Seeing the screenshots circulating online, Li Zixuan was so furious that he laughed instead. “This Jiang Youli really is digging her own grave. She actually exposed our bet online herself. Is she planning to let the entire internet watch her lick my shoes?”
Yu Linglong said, “Maybe Jiang Youli thinks you’re about to be led around like a dog by her, Li Zixuan.”
“Hmph, that’s impossible. Young Master Long has already spoken. I’m guaranteed to win this time!”
Yu Hongtu also glanced at the trending discussions online about Jiang Youli’s bet with Li Zixuan. “Since Jiang Youli likes attention so much, I’ll leak the news about The Aspirations of Youth ahead of time too—the part about casting Chen Wang as the male lead and Zhou Zerui as the second male lead and villain. That’ll guarantee her even more attention.”
Li Zixuan laughed. “Hahaha, good! I hear Chairman Yu is preparing to hand the company over to you. Let me congratulate you in advance, Young Master Yu!”
Yu Hongtu glanced at Yu Linglong, whose expression had turned unpleasant. “It’s still too early. I’ll have to follow Young Master Long and bring down Starlight Entertainment first. Then I’ll make Jiang Zhao famous and squeeze every bit of value out of him for the company. Only then will my father feel comfortable handing the company over to me.”
“With Young Master Long backing you, that won’t take long!” Li Zixuan flattered him again.
Yu Hongtu smiled. “I hope so! I also have my sister to thank. If it weren’t for her, Young Master Long wouldn’t have given me the time of day or agreed to back me.”
Yu Linglong clenched her hands. Fighting back her resentment, she put on an aggrieved expression and said, “Yu Hongtu, stop talking nonsense. I married Ah Yuan because I truly love him, not so he could support you.”
As she spoke, she raised her head and gazed affectionately at the taciturn Long Yuan. “Ah Yuan, you have to believe me.”
Long Yuan held her hand and said meaningfully, “Of course. But if you ever dare betray me, I won’t spare you—and I certainly won’t spare Dafeng Entertainment.”
Yu Linglong buried her head against his chest. “How could I? I only hope you won’t abandon me.”
At that moment, Yu Hongtu urged, “All right, Sis. Keep singing for Young Master Long and cheer him up.”
Yu Linglong said with a wounded look, “Ah Yuan, I’m your woman. Are you really going to sit there and watch other people disrespect me? Isn’t that disrespecting you too?”
Yu Hongtu froze. “Young Master Long, that’s not what I meant…”
“Shut up.” Long Yuan cut him off.
Intimidated by Long Yuan’s gaze, Yu Hongtu immediately fell silent. However, he shot Yu Linglong a vicious glare.
Yu Linglong stayed with Long Yuan until ten that night. When she realized she wasn’t going to uncover any more useful information, she shook his arm and pretended to act coquettishly. The alcohol she had drunk had left her slightly unsteady.
“Ah Yuan, I’m going home to get my beauty sleep. Will you take me back?”
Before Long Yuan could answer, Yu Hongtu said with a hint of reproach, “Can’t you see that Young Master Long hasn’t had enough fun yet? Sis, I’ll take you home.”
“I don’t need you to take me. Ah Yuan, if you won’t take me, I’ll go home by myself.”
Pretending to be angry, Yu Linglong walked out of the private room after saying this.
“Young Master Long, look…”
“Go take your sister home. I don’t want her going back alone,” Long Yuan said coldly.
“All right, Young Master Long.”
With Long Yuan’s permission, Yu Hongtu also rose and left the private room.
Long Yuan watched the siblings’ backs as they walked away, one behind the other. His eyes remained cold and ruthless.
Of course, he could tell that Yu Hongtu had been openly and subtly suppressing Yu Linglong all night.
But he had made no attempt to stop him.
Because regardless of whether Yu Linglong had betrayed him, Long Yuan needed her to understand that whether she lived well in her family depended entirely on his attitude.
When they reached the door of the private room, Yu Hongtu quickened his pace and caught up with Yu Linglong. His voice was cold and mocking.
“Sis, I know you’re very unwilling to accept this. So what if you’re the wife of Father’s first wife? Aren’t you still reduced to being nothing more than a pawn in a marriage alliance?”
Yu Linglong’s body abruptly stiffened. She stopped and slowly turned around, staring straight at Yu Hongtu with a blazing gaze. Her face was faintly flushed from the alcohol, but her eyes were as cold as stars in winter, sending a chill through anyone who looked at them.
Smack!
A crisp slap rang through the night as Yu Linglong’s palm struck Yu Hongtu hard across the face.
Yu Hongtu had never expected her to attack him without warning. He stared at her in shock, forgetting to react for a moment.
“You hit me?” Once he recovered, his voice filled with fury. He quickly grabbed Yu Linglong by the sleeve, looking as if he intended to strike her back.
Yu Linglong looked up at him without the slightest fear and said coldly, “Yu Hongtu, go ahead and hit me if you dare. If Long Yuan finds out that you hit his woman, do you think he’ll let you off?”
Yu Hongtu’s raised hand froze in midair, and his expression turned hideous.
Long Yuan was a man whose every step could make the entire capital’s elite circle tremble. He truly wasn’t someone Yu Hongtu could afford to offend.
Even so, Yu Hongtu didn’t let the matter go. He glared viciously at Yu Linglong and said through gritted teeth, “Once I successfully take over the company, and Young Master Long gets tired of playing with you, I’ll have plenty of chances to deal with you.”
Yu Linglong slapped his hand away from her collar. “Wait until you’ve successfully taken over the company.”
With that, she clenched her fists tightly. Her fingernails dug deep into her palms as she turned and strode toward the elevator without looking back.
Yu Linglong swore silently that she would never give this illegitimate son a chance.
Yu Hongtu still followed her into the elevator.
“Yu Linglong, what are you still fantasizing about? Don’t tell me you actually think Young Master Long loves you that much—that you have a chance to turn things around and compete with me?”
“Your mother is already dead. Wouldn’t it be better if you just behaved yourself?”
The mention of her mother sent Yu Linglong’s anger blazing. She raised her hand to slap Yu Hongtu again, but this time he was prepared, and she failed to land the blow.
Yu Hongtu seized her wrist in a death grip. “If you don’t want to end up like your mother, then serve Young Master Long properly for me and Father. I can still become the dependable family support you need!”
The elevator reached the basement level. Yu Linglong wrenched her hand free of his grasp.
“Don’t celebrate too soon. I’ll make sure you and your mother live a fate worse than death!”
After saying this, she hurried toward her parking space.
Once inside her car, Yu Linglong drove away from Evernight City. Only then did she take out another phone—a backup—and call Jiang Youli.
…
At that moment—
Jiang Youli was lying in bed, having her usual video call with Qi Huan. The conversation turned to her bet with Li Zixuan.
“I figured that after I provoked him like that, this Dog Li would definitely run to his master, Long Yuan, to complain and beg him to punish me as soon as possible.”
Qi Huan laughed. “A friend of mine happened to be at Evernight City tonight. Just as you said, Li Zixuan really did go there tonight.”
Jiang Youli was surprised. “You have friends?”
Qi Huan: ?
Qi Huan couldn’t help laughing helplessly. “Little Li’er, do I really look like someone who’s too isolated to have any friends?”
“Not really. You look like someone who gets along well with everyone. It’s just that I’ve known you for so long, and I’ve never met any of your brothers or friends.”
“So Little Li’er wants to meet my brothers and friends? After your birthday banquet, I’ll take you out to dinner with them.”
“Sure!”
After Jiang Youli finished speaking, a notification popped up at the top of the video: Yu Linglong was calling.
