Chapter 099: Did You Ever Like Her This Much Before?
The Ye residence.
Having discovered Ye Zhen's disappearance, Ye's father had already made three trips back and forth between the family home and the hospital.
He glared fiercely at Mrs. Ye, who was sipping her coffee.
As if Ye Zhen's disappearance were entirely her doing.
Mrs. Ye met his gaze coldly. "Old Ye, don't you think you're acting like a madman right now?"
Ye Dad glared at her with a dark expression.
After a moment of mutual staring, Mrs. Ye smiled.
She finally realized something was terribly wrong.
How could two people sleep in the same bed and wake up as different people?
Both were fundamentally businesspeople driven by profit—the kind who could turn on anyone for gain, their hearts as hard as stone.
"Did you ever care this much about Zhenzhen before?"
"I remember when she was in middle school, you couldn't even find her classroom when she asked you to attend her parent-teacher conference."
"Last year? Oh, the year before. On her birthday two years ago, you were busy with overseas business. You promised to celebrate with her but made her wait until dawn without showing up. She overturned the cake, smashed the champagne tower, and even injured her own hand, ending up in the hospital."
"Do you remember what you said back then?"
Ye Dad's expression stiffened.
Of course he remembered what he’d said.
Mrs. Ye repeated his words slowly, emphasizing each syllable: "A daughter so inconsiderate—I wonder who she takes after. Acting like those uncultured vagrants in the slums. If you don't want to stay in this house, then get out…"
Her voice grew louder and louder.
Ye Dad staggered and collapsed onto the sofa.
"Look at her now. Did you ever love her this much before?"
At this point, Mrs. Ye sighed.
She poured herself another cup of tea, sipping it leisurely while glancing at her husband out of the corner of her eye.
"Just admit it. What you truly cherish is an obedient, sensible daughter—and that daughter doesn't necessarily have to be Ye Zhen."
"No…"
Ye Dad's voice trembled as he countered his wife's words.
"I've already…"
Now I'm not that kind of father anymore.
People change.
At least at this moment, his heart yearned only for Ye Zhen's return, for her swift recovery.
He had found the best doctors and the best medical resources for Ye Zhen!
He cherished this daughter!
Madam Ye gave a cold laugh and said nothing more.
Some things didn't need to be spelled out. She trusted her husband would understand.
As for Ye Zhen…?
She had already left once before, and that time, they had indulged her and forgiven her. In Mrs. Ye's view, that was the only chance she would get. She wouldn't indulge a disobedient child forever.
Of course, should Ye Zhen return in the future, she wouldn't withhold food from her.
After all, she was the daughter she had raised with her own hands.
…
Outside the door.
Ye Fuli had arrived.
She was genuinely curious to see how the two at home would react now that Ye Zhen had left.
To them, Ye Zhen no longer held any value as a marriage alliance. And since she wasn't their biological daughter, there was even less reason to keep her.
Probably…
they would give up on Ye Zhen quite easily, wouldn't they?
Upon pushing open the door.
The household servant immediately stepped forward to receive the gifts Ye Fuli had brought.
The moment he saw Ye Fuli, Ye Dad stood up again, his gaze fixed on her with intense fury.
"Where on earth have you taken Zhenzhen?!"
Ye Fuli shrugged her shoulders and said, "Don't be so fierce, Chairman Ye. I'm here precisely to explain this matter."
Her composure mirrored Mrs. Ye's calmness perfectly.
When the two sat on the same sofa, their expressions were practically identical.
Ye Fuli leaned back lazily, settling more comfortably against the cushions as she observed the Ye family members before her.
Her haughty demeanor stirred some displeasure in Mrs. Ye.
But for now, she chose not to dwell on such minor details.
Ye Fuli's willingness to return to this family was a positive development; everything else could be discussed.
"You keep insisting I'm your biological daughter, so naturally this household can only have one Ye family heiress, correct?"
At this point, she covered her mouth and let out a soft chuckle.
If any of the fortunate spectators who had witnessed her beatings saw this scene, every hair on their bodies would likely stand on end.
This girl, when she smiled, was pure villainy incarnate.
Ye Fuli turned to Mrs. Ye: "That imposter… consider her my homecoming gift. Is that alright, my dear, biological mother?"
Madam Ye twitched the corner of her mouth.
She didn't know how to respond to that.
Ye Fuli quickly turned her gaze to her biological father: "Or perhaps you'd rather keep that imposter than welcome me back?"
Father and daughter locked eyes.
Ye Dad's inner turmoil gradually subsided.
"Ye Fuli, you're wrong about that."
"Oh?"
"Whether you choose to return or not, Ye Zhen is my daughter. She is no imposter—she is the daughter I raised with my own eyes!"
"Huh, is that so?"
Ye Fuli clapped her hands and sighed dramatically, "Well, well, well. What a touching display of fatherly affection."
Her tone dripped with scorn.
Ye Dad hated nothing more than her contemptuous tone. His gaze grew increasingly hostile: "If you don't bring Zhenzhen back safely, I'll call the police."
"Oh? Such a minor matter warrants calling the police?"
Ye Fuli feigned surprise.
She glanced at Mrs. Ye, then fixed her gaze back on Ye Dad.
"But what would you say to the police? That your biological daughter kidnapped your adopted daughter? That you want me to go to jail? Ha ha… If you do that, you'll end up with neither daughter."
At this point, both their expressions visibly shifted.
Ye Fuli's face turned cold. "Stop pretending. I know exactly who you are. Don't you find it disgusting to put on such a show of affection?"
What deep father-daughter bond?
When his interests were threatened, he remained silent.
He was like this with Ye Zhen, and he was like this with her, Ye Fuli.
How disappointing.
"From now on, forget about Ye Zhen. If anyone asks, you know how to respond."
That was all he said.
Ye Fuli stood up, preparing to leave.
Madam Ye watched her with obvious displeasure, opening her mouth but ultimately saying nothing.
Yet deep within, a vague unease began to stir.
In all the years she had controlled the Ye family, she had never suffered such a humiliating defeat at anyone's hands.
Ye Fuli, her own flesh and blood, was truly terrifying.
Perhaps, before long, Ye Fuli would completely seize control of the Ye family, manipulating both of them at her whim.
"No, this cannot be. We cannot let that little brat run wild."
……
…
On the way back.
Ye Fuli received calls from He Ying and Huang Li again.
"Ye Fuli, have you seen Ye Zhen?! Why isn't she at the hospital?"
Ye Fuli sneered coldly, "How peculiar, Miss He. Did you pay me to look after Ye Zhen? If she's gone, you go find her. What good does asking me do?"
A moment of silence hung heavy on the line.
He Ying gritted her teeth, cursed under her breath, and hung up abruptly.
As for Huang Li, he dared only to ask a couple of indirect questions.
Not getting the answers she wanted, she hung up too.
After a brief lull.
Ye Fuli's face darkened.
Her daughter was missing, yet everyone seemed more anxious than Ye Fu Li and her husband.
"Is money and face really that appealing? Hmph."
Ye Fuli toyed with her phone, a cold smile playing on her lips.
Once she had taken everything from the Ye family and seized that high ground, she would take great pleasure in watching them both start over as ordinary people…