Chapter 4

Ye Yao’s arrogance stunned the group of girls, completely enraging Zhao Qingqing.

With an angry roar, Zhao Qingqing was about to lunge at Ye Yao, but just then, a puzzled voice came from the courtyard entrance.

“What are you all doing at my house?”

Ye Yao’s expression instantly shifted, and she frowned.

She hadn’t seen the person yet, but she immediately recognized the voice—it was her mother.

And she wasn’t the only one who recognized it.

Zhao Qingqing’s expression changed as well. She shot Ye Yao a look that said, You’re done for! Then, she pouted, her eyes turning red with grievance.

“Auntie, you’re back! Please talk some sense into Ye Yao. We just came to check on her and casually mentioned her engagement with Brother Li, but she got furious and… and she actually hit us!”

By the end of her sentence, she was choking up, lowering her head and pretending to wipe away nonexistent tears.

Ye Yao rolled her eyes. What a drama queen. She’s wasting her talent not being an actress.

Zhang Qiufeng was momentarily stunned, then looked at them in disbelief.

“Qingqing, stop joking. How could Yao Yao possibly hit you?”

Even though she was an elder, her tone wasn’t firm at all—instead, it sounded hesitant and cautious.

The wrinkles on her face deepened with worry.

“It’s true! Look at my face, and Lanlan’s too. We were both hurt!”

Zhao Qingqing revealed her swollen right cheek, eagerly pushing her face toward Zhang Qiufeng, afraid she wouldn’t see it clearly.

Zhang Qiufeng glanced at her, then at Wang Lanlan, who was clutching her stomach and lying on the ground in pain. Her expression turned grim.

Could it really be true?

“Yao Yao, w-what exactly happened?”

She knew her daughter well. Not only was she timid, but she had never been capable of something like this.

Ye Yao took a deep breath and supported Zhang Qiufeng. Compared to just moments ago, her demeanor had become much gentler, almost as if she were a different person.

“Mom, don’t worry about this. Go back inside.”

Her mother was even weaker than the original Ye Yao had been. There was no way she could handle this situation.

But how could Zhang Qiufeng not worry? She stopped in her tracks, filled with anxiety, and continued to press for answers.

“Did… did you really do this?”

Ye Yao’s face tensed. “Yes.”

Zhang Qiufeng’s pupils shrank violently, momentarily unable to process the response.

“Auntie, you must stand up for us. Otherwise, I’ll have to go home and tell my mother—she’ll come here herself!”

Zhao Qingqing crossed her arms, once again regaining her arrogant demeanor.

Zhang Qiufeng was most afraid of Zhao Qingqing’s mother. That threat was effective.

Sure enough, Zhang Qiufeng became even more anxious and immediately started apologizing. “Qingqing, Yao Yao was just… just impulsive and immature. You’re older than her, please forgive her this time.”

Watching her mother’s submissiveness, Ye Yao felt a suffocating darkness envelop her.

It wasn’t without reason that she and her mother had been bullied and ostracized for so long. This woman was simply too weak.

With a personality like this, how could she possibly raise a strong daughter? That’s why the original Ye Yao had been quietly killed without anyone noticing.

Zhao Qingqing, feeling victorious, smugly twirled the twin braids resting on her chest. That’s more like it.

“Enough.”

Ye Yao’s cold voice rang out once again. She let go of Zhang Qiufeng’s arm, not sparing her another glance.

“I’m giving you one minute to leave my house immediately. If not, don’t blame me for turning hostile!”