After returning to the eastern district villa with Zhang Susu and Jiang Yehan, Jiang Youli was immediately pulled by the hand by Zhang Susu, whose face was brimming with joy and anticipation. "Youli, come, let me show you your room," she said eagerly.
"My room?" Jiang Youli asked in surprise. "Has it been prepared so quickly?"
Jiang Yehan smiled faintly, his eyes filled with adoration for his wife as he explained, "Your mother has always wanted a daughter, so there’s always been a room ready for a girl in this house."
Hearing this, Jiang Youli couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time.
So, to this aunt—no, now she should call her "Mom"—she truly was a heaven-sent gift!
At this thought, warmth surged in her heart.
Well, in a way, wasn’t this a mutual journey of affection?
With a smile, Jiang Youli replied, "Alright, Mom, let’s go see my room."
Following Zhang Susu to the third floor, Jiang Youli entered the central room. When the door was pushed open, she was stunned by the sight before her.
The room was fully decorated—completely in a youthful, girly style, with an overwhelmingly pink theme that looked like something out of a dream.
This was absolutely not her style!
Jiang Youli coughed awkwardly and said tactfully, "Mom, isn’t this a bit too... pink? It doesn’t really match my age now."
"Of course it matches! You’re twenty, the prime of your youth—fresh and vibrant!" Zhang Susu insisted before quickly reconsidering. "But if you don’t like it, we can have it all redone tomorrow to suit your taste!"
Jiang Youli thought for a moment. "No, it’s fine. Let’s keep it like this."
After all, it was just a place to sleep. It didn’t matter much.
Zhang Susu, however, wasn’t satisfied. "That won’t do. You’re my daughter now, the young lady of the Jiang family. You shouldn’t settle for less. We have plenty of rooms—why not take the entire third floor? We can decorate them in different styles—minimalist luxury, Mediterranean, even a countryside theme like the mud house you used to live in!"
This was too much!
Her beautiful new mother was spoiling her beyond belief!
But then again...
She really did want the entire floor.
That way, Xiao Hei, Xiao Bai, and Xiao Lü would have more space to roam!
"In that case, I’ll take all the rooms on the third floor," Jiang Youli said without hesitation.
"No problem at all! If you want, we can even build a whole new villa just for you!" Zhang Susu nodded enthusiastically.
Jiang Youli waved her hand. "That’s unnecessary. I’d rather live with you and Dad."
Hearing this, Zhang Susu’s eyes lit up. "Good. We’ll live together."
The thought of finally having a daughter filled Zhang Susu with contentment. "Alright, dinner won’t be ready for a while. Rest here for now—I’ll have your belongings brought up."
"Okay."
After Zhang Susu left, someone soon delivered the burlap sack Jiang Youli had brought from Jianshan Village.
Closing the door, Jiang Youli first released Xiao Hei, Xiao Bai, and Xiao Lü, then carefully arranged the bottles and jars she had crafted herself before finally flopping onto the overwhelmingly pink bed.
Buzz.
Her phone vibrated.
Rolling over, Jiang Youli picked it up and saw a message from her ex-boyfriend, Duan Jinghan—a photo of a luxurious villa.
A follow-up text arrived shortly after.
"[Jiang Youli, see this? This is my new home. I’m the young master of the Duan family, one of Jing City’s elite. From now on, I’ll be living in this grand villa. Jealous? If you regret leaving me, I might reluctantly take you back.]"
Oh. She’d forgotten to block him.
Expressionless, Jiang Youli replied with a single word: "[Idiot!]"
After sending it, she promptly dragged Duan Jinghan into her blacklist.
......
Back in the western district villa, Qin Yulian stormed over to the sofa and sat down, fuming. "Your brother and sister-in-law are treating us like we don’t matter! They’re really planning to take our biological daughter for themselves!"
Jiang Yangxu sat beside her, lighting a cigarette before speaking in a low voice. "No matter what, we can’t let our daughter acknowledge them."
Jiang Yonghe, who had followed them in, remained expressionless, though her eyes darkened imperceptibly.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhao, standing nearby, said dismissively, "Dad, Mom, didn’t you say you didn’t want Yonghe to leave either? If she wants to recognize Uncle and Aunt as her parents, let her. Why are you so against it?"
Qin Yulian crossed her arms angrily. "We might not acknowledge her, but that doesn’t mean your uncle and aunt get to swoop in and take her!"
Jiang Zhao shrugged. "She’s just trash anyway. If Uncle and Aunt want to pick her up, let them. Consider it recycling. At least we won’t have to deal with her nonsense if she comes back—didn’t you see how she acted today? Flaunting her Jiang bloodline, looking down on us. Who knows what chaos she’d bring if she returned?"
Jiang Yangxu turned to Jiang Yonghe, who stood beside Jiang Zhao. "Yonghe, you saw your grandfather’s attitude today. Despite all your excellence, he still favors his biological granddaughter."
Jiang Yonghe pressed her lips together, her eyes reddening as she nodded obediently. "I saw."
Jiang Yangxu analyzed coldly, "Originally, since your uncle and aunt had no children, the Jiang family’s assets would eventually go to you two. Even though you’re not our biological daughter, we’d never treat you unfairly. But if our real daughter acknowledges them, the distribution of the family fortune becomes uncertain. That’s why your mother and I oppose her recognizing them—not because we don’t care about you."
Jiang Yonghe nodded. "I understand, Dad."
Jiang Zhao still didn’t seem concerned. "Grandpa would never give her a share."
Qin Yulian, knowing her son cared most about his sister, added, "Even if it’s not about the inheritance, think about Yonghe’s marriage to the Qi Family’s eldest son. Are you really going to let her marry a disabled man?"
At this, Jiang Zhao fell silent.
Indeed, the main reason they had brought Jiang Youli back was to have her replace Jiang Yonghe in the arranged marriage with the Qi Family’s heir.
But now, with things turning out this way, it was unlikely Jiang Youli would comply easily.
Jiang Yangxu said, "Your mother’s right. We know you’ve grown up with Yonghe and don’t want her to suffer or leave. Your mother and I feel the same. But from now on, even if it’s just for show, you must act like a proper older brother to your biological sister. Only then can we convince her to take Yonghe’s place in the marriage and fulfill the alliance between our families."
After a long pause, Jiang Zhao finally said, "Dad, Mom, I know what to do."
......
Once back in her room, Jiang Yonghe picked up her phone and walked to the window, gazing at the brightly lit eastern villa across the way. She dialed a number.
The moment the call connected, her meek expression twisted into something vicious.
"Is it done? Where’s the video I asked for?"
