Chapter 20: I Acknowledge You as the Young Mistress

In the evening, Tang Liyue, Yu Minchuan, and Yu Qi returned to the Yu family’s estate.

But before they could step into the villa, Aunt Wang, the housekeeper, came running from a distance.

She shouted loudly, “Young Master, Young Mistress, we have guests at home. The Madam asks you to go to the main building’s restaurant for dinner.”

Although Aunt Wang’s words sounded respectful, her tone was more like giving an order.

Yu Minchuan frowned, “Who’s here?”

Aunt Wang replied, “Miss Lian Er.”

Tang Liyue looked at Yu Minchuan in confusion.

Yu Minchuan turned his head and softly explained to her, “She’s my uncle’s daughter, just turned twenty, her name is Zhao Lian Er.”

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At that moment, in the main building’s restaurant.

Zhao Lian Er, wearing a spaghetti strap puffed dress, was sitting in the seat that originally belonged to Tang Liyue.

She looked somewhat similar to Zhao Zhiliu, but Zhao Zhiliu was the cold and aloof type, whereas Zhao Lian Er was the vulgar and flashy type.

She had a petite figure, probably less than 1.6 meters tall.

Though small in stature, she had a pair of prominent, unbalanced, full breasts.

She seemed proud of them, using them as her asset, and the neckline of her spaghetti strap puffed dress was almost lowered to the maximum.

“Aunt, will the second master be coming to dinner?” Zhao Lian Er glanced sideways at the seat beside her, where Yu Mo Yuan usually sat, her body twisting and turning as if boneless.

Zhao Zhiliu looked coldly at Zhao Lian Er and said in dissatisfaction, “You’re the young lady of the Zhao family, not a nightclub hostess. Can you sit up straight? Have some dignity!”

Zhao Lian Er stuck her tongue out, inwardly disagreeing, but she didn’t dare to defy Zhao Zhiliu outwardly.

Zhao Zhiliu had a bad temper, and the Zhao family relied on her to maintain their current status.

So, Zhao Lian Er straightened her back and temporarily put on an appearance of grace.

Just then, Yu Qi pushed Yu Minchuan into the restaurant, with Tang Liyue following closely behind.

Since Zhao Lian Er was sitting in Tang Liyue’s seat, it meant there was no place for Tang Liyue to sit.

Yu Minchuan noticed this and smiled gently at Zhao Lian Er, “Cousin, why are you sitting in this seat?”

“I told her to sit there. Is there a problem?” Zhao Zhiliu responded bluntly.

Tang Liyue quietly whispered to Yu Minchuan, “It’s okay, don’t let this cause any trouble between you and your mother.”

Although their relationship had never been great, at least before she arrived, Yu Minchuan and Zhao Zhiliu had managed to get along without issues.

Since she came, Yu Minchuan had been standing up for her multiple times, which had led to several conflicts with Zhao Zhiliu.

Tang Liyue felt guilty and didn’t want to cause Yu Minchuan, someone she didn’t even belong to, to face cold treatment.

Zhao Zhiliu snorted coldly and turned her gaze toward Yu Qi, who was behind the wheelchair. “Why aren’t you pushing Minchuan over to take his seat?”

Yu Qi remained unmoved.

From the moment he was reassigned, he had only listened to Yu Minchuan.

Yu Minchuan raised his hand. “Since this place can’t accommodate Liyue, I won’t eat this meal. Let’s leave.”

“Understood, Young Master.”

Yu Qi immediately turned the wheelchair and started to leave.

But just after taking a step, a loud “slap” echoed from the restaurant.

Tang Liyue’s eyes widened.

Zhao Zhiliu had pulled out a long whip from somewhere and had viciously lashed it across Yu Qi’s back, leaving a deep wound!

Zhao Zhiliu was merciless in her strike. The whip not only tore through his clothes but also cut deeply into Yu Qi’s skin.

Zhao Zhiliu coldly said, “You were reassigned back just a day ago, and you already forgot my temper, didn’t you!”

“And you, Yu Minchuan! You gave my dog to me, how dare you take it back!”

Yu Qi’s back began to bleed heavily, but he didn’t even flinch, as if he had grown accustomed to Zhao Zhiliu’s beatings and insults.

It seemed that during his three years assigned to Zhao Zhiliu, he had been no stranger to such whippings.

Yu Minchuan’s gaze grew even colder. He spoke in a low voice, “Let’s go.”

At Yu Minchuan’s command, Yu Qi took another step forward.

Yu Minchuan noticed that Tang Liyue had been stunned by the scene, so he reached out and gently held her hand, guiding her to leave with him.

“Damn it, all of them deserve to die!”

Zhao Zhiliu panted heavily, throwing the whip onto the ground, then gestured angrily, causing the food on the table to be overturned and spill everywhere.

Zhao Lian Er, sitting across from her, was also startled, her face pale with fear, wishing she could vanish.

Meanwhile, Tang Liyue and Yu Minchuan had returned to the villa.

By now, Tang Liyue had snapped out of her shock, glancing at Yu Qi’s back from time to time, her heart trembling with the sight.

“Minchuan, should we send Yu Qi to the hospital?” she asked.

Yu Minchuan remained silent.

Yu Qi answered on his own, “No need, a simple treatment will do.”

Simple treatment?

His skin had been torn open, how could that be enough without stitches?

Tang Liyue knew Zhao Zhiliu had a bad temper, but she never expected her to treat someone like this, without any regard for humanity.

Tang Liyue spoke up, “We should still go to the hospital.”

Yu Qi wanted to refuse, but Yu Minchuan spoke before he could. “Go, Ah Qi. Stitches will heal it faster. I need you, especially now.”

“Understood.”

After Yu Qi replied, he made as if to leave immediately.

Tang Liyue hurriedly said, “I’ll go with you?”

Yu Qi’s steps faltered as he quickly refused, “There’s no need, thank you for your concern, Young Mistress.”

Tang Liyue looked at Yu Minchuan.

Yu Minchuan smiled and spoke, “That’s fine, Ah Qi isn’t good at socializing, and I’m not comfortable letting him go alone. It’s a bit of trouble for you, Moon Moon.”

“It’s no trouble, hurry up!”

Though Yu Qi didn’t say much during the day, his presence was still felt. Sometimes, when they were shopping and crowded, he would reach out to help block the crowd for Tang Liyue.

Because of that, Tang Liyue couldn’t just ignore it.

Under Yu Minchuan’s orders, the family’s driver was assigned to take Tang Liyue and Yu Qi to the hospital.

Along the way, Yu Qi’s wound kept bleeding, and Tang Liyue was horrified.

Ignoring Yu Qi’s objections, she took off her coat and pressed it onto his wound to help stop the bleeding temporarily.

Yu Qi sat sideways, his face toward the window, his back facing Tang Liyue.

The wound on his back hurt terribly, but through the reflection in the window, he could clearly see Tang Liyue’s worried expression.

Yu Qi’s emotions were complicated.

Since childhood, the only person who cared about him had been Yu Minchuan.

And now, there was someone else, Tang Liyue, whom he had only met a day ago.

Yu Qi spoke in a hoarse voice, “Young Mistress.”

Tang Liyue quickly responded, “Huh? What’s wrong? Is it hurting because I’m pressing too hard? But if I don’t press, the bleeding won’t stop!”

Yu Qi shook his head, “I just suddenly think you and my Young Master make a perfect match.”

Huh?

He’s hurt this badly and still says that?

Tang Liyue was suddenly a little speechless, so she could only explain, “Minchuan and I are friends.”

Friends?

Yu Qi lowered his eyes, not agreeing with that explanation.

Although Yu Minchuan’s kindness to Tang Liyue had some ulterior motives, Yu Qi understood Yu Minchuan. His care for Tang Liyue seemed a bit excessive.

At least it didn’t feel like the fake concern one might have for a pawn, there was some genuine care in it.

Maybe they were “friends” now, but that might change in the future.

Yu Qi added, “If you become the Young Mistress, I’ll accept it.”

“……”

Tang Liyue didn’t understand what was going through Yu Qi’s mind.

“Stop talking, we’ll be at the hospital soon.”