Jiang Youli walked to the entrance and indeed saw Qin Yulian standing at the front gate of the courtyard with Jiang Zhao and Jiang Yonghe.
Her beautiful stepmother wasn’t letting them in.
Jiang Zhao wore a reluctant expression, while Jiang Yonghe looked pitiful.
Only Qin Yulian seemed highly agitated.
Jiang Youli scoffed inwardly. The apology from Jiang Zhao was just a pretense—what she really wanted was to reclaim her as a daughter!
Zhang Susu’s face was cold as she said, "Do you truly want Jiang Zhao to apologize to Youli? I think you have ulterior motives."
Qin Yulian retorted, "Eldest sister-in-law, your words grow harsher by the day. What ulterior motives? A birth mother visiting her own daughter counts as ulterior motives? If anything, you’re the one with ulterior motives—keeping my daughter from me just so you can monopolize her!"
Zhang Susu’s expression turned even frostier, her voice sharpening. "Monopolize? Youli is my daughter now. Her name is officially registered in the household register under Han and me!"
"Just because her name is on your register doesn’t make her truly yours. The blood running through her veins is mine and Yang Xu’s—a bond you’ll never understand," Qin Yulian deliberately needled Zhang Susu on her most sensitive topic.
Hearing this, Jiang Youli’s eyes darkened.
In her heart, Zhang Susu was her mother.
She would never allow anyone to wound her mother like this!
At that moment, Qin Yulian spotted Jiang Youli standing at the villa’s entrance and immediately waved enthusiastically. "Youli! I’ve brought your second brother to apologize for what happened with the evening gown last night!"
Zhang Susu turned and gestured. "Youli, Nanny Wang should have breakfast ready. Go back inside and eat. I’ll handle this."
Jiang Youli knew her kind stepmother was too soft-hearted. Faced with Qin Yulian’s aggression, she would only argue back and forth, never gaining the upper hand.
Jiang Youli, however, was different. If Qin Yulian came to stir trouble for her and her stepmother, she would make sure Qin Yulian and her family left cursing their ancestors!
Jiang Youli smiled. "Mom, let them in."
Zhang Susu paused in surprise.
Qin Yulian turned back to Zhang Susu with a smug look. "See, eldest sister-in-law? Youli still wants to see us. Hurry up and let us in."
"Of course! All those things my birth daughter did—signing that severance agreement, making a scene at the welcome banquet—it was all just to get our attention and win our approval. How hard she must have worked!"
"This time, I see it clearly. As her birth mother, I won’t fail her again!"
Every word was deliberately aimed at Zhang Susu, a reminder of her place.
No matter how much effort she put in, she would always just be the adoptive mother.
Zhang Susu’s gaze flickered with only a brief moment of doubt before she steadied herself and chose to support Jiang Youli’s decision.
"Alright," she replied gently before turning to the bodyguards nearby. "Open the gate."
Qin Yulian turned to her reluctant son, Jiang Zhao. "Zhao, remember what I told you. Apologize properly to your sister later. No matter what she says or asks, agree to it first. Understood?"
Jiang Zhao muttered, "...Mom, do we really have to do this? We were adamant about cutting ties before, and now we’re crawling back. How humiliating!"
Qin Yulian knew he was hung up on pride. "Zhao, don’t be stubborn. She’s your real sister. There’s no shame in bringing her back—the shame would be failing to!"
She also knew her son was worried about Jiang Yonghe’s feelings, so she took the girl’s hand and said gently, "Yonghe, you’ve always been understanding. You’ll bear with me, won’t you?"
Jiang Yonghe forced a sweet smile. "Of course, Mom. I never wanted to compete with Youli-jie. It’s best if she returns to you, Dad, and Brother. I just don’t want you to send me away."
Qin Yulian patted her head approvingly. "I knew you’d be sensible. Your father and I haven’t spoiled you for nothing. Don’t worry—we’ll treat you just the same as Youli. Whatever she gets, you’ll have too."
Jiang Yonghe shook her head. "Mom, there’s no need for that. I just want to stay by your and Dad’s side."
Qin Yulian’s eyes softened. "Good. Later, apologize to Youli with your brother."
"Okay," Jiang Yonghe agreed, her eyes darkening with resentment.
Only now did she realize how little she truly meant to Qin Yulian and Jiang Yangxu.
Once, she had believed she had their love. Now, she saw how conditional it was.
Not even as unconditional as Zhang Susu and Jiang Yehan’s love for Jiang Youli!
Once the gate opened, Qin Yulian ignored Zhang Susu and strode toward the villa, pulling Jiang Zhao along.
"Youli, did you sleep well last night? Have you eaten breakfast? If not, come back with us—I’ll cook for you myself!"
Zhang Susu watched, her heart aching.
Left behind, Jiang Yonghe approached Zhang Susu and said softly, "Auntie, are you alright?"
Zhang Susu turned. "Why wouldn’t I be?"
Jiang Yonghe continued gently, "I thought you might be worried about Youli-jie returning to them. Even if she does, I’m sure she’ll still treat you and Uncle just the same."
Just as expected.
Last night, she had warned that once Qin Yulian’s family saw how exceptional Jiang Youli was, they would try to drive a wedge between them. And here they were, already sowing discord.
Zhang Susu said firmly, "No. Youli won’t go back to them. Rest assured."
With that, she walked back to the villa without another glance at Jiang Yonghe.
Jiang Yonghe’s gentle facade dropped as she stared at Zhang Susu’s retreating figure, her eyes filled with disdain.
She wasn’t even Jiang Youli’s real mother—what right did she have to act so possessive?
She was just a barren woman clinging to the illusion of motherhood through Jiang Youli!
Jiang Yonghe refused to believe that if Zhang Susu ever had a child of her own, she wouldn’t cast Jiang Youli aside just the same.
Jiang Youli observed Qin Yulian’s enthusiasm and Jiang Zhao’s reluctant compliance, then smirked. "Last night’s welcome banquet went smoothly, so of course I slept well. As for breakfast—I haven’t eaten yet. Since you offered, Second Aunt, I’ll trouble you to cook for me today."
Qin Yulian assumed Jiang Youli’s repeated use of "Second Aunt" was just lingering resentment and eagerly nodded. "Of course! I’ll go back and prepare it right away."
Jiang Youli wagged a finger. "No need to go back. You can cook for me right here in my home."
