Chapter 21

“You, what are you doing at my house?”

Before Ye Yao could approach, Zhao Qingqing strode over aggressively.

Ye Yao lowered her head, making it difficult to see her expression, her voice filled with unease.

“I—I came to apologize to you…”

Zhao Qingqing immediately straightened her back and curled her lips in disdain.

It seemed that the fat girl had finally returned to her senses.

“Hmph, you’re apologizing to me? Weren’t you so full of yourself before?”

She actually dared to lay hands on her—there was no way Zhao Qingqing could let this slide.

“Qingqing, I’m really sorry. This morning, your mom came to my house and said some things…”

“Oh, you mean the part where you were flirting with some village boy and putting a green hat on Brother Li?”

Zhao Qingqing suddenly “understood” why Ye Yao was apologizing—her mother must have scared the fat girl when she visited this morning.

“I didn’t, no…”

Ye Yao’s denial sounded weak and unconvincing.

“Enough, no need to explain. The whole courtyard already knows, and Brother Li surely does too. Fatty, what were you thinking?

Having a foot in two boats—aren’t you afraid of sinking yourself?”

Zhao Qingqing sneered with contempt, though deep down, she was filled with jealousy.

Ye Yao pressed her lips together, looking guilty and saying nothing more.

“Coming to me won’t help. If you have any sense of shame, you should go to Brother Li and call off the engagement yourself. This marriage was never meant to happen. It’s not yours, yet you insist on clinging to it.”

Zhao Qingqing spoke arrogantly, giving orders.

Between Li Cheng and that poor village boy, she would much rather see Ye Yao with the latter.

“I—I don’t dare…”

Ye Yao responded meekly.

“What’s there to be afraid of? I’ll go with you!”

Zhao Qingqing impatiently grabbed her arm, ready to drag her to Li’s house.

A glint of calculation flashed through Ye Yao’s eyes—this idiot.

“Qingqing, can you just listen to me first?”

“What else is there to say—”

“Brother Li is such an outstanding man. If I break off the engagement first and people hear about it, they’ll surely laugh at him.”

Ye Yao’s words instantly made Zhao Qingqing pause.

She thought about it and realized it made sense.

It would be best if Brother Li was the one to call off the engagement. The one being dumped should be the fat girl—that would be the ideal outcome.

Ye Yao took a deep breath and cautiously looked around to ensure no one else was present before continuing, “Actually, I didn’t want things to turn out this way. The only person I love is Li Yukun. We’re truly in love…”

“Oh, please! You actually have the nerve to say that? Aren’t you ashamed? If you had someone in your heart, why did you still go and harm Brother Li?”

Zhao Qingqing mocked her.

“You’ve misunderstood me. Yukun and I had a fight before, so we broke up. I was heartbroken and angry, which is why I recklessly went to the Li family.

But I never expected Uncle Li to actually agree to the engagement. I thought that marrying Brother Li would be great too… But then, Yukun came to find me a few days ago, and we made up.

I want to be with Yukun. We’ve already decided—we’re going to elope.”

Ye Yao deliberately slowed down her speech at the end, emphasizing the word “elope” clearly.

Zhao Qingqing was stunned for a moment, then her whole body trembled with excitement…