Chapter 007: Catering to the Male Lead? Pfft!
"Ye Fuli, congratulations! You've topped the grade again in this diagnostic exam—and you're the top student in the entire district!"
Taking her near-perfect exam paper from the homeroom teacher, Ye Fuli tugged at the corner of her mouth, revealing a self-mocking smile.
What good was a brilliant mind, after all?
As someone who had been reborn, she knew all too well the fate that awaited her…
She had far too much to fight against.
"Thank you."
Stepping out of her reverie, she carried the paper back to her seat.
"Congratulations, Ye!"
"Wow, you're amazing! You could even solve such a difficult problem?"
"Please let us see your paper! Please, please!"
……
…
Before long, it was time to go home.
Ye Fuli left the classroom alone, walking toward the building housing Class F amidst the chatter of her classmates.
When she learned that Ye Zhen hadn't come to school that day, she wasn't surprised at all.
She knew full well what kind of obsessively controlling middle-aged woman Ye's mother was.
Regarding Ye Zhen's absence last night, Ye's mother would undoubtedly fly into a rage—perhaps even send someone to warn her against associating too closely with Ye Zhen.
"Heh. Talk about speaking of the devil."
At the school gate.
A black minivan was parked there, its license plate bearing an auspicious sequence of luxurious "8"s.
The owner sat in the backseat, sunglasses on, her face devoid of any smile.
She wore a bespoke women's suit, impeccably tailored—even someone completely ignorant of fashion could recognize its extravagance and high price tag.
Of course, the most extravagant item was the emerald-green jade Buddha pendant hanging around her neck.
The Ye family had spent over a hundred million yuan to acquire it at an overseas auction last year.
Spotting Ye Fuli approaching the car, the owner called out to her immediately.
"Stop."
Ye Fuli turned around, feigning unfamiliarity with Ye's mother, and asked in confusion, "Are you talking to me?"
Ye's mother nodded. "Come here."
The door opened, and Ye Fuli got in.
Here, she was adept at feigning weakness and inferiority. Once inside, she deliberately kept her distance from Ye's mother.
Likewise, she concealed the disgust in her eyes with equal skill.
"So you're Ye Fuli? The top student my daughter raves about?"
Ye's mother studied Ye Fuli, feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
She couldn't resist removing her sunglasses to study Ye Fuli more closely.
Ye Fuli allowed her to observe without resistance, not rejecting the other woman's attempt at closeness.
"You look quite lovely," Mrs. Ye murmured involuntarily, her words echoing her inner thoughts before she immediately stiffened her expression.
Ye Fuli sneered inwardly, but her expression remained impassive.
Ye's mother continued, "But regardless, you shouldn't be corrupting my daughter. She's still young and innocent. I don't want her exposed to the filth and chaos of your world, learning your crude ways."
"Yes, I understand."
Such hurtful words had become routine for Ye Fuli.
She lowered her head and apologized immediately.
"I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
Ye's mother nodded. "You may go now."
To demonstrate her benevolence as a member of the school board, before Ye Fuli got out of the car, she handed her a stack of freshly withdrawn bills.
In her previous life, Ye Fuli, proud and haughty, had refused the money. But this time, she accepted it without hesitation.
"You are truly beautiful inside and out. Thank you for your kindness. I will remember this forever."
"Mhm."
Such insincere flattery, however, was quite pleasing to Ye's mother.
Watching Ye Fuli drive away, Ye's mother closed her eyes briefly.
Ye Zhen's academic performance had always been a constant headache for her! Yet, she didn't expect Ye Zhen to achieve anything remarkable. She only hoped to mold her into an obedient puppet, to be used in the future for the Ye family's marriage alliances with other prominent clans.
"Take me to see Ye Zhen. See if she's picked out her wedding dress yet."
…
At that moment.
Ye Zhen lay like a beautiful doll, passively allowing the stylist to arrange her.
She was on the verge of falling asleep.
What beautiful dress? All she knew was it was way too heavy!
For someone as petite as her, it felt downright cruel!
"Miss, we're done! Please take a look—any adjustments needed?" The stylist's words jolted Ye Zhen awake from her drowsy state.
"What the hell? Is that me in the mirror?"
This alluring makeup gave off a distinctly wild kitten vibe.
Ye Zhen's face simply wasn't suited for such a seductive look!
With her innocent, childlike features, why didn't they go for a cute, youthful style?
"Change it immediately! Especially this eye makeup—it looks like someone punched me. It's hideous."
"Uh, okay…"
The stylist sighed helplessly and hurried to redo her makeup.
But no matter how they adjusted it, there remained an overwhelmingly garish vibe that made Ye Zhen unable to bear looking at herself.
"You need a glamorous look to pull off this gown."
"Can't I just not wear this damn dress?" Ye Zhen abruptly stood up, nearly toppling over in her eight-centimeter heels. "And these awful heels—are they even meant for humans?"
The stylists exchanged bewildered glances.
Ye Zhen gave up pretending altogether, yanking out all the padding from her chest and flinging it onto the table.
It was a thick, bulging stack.
"No matter how much padding I add, I'm still flat-chested!"
"Why do you insist on choosing things that don't suit me?"
"Let me tell you, I don't want to wear this stuff, and I can't wear it!"
At that moment, a makeup artist in the corner timidly piped up, "But this is how you've always dressed… Didn't Mr. Bai say he liked it? Have you forgotten…?"
Truthfully, she too felt this outfit didn't suit Ye Zhen.
Ye Zhen's anger caught in her throat, and she couldn't speak another word.
After a moment of silence, she sighed.
"Remember this: from now on, don't concern yourselves with Mr. Bai's preferences. Just cater to mine."
"Yes, Miss."
……
After half an hour of transformation.
Ye Zhen finally achieved the style she desired.
It was still a formal gown, but the skirt was modest—revealing just the right amount of skin—and didn't require eight-centimeter heels to complete the look. A pair of flat leather pumps would suffice.
She studied her reflection in the mirror for a long moment before finally nodding in satisfaction.
"Alright, everyone, you've worked hard. You can clock out now."
"Thank you, Miss!"
The room emptied as staff members carried their belongings out.
A short while later, Ye's mother knocked on the door.
When she saw her daughter dressed so childishly, her expression darkened instantly. "Zhenzhen, what on earth are you doing? We're not going to a Children's Day party. Could you please dress a little more maturely?"
Meeting her mother's furious gaze, Ye Zhen delivered the prepared line:
"Mom, I'm creating a sense of novelty for Bai Ruoting!"
Ye's mother visibly froze: "What kind of novelty?"
"Oh! I've always catered to his taste, so he must have grown tired of it. That's why he never felt anything for me. Now, I'm trying a pure and innocent style—maybe he'll fall for me instantly?"
Hearing this, Ye's mother felt there might be some truth to it.
She didn't try to stop Ye Zhen's costume change anymore.
"Bai Ruoting is a good boy. If the two of you can make it work, your father and I would be very happy." Mother Ye stroked her daughter's head gently and urged, "You have to give it your all, okay?"
Of course, there was one thing she kept to herself…
If Ye Zhen and that Bai family boy never ended up together, she would have to resort to some underhanded tactics!
She must leverage the Bai family's influence to solidify the Ye family's business empire!
This marriage—it had to happen.