In other words, although theirs was a cooperative relationship, married life between husband and wife could not be absent.
Naturally, Ni Yang understood what he meant. Though she felt somewhat shy, she still accepted it calmly.
Once people got married and registered legally, intimacy and sleeping together were the most natural things in the world.
“I understand. We’re seriously planning to register our marriage, so married life naturally can’t be avoided. But I hope Mr. He can give me some time to adjust.”
The man did not seem surprised.
“Of course. We’ll go at your pace.”
Ni Yang felt that He Siyu was incredibly easy to talk to. Her mood became even better than when he had first agreed to cooperate with her.
“Thank you for understanding.”
“You’re welcome.”
After lunch with He Siyu, Ni Yang returned to Yinshuang Manor.
She sat inside her studio editing the video she recorded yesterday.
Meanwhile, the phone beside her kept vibrating nonstop. Qi Huaiyu had sent her numerous messages.
[Yangyang, the membership at Mandu Restaurant expired. Go renew it when you have time. I transferred money to you.]
[Yangyang, after the engagement banquet the day after tomorrow, let’s find time to register our marriage.]
[Yangyang, are you very busy today? Why haven’t you replied to my messages at all?]
Ni Yang stared at the messages, her lips pressing into a straight line before she rolled her eyes.
She truly did not understand how he still had the nerve to talk about marriage registration with her.
How had she never realized before that he had two completely different faces? One face in front of her, another in front of his friends.
A sanctimonious hypocrite.
Now that changing her fiancé had already been settled, the next step was explaining everything clearly to her uncle and aunt and completely severing ties with the Qi Family.
That afternoon, after finishing the video editing, Ni Yang looked at the dining table during dinner. The couple had already finished eating, while her little brother sat nearby enthusiastically gnawing on a chicken drumstick.
“Uncle, Auntie, I don’t want to get engaged to Qi Huaiyu anymore.”
Her voice rang out firm and resolute.
The couple exchanged glances before immediately asking,
“What happened? Did Qi Huaiyu bully you? If you don’t want this engagement, then we won’t proceed with it.”
Ni Yang already knew her uncle and aunt would stand on her side, yet her eyes still reddened because of their unconditional favoritism toward her.
She found the video on her phone and handed it to them.
Ni Hao took the phone and pressed play.
Every word from the video could be heard clearly.
Ni Hao and Ling Xi’s expressions instantly darkened.
That group of people had humiliated their precious girl behind their backs while Qi Huaiyu himself had spoken utter filth.
“I actually thought that brat Qi Huaiyu was decent. Turns out he’s just a sanctimonious hypocrite. Yangyang, Uncle will definitely help you seek justice.”
Madam Ling took the phone from Ni Yang before standing up and walking to her side. She gently pressed Ni Yang’s head against her waist.
Ni Yang immediately hugged Madam Ling and buried her face against her stomach, rubbing against her aggrievedly.
“My poor Yangyang suffered so much grievance. Let Auntie scold them first.”
The couple each pulled out their phones and called Qi Huaiyu’s parents.
Ni Hao roared first.
“You old bastard, what kind of son did you raise? He dared say my precious girl is embarrassing and shameful to bring outside. What kind of thing does he think he is? It’s his honor that my precious Yangyang even chose him! In front of us he acted like he loved her so much, but behind our backs his mouth spewed filth. The engagement is canceled. There’s no room for discussion!”
Madam Ling did not spare Qi Huaiyu’s mother either.
“Well, this really opened my eyes. Your son actually has two faces and completely different personalities inside and out. You two raised him so well! Since when does my Yangyang’s career need his judgment? He still had the nerve to say Yangyang is embarrassing? We’re withdrawing our investment and canceling the engagement. Your Qi Huaiyu isn’t worthy of my precious girl!”
Neither of them retained their usual refined elegance and gentle demeanor anymore.
Ling Xiaoye was so startled that the chicken drumstick slipped from his little hand. His wide eyes looked helplessly at his parents.
Why had they suddenly mutated? It was terrifying.
Yet his beloved older sister smiled happily and told him to continue eating his chicken drumstick and not be afraid.
His chubby little hands picked up the drumstick again, and he resumed eating.
At the Qi Family villa, the couple had received the call during dinner. Before they even understood what was happening, they were thoroughly scolded. They had no chance to ask questions before the call ended.
Still, they understood the general meaning of the accusations.
Qi Huaiyu had said Ni Yang’s work was embarrassing and not suitable to be brought outside.
Saying such things privately would have been one thing.
But Ni Yang herself had heard it.
Qi Zhufeng’s face darkened completely. He violently slammed his chopsticks onto the table.
“Call Qi Huaiyu home immediately!”
Lin Yulang’s expression was equally awful as she silently dialed Qi Huaiyu’s number.
Still at the office, Qi Huaiyu answered casually.
“Mom, what is it? There’s still work at the company.”
“Huaiyu, come home immediately. The Ni Family wants to cancel the engagement.”
His mother’s words made his hand freeze mid-page while flipping through a contract. Panic surged from his chest, causing even his voice to tremble.
“I’ll come back immediately.”
After hanging up, he hastily shut down his computer, grabbed the suit jacket hanging over his chair, and strode quickly out of the office.
Along the way, he continuously called and messaged Ni Yang.
No response came.
At that moment, if he still failed to understand the situation, then he truly was an idiot.
The figure he saw outside the private room last night really had been Ni Yang.
She heard everything he said.
“Yangyang, what did you say? The engagement banquet isn’t canceled—the male lead is just being replaced with He Siyu?”
Shock filled both Ling Xi and Ni Hao’s faces.
Ni Yang calmly nodded.
“Uncle, Auntie, He Siyu already agreed. Since this is going to be a marriage alliance anyway, the He Family is the most suitable choice.”
Ni Hao immediately said,
“Sweetheart, our family doesn’t need you to enter a marriage alliance, nor do we need you to wrong yourself. Even if you never marry, your uncle and aunt can support you for your entire life.”
Ling Xi nodded in agreement.
“That’s right, Yangyang. Your uncle still has a bright future ahead and plenty of capability. You don’t need to consider marriage alliances at all. You only need to live happily.”
Looking at the uncle and aunt who raised her, Ni Yang felt her heart melt with warmth.
“I’m not wronging myself. Tomorrow, He Siyu will come visit you both. You can make your decision afterward, alright?”
After what happened with Qi Huaiyu, He Siyu would probably have to face even more scrutiny.
Good luck to him.
The couple exchanged helpless glances before sighing and agreeing silently to wait until they met He Siyu.
After finishing his chicken drumstick, Ling Xiaoye wiped his hands and hopped down from his chair before running all the way to Ni Yang.
Tilting up his greasy little face, he sweetly called out,
“Older Sister, can you take Little Ye to wash up? Little Ye is all oily.”
Ni Yang lowered her eyes with a smile and lightly tapped his nose with her finger.
“Of course, little kitty.”
She took Ling Xiaoye’s hand and led him toward the washroom on the first floor.
At the Qi Family villa’s first-floor living room, Qi Huaiyu hurried home.
The moment he entered the living room, he sensed the frozen atmosphere surrounding his parents seated on the sofa, as though a storm was about to erupt.
Before he could even speak, Qi Zhufeng abruptly stood up and strode toward him before slapping him hard across the face.
The force startled Lin Yulang into quickly standing as well. She rushed to Qi Huaiyu’s side and looked painfully at the large red mark spreading across half of his face where his head had been knocked sideways.
“Zhufeng, can’t you talk things out properly? Why resort to hitting him?”
She frowned worriedly at her son.
“Huaiyu, don’t blame your father. He’s just too angry.”
Qi Zhufeng harshly demanded,
“What exactly did you do?”
“Have you lost your mind? Even if you thought Ni Yang was embarrassing, you should have kept it to yourself! Why did you have to say it out loud?”
“You’re going to the Ni Family immediately to apologize to Ni Yang and her uncle and aunt. No—we’ll all go together. No matter what they say, this marriage alliance absolutely cannot be canceled.”
On the way to the Ni residence, Qi Huaiyu continued frantically sending messages to Ni Yang.
Half of his face still carried the slap mark as he forced himself to stay upright. His mind had already become dizzy, his heartbeat chaotic, and his ears buzzing loudly.
The reason he spoke that way last night had only been because he wanted to maintain the pride and dignity of a superior in front of his friends.
Everyone knew the Qi Family was now just an empty shell. Without the Ni Family’s investment, they would not survive much longer.
He liked Ni Yang.
He liked her very, very much.
She was beautiful, obedient, sensible, and aside from refusing to let him touch her, everything about her was perfect. Her family background was excellent, her figure was excellent, and her looks were excellent. Even his parents adored her.
She was the ideal wife.
If Ni Yang heard these thoughts, she would probably curse him for speaking so disgustingly.
No wonder she barely replied to his messages today.
She had merely brushed him off by saying she was tired from recording videos and wanted to rest.
He needed to apologize.
He needed to win her back.
He needed to tell her he did not mean it and had only been trying to save face.
Yangyang was so understanding.
She would definitely forgive him.
They would still get married.
They would still have children.
The Ni Family would continue investing in the Qi Family.
And he would still remain the admired President Qi everyone praised.