Yu Nianqing, whose name had just been called, instinctively tensed up. “Hmm?”
Yu Nianqing felt a large hand pat her on the head. Although his tone was cold and stern, his gesture was relatively gentle. “I’m not around, and you let people bully you like this? What a disgrace!”
At those words, Yu Nianqing’s nose turned red, and tears welled in her eyes. These were the most instinctive reactions of the body she now inhabited, whether it was the nervousness she felt upon hearing Yu Ningyan’s voice or the sudden surge of grievance brought on by his words.
“Eldest Brother.”
Yu Ningyan hadn’t seen Yu Nianqing in half a year either. He had heard a little about the matter between Yu Tiancheng and Feng Yue, but he had been staying at the Military Research Institute and had no time to concern himself with it.
He had barely started his vacation when he caught this woman bullying Yu Nianqing. Yu Ningyan cast a cold glance at Yu Yarou. “Don’t try those little tricks in front of me.”
Yu Yarou wanted to say something. She opened her mouth, but in the end, no words came out. Under Yu Ningyan’s overwhelming pressure, she didn’t dare continue either and slunk away on her own.
“Let’s go home.” Yu Ningyan gave Bai Xue a slight nod to express his gratitude. Bai Xue nodded back and let Yu Nianqing follow him home.
Yu Nianqing didn’t understand. “Which home?”
“The Yu family’s.”
Yu Ningyan had already attained the rank of colonel in the military. The Federation had granted him a property in his own name, but the Yu family’s old residence was still their home.
The villa next to Bo Chen’s belonged to Yu Nianqing. Her mother had left it to her, and all her brothers knew this.
“I don’t want to go back to that place,” Yu Nianqing muttered.
“Yu Nianqing, the Yu family is our home. We have a nest of rats living there for the time being, but since when have the owners been expected to give up their house to the rats?” Yu Ningyan said sternly. He didn’t like his younger sister always living elsewhere. It was as if this family had fallen apart long ago.
“Dad doesn’t want to see me.”
“Ninghuai told me everything. He was in the wrong. With me around, you don’t need to be afraid.” Yu Ningyan spoke thoughtfully. They had known Yu Tiancheng’s true nature for a long time. In the past, Yu Nianqing had been too young to get caught up in any of it.
As evening fell over Kloss Star, purple clouds blended together, spreading across the entire sky. Yu Tiancheng arrived at the Federation Government building to request an audience with the Regent.
Ever since entering the Federation Government building, Bo Chen had always worn a mask. Few people in this world knew that the Regent was Bo Chen. In an interstellar era full of unbelievable wonders, keeping one’s true appearance hidden was the safest course of action.
After entering, Yu Tiancheng bowed respectfully.
The leather chair in front slowly turned around. The man seated there looked at him and asked, “President Yu, what brings you here today?”
“Your Excellency, I’m here to discuss the marriage between you and my daughter.” In the end, Yu Tiancheng decided to take Feng Yue’s advice.
Yarou was more obedient and considerate than Yu Nianqing, and she listened to him more readily. Marrying her off to the Regent would be the best possible outcome.
“Has she agreed?” Bo Chen asked. Remembering Yu Nianqing, whom he had just seen, he realized that once he returned, he would have to explain to her just how serious the crime of bigamy was in interstellar society.
“Nianqing is rather unruly, but do you remember the second daughter I mentioned to you last time, Yu Yarou?” Yu Tiancheng asked, feeling somewhat nervous.
The last time he had brought this up, the Regent had already seemed inclined to refuse. However, since he had specifically requested to marry a daughter of the Yu family, and Yu Nianqing was unwilling, Yu Yarou was the only option left.
Bo Chen said nothing. After a long silence, he suddenly rose to his feet and tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. “Please leave, President Yu. No one will do except Yu Nianqing.”
Yu Tiancheng wanted to say more, but the soldiers outside the door were already indicating that he should leave. He had no choice but to return home.
Bo Chen still remembered how, when he had first mentioned marrying Yu Nianqing to Yu Tiancheng, the man had demanded an exorbitant price, even hoping to enter politics. For a businessman to attempt to interfere in state affairs was the greatest taboo of all.
His decision to marry Yu Nianqing was rooted in a family secret unknown to outsiders. Thinking of Yu Nianqing, Bo Chen glanced at the sky outside, now as dark as ink. It was time to go and bring her home.
But things didn’t go as planned. On the other end of the video call, Yu Nianqing apologized to Bo Chen with a hint of guilt. “Sorry, I forgot to tell you. My Eldest Brother took me home.”
Bo Chen remained silent. Seeing how terrifying his expression had become, Yu Nianqing was about to say more when he abruptly ended the video call.
On the other end, Yu Nianqing stared at the disconnected screen and pouted. ‘Hmph, what a coldhearted man!’
After returning home, Yu Yarou recounted everything that had happened. Feng Yue furrowed her brows. “How many times have I told you? You can disregard Yu Nianqing, but you must never provoke those three people in the Yu family!”
Yu Yarou felt aggrieved. “I didn’t provoke him. He came looking for trouble himself.”
“Your mother doesn’t have the ability to give you an older or younger brother of your own. You need to build a good relationship with them from now on.” Feng Yue explained the implications to her.
“Yu Ningyan became a colonel at such a young age. Yu Ningsui is the most outstanding diplomat on Kloss Star. As for Yu Ninghuai…”
Yu Yarou tended to her nails nonchalantly. “Compared to the first two brothers, he’s practically insignificant!”
Feng Yue tapped her lightly. “Don’t talk nonsense. Yu Ninghuai may not have shown any particularly outstanding talent yet, but that doesn’t mean you should offend him.”
Offending Yu Ninghuai would be the same as offending the other two, wouldn’t it?
“Alright, Mom. I understand.”
Yu Yarou felt that compared with Yu Ningyan and Yu Ningsui, Yu Ninghuai was far too ordinary. She believed that with her talent, she could certainly surpass both Yu Ninghuai and Yu Nianqing!
Of course, the best outcome would be to marry the Regent and become the Regent’s wife. That way, she could keep Yu Nianqing under her heel forever.
When Yu Tiancheng returned home and heard that both Yu Nianqing and Yu Ningyan had come back, he was somewhat surprised. Just thinking about Yu Nianqing made him angry. The Regent had specifically named her as the one he wanted to marry, yet she refused to cooperate!
So Yu Tiancheng sent a humanoid robot to summon Yu Nianqing downstairs.
The moment he saw her, his first words were, “Have you made up your mind?”
He said nothing else. Seeing Yu Tiancheng’s attitude, Yu Nianqing simply sat down and played along. “Made up my mind about what? Marriage? I’m not getting married.”
Yu Tiancheng’s expression changed instantly. He was just about to explode when he heard someone coming downstairs.
Yu Ningyan had heard every word Yu Tiancheng said. As a soldier, he walked at an unhurried pace, each step seeming perfectly timed.
Yu Tiancheng was a typical capitalist who valued profit above everything else.
Yu Ningyan sat down beside Yu Nianqing.
“Dad, Nianqing is still young,” Yu Ningyan said, briefly expressing his opinion.
“Then get engaged first.” Yu Tiancheng’s meaning was clear. He was determined to make Yu Nianqing marry, one way or another.
Yu Ningyan couldn’t understand it. Given Yu Tiancheng’s current standing in the business world, who was so important that he would insist on marrying off his own daughter to secure an alliance?
“Dad, if she doesn’t want to, no one can force her. Not even you.” Having spent so much time in the military, Yu Ningyan spoke with an unmistakably firm edge, leaving Yu Tiancheng speechless.
Yu Ningyan had grown up. He was no longer the three-year-old child Yu Tiancheng could beat. More importantly, Yu Ningyan was a soldier.
No matter how you looked at it, Yu Tiancheng could no longer control him.
Humiliated by Yu Ningyan’s retort, Yu Tiancheng left with a dark expression. Yu Nianqing did a quick mental calculation and figured he was probably heading off to seek comfort in Feng Yue’s tender embrace.