Chapter 41

Ye Yao’s voice was filled with extreme restraint. Even now, recalling that time still sent shivers down her spine.

That year, she was only five years old.

Watching over Zhang Qiufeng, who was burning with fever and on the verge of fainting, all she felt was fear—endless fear.

She didn’t know how she managed to endure it. She had once gone to the Zhao family, desperately begging, even kneeling before Wang Guihua and Zhao Qingqing.

She begged them to check on her mother, to save her. But all she could remember was six-year-old Zhao Qingqing laughing. And Wang Guihua saying, “Your family has been dragging us down for years. It’s your mother’s own fault for being useless. Besides, if it’s not a fatal illness, it doesn’t count as an illness.”

Zhao Jianshe was dumbfounded. He had no idea about any of this.

Although he had heard rumors before—that Wang Guihua was dissatisfied with them and would throw small tantrums—he had never imagined it was this serious.

“Is everything Ye Yao said true?”

His voice was sharp as he questioned Wang Guihua.

Wang Guihua’s face turned red, then white, then green. The fierce look on her face disappeared as she guiltily averted her gaze.

She didn’t even need to answer—Zhao Jianshe already knew the truth.

The neighbors also wore serious expressions. Over the years, they had spoken plenty of gossip about Zhang Qiufeng under Wang Guihua’s influence.

But now, hearing this, they realized the situation wasn’t as simple as it had seemed.

“Yao Yao, stop talking. It’s all in the past…”

Zhang Qiufeng pleaded with teary eyes. Some things were better left unsaid.

But at this point, how could Ye Yao stop?

“Ye Yao, d-don’t play the victim here. Do you think you’re the only one who suffered all these years? I had to endure all the rumors in the compound!

My own husband was constantly whispered about, his reputation ruined—all because of you!

I was upset—so what? I needed to vent—so what?!

If you and your mother had any self-respect and refused our family’s ‘charity,’ there wouldn’t have been so much gossip in the first place!”

Wang Guihua took a deep breath, her voice sharp as she tried to defend herself.

She was the real “victim”!

Ye Yao’s eyes darkened, and her voice suddenly rose.

“Charity? How was it charity? Why did your family give us money? Don’t you know the real reason?!”

—-

With that one furious question, the courtyard fell into dead silence.

The neighbors were shocked. Was there more to this story?!

Wang Guihua froze completely, staring straight at Ye Yao.

What did she mean by that?

Could it be… she knew?

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

That incident happened when Ye Yao was just a baby in swaddling clothes, and no one had mentioned it since. Zhang Qiufeng had even sworn multiple times that she would never let anyone know—including Ye Yao.

Zhao Jianshe’s face turned ashen. He had always known that the truth could never stay hidden forever.

Ye Yao’s contemptuous gaze fell upon the couple, and the cold smile on her lips deepened.

But the one who panicked the most was Zhang Qiufeng. She grabbed Ye Yao’s left hand, her voice choked with emotion.

“Yaoyao, stop. I’m begging you…”

“Mom, it’s been eighteen years. You may be able to endure it, but I’ve had enough.”

Ye Yao looked at Zhang Qiufeng, her expression chilling—one Zhang Qiufeng had never seen before.

“Yaoyao…”

“Qiufeng, let her speak.”

At that moment, Zhao Jianshe’s suppressed voice broke through the tension. His eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his neck…