Chapter 24: Yu Mo Yuan Takes an Interest in Tang Liyue

Zhao Lian Er moved into the Yu family residence with a specific mission to seduce Yu Mo Yuan.

She was more than willing to take on this task.

However, Zhao Zhi Hui and Zhao Zhiliu had made it clear that this seduction had to be subtle, so no outsiders could see through it. That meant Tang Liyue absolutely could not be allowed to expose her.

Zhao Lian Er had heard from the servants that Tang Liyue was a pushover, which gave her the confidence to boss her around.

She hadn’t expected to hit a brick wall right away and almost get exposed.

Seeing Tang Liyue give a subtle nod of agreement, Zhao Lian Er finally released her grip on her.

Tang Liyue almost choked from lack of air. She clutched her chest, taking a few deep breaths before managing to speak. “Yes… Miss Zhao just wanted me to help tidy up her room.”

Zhao Zhiliu’s cold gaze flickered between Zhao Lian Er and Tang Liyue before she finally spoke to Zhao Lian Er. “Enough. Why are you bothering her? Are there no maids in this house? Right now, she’s your cousin Minchuan’s precious treasure. Be careful, or he might turn against you for her.”

Her words were clearly meant for Yu Minchuan, still resentful about how he had threatened to take his own life to protect Tang Liyue the day before.

Yu Minchuan understood her meaning but showed no reaction. Instead, his smile grew even brighter.

He turned to Zhao Lian Er and said, “That’s right, cousin. Liyue is very important to me. You two should get along. If you can’t, then you can move in with my mother instead.”

Zhao Lian Er’s eyes widened in shock.

“Minchuan-ge! I’m your real cousin!”

Yu Minchuan nodded. “Yes, but I’m also the only person Liyue can rely on in the Yu family. So, you can’t bully her.”

Hearing this, Tang Liyue couldn’t help but look at him.

For some reason, warmth spread through her chest.

Being protected like this… it really felt different.

At that moment, the dining hall doors swung open, and Yu Hao Shan and Yu Mo Yuan entered one after the other.

Yu Hao Shan walked in with his hands clasped behind his back, his aura commanding and expression severe. “What are you all arguing about so early in the morning?”

Everyone immediately stood up to greet him.

Once he took his seat at the head of the table, the others followed suit.

Zhao Lian Er quickly spoke up. “Grandfather Yu, We weren’t arguing, just chatting”

As she said this, she cast a shy, lingering glance at Yu Mo Yuan.

Yu Mo Yuan, expressionless, pulled out a chair and sat down. His voice was cold as ice.

“Why can just anyone sit next to me now? Should I just have a separate table for the servants?”

His words made it painfully clear, Zhao Lian Er was unworthy of sitting beside him.

Zhao Lian Er felt a chill down her spine.

Yu Mo Yuan’s presence was overwhelmingly oppressive.

But the seating arrangement at the table was important, those who sat further down held lower status.

No matter what, she was still the Yu family’s cousin. How could she sit below an outsider like Tang Liyue?

Forcing a flattering smile, she said, “Second Master, Auntie was the one who asked me to sit here.”

Yu Mo Yuan’s sharp gaze lifted toward Zhao Zhiliu.

“Sister-in-law, when did you start meddling so much? Today you’re arranging people at my table, tomorrow, are you planning to put someone in my bed?”

Zhao Zhiliu lifted her chin and met Yu Mo Yuan’s gaze head-on.

Her aura wasn’t as overpowering as his, but she refused to back down even an inch.

“Second Brother, you must be joking. It’s just a meal, what does it matter where one sits?”

Yu Mo Yuan arched a cold brow, then stood up and pulled out his chair. “If that’s the case, Sister-in-law, why don’t you sit here instead?”

He then gestured with his chin toward the empty seat on the left. “Or perhaps you’re hinting at the old man that my brother’s seat should be removed?”

As soon as Yu Mo Yuan said this, Zhao Zhiliu’s expression changed drastically.

She immediately stood up and turned to Yu Hao Shan. “Dad! That’s not what I meant!”

Yu Mo Yuan also looked at Yu Hao Shan. “Old man, what do you say?”

Yu Hao Shan’s face was as dark as coal at that moment. He slammed his hand heavily on the table. “I’ve said this before! As long as Zhengyuan’s body hasn’t been found, his seat stays!”

“Since it can’t be removed, then the rules must be followed, right? I won’t interfere with who sits on my brother’s side, but who sits next to me is not for Sister-in-law to decide.” After saying this, Yu Mo Yuan sat back down.

Zhao Zhiliu took several deep breaths, suppressing her anger, before turning to Zhao Lian Er. “Lian Er, switch seats back with her.”

“Aunt!” Zhao Lian Er protested.

Seeing that Zhao Zhiliu had turned away, unwilling to say more, Zhao Lian Er looked at both Yu Hao Shan and Yu Mo Yuan. “Grandfather Yu, Second Master, just let me sit here. Sister Liyue willingly switched seats with me”

After speaking, she turned her gaze toward Tang Liyue, eyes carrying a silent threat.

Tang Liyue sighed helplessly, about to nod in agreement, when she suddenly noticed Yu Mo Yuan looking at her.

His gaze was as cold as ancient ice. Though his face showed no particular emotion, Tang Liyue felt a chill run down her spine, her skin prickling with goosebumps.

She had a strong feeling that if she dared to say “yes,” Yu Mo Yuan would swallow her alive.

She swallowed hard, caught in an impossible situation.

On one side was offending Yu Mo Yuan, on the other, offending Zhao Lian Er, which meant offending Zhao Zhiliu as well.

Caught between powerful forces, she was nothing but a small, unfortunate pawn.

As Tang Liyue hesitated, Zhao Zhiliu spoke again.

“I’m quite curious, why is Second Brother so insistent on switching their seats back? Could it be that he’s taken a liking to Tang Liyue? A man taking interest in his nephew’s newlywed wife, that wouldn’t be appropriate, would it?”

Her words sent shockwaves through the room.

Yu Hao Shan frowned and looked at Tang Liyue.

Zhao Lian Er also stared at her in disbelief.

Tang Liyue’s heart pounded wildly in her chest.

But Yu Mo Yuan remained unfazed. “Taken a liking to her? Sister-in-law, are you indirectly insulting my taste?”

Tang Liyue let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Zhao Lian Er’s glare also lost some of its hostility.

Zhao Zhiliu, however, pressed further. “Then why is Second Brother so determined to have her sit beside you?”

At this moment, Yu Minchuan spoke up. “I was the one who asked Second Uncle to allow it.”

His words instantly diffused the tense atmosphere.

No one questioned him, because everyone in the Yu family knew that whatever Yu Minchuan wanted, Yu Mo Yuan rarely refused.

Whether it was before the car accident, when they were like brothers, or after the accident, when they couldn’t stand each other, Yu Mo Yuan had always been extremely indulgent with Yu Minchuan, without exception.

At that moment, the clock on the wall chimed, signaling that it was exactly 8:00 AM.

The sound of the chimes thoroughly interrupted the silent tension in the air.

Yu Hao Shan spoke up: “Enough, we’re family. Anyone who keeps on complaining can move out and live somewhere else.”

He then gave a stern look toward Zhao Lian Er, who refused to give up her seat.

Zhao Lian Er, unwilling to defy Yu Hao Shan, had no choice but to obediently switch seats with Tang Liyue.

Among everyone at the table, the only person Zhao Lian Er dared to offend was Tang Liyue, and she was ready to make her pay for it.

Once seated, Zhao Lian Er muttered, “Tang Liyue, you’re done for! I won’t let you off easy!”

As Tang Liyue reached for her chopsticks, her hand trembled, and the chopsticks fell, rolling across the table and eventually landing on Yu Mo Yuan’s leg.

Hiss, Disaster struck again!

Tang Liyue weakly looked at Yu Mo Yuan. “S-sorry, Second Uncle!”

Yu Mo Yuan, expressionless, calmly picked up her chopsticks from his leg, wiped them clean with a wet tissue, and handed them back to her.

Tang Liyue didn’t dare to take them!

Everyone was watching! She couldn’t take them!

With Yu Mo Yuan’s temper, he should’ve just thrown her out and made her stand in punishment.

But not only did he not get angry, he even cleaned the chopsticks for her!

Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be a big deal. People might just think Yu Mo Yuan was in a good mood today and didn’t mind.

However, Zhao Zhiliu had just made a remark about “an uncle taking a liking to his nephew’s new wife.” In this context, if Tang Liyue dared to take the chopsticks, it would solidify the “affair” rumors.

She didn’t dare! Even with a hundred times the courage, she wouldn’t!

Fortunately, Yu Minchuan came to her rescue.

Yu Minchuan reached over and handed his own chopsticks to Tang Liyue. “Liyue, use mine.”

Tang Liyue quickly stood up to take Yu Minchuan’s chopsticks.

Then Yu Minchuan turned to Yu Mo Yuan: “Second Uncle, could I have these chopsticks?”

Yu Mo Yuan only slightly furrowed his brows, but didn’t say anything further. He stood up and handed the chopsticks to Yu Minchuan.

Finally, the meal could begin.

But for Tang Liyue, the food was hard to swallow.

As she pushed the rice around in her bowl, she heard Yu Mo Yuan’s deliberately lowered voice from her right.

He said, “Both stupid and cowardly.”

Tang Liyue pretended not to hear and nearly wished she could bury her face in the bowl.