"Yu, what nonsense are you spouting!" Qi Yue feigned anger as he reprimanded her in a low voice.
Qi Yu quickly covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh, sorry, big brother! I didn’t mean it. I’m just worried about your lifelong happiness. If the Jiang Family really calls off the engagement, it’ll be humiliating for both you and our Qi Family."
"Qi Yu!" Qi Yue issued another half-hearted warning.
Qi Yu stuck out her tongue playfully, pretending to be obedient. "Alright, I won’t say anymore."
Qi Yue sighed helplessly, shaking his head with a mix of exasperation and indulgence. "Big brother, we’ve spoiled Yu too much—she’s getting more and more unruly."
He expected Qi Huan to brush it off with his usual smile, but this time, though his expression remained calm, his words were unexpectedly harsh: "Indeed. Ever since my legs were crippled, Yu has grown increasingly bold, speaking without thinking in front of me—even daring to question whether I can father children. It seems she’s forgotten she’s merely an adopted daughter of the Qi Family. It’s time to teach her some discipline."
Qi Yue was momentarily stunned. He hadn’t expected Qi Huan to be so blunt today.
Hearing Qi Huan refer to her as just an adopted daughter who needed to learn her place, Qi Yu’s face darkened with displeasure.
"Big brother, I’ll make sure to discipline her properly later—"
Before Qi Yue could finish, Qi Huan cut him off. "No need for later. Do it now. Cheng Jing."
That single call—"Cheng Jing"—carried a warmth laced with icy sharpness.
"Yes, young master."
Cheng Jing released the wheelchair and strode over to Qi Yu. Without hesitation, he slapped her across the face.
"Ah!"
Qi Yu shrieked as she fell to the ground, clutching her stinging cheek in disbelief as she glared at Cheng Jing.
Qi Huan looked down at her, his smile as gentle as jade. "Yu, just because you’ve been called the third young lady of the Qi Family for so long doesn’t mean you truly are one. Remember—you’re nothing more than an orphan Yue picked up from the streets. If I hadn’t taken pity on you and allowed you to stay, you’d still be fighting for scraps in that orphanage."
A cold glint flickered in Qi Yue’s narrowed eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by his usual cheerful demeanor. "Big brother, you used to dote on Yu so much. She was only teasing you a little—why are you so angry this time?"
Qi Huan’s smile remained faint as he replied leisurely, "A joke is only a joke if I find it amusing. If I don’t, then it’s nothing more than insolence. Just like the dog I keep—it barks only when I allow it to."
Qi Yu’s eyes burned with humiliation and fury, her resentment palpable. Yet she bit back her words, not daring to retort.
Qi Yue glanced at her before scolding sternly, "Did you hear that, Yu? Don’t make such jokes in front of big brother again!"
Still clutching her throbbing cheek, Qi Yu could only nod, unable to speak.
Qi Huan’s smile softened slightly. "Good. As long as you’ve learned your lesson."
With a wave of his hand, Cheng Jing turned the wheelchair and began pushing Qi Huan toward the courtyard.
"That ungrateful Qi Yu! If it weren’t for the young master’s kindness, how could a lowly orphan like her live as a lady of the Qi Family? Now that the old master is hesitating to name an heir because of your legs, she dares to mock you to your face!"
"And the second young master is just as heartless! Back then, when the fortune-teller said he was a curse on the Qi Family’s fortune, the old master wanted to cast him out. If not for the young master pleading for mercy again and again, he’d still be wandering the streets like a beggar! Yet instead of gratitude, he blames you for his exile and even schemes against you for the heir’s position!"
Qi Huan’s smile faded as his fingers traced the armrest of his wheelchair.
Yes, he truly couldn’t understand—how could his own younger brother, Qi Yue, hate him so much?
Was it really just for the title of Qi Family heir?
If he had known Qi Yue wanted it so badly, as his elder brother, he might have stepped aside.
But now that Qi Yue was willing to kill for it… he couldn’t afford to be merciful anymore.
……
Once Qi Huan was out of sight, Qi Yu spat bitterly, "Brother! How dare he hit me and say I’m not a daughter of the Qi Family? I am Father’s real daughter! When can I finally reveal my true identity?"
Qi Yue withdrew his gaze and patted her shoulder soothingly. "Yu, be patient."
Qi Yu turned to him, tears welling in her eyes. "Brother, how can I be patient? Did you hear how Qi Huan humiliated me today?"
Qi Yue stroked her hair gently. "Just endure a little longer. Once I replace Qi Huan as the heir and we eliminate him quietly, you’ll be recognized as the rightful third young lady."
Qi Yu gripped his hand tightly, tears streaming down her face. "Yes, brother! You have to kill Qi Huan for me!"
"Of course. I’ll avenge you," Qi Yue sighed. "But we can’t act recklessly now. Qi Huan is already suspicious of me. Dealing with him requires careful planning."
Qi Yu’s eyes burned with hatred. "Qi Huan has too much luck—he should’ve died last time!"
Qi Yue reassured her, "No matter what, the old master still hasn’t announced the heir. That means he’s hesitating about keeping Qi Huan. We’ve already won half the battle."
Qi Yu nodded viciously. "A cripple as the heir? The old master isn’t that insane."
Qi Yue’s eyes gleamed with confidence. "Exactly. Just hold on a little longer, Yu. Our time will come."
……
Jiang Youli returned to her room, tucked the severance agreement into her desk drawer, then headed to the bathroom for a long, relaxing soak.
After her bath, Xiaobai slithered in through the window, its tail coiled around a red phone, which it dropped beside Jiang Youli.
As she dried her hair by the bed, Jiang Youli picked up the phone and praised with a smile, "Good job, Xiaobai!"
Puffed up with pride, Xiaobai lifted its head, circled the bed a few times, then scurried off to brag to Xiaohui and Xiaolv.
The three snakes she kept each had their own specialties.
Xiaohui excelled in ambushes and poisoning.
Xiaobai was a master at tracking and searching.
