Chapter 181: Preparing to Deal the Ye Family a Fatal Blow
"What are you here for?"
Ye Zhen remained silent, unable to give a clear answer.
But at that moment, Ye Fuli gained momentum, her gaze fixed intently on her, determined to get to the bottom of things.
"What could it be for?" Ye Zhen snorted, her eyes darting nervously. "For world peace, okay?"
It was the truth.
After all, if Ye Fuli died, the entire world would have to restart with her. At that point, whether Ye Zhen could still be Ye Zhen was highly uncertain.
But "world peace" wasn't the whole truth either.
Ye Zhen hesitated to face her true motive, habitually cloaking the truth with various excuses.
The dog system labeled this behavior as "putting on a brave face."
Ye Dad couldn't help but chuckle. "That's quite a humorous answer, don't you think, Ye Fuli?"
He turned his gaze toward Ye Fuli.
Lying in the hospital bed, Ye Fuli's fingers clenched weakly before slowly relaxing.
She lowered her head.
Clearly, she didn't find the answer particularly humorous.
"Oh, well then, I suppose you're quite the hero." Ye Fuli snorted. "World peace? That's your responsibility now?"
"I wouldn't call it greatness—just a tiny bit of a saintly heart," Ye Zhen replied.
"Oh, congratulations then." Ye Fuli glared at her.
"Hmph, same to you," Ye Zhen glared back.
Their conversations always took this sarcastic, snarky turn.
Ye Dad listened until his stomach ached.
He quickly interrupted their exchange. "What would you like for lunch? I'll go prepare it."
"I've no appetite. No need to prepare anything for me." Ye Fuli had lost a lot of weight recently and genuinely couldn't eat much, relying on IV nutrition.
"Then I'll have a serving of spicy crayfish, plus grilled fish, and roast chicken…"
Ye Zhen wasn't about to indulge her; she'd order whatever she wanted.
"Oh, and a bubble tea too, please! Thanks, Uncle!"
Ye Dad smiled and nodded. "Alright, Uncle got it."
Truthfully, at first, Ye Dad had worried she might follow Ye Fuli's lead and refuse to eat or drink. But now it seemed he'd overthought it.
This child was like a little sun, bringing life and warmth to this gloomy hospital room.
Having her accompany Ye Fuli was truly a blessing.
As he stepped out of the ward, Ye Dad kept glancing back. He longed to hear Ye Zhen acknowledge her identity herself, yet he didn't want to pressure her.
Yet after spending these past few days together, he was almost certain this was indeed Ye Zhen!
Hearing Ye Zhen call him "Uncle" tore at Ye Dad's heart, yet he had to convince himself to let it go.
"Knowing Zhenzhen is alive is enough. Whether she recognizes me or comes home—what does it matter?"
"Enough."
"I need to learn to let go."
……
……
The Ye residence.
A young woman carrying a suitcase, her figure bulky, pressed the doorbell of the Ye residence.
The maid came to answer the door.
"Miss, who are you looking for?"
The maid scrutinized the young woman from head to toe, utterly unable to recognize who she was.
The woman looked slightly embarrassed. "It's Jiang Nini! Auntie Li, I even brought you a coat once. Don't you remember?"
"Huh? Oh… right, right, right! It's Nini!"
Aunt Li plastered a smile on her face, but inwardly she couldn't help but wonder if this girl had been eating feed. How could she have gotten so plump in just a few days?
Still, out of politeness, she said nothing. Instead, she stepped aside and let Jiang Nini enter.
As a maid who didn't live at the Ye residence full-time, she naturally had no idea what had transpired between Jiang Nini and Ye Fuli.
Jiang Nini had no intention of explaining either.
After being beaten so badly by Ye Fuli and spending so long in the hospital, the resentment in her heart was beyond measure.
And to make matters worse, her appetite had become monstrous during this period. She ate more and more, gaining over 40 pounds until none of her clothes fit anymore!
She blamed every misfortune upon Ye Fuli.
But now, unable to contact Bai Ruoting—her greatest source of support—revenge against Ye Fuli seemed utterly impossible.
Paralyzed by fear of Ye Fuli, she had planned to flee the country immediately after discharge. Yet, upon accidentally learning that Ye Fuli now faced imminent death, her confidence surged back.
Once Ye Fuli died, wouldn't the Ye family belong solely to Ye Dad?
If she could win over Ye Dad, she would effectively control the entire Ye family.
Then, Bai Ruoting would surely come back to her!
Lost in these foolish fantasies of the future, Jiang Nini clearly remained unaware of what her dream lover had endured and what he had become.
Likewise, in her own mind, she remained convinced that even after gaining over forty pounds, she was still a woman of boundless charm.
…
Less than two hours later, Ye Dad returned.
When he saw the plump figure in the kitchen, he froze in surprise: "Who are you?"
Jiang Nini turned to look at him, still maintaining her usual feigned reserve and gentleness: "Uncle, it's me, Jiang Nini."
"You're Jiang Nini?!"
Ye Dad couldn't believe his ears.
Still, he maintained a polite smile.
"Oh, you're out of the hospital… My daughter can be a bit extreme sometimes. What she did wasn't right. I'm here to apologize on her behalf."
"What are you talking about, apologizing?"
Jiang Nini wiped her plump hands and forced a smile.
"Ye Fuli and I are classmates and friends. If I can't understand and forgive something this small, then I'd be too narrow-minded!"
"Uncle, I know Ye Fuli wasn't always like this. She must have suffered some extreme trauma to become this way…"
"I'm too heartbroken for her to even think of blaming her!"
These words left Ye’s father at a loss for how to respond.
At that moment, his only thought was to settle Jiang Nini's wages quickly, clarify the compensation details, and send her on her way.
After all, Ye Fuli disliked her!
To make his daughter happy, Ye Dad would agree to fire not just one maid, but all of them if necessary.
But now, with her showing such magnanimity, to immediately say "I'm firing you" would make him seem inhuman.
Ye Dad simply couldn't bring himself to lose face like that, nor was he heartless enough.
He could only postpone the dismissal for now.
"Thank you for your understanding."
"It's nothing, Uncle. It's just what I should do."
Jiang Nini's smile grew even gentler.
But the servants around her didn't look at her with much approval.
As fellow women, who didn't see through her little schemes?
The Jiang Nini of old had been slender and pretty, possessing a certain endearing charm. But now, her figure had gone to seed, her face puffed up like a steamed bun. And to top it off, she affected a coquettish manner, speaking in a falsetto voice—wasn't that just pathetic?
Who would pity such a scheming, ugly woman?
Ugliness isn't a sin—a wicked heart is!
As for Ye Dad, he wouldn't even spare her a glance, heading straight for his study.
Jiang Nini felt a pang of shock in her heart.
After showing such generosity, how could Ye Dad not be moved at all? That just doesn't make sense!
Just then, the doorbell rang again.
The maid by the door opened it without a second thought.
The visitors were the shrewd and calculating Old Master Bai, accompanied by several of their Bai family cousins. Counting them carefully, there were over twenty people, crowding the courtyard outside.
They had naturally heard about Ye Fuli's situation and all believed her days were numbered.
Without Ye Fuli, what threat could the Ye family possibly pose?
They had to come and take Bai Ruoting back!
If Bai Ruoting was unharmed, that would be one thing. But if he was injured, or worse, crippled, the Ye family would never see peace again.
Before Old Master Bai arrived, he had already notified all major media outlets, preparing to apply full pressure at once and deliver a fatal blow to the Ye family.
"Old Ye! I've come to retrieve my good-for-nothing grandson."