Ye Tong had just returned from a date with Xiao Shuo, a joyful look on her face.
Seeing the furious Zheng Cai, her heart lurched, and she immediately rushed over. "Mom, what happened?"
When Zheng Cai saw Ye Tong, she tried to suppress her fury.
But her expression darkened instantly when her eyes landed on the hickey on her neck. "You haven't even married yet, how could you let Xiao Shuo..."
In reality, the Ye Family was truly reaching above their station by associating with the Xiao Family. But even so, Zheng Cai looked down on Xiao Shuo; everyone in Upper City knew that the second son of the Xiao Family was the most disappointing. Because his father, Xiao Li, was so irresponsible with business, old Mr. Xiao never allowed him to meddle in the Xiao family's affairs. Besides a monthly allowance of 200,000, their family branch's shares only yielded a few million at year's end. To this day, she still couldn't understand what her astute daughter saw in Xiao Shuo. Were it not for the child in her belly, she would have taken her time to find a more suitable match for her, no matter what.
She bit back her words several times, only able to redirect her anger toward Ye Yuning.
"What else could it be? That little bitch Ye Yuning is demanding a dowry of two hundred million!"
She'd always said that little brat wasn't the obedient type; she couldn't believe she was waiting here to pull something like this on her. What should she do now? At this critical moment, she's demanding two hundred million—should she give it or not?
When Ye Tong heard Ye Yuning demand two hundred million, she gasped. "What? Two hundred million? Is she insane?"
Someone like her is worth two hundred million? She should take a good look in the mirror and see what she's really like!
Before Zheng Cai could speak, Ye Tong said urgently, "We definitely can't give it to her."
"Of course, we can't!" Zheng Cai snapped. Two hundred million? As if she's worthy!
Thinking about Ye Yuning's stubbornness on the call earlier, Zheng Cai was now both furious and anxious. She immediately picked up the phone and called her husband, Ye Shilong, who hadn't been home for several days.
No matter what, there absolutely must be no mishaps with tomorrow's wedding!
「Meanwhile, at Shanyu Pavilion...」
Ye Yuning had just enjoyed a comfortable bath and applied a soothing face mask.
Her call earlier must have stunned Zheng Cai! She'd hung up, and there had been silence for a full hour.
「An hour later...」
Zheng Cai, Ye Shilong, and Ye Tong then bombarded Ye Yuning with calls, but she didn't answer a single one.
Even through the screen, one could feel the chaos at the Ye Family's end.
When her calls went unanswered, Ye Tong bombarded her with messages: "Ye Yuning, you bitch, do you think your cheap self is worth two hundred million?"
"After all these years, the Ye Family has raised an ungrateful wretch like you! Do you think refusing to marry into the Qin Family tomorrow will ruin the Ye Family?"
"You're only ruining yourself! The Qin Family won't let you off the hook. If you know what's good for you, get your ass back here on time tomorrow."
The messages were a relentless barrage against Ye Yuning.
A smirk touched Ye Yuning's lips as she read these messages.
Is Xiao Shuo blind? And Second Master Xiao, how could he allow his son to be interested in such a piece of trash!
Unfazed by Ye Tong's tirade, she simply replied, "Pig-face, remember the two hundred million!"
Even through the screen, her provocation was palpable.
On the other end, Ye Tong saw this response and was so angry she felt like her insides were about to explode.
She prided herself on her looks, but Ye Yuning always resorted to such crude insults!
Furious, she fired off more enraged messages, but whether she called or texted, Ye Yuning no longer responded.
So, would she actually come back tomorrow? For a moment, they were completely unsure.
"She's not replying again. What do we do?" Ye Tong asked Zheng Cai, trying to contain her anger.
Zheng Cai's expression was also incredibly grim, the frustration making her feel increasingly suffocated. Although she outwardly insisted she would never give Ye Yuning two hundred million, she knew her daughter too well.
Once Ye Yuning said something, she would absolutely do it! If they didn't give her the two hundred million, and she really didn't come back tomorrow, what would they do if the wedding couldn't proceed normally? Once she was married into the Qin Family, whatever trouble she caused, the Qins couldn't blame them, the Yes. But now, if the wedding couldn't proceed as planned, the Qin Family would definitely demand the bride from them.
Thinking of all this gave Zheng Cai a massive headache.
After several more unanswered calls to Ye Yuning, she and Ye Shilong went to Xiangti to find her. But they came up empty!
So, she'd agreed so readily the day before yesterday, letting them prepare everything, only to set them up like this? This, she had to admit, was the real Ye Yuning; she was never one to be easily managed.
When Xiao Linye returned to Shanyu Pavilion, he saw Ye Yuning lying on the sofa with a face mask on, already asleep. Under the dim, orange light, her small, oval face looked even softer and more delicate.
Xiao Linye stood before the sofa, bent down, and gently lifted the face mask from her small face. His cool fingertips gently pinched her small chin. He took out his phone, found a photo, and compared it carefully to her face for several moments.
「The next morning...」
Just as the sky began to lighten, Ye Yuning was awakened by the sounds Xiao Linye was making in the kitchen.
As she sat up from the sofa, she noticed a blanket covering her. The face mask was gone, and her face felt clean, without any tightness, as if it had been washed.
She clearly remembered being too exhausted to wash it off and just falling asleep last night!
She instinctively glanced towards the kitchen. Xiao Linye was toasting bread, the morning light casting him in a particularly attractive glow.
Hearing the movement, Xiao Linye turned and saw Ye Yuning staring at him dreamily.
A rare soft curve touched his lips. "Hurry and wash up. Breakfast is almost ready!"
His sudden voice startled Ye Yuning.
When she came to her senses, she saw Xiao Linye pouring milk.
Getting up from the sofa, she neatly folded the blanket. "When did you get back? And... did you wash my face for me?"
She asked the last part somewhat sheepishly.
She wasn't normally lazy, but last night she had been so tired she just couldn't bring herself to do it.