Chapter 7: Red Eyes

The restaurant now only had Tang Liyue and Yu Minchuan left.

Tang Liyue was in a daze.

She couldn’t believe that Yu Mo Yuan, who had such a strong and domineering personality, would act this way. Even though Yu Minchuan was still present, he dared to do such intimate things with her and even threaten her.

It wasn’t until a tissue was handed to her that Tang Liyue snapped out of her thoughts.

It was Yu Minchuan, who had maneuvered his wheelchair over to her side.

Seeing Tang Liyue in a daze and not taking the tissue, Yu Minchuan gently took the initiative to wipe the sweat off her forehead.

Suddenly, Tang Liyue’s eyes turned red, and she leaned back, avoiding Yu Minchuan’s hand. Her voice trembled as she cried, “I regret it! I regret stepping into the Yu family!”

Yu Minchuan’s raised hand froze, and a brief flash of apology appeared in his eyes.

But the apology quickly faded, replaced by a pitiable expression, as if he were a discarded dog.

“I’m sorry, Liyue. I can really understand how you feel. If I could, I wouldn’t want to be born into such a cold family.”

“I know too well the feeling of being ignored, of being powerless…”

Tang Liyue sniffed, “But you’re the eldest grandson of the Yu family, how could you be ignored? How could you be powerless?”

Yu Minchuan only smiled bitterly. “I’m tired. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

Yu Minchuan didn’t want to talk, and at that moment, Tang Liyue didn’t have the energy to ask.

The two sat across from each other, heads lowered in silence.

After a long while, both of them happened to lift their heads at the same time.

Their gazes met, and they saw mutual pity and helplessness in each other’s eyes, as if they were looking in a mirror.

In that moment, both froze.

A few seconds later, they both laughed.

Although their smiles were somewhat bitter, the fact that they could smile meant their mood had lightened considerably.

Yu Minchuan smiled, his dimples showing as he teased, “No wonder I wanted to be friends with you the first time I saw you this morning. Turns out we’re both just pitiful creatures.”

Tang Liyue smiled as well, though her eyes were still red from tears, she was clearly more at ease. “Thank you.”

“Thank me for what? Thank me for causing you to fall into the fire pit of the Yu family? Or thank me for being too weak to protect you?”

Tang Liyue shook her head. “Like you said, without me, your mother would have arranged someone else for you, and the same goes for me. Even if I weren’t in the Yu family, if I depended on my parents, there would still be another fire pit waiting for me.”

And she didn’t need Yu Minchuan to protect her.

Yu Minchuan pretending to be her husband, instead of a real one, was already a blessing.

She wouldn’t stay in the Yu family forever.

She would rely on her own abilities to climb out of the deep pit step by step.

Without saying more, Tang Liyue said, “Minchuan, let me push you back to your room.”

“Mm, okay.”

After sending Yu Minchuan back to his room, Tang Liyue returned to her small room.

The small room was truly tiny, only big enough for a bed and a desk. There was no wardrobe, just a corner where her suitcase was placed.

At that moment, the suitcase was open in the corner, and every piece of clothing inside was old, but they were all washed and neatly folded.

Yesterday evening, after she agreed to marry into the Yu family for her sister, Tang Xue Yao, the entire Tang family had cheered, while only Aunt Qiu, with red eyes, helped her pack her belongings.

It was only a few pieces of clothing, but Aunt Qiu had folded them for a long time.

As she folded, Aunt Qiu cried.

Aunt Qiu said, “Miss, I won’t treat this illness anymore. Please, don’t push yourself into the fire pit.”

The Yu family was a fire pit, but how was the Tang family any different?

She was supposed to be the eldest daughter of the Tang family, but she had never seen her parents treat her with kindness.

The candy was her sister’s, the beautiful clothes were her sister’s, and the good schools were her sister’s.

As for her? She was abandoned to Aunt Qiu from the moment she was born.

While her sister drank milk, she had to drink rice paste made by Aunt Qiu.

When her sister ate candy, she could only stare blankly at the colorful wrappers.

When her sister was driven to the prestigious elementary school every day, she squeezed onto a bus with Aunt Qiu and walked through the damp, muddy vegetable market to attend a school in an urban village.

She relied on her own abilities to get into the top university, A University, but her parents cheered for her sister’s art school, which was bought with money.

Her biological parents didn’t care for her, and the servants in the house didn’t think much of her either.

She was just the “eldest daughter” in name, living like a maid and relying on Aunt Qiu.

Aunt Qiu was afraid that she would fall into the fire pit, refusing to treat her illness, but Tang Liyue was even more afraid, afraid that Aunt Qiu would succumb to her illness and pass away.

If the only person who truly loved her in this world were to die, what would she have to look forward to in life?

Thinking of this, Tang Liyue took several deep breaths to suppress the impulse to pack her things and leave the Yu family.

She dug her phone out of her suitcase, powered it on, and felt somewhat comforted upon seeing the message from Aunt Qiu saying she had been admitted to the hospital.

Tang Liyue dialed Aunt Qiu’s number.

The phone was answered immediately, and Aunt Qiu’s anxious voice came through, “Miss, you finally called me back. Are you okay? Has the Yu family bullied you?”

Tang Liyue’s eyes instantly became red, and her nose ached.

“No, no one is bullying me.”

“Really?”

Tang Liyue forced a smile, trying to keep her tone light, “Yeah, the Yu family is much better than the Tang family. The Yu family’s manor has several big villas, each one more grand than the Tang family’s. Also, Master Minchuan is quite easy to get along with. He’s very gentle and takes good care of me.”

“That’s good, Miss. Remember, if you’re ever unhappy in the Yu family, just run away. You’re so talented, and without me as a burden, the whole world is yours. Don’t ever sacrifice yourself for me…”

Two hot tears fell down Tang Liyue’s cheeks and landed on her thighs, soaking through her pants and burning her skin.

Tang Liyue looked up, forcing the tears back, and continued, “Mm, I know, Aunt Qiu. Don’t worry about me. Has the doctor mentioned when your surgery will be?”

Aunt Qiu, still worried about Tang Liyue’s situation, finally relaxed after Tang Liyue reassured her that she was fine. “There are quite a few people in line for surgery, and the doctor said it’ll probably take about a month before it’s my turn.”

“Okay, I’ll visit you when I have time.”

After chatting with Aunt Qiu for a while, Tang Liyue reluctantly ended the call.

Just as she hung up, there was a knock at the door.

Tang Liyue stood up to open it.

It was Yu Minchuan. He was holding a bowl of hawthorn syrup and smiling lightly as he handed it to Tang Liyue.

“If you don’t want to go to the hospital, drink this hawthorn syrup. It helps with digestion.”

“Ah, thank you.” Tang Liyue quickly took the bowl.

Yu Minchuan smiled, “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”

Tang Liyue froze for a moment, then moved aside to clear the view. “The room is small, your wheelchair might not fit…”

Upon hearing this, Yu Minchuan was taken aback.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know they would assign you such a small room. I’ll go find Aunt Wang right away.”

Tang Liyue quickly stopped his wheelchair, not allowing him to leave. “No need, no need. The small size is actually quite nice, it feels safe.”

Yu Minchuan could only nod, then pointed at the hawthorn syrup in her hands and said gently, “Drink it quickly. After you’re done, I’ll take you somewhere.”

“Okay.”

Although her mood wasn’t great, Tang Liyue didn’t really want to refuse Yu Minchuan.

After all, Yu Minchuan was the only person in the Yu family who had shown her kindness.