Chapter 15: Ye Siran, I Reluctantly Agree to Marry You

Song Chunhua, though not visibly pregnant, suddenly had a daughter, and no one seemed to care—after all, she was always a loner.

Her ex-husband tried his old trick of taking the daughter back to the Ye family alone, but this time she wasn’t going to allow it.

Previously, she had let her son be taken away easily because she had only recently married and lacked confidence.

Relying on that “illegitimate child,” it took five years of marriage before she first visited the Ye family in Beijing.

The city’s vibrancy and the Ye family’s elegant home made her reluctant to leave. Even though the Ye family had already toned things down, to her it was paradise.

The Ye family had a personal assistant; she didn’t need to do chores or take care of children. Every day, they had at least one meat dish, and the rest of the meals always included a meat portion.

After marriage, her own family, living off her husband’s salary, was better off than most families in the village, but could only afford meat once a month.

She sent most of her wages home, so she herself ate meat only once a month, and used just a pound of vegetable oil.

Accustomed to thrift, she always felt inferior in her in-laws’ house, constantly pressured psychologically and instinctively feeling weak.

The young, beautiful female assistant of the Ye family made her feel ashamed. The assistant was more cultured and polite than the official wife, and dressed much more fashionably.

Her nominal son didn’t even look at her directly, yet was close to the assistant, which drove her to jealousy.

What was already a loveless, sexless marriage became even more psychologically oppressive once she lived in the grand Ye household. It was like a dark tide swallowing her little by little.

Though her in-laws never said anything to her, she could feel their disregard, like a cold wind stirring chills deep in her heart.

Every glance she exchanged with the assistant was a silent evaluation of each other. She even suspected the woman might be her husband’s former fiancée.

Yet her husband’s son called her “Mom” and the assistant “Aunt,” which made her hesitant to probe further.

Her mood sank day by day under the loneliness and repression—but then, her ex-husband suddenly died!

When her in-laws asked if she would remarry, she agreed without hesitation, but with one condition: she would bring the “illegitimate child” with her.

Even though her father-in-law was influential, they had to compromise. After all, you can’t fear going barefoot while others wear shoes.

Her current husband had been introduced by her mother-in-law. He was far from her ex-husband in many ways, but at least she could truly claim him.

“Mom, what are you thinking? Say yes to my sister already! Yueyue is begging you~” Ye Ruyue coquettishly shook her stepmother’s arm.

Interrupted from her memories, Song Chunhua glared at Ye Siran with murderous eyes and ground her teeth: “You little brat, do you really want to sever ties?”

Ye Siran stepped back three paces, intimidated by her mother’s ferocious, almost beast-like glare. She looked like she could tear her own daughter apart.

Such hatred in her eyes made Ye Siran feel both fear and confusion.

Pretending to tremble in fear, she deliberately annoyed Ye Ruyue: “I don’t necessarily want to sever ties. Actually, I’d rather marry Brother Hongwen.”

“Ranan, I knew you were playing hard to get! If you want to marry me, you have to show sincerity. Otherwise, I’ll go with Yueyue this afternoon to get the marriage certificate,” He Hongwen said excitedly, thrilled after a frustrating morning.

He knew Ranan was sulking at him, after all, he had done many reckless things before.

Ye Siran had a history—every time they quarreled, she would be coaxing him softly within minutes. At worst, she would run off in anger, but within a day, she would surrender, making all kinds of delicious food and acting obediently.

Ye Siran looked disdainfully at He Hongwen: “Go get the certificate with whoever you want. I won’t…”

“Ye Siran! How dare you speak to Brother Hongwen like that? He is so cultured, so dignified—how can you be rude to him?”

“Oh! Already protecting him even before marriage?” Ye Siran clicked her tongue mockingly.

Seeing Ye Ruyue like this reminded her of her former self in her previous life—back then, she also thought He Hongwen was lofty and untouchable. How could she disturb such a ‘transcendent’ man with mundane life matters?

Now, looking at him again, he was nothing special. How could her past self ever have liked a man like him?

“Ye Siran, who gave you the courage to speak to Yueyue like that?” He Hongwen demanded angrily.

He wasn’t trying to defend Ye Ruyue; he was irritated by the mocking tone in Ye Siran’s voice.

The girl who had once adored him now seemed like an iceberg.

Why couldn’t she be obedient and devoted as before? Why sulk and provoke him like this?

If she hadn’t pushed Ye Ruyue in yesterday, he wouldn’t have done anything wrong to her!

He wasn’t angry, yet she was putting on a show!

Seeing He Hongwen defend her, Ye Ruyue gained confidence: “Brother Hongwen, don’t worry—you’ll be happy if you marry me.”

He Hongwen ignored Ye Ruyue, staring at Ye Siran, hoping to detect even a hint of jealousy.

“Why didn’t you get the certificate with sister this morning? Are you regretting it? Don’t make me look down on you!”

“Ye Siran, who are you to me? If you want me to marry Ye Ruyue, I won’t listen.”

“Waa… Brother Hongwen, you can’t just refuse to get the certificate with me to spite my sister…” Ye Ruyue cried hysterically.

Suddenly, He Hongwen came to his senses. Right—he could not marry Ye Ruyue just to spite Ye Siran.

His mother was right: Ye Ruyue was not a suitable wife.

“Ye Siran, since you want to marry me, I’ll reluctantly agree. We’ll get the certificate this afternoon,” He Hongwen said, then ran off, not wanting to see Ye Siran’s reaction, afraid of her sarcasm.

Ye Siran watched his retreating back in silence. She planned to leave the next morning, too lazy to waste words on someone who didn’t understand.

“Waa… Brother Hongwen, how could you do this to me?” Ye Ruyue wailed hysterically.

“Child’s mother, you decide!” Ye Father blinked his charming eyes at his wife. For their daughter, he even resorted to the ‘handsome man tactic’!

Ye Father’s affectionate gaze pleased Ye Mother. She looked resentfully at Ye Siran.

Her refusal to sever ties wasn’t reluctance—it was a plan to watch the “illegitimate child” marry and have children, then secretly replace her own daughter…

“You brat, are you really confident that He Hongwen will marry Yueyue?” Ye Mother said begrudgingly, though she dared not defy her husband.

“Mom~ Even though my sister is incompetent, Uncle He isn’t! Please sever ties for Yueyue!” Ye Ruyue begged tearfully.

“Fine.” Even if ties are severed, you still won’t escape my grasp, Ye Mother looked at Ye Siran with ill intentions.