Chapter 049: We Must Leave the Ye Family with Dignity
"Mom, are you saying you doubt I'm your biological daughter?"
Ye Zhen forced a smile.
Her heart was pounding wildly inside, but she clung to her composure until the very last moment.
Mrs. Ye shook her head.
She reached out, gently stroked Ye Zhen's hair, and whispered softly, "I just want a definite answer. Of course, I believe you are my daughter."
The words sounded hollow.
Even Ye Zhen, who was usually not the sharpest tool in the shed and had little knack for reading people, could sense something was off.
This time, her identity as the fake heiress was truly about to be exposed.
Too bad she hadn't saved enough money to live a carefree life…
But it didn't matter, Ye Zhen thought optimistically. At least she could still rely on exams to turn her life around and become a slightly less salty fish.
If she couldn't rise above others, she didn't have to sink below them either.
"There's no need for doubt, nor waste money on a paternity test."
Ye Zhen suddenly stood up, as if summoning every ounce of courage, and declared in measured tones, "I am not your daughter! I'll pack my things right now and leave this place to make room for your real daughter."
Watching her rise to leave, Ye Dad hurriedly called out to her.
"Zhenzhen, come back! What nonsense are you talking about?"
Ye Zhen walked swiftly, showing no intention of stopping.
Mrs. Ye, still seated on the sofa, watched her daughter's resolute retreat. A sharp pain pierced her heart as if a large chunk had been torn out. "Zhenzhen! Wait!"
Ye Zhen, of course, didn't wait.
While staying at the Ye household, she had to grovel and bow. Now that she was preparing to leave, why should she continue to be so lowly?
Would humiliation change her fate of leaving home?
Rather than struggle futilely here, she might as well pack more of her things while they were still reeling from the shock.
True, there weren't many pieces of jewelry in the room that truly belonged to her! But there were still one or two items, plus some cash red envelopes and such…
Heh! She'd hide them well—these were the safeguards for her future happiness.
"You have the nerve to call her that?" Ye Dad was furious. "No matter how much trouble you caused before, I let it slide. But now you have the audacity to suggest taking Zhenzhen for a paternity test!"
Mrs. Ye protested urgently, "I only mentioned it in passing!"
Ye Dad sneered coldly, "Is this something you casually bring up? Don't you understand what a paternity test means? In my opinion, you've completely lost your mind! Fine then. Starting today, Zhenzhen and I are leaving this place. We don't want to be a thorn in your side."
He could no longer tolerate his wife.
He had witnessed Ye Zhen's recent transformation. What a well-behaved, sensible child she had become! She might be a bit slow, but she studied diligently, often burning the midnight oil!
Yet his wife—the child's mother—couldn't see her daughter's efforts at all.
Not only did she recklessly dictate Ye Zhen's life, she slandered her friends, and now she was even trying to deny Ye Zhen's very identity!
What a shameless, pathetic woman!
Ye Dad picked up his suit jacket from the sofa and headed toward the door.
At the entrance, he instructed the driver, "Wait for Zhenzhen to come out. Tell her to meet me at the gate."
"Ye! Ye, stop right there! Ye…!"
Madam Ye lunged forward like a madwoman, trying to grab hold of her husband's coattail, only to have her hand pushed away ruthlessly.
They exchanged a glance.
Mrs. Ye staggered, taking a small step back.
Gritting her teeth, she said coldly, "It's unfair to me that you just walk away like this."
"Then think carefully about your own actions—whether they're fair to the child, to this family, or to us!"
Ye Dad turned and walked away.
Sitting in the car, he couldn't shake his anger and lit a cigarette.
But when he saw Ye Zhen running toward him, clutching her schoolbag and clothes, he quickly stubbed out the cigarette.
"Dad…"
Ye Zhen truly hadn't expected Ye Dad to follow her out the door.
"Don't be afraid. Dad will always be on your side. Get in the car."
The car door opened, and Ye Zhen crouched low as she climbed inside.
At that moment, it would be impossible not to feel moved.
Yet the more touched she felt, the more uneasy her heart grew!
She hadn't run away on a whim. She truly wasn't the pampered daughter of the Ye family…
Before the car started moving, Ye Zhen couldn't hold back any longer and said earnestly, "Dad, I really am not your daughter."
Ye Dad's face hardened. "Don't say such defiant things. Say it again and I'll get angry! Your mother may not acknowledge you, but I do. Even if I have to be both father and mother, I'll raise you properly."
The car slowly pulled away.
Seated in the backseat, Ye Zhen wore a look of deep melancholy.
The situation was spiraling further and further out of her control.
Sigh. She'd better tell Ye Fuli about this situation right away.
……
……
At that moment.
Ye Fuli had just finished her conversation with Huang Li.
Her expression was heavy, lost in thought.
Just as she was about to talk to Ye Zhen, she received a message from her.
Ye Zhen recounted everything that had happened after returning home today, word for word, and finally asked her, "What should I do now?"
"She asks me what to do instead of just running away? The current situation clearly favors her, yet she doesn't know how to cherish and use it… How foolish."
Ye Fuli chuckled softly and shook her head.
There were many fools in this world, and most of them disgusted her.
But when faced with this particular fool, Ye Zhen, she found herself unable to feel disgust.
That girl Ye Zhen never played by her rules.
She appeared to be under control, yet Ye Fuli never truly felt she had a grip on her.
Ye Fuli switched hands to hold her phone and replied to Ye Zhen's message: "Now, what outcome do you want?"
Ye Zhen: "…Huh?"
Ye Fuli: "Don't give me that dumb look. You have thirty seconds to think of an answer."
Ye Zhen: "…"
Did she really look dumb?
Ye Zhen instinctively glanced at the car window, feeling deeply indignant. She was clearly wearing an expression of sharp intelligence—where was the dumb look?
But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.
After three seconds of thought, Ye Zhen replied, "You come back! This house and our parents are yours. I'm leaving the Ye family."
Ye Fuli: "Leave? I don't think this is the time for sulking, Miss Ye Zhen."
Ye Zhen smiled wryly. She wasn't acting out of spite at all.
She was perfectly clear-headed and rational!
With her current savings, she could easily afford three more years of advanced studies if she lived frugally.
With that thought, Ye Zhen replied, "I'm serious. I'm leaving. This position is yours again."
Ye Fuli: "Did I agree to that?"
Ye Zhen: "I don't think I need your permission."
After sending the message, Ye Zhen lifted her head and glanced at Ye Dad.
A pang of reluctance tugged at her heart.
In her previous life, bedridden for ten years, she saw doctors and nurses more than anyone else. By the end, she'd even begun to forget what her parents looked like.
She had little concept of familial affection.
Now, experiencing her father's protective role toward her, her heart was filled with mixed emotions.
Alas, what she had just gained was about to slip away in an instant.
Ye Zhen sighed deeply, thinking to herself, This must be my fate!
Everything is predestined; not a single thing is within our control…
[Host, don't be sad! I'm still here with you! As long as you keep taking on quests, we'll soon be back to living that life where we don't have to look at prices when buying things~]
Hearing the useless system's consolation and encouragement, Ye Zhen snorted, crossed her legs, and put on a stubborn, fearless front.
"You useless thing, you're just exaggerating. Why would I be sad? I'm celebrating my release from punishment, feeling totally awesome, (ˉ▽￣～) Pfft~~"
[Host, you're crying.]
"How dare you! It's just sweat from this stuffy car."
[Host, why not say your eyes peed or got bricks in them? That would make you seem humorous, and we could chat more pleasantly.]
"…Shut up right now, or I swear I'll hang myself for you to see?"