After all, with Yueyue's charm,
she could easily attract a whole group of powerful men whenever she felt like it.
Wei Miao felt he was being petty.
Having a Qin Xuanye competing for her affection was already infuriating enough; if there were other men, he would definitely die of jealousy!
Qin Xuanye also nodded in agreement, saying, "The two of us are enough. Anyone else would be superfluous."
Wei Miao shot him a sidelong glance.
He really wanted to say, "Actually, you're superfluous too."
But who made it so that Yueyue couldn't let go of this ex-boyfriend?
Chen Liuyue raised her index and middle fingers, placing them beside her ear, and said:
"Alright, I swear, there will only be the two of you."
Both men revealed satisfied smiles.
System: "Congratulations, host! The target Qin Xuanye's favorability has reached 99%!"
...
Friday.
When Chen Liuyue returned home from school to the Chen residence, she found the atmosphere deathly gloomy.
"Liuyue, you're finally home."
Upon seeing her, Wu Peihua wore an expression as if she had spotted a savior and quickly hurried over.
Chen Liuyue: "What's wrong?"
Wu Peihua sighed and said:
"Last night, Ruanruan tried to sneak away from home and was caught by Haotian."
"Haotian went after her, and his wheelchair fell down the stairs."
Chen Liuyue: "And then?"
Wu Peihua looked deeply troubled.
"The family doctor came. Fortunately, it's only a mild concussion, but he's developed some mental issues."
"If Ruanruan is out of his sight for even a second, he goes crazy."
Chen Liuyue glanced upstairs and said, "So what have you been doing? Making Chen Ruanruan accompany brother all day? That's imprisonment; it's illegal."
Wu Peihua was a bit angry.
"Ruanruan is our family. Family members should help each other in times of trouble."
"You're making it sound too serious."
Chen Liuyue didn't really want to get involved in this mess either.
If Chen Zhenye hadn't called her back,
she wouldn't have bothered coming.
While they were talking, the sound of a wheelchair moving came from the corridor. It was Chen Ruanruan pushing Chen Haotian out.
Seeing her, Chen Ruanruan's eyes first lit up.
But upon noticing Wu Peihua beside her, her gaze quickly shifted away.
"Liuyue, you're here." Chen Haotian's tone became noticeably gentler.
Chen Liuyue found it really strange!
Before, Chen Haotian was always picking faults with her, finding nothing about her agreeable.
Who would have thought that after losing the use of his legs, his temper had actually improved.
Chen Liuyue gave a perfunctory nod and said, "Dad asked me to come back."
Speak of the devil, Chen Zhenye came down from the study on the second floor. Seeing the whole family gathered,
he had an announcement to make.
"Haotian's current physical condition isn't suitable for managing the company."
"So, I plan to make Liuyue the successor. Furthermore, my father-in-law has said he will also hand over the Wu family affairs for Liuyue to manage."
Wu Peihua looked at Chen Liuyue with a complex expression in her eyes.
There was envy, emotion, and a trace of resentment.
She never thought that the things she had failed to obtain in her entire life—her father's recognition, the inheritance rights to the Wu family—would be so easily granted to her own biological daughter.
Chen Zhenye turned to Chen Haotian and said:
"Haotian, the ten percent of shares you hold will remain yours, as dividends."
"After Liuyue officially takes over the company, I will transfer all twenty-five percent of the shares in my possession to her. Do you have any objections?"
Chen Haotian shook his head and said, "No."
The other three people all showed expressions of disbelief.
He had become so calm, without a single trace of agitation?!
Chen Ruanruan's lips quivered. After hesitating for a long while, she couldn't help but speak up:
"Dad, you said you'd give all twenty-five percent of the shares to Liuyue..."
"Then, what about the five percent of shares you promised me before?"
After all, it was only a verbal promise, with no formal transfer contract signed.
Chen Zhenye looked at his adopted daughter with a complicated gaze and said:
"Ruanruan, you are not a Chen by blood. Moreover, you have broken off the engagement with the Qin family. It's not appropriate for you to hold family shares."
"You've also passed the legal age requiring support. Theoretically speaking, it would be normal even if the Chen family stopped providing for you."
Chen Ruanruan shook her head with a bitter smile.
"No! That's not how it is! I didn't want to break off the engagement with Xuanye; it was your decision, Dad."
"This isn't fair to me."
Chen Liuyue glanced at the unwilling Chen Ruanruan and spoke calmly:
"So, a person not of Chen blood holding Chen shares—is that fair?"
"Brother, is this the sister you've been so protective of? In her eyes, it seems profit is still more important."
A hidden flash of pain crossed Chen Haotian's eyes.
He called Chen Ruanruan's name gently.
The other party, however, trembled all over.
He said, "Ruanruan, I can transfer the ten percent of shares I hold to you."
Chen Ruanruan showed an expression of incredulous delight: "Really?"
But after saying it, she realized there's no such thing as a free lunch.
Sure enough.
Right in front of Chen Liuyue and the Chen parents, Chen Haotian directly revealed his hidden, darker intentions.
"Ruanruan, as long as you marry me, you'll be a true member of the Chen family."
"Then the ten percent of shares will be yours."
Wu Peihua's face was full of shock and anger.
Chen Ruanruan could be a daughter, but not a daughter-in-law. After all, her requirement for her own daughter was to be pampered and do whatever made her happy.
But as a daughter-in-law, Chen Ruanruan was completely unqualified—lazy and spoiled.
Chen Zhenye, on the other hand, sighed with understanding and shook his head slightly.
From the moment he broke off the engagement for Chen Ruanruan,
he knew Haotian was determined to have her.
He used to disagree too, but now that his son was disabled and had lost so much, what was wrong with him just wanting to be with the girl he liked?
Besides, Ruanruan was also a child they watched grow up, a gentle and good-natured girl.
It should have been a happy situation for everyone.
But Chen Ruanruan seemed very resistant.
"Impossible! You're my brother. How can I be with you?"
"If you insist on this, you're forcing me to die!"
Chen Haotian, sitting in the wheelchair, closed his eyes.
Last night, in her attempt to escape the Chen family, Chen Ruanruan had watched his wheelchair tumble down the stairs, standing there dumbfounded for over ten seconds before calling for help.
What was she thinking in that moment?
Did she want him to just die like that?
Chen Ruanruan then turned to look at Chen Liuyue and said:
"Liuyue, you understand me, don't you?!"
"He's my biological brother who grew up with me since childhood. In my heart, he's family. I really can't accept becoming 'family' in that way!"
Chen Liuyue nodded.
"Dad, Mom, legally speaking, although Chen Ruanruan bears the Chen surname, she is a free individual."
"Even though brother had an accident, it wasn't directly caused by Chen Ruanruan."
"So..."
Her gaze slowly turned to Chen Haotian, and she said, "Brother, even if you tie her to your side, she still won't fall for you."
Chen Haotian took a deep breath.
"I don't care!"
Chen Liuyue wasn't angry either. Instead, she actively walked over to him, leaned down, and whispered something in his ear.
Chen Haotian's originally furious expression gradually calmed down.
A moment later, he raised his head to look at Chen Zhenye and Wu Peihua.
"Dad, Mom, let Tao Ruanruan leave our house."
"Even if I am disabled, with the Chen family's status, would I truly be unable to find a wife?"
"Let Tao Ruanruan go back and live her own life..."
A look of pleasant surprise crossed Wu Peihua's face. She hadn't expected her younger daughter's few words, whatever they were, to make her son finally let go.
"Alright, alright, alright. Mother promises you."
Chen Zhenye also nodded.
He then turned to look at the girl standing rigidly in place.
"Leave the Chen family. From now on, you are just Tao Ruanruan."
