Seeing Jiang Youli push open the private room door, Jiang Xing and Jiang Yonghe's faces instantly showed unconcealable astonishment.
Simultaneously, an ominous premonition quietly arose in their hearts.
To make matters worse, Jiang Youli showed no sign of having entered the wrong room. She walked straight in and took the empty seat next to Zhou Yi.
"Why so surprised? Of course I'm here for the meeting. Brother Zhou Yi said a friend wanted to see me, so here I am. Oh, so it's you guys."
Cheng Jing, who was following behind, also pushed Qi Huan's wheelchair into the private room.
After recovering, Jiang Yonghe looked across at Zhou Yi, who hadn't stated his position, and asked, "Zhou Yi, are you saying 'Lili Yuanshang' is actually Jiang Youli?"
Zhou Yi nodded. "Correct. Xiao Li is Lili Yuanshang."
Jiang Yonghe looked at Zhou Yi, hoping he was joking, but Zhou Yi's expression was calm, with no hint of a joke.
At this moment, Jiang Zhao finally couldn't hold back a laugh. "This is hilarious! Xiao He, I told you my suspicion wasn't wrong! He's a fraud!"
Jiang Xing frowned, also looking seriously at Zhou Yi. "Are you certain she is Lili Yuanshang?"
Jiang Yonghe also looked at Zhou Yi with disappointment. "Brother Zhou Yi, let me ask you one more time. Are you absolutely sure you haven't made a mistake? The Lili Yuanshang you know is Jiang Youli?"
Faced with Jiang Yonghe's repeated questioning, Zhou Yi's face turned cold. Clinging to his last shred of patience, he said, "Yes. Xiao Li is Lili Yuanshang. I have no reason to lie to you."
Jiang Yonghe sighed. "Brother Zhou Yi, actually, I'm not just your fan, I'm also a fan of the great author Lili Yuanshang. I've read all of Lili Yuanshang's original novels and watched all the adapted TV dramas, so I know how talented Lili Yuanshang is as a web novelist."
"Brother Zhou Yi, it's not that I don't want to believe you, but Sister Youli dropped out of school in junior high. With that level of education, how could she possibly write bestselling novels with such excellent plots and literary quality?"
Zhou Yi was already tired of explaining. "Miss Jiang, I considered you a friend before, so when you asked for my help, I gave it. In any case, I've helped you and your eldest brother arrange the meeting with the person. Whether you believe it or not is up to you."
Jiang Zhao looked displeased. "Look at his attitude! 'Whether you believe it or not'? I don't believe it at all! I initially thought you were after money or trying to get close to Xiao He. Now I understand. You and Jiang Youli are in cahoots! You orchestrated this whole charade just to mess with us, didn't you?"
Jiang Youli picked up the teapot on the table and leisurely poured herself a cup of tea. "I really am Lili Yuanshang. Why don't you believe me? If it weren't for Brother Zhou Yi's sake, I wouldn't have agreed to meet today. Why are you all acting like this upon seeing me?"
Jiang Zhao spat out, "Only a fool would believe you're Lili Yuanshang! You're just playing us!"
After finishing pouring the tea, Jiang Youli shook her head. "See? I tell the truth and you still refuse to believe it."
"I remember now..." Jiang Yonghe said with a look of sudden understanding. "No wonder you said last night, Sister Youli, that you could make Lili Yuanshang refuse to sell us the copyright. It's because you knew we definitely wouldn't get to meet the great author Lili Yuanshang today. Everything was part of your plan, right?"
Jiang Youli took a sip of the fragrant, sweet tea, then shrugged upon hearing this. She set down her cup, her smile very casual. "No, no, no. Why would I trick you? It's simply because I am Lili Yuanshang, so I can decide whether or not to sell the copyright to Jiang Xing."
Her tone sounded half-serious, half-joking, making Jiang Xing, who had been silent, half-believing and half-doubting.
Unlike Jiang Zhao and Jiang Yonghe, he didn't completely dismiss the possibility that Jiang Youli was Lili Yuanshang. Yet, at the same time, he was unwilling to believe that the key figure holding the future fate of Starlight Entertainment could be Jiang Youli.
Jiang Zhao had lost all patience. He slapped the table and stood up. "Enough! No more wasting words on this wild girl! Isn't it obvious? We've all fallen into her trap. She said she would ruin our careers, and now her scheme has actually succeeded, making us get our hopes up for nothing!"
Jiang Youli nodded. "Wow, Jiang Zhao, you're so smart!"
Jiang Zhao glared at her fiercely. "Jiang Youli, don't get too cocky!"
Jiang Youli played with the teacup in front of her. "Seeing you all so frustrated, why shouldn't I feel cocky?"
"So, you admit today's meeting was a setup by you!" Jiang Zhao angrily slammed the table again, making the tea set rattle.
Jiang Youli shrugged. "I didn't admit anything. You're the ones insisting on thinking that way, so I just went along with what you said."
Jiang Zhao clenched his fist. "I know you don't dare admit it, afraid I'll be as sneaky as you and record it to tell Grandpa! Don't worry, I disdain using such tricks!"
Jiang Yonghe looked at Zhou Yi with great disappointment. "Brother Zhou Yi, I never thought you were this kind of person. All this time, I considered you my idol, my friend..."
In response to Jiang Yonghe's case of the pot calling the kettle black, Zhou Yi merely glanced at her indifferently and said, "I also never thought you, like your second brother, never really trusted me and believed I was deceiving you."
"Alright, it seems there's no need to continue this meeting." Jiang Xing gave a cold look to the composed Jiang Youli and left the private room with a stern face.
Jiang Yonghe glanced at Qi Huan, who was watching the scene unfold beside Jiang Youli, and followed out.
Jiang Zhao pointed at Jiang Youli and issued a threat: "Jiang Youli, I won't let you stay this arrogant forever! Just you wait! However loud you're laughing now is how bitterly you'll cry later!"
With that, he strode out.
"Bang!" The private room door was slammed shut hard, venting Jiang Zhao's displeasure.
Having witnessed the attitude of the three Jiang siblings towards Jiang Youli firsthand, Zhou Yi's gaze turned icy. "It seems Old Zhou was right. The Jiang family doesn't treat you well."
Jiang Youli stopped spinning her teacup. "Not entirely. I've recognized an uncle and aunt as my parents, and they treat me very, very well."
Hearing this, Zhou Yi showed slight surprise. "That's possible?"
"Yes. I have parents now too. Even though we haven't been together for very long, I genuinely adore my beautiful new mom and handsome new dad." Jiang Youli said without hiding her affection.
Seeing her like this, Qi Huan's eyes were full of anticipation. He couldn't help but wonder: Would there ever be a day when Xiao Li'er would speak of him with the same heartfelt joy?
Seeing that Jiang Youli didn't seem to be just comforting him, Zhou Yi felt relieved. At least she wasn't completely isolated and helpless in the Jiang family.
Thinking of this, he looked at Qi Huan beside Jiang Youli. "And who is he?"
Qi Huan smiled slightly and introduced himself. "I am Xiao Li'er's fiancé, Qi Huan. I came today specifically to meet Xiao Li'er's friends."
At this point, a hint of inquiry appeared in his eyes. "If I'm not mistaken, you're not just an ordinary web novelist, but rather the young master of the wealthy Zhou family in Jing City, the one who reportedly refused to inherit the family business, right?"
Zhou Yi was taken aback, clearly not expecting this man to guess his identity so quickly.
Before reaching adulthood, he had never made a public appearance, and his private life was kept well hidden. After coming of age, he began writing novels and became almost a complete homebody, with no information about him ever being leaked.
"Did Xiao Li tell you that?"
Jiang Youli quickly waved her hands in denial. "I didn't say anything."
Then she added, "But little Huanhuan is very perceptive."
