Jiang Yehan wrapped his arm around Zhang Susu's shoulders and looked at Jiang Yangxu, saying, "Jiang Yangxu, in the past, I only cared about Susu, so I never bothered to fight with you over anything in the family. I let you and your children have it all. But now, as Youli said, you don’t deserve it! From now on, I’ll fight for everything in the Jiang Family that rightfully belongs to me—everything will go to Youli, and I won’t let you take a single thing again!"
Jiang Yangxu couldn’t help but laugh. "What a joke! Big brother, if you can’t win, just admit it. Don’t pretend you were ‘letting’ us have it. You don’t even have a child—what are you going to fight with? That abandoned daughter of ours? Big brother, you’ve been living too comfortably. You’ve forgotten your own worth."
Just then—
"Oh? Then, Uncle, what’s your worth? Half a pound versus eight ounces?"
A bold, mocking voice rang out.
Zhang Susu and Jiang Yehan turned to see Jiang Youli, unharmed. They rushed over to her in relief.
"Youli, where have you been? Are you okay? You didn’t answer my calls—I was worried sick!" Zhang Susu gripped her shoulders, checking her up and down, afraid she might have been hurt.
Jiang Youli smiled. "I’m fine, Mom. I’ve been in Jing City for three days now, so I thought I’d go out and explore. I lost track of time."
Zhang Susu inspected her thoroughly, only relaxing once she confirmed there were no injuries. "Then why didn’t you answer your phone?"
Jiang Youli sighed. "I accidentally lost it."
It had slipped from her when Jiang Xing took her away.
She only realized it was missing after parting ways with Qi Huan on her way back. She knew her new parents must have been frantic, but she never expected them to go this far—confronting Jiang Yangxu and Qin Yulian directly for her sake.
Their wholehearted devotion made it impossible not to love them.
Zhang Susu exhaled in relief. "As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters."
Jiang Yonghe, however, frowned.
What was going on?
Her older brother, Jiang Xing, had personally taken Jiang Youli away. How could she return unharmed?
Had Jiang Xing been swayed by Jiang Youli’s words? Did he really spare his own sister?
Qin Yulian sneered, irritated by their mother-daughter display. "See? Your daughter’s back, safe and sound. Zhang Susu, you came here accusing us without any proof. Ridiculous!"
Zhang Susu had had enough of Qin Yulian’s family looking down on Jiang Youli. She took her hand and urged, "Youli, let’s go. We need to sign the severance agreement with them now."
Jiang Youli chuckled at how eager her beautiful new mother was. "Alright."
Qin Yulian followed them. "Fine, sign it! Let’s see who regrets it later!"
……
Jiang Family Ancestral Hall.
Under Old Master Jiang’s watchful gaze, Jiang Youli stood before the ancestral tablets and resolutely signed her name on the severance agreement.
"Your turn," she said with a smile after finishing.
Jiang Yangxu and Qin Yulian signed without hesitation.
Jiang Youli took one copy. "From now on, we’re strangers."
Qin Yulian slammed the pen onto the table. "Let’s see how far you get under your uncle and aunt’s roof!"
Jiang Youli grinned. "Auntie, did you forget what I said at noon? You should warn your son to be careful."
Qin Yulian’s expression darkened. "Why would I take your delusional rambling seriously?"
As tensions rose again, Old Master Jiang raised a hand, his stern gaze sweeping over his two sons. "Enough. I called you both here today for two matters—Youli severing ties, and the distribution of the Jiang Family’s assets."
At this, Jiang Yangxu perked up.
"I’m old. Who knows how many years I have left? It’s time I make things clear. The family’s wealth will go to those with ability. Those without should stay in their lane and live quietly—they’ll still have food and shelter under this roof."
Jiang Yangxu smirked at his brother. "Did you hear that, big brother? If you’re incompetent, just stay obedient. At least you’ll keep your basic comforts."
Jiang Yehan didn’t respond.
But Jiang Youli couldn’t let it slide. She shot Jiang Yangxu a disdainful look. "What a clown."
Jiang Yangxu scowled. "Jiang Youli!"
"Don’t shout at me, Uncle. You lost the right." She waved the freshly signed agreement.
"Enough," Old Master Jiang interjected. "You all may leave. I’d like a word alone with Youli."
……
Outside the ancestral hall, Jiang Yangxu adopted a pitying tone. "Big brother, you heard Father. Understand what it means?"
"Right now, I control Jiang Pharmaceuticals, the most crucial company in the family. Jiang Xing manages StarLight Entertainment, our rising media empire. And Jiang Zhao? His debut album took the nation by storm. Tell me, big brother—what do you have to compete for the inheritance?"
"Every last bit of the Jiang Family’s wealth will be ours. Don’t waste your time dreaming."
"Before, out of brotherly sentiment, I considered letting you keep the eastern villa after Father passes—a place for you and your wife to retire. But now that you’ve chosen to side with that daughter of mine and turn against us, don’t expect any mercy. When the time comes, you’ll be kicked out of the Jiang Family for good."
Jiang Yehan remained calm despite the provocation. "Father isn’t dead yet. Don’t celebrate too soon."
Jiang Yangxu laughed, patting his shoulder. "Your optimism never fails, big brother. Fine, pray Father lives a few more years. That way, you can linger here a little longer."
With that, he left with his family.
Watching them go, Zhang Susu sighed. "If not for Youli’s return, I’d never have realized how heartless they truly are."
Jiang Yehan’s expression was grave. "I was naive before, thinking brothers shouldn’t fight over wealth. Since he cared so much about status, I let him have it. But things are different now. Susu, for Youli’s sake, I have to fight."
Zhang Susu glanced back at Jiang Youli in the ancestral hall, her eyes tender yet determined. "Yes. We can endure hardship, but we won’t let Youli suffer with us. I want to give her the very best the world has to offer!"
……
In the ancestral hall, Old Master Jiang stood before the tablets of the Jiang Family ancestors, his expression stern as he addressed Jiang Youli standing before him. "Youli, now that you've returned to the Jiang Family and acknowledged my eldest son and his wife as your parents, you should settle in properly as the young mistress of our household. I'm not like that foolish second branch of the family, treating some outsider's daughter as if she were precious jade."
