Chapter 38: Playing the Villainous Supporting Role in an Old-School CEO Novel(3)

Yu Liuxue couldn’t resist the temptation and half-heartedly gave in. This time, both of them were fully conscious. She couldn’t help but excitedly share with the system, “Ye Jin’s skills are just too good! Oh no, at this rate, I’m going to be the one stringing along the male lead again.”

The system nearly rolled its eyes. As if you haven’t done that enough? The number of times you’ve strung the male lead along could turn his head greener than the Hulunbuir Grassland.

Ye Jin’s movements were gentle and careful, and Yu Liuxue was utterly immersed in her ministrations. Their lips and tongues intertwined in an unintentional exchange, as soft and delicate as gauze under the moonlight. The Bai family mansion was filled with a scene of passion, while outside, Song Yiqiu, who had been driven away by Madam Bai, was growing increasingly unsettled.

Yi Ting noticed something was off about her. As he drove, he turned slightly and asked, “What’s wrong? Are you still feeling unwell?”

Song Yiqiu forced out a smile, but it looked more like disappointment. “No, President Yi, I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me.”

Yi Ting’s brow furrowed slightly, barely noticeable. In the end, he simply pulled over to the side of the road and, without a word, pressed Song Yiqiu into the passenger seat and kissed her forcefully.

Song Yiqiu was stunned. Her hands clutched nervously at his waist, her eyes filled with both tension and excitement.

“I’ll find the right time to bring up the annulment of the engagement. Don’t overthink it,” Yi Ting said, gently stroking the back of her head, his deep voice reassuring. “Alright?”

Blushing furiously, Song Yiqiu nodded. “I understand, President Yi.”

She agreed verbally, but her emotions remained unchanged. Yi Ting held her patiently for a while longer before she finally spoke again.

“President Yi, I don’t know why, but after meeting Uncle Bai and Aunt Bai today, I felt an unexpected sense of closeness to them.”

“But Aunt Bai doesn’t seem to like me very much,” she added, lowering her gaze in disappointment. Her eyes reddened slightly, on the verge of tears. “Did I do something wrong to upset her?”

“Or… does she think that I’m only here because of my connection to you?”

Yi Ting pressed a finger against her soft lips, silencing her. “Stop overthinking. I’m here. I’ll protect you.”

Song Yiqiu felt reassured. She leaned against Yi Ting’s shoulder like a delicate bird seeking shelter. “President Yi, thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t know what to do.”

She smiled softly, but while her lips curved up, her mind was already plotting.

The villainous supporting role, Bai Zhenzhen, had avoided a car accident after taking the medicine. The key plotline had been forcibly altered. If Song Yiqiu wanted to return to the Bai family rightfully and drive Bai Zhenzhen out, she needed Madam Bai to see Bai Zhenzhen’s vicious side.

A few thoughts flashed through her mind, and she immediately had a plan.

—

Afterward, Ye Jin slowly and methodically put on her clothes. Her movements were elegant, and Yu Liuxue, her eyes red-rimmed yet filled with greed, watched as Ye Jin’s slim, toned waist was revealed. A tingling sensation ran down Yu Liuxue’s spine.

Gripping the edge of the blanket, she asked in a slightly nasal voice, “Are you leaving?”

Ye Jin leaned down and kissed her lips. “I have a meeting tonight. I’ll keep you company after I finish up tomorrow, alright?”

Yu Liuxue nodded. She blinked and asked, “Ye Jin, what exactly is our relationship now?”

Ye Jin paused while buttoning her shirt. The white fabric hung loosely over her fair shoulders as she leaned in close. Her red lips curved slightly. “What do you think?”

Yu Liuxue deliberately hesitated. “Friends with benefits?”

Ye Jin’s expression darkened slightly. She punished Yu Liuxue with a kiss, even nibbling her lips lightly. The sensation was mild, like being nipped twice by a mosquito.

Afraid that Ye Jin would torment her again, Yu Liuxue immediately leaped out of bed and bolted from the room. She hid downstairs, not even daring to see Ye Jin off.

Once Ye Jin had left, Yu Liuxue couldn’t resist bragging to the system. “See? See?! Why would I need to wake up early and work hard to stage coincidental encounters to chase her? She just came running straight to me!”

“Oh my god! I really am a damn irresistible woman! Even the strongest and most beautiful female lead is head over heels for me!”

The system muttered to itself: No, it’s just that the current female lead is too easy to pursue.

No, this won’t do. In the next world, it had to select a particularly stubborn female lead for Yu Liuxue.

Yu Liuxue, in a great mood, had no idea that the system was scheming against her.

—

That afternoon, after a nap, Madam Bai called Yu Liuxue into the study. With a serious expression, she said, “Zhenzhen, your engagement to Yi Ting was personally arranged by your grandfather. The Yi family is powerful, and Yi Ting is someone who values relationships. Once he sets his heart on you, he will always treat you well. As long as you two get married, even if he has feelings for someone else, he will never abandon you…”

Yu Liuxue knew that Madam Bai had good intentions, but the problem was—if Madam Bai found out that the girl she didn’t care for, Song Yiqiu, was actually her real daughter, would she regret pushing for this marriage?

“Mom, it’s obvious to everyone that Yi Ting likes Song Yiqiu. I’m not the type to force myself into someone else’s love. He doesn’t like me, and honestly, I don’t really like him either. So why not just let go?”

Before she could finish speaking, Madam Bai sternly interrupted her. “No! I won’t allow it!”

Yu Liuxue: “…”

“Alright then,” she said nonchalantly, nodding. “But Mom, if that’s the case, Yi Ting and I will live our own separate lives after marriage. You can’t get mad about it later.”

“He can be affectionate with his secretary, and I can enjoy my life with the CEO I’ve kept as a sugar baby…”

Before she could finish, Madam Bai slapped her across the face.

Yu Liuxue yelped in pain and jumped up. “Otherwise, Mom, do you really want to see me sitting at home crying every day?”

Madam Bai was so furious that her chest ached. “How did I end up with a daughter like you?!”

Yu Liuxue grinned cheekily and clung to her mother’s arm. “Well then, how about we do a paternity test to see if I’m really your daughter?”

Madam Bai shot her a sharp glare. “Don’t even think about it!”

Yu Liuxue immediately said to the system, “Look, I gave her a chance, but she refused. If she regrets it after learning the truth, she can’t blame me.”

The system couldn’t help but sigh, “Host, you’re really like an old sow wearing a condom—scheme after scheme, so cunning!”

Yu Liuxue: “…?” Was that supposed to be a compliment?

Since annulling the engagement didn’t work with Bai’s mother, Yu Liuxue gave up on the idea. After all, whether the engagement existed or not wouldn’t stop her and the male lead from treating each other terribly. Bai Zhenzhen had been an idle socialite before, spending her days shopping and spending money, and her nights clubbing in flashy outfits with heavy makeup. Just as Yu Liuxue finished dressing up, her “dog-headed strategist” Tian Wenwen called, inviting her to a bar for drinks.

Yu Liuxue thought for a moment. “I’ll be right there.”

Tian Wenwen seemed to hold deep hostility toward the original owner, so Yu Liuxue planned to take this chance to figure things out. When she arrived at the agreed location, she found that aside from Tian Wenwen, there were several other rich young ladies and socialites who often hung out together. After greeting everyone, Tian Wenwen impatiently pulled Yu Liuxue aside and asked, “Zhenzhen, what exactly happened that day? Tell me quickly.”

“Yi Ting wasn’t by your side. How did you deal with it?” As she spoke, Tian Wenwen suddenly covered her mouth in shock. “Zhenzhen, you weren’t…”

Yu Liuxue glared at her, feigning anger. “What nonsense are you thinking?!”

Tian Wenwen also realized she had overreacted. However, Yu Liuxue’s response seemed somewhat difficult to talk about, so she quickly pinched herself hard to suppress the laughter that almost escaped. Lowering her voice, she pretended to be concerned. “Zhenzhen, tell me, I promise I won’t tell anyone.”

Yu Liuxue furrowed her brows as if troubled, showing a hint of frustration.

Tian Wenwen’s curiosity peaked. Just as she was about to urge Yu Liuxue again, she heard her stammer, “Actually, I didn’t really see what the person looked like…”

Tian Wenwen was slightly disappointed, but that feeling was quickly replaced by overwhelming joy. She could barely hold back her laughter, but afraid Yu Liuxue would notice, she quickly lowered her head and pinched her thigh so hard that her skin turned red.

Yu Liuxue watched her turning red from holding in laughter and sighed inwardly. “Why bother? Just laugh out loud. It’s not like I’d make fun of her.”

System: “…” No, but you’d hit her.

After a moment, Tian Wenwen looked up. Having held it in for so long, she finally forced out a fake sympathetic remark, “Zhenzhen, your luck is really terrible.”

“It’s all Song Yiqiu’s fault. If it weren’t for her, Yi Ting wouldn’t have left you to accompany her, and you wouldn’t have gone through something like this.” Tian Wenwen was so delighted that she wasn’t as cautious with her words as usual. She couldn’t help but ask, “So Zhenzhen, what about your engagement with Yi Ting?”

Yu Liuxue curled her lips. So it was about Yi Ting.

She frowned, pretending to be heartbroken as she wiped away nonexistent tears. “Wenwen, my body is no longer clean. I’m dirty now. Someone like me isn’t worthy of Yi Ting anymore.”

Feigning panic, Yu Liuxue grabbed Tian Wenwen’s hand. “Wenwen, you’re my best friend. You have to keep this a secret for me. Please don’t tell anyone.”

Tian Wenwen readily agreed. The moment Yu Liuxue left, claiming she wasn’t in the mood to drink, Tian Wenwen immediately gathered her closest friends and whispered, “I have a secret to tell you all, but you must promise not to tell anyone else.”

The girls were intrigued. “Tell us! We swear we won’t say a word.”

“You all know Bai Zhenzhen, right? A few days ago, she was drugged and lost her innocence!” Tian Wenwen said dramatically.

“By who?” someone asked.

Tian Wenwen thought for a moment before deliberately making up a story. “She didn’t get a clear look at his face, but he was only about 1.6 meters tall and hideously ugly—the kind of person you wouldn’t even glance at on the street.”

Everyone believed it.

That night, the rumor spread like wildfire and quickly reached Yu Liuxue. She took off her sunglasses and leisurely put them into her bag. “Do you think Ye Jin will be furious when she hears this?”

Tian Wenwen liked Yi Ting. Now that she believed Yu Liuxue was no longer “pure,” she wouldn’t see her as a rival anymore. Instead, she would shift all her resentment onto Song Yiqiu. With that, Yu Liuxue only needed to sit back and reap the rewards. While Song Yiqiu was busy dealing with Tian Wenwen, she wouldn’t have the time or energy to expose Yu Liuxue’s true background.

This way, the upper hand returned to Yu Liuxue.

She smirked. “System, this world is so much fun! After following me for so long, you’re finally getting smarter.”

System: “…” I didn’t come here for you to have fun.

In high society, there were no secrets. Who was cheating on whom, who had a mistress, or who got cheated on—any scandal spread like wildfire in less than an hour. Ye Jin had just finished a meeting when she passed by the office and vaguely heard Bai Zhenzhen’s name. She paused and turned to her assistant. “Go find out what they’re talking about.”

The assistant had some doubts but didn’t question her order.

After returning to her office and removing her coat, Ye Jin’s assistant quickly returned with the gossip. “President Ye, they’re talking about Bai Zhenzhen losing her innocence.”

Ye Jin’s eyes flickered coldly as she glanced at her assistant. The assistant instinctively straightened up and continued, “Apparently, someone spread a rumor that Bai Zhenzhen was drunk and taken advantage of by a man only 1.6 meters tall and extremely ugly…”

The assistant didn’t finish the sentence. Even with just this information, Ye Jin’s face darkened like an impending storm.

Expressionless, Ye Jin wondered who had spread such false rumors. Was it Yu Liuxue herself? Or that inexplicably hostile Song Yiqiu? It was unlikely Yu Liuxue would tarnish her own reputation with such a story, which meant Song Yiqiu was the most likely suspect.

“Investigate all of Song Yiqiu’s background details—the more thorough, the better.”

The assistant immediately acknowledged the order.

The assistant quickly responded affirmatively.

After the assistant left, Ye Jin stood alone in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window, reminiscing about whether she had ever had any past entanglements with Song Yiqiu.

For the other party to dislike her so intensely, it couldn’t be for no reason.

Originally, Ye Jin had agreed to accompany Yu Liuxue the next day, but when the time came, she stood her up. Yu Liuxue feigned disappointment with a soft “oh,” but the moment Ye Jin hung up, she jumped excitedly from her bed. “Now, it’s time to settle the score with Tian Wenwen!”

Tian Wenwen was hosting a party at a friend’s villa. Everyone there knew Bai Zhenzhen, so when Bai Zhenzhen arrived, no one stopped her. It wasn’t until Yu Liuxue walked up to Tian Wenwen that she finally reacted. Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly convinced herself that she had done nothing wrong and looked at Yu Liuxue confidently. “Zhenzhen, what are you doing here?”

Yu Liuxue’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as she deliberately raised her voice, making sure everyone heard. “Wenwen, I trusted you as my best friend, which is why I told you that secret! But you turned around and exposed it to everyone! How could you do this to me?”

The onlookers watched with the anticipation of a good drama. Tian Wenwen felt embarrassed but stubbornly defended herself. “Zhenzhen, it’s not my fault you lost your innocence…”

“How is it not your fault?” Yu Liuxue raised her voice again. “If it weren’t for you egging me on and making me drink that drug, would I have ended up like this? Tian Wenwen, do you like Yi Ting? Did you go through all this trouble to destroy my purity so you could have him? Now that my reputation is ruined, with your family background, it’d be easy for you to get engaged to Yi Ting!”

Tian Wenwen’s guilty conscience was exposed, and she panicked. Her eyes flickered, and she stammered, “Bai Zhenzhen, what nonsense are you talking about?”

But her weak tone only made it more obvious. The crowd glanced at the tearful and devastated Yu Liuxue, then at Tian Wenwen, whose face was turning red. Their judgment was already leaning in Yu Liuxue’s favor. A soft-hearted girl stepped forward to comfort her. “Zhenzhen, don’t be too upset. Even without you, Yi Ting wouldn’t like Tian Wenwen anyway.”

“You guys don’t know, right? Yi Ting is already planning to get engaged to Song Yiqiu.”

Yu Liuxue looked at the speaker in shock. “That fast?”

Tian Wenwen’s expression darkened. When she used to be close with Bai Zhenzhen, she never dared to show her feelings openly, knowing that Bai Zhenzhen would throw a fit if she noticed. She had schemed so hard to remove Bai Zhenzhen, only to realize her biggest threat wasn’t Bai Zhenzhen after all, but this woman named Song Yiqiu.

“Yeah, I even saw Yi Ting buying a ring for that vixen while I was out shopping yesterday…”

Having gathered this new information, Yu Liuxue tactfully declined the group’s invitation to stay and party. She excitedly returned home, unable to hide her glee. “This story is getting more and more interesting!”

She couldn’t help but think—if she were just reading this kind of melodramatic plot in a book, she would have scoffed at it. But being part of the drama firsthand made every twist and turn incredibly thrilling. Witnessing gossip unfold in real-time was even more exhilarating than being surrounded by beautiful women.

She asked the system, “Has Song Yiqiu heard the news yet?”

Song Yiqiu had already learned about Yu Liuxue’s disgrace. She had just breathed a sigh of relief when she immediately tensed up again. The vicious supporting character Bai Zhenzhen was half dealt with, but her scheming strategist, Tian Wenwen, was proving to be even more troublesome.

Unlike Bai Zhenzhen, who was all brawn and no brains, Tian Wenwen was cunning and manipulative. She had used Bai Zhenzhen like a pawn, only to wash her hands clean in the end and act completely innocent.

When she had read the novel, Song Yiqiu had suspected Tian Wenwen had ulterior motives for Yi Ting. Now, it seemed that just like Bai Zhenzhen, she was also trying to steal her man. Song Yiqiu sneered—wishful thinking.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a tall figure approaching and immediately composed herself, putting on a troubled expression. As expected, Yi Ting asked, “What’s wrong?”

Song Yiqiu hesitated, allowing Yi Ting to press her further before she carefully adjusted her expression and tone, saying with difficulty, “No wonder Zhenzhen was so desperate to reach you that day. So this was the reason.”

Yi Ting frowned. “What exactly happened?”

Tears shimmered in Song Yiqiu’s eyes as she spoke self-reproachfully. “President Yi, this is all my fault. If I hadn’t asked for you that day, Zhenzhen wouldn’t have gone through this.”

She muttered to herself, “How could this have happened? Zhenzhen was fine… how could someone do this to her…”

She left the words hanging at just the right moment, letting a few key phrases plant seeds of speculation in Yi Ting’s mind. His expression darkened instantly. Without another word, he turned and strode toward the parking lot.

Song Yiqiu hurried after him. “President Yi, Yi—”

The car door slammed shut, cutting off her voice. The vehicle shot off like an arrow.

The concern on Song Yiqiu’s face vanished, replaced by a triumphant smile.

If Yi Ting knew the vicious supporting character was no longer “pure,” he would never marry her. More importantly, it would completely sever any lingering thoughts he had about Bai Zhenzhen. With that, her position in Yi Ting’s heart would only grow stronger and more irreplaceable.

Yi Ting, on the other hand, was feeling unusually agitated. He had no romantic feelings for the fiancée his grandfather had arranged, but their deep bond from growing up together was undeniable.

Sitting in his car, his tall figure slumped into the seat. Yi Ting hid in the shadows, eyes closed, overcome with guilt.

Now that he thought back carefully to the clues from that day and Yu Liuxue’s evasive answers afterward, he began to notice many inconsistencies.

Bai Zhenzhen had always been cautious and eager to please him, never the reckless type. She must have been trying to reach him that day to ask for help. He could have stopped what happened—but instead, he had ignored her call to take Song Yiqiu to the hospital for her cramps.

Yi Ting ran his hands through his hair, frustration growing with each thought.

Yu Liuxue had been lying comfortably on the sofa, watching a melodramatic drama, when Yi Ting suddenly barged in without warning. However, just as he was about to reach her, he hesitated and stopped in his tracks.

Yu Liuxue: “…?”

She couldn’t help but ask the system, “What’s wrong with the male lead?”

Yi Ting hesitated for a long moment before finally walking toward her. Tall and imposing, he exuded a strong sense of security. Without a word, he crouched down and pressed Yu Liuxue against his shoulder, his voice hoarse as he said, “Zhenzhen, it’s all my fault.”

Yu Liuxue was even more confused, but then she heard Yi Ting continue, “Don’t worry, I’ll find that person. If he dares to deny it, if he dares not to marry you, I’ll ruin him and his entire family.”

Yu Liuxue: “…” Okay, but that’s unnecessary. If you want to ruin Ye Jin’s family, you probably won’t succeed even in your next life.

Yi Ting was filled with guilt. Yu Liuxue blinked, realizing she couldn’t let such a good opportunity slip by. She was a natural at crying scenes—her eyes immediately welled up with tears. She loudly questioned Yi Ting, “Yi Ting, I contacted you so many times that day, but you never came to find me. In your heart, is Song Yiqiu more important than me, your own sister?!”

Yi Ting was momentarily stunned by her words, and then his guilt deepened.

He, Yi Ting, a towering 1.9-meter-tall CEO, feared by every employee in his company, the cold-faced King of Hell—yet here he was, clumsy and at a complete loss in front of Yu Liuxue.

“Zhenzhen, it’s not like that, I…”

He struggled to find a proper excuse, but after a long pause, he realized he had none. The two remained in a standoff until Yu Liuxue grew tired of acting and dismissed Yi Ting. Before leaving, he guiltily patted her head and repeated, “Don’t worry, even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I will find the person who took your innocence.”

Yu Liuxue hummed vaguely in response. The moment Yi Ting left the Bai family home, he immediately called and ordered, “Get me the surveillance footage from the hotel.”

Back at the office, Song Yiqiu carefully observed Yi Ting’s mood. His face remained dark, and the entire company was so tense that no one dared to breathe too loudly, fearing they would provoke him. A female colleague who was close to Song Yiqiu pulled her aside.

“Yiqiu, why are you always arguing with President Yi?”

In the past, hearing such words would have made Song Yiqiu secretly delighted. But today, Yi Ting’s mood had nothing to do with her. She awkwardly explained, “I didn’t argue with President Yi. He’s upset about something else…”

Her colleague pressed on, “What is it?”

Song Yiqiu hesitated before finally whispering, “It’s about President Yi’s fiancée, Bai Zhenzhen.”

Her colleague suddenly understood. “Ah, I knew it! What man could remain calm after learning his fiancée had lost her innocence? Now that President Yi’s engagement with Bai Zhenzhen is over, Yiqiu, you have a chance! If you become the CEO’s wife, don’t forget us sisters!”

Song Yiqiu blushed and smiled shyly. “That’s not true, don’t say such things.”

Although she denied it outwardly, she was in an excellent mood.

This clichéd, melodramatic plot might be old-fashioned, but the fact remained—no man could accept his fiancée losing her innocence before marriage. Now, Yu Liuxue’s scandal was spreading like wildfire. No matter how Yi Ting felt, he could no longer marry her, and his family would never agree to it.

Song Yiqiu touched the ring on her finger, a sweet smile appearing on her lips.

Her relationship with Yi Ting was already stable. Now, she only needed to find a way to prove to Bai’s mother that she was her real daughter.

During this time, Yi Ting remained engulfed in deep guilt. He specifically ordered people to retrieve the hotel’s surveillance footage, but someone had beaten him to it. All of the footage from that day had been completely erased. Furious, Yi Ting immediately commanded, “Keep investigating! Check all the nearby and alternative surveillance sources! I must find that person!”

Song Yiqiu stood quietly beside him, pretending to be unaware of anything. After he finished venting his anger, she handed him a cup of coffee and comforted him, “President Yi, don’t worry. You’ll definitely find that person.”

But in her heart, she hoped he never would. If no one knew who had defiled Bai Zhenzhen, her reputation would be ruined forever. When Bai’s mother finally kicked her out, she wouldn’t hesitate, knowing that keeping such a disgraced woman in the family would only bring shame.

Yi Ting let out a deep sigh, then pulled Song Yiqiu into his arms. “Yiqiu, once this matter is settled, I will break off the engagement and marry you.”

Song Yiqiu was overjoyed inside but responded softly, “President Yi, there’s no rush. I’ll always be by your side, waiting for you.”

Yu Liuxue had barely enjoyed ten days of peace before Ye Jin stormed in to settle the score. She was pinned to the bed by Ye Jin and blinked pitifully, calling out in a small voice, “Ye Jin?”

Ye Jin narrowed her eyes. Before seeing Yu Liuxue, she had thought of a hundred ways to torment her. But the moment she saw that tiny, palm-sized face, those dark, shining eyes looking up at her with a hint of grievance, her heart softened instantly.

Ye Jin sighed inwardly, loosening her grip and instead pulling Yu Liuxue into her arms. “You were the one who spread the story.”

It was a statement, not a question, leaving no room for Yu Liuxue to refute.

Yu Liuxue had already anticipated that Ye Jin would investigate what happened at the party. But how could she admit it? If she dared to, she swore on the system’s head that Ye Jin would definitely make sure she couldn’t get out of bed for a week.

【System: ???】

Yu Liuxue innocently pursed her lips. “I only said that I didn’t see your face clearly after the drug took effect. Who knew they would twist it into something like this?”

Ye Jin gazed seriously into her eyes. Her eyes were naturally beautiful, with an inner curve and an outward slant. When she looked at someone seriously, it gave the illusion that they were her whole world, carrying a touch of deep affection and subtle ambiguity.

Yu Liuxue was momentarily stunned and instinctively explained, “Tian Wenwen likes Yi Ting. She wants to sabotage my engagement with him.”

“So she deliberately twisted your words and spread rumors everywhere?” Ye Jin asked.

Yu Liuxue nodded stiffly. Ye Jin stared at her for a long moment before finally believing her. She tightly hugged Yu Liuxue. “I’m sorry you had to go through this.”

“I have the surveillance footage from that day with me. I’ve already had the hotel’s surveillance deleted. Tomorrow, I’ll bring the footage and formally propose to you in front of the teacher and his wife.”

“Don’t!” Yu Liuxue immediately sat up with a sharp movement. She hurriedly grabbed Ye Jin’s sleeve, but before she could speak, Ye Jin narrowed her eyes and asked nonchalantly, “You don’t want to marry me?”

Did she really just see her as someone to summon and dismiss at will, nothing more than a casual fling?

The thought darkened Ye Jin’s expression.

Yu Liuxue had no idea that Ye Jin was overthinking things. She cautiously explained, “I just want to know how my parents will react when they find out, and also how Yi Ting and the Yi family will respond.”

Ye Jin more or less understood her intent—she simply wanted to confirm whether the Yi family would still agree to the engagement after learning the truth. But what made Ye Jin unhappy was this—what if the Yi family and Yi Ting didn’t care? Would she still go ahead and marry into the Yi family?

“I don’t agree.”

Hearing this, Yu Liuxue frowned slightly, her expression carrying a trace of melancholy. “All these years, I’ve lived only for Yi Ting, always being cautious and restrained, yet I forgot to cherish those who truly care about me…”

Ye Jin and the system watched expressionlessly as Yu Liuxue put on an emotional performance. She poured her heart into her act, only to realize neither Ye Jin nor the system reacted.

She tilted her head. “Ye Jin?”

What else could Ye Jin do besides agree?

“One month.” Ye Jin relented, taking a step back. “One month from now, I’ll bring the surveillance footage and formally propose.”

Yu Liuxue’s eyes curved as she smiled brightly, her delicate face radiant and sweet. “Alright!”

Although Ye Jin verbally agreed, she couldn’t shake the suspicion that she had unknowingly become Yu Liuxue’s backup plan, just another fish in her vast pond. Even during their intimate moments, Ye Jin couldn’t stop thinking—was she really just a fling to Yu Liuxue?

Carrying that grievance, she made sure Yu Liuxue was too exhausted to even complain afterward.

Yu Liuxue, however, had no clue why Ye Jin was so angry that day.

Unable to hold back, she asked the system, “Could it be that absence makes the heart grow fonder? Has my beauty made Ye Jin completely lose her composure?”

System: “…” You’re overthinking.

Half a month later, Yu Liuxue’s incident was still a popular topic among wealthy heirs and socialites. Meanwhile, Father Bai and Mother Bai remained oblivious, as if they were shielded by some barrier that prevented them from hearing even a whisper of gossip. Unable to sit still, Song Yiqiu decided to act.

Upon learning that Yi Ting was going to visit the Bai family, Song Yiqiu carefully asked, “President Yi, will Uncle Bai and Aunt Bai be home today?”

“They will be.” Yi Ting glanced at her. Lately, Song Yiqiu had frequently praised Father and Mother Bai, saying they had kind faces and gave off a warm, comforting presence—almost as if they were her real parents. However, Yi Ting was too preoccupied with Yu Liuxue’s situation to think too much about it.

Song Yiqiu smiled softly. “President Yi, may I accompany you to see Uncle Bai and Aunt Bai?”

Afraid he might refuse, she quickly added, “Don’t worry, President Yi, I won’t cause any trouble. I promise I won’t say a single unnecessary word.”

—Unless Mom and Dad ask.

Yi Ting looked at Song Yiqiu’s delicate, palm-sized face and, after a brief consideration, agreed. He wasn’t worried she would say anything inappropriate—she had worked by his side for so long without ever making a mistake. That was precisely what he admired about her.

With their own intentions in mind, the two of them set off for the Bai residence.

The moment Yu Liuxue saw Song Yiqiu, she knew she was up to no good. A weasel paying respects to a hen—clearly bad intentions. But since life had been a bit too dull lately, she welcomed the excitement.

With a forced smile, she remained seated but eagerly called out, “Brother Yi Ting, you’re here!”

Mother Bai gave her daughter a strange look. What kind of nonsense are you up to now?

Yi Ting and Song Yiqiu sat side by side. Seeing Song Yiqiu, Mother Bai’s expression immediately darkened, and even her attitude toward Yi Ting became noticeably indifferent. When the two indicated they would stay for lunch, Mother Bai asked Father Bai to tell the housekeeper to prepare a few extra dishes.

Just as Father Bai stepped into the kitchen, Song Yiqiu seized the perfect moment. In a soft, concerned tone, she asked, “Zhenzhen, are you okay?”

Mother Bai narrowed her eyes at Song Yiqiu, silently gauging her motives.

Yu Liuxue, resting her arms on the sofa, looked as if she were about to cry. Instead of answering, she asked in return, “What do you think?”

Song Yiqiu bit her lip and looked at Yi Ting with an aggrieved expression. Yi Ting took her hand in his and said to Yu Liuxue, “Zhenzhen, from now on, she will be your sister-in-law.”

Mother Bai was so furious that her blood pressure nearly spiked.

Yu Liuxue blinked. “Got it.”

That left Song Yiqiu with no room to vent her emotions. She then assumed a classic white lotus stance and gently reproached herself, “Zhenzhen, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought up something that upsets you. But President Yi is already searching for that person. I believe he will find them soon.”

Yi Ting nodded. “Yes, don’t worry—”

His words abruptly stopped. Something felt off. He immediately turned to Mother Bai, and sure enough, her expression had changed. With a cold, emotionless face, she demanded, “What person? What upsetting matter? You two better explain yourselves!”

Yu Liuxue instantly perked up. Excited, she jumped off the sofa and exclaimed, “Mom, so you really didn’t know about this?!”

“Aiya, Song Yiqiu is talking about how I was drugged and ended up having a relationship with a complete stranger!” Yu Liuxue looked at Song Yiqiu excitedly. “Isn’t that right?”

“She’s so concerned about me—I really don’t know how to thank her. Mom, how about I give her my Wahaha* as a gift?”

(*Wahaha is a popular Chinese beverage brand, often associated with childhood nostalgia.)