Chapter 35: Tang Liyue Can Only Be a Chess Piece

Yu Minchuan didn’t want to continue talking about his legs, so he changed the subject.

“Try this steamed bass, it’s the restaurant’s signature dish. The fish is freshly caught from the lake every day.”

This restaurant specialized in river seafood with light, delicate flavors.

Aside from the steamed bass, there was lemon shrimp, crab roe noodles, and periwinkle mustard soup.

Tang Liyue had only eaten two boiled eggs for breakfast and barely touched her lunch at the company. At this point, she was starving.

As the warm soup slid down her throat, she felt her whole body revive.

Cradling the bowl, she squinted in bliss and let out a satisfied sigh.

When girls eat delicious food, they tend to sway slightly, and Tang Liyue was no exception.

“This is so good! I feel like my stomach is warm again!”

Yu Minchuan chuckled. “River seafood needs ginger and pepper to remove the fishy smell. These also warm the stomach. Even though it’s still summer, sweating a little will help you sleep better tonight.”

“Thank you, Minchuan.” Tang Liyue was touched by his thoughtfulness.

“No need to thank me, we’re friends, after all.” Yu Minchuan picked up some food for her and added with a teasing smile, “Besides, we’re also partners playing the role of a loving couple.”

His words made Tang Liyue giggle.

Halfway through dinner, the restaurant suddenly became lively.

People started turning toward the lake, whispering excitedly.

Tang Liyue followed their gaze.

It was the sunset.

The sun, golden like an orange, was sinking into the horizon where the lake met the sky.

Summer sunsets were always spectacular. The cotton-like clouds in the sky were bathed in a golden glow, while the crystal-clear lake reflected the scene perfectly.

It was breathtaking.

But Yu Minchuan didn’t turn to look.

Instead, his gaze was fixed on Tang Liyue’s delicate profile.

The setting sun seemed to favor her, casting a soft, dreamy glow over her face.

Her naturally sweet and elegant features looked almost ethereal, like a celestial fairy rather than a mere mortal.

At that moment, Tang Liyue suddenly turned back and met his gaze.

She was beaming.

Her face carried a radiance he had never seen before, her round almond eyes curving into crescent moons.

Overjoyed, she pointed at the sunset.

“Minchuan! Look! The sunset is so beautiful!”

For the first time, Yu Minchuan understood a centuries-old poem.

“One glance back, and a hundred charms arise.”

Her smile made everything else in the world lose its color.

Yu Minchuan was a man of restraint.

Even though his heart pounded uncontrollably, his expression betrayed nothing.

Following her gesture, he finally turned to look at the horizon.

Lowering his gaze, he murmured, “It is beautiful.”

But no matter how breathtaking the view, if it appeared at the wrong time, it would never be truly appreciated.

Just like Tang Liyue, no matter how wonderful she was, she was only a chess piece in his revenge plan.

And she could only be a chess piece.

He shouldn’t fall for a chess piece.
He couldn’t fall for a chess piece.

The sun dipped beneath the lake, and the sky darkened.

Yu Minchuan turned back, his eyes carrying a gentle smile.

“Liyue, I’m lucky to watch the sunset with you.”

Tang Liyue, completely unaware, gave him a bright, innocent smile.

“If you love sunsets, then you should try harder to stand up! That way, you can travel the world and see all kinds of sunrises and sunsets.”

Yu Minchuan’s voice was soft yet resolute.

“If you’re with me, Liyue, then maybe… I’ll have the courage to try again.”

Tang Liyue froze.

For some reason, his words felt… ambiguous.

But after a moment of thought, she dismissed it.

They had only known each other for a few days, there’s no way he could like her, right?

It’s probably just that Yu Minchuan had been isolated and lonely for too long after his accident, so he naturally relied on her as his new friend.

Tang Liyue smiled. “Then do your best! As your good friend, I really want to see you stand up again.”

“Alright.”

---

After a satisfying meal, the two set off back to the Yu family estate.

Tang Liyue was exhausted from a full day of work and returned to her room early.

By the time she finished washing up, it was already 9 PM.

Lying in bed, she opened WeChat.

The moment she logged in, her phone started pinging non-stop with messages.

Some were from Yu Mo Yuan, some from Qin Jiao Jiao, and some from Tang Xue Yao.

Tang Liyue pressed her lips together before opening Tang Xue Yao’s chat first.

【Tang Xue Yao: You little b*tch, how’s life in the Yu family?】

【Tang Xue Yao: Is that crippled young master any good in bed? Can he satisfy you? Or do you have to do all the work yourself? With your thin skin, that must be embarrassing for you.】

【Tang Xue Yao: Hey! You dare ignore my messages? Do you believe I won’t have Mom and Dad cut off that old hag Qiu’s medical expenses?】

Tang Liyue’s brows furrowed as she finished reading. Suppressing her irritation, she replied with restraint.

【Tang Liyue: I’ll come home for dinner tomorrow. I have something to discuss with Mom and Dad.】

【Tang Xue Yao: Bring your crippled husband along so I can take a look. I heard he’s pretty handsome.】

Tang Liyue’s face darkened.

【Tang Liyue: Stop calling him a cripple. He’s still a Yu family young master, aren’t you afraid of offending them?】

Tang Xue Yao replied instantly.

【Tang Xue Yao: Ha! You’re just a pathetic little coward. Do you even dare rat me out?】

Tang Liyue refused to waste any more energy on her.

Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself, she then opened Qin Jiao Jiao’s chat.

Qin Jiao Jiao had sent several messages too, mostly asking why she had been silent all day.

Without hesitation, Tang Liyue called her.

Qin Jiao Jiao picked up instantly.

“Hey! Ah Liyue, you finally made a sound! If you stayed silent any longer, I was about to barge into the Yu estate to find you!”

Hearing the concern in Qin Jiao Jiao’s voice, Tang Liyue’s expression finally softened.

“I’m fine. I was just at work all day and forgot to message you.”

“Work? You found a job?”

“Mhm, I’m working as an assistant for Minchuan’s second uncle at Yu Corporation.”

“Minchuan’s second uncle? You mean the terrifying Yu Mo Yuan?”

“Mhm mhm, but honestly, he’s not as scary as the rumors say.”

Now that she thought about it, apart from a few verbal threats, Yu Mo Yuan hadn’t really done anything over the line.

Tang Liyue added, “Also, Yu Mo Yuan is good friends with your brother, Qin Da Ge.”

“Huh? My brother’s friend? But he never mentioned him to me. Then again, my brother is super secretive. Even my parents and I have no idea what kind of business he runs at sea. So I guess it’s normal that I don’t know his friends.”

Tang Liyue said, “I only found out today too.”

Suddenly, Qin Jiao Jiao let out a loud squeal over the phone.

Then, she practically shouted in excitement, “Wait! If Yu Mo Yuan is my brother’s friend, does that mean I can ask my brother to put in a good word for me? Maybe I can get a job at Yu Corporation too! That way, we can see each other every day!”

Tang Liyue’s eyes lit up.

“Would that really work?”

“I’m gonna ask him right now! Hanging up!”

Qin Jiao Jiao was always impulsive.

The second she finished speaking, the call abruptly ended.