Zhou Ye was forced to the ground with a loud “thud”!
Her back ached terribly!
“Hiss…”
Surprisingly, the hands around her neck gradually lost their strength, as if that had been their final burst of energy!
With a slight effort, she pushed the person off her!
She glanced coldly and saw a very young girl staring at her in terror!
“I… I’m sorry!”
Zhou Ye said coldly, “Who are you?”
“I… I’m Bai Xue!”
Listening to the girl’s sobbing explanation, it took over ten minutes to get the full story!
Bai Xue was fifteen years old and had been struggling to survive with only her grandmother. But a few days ago, her grandmother passed away. With no way out, she wanted to go out to find opportunities to earn money but was tricked and brought here by Yue Ge!
For some unknown reason, he locked her up but never laid a finger on her!
Looking at the condition of the room, Yue Ge had treated Bai Xue quite well—there was a brand-new cotton quilt, steaming white rice, and even a plate of braised beef!
“Can you take me with you? I know you’re a good person!” Bai Xue asked anxiously.
Zhou Ye’s mind went blank for a moment. A good person?
Looking at the girl who was about the same age as her, Zhou Ye actually felt a pang of compassion!
“Follow me!”
Bai Xue’s eyes widened in delight, and she replied cheerfully, “Okay!”
When they reached a safe place, Zhou Ye stuffed twenty yuan into Bai Xue’s hand. “Go back home!”
Tears immediately welled up in Bai Xue’s eyes as she stepped forward and grabbed Zhou Ye’s sleeve. “Sister, are you abandoning me?”
Zhou Ye sneered, “I’m not some good person. If you follow me, I might just sell you off one day!”
Bai Xue blinked, staring at Zhou Ye, unsure of what to say.
Zhou Ye snapped angrily, “Stop looking at me like that, or I’ll gouge your eyes out! Get lost! If you follow me again, I’ll break your legs!”
Bai Xue flinched and pulled her arm back!
Biting her lip, she said, “Thank you. I’ll repay you someday!”
Then she quickly ran off!
Zhou Ye sneered. See? I’m nothing but a demon! Reborn, just to drag every one of you back to hell!
It was already dark—time to go back.
“Any luck? Did you find her?” Yu Wen asked as they met at the doorstep.
Zhou Ye shook her head. “Aunt, don’t worry. Maybe she went to a friend’s house.”
Yu Wen, looking displeased, brushed Zhou Ye’s hand aside and walked inside.
It wasn’t that she hadn’t considered this possibility—it had happened before—but never this late.
Zhou Ye followed her in. Everyone was in the living room.
Zhou Yuanyao offered a few words of comfort, and only then did Yu Wen calm down a bit.
Noticing everyone’s eyes on her, Zhou Ye realized that what was meant to happen had finally arrived!
She was… truly looking forward to it!
Zhou Ye sat nonchalantly in a corner of the sofa, calmly observing Zhou Yuanyao and his family.
Though Zhou Yuanyao sensed something was off, he thought little of it.
“Xiao Ye, your uncle has treated you well since you’ve been here, hasn’t he?” Zhou Yuanyao started with an emotional appeal.
Zhou Ye smiled faintly. “Yes, very well.”
Yu Wen chimed in with a smile, “Since that’s the case, you’ve seen that your uncle is facing some difficulties now. Shouldn’t you help him out?”
Only then did Zhou Ye look up and meet their gazes directly.
Her uncle’s family was truly greedy, not even bothering to hide their intentions. But then again, Zhou Ye had been so naive before—otherwise, she wouldn’t have ended up the way she did!
“Hah… So Uncle, how exactly do you want me to help you?”
Zhou Zijiao, looking at Zhou Ye’s delicate face, was the first to lose patience!
“It’s not really asking for help, it’s just that my father is facing difficulties at work right now. As you know, he’s been suspended! But now there’s a great opportunity. Father’s superior, the Song Family—you know them! They’ve taken a liking to you!”
Seeing Zhou Zijiao’s eagerness, Zhou Ye frowned in confusion: “But… isn’t the Song Family’s son mentally disabled?”
Zhou Zijiao choked for a moment, then said discontentedly, “So what if he’s disabled? Don’t forget you’re living under someone else’s roof. What difference is there between you and an orphan? Besides, the Song Family has power and influence. If you marry into their family, you’ll enjoy endless blessings! This way, Father can also return to work! It’s a win-win situation!”
Zhou Ye’s smile vanished…
Yu Wen, seeing this, feared it would ruin their plans and glared at Zhou Zijiao: “Child, how can you speak to your sister like that! What do you mean ‘orphan’? Since your sister is living with us, she’s part of our family! Apologize to your sister!”
Zhou Zijiao: “Hmph!”
Yu Wen then said apologetically, “Xiao Ye, I’m sorry! Your sister is too blunt and doesn’t know how to speak properly! You know she means well!”
Zhou Ye smiled. Means well? Would you want such “good intentions” for yourself?
Zhou Zijun had long been unable to hold back. Seeing his family speaking so humbly to Zhou Ye made his blood boil!
Without any backing, was this really necessary?
So he stood up and blurted out recklessly: “Zhou Ye, let’s cut the nonsense. My parents are kind-hearted, so don’t be ungrateful! They even apologized to you—who do you think you are? No one even knows where your parents died, so why are you putting on airs? I think we’ve been too good to you usually! Today, my father needs you—it’s your honor. If it weren’t for my parents taking you in, do you think you’d even be alive? That disabled guy—you’ll marry him whether you want to or not!”
After Zhou Zijun finished speaking, the room fell silent…
See… wouldn’t it be better to just state your demands directly? Why beat around the bush? Actually, I’m starting to like my elder brother a bit now!
So straightforward! So adorable!
“Kind-hearted? Zhou Zijun, in this world, dirt is the kindest because it lets everyone trample on it! Would your parents be willing to be like that?”
When Zhou Ye said this with a smile, the Zhou family was stunned!
This was… Zhou Ye?
“You… what did you call me?”
Zhou Zijun couldn’t process it for a moment!
That’s right, hearing too many pleasant words had really made him think he was something special!
Brushing off nonexistent dust from her pants, Zhou Ye shifted her sitting position!
She leaned back more lazily against the sofa…
“You want me to marry the disabled guy? Fine, then pay up!”
Zhou Ye stretched out her hand!
Zhou Yuanyao was taken aback, thinking Zhou Ye was just too upset, and sighed in relief: “Child, you gave your uncle quite a scare! Of course you’ll have a dowry! Since you’re willing to marry, everything can be discussed! We’ll give you five hundred yuan for your dowry—that’s quite generous! You don’t need to thank your uncle too much. The Song Family is a good match!”
So I should trade my entire life for your family’s peace and happiness, and still thank you? What nerve!
“Hah… Uncle, isn’t five hundred yuan too little? After all, he’s disabled! Everyone knows how much you care for your niece.”
“Marrying a fool—how are you going to explain that to everyone?”
“Say I volunteered?”
“Who would believe that?”
“By then, Uncle’s job will be reinstated, and I’ll have just married his boss’s idiot son. Everyone will say Uncle climbed his way up by selling out his niece! Tsk…”
“Would Uncle’s lifelong reputation be ruined just like that? Whose idea was this anyway? Isn’t this some undercover agent sent by the enemy?”
Everyone turned to look at Zhou Zijiao.
Zhou Zijiao panicked: “What nonsense are you talking? I was only thinking of Dad! Besides, you’re the one who’s greedy for wealth and wants to marry a fool—is that not allowed?”
Zhou Yuanyao had been conflicted, but now he thought his daughter made perfect sense!
“That’s right, Xiao Ye, Uncle knows this is unfair to you, but who told the Song Family to set their sights on you!”
“Sigh…”
“Uncle is in a difficult position too!”
“Don’t worry, once you’re married, Uncle will make sure the Song Family treats you well! They only have one heir.”
“You’ll live a life of luxury after marrying over!”
Yu Wen also smiled persuasively: “Yes, Xiao Ye, Aunt knows it’s unfair to you! With your looks, you could definitely find someone better!”
“But as a woman, marriage depends on the family!”
“With power and influence, life will be comfortable! We’re doing this for your own good!”
Zhou Ye nodded seriously: “True, what you say makes sense. But haven’t you considered?”
“I might hold a grudge against you, and after marrying into the Song Family, I could simply go back on my word!”
“What will you do then, Uncle?”
“I’d be the Song Family’s daughter-in-law—could Uncle still demand me back?”
“After all, I’m just your niece—the blood ties aren’t that deep!”
Zhou Yuanyao was taken aback: “What do you mean?”
“I mean, instead of marrying me off, why not have Sister marry over? She’s your own daughter—she’d definitely be filial!”
“Even if she married a fool, for the sake of your job, Sister would surely be willing to sacrifice!”
“But I’m different—you’re just my uncle!”
Zhou Yuanyao looked at Zhou Zijiao.
“No! I don’t want to marry a fool! Dad, don’t listen to Zhou Ye’s nonsense—she’s a demon!”
“She’s trying to stir up trouble!”
But she knew her father best—for the sake of gain, he might really sacrifice her…
Yu Wen grew anxious too: “Old Zhou…”
Only then did Zhou Yuanyao snap out of it, glaring angrily at Zhou Ye—he’d almost been swayed! That wretched girl…
She really was cunning!
“How much do you want?”