The Real Daughter is Done Pretending - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Madam Ye was stunned.

Ye Baozhu was in disbelief.

No one in Yuzhou had ever dared to speak to Ye Haichuan like that.

But Ye Kong did.

And Ye Haichuan showed no sign of anger.

He looked at Ye Kong for a moment and then suddenly smiled, “Don’t make such a choice sound so easy. Child, the old lady you’re talking about is my mother. Even though Ye Baozhu isn’t related to me by blood, she is still my and your mother’s adopted daughter. After twenty years together, even pets develop feelings, let alone humans—if you want us to unconditionally choose you over them, it’s not that simple.”

Ye Haichuan stood up, his height of over 1.8 meters made Ye Kong seem like a little cutie.

He looked down at his freshly revealed biological daughter, his gaze gentle despite his higher vantage point, with a hint of playful amusement, “Although you’re not interested in the Ye family, since you’ve chosen to come here, it means there’s something in the Ye family that you want. Since that’s the case, why not come and get it yourself?”

Ye Haichuan glanced at the hesitant Madam Ye, hesitated for a moment, and then patted Ye Kong on the head, “Your mother loves you very much. Don’t doubt that.”

Madam Ye’s eyes reddened.

It was at this moment that Ye Kong suddenly noticed that these two had been holding hands since they entered, and had not let go.

A subtle expression crossed her face, like a small animal’s natural curiosity and speculation about unfamiliar things.

Just as the atmosphere between the family of three was starting to warm, a voice suddenly interrupted.

“Brother, the old lady has spoken so seriously, are you still planning to act like nothing happened?”

The speaker was Ye Haichuan’s only brother. After the collateral relatives had left, only his family had the right to enter the tea room.

Ye Haichuan’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly said to Ye Kong, “This is your second uncle. Say hello.”

“Don’t bother. If the old lady can’t even be this girl’s grandmother, I certainly can’t be her second uncle.”

Ye Kong glanced at him and said, “You’re right. You don’t look like you’re related to me by blood.”

Though this was not a direct insult, Ye Kong’s beautiful face immediately enraged Ye Ershu (Second Uncle).

His wife sneered, refusing to look at her again, and spoke to Ye Haichuan, “Brother, it’s not that we have a problem with this child, it’s just that she really hasn’t learned any manners. Today she made the old lady faint twice. When the old man finds out, he’ll probably throw a fit. And from what you said earlier, it seems you’re planning to treat Baozhu as an adopted daughter?”

She crossed her arms, glancing at Ye Baozhu who was standing quietly in the corner, and continued sorrowfully, “Look, a child who has been pampered for twenty years, as soon as it’s known there’s no blood relation, you want to cast her aside. If not for the old lady’s feelings, I’m afraid Baozhu would no longer be a part of the Ye family by now.”

“What are you saying, sister-in-law?” Madam Ye immediately grew anxious, but seeing Ye Baozhu standing alone, her heart ached, “Baozhu, don’t overthink it. Regardless, you are still…”

Madam Ye had just released Ye Haichuan’s hand and was about to approach Ye Baozhu when she hesitated midway, her gaze involuntarily drifting to Ye Kong.

Ye Kong: …

I haven’t said anything.

She averted her gaze.

Ye Baozhu looked up, glancing over here without a word, but tears fell down her cheeks.

“Look at this!” Ye Ershi’s wife quickly went over and half-embraced Ye Baozhu, patting her sympathetically, then glared at the family of three, “Brother, sister-in-law, no matter what you think, the old lady has made it clear! If she’s here, there’s no place for Ye Kong, and if Ye Kong is here, there’s no place for her! If you really want to see the old lady leave the house at her age, then keep this child! Just wait for the old man to come and make trouble for you!”

“I say,” Ye Ershu also spoke up, “it’s better to send Ye Kong away for now. In three to five years, she can come back after learning proper manners. By then, the old lady might have calmed down.”

“Since the Ye family has this plan,” a cold voice suddenly came from outside the door, “then that’s just…”

Several Ye family members turned in surprise to see Master Wen sitting in a wheelchair, offering a faint smile to Ye Haichuan.

“Why don’t I take my fiancée back to the Wen family—how does Uncle Ye feel about that?”

Ye Haichuan raised an eyebrow, “Your fiancée? Who?”

“Of course, it’s Miss Ye San, Ye Kong.”

“You’re acknowledging this engagement?”

“Never denied it.”

“That’s not right,” Ye Haichuan said, “If I remember correctly, the engagement has been mentioned frequently since you came of age, but Master Wen, you always pretended not to hear. I thought the engagement was going to be canceled.”

Wen Can smiled faintly, “Uncle Ye, there are some things I prefer not to say too directly.”

Ye Baozhu, half hidden in Ye Ershi’s wife’s embrace, was trembling with humiliation. Ye Ershi’s wife hurriedly patted her but dared not speak freely in front of Wen Can.

Ye Haichuan did not continue the conversation but turned to Ye Ershu and asked, “What do you think?”

“That won’t do. Even if there’s an engagement, our Ye family’s daughter can’t just casually move to the Wen family. That would be degrading,” Ye Ershu’s gaze shifted between the two, and his tone softened with a smile, “Ye Kong has just returned to the Ye family; she should stay here. You should handle things with the old lady.”

Ye Haichuan’s lips curved slightly, a mix of mockery and indifference, but he only nodded faintly and turned to Wen Can, “Did you hear?”

Wen Can sighed regretfully and turned to Ye Kong with earnestness, “Let’s spend more time together. I’m familiar with Yuzhou, so if you want to visit any places, I can be your guide.”

Ye Kong paused, glancing at his legs, “Are you sure?”

“…”

Even Ye Haichuan couldn’t help but glance at her.

This child really has no regard for friend or foe. If this continues, will the Ye family become a target of high society in Yuzhou because of her?

Ye Haichuan couldn’t help but feel a bit worried.

Fortunately, Wen Can seemed unfazed by her provocation, even smiling briefly, which was a rare sight.

As Wen Can was wheeled away by the Wen family, Ye Haichuan said, “Well, today’s banquet has ended before it even started.”

He glanced at Ye Kong and said, “Go back to your room and rest. After the guests are all sent off, come out and meet your brothers and sisters.”

·

As the guests were gradually escorted out of the Ye family mansion, what was supposed to be a lively banquet with toasts and dancing ended abruptly.

But the end of the banquet didn’t mean the night was over.

On the contrary, judging by the flood of new posts on a mysterious internal forum in Yuzhou, it seemed the day was just getting started.