Chapter 2

“Fatty, Sister Qingqing is asking you a question. Are you deaf?”

Ye Yao’s brief silence displeased the group of girls.

In the past, whenever they spoke to this fat pig, she never dared to utter a word and would answer whatever they asked without hesitation.

“Calm down, everyone. Fatty is timid—don’t scare her too much. But she has always been self-aware and should know that someone like her is absolutely unworthy of Brother Li.”

“Fatty, don’t you agree?”

Zhao Qingqing looked down at her condescendingly, her face full of disdain.

Ye Yao suddenly chuckled, her laughter low and deep, making the fat on her face tremble slightly.

“My engagement with Brother Li was personally acknowledged by Uncle Li. Why wouldn’t I be worthy?”

The group of girls froze for a moment before bursting into laughter, their eyes filled with ridicule as if they were looking at a complete idiot.

“Fatty, do you think you can call him ‘Brother Li’?”

“Fatty, are you still dreaming? Uncle Li was just too embarrassed to reject you outright. He was afraid you’d get too upset and do something drastic. Have some self-respect, will you?”

“You stupid fat pig, do you really think that just because Uncle Li agreed, Brother Li would actually marry you? Go take a look at yourself in the mirror!”

—

Ye Yao wasn’t angry. She simply stood there calmly, allowing them to hurl insults at her.

After a while, Zhao Qingqing raised her hand, and the insults finally ceased.

“Fatty, I understand that you want to soar and become a phoenix. But even if you want to fly, you need wings. Someone like you will only crash and shatter into pieces!”

At this point, any self-respecting person would know to back down.

But instead, Ye Yao laughed again, and this time, her laughter was wild and unrestrained.

Even Zhao Qingqing frowned. Had they provoked her so much that she had lost her mind?

“What are you laughing at?”

Ye Yao finally stopped laughing, took a deep breath, and raised her head. The timid gaze she once had was now filled with an indescribable aura.

“Mind your own damn business.”

Everyone: …

Zhao Qingqing’s eyes widened in disbelief, almost questioning if she had heard correctly.

“You—”

“Did I say something wrong? Who I marry is my business. Since when do a bunch of nobodies like you get to meddle?”

Ye Yao’s mocking tone made it clear she didn’t take them seriously at all.

Zhao Qingqing was utterly stunned.

This damn fatty—did she just call her a busybody?!

“Ye Yao, don’t forget—if it weren’t for my family, you and your mother would have starved to death long ago. Every bit of fat on your body came from the food my family provided!”

“Get on your knees and apologize to me right now, or I’ll tell my father to stop helping you and your mother!”

This bastard, born without a father’s care—if she refused to behave, then Zhao Qingqing had no reason to be polite anymore!

A shadow flickered across Ye Yao’s face, and painful memories surfaced in her mind.

It was true that her family had received help from the Zhao family over the years. But because of that, she and her mother had suffered endless humiliation.

The women of the Zhao family constantly degraded her, and her mother was subjected to gossip and cruel remarks from the neighbors.

Even though Ye Yao knew that her mother and Uncle Zhao had always been innocent.

“And what if I refuse to kneel?”

At that moment, she truly felt a murderous intent toward Zhao Qingqing and everyone in the courtyard.

The way they had abused, insulted, and trampled on her dignity, making her life worse than death—nothing could ever make up for the hatred she felt toward them now, even if they died a thousand times over!