Ye Li didn’t know what Duan Jiamu was thinking. Things were progressing according to her plan, and she was in a good mood. She walked briskly back home. Ye Jianguo and Liu Hongmei were sitting in the main hall with stern expressions, while Ye Zhirou looked pitiful, her eyes red as she leaned against Liu Hongmei. Ye Li glanced at them but kept walking toward her room.
“You brat! Stop right there!” Ye Jianguo shouted, his voice cold as ice, his face darkening.
Ye Li paused, slowly turned around, her expression calm and unflustered. “Dad, what’s the matter? Just say it.” A person like him—cold-hearted and vile—she didn’t even want to call him “Dad” if she could avoid it.
Ye Jianguo slammed the table, eyes wide with anger. “Look at what you’ve done! You’ve made Zhirou lose all her face in the restaurant!”
Ye Li sneered. “Some people are just eager to lose face in public. I can’t stop them—what can I do?”
Liu Hongmei was furious, glaring sharply at her. “Ye Li, Zhirou is your sister. How can you speak ill of her in front of outsiders? You’re both daughters of the Ye family! Can’t you even write the same ‘Ye’ character on both your faces? Zhirou loses face, and you think it makes you look good?”
Ye Li smiled, staring straight at Ye Zhirou. “A few days ago, Comrade Duan saved me. To show my thanks, I invited him to the state-run restaurant for a meal. Zhirou and Jiang Bowen were flirting openly, and when they saw me and Comrade Duan—two victims—they didn’t even hide themselves. And then they had the nerve to provoke me.”
“Dad, the ones losing face aren’t Comrade Duan and me. Zhirou brought shame upon herself with her own disgraceful actions. She flaunted herself all over Yun City as if daring everyone to notice.”
Ye Zhirou sobbed, “Sister, can’t you go easy on me? You had to make a scene and humiliate us. What about Mom and Dad’s face?”
Ye Li crossed her arms, chin lifted, her eyes icy as she looked at her. “Stop! Don’t disgust me! Mom gave birth to only me, and yet every vile thing is rushing to call me sister. How dare you expect me to go easy on you? When you were fooling around with Jiang Bowen, did you ever think about your parents’ reputation?”
“Really shameless! I’m amazed! You’re messing with someone else’s fiancé, getting pregnant before marriage, shameless and brazen! You’ve ruined your parents’ reputation and still dare to blame me? Do you think I’m easy to bully?”
Ye Zhirou was dumbfounded, only able to throw herself into Liu Hongmei’s arms, crying pitifully.
Liu Hongmei hugged her tightly, feeling sorry. “Li Li, stop picking on your sister. Just go to the Jiang family and annul the engagement—let Zhirou marry into their family.”
Ye Li shot her a sidelong glance, her face full of sarcasm. “Impossible! Uncle Jiang is the director of the Steel Factory. Our family used to be the director’s daughter-in-law; they have both wealth and status. Why should I give that to Zhirou?”
Liu Hongmei was frustrated by Ye Li’s obstinacy, clutching her chest. She could only glance pitifully at Ye Jianguo. “Old Ye…”
Ye Jianguo slammed the table, standing up angrily. “This is my decision. How dare you defy me?”
Ye Li met his gaze fearlessly. “I’m not wrong. No one can control me. If anyone dares to force me, I’ll go to the alley and make it known. Let’s see who looks ridiculous.”
She turned to go back to her room.
Ye Jianguo shouted again, “Come back! Where did you get the money to take someone to a state-run restaurant?” That brat—our family’s money has been stolen, we’re almost broke, and she still has money to take someone out to eat?
“Borrowed,” Ye Li said coldly, then quickly strode into her room, slamming the door behind her, leaving Ye Jianguo and Liu Hongmei fuming.
Liu Hongmei, frowning, hugged Ye Zhirou as she wept softly. “Old Ye, being a stepmother is hard! If Zhirou and Li Li had the same mother, she wouldn’t treat her own sister this way. Now, what are we to do? She’s trying to see Zhirou suffer.”
Ye Zhirou poked her head out of Liu Hongmei’s arms, choking on her words. “Dad, it’s my fault. I’ve troubled you. I’ll go jump into the Chilin River to end it all. I won’t disgrace you anymore.” Her eyes were red, tears still glistening, cheeks streaked with dried tears, looking pitiful as if wronged by the heavens.
Ye Jianguo’s heart softened. Others might not know, but he knew Zhirou was his own daughter. Thinking of Ye Li’s obstinacy, his eyes flashed with a hint of sternness, but his voice softened. “Zhirou, don’t go out these days. Stay home and wait to marry into the Jiang family. That girl Ye Li—I’ll deal with her.”
Zhirou’s heart leapt with joy, but her face showed gratitude and a hint of reluctance. She obediently nodded. “Dad, I’ll listen! But… will this upset my sister?”
“I’m her father. I decide this household,” Ye Jianguo said, then left for the Jiang family.
Seeing Ye Jianguo arrive, Shi Yalan immediately knew his purpose. She silently cursed him—she hadn’t yet had the chance to discuss this with her husband, Old Jiang. If Ye Jianguo blurted it out, Old Jiang might break his son’s leg. Fuming, she forced a stiff smile and invited him in. “Old Ye, welcome! Come on in!”
Jiang Weiguo’s eyes flickered strangely but he still warmly greeted him to sit down.
Ye Jianguo exchanged a few pleasantries, then got straight to the point. “Director Jiang, I apologize for dropping by unannounced, but I have something to discuss with you.”
Jiang Weiguo gave a calm, measured laugh. “Old Ye, we’re family through marriage. Whatever you have to say, just say it. If I can help, I certainly will; if I can’t, then there’s nothing I can do.” He regarded Ye Jianguo as someone coming to discuss business with him.
Ye Jianguo rubbed his hands nervously and spoke, “That girl of ours, Ye Li, doesn’t understand matters. I’m afraid the previous engagement can’t stand. I want my Zhirou to take her place and marry over instead.”
Jiang Weiguo frowned, displeased. “Old Ye, marriage is no trivial matter. Both families agreed on this before. You can’t just decide to change the bride like that.”
He had met both Ye Li and Ye Zhirou, and in his heart, he was more satisfied with Ye Li. That girl was honest, capable, and gentle. He knew exactly what kind of person his son was. If Zhirou were the bride, by the time they grew old, the two of them might not even get a proper meal.
Ye Jianguo forced a smile. “Director Jiang, Zhirou and Bowen have feelings for each other. Why not let them be together?”
Jiang Weiguo’s eyes widened. He turned to Shi Yalan beside him. “What’s going on? Bowen’s fiancée is Li Li, yet he has feelings for his aunt’s daughter? What kind of nonsense is this?”
Shi Yalan tensed, shot Ye Jianguo a sharp glance, and then smiled to smooth things over. “Old Jiang, Li Li is rather dull in character. When Bowen comes to visit her, it’s always Zhirou who serves him. They’re young; spending time together naturally sparks feelings.”
Jiang Weiguo’s face immediately turned ashen. He slammed his hand heavily on the table in front of him. “Hmph! This is absurd! Once he has a fiancée, he must keep his distance from other women. Jiang Bowen, come out here!”