Jiang Youhe quickly pushed Jiang Zhao away and turned back with a choked voice, "Dad, Mom, I know you're in a difficult position. I don’t want to make it harder for you. If only one of us can stay, let my sister remain. I’ll leave."
If it weren’t for forcing her to marry the Qi Family’s Young Master in Jiang Yonghe’s place, Qin Yulian would never have acknowledged this daughter in the first place!
With a life of luxury right within her grasp, how dare she still act so stubborn and unreasonable?
Qin Yulian refused to believe her biological daughter would truly abandon the status of a Jiang family heiress and walk away.
So, she decided to be blunt:
"Your second brother is right. You are my biological daughter, and I didn’t want to hurt you, but look at how arrogant and unreasonable you’re being. Not only do you lack self-awareness, but you also insist on pushing the issue. Fine, I’ll say it plainly—compared to you, Yonghe is far more outstanding. We won’t abandon a daughter we’ve raised for twenty years just because you’re our flesh and blood!"
Qin Yulian laid out her thoughts without holding back: "If you want to return to the Jiang family peacefully and live the rest of your life as a carefree heiress, then swallow your resentment and accept that Yonghe will continue to stay in this house as a Jiang daughter."
Finally, she delivered the ultimatum, "Otherwise, we’ll have no choice but to give up on you."
Before Jiang Youli could respond, a voice filled with pity came from the doorway.
"Second Brother, Sister-in-law, are you really so foolish as to reject your own flesh and blood?"
Jiang Youli turned in surprise to see Zhang Susu and Jiang Yehan entering the room.
As she approached, Zhang Susu looked at her with heartache. "I couldn’t rest easy, so I came back to check on you. But I never expected..."
Jiang Zhao, displeased by Zhang Susu’s return, snapped, "Aunt, it’s not that we don’t want her—she’s the one insisting on leaving!"
Zhang Susu couldn’t bear it. "You’re choosing to keep the criminal’s daughter who caused her to suffer all these years. How could she not be heartbroken?"
Hearing this, Jiang Yonghe shot Zhang Susu a venomous glare.
This meddling old hag!
No wonder she couldn’t have children!
Serves her right!
Noticing the hostility directed at his wife, Jiang Yehan turned to Jiang Yonghe and caught the malice hidden in her eyes. His gaze darkened.
Jiang Yonghe quickly schooled her expression and averted her eyes.
Jiang Zhao argued, "Aunt, Yonghe was just an innocent baby back then. What fault does she bear?"
Touched by Zhang Susu’s defense, Jiang Youli felt warmth in her chest. "Aunt, don’t waste your breath on them. I don’t want a family like this. If they don’t want me, I don’t want them either."
"You poor child..." Zhang Susu’s eyes reddened as she gently touched Jiang Youli’s cheek. "Maybe you should just endure it and let Jiang Yonghe stay..."
Jiang Youli shook her head firmly. "No. If they truly want me as their daughter, I won’t allow the enemy’s child to stay under this roof for even one more day!"
Just then, a deep, aged voice sounded from the doorway.
"Has my precious granddaughter been brought home?"
An elderly man, leaning on a cane and accompanied by the head butler, stepped inside.
Jiang Youli turned to look—this must be Old Master Jiang, her grandfather.
He appeared to be around eighty, his hair silvered with age, yet his eyes were sharp and his steps steady.
Jiang Yangxu, who had been stern moments ago, hurried to assist him, but Old Master Jiang brushed him off irritably. "Don’t bother, you fool! You’d rather raise the enemy’s child than your own flesh and blood! At this rate, I’d suspect she’s your secret lovechild!"
Flustered, Jiang Yangxu protested, "Dad, don’t say such things! The DNA test confirmed Yonghe isn’t related to me. But we’ve raised her for twenty years—of course we’ve grown attached."
"Idiots! If she were just an adopted child, fine! But her mother swapped her with your real daughter! Have you lost your minds?!" Old Master Jiang strode straight to Jiang Youli, studying her face closely.
As the head butler had said, despite her years of hardship, his granddaughter carried herself with confidence. Even in the face of wealth, she showed no trace of timidity.
Her eyes, especially, shone with remarkable clarity and strength.
A commendable spirit!
Old Master Jiang patted her shoulder. "My precious granddaughter, I’m your grandfather. Your father may be a fool, but I’m not. If he won’t acknowledge you, I will!"
Jiang Youli smiled. "Grandfather, if not for you, Uncle, and Aunt being so reasonable, I’d have doubted how the Jiang family ever became a prominent household in Jing City with people like them around."
Jiang Yangxu’s face darkened at the jab.
Qin Yulian’s dislike for her daughter deepened.
Jiang Zhao stepped protectively in front of Jiang Yonghe, fearing Old Master Jiang’s wrath would fall on her.
Chuckling at Jiang Youli’s remark, Old Master Jiang reassured her, "Don’t worry, granddaughter. I’ll make sure justice is served today. Even if I have to kick them all out, you will not leave this family!"
Jiang Zhao couldn’t hold back. "Grandfather—"
"Silence!" Old Master Jiang cut him off. "You’re the first who should go! If only you’d been the one swapped at birth—let you suffer the same hardships, then see if you’d still be this blind when faced with your own sister’s plight!"
The rebuke left Jiang Zhao speechless.
Old Master Jiang then turned his fury on his second son and daughter-in-law. "And you two! ‘Grown attached’? I should be scolding you for spending the Jiang family’s fortune to pamper a criminal’s daughter! And now you’d cast out your own flesh and blood for her sake?!"
"If my precious granddaughter leaves, every last one of you will pack your bags and get out!"
Qin Yulian opened her mouth but hesitated under Old Master Jiang’s severity.
Jiang Yangxu didn’t dare utter a word in defiance.
Jiang Zhao clenched his fists, his hatred burning toward Jiang Youli.
Noticing his glare, Jiang Youli subtly raised her middle finger at him and mouthed two silent words: "Moron!"
Tch!
Too stupid to blame himself, yet he dares resent her?
Qin Yulian ventured weakly, "But what about Yonghe...?"
"Keep her if you want! But make sure she stays out of my granddaughter’s sight!" Old Master Jiang warned before softening his tone. "There, granddaughter. You’re staying. Forget about your parents, brother, and their adopted daughter. From now on, the Jiang family is your home."
Seizing the moment, Jiang Youli brightened. "Grandfather, I don’t want to acknowledge them as my parents. Since I’m still a Jiang by blood, why not let Uncle and Aunt adopt me instead?"
