The Real Daughter is Done Pretending - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Ye Zhen.

Today, among the young people who follow the entertainment industry in the country, no one is unfamiliar with this name.

Debuting at eighteen, Ye Zhen made an explosive entrance with a low-budget youth film, winning the year's box office champion and quickly becoming one of the hottest rising stars.

Since then, Ye Zhen's career has been nothing short of meteoric, ascending to the top tier of celebrities with unstoppable momentum.

Throughout this process, aside from his work and his exceptionally distinctive personality, the most notable aspect of his presence has been his love life.

His partner was Tong Xiaoyu, the female lead in his debut film.

After their movie became a huge hit, they immediately announced their relationship. At first, the audience suspected it was just a publicity stunt, but over the next five years, they continued to break up and reconcile, even being caught by paparazzi in late-night street fights as if they would never reconcile. Yet, after a while, they were seen holding hands and watching movies together.

This on-again, off-again relationship, seeming both loving and hateful, attracted countless fans who were obsessed with their "ship."

To this day, they have become the most talked-about national couple in the industry.

If Ye Kong remembers correctly, before coming to Yuzhou, she had seen his name on trending searches.

That entry should have been—#Rainy Couple Breakup Again#?

---

The nanny had awkwardly left, and Ye Kong strolled downstairs. Reaching Ye Zhen's side, she didn't look at him but instead scanned the surroundings, asking, "Is it just you?"

"Because of the commotion you caused, everyone was either too tired or too drunk last night, so it'll probably be a while."

Ye Zhen watched her with a half-smile, gesturing for her to come closer as if teasing a kitten or puppy: "You seem to have slept well. Why not call me 'brother' first?"

The word made Ye Kong's motion to sit freeze momentarily. Fleeting, fragmented memories flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern but were quickly suppressed.

She sat down and took a bite of a bread roll.

"Why don’t you call me 'sister' first?"

"So cheesy? I call Ye Baozhu by her name directly. Why should I be so affectionate with you?"

Footsteps echoed from upstairs, and Ye Kong raised her lashes, replying crisply, "Maybe because I’m the biological one and Ye Baozhu is a fake?"

Ye Zhen was taken aback, turning his gaze towards the stairs.

Ye Kong then slowly turned her head back.

On the stairs, Ye Baozhu shot a red-eyed glance at her and ran off.

Ye Old Lady, who had been supported by Ye Baozhu, urgently called out "Zhu Zhu" but couldn’t stop her. The elderly woman even tried to chase after her but was restrained by another person assisting her.

"Grandma, how old are you? You want to chase someone down the stairs?"

"Ah, this is going to drive me mad!"

The old lady, trembling with anger, struck the railing, pointing accusingly at Ye Kong from across the floor: "You debt collector! Why are you still hanging around the Ye family? Who are you calling a fake! I say who is a fake, and who is a treasure! I want you to leave the Ye family right now..."

"Grandma, don't get too worked up. Be careful not to have another episode."

The speaker's tone was calm and unimpassioned, much like Ye Haichuan's demeanor when Ye Kong saw him last night.

Ye Kong looked up at the long-haired woman, who was holding Ye Old Lady firmly. Her posture, though seemingly supportive, was actually controlling, preventing the elderly woman from falling.

When the butler hurried up to escort the sighing old lady back upstairs, the woman adjusted her clothes and walked down slowly.

Her long, sexy curls were casually draped over her shoulders, not styled, giving off an impression of cold wildness rather than a lazy femininity.

When she approached, Ye Kong realized from her face that this special aura came from her soul—one could immediately discern her powerful presence.

"Ye Kong?"

Her voice was cold, lacking any warmth, similar to Ye Haichuan but even colder.

Ye Kong met her gaze and nodded, "I'm Ye Kong."

"I'm Ye Tingchu, your sister."

"Sister."

Ye Kong's "sister" was crisp and clear. Ye Zhen narrowed his eyes in displeasure, tapping on the table: "What’s this? Double standards, huh?"

No one paid him any mind.

Instead, Ye Tingchu focused on Ye Kong and slowly said, "Have you considered that the old lady might fall down the stairs out of anger?"

Ye Zhen also gradually composed himself, coldly scrutinizing Ye Kong.

Ye Kong, however, stared back at Ye Tingchu without flinching, responding slowly, "No."

"Then you better start thinking about it."

Ye Tingchu left with only that comment and took her seat.

---

About half an hour later, the related Ye family members finally gathered at the breakfast table.

Ye Haichuan took the main seat, with Ye Mom and Ye Tingchu on either side. Ye Kong, being newly home, sat beside Ye Mom as an exception. Opposite her was Ye Second Uncle, and next to him was Ye Zhen, with Ye Zhen's wife across from him.

Just as the breakfast was laid out, and everyone was about to start eating, Ye Second Aunt broke the silence with a sarcastic remark.

"We had prepared the old lady’s favorite bread rolls, but it seems it was all in vain. I heard someone made the old lady so angry she had to lie down, how can we still eat happily?"

The atmosphere at the table immediately turned tense.

Some people seemed to ignore the tension and continued with their breakfast, while others couldn’t help but speak up: "Wasn’t breakfast brought to her? And Baozhu was with her. Mom didn’t do anything..."

"Oh, the granddaughter comes back the next day and makes her so upset she doesn't want to come to the table, and you call that nothing? Ye Baozhu was so pitiful? Before yesterday, how precious was she in the Ye family? Now that the biological daughter is back, her place was immediately taken. What about Baozhu? Can’t even come to the table, and has to help you comfort the old lady who was upset by the biological daughter. I’m not saying it, but sister-in-law, you can’t be so biased..."

"Second Aunt," Ye Tingchu interjected while licking her bowl of congee, nonchalantly, "Is the breakfast not done properly? Do you have time to chat with my mom?"

Her aggressive sarcasm was downplayed as casual conversation.

Ye Second Aunt was momentarily stunned, then slammed her chopsticks on the table: "What?! Am I not allowed to speak in this house? Tingchu, you’re usually so clear-headed, but you’re on Ye Kong's side now? Is blood relationship so important? How many years did Baozhu follow behind you two, calling you brother and sister? Are you so cold-blooded?"

Smack—

A louder sound than hers was heard.

Ye Zhen slammed his bowl on the table, looking straight at Ye Second Aunt: "Second Aunt, my dad hasn’t spoken yet. Who are you to lecture my sister?"