Chapter 3: She’s Mine

The person coming upstairs was the housekeeper who had escorted Tang Liyue into the Yu household last night.

She completely ignored Tang Liyue and addressed Yu Minchuan directly. “Young Master, it’s time for breakfast.”

Tang Liyue was a little surprised, the housekeeper’s tone lacked the respect one would usually show to a wealthy family’s heir.

Could it be that Yu Minchuan, like her, was also not favored by his family?

However, Yu Minchuan seemed unfazed, as if he was long accustomed to this treatment.

He nodded slightly and said in a gentle voice, “Alright, I understand. Aunt Wang, please bring some clothes up Liyue first.”

Housekeeper Wang rolled her eyes reluctantly. “Fine, I’ll go get them now.”

With that, she turned and went downstairs.

Yu Minchuan then looked back at Tang Liyue. “You can wait inside the room. I won’t go in. I’ll wait here.”

Tang Liyue was deeply grateful. “Thank you, Young Master Minchuan.”

Yu Minchuan gave a faint smile. “No need to thank me. And just call me Minchuan.”

Tang Liyue froze for a moment, hesitant to address him so casually.

Yu Minchuan explained patiently, “I know this is our first time meeting, and calling each other by name might seem improper. But we have no choice. We need to act close, only then will your life in the Yu family be a little easier.”

He paused, then added meaningfully, “…Besides, I need you to stay and pretend to be my wife.”

Tang Liyue looked at him in shock. “Pretend to be your wife?”

Yu Minchuan nodded. “I know you didn’t come here willingly. Neither did I.”

He let out a bitter laugh, patting his disabled legs. “Someone like me… how could I be worthy of marriage or a family? I don’t want to drag anyone down, but I couldn’t go against my mother’s wishes.”

“Even if it weren’t you, my mother would have forced someone else to marry me. Since we’re both in this situation, why not work together?”

Tang Liyue didn’t know how to respond.

If last night hadn’t happened, she would have been thrilled to hear this offer.

But…

Staying here meant she would have to face Yu Mo Yuan every single day.

How was she supposed to face the man who had taken her first time?

And worse, he was Yu Minchuan’s second uncle.

If she agreed to be Yu Minchuan’s wife, that would mean Yu Mo Yuan would technically be her uncle-in-law.

Calling the man who stole her innocence ‘Second Uncle’… was absolutely ridiculous.

Yu Minchuan’s voice interrupted her chaotic thoughts. “You don’t want to?”

Tang Liyue quickly shook her head. “No, it’s not that. I don’t have a choice, do I?”

Yes… what was she even thinking?

If she couldn’t face it, did that mean she could just run away?

Did she even have an escape route?

If she dared to walk out of the Yu family today, the money for Aunt Qiu’s treatment would be cut off immediately.

She had no way out. She never did.

Realizing this, Tang Liyue exhaled deeply and finally forced a small, reluctant smile.

“Thank you, Young Master Minchuan. Thank you for giving me a way to survive.”

Yu Minchuan also smiled. “I told you, just call me Minchuan. Since we’re pretending to be a married couple, we have to act intimate in front of others. If you keep calling me ‘Young Master,’ people will see right through it.”

Tang Liyue took a deep breath and hesitantly tried, “Minchuan?”

Yu Minchuan responded warmly, “Mhm, Liyue.”

The harmonious moment was abruptly interrupted by the sound of a door creaking open.

Both Tang Liyue and Yu Minchuan turned their heads toward the door, only to see Yu Mo Yuan leaning casually against the doorway, lips curved in a smirk.

Yu Mo Yuan had a pair of striking eyes—sharp, slightly upturned phoenix eyes.

His pupils were as black as ink, as deep and unfathomable as a bottomless pool.

But the cold intensity in his gaze was terrifying. Anyone who dared to look into those eyes for too long would feel a chilling fear seeping into their bones.

His expression was unreadable, yet his voice was indifferent as he commented, “How affectionate.”

At the sight of Yu Mo Yuan, Tang Liyue’s entire body trembled.

Yu Minchuan noticed and flashed her a reassuring smile. “Don’t be afraid. Go inside.”

Tang Liyue hesitated. “Will he make things difficult for you?”

Rumors painted Yu Mo Yuan as ruthless and heartless. Some even claimed, he was the one who crippled Yu Minchuan’s legs.

Tang Liyue feared Yu Minchuan might end up in conflict with him because of her.

“He won’t. Don’t worry.”

Only then did Tang Liyue nod lightly and step into Yu Minchuan’s room.

Now, only Yu Mo Yuan and Yu Minchuan remained in the second-floor corridor.

Breaking the silence, Yu Mo Yuan spoke first, his tone blunt and direct.

“You went through all this trouble just to send her to my bed?”

Yu Minchuan remained composed. “Second Uncle, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Yu Mo Yuan raised an eyebrow. “Playing dumb isn’t fun.”

But Yu Minchuan calmly replied, “I believe what happened last night was just an accident. A woman’s reputation is important, Second Uncle. I hope you’ll act as if it never happened and put it out of your mind.”

Yu Mo Yuan’s expression darkened. His brows furrowed as he took a step closer, lowering himself to meet Yu Minchuan’s gaze. His voice was low and sharp.

“Yu Minchuan, what exactly are you scheming?”

“Why did you send her to my bed?”

Yu Minchuan remained calm, “Second Uncle, you didn’t sleep well last night and are overthinking.”

“Oh? Is that so? Then explain to me why, when I came back drunk, there just happened to be a bowl of hangover soup on the table?”

“And why, by coincidence, the taste in that woman’s mouth was exactly the same as the hangover soup?”

“The soup wasn’t right, and she drank it too, didn’t she?”

Yu Mo Yuan’s series of sharp questions made Yu Minchuan’s eyes flicker with guilt.

However, Yu Minchuan immediately lifted his gaze to meet Yu Mo Yuan’s, “You should ask my mother about the soup. Liyue drank the soup she prepared. As for your hangover soup, I know nothing about it.”

Yu Mo Yuan furrowed his brows, assessing how much of Yu Minchuan’s words could be trusted.

At that moment, Yu Minchuan lowered his head, pressing his hand against his unfeeling leg, his tone filled with helplessness as he spoke, “I’m just a useless cripple. What can I do?”

Yu Mo Yuan looked at Yu Minchuan’s paralyzed leg, his gaze darkening.

Was Yu Minchuan using self-deprecation and pity to silence him?

Yu Mo Yuan furrowed his brows, questioning him, “So, you won’t give her to me?”

“She’s in this mess because of me. I need to take responsibility and protect her. Second Uncle, please show some mercy.”

Yu Minchuan’s words left no room for argument. There was nothing more to say.

Yu Mo Yuan turned coldly and walked back to his room.

---

Inside the room.

Tang Liyue waited nervously.

When she heard the silence outside, she cautiously peeked out and saw only Yu Minchuan remaining in the corridor.

Yu Minchuan wheeled himself closer to Tang Liyue, his tone tentative. “Did you hear anything just now?”

Tang Liyue shook her head. “It was too far, I didn’t hear anything. Did I cause you trouble?”

Hearing that she hadn’t overheard, Yu Minchuan subtly relaxed, then smiled lightly. “No trouble at all. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you from now on.”

Tang Liyue, feeling deeply grateful, bowed to him. “Thank you!”

Yu Minchuan smiled and shook his head. “No need to thank me. I’ll go downstairs to remind Aunt Wang to bring your luggage. You can wait in your room.”

“Alright.”

Watching as Yu Minchuan wheeled himself into the elevator, Tang Liyue finally glanced towards Yu Mo Yuan’s door.

Thinking of the passionate moments from the night before, her face flushed red and pale in turn.

She was both ashamed and terrified.

She didn’t know how she would face Yu Mo Yuan, the man who had taken her innocence.