,” she said lightly, “what do you think? Will the sapphire crack with one good hit?”

Rage flared in Cheng Yu’s eyes. “What are you all standing around for? Grab her!” she shouted at the guards.

Gu Qingning’s red lips curved into a cold smile.
“Too late.”

She raised the hammer high—and brought it down.

BANG!

“No!”

Cheng Yu tried to stop her, but it was too late.

The brilliant blue gemstone split apart, its luster fading into dullness.