Wrong.
Yu Yang looked straight into her eyes.
For a brief moment-
He forgot to react.
This was supposed to be his line.
So why…
Why was she the one proposing to him?
Across the hall, Linda stared at them in disbelief.
“Who would have thought his plan would actually work?”
He had deliberately worn a white suit.
Not for fashion.
But to stand out.
To be seen.
To become the one person impossible to ignore.
Because he knew-
Li Yeli had always liked things that were…
different.
Unique.
“And she even proposed to him…”
Linda murmured under her breath, a slow smile forming on her lips.
“Finally, President Yu got what he’s always wanted…”
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
“She attended his gathering… and now she’s even proposing to him.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“But… why would she propose to him?”
A pause.
“Could she have recognized him?”
Yu Yang stood in front of Li Yeli, his gaze fixed on her.
Thinking the exact same thing.
Before the moment could stretch any further-
Aecon Li strode forward, his expression tense.
“My apologies, Mr. Yu-”
He raised his hand, attempting to pull Li Yeli away-
But stopped.
Abruptly.
Yu Yang had lifted his hand slightly.
A silent command.
Stop.
Aecon Li froze.
His eyes lifted slowly to meet Yu Yang’s.
Hope flickered within them.
Is he…
interested?
Because if-
If he became in-laws with someone like
The thought alone was enough to make his heart race.
He couldn’t even begin to imagine the influence.
The power.
The doors that would open for him.
Aecon Li’s eyes flashed.
“Mother? Is she crazy?” Li Yue frowned, her voice laced with disbelief.
“Proposing to the host of this event… that’s the most ridiculous thing anyone could do.”
She scoffed lightly.
“Even I wouldn’t do something like that. Not to talk of a nobody like Li Yeli.”
Mo Ruyi stared at Li Yeli, her expression darkening.
“I told him not to bring her,” she said coldly.
“But he insisted.”
Her lips tightened.
“Now look.”
“She’s going to ridicule us.”
“Why is she even still with us, Mother?” Li Yue continued, irritation rising in her tone.
“She’s not really part of our family anyway!”
“To your father, she is.”
“But she’s not!”
“Keep quiet, Ah-Yue!” Mo Ruyi snapped sharply.
“I forbid you from ever saying that again.”
Li Yue pouted, dissatisfied.
“But isn’t that what you wanted everyone to believe? That she’s adopted?”
Mo Ruyi’s expression stiffened.
“But things aren’t going the way I planned…”
Her voice dropped.
“Now, to everyone, she’s our first daughter… the daughter we had out of wedlock.”
Her nails dug into her palm.
“This will stain our family’s image.”
Twenty-five years ago, when Mo Ruyi and Aecon Li were unmarried, the Li family had rejected her.
Her background was unacceptable.
A criminal father.
A prostitute mother.
And so-
She lied.
She claimed she was pregnant with their grandchild.
Nine months later-
She staged everything.
With the help of a doctor, she presented a newborn baby-
Li Yeli-
As the Li family’s granddaughter.
Though the family was suspicious and demanded a DNA test-
Mo Ruyi tampered with the results.
And just like that-
The lie became truth. New chapters come out on g.com first.
The marriage was approved.
Later-
She discovered something else.
Aecon Li was infertile.
A secret she buried.
Controlled.
Managed.
With out Aecon Li knowing anything, they agreed to hide Li Yeli’s existence.
To ensure no one would ever know the truth.
Because a child born out of wedlock-
Would destroy everything.
And now-
Everything they had hidden…
Everything they had built…
Was unraveling.
Li Yeli was being introduced as their first daughter.
How was she supposed to explain that?
Born abroad?
Raised by his parents?
Mo Ruyi almost laughed.
Who would believe such nonsense?
Li Yue scoffed.
“She really thinks the Yu family would accept her? A recluse like her?”
She straightened her posture, lifting her chin slightly.
“Don’t worry, Mother.”
Her tone turned confident.
“I’ll prove that I’m the real daughter of Aecon Li.”
“I’ll get you a powerful and valuable son-in-law.”
Mo Ruyi smiled faintly.
But her eyes-
Held something else.
Guilt.
The real daughter…
Indeed.
Around them, the guests pretended not to notice anything.
Not to hear anything.
Because one thing was clear-
Yu Yang was interested in Li Yeli.
And no one was foolish enough to offend him.
Gradually, the music resumed.
The atmosphere loosened.
Conversations picked up again.
And the gathering continued-
As if nothing had happened.
And among everyone present, Aecon Li stood there.
The happiest of them all.