Chapter 40: Playing the Villainous Supporting Role in an Old-School CEO Novel (5)

After tidying up, the family of three set off for the Yi family. Meanwhile, upon hearing that Yi Ting had returned, the Yi family immediately called him home. Yi Ting originally intended to refuse, but upon learning that Yu Liuxue was also coming, he changed his mind at the last minute. “Alright, Mom, I’ll be right back.”

Yi Ting was fond of Song Yiqiu. Over the past few days, he had been sulking and went on a business trip alone, only to realize that life without her was becoming increasingly unbearable. Now that both their parents and Yu Liuxue were present, Yi Ting figured he might as well take the opportunity to publicly propose breaking off the engagement.

He suspected that Song Yiqiu was upset with him because he had made her countless promises but never followed through. If he dissolved the unnecessary engagement, she would likely forgive him. So, he immediately instructed the driver, “Head back to the office first.”

However, when he arrived at the office, he found Song Yiqiu in a heated confrontation with another young woman. Seeing him, a flicker of surprise flashed in Song Yiqiu’s eyes, but she quickly suppressed it as if reminding herself that she was still upset with him. Her expression turned cold, and she said stiffly, “President Yi, your guest.”

With that, she turned to leave. This was her first time clashing with Tian Wenwen, and she was so infuriated that she nearly exploded. No wonder Bai Zhenzhen had been manipulated by Tian Wenwen and used as a pawn—this second-tier supporting female character was indeed quite cunning.

And now, of all times, this woman had shown up to compete with her for Yi Ting’s attention, deliberately provoking her while she was already at odds with him.

The more Song Yiqiu thought about it, the more wronged she felt, and her eyes welled up with tears. Lowering her head, she walked past Yi Ting, her tears on the verge of spilling over. She bit her lip hard and, as she brushed past him, deliberately bumped him with her elbow.

“Ah!”

Suddenly losing her balance, she felt a strong hand grab her. The next moment, her vision blurred, and when she came back to her senses, she was already in Yi Ting’s arms.

Ignoring Tian Wenwen’s shocked and furious glare, Yi Ting held Song Yiqiu tightly. Without even glancing at Tian Wenwen, he coldly ordered, “Xiao Li, see the guest out.”

Tian Wenwen was livid. She quickly stood up and walked toward Yi Ting. “Brother Yi Ting, I have something to tell you, I—”

Xiao Li, the assistant, hurriedly stepped forward to usher her away. He spoke in a low voice, “Miss, please leave. Don’t disturb President Yi.”

Tian Wenwen was unwilling to accept this outcome. She turned back, glaring fiercely at Song Yiqiu, who was smirking triumphantly. Biting her lip hard, she seethed inwardly. You wretched woman! One day, I’ll make sure you fall from grace and disappear from Brother Yi Ting’s life for good!

Fuming, Tian Wenwen left. Meanwhile, still in Yi Ting’s embrace, Song Yiqiu couldn’t hold back her emotions anymore. All the grievances she had been suppressing erupted in the form of tears. Yi Ting, caught off guard, tried to console her, but the more he comforted her, the harder she cried. Finally, Yi Ting sighed helplessly. “If you keep crying, you won’t look pretty when we meet my parents later.”

Song Yiqiu paused, looking up instinctively. “What?”

Yi Ting gently wiped away her tears and said, “Zhenzhen and Uncle and Aunt Bai will be visiting my family today. Since my parents are also there, I plan to take you back and formally announce the dissolution of my engagement to Zhenzhen.”

The cold, sharp lines of Yi Ting’s face softened, and a faint smile appeared in his deep eyes. “That way, I can propose to you openly and legitimately.”

Song Yiqiu immediately broke into a smile but quickly restrained her joy, voicing her concerns instead. “Won’t this make Uncle and Aunt Bai hate me even more? And what about your parents? Will they—”

“That’s not something you need to worry about. Trust me, I’ll handle everything,” Yi Ting reassured her gently.

Song Yiqiu thought for a moment. This was a sweet romance novel where the domineering CEO falls in love with her. No matter how many challenges they faced, as long as Yi Ting protected and cherished her, it would be enough. With his love, they would definitely end up together.

Besides, the more obstacles they encountered, the more distressed Yi Ting would feel for her. These hurdles would only deepen their relationship.

With that in mind, Song Yiqiu took the initiative to kiss Yi Ting. His gaze darkened, and he immediately scooped her up and carried her toward the lounge. Flushing red, Song Yiqiu clung to his shirt nervously, whispering, “President Yi, we still have to meet your parents later…”

“It’s fine. We have time.”

Meanwhile, Yu Liuxue had mentally prepared herself to face Yi Ting’s parents’ hostility, but she hadn’t expected the moment of difficulty to begin the second she stepped onto the Yi family’s doorstep.

The butler stood atop the steps at the entrance, looking down at Yu Liuxue with a hint of disdain and contempt in his eyes. He spoke expressionlessly, “Follow me closely. Don’t wander around, or bear the consequences.”

Madam Bai’s expression changed slightly. She knew this was under Yi Ting’s mother’s orders. However, since they were the ones initiating the dissolution of the engagement, they had no choice but to endure it to maintain decorum. Otherwise, if the Yi family made a few veiled remarks afterward, no reputable family in their social circle would dare marry Zhenzhen.

Despite her parents’ grim expressions, they had to keep up appearances.

Yu Liuxue blinked and then caught up with the snobbish butler, raising her voice deliberately. “Hey, is there a royal guest visiting the Yi family today?”

Before the butler could grasp her meaning, Yu Liuxue suddenly took a dramatic step back, throwing her arms up and bellowing, “Your Majesty, spare me! This humble citizen did not realize the Emperor was traveling in disguise today. I beg your pardon for disturbing Your Majesty’s peace—I deserve a thousand deaths!”

Madam Bai: “…”

The butler: “…”

The system: “…” As expected of the host.

The butler’s face shifted colors multiple times before he finally shot Yu Liuxue a deep look and said stiffly, “The Yi family does not allow loud disturbances.”

Yu Liuxue immediately shut her mouth and mouthed, “OK, OK, after all, the Emperor is present.”

Her lips moved, but not a single sound came out. The butler nearly rolled his eyes and simply ignored her, leading the three of them toward the Yi family’s main hall. He thought to himself that no matter how impressive this Bai family’s young lady was, she was nothing in front of Madam Yi.

Madam Bai tugged at Yu Liuxue and frowned. “What are you doing?”

Yu Liuxue blinked innocently. “Mom, with how the Yi family carries themselves, isn’t it natural to assume they’re of royal blood? Ah! I thought someone in their family had entered the palace, given birth to a prince, and had a throne to inherit!”

The corners of Madam Bai’s mouth twitched. She wanted to tell her daughter to stop talking but worried that if she did, Yu Liuxue would be bullied by Madam Yi for nothing. After thinking it over seriously, she decided to just let her daughter be. The Yi family’s attitude today made it clear that they intended to make things difficult for Liuxue. This marriage was arranged by the two old masters of the families, but after Old Master Bai passed away, their ties had long grown distant. The Bai family neither depended on nor flattered the Yi family, so letting her daughter stir up trouble to remind the Yi family that they weren’t easy to push around wasn’t necessarily a bad idea.

So, Madam Bai held Yu Liuxue’s hand and said, “Your throat must hurt from shouting. I’ll buy you a whole box of watermelon frost lozenges when we get home.”

Yu Liuxue beamed. “Thanks, Mom!”

The butler: “…” Absolutely outrageous!

The Yi family’s estate was quite impressive, exuding the grandeur of an ancient aristocratic residence with strict security. Yu Liuxue slowly followed the butler around for five minutes, still circling the pavilions and terraces. Growing impatient, she stepped forward and asked in a ghostly tone, “Hey, is the Emperor having tea in your backyard today?”

Feigning shock, she cupped her face. “Oh no! If we’ve been wandering here all this time, won’t we offend him?!”

The butler could no longer endure it. He lowered his voice and said, “Shut up! We’re almost there.”

Seeing that her daughter had a truly sharp tongue, Madam Bai was reassured. She contentedly linked arms with her husband and admired the Yi family’s scenery. She pointed to a potted plant and said, “Dear, that flower is so beautiful. Let’s get a few for our garden at home.”

Father Bai nodded. “Sure, however many you like, I’ll buy them all for you.”

Finally, the butler led them into the main hall. Madam Yi was leisurely drinking tea on the sofa. Even when she saw them arrive, she made no move to stand and greet them. Seeing this, Yu Liuxue cheerfully rushed into the hall and called out loudly, “Aunt Zhao, hello!”

“Auntie, your house is enormous! Even Liu Xiang (the Olympic sprinter) would take an hour to run through it!”

Madam Yi’s brows furrowed imperceptibly. How rude. So, this was the fiancée Old Master Bai had chosen for Yi Ting? Losing her chastity before marriage was one thing, but she didn’t even have the manners befitting a young lady of status. Madam Yi thought to herself that it was truly a blessing that Yu Liuxue had lost her reputation, giving them an excuse to break off the engagement. Otherwise, if she married into the Yi family, what a disgrace it would be.

Madam Yi lifted her chin indifferently. “Sit.”

Yu Liuxue immediately dragged her parents to sit beside Madam Yi. Before the sofa even warmed up, she spoke again. “Auntie, I heard from the butler that the Emperor is visiting your house today?”

Madam Yi immediately turned to look at the butler. The butler’s face turned pale—he was innocent! He hadn’t said anything! Please don’t listen to this troublemaking girl’s nonsense!

Madam Bai stifled a laugh. “Don’t mind her. Zhenzhen is pure-hearted and just a little lively.”

Madam Yi’s expression didn’t improve; in fact, it darkened further. To have lost her virtue and still act as if nothing had happened—one could only imagine how unclean her private life had been before. A trace of contempt flickered through Madam Yi’s eyes. She glanced at Madam Bai with arrogance. “Yi Ting will be back soon. Feel free to sit and wait. I’ll go check on the kitchen preparations.”

She had barely taken a few steps when Yu Liuxue’s voice rang out from the sofa. “Mom! Grandpa was really something! How could he arrange this marriage for me? Aunt Zhao is so difficult to get along with—there’s no way she’ll let me keep a hundred little boy-toys after marriage and rotate through three different ones every day!”

Madam Bai: “…” Please, just stop talking!

Madam Yi was so furious that the blood rushed straight to her head. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. A disrespectful junior—best not to stoop to her level.

However, just as she managed to compose herself, Yu Liuxue dropped another bombshell. “Mom, to be honest, I actually prefer girls. I want to be like an imperial emperor, marrying a hundred concubines and keeping them at home just to admire every day.”

Madam Yi had no idea how she managed to leave the hall. Her head was spinning, and she had to lean against the wall to steady herself. The butler quickly supported her. “Madam, about that Bai Zhenzhen—”

Madam Yi raised a hand to stop him from continuing and simply ordered, “Tell Yi Ting to be home within thirty minutes, or he’ll be in serious trouble!”

The butler immediately rushed off to relay the message.

After successfully driving Madam Yi away, Yu Liuxue treated the Yi residence like her own, strolling around at her leisure. After making a full round, she returned to her mother’s side and pursed her lips. “They made us enter through the front gate, then circled around the back before finally bringing us here.”

Madam Bai’s face turned slightly cold. “They’re pushing us too far.”

Yi Ting received the butler’s call while still occupied, but as soon as he heard his mother’s warning, he immediately got up and dressed. “Go freshen up quickly. We have to be home in thirty minutes.”

Song Yiqiu, lying in bed with flushed cheeks, asked softly, “Why the rush?”

Yi Ting lifted her into his arms. “If my mother gets angry, our situation will become difficult.”

Hearing this, Song Yiqiu didn’t dare delay any further. She let Yi Ting carry her to freshen up, and they rushed to arrive at the Yi house within the thirty-minute deadline.

The moment Yu Liuxue saw Song Yiqiu, she knew things were about to get messy.

Madam Yi had just appeared after receiving word of her son’s return when Yu Liuxue dramatically shouted, “Aunt Zhao! Look! Yi Ting actually brought another woman home right in front of us!”

Madam Yi barely registered Yu Liuxue’s choice of words—her focus was already on the doorway. Sure enough, standing beside her son was a fragile-looking woman with a weak and unremarkable appearance. Her expression darkened immediately. Originally, the Bai family had been the ones eager to dissolve the engagement, and the Yi family had the upper hand. But now, with Yi Ting suddenly bringing another woman home, their position in this matter had weakened considerably.

Yu Liuxue clung to Madam Yi’s arm, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “Aunt Zhao, why is Yi Ting doing this to me? Just look at them! For all we know, they were busy trying to make babies right before you called him!”

Having been the legitimate wife for many years, Madam Yi despised two things above all else: first, mistresses scheming to seduce her husband; and second, those same mistresses scheming to seduce her son and trying to marry into the family by carrying the Yi bloodline.

Clearly, Song Yiqiu fell squarely into the second category.

Song Yiqiu bit her lip hard. It was true that she and Yi Ting had been intimate just now, but she had carefully concealed all traces of it. Now, thanks to Yu Liuxue’s loud and provocative remarks, Madam Yi’s expression turned thunderous. In that instant, Song Yiqiu knew she was doomed. No matter how much she tried to explain, she wouldn’t be able to clear her name—even if she jumped into the Yellow River.

Now, not only did Yi Ting’s mother dislike her, but even her own mother was looking at her with a hint of disgust. Song Yiqiu felt utterly wronged.

Instinctively, she stepped back to hide behind Yi Ting and said softly, “Zhenzhen, don’t say such things. It’s not what you think between me and President Yi.”

Madam Bai stepped forward and looked directly at Yi Ting. “Yi Ting, you’d better give us an explanation.”

Madam Yi immediately sensed trouble. Just as she was about to smooth things over, Yu Liuxue suddenly strode forward and gave Song Yiqiu a light shove. Though the force wasn’t strong, Song Yiqiu fell straight into Yi Ting’s arms. Madam Yi’s face changed instantly.

Yu Liuxue raised an eyebrow. Oh?

Then, she looked at Yi Ting with teary eyes. Yi Ting frowned and held Song Yiqiu tighter, his displeasure evident. “Zhenzhen, stop messing around.”

“This is my girlfriend. She’ll be your sister-in-law in the future.”

Madam Yi nearly fainted on the spot.

Madam Bai, on the other hand, smirked as she held her husband’s arm and looked at Madam Yi with amusement. “Ruzhen, don’t you think you should explain what exactly your son means by this?”

Madam Yi gritted her teeth. She shot a sharp glare at Song Yiqiu before turning to her son. “A-Ting, come here.”

Yi Ting obediently walked over, still holding Song Yiqiu’s hand. “Mom, this is my girlfriend, Yiqiu.”

Song Yiqiu blushed at the perfect moment and greeted sweetly, “Hello, Auntie…”

Madam Yi responded with a slap.

Her face was icy as she declared, “I do not accept this.”

Song Yiqiu was completely stunned. The slap came out of nowhere, and her tears spilled instantly. She looked at Yi Ting in panic, her tears falling one after another. “President Yi, if Auntie doesn’t like me and no one here welcomes me, then I’d better leave… I don’t want to ruin everyone’s mood…”

Before she could even finish speaking, Yi Ting had already pulled her into a protective embrace. He frowned and looked at his mother. “Mom, Yiqiu is different from those other women.”

Yu Liuxue nodded sagely and then added in a slow, deliberate tone, “That’s true. Other women only want your family’s money, but she wants the position of future lady of the house.”

Madam Bai immediately glanced at her daughter in surprise. Huh? Since when was Zhenzhen this sharp?

Could it be that she changed after going through some kind of ordeal?

Yu Liuxue’s words struck a nerve, and Madam Yi’s expression became razor-sharp. Sensing the shift, Song Yiqiu clung to Yi Ting, her voice trembling. “President Yi, I’m not—I never—I never even thought about those things! I just genuinely like you…”

Yet, aside from Yi Ting himself, not a single person in the room believed her nonsense.

Madam Yi had dealt with plenty of gold diggers before, and she had always been successful in driving them away, using both soft and hard tactics. But now, the moment she let her guard down, one had actually managed to climb into Yi Ting’s bed. Her expression turned cold. If she lets this slide now, would this woman come back next month already carrying the Yi family’s heir?

As the standoff continued, an unexpected figure finally entered the room—Yi Ting’s father.

Yu Liuxue, seizing the opportunity, ran toward him in despair. “Uncle Yi! You have to stand up for me! Yi Ting and I are about to get married, and now he’s brought home some vixen! If word gets out, I won’t be able to live anymore!”

Yi Father: “…”

He gave Yi Ting and Song Yiqiu a cool glance. “The man isn’t married, and the woman isn’t betrothed. What is this public display? Go clean up and get ready for dinner.”

Madam Bai was secretly overjoyed. She had originally come prepared to suffer a disadvantage in this situation, but now, somehow, the Yi family were the ones in the wrong.

Madam Yi dragged her husband aside, her expression sharp enough to cut. “That woman with A-Ting…?”

“We’ll talk after dinner,” Yi Father replied curtly.

During the meal, Madam Bai and her husband deliberately left the seat next to Yi Ting open for Yu Liuxue. She didn’t mind where she sat, but Song Yiqiu, sandwiched between Yi Ting and Madam Yi, felt incredibly uncomfortable.

When the food was served, Yu Liuxue happily picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of her favorite dish.

Song Yiqiu hesitated, then picked up a piece of meat and placed it gently into Yi Ting’s bowl. In a soft voice, she said, “President Yi, you should eat first.”

Madam Bai and Madam Yi both scoffed at the same time.

Song Yiqiu instantly froze, not daring to move any further. She lowered her head and miserably ate her plain rice. Seeing this, Yi Ting frowned and began putting food into her bowl nonstop.

Madam Yi narrowed her eyes. Finally, she was taking a proper look at this woman.

She had a weak and delicate appearance, but her methods were quite effective.

Madam Bai nudged Yu Liuxue under the table, signaling for her to say something.

After thinking for a moment, Yu Liuxue casually commented, “Well, if she’s pregnant, she should definitely eat more nutritious food.”

Then, she also placed a piece of food into Song Yiqiu’s bowl.

Madam Bai internally sighed. Forget it. I should stop expecting anything useful from my daughter.

Madam Yi almost snapped her chopsticks in half. Song Yiqiu immediately looked up in panic. “Zhenzhen, don’t talk nonsense. I’m not… not pregnant…”

Yu Liuxue smiled and comforted her instead. “It’s alright. You’ll have a child eventually.”

Song Yiqiu almost bit through her lower lip. She was doing it on purpose—deliberately making Madam Yi hostile toward her, making her own mother dislike her, and branding her as someone who behaved inappropriately before marriage. Song Yiqiu pressed her lips together and gently said, “Zhenzhen, don’t just focus on giving me food. Eat more yourself. You went through something upsetting recently, and you’ve lost so much weight that you look completely different.”

Madam Yi and Madam Bai both turned their gazes toward her. Song Yiqiu smiled faintly. “I’ve met Zhenzhen a few times. You could say we’re friends…”

Yu Liuxue slowly interrupted her. “No, you’re overthinking it. I never befriend women who interfere in my marriage and steal my man.”

The ball was kicked back to Song Yiqiu. Madam Yi felt a slight disappointment—Song Yiqiu had some tricks up her sleeve, but she still couldn’t compare to Yu Liuxue. Yu Liuxue gave Song Yiqiu an innocent smile, acting as if none of this concerned her, and continued eating.

Yi Ting watched Yu Liuxue and Song Yiqiu go back and forth, giving him a headache. One was the woman he liked, the other was the sister he grew up with. No matter whom he helped, it wouldn’t be right.

So, he took advantage of a brief pause in the tension and spoke up. “Dad, Mom, Uncle Bai, Aunt Bai, since you’re all here, I have something to say—I want to break off my engagement with Zhenzhen. I’ve only ever seen her as a little sister. I have no romantic feelings for her, and I don’t want to waste her youth or make Yiqiu feel left out.”

Father Yi immediately put down his chopsticks, and Father Bai also stopped eating.

The two men exchanged glances for a long moment before Father Yi finally spoke in a measured tone. “The children have grown up and have their own thoughts now. They don’t like our old-fashioned practice of arranged marriages. Perhaps we should let them decide for themselves.”

Madam Yi immediately looked at Father Yi, while Madam Bai smiled slightly and took a sip of tea. Father Bai responded with polite courtesy. “Of course. Since Yi Ting only sees Zhenzhen as a sister, forcing them together would not bring happiness even if they were to marry.”

Father Bai nodded slightly. “Then the engagement is off. However, let me take this moment to congratulate you on welcoming a grandchild soon.”

Father Yi smiled subtly and replied, “Then I wish you luck in finding the man who spent the night with Zhenzhen.”

Yu Liuxue interjected, “Thank you, Uncle Yi! But even if we don’t find him, it’s fine. After all, people don’t only sleep with one woman in their lifetime, right?”

Madam Yi immediately glared at Yu Liuxue, who just grinned back.

This meal left Madam Yi feeling utterly stifled. She had intended to make things difficult for Yu Liuxue, but in the end, her own house had collapsed. She couldn’t help but become suspicious—Yu Liuxue’s last remark had to be a veiled reminder that Father Yi had a mistress outside!

Madam Yi looked at the frail-looking Song Yiqiu and felt even more disgusted.

There were so many single men in the world, yet she had to go after a married one. Even though Yu Liuxue had lost her virginity before marriage, that was still more respectable than stealing another woman’s husband.

Song Yiqiu felt that she had suffered more grievances today than in the past twenty-something years combined. She nudged Yi Ting with her hand, and he immediately held it, whispering, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. I’ll handle everything.”

Song Yiqiu felt slightly reassured.

Madam Yi shot her a cold glance, then got up and walked toward Madam Bai. “Although the engagement is off, our families must still stay in touch. We shouldn’t drift apart over such a trivial matter. The old men have deep ties, and as juniors, we shouldn’t let them down.”

Madam Bai politely responded, “Of course.”

“After all, Yi Ting is so outstanding. It’s only natural that people covet him.” Madam Bai squeezed Madam Yi’s hand. “Well then, we’ll be heading out now. We won’t intrude on your family matters.”

“Take care. Butler, see Mr. and Mrs. Bai out.”

Just as the butler lifted his foot, Yu Liuxue immediately stood up with a bunch of green grapes in her hand. “No need. I know the way. I won’t disturb His Majesty while he enjoys his tea.”

As she spoke, she made a throat-slitting gesture and casually sighed, “Uncle Yi’s family is about to have an heir to the throne, yet I still haven’t found the love of my life.”

Madam Yi almost wanted to kick her out the door.

After leaving the Yi family, Yu Liuxue stuffed the bunch of grapes into Madam Bai’s hands. “Mom, now that the engagement is off, I don’t have to stay home anymore, right?”

She clapped her hands and said, “Dad, remember to lift the spending limit on my bank card. Your daughter needs to dress beautifully to woo her future wife!”

With Song Yiqiu about to marry into the Yi family, even if Madam Yi disagreed, she couldn’t go against her own son. Besides, if Song Yiqiu became pregnant with a male child, that would be the Yi family’s future heir. By then, could Madam Yi really kick Song Yiqiu and the heir out?

Yu Liuxue said to the system, “I need to speed up my pursuit of Ye Jin too.”

She talked big, but the moment she stepped into a shopping mall, she was instantly absorbed in browsing, completely forgetting about chasing Ye Jin.

The system let out a deep sigh. It really shouldn’t have believed anything its host said.

Back at the Yi residence, Father Yi and Madam Yi sat on the sofa, staring at Song Yiqiu. Song Yiqiu stood beside Yi Ting, forcing herself to endure their scrutiny. The sharp, intimidating aura in their gaze made her feel suffocated. After a few minutes, she couldn’t bear it any longer and wanted to run away.

She had no desire to marry into the Yi family and endure their oppression. All she wanted was to be loved and pampered by Yi Ting.

Father Yi was the first to speak. “How long have you been together?”

Yi Ting answered, “Three months.”

Father Yi asked again, “Did you take precautions?”

Song Yiqiu blushed slightly. Yi Ting remained silent, and she didn’t dare to speak either, only secretly rejoicing in her heart. Calculating the time, she should be pregnant soon. As long as she was careful during this period, even if Madam Yi disliked her, she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. In fact, she would have to help her with the pregnancy.

Thinking of this, a smile finally appeared on her face.

Madam Yi glanced at the butler, who immediately handed a check to Song Yiqiu. “Ten million. Leave the young master immediately.”

Yi Ting looked up in disbelief. “Mom?”

Madam Yi said displeasedly, “Marriage is about social status. She’s just from a small, insignificant family. Her parents are ordinary people and even have massive gambling debts. You want to marry a woman from such a background?”

“I don’t mind,” Yi Ting said in a low voice. “As long as I love her, that’s enough.”

Madam Yi was so furious that she didn’t want to say another word. Father Yi merely glanced at Yi Ting and said, “Come with me to the study.”

Song Yiqiu panicked and quickly looked at Yi Ting. He gave her a reassuring look. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll be right back.”

After Yi Ting left, Madam Yi slowly sipped her tea. “I don’t know what tricks you used to seduce Ah Ting, but our Yi family will never allow a penniless woman like you to enter our doors.”

Song Yiqiu’s eyes brightened. “So, as long as my identity is prestigious enough, I can marry Yi Ting?”

Madam Yi frowned slightly, unwilling to continue the conversation, and simply responded perfunctorily, “Of course. The woman Yi Ting marries must at least come from a family whose background isn’t too inferior to ours.”

Song Yiqiu became excited. As long as she returned to the Bai family and became their heiress, her marriage with Yi Ting would be secured. Yes, she had to drive Bai Zhenzhen out of the Bai family and reclaim everything that was rightfully hers. Then, she would finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

However, a new problem arose—currently, only she knew the truth. How could she make others realize it too?

After sitting with a conflicted expression for a while, she finally came up with a plan.

On the fifth day of Yu Liuxue’s failed pursuit of love, Song Yiqiu received news that her biological father, Song Jindou, had been severely beaten by debt collectors. Since Song Yiqiu’s matters were also Yi Ting’s matters, he immediately arranged for Song Jindou to be transferred to the best hospital in the city and secured a VIP ward for him.

Song Jindou’s wife, Hu Qiong—who was Bai Zhenzhen’s biological mother—stayed by his bedside day and night, crying endlessly. When she saw her daughter arriving with a handsome man, she immediately stopped crying, rushed over, and grabbed Song Yiqiu’s hand. “Yiqiu, you’re finally here! Your father has multiple fractures all over his body and lost a lot of blood. He urgently needs a transfusion!”

Song Yiqiu despised this parasitic couple to the core, but since Yi Ting was present, she had to put on a worried expression and patiently said, “Mom, I know. I’ve already donated blood.”

Hu Qiong sighed in relief and then quickly asked the question she cared about most. “Yiqiu, who is this young man?”

Yi Ting politely handed over the fruits and supplements he brought. “Auntie, nice to meet you. I’m Yiqiu’s boyfriend, Yi Ting.”

“Boyfriend?” Hu Qiong’s face lit up. Ignoring her injured husband on the bed, she eagerly asked, “Yi Ting, what do you do for a living? How much is your monthly salary? What do your parents do? Are they retired? How much is their pension?”

“Mom,” Song Yiqiu interrupted, displeased. She pulled Hu Qiong aside. “Nothing is set in stone yet. If you keep asking, you’ll scare him away!”

Hu Qiong huffed, “Yiqiu, I’m only thinking about your future! You finally found a good man. What if he turns out to be a fraud? You’d have nowhere to cry then!”

Song Yiqiu was growing impatient. “Mom, I understand. Just stop asking and focus on Dad’s blood transfusion.”

Hu Qiong reluctantly shut her mouth, but she kept sneaking glances at Yi Ting, intrigued by his refined demeanor. The more she looked, the more curious she became. This young man was well-dressed and certainly earned a decent salary. What mattered most was whether he’d hand over his salary to Yiqiu after marriage. If not, he had to be persuaded to do so. Once Yiqiu controlled the money, she must set aside a large sum for her parents. After all, she had worked tirelessly to raise her daughter, and now that she was old, she deserved to enjoy life.

Hu Qiong was fantasizing about a comfortable future when the doctor walked in with a report. “Miss Song Yiqiu? Your O-type blood is a not match for the patient.”

Yi Ting suddenly sensed something was wrong. “Why is Yiqiu O-type?”

The doctor glanced at Hu Qiong, who was equally confused, and then explained, “The patient has AB blood, and his wife also has AB blood. But this young lady has O blood. Genetically speaking, that is impossible.”

Song Yiqiu suppressed her excitement and feigned shock. “Are you saying… I’m not my parents’ biological daughter?! That’s impossible!”

The doctor rubbed his nose. “Normally, the probability of no biological relation is 99.99%. We recommend a paternity test for confirmation.”

Hu Qiong’s vision darkened. “Impossible! I carried Yiqiu for ten months and gave birth to her! How could she not be my daughter?!”

Song Yiqiu quickly comforted her. “Mom, I think it’s impossible too. The doctor must be mistaken.”

Then, she encouraged Hu Qiong, “Mom, why don’t we just do the paternity test? Otherwise, when Dad wakes up and hears about this, he might make a huge scene!”

Hu Qiong feared Song Jindou’s temper the most. When he got angry, he would smash things and hit people. After years of enduring his violence, she had grown terrified of him. She hurriedly asked, “How do we do this test? Is it expensive?”

“It’s not expensive, Mom.” Song Yiqiu was elated but kept a composed tone. “All we need is a few strands of hair from both you and Dad…”

Yu Liuxue removed her blindfold and remarked, “You’re telling me Song Yiqiu hired someone to beat her own father half to death just to expose her real identity and kick me out of the Bai family?”

Werewolf!

The system replied, “That’s right. Host, they have already gone for a paternity test, and the results will be out soon.”

Yu Liuxue stroked her chin. “Ah! I haven’t even gotten Ye Jin yet, and Song Yiqiu is already moving so fast?!”

System: If only you were a bit more proactive, you wouldn’t be in such a passive situation.

After freshening up slowly, Yu Liuxue said, “My dad was beaten up so badly. As his daughter, how can I just stand by and do nothing? That would be far too unfilial!”

So, the system watched as Yu Liuxue rushed to the hospital at full speed. Then, as Yi Ting was leading Song Yiqiu out of the hospital, she quickly hid to the side. By sheer coincidence, Hu Qiong was standing right next to her.

The system suddenly heard Yu Liuxue mumble to herself, “President Yi? Yiqiu?”

Hu Qiong instinctively turned her head and saw a stunning young woman—her temperament, her appearance, unbelievably beautiful.

Hu Qiong subconsciously lowered her voice and asked, “Miss, do you know my Yiqiu?”

Yu Liuxue feigned surprise and covered her mouth. “Auntie, you are…?”

Hu Qiong awkwardly smiled. “I’m Yiqiu’s mother.”

Yu Liuxue’s eyes lit up in realization, and she quickly straightened up. “Hello, Auntie, my name is Bai Zhenzhen. I’ve met Yiqiu a few times, but we’re not very close.”

Hu Qiong wasn’t concerned about that; she was more interested in Yi Ting’s background. She asked, “Zhenzhen, the President Yi you mentioned—is he Yi Ting? The man by Yiqiu’s side?”

“Yes! Auntie, you didn’t know? Yi Ting is the president of Yi Corporation—he’s loaded! Super rich! Yiqiu is really lucky. President Yi is head over heels for her. I even heard they’re getting married soon,” Yu Liuxue mused aloud. “Once Yiqiu marries into the Yi family, she’ll be rolling in wealth.”

Hu Qiong’s breathing became rapid. Trembling with excitement, she rushed back into the hospital room, muttering, “I’ve struck gold! I’m rich!”

After Hu Qiong left, Yu Liuxue found Song Jindou’s attending doctor. “Doctor, that patient named Song Jindou—he’s going to be bedridden for the rest of his life, unable to do anything on his own, right?”

The doctor nodded. “That’s correct, but…”

Yu Liuxue smiled and slipped him a check. “Then please make sure to give him the best treatment so he can recover and be discharged as soon as possible.”

The system was dumbfounded. So, this is how the elite circles operate?

Song Jindou was the direct cause of Bai Zhenzhen’s suicide by ramming her head into the wall in the original story. Since Song Yiqiu was so eager to help, Yu Liuxue decided to take this opportunity to eliminate Song Jindou.

Once he was paralyzed in bed, needing constant care for even basic functions, his ability to make trouble or beat Hu Qiong into submission would be completely irrelevant.

He wouldn’t be able to cause a scene or use violence to force Hu Qiong to agree with him anymore.

So now, all Yu Liuxue needed to do was keep Hu Qiong happy.

Even if Song Yiqiu revealed their true identities to the world, Hu Qiong’s heart would already be on Yu Liuxue’s side. And after raising Song Yiqiu for so many years, even if she wasn’t her biological daughter, would Hu Qiong really just let go so easily? She wouldn’t rest until she bled Song Yiqiu dry.

Yu Liuxue frowned. “I just realized a problem.”

The system instinctively responded, “What is it?”

“Not only do I have to pursue Ye Jin, but now I have to win over my own mother too.” Yu Liuxue rested her cheek on her hand. “What kind of life is this? Why is my fate so miserable?!”

The system spoke in a deadpan voice, “Then why don’t you just invite Ye Jin to a hotel, spread your legs on the bed, and use your body to please her?”

That way, you wouldn’t have to spend all this effort winning over the female lead.

The system had only said it offhandedly, but Yu Liuxue’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Great idea! Why didn’t I think of that?!”

“Oh, System! You’re speaking straight to my heart right now! I’ve decided—I’ll share half my Watermelon Frost lozenges with you!”

The system: “……” So this is what it feels like to dig your own grave.

Host, I was joking. Please don’t take it seriously!