Chapter 15: Yu Minchuan Stands Up for Tang Liyue

As eight o’clock approached, Yu Mo Yuan and Tang Liyue entered the dining room one after the other.

Zhao Zhiliu and Yu Minchuan were already seated at the table, while Elder Yu Hao Shan hadn’t arrived yet.

Tang Liyue nervously sat beside Yu Mo Yuan.

No sooner had she sat down than Zhao Zhiliu, sitting opposite her, coldly spoke up.

“I heard you were out all day yesterday?”

Tang Liyue froze for a moment. “Yes, I went shopping with a friend.”

Zhao Zhiliu sneered. She lowered her head, fiddling with her nails, and spat out a remark that was both disgusting and biting.

“Just because we let you sit at the main table doesn’t mean you can start acting like the mistress of the Yu family. Do you really think you belong here? Do you think you have the right to come and go as you please in the Yu family?”

Her words made Tang Liyue’s face go pale in an instant.

Though she was terrified, Tang Liyue knew she couldn’t remain silent.

She would be living in the Yu family for a long time, and if she wanted to have some freedom, she had to muster the courage to speak up.

Taking a deep breath, Tang Liyue bravely looked up and locked eyes with Zhao Zhiliu.

“Mother, I never took myself to be the mistress of the Yu family. I know my place. I will take care of Minchuan, but I also have my own things to do. I need to find a job and earn money, so I must go out every day.”

“Find a job? Do you really think the Yu family needs the little bit of money you can make? Or are you dissatisfied with the five million yuan they gave you as a payment for selling yourself?”

Five million?

But her parents and Tang Xue Yao had said the Yu family only gave her three million. They claimed that three million was barely enough to cover the company’s losses, and that was why Aunt Qiu could only stay in an ordinary hospital room.

It turned out that to the Tang family, she was just an outsider.

Tang Liyue suppressed the bitterness in her heart and continued, “I can earn my own money.”

“How amusing. You’ve already taken five million, and now you’re talking about earning your own money? What is this, trying to be a prostitute and still want to build a good reputation?”

Every word from Zhao Zhiliu was full of mockery and disdain. Tang Liyue felt like her pride was being ruthlessly shattered.

Tang Liyue wanted to say that she hadn’t even seen a single penny of that five million.

But, indeed, a small part of that money was used for Aunt Qiu’s treatment.

Although she would pay it back later, she couldn’t do so at the moment.

She had accepted that money, and now, she had no room to bargain.

At that moment, Yu Mo Yuan, sitting beside her, spoke up.

His tone was indifferent as he said, “Big sister-in-law, are you planning to imprison someone alive? Such a grand gesture, and yet you don’t even consider the laws of Hua Guo?”

Zhao Zhiliu looked at Yu Mo Yuan, “This is our family’s business. It has nothing to do with you, second brother!”

Yu Mo Yuan was about to retort, but Tang Liyue’s hand landed on his thigh.

Yu Mo Yuan glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, noticing her gently shake her head, her gaze pleading.

She was asking him not to get involved? How ungrateful.

Yu Mo Yuan’s face darkened.

Tang Liyue lowered her head and whispered in a tone only she and Yu Mo Yuan could hear, “Please, don’t get involved.”

She could tell that Yu Mo Yuan was trying to stand up for her.

For someone as domineering as Yu Mo Yuan, he had probably already begun to treat her as his possession.

Like last night, when she was insulted by the security guard, he had pressed the cigarette butt onto the guard’s shoulder.

If Yu Mo Yuan kept speaking like this, breakfast wouldn’t be peaceful at all.

More importantly, Tang Liyue was afraid, afraid that if Yu Mo Yuan paid too much attention to her, it would reveal the mistake of entering the wrong room that night.

In an attempt to calm the situation, Tang Liyue spoke up: “Madam, I’m sorry. I’ll behave and stay home more.”

Zhao Zhiliu let out a soft snort, “At least you know your place.”

At that moment, Yu Minchuan, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke.

His expression was filled with self-blame. “Mother, it was my decision to let Liyue come and go freely.”

Zhao Zhiliu immediately darkened, turning to look at Yu Minchuan. “What do you mean by that?”

It was one thing for Yu Mo Yuan to challenge her, but now her own son was going against her?

Yu Minchuan continued, “I haven’t left the house in three years. I know nothing about the outside world. I need someone to tell me about people and events out there, so I support Liyue going out to work.”

These words from Yu Minchuan made Tang Liyue look up in surprise.

Yu Minchuan gave her a reassuring smile.

He then turned to Zhao Zhiliu, “Mother, I beg you to let Liyue and me live according to our own wishes. This is my only compromise.”

“What if I don’t agree?”

Yu Minchuan lowered his gaze. “If you don’t agree, then I’ll go die.”

Zhao Zhiliu slammed her hand on the table. “Say that again!”

Yu Minchuan didn’t look at her, speaking in a soft voice, “One person losing their freedom is enough. If, because of me, Liyue also loses her freedom, then I’d rather disappear from this world forever.”

Zhao Zhiliu was absolutely furious. She immediately raised her hand and slapped Yu Minchuan across the face.

The sound of the slap echoed throughout the empty dining room.

“Minchuan!” Tang Liyue stood up hurriedly and ran to his side.

Yu Minchuan smiled lightly and shook his head. “Don’t worry, I’m used to it.”

He then turned to Zhao Zhiliu, “You can slap me all you want, but I won’t back down.”

Zhao Zhiliu, still seething with rage, lifted her hand again, aiming to slap Yu Minchuan. But before she could, she was interrupted.

The old housekeeper who served Yu Hao Shan entered and said, “Madam, Second Young Master, Young Master, Young Mistress, Old Master isn’t feeling well today. Breakfast is canceled. Everyone can arrange their own meals.”

The old housekeeper turned and left, completely ignoring the tension in the dining room.

His interruption caused Zhao Zhiliu to calm down.

She sneered, scanning the room, before taking a deep breath and swallowing her anger. “Fine, I’ll let this little bitch have her freedom. But within six months, she must be pregnant. If not, don’t blame me for being rude.”

With that, Zhao Zhiliu turned and left.

As soon as she left, Tang Liyue quickly spoke up, “Minchuan, thank you, but you didn’t have to fight with your mother because of me…”

Yu Minchuan smiled and replied, “It’s not just because of you, it’s for myself as well.”

Sitting opposite them, Yu Mo Yuan’s gaze was as cold as ice, as though he was about to devour someone. The tie in his hand was already wrinkled from his grip.

What a foolish woman, unable to tell who was genuinely protecting her and who was using her.

His good mood for the morning was instantly ruined.

Yu Mo Yuan couldn’t bear to watch any longer. He muttered a low “fool” and turned to leave.