Chapter 7: The scumbag wants to hold a banquet, and the ten brothers bully him

Zheng Qingning’s lips curled slightly, and a flicker of hatred glinted in her eyes.

Ye Yunzhou heard the sobbing behind him and forced himself not to turn around.

He was afraid afraid that he wouldn’t be able to resist her confession.

Afraid that, regardless of everything, he’d insist on marrying her.

But when he thought about his family’s plans, he hesitated.

Before meeting Zheng Qingning, his family had already told him: marrying her was to help the household. He could find another woman in the army someone who could help his career.

If he could give Zheng Qingning a child or two, she’d have something to hold onto and wouldn’t stray, and she could take on his duties as the eldest son.

He was convinced. What man didn’t want rank, didn’t want to climb higher, didn’t want to avoid being dragged down by family with no future ahead?

So he agreed to meet her and agreed to the marriage.

He thought everything would go as planned, but the appearance of Jiaojiao shook him.

No, a good girl like Jiaojiao shouldn’t be trapped in a home, tending to his parents and caring for his younger siblings. She should have her own life.

He couldn’t ruin her future.

Ye Yunzhou kept telling himself not to look back, not to give hope.

He had to marry Zheng Qingning quickly, return to the army, and then make arrangements behind the scenes to get Jiaojiao a job there. They could build a little family together, free of family burdens.

Jiaojiao had said Zheng Qingning didn’t return home last night probably stayed at a classmate’s house.

While wandering the streets, unsure of where to start looking, Ye Yunzhou saw Zheng Qingning getting off a bus and strode straight toward her, blocking her path.

“Zheng Qingning, where were you last night?!”

From the written words, she already knew he was looking for her. Seeing him didn’t surprise her much. Her expression was calm as she glanced at him and pointed to her bandaged head, mocking, “Where do you think I could’ve gone?”

“Ye Yunzhou, who exactly is your fiancée? You actually pushed me for Zheng Jiaojiao. I want to call off the engagement!”

Ye Yunzhou panicked. He may not have liked Zheng Qingning, but breaking off the engagement was out of the question.

His mother’s health was deteriorating. She could barely cook anymore. They absolutely couldn’t break off the engagement.

Trying to calm down, Ye Yunzhou reached out to grab Zheng Qingning, but she stepped back to avoid him.

He awkwardly retracted his hand, covering the darkness in his eyes, and spoke gently: “Qingning, I was wrong yesterday. I shouldn’t have pushed you.”

“In that moment, I thought you were bullying Jiaojiao again, and I acted on impulse.”

Then he righteously added, “If you didn’t keep bullying Jiaojiao, I wouldn’t have misunderstood you. Anyway, it’s in the past. Don’t dwell on it.”

“I want to hold the wedding banquet early. Once I get approval for the army residence, I’ll come get you.”

Seeing her silent, Ye Yunzhou assumed she was still mad about yesterday.

His face instantly darkened. “Zheng Qingning, that’s enough. Jiaojiao is your younger sister. I treat her well out of respect for your family and you. What more do you want?”

Zheng Qingning looked at the man before her and felt deeply regretful for ever falling for him.

When they were first matched, she saw him as salvation someone who might pull her out of a house full of pain.

But in the end…

What salvation?

It was just jumping from one pit into another.

From the strange texts, she understood a simple truth depending on others was useless.

Only she could save herself.

[What’s wrong with the male lead? How can he marry the supporting female? What about our girl?]

[Male lead, look back at our girl! Her heart is breaking.]
[Everyone, calm down. He’s just stalling the supporting girl so she stays home and takes care of both families. He loves our girl.]

Zheng Qingning looked up and saw Zheng Jiaojiao crying not far away.

“Fine, I’ll agree. The day after tomorrow. Let’s have the wedding banquet then.”

Since he was so eager to have the banquet, of course she’d help him get what he wanted.

Ye Yunzhou, who thought he’d have to argue more, let out a sigh of relief when she agreed. His tone even lightened.

“I’ll come by your house this afternoon to discuss the banquet.”

“Let’s go now,” Zheng Qingning said, lifting her chin toward something behind him.

Ye Yunzhou turned quickly and saw Zheng Jiaojiao running away. He immediately understood what she meant.

He turned back and glared at her furiously, gritting his teeth. “Zheng Qingning, stop acting crazy. She’s your sister. How can you be so heartless!”

“If anything happens to Jiaojiao, you’re going to pay!”

At that moment, Ye Yunzhou completely forgot why he had come to find Zheng Qingning. His head was full of the image of his beloved crying.

He spat out his threat and chased after Jiaojiao.

[The female supporting role is so vicious! She clearly saw our girl, yet still agreed to the banquet.]
[Don’t worry. She’s about to get what she deserves.]
[She made our girl cry and forgot all those times she fought with her and got beat up.]
[Our girl is the beloved of the group ten brothers spoil her like crazy. If they find out she made her cry, they’ll smash her face.]

Zheng Qingning lowered her eyes, hiding the darkness in them.

Ten brothers two biological, four cousins from her eldest uncle’s family, and four more from her second uncle.

Ever since their grandparents took Zheng Jiaojiao to the countryside, those ten brothers had changed.

When it came to anything about Zheng Jiaojiao, if she cried, Zheng Qingning was the one who got scolded and beaten.

She remembered going back home for New Year at age ten. Zheng Jiaojiao wanted her candy. She refused. Jiaojiao cried.

That day, her ten brothers threw her into the freezing river. They stood on the bank, coldly watching her struggle in the water, warning her never to make Jiaojiao cry again.

She came down with a high fever that night and nearly died.

From then on, she never dared get into conflicts with Jiaojiao but still couldn’t avoid their punishments.

Just because their precious little sister cried.

Just because she wasn’t their precious little sister.

Zheng Qingning decided to buy a couple of new outfits. She couldn’t go to the island in tattered clothes.

She looked up and met Nangong Ye’s calm, unreadable eyes.

“Comrade Nangong, what a coincidence. We meet again.”

Nangong Ye nodded at her, took two steps forward to stand just a step away, and looked down at her. “You’re really going to marry him?”

Zheng Qingning was stunned for a moment, then responded with shame and anger. “You were eavesdropping?!”

Nangong Ye didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “You know he’s fickle. Why marry him?”

Zheng Qingning straightened her expression, distancing herself. “Comrade Nangong, I think that’s my business.”

Nangong Ye’s face turned colder. “I overstepped.”

“To make up for it, let me buy you a meal.”

Zheng Qingning shook her head. “I just ate. I’m not hungry.”

Rejected, Nangong Ye pressed his lips together and lowered his gaze, hiding his expression. “Then I won’t bother you.”

He walked past her with long strides.

Zheng Qingning thought for a moment, then turned and called out, “Comrade Nangong, when are you going back to the army?”

Nangong Ye turned around, and a faint glimmer appeared in his eyes. “The day after tomorrow.” Zheng Qingning lowered her eyes, thinking. They’d be on the same day it shouldn’t interfere with her reporting in.

“I’m taking the night train the day after tomorrow. Comrade Nangong, how do I find you once I arrive at the base?”

Nangong Ye walked a few steps closer and stood in front of Zheng Qingning again.