Zhou Yuanyao immediately stepped forward and pushed away the Song family’s fool upon seeing this.
“What are you doing?” Mr. Song stepped up and directly kicked Zhou Yuanyao in the shin, causing him to nearly collapse.
The force behind that kick was evident.
“Mr. Song… please let me explain…”
The Song Idiot shouted and screamed: “Dad, he hit me! They tricked me and hit me! Not my wife… not my wife… They lied…”
Mr. Song glanced at the disheveled woman on the bed, his eyes flickering. He knew it was hard for his son to find a wife, which was why he had set his sights on the Zhou family’s young niece!
Pretty, young, and without any backing!
However, the Zhou family’s eldest daughter wouldn’t be unacceptable either!
Though Zhou Yuanyao was vicious, he was perceptive. He instantly sensed his superior’s implication.
“Mr. Song, my eldest daughter is not an option!~”
At that moment, the Song Idiot spotted Zhou Ye, and his eyes immediately lit up.
He rushed over, grabbed Zhou Ye’s sleeve, and yelled loudly: “I like this one! I like this one! This is my wife!”
Zhou Zijiao was dumbfounded. She could disdain this fool, but now the fool actually disdained her?
How was she inferior to an orphan like Zhou Ye?
Yu Wen covered her face, looking at the weeping Zhou Zijiao on the bed, her eyes filled with panic and heartache: “My Zijiao!”
She threw herself by the bedside, and mother and daughter embraced each other, crying bitterly!
“Waaah…”
“Boo hoo…”
Mr. Song frowned deeply, his face full of displeasure!
Zhou Yuanyao’s mind raced. He was willing to sacrifice Zhou Ye for his position, but when it came to his own daughter, he truly couldn’t bear it!
But…
The deed was done. Today’s events were bound to spread, and Zijiao would have difficulty finding a match in the future.
It would be better to just marry her into the Song family.
With him as her backing, the Song family would likely treat Zijiao decently out of respect for him.
After all, they were all grasshoppers tied to the same rope!
After weighing the options, Zhou Yuanyao made a decision almost instantly. Before Mr. Song could erupt in anger, he said: “Mr. Song, today’s incident was an accident! But since my daughter and your son have already consummated the relationship, why not turn it into a happy union!”
“No, no!” The one objecting was the Song Idiot.
He held onto Zhou Ye, refusing to let go: “No! I only want this wife! That one is too ugly! Too ugly!”
Zhou Zijiao’s gaze burned, determination flashing in her eyes: “Fool, if you don’t want me, I don’t want you either! I’ll consider it a dog bite! I’d rather die than marry you!”
Instantly, the atmosphere in the room turned icy!
Mr. Song’s breathing grew heavy. Just then, as if heaven itself opposed them, a violent hailstorm suddenly erupted outside!
The pitter-patter of hail seemed to strike at everyone’s hearts!
Zhou Ye watched the farce unfolding before her.
Was this all it took to break them? This was only the beginning!
Mr. Song snorted coldly: “What impressive spirit! Old Zhou, your eldest daughter certainly takes after you! It seems your future will be boundless, far beyond what my Song family can aspire to! However, I must advise you, Old Zhou, not to stride too boldly. It would be a pity if you tripped over a stone left behind by others and met your end! Don’t you agree, Old Zhou?”
Zhou Yuanyao understood. He stepped forward and slapped Zhou Zijiao hard across the face!
“You wretched girl, I’m warning you—what’s done is done, and you must marry into the Song Family! Our Zhou family raised you all these years. If you refuse, you might as well die today! Otherwise, don’t ever show your face in front of me again!”
Zhou Zijiao couldn’t believe what was happening.
“I’m your daughter! Dad, I’m not Zhou Ye—I’m your own flesh and blood!”
She was practically screaming hysterically.
Suddenly, her eyes fell upon Zhou Ye, who was watching the scene from the doorway, and the idiot standing beside Zhou Ye, staring at her with burning intensity.
“Zhou Ye, it was you! You’re the one who did this to me! You ruined my innocence—I want you dead!”
“I’ll kill you! You vile woman!”
Zhou Ye let out a soft gasp: “How terrifying!”
But her body was already braced for action!
However…
Before Zhou Zijiao could reach her, the idiot shoved her away violently. The strength of a grown man, even if he was an idiot, was more than Zhou Zijiao could withstand!
Her back slammed hard against the bedpost, and the pain was so intense she nearly lost her voice…
Zhou Ye looked at the idiot in confusion. He… actually protected her?
Why would he do that?
Just as she was puzzling over it, the idiot looked at her ingratiatingly: “Wife? Not hurt… like!”
Mr. Song watched in astonishment…
His son had never protected anyone before! This was the first time! Yet it was for an outsider—how uncomfortable that made him feel!
A complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
Still, he made his decision: “Old Zhou, although this incident has occurred, as you can see, your daughter is unwilling! Perhaps we should proceed with the original plan. My son will marry your niece. As for your daughter… she brought this upon herself!”
With those words, he sealed Zhou Zijiao’s fate!
Zhou Yuanyao’s heart wrenched in pain. Was his daughter to be sacrificed for nothing?
“Mr. Song?”
“Enough, say no more!”
Mr. Song waved his hand dismissively and turned to Zhou Ye: “Young lady, what do you think?”
Zhou Ye’s lips twitched slightly as she sneered: “Uncle did give me ten thousand yuan. When you take money, you solve problems—I’ll honor what I agreed to!”
Though Zhou Ye’s words made Mr. Song uncomfortable, his son liked her!
For his son’s sake, he would swallow his anger!
“Fine! Then I’ll send the betrothal gifts to the Zhou family shortly!”
“No!” Zhou Ye refused.
“Mr. Song, my uncle has already paid me. What you owe him will be settled soon—there’s no need for betrothal gifts!”
“Shut up! What nonsense are you spouting?” Zhou Yuanyao had suffered many recent losses. The Song family was wealthy—the betrothal gifts wouldn’t be a small sum!
And this wretched girl just refused them!
Just like her parents—utterly detestable!
Zhou Ye looked at Zhou Yuanyao in surprise: “Huh? I thought that was what you intended, Uncle. Was I wrong? Uncle, a person’s worth lies in not being greedy! Mr. Song recognized your talent and helped you—have you forgotten his kindness?”
“You… you…”
Zhou Yuanyao was speechless! She was infuriating!
So Zhou Ye had been pretending all along—it was all an act!
Then Zijiao’s situation must be related to Zhou Ye!
Mr. Song’s eyes filled with displeasure. He gave Zhou Yuanyao a meaningful glance before preparing to take the idiot to find Madam Song!
Zhou Yuanyao could only follow behind, hoping for a chance to explain!
After they left, only a few neighbors, Zhou Ye, Zhou Zijiao, and Yu Wen remained.
Yu Wen broke the silence, politely asking the neighbors to leave.
Aunt Li looked embarrassed: “Well, we’ll be going now. Call us if you need anything!”
“Zhou Ye, you did this on purpose! You don’t want to marry into the Song Family, so you played tricks on Zijiao?”
Yu Wen directly questioned.
Zhou Ye looked somewhat confused and asked strangely: “Wasn’t… wasn’t it you who played tricks? I just didn’t fall for it, and that’s my fault?”
Zhou Zijiao went mad: “Do you really think you’re the daughter of the Zhou family? You’re an orphan! Your parents are probably long dead! Dead, understand? Using you as a pawn is your blessing!”
Upon hearing this, Zhou Ye raised an eyebrow: “Is that so? Then why don’t you take this blessing yourself?”
“Shut up! You’ll pay for this, you’ll definitely get your retribution!” Yu Wen glared at Zhou Ye fiercely.
Zhou Ye chuckled: “I don’t know when my retribution will come, but… yours is arriving right now!”
“Ah!” A scream echoed throughout the Zhou residence.