After the head steward left, Zhang Susu turned to Jiang Youli and asked her seriously, "Youli, your uncle and aunt must have gone to Old Master Jiang with the reasoning that you're the true Jiang Family heiress, suggesting you replace Jiang Yonghe in the marriage alliance with Qi Huan. Let me ask you again—are you absolutely certain you want to marry Qi Huan?"
Jiang Youli nodded without hesitation. "Absolutely!"
Then, recalling the rather... vivid dream she'd had, she added in a whisper, "In fact, the sooner we marry, the better."
That way, she could "accidentally" touch him all she wanted—legally!
Zhang Susu didn’t quite catch the last part. "What was that?"
Jiang Youli quickly shook her head. "Nothing! Just that I’m one hundred percent sure about marrying Qi Huan."
Seeing not a trace of doubt in her daughter’s eyes, Zhang Susu knew her mind was made up. "Alright. Your father and I have always said we’d support whatever decision you make."
...
In the main hall, Qin Yulian, Jiang Yonghe, and Jiang Zhao were already waiting when Jiang Youli arrived.
At the sight of Jiang Youli, Jiang Yonghe wore a smug, self-assured expression.
Qin Yulian spoke first. "Youli, you’ve arrived. Your return to the Jiang Family couldn’t have been better timed. Now you can step into your role as the Jiang Family’s heiress and marry the Qi Family’s eldest young master."
Zhang Susu cut in, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, how generous of you. If Qi Huan hadn’t been left disabled after last month’s accident, would you have ever considered offering Youli this 'honor'? You couldn’t even be bothered to fetch her yourselves when she first returned. But now that you need her to replace your precious adopted daughter in this marriage alliance, suddenly you’re all enthusiasm."
Qin Yulian bristled at the jab but didn’t bother pretending anymore—not after the severance agreement had been signed. She sneered back, "If anything, you should be thanking me, sister-in-law. If I hadn’t urged you and my brother to fetch Youli, would she even be calling you 'Mom' now? At least you finally have the child you always wanted."
To her surprise, Zhang Susu didn’t react with anger. Instead, she smiled warmly. "You’re absolutely right. I owe you and Second Brother for letting me become Youli’s mother."
Qin Yulian scoffed, convinced she was just putting on a brave face. "Tch. Getting sentimental over scraps I tossed aside—how pathetic."
Jiang Zhao added with disdain, "Compared to Yonghe, she’s nowhere near as accomplished."
Jiang Youli let out a derisive laugh. "Why are you all so convinced I’m inferior to Jiang Yonghe?"
Jiang Zhao scoffed. "Isn’t it obvious? What can you even do? Yonghe is a renowned prodigy in Jing City."
Jiang Youli arched a brow. "Oh, you mean her 'mastery' of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, plus fluency in five foreign languages? How impressive—for a fraud you poured money and effort into raising, all while she was someone else’s stolen daughter. Really something to boast about."
The mention of the switch made Jiang Zhao’s face darken. "No matter how much you resent her, the fact remains that Yonghe is superior to you! The only thing you can attack her with is her birth mother’s crimes!"
"Oh no, no," Jiang Youli countered, feigning admiration. "I actually think her mother was wonderful. At least she loved her real daughter enough to commit crimes just to give her a better life. Unlike Aunt Qin here, who can’t even stand the sight of her own flesh and blood."
Jiang Zhao and Qin Yulian choked on their retorts, left speechless.
Jiang Yonghe stepped forward with a gentle smile. "Sister Youli, if you’d like to learn, I’d be happy to teach you..."
Jiang Youli glanced at her and said, "Oh? Then why don’t you give me a demonstration now? Let’s see if you’re even qualified to teach me."
Jiang Yonghe was caught off guard by her retort and momentarily lost her words.
Was this a joke? Asking her to perform here and now—what did Jiang Youli take her for?
Suppressing her irritation, Jiang Yonghe maintained a composed smile and replied, "If you’d like to see my talents, Sister Youli, I’d be happy to perform at the welcome banquet on Saturday night. Consider it my gift to you."
Jiang Youli let out a light chuckle. "A gift for me? Or are you just looking for a chance to prove you’re better than me in front of everyone?"
Jiang Yonghe smiled faintly, a flicker of slyness in her eyes. "If that’s how you choose to interpret it, Sister Youli, there’s nothing I can do."
Jiang Zhao, standing nearby, couldn’t resist sneering. "She’s just afraid you’ll steal her spotlight at her own welcome banquet."
Jiang Youli shrugged, her tone relaxed. "Overthinking it. At my welcome banquet, no one outshines me."
Jiang Zhao scoffed, his eyes filled with disdain. "Let’s hope you don’t embarrass the Jiang Family instead of chasing after some fleeting glory."
A faint smirk curled at Jiang Youli’s lips, her eyes gleaming with confidence. "Then let’s wait and see. Maybe you’ll realize how blind you’ve been."
At that moment, Old Master Jiang entered the room, supported by the head butler. His steps were slow and unsteady, but his gaze remained sharp. After surveying the room, he asked, "What are you all discussing?"
Seeing him, Jiang Zhao immediately seized the opportunity to complain. "Grandfather, look—Yonghe wanted to perform at the welcome banquet as a gift for Youli, but she’s being ungrateful."
Jiang Youli shrugged, feigning innocence. "Don’t twist my words in front of Grandfather. I merely questioned whether she was using this as a chance to show off. I never said I wasn’t grateful."
Jiang Zhao frowned. "Then what do you mean?"
Jiang Youli’s lips curved into a faint smile. "It’s simple. If Jiang Yonghe wants to perform at the banquet, let her. After all, it’s her way of welcoming me, isn’t it?"
Jiang Zhao was stunned. He had expected Jiang Youli to outright reject the idea, but instead, she had agreed without hesitation. Suspicion gnawed at him as he studied her face, searching for any hidden motives.
Yet, no matter how hard he looked, her expression gave nothing away.
Old Master Jiang interjected, "Enough. The reason I called you all here today has already been explained by the head butler—it’s regarding the marriage alliance between our Jiang Family and the Qi Family."
His gaze then settled on Jiang Youli.
She sat quietly, her face calm and unreadable.
Old Master Jiang spoke slowly, "Youli, the Qi Family is the most prominent aristocratic family in Jing City. An alliance through marriage with them holds immense significance for our family. Although the eldest young master of the Qi Family is now wheelchair-bound, it does not diminish the Qi Family's status or influence. Moreover, the fact that our Jiang Family can form a marital bond with them is already the envy of countless noble families. However, after the welcoming banquet, all the young heirs and ladies of these families will come to know that you are the true heiress of the Jiang Family. Under such circumstances, it would indeed be inappropriate for Yonghe to marry the eldest young master of the Qi Family."
Jiang Youli nodded slightly, "I understand."
Her gaze was steady and bright, as if she had long been prepared.
Old Master Jiang continued, "Then, are you willing to marry the eldest young master of the Qi Family?"
