"Mr. Qi, kindergarteners don’t study that kind of thing."
Originally standing quietly behind Ye Qingju, Yi Bingmei sauntered over, a sultry smile playing on her face—so different from her older sister's demeanor.
Qi Weiran lifted his amber-colored eyes and regarded her silently.
The moment his gaze landed on her, Yi Bingmei felt her knees go weak. Her smile deepened.
Then, without missing a beat, those thin lips parted, and he said coolly: "Who are you?"
Yi Bingmei stiffened. "Mr. Qi, I’m Ye Qingju’s family—her sister."
Qi Weiran stood, voice courteous but distant: "Ah, so you’re the in-laws."
Yi Bingmei: Was that an insult!?
Ye Qingju was barely holding back laughter. On the outside, she wore a troubled, doe-eyed expression as she stepped in to smooth things over.
“Sir, this is my younger sister, Yi Bingmei.”
Yi Bingmei’s smile froze.
Ye Qingju—this brainless idiot—had seduced Qi Weiran for years without success. She'd even driven him away from home so often that Bingmei never got the chance to make her move.
It had taken real effort to learn he’d be back today—so much that she skipped class to rush over. And yet... He didn’t even recognize her.
Typical of someone from the original family, Yi Bingmei's eyes quickly welled up when faced with Qi Weiran’s cold and indifferent rejection.
By now, Ye Qingju had already assumed her usual docile posture beside Qi Weiran. She caught Bingmei’s act and subtly curled her lip.
【Don’t cry. Nobody wants watered-down pork.】
Qi Weiran’s lips twitched into the faintest smirk.
Yi Bingmei, having caught that fleeting smile, immediately stopped crying.
Was he... smiling at her?
All her previous grievances vanished on the spot.
She wasn’t the only one who noticed—Ye Qingju did too. Sliding naturally into her housekeeper role, she thought:
【It’s been so long since I’ve seen Young Master smile.】
Qi Weiran, whose company dabbled in web fiction, got the reference immediately: “……”
Aunt Zhang’s sharp instincts told her right away this woman meant no good. Her expression flat, she said coolly: “Dinner’s ready. We don’t keep outsiders for meals.”
Ye Qingju wanted to nod in agreement, but stayed in character and held her tongue.
Yi Bingmei, pretending not to take offense, smiled sweetly at Wan Sui: “Let me walk you out.”
Wan Sui: What did I do to deserve this?
Aunt Zhang: Friendly fire?
Ye Qingju was genuinely impressed. So that’s what it means to be truly shameless.
Qi Weiran, just rising to his feet, cast her a brief glance.
As if to say: So, you do know how things work.
Ye Qingju immediately met his gaze and gave him a soulful smile. “Sir?”
【Please kick her out already. She’s ruining my dinner.】
Qi Weiran: “……”
If Ye Qingju ever switched careers, the entertainment industry would have a new Best Actress.
Qi Weiran said nothing. Aunt Zhang, though clearly displeased, kept silent—allowing the shameless Yi Bingmei to remain at the table.
Not because Qi Weiran intended to keep her—but simply because his attention was entirely on Ye Qingju, and he’d forgotten.
As she looked at Bingmei seated across the table, Ye Qingju recalled who had sat in that very seat last time.
That guy had gone out to pick up a delivery and never made it back.
Thinking of Hei Meilu, Ye Qingju couldn't help but sigh.
She had originally planned to offer him some kind of compensation. After all, who wouldn’t go a little crazy after waking up to find their body hijacked and their life ruined?
Still, the system had probably done something to make up for it. When she visited him at the hospital last time, the guy—ever gentle—was even smiling through gritted teeth.
Just then, Yi Bingmei broke the tense silence at the dinner table: “This dish is a little spicy. Mr. Qi, since your stomach’s sensitive, perhaps you shouldn’t eat it.”
Everyone froze.
Ye Qingju and Qi Xinian paused mid-bite.
Xiao Tuanzi suddenly raised his hand. Qi Weiran, catching the signal, gave him a nod.
Qi Xinian cleared his throat and declared: “I know this one! Aunt Ye Qingju said—”
“Nine out of ten CEOs have stomach problems.”
“But fortunately, I’m the one who doesn’t.” And also the richest one.
Qi Weiran calmly picked up his chopsticks again, eating with elegant restraint.
Yi Bingmei flushed with embarrassment and shot a venomous glare at Ye Qingju.
Ye Qingju’s face remained innocent.
【Sis, if you’re going to seduce someone, at least research his stats first. Qi Weiran’s iron stomach is legendary—there’s not a soul in the capital who can outdrink him.】
Iron Stomach™ Qi Weiran looked quite pleased.
Even if Ye Qingju had mixed motives due to the inheritance, she had the basic professional awareness to understand her target.
Qi Weiran glanced across the table at Yi Bingmei, who clearly lacked such professionalism. He set his chopsticks down again and his rich, deep voice rang out beside her ear:
“No talking while eating or sleeping.”
“Those who don’t follow Qi family rules have no place at this table.”
As soon as he finished, Aunt Zhang—clearly lying in wait—swooped in without hesitation: “Come with me, Miss Yi.”
Yi Bingmei stared at Ye Qingju, face pale, as if silently begging for help.
Ye Qingju, still perfectly in character as Qi Weiran’s sycophant, bowed her head and said sweetly: “Whatever Sir says is correct.”
Aunt Zhang said nothing more as she swiftly escorted the woman out.
After dinner, Qi Weiran didn’t leave, which meant Ye Qingju had to keep him company in the living room.
Midway through, she received a call—from none other than Yi Bingmei.
Still not giving up, huh?
She walked over to Qi Weiran, who was watching the news with the little dumpling, and said softly:
“Sir, my sister’s calling. She wants to know if I can step outside for a moment.”
【Why bother myself when I can let him reject her? Please say no. Please say no.】
Qi Weiran didn’t hesitate. “Go.”
Ye Qingju: Excuse me?
Was she imagining things, or had this old man been deliberately making things hard for her lately?
Still, she was soon dropped off at the gates of the Qi family’s mountain estate. The night wind was biting cold, and sure enough, a frail figure sat curled up at the entrance—pitiful to the extreme.
But since Qi Weiran wasn’t around, Ye Qingju didn’t need to maintain her act.
“Say what you need to say and make it quick.”
Yi Bingmei looked up, voice trembling with grievance: “Aren’t you the Young Madam of the Qi family? You’re really going to let your husband kick me out like that?”
Ye Qingju sneered. “Oh? Now he’s your brother-in-law?”
Yi Bingmei’s expression soured.
“What’s that supposed to mean? You think I wanted to come here? If Mom hadn’t said you were useless—married for two years without bringing a single benefit to the family—do you think I’d waste my time on this?”
Back then, Qi Weiran’s older brother’s dying wish had been to see him married.
Out of all the eligible women in the capital, Ye Qingju had been the one selected by sheer luck.
Had their looks not been so obviously different, their mother would’ve had Yi Bingmei take her place in the wedding.
Ye Qingju, growing impatient, snapped: “Stop bringing your mom into this. I got all my rabies shots—I’m not scared of you biting me.”
It took Yi Bingmei a full second to realize she’d just been insulted. Her voice trembled with rage: “You—Ye Qingju—just wait!”
She turned and stormed off, seething.
Ye Qingju shrugged and strolled back without a care in the world.
Please. If this marriage falls apart, it’s Qi Weiran who’ll be crushed under the weight of it—not me.
She failed to notice, however, that as Yi Bingmei turned away, a glint of malice flickered in her eyes.
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