Chapter 56: Auntie, I Don’t Want to Try Anymore (Part 2)

Yu Liuxue shot the system a cold look. The system immediately shut up, and after a while, it obediently reported, “Liang Yin invited Liu Qingru over for dinner tonight. Liu Qingru is currently on her way to the Qin household.”

What a coincidence?

Yu Liuxue immediately called out to the driver, “Uncle, turn around, take me back right now!”

Then she picked up her phone, speaking in a soft and regretful tone, “Qin Feng, I’m sorry. I was too impulsive just now. I shouldn’t have taken out my work frustrations on you and dragged you into unnecessary trouble. Oh right, Qin Feng, didn’t you say you wanted to take me to meet your mom? Wait for me at the company entrance, I just bought some things and I’ll be right over.”

Qin Feng held his phone, completely baffled. Was Qiao Ruo crazy or what?

But right now, all Qin Feng could think about was taking Qiao Ruo back to stir things up for Liang Yin. So even though Yu Liuxue’s attitude kept flipping, he still instinctively turned back toward the company entrance. And since she had apologized, he could somewhat understand her mood. He couldn’t help but think—had she been wronged so much at work that she even dared to take it out on him?

Usually, Qiao Ruo was so gentle and delicate in front of him, but when she got angry today, she was unexpectedly…

Damn sweet.

Yu Liuxue bought a bouquet of roses and a basket of fruit. Clacking in high heels, she hurried back to the company entrance where Qin Feng was standing with a cigarette in his mouth. He was tall and handsome, naturally drawing the eyes of passersby. Yu Liuxue cleared her throat, and Qin Feng immediately looked up and walked over to her.

He reached for the bouquet and said, “Qiao Ruo, I’ll let you off this time. But if you dare take out your work stress on me again, I won’t let it slide so easily.”

Yu Liuxue avoided his hand and instead handed him the fruit basket. “Carry this.”

“Don’t touch the flowers—they’re for Auntie.”

Qin Feng: “…?” Not for me?

Wait, why are you giving my mom roses? What, do you like her or something?

After meeting up, Qin Feng drove her to his house. On the way, he didn’t bother explaining anything about Liang Yin—just casually asked a few things about her work. Yu Liuxue responded halfheartedly, and soon neither of them felt like talking.

Qin Feng was busy thinking of how to phrase things to really piss off Liang Yin, while Yu Liuxue was strategizing how to latch onto Liu Qingru’s support.

The Qin family’s river-view luxury apartment was lavishly decorated. Yu Liuxue held the bouquet and followed behind Qin Feng. Just before they arrived, Qin Feng gave a reminder, “My mom’s been moody lately—menopause stuff. Don’t take it personally.”

Yu Liuxue quickly said, “Don’t worry. No matter what Auntie says, I won’t talk back.”

Qin Feng looked at her approvingly. Even though Qiao Ruo came from a modest background, she was obedient and easy to manage—just the type that satisfied Qin Feng’s masculine ego. So for now, he was very satisfied with her. He added, “After we get married, you must listen to my mom in everything. Whatever she tells you to do, just do it. Don’t talk back. Be filial. Got it?”

Yu Liuxue obediently replied, “Don’t worry, Qin Feng. I understand.”

Recently, Liang Yin had been infuriated by her son to the point where she’d developed several new wrinkles. She was applying eye cream and throwing on a shawl, about to call Liu Qingru to check her ETA. As she stepped into the living room, the door suddenly opened. Liang Yin narrowed her eyes toward the entrance.

That useless son again.

And behind him—an attractive, bright-faced young woman.

Liang Yin instantly went on high alert. She gripped her phone, crossed her arms, and coldly stared at Yu Liuxue. Liang Yin had sharp features, and her makeup only made her seem more difficult to approach—fine brows, and eyes with a confident, upward slant full of a strong woman’s aura.

Yu Liuxue pretended to be afraid and hid behind Qin Feng, who instinctively shielded her. He casually said to Liang Yin, “Mom, this is my girlfriend Qiao Ruo. We’re getting married.”

Liang Yin was livid, but her high-society manners helped her restrain herself. She forced a smile and locked eyes with her son. “As long as I haven’t given my approval, she will never be my daughter-in-law.”

Yu Liuxue peeked nervously at Liang Yin but was pushed back by Qin Feng. He ignored his mother’s words and continued, “We’re planning to have the wedding next month. Mom, give me 50 million—I need it to start planning.”

Demanding so much money without even respecting her opinion—Liang Yin’s fury hit the roof. She shot Yu Liuxue a deadly glare. “Get out. Both of you. Now! Not just any woman can step into our home!”

Just as the mother-son tension was about to explode, Yu Liuxue took a deep breath and stepped forward as if summoning great courage. She timidly said, “Auntie, please don’t misunderstand. Qin Feng and I are just friends. We’re not in the kind of relationship you think.”

Qin Feng: “…???” Then what kind of relationship are we?

Liang Yin had seen too many manipulative women to fall for a few words. She calmed down, switched tactics, and said to Yu Liuxue, “Come with me.”

Qin Feng tried to stop her, but Yu Liuxue quickly turned back and said, “Don’t worry, Qin Feng. I’m just going to talk with Auntie. I’ll be right back.”

Qin Feng had no choice but to wait in the living room.

Yu Liuxue followed Liang Yin onto the master bedroom’s balcony, still clutching the bouquet. When Liang Yin stopped, Yu Liuxue walked over on her own, putting on her most demure and submissive act. “Auntie Liang…”

Suddenly, Liang Yin grabbed Yu Liuxue by the throat and pinned her against the railing, narrowing her eyes as she said slowly, “All I have to do is let go, and you’ll fall. No trace left.”

Too ruthless.

Yu Liuxue couldn’t breathe under her grip and struggled desperately, yelling at the system in her mind, “What kind of shitty task did you pick for me?! Why is there actual danger involved? I quit!”

The system quickly tried to comfort her: “Wait, Host! If you give up the mission, you’ll still be dead when you go back, right?”

Yu Liuxue: “…” Fair point.

Face flushed red and tears brimming in her eyes, Yu Liuxue hurriedly handed over the bouquet. “A-Auntie, this is for you…”

Liang Yin was momentarily stunned, and her grip loosened.

Yu Liuxue finally caught a breath. She didn’t even care that she was still leaning against the railing and could fall at any moment. She quickly added, “Auntie, really—Qin Feng and I are just friends. We’re not what you think.”

Liang Yin didn’t even glance at the roses and gripped her throat again. “You think I’ll believe that?”

She had spent her life working hard, socializing, earning money to give her son a better future, but had neglected their relationship. Now, despite all her efforts to repair it, the gap between them only widened. They were like fire and water.

Her son was a piece of flesh that had fallen from her own womb—how could Liang Yin possibly harbor any real complaints or resentment toward her own child? But her son was different now. Qin Feng, for reasons unknown, seemed to have been swayed by someone whispering by his pillow; every time he looked at her, there was nothing but undisguised disgust in his eyes.

Liang Yin thought, Today, I finally caught the culprit.

It was this woman named Qiao Ruo. Not only was she trying to steal her son, but she was also subtly stirring up conflict between mother and son. Liang Yin was certain—besides Qiao Ruo, there could be no one else.

After all, her son had already brought the woman home and said he wanted to marry her.

Qin Feng was still so young—fresh out of college. What kind of man, just out of college, was already thinking about marriage? If it wasn’t because Qiao Ruo had pressured or seduced him, he would never have lost his ambition for career success and instead rushed into settling down so early.

Today, Qiao Ruo had the nerve to flaunt the roses Qin Feng gave her and show up at the house to provoke her, parading around with the airs of a mistress of the home. Liang Yin couldn’t help but sneer. There was no way she would let something like this happen. Not only that, she would ruthlessly shatter Qiao Ruo’s unrealistic delusions and expose her true form.

Qin Feng must marry a noble heiress from the capital to carry on the family line!

Seeing that there was no room left to maneuver, Yu Liuxue gritted her teeth, shut her eyes, and blurted out loudly, “Auntie Liang, I actually got close to Qin Feng just to get close to you!”

“I like you!”

“Ever since I caught a glimpse of you on campus in sophomore year, I’ve been deeply captivated by your beauty and grace!” Yu Liuxue said it so convincingly even she almost believed it. She turned her face to the side with a look of tragic resolve. “But I didn’t have your contact information. I didn’t dare approach you, nor did I have the courage to ask Qin Feng for your number. Every night as I fall asleep, your face flashes through my mind—every frown and every smile—it’s been driving me nearly insane. In desperation, I had no choice but to get close to Qin Feng. Only through him could I catch a distant glimpse of you and suppress these maddening thoughts.”

System: “…?” Subway old man looking at his phone meme intensifies.

Host, what the hell are you talking about?

Liang Yin was completely dumbfounded by Yu Liuxue’s confession. At first, she didn’t believe it—but after a wave of goosebumps, she found herself thinking it kind of made sense. Even though she was forty-five, she took great care of herself. She had life experience, power, status, a house, a car, and plenty of money. A young girl like Yu Liuxue being drawn to her wasn’t entirely impossible.

Before she even realized it, Liang Yin had let go of Yu Liuxue’s neck. Yu Liuxue coughed a few times, standing nervously before her.

She lowered her head and clasped her hands like a schoolchild being punished, obedient to the extreme.

The sharpness in Liang Yin’s eyes faded away, and a faint smile touched her lips. She gently advised, “Qiao Ruo, is it? There’s too much of an age gap between us. Just give up.”

Yu Liuxue immediately played along. But before she nodded, she couldn’t help throwing in one more cheeky move. Teary-eyed, she grabbed Liang Yin’s hand and pleaded, “Auntie, are you really unwilling to give me a chance?”

It was just a throwaway line, but Liang Yin took it seriously. Her mind stirred.

“Well… perhaps.”

“If you can help resolve the tension between Qin Feng and me, get him to listen to me from now on and be a good, filial son—then I’ll give you a chance to pursue me,” Liang Yin leaned in, her tone calm. “How about it?”

“If you’re smart enough to win my heart, then when he shows me filial piety, he’ll naturally show you some too.”

The system burst out laughing at Yu Liuxue’s failure.

Yu Liuxue glanced at Qin Feng, who was sneaking a peek from the living room balcony. She looked utterly defeated. Barefoot people aren’t afraid of those with shoes, she thought bitterly. Gritting her teeth, she declared, “Don’t worry, Auntie. I’ll do my utmost to serve you!”

Sigh… what kind of life is this? She hadn’t even made progress on Qiao Ruo’s mission yet, and now she’d somehow picked up a side quest with Liang Yin.

Maybe she really had been a game player in a past life, and everyone around her was just an NPC.

The girlfriend and the mom had only stepped onto the balcony for barely three minutes, yet they came back in oddly high spirits, all smiles and peace. Even more bizarre, Liang Yin was now cradling the roses Yu Liuxue had given her, looking pleased as could be—completely different from her earlier furious, domineering self.

Qin Feng looked at Yu Liuxue in confusion, only to find her with a lifeless expression. His curiosity was instantly piqued.

“Mom, what did you say to Qiao Ruo?” Qin Feng grabbed Yu Liuxue’s hand and said righteously, “Mom, no matter how much money you throw at her, she won’t leave me.”

“I love her, and she loves me. Nothing will ever separate us.”

Liang Yin looked at Qin Feng with pity. Silly boy, the girl clearly likes me. What are you being so sentimental for?

Still, she kindly didn’t burst his bubble. Instead, she gave Yu Liuxue a warning glance, reminding her not to forget the mission. Yu Liuxue immediately straightened up, her posture sharp and dignified, and declared with righteous indignation, “Qin Feng, how could Auntie ever be the kind of person who uses money to break people apart? How could you think so poorly of her?!”

“You’re being so immature!”

“Even if Auntie did offer me money to split us up, it would only be because she cares about you and your future.” Yu Liuxue spoke with such conviction that even Liang Yin nearly believed her.

Qin Feng: “…?”

“No, Qiao Ruo—what’s wrong with you? Do you have split personalities or something?” The more Qin Feng thought about it, the more off it felt. His girlfriend kept flipping between siding with him and siding with his mom—was she sick or something?

Yu Liuxue took the chance to throw frantic looks at him behind Liang Yin’s back. Qin Feng blinked, then finally caught on.

Smartly, Qin Feng shut his mouth. He slouched a little and muttered, “Got it.”

He thought, Qiao Ruo always seemed quiet and well-behaved, but she actually has some serious tricks up her sleeve—got my mom eating out of her hand without a care for her background. But then it hit him—Wasn’t I bringing Qiao Ruo home to piss Mom off? If she manages to charm Mom, what am I supposed to do then?!

Suddenly, Qin Feng was no longer pleased.

Watching the expressions on the mother and son’s faces, Yu Liuxue rubbed her temples in frustration. Why did I get involved in this mess in the first place?

Luckily, her suffering didn’t last long—Liu Qingru arrived.

In the system’s view, the moment Yu Liuxue laid eyes on Liu Qingru, it was as if her eyeballs were about to stick to her. Pathetic.

Liu Qingru wore a perfectly tailored white suit that hugged her tall figure. Her heels clicked crisply against the marble floor. Her presence was cold and elegant. Her long, silky hair was flawless, and the diamonds on her earlobes sparkled. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, adding a chill, aloof air that kept others at arm’s length.

Her features were sharp and striking, but under the milky light, there was a surprising tenderness in the contrast.

Yu Liuxue stepped forward instinctively, only stopping when Liu Qingru glanced at her. She quickly greeted, “Hello, Director Liu.”

“Director Liu?” Liu Qingru spoke slowly. Her voice was cool but incredibly alluring.

Yu Liuxue practically melted under her gaze. When Liu Qingru’s brows faintly furrowed, showing a trace of displeasure, Yu Liuxue immediately straightened up and respectfully said, “Director Liu, I’m Qiao Ruo from the fashion design department. I joined a week ago.”

Liu Qingru remembered that she had indeed asked someone to rehire a designer before. She nodded faintly, bypassed Yu Liuxue, and walked toward Liang Yin, asking, “Why did you suddenly ask me over for dinner today? Did something happen?”

As she spoke, Liu Qingru’s gaze slowly swept over Qin Feng and Yu Liuxue.

Now that Liang Yin’s troubles were resolved, she was all relaxed and smiling as she said, “Nothing’s wrong. It’s just that we haven’t gotten together in a while, and since Qin Feng came back today, I thought we could all have a meal together.”

The nanny brought out the dishes one after another. Liang Yin continued, “You, though—once you get busy, you always forget to eat. And when you get home, all you do is order takeout. How could takeout possibly be as nutritious as home-cooked food? If this keeps up, how is your body supposed to keep up?”

Yu Liuxue’s ears twitched, silently taking note of it.

“So Liu Qingru doesn’t know how to cook. System, tell me, how about I quit my job and go work as her personal cook?”

The system ruthlessly crushed her unrealistic fantasy. “Then how do you plan to complete the task Liang Yin gave you?”

Yu Liuxue: “…”

Forget I said anything.

But the task Liang Yin assigned really was a problem.

Yu Liuxue pondered deeply while eating. She thought and thought, and then suddenly realized—what was she so anxious about? Life was long. The female lead, Guo Zao, hadn’t even shown up yet. There was no rush—she could wait until Guo Zao appeared to make plans.

With that, Yu Liuxue happily resumed eating.

After the meal, Liu Qingru and Liang Yin sat on the balcony, sipping tea and chatting. Qin Feng pulled Yu Liuxue into a room, frowning as he asked, “What did my mom say to you just now in private?”

Yu Liuxue spread her hands. Qin Feng looked confused. “What are you doing?”

“Money. One question, a thousand bucks.”

Qin Feng couldn’t take it anymore and yelled, “Qiao Ruo, have you fallen into a pit of greed?! You weren’t like this before! Money used to be dirt to you! Something not even worth mentioning! That’s exactly why I liked you!”

Yu Liuxue rolled her eyes. “People change, you know?”

She reluctantly retracted her hand. “If you’re not paying, then forget it.”

But Qin Feng was way too curious about what had been said between her and Liang Yin, so he couldn’t resist. He transferred her a thousand yuan and asked eagerly, “What did my mom say to you?”

“She asked me to do my best to ease the tension between you two, help you reconcile, and be a loving mother and filial son again.”

Qin Feng frowned. “Why?”

Yu Liuxue spread her hands again. Qin Feng gritted his teeth and sent another thousand. “Say it.”

Yu Liuxue happily pocketed the money, smiling with crescent eyes. “How would I know what Auntie’s thinking? Ask her yourself.”

“Qiao Ruo, are you messing with me?” Qin Feng moved closer, so angry he looked like he was about to hit her. Yu Liuxue blinked innocently. “But I really don’t know! Auntie just told me to do that—you didn’t tell me in advance to ask her why.”

Qin Feng: “…” How the hell was I supposed to know you two would talk about this ahead of time?

After successfully scamming the male lead out of two thousand yuan, Yu Liuxue picked up her freshly steeped tea and walked over to Liu Qingru and Liang Yin, politely refilling their cups. Liu Qingru looked at her, and Liang Yin explained, “She’s Qin Feng’s college classmate. She got close to him in order to…” get closer to me.

But Liu Qingru interrupted, “Wasn’t the whole design department working overtime today? Why are you here?”

Yu Liuxue: “…”

“Is that so?” Yu Liuxue scratched her cheek and mumbled, “I didn’t hear anything about that. Maybe the department head made the announcement while I was out buying bubble tea for everyone.”

“Don’t worry, President Liu, I’ll go back and work overtime right away!” she shouted and dashed off, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Once outside, Yu Liuxue tearfully clung to the system and wailed, “My dear, this is too hard! I have to complete the mission and work overtime like some overworked design dog—why is my life so miserable?!”

The system, moved by pity, quickly tried to comfort her. “Host, please hang in there. Just think of it as experiencing life…”

But before the system could even finish, it heard Yu Liuxue suddenly swear with burning determination, “No! I don’t want to try anymore! I have to climb into Liu Qingru’s bed!”

System: “…”

Once Yu Liuxue made up her mind, not even ten oxen could drag her back. The system watched in despair as Yu Liuxue began dolling herself up, eventually transforming into the most flamboyant, outrageous woman in the whole department—maybe the whole company. She practically had “I want to sleep with President Liu” tattooed on her forehead and then strutted up to Liu Qingru to recommend herself.

Over the next two weeks, the whole company was buzzing with gossip.

Very quickly, Liu Qingru also heard about it through the idle chatter of her secretary and assistant.

“That Qiao Ruo from the design department is really shameless. I heard she even staked out the restaurant where President Liu was having dinner last night. Too bad President Liu left from another exit.”

“Right? I even heard she’s going around betting people she’ll sleep with President Liu and become our First Lady. Does she even know what shame is?”

Just as the assistant was about to continue trash-talking, she suddenly caught sight of Liu Qingru approaching. Her whole body trembled, and she immediately shot to her feet in a panic. “P-President Liu?”

Liu Qingru calmly ordered, “Go get Qiao Ruo.”

The assistant and secretary took off running.

After giving the order, Liu Qingru turned back to Liang Yin. “Let’s sit in the office for a bit.”

Yu Liuxue thought Liu Qingru had finally taken a liking to her. She came bouncing into the office, all excited—only to see Liang Yin sitting on the sofa with a stormy expression. Her heart instantly dropped. Sure enough, Liang Yin slowly stood up, approaching with a chilling tone. “Qiao Ruo, didn’t you say you and Qin Feng were just ordinary friends?”

“Didn’t you say that ever since you saw me in your sophomore year, you’ve been lovestruck ever since?”

“Didn’t you say you think about me so much every night that you can’t sleep, and you’re only using Qin Feng to get close to me?”

Liang Yin enunciated every word, slowly and clearly: “You lied to me.”

Liu Qingru raised an eyebrow in surprise, and the conversation she’d overheard earlier between the assistant and secretary resurfaced in her mind. So… when they said she was trying to get into her bed—that was a lie, too?

Yu Liuxue’s vision went dark. This was bad.

“No, Auntie Liang, let me explain!”