Ye Yun smiled faintly.
She was certain Ye Shaohua wouldn’t pass up this opportunity—after all, the girl had already shown signs of wanting to compete for control of the company.
Yet, without even lifting her head, Ye Shaohua replied, “I have college entrance exams. No time.”
Ye Yun’s smile… stiffened.
Watching as everyone at the table engaged Ye Shaohua in enthusiastic conversation, Ye Yun knew she couldn’t afford to wait any longer.
On the third day of Ye Guofu’s business trip, the college entrance exams began.
The butler had specially dressed in bright red and even brought out a scarlet car from the garage, waiting outside.
Ye Shaohua casually grabbed her pencil case—containing pens, her ID, and exam admission ticket—and was about to leave when her phone rang.
She swiped to answer. “Why are you calling now?”
On the other end, Yun Yi had spent the entire night clearing his schedule for the next two days. Hearing her voice, he rose from the sofa, phone in one hand while smoothing his collar with the other. His tone was gentle. “Have you left yet? I’ll pick you up for breakfast?”
As he spoke, he strode downstairs.
It was only six in the morning—plenty of time for a meal before the exam.
In the conference room, a group of high-level executives stared in shock—
What the hell? Did the CEO take the wrong pills today?
“The butler? Since when do butlers have this much free time?” The young tycoon, usually the picture of aristocratic elegance, frowned, his voice tinged with unreasonable resentment. “Doesn’t he have a house to watch, dogs to walk, groceries to buy?”
Since when do butlers have time to chaperone exams?!
The conference room fell into rare silence as the executives exchanged bewildered glances.
Yep. The boss has officially lost it today.
“Fine, come then,” Ye Shaohua said after checking the time. “We’ll head out with the butler later.”
We.
Yun Yi silently savored the word before hanging up, satisfied.
Just as he was about to leave, he glanced down at his formal suit.
Though undeniably handsome, it made him look… old.
His finely arched brows furrowed slightly as he turned to his secretary with deliberate calm. “Get me a tracksuit.”
…..
Meanwhile, Ye Shaohua ended the call and headed downstairs.
The rest of the Ye household was already up.
Yang Qin, though heavily pregnant, was an early riser and descended the stairs just as Ye Shaohua did.
Her belly protruded prominently, and when she spotted Ye Shaohua, she deliberately placed a hand on her lower back—as if flaunting her condition.
Ye Shaohua rolled her eyes.
Idiot.
For some reason, Ye Yun had also woken up early and was now supporting Yang Qin.
Her gaze swept over Ye Shaohua before she spoke sweetly, “Little sister Shaohua, could you step aside? My mother isn’t steady on her feet. You should be more considerate—”
Hearing this from above, Grandma Ye immediately set down her breakfast.
With Yang Qin so close to delivery, the slightest mishap was unacceptable.
She had never wanted Ye Shaohua—this harbinger of misfortune—to stay in the Ye villa to begin with. Now, spurred by Ye Yun’s words, she rushed over, terrified Ye Shaohua might do something to Yang Qin.
“Step aside?” Ye Shaohua chuckled softly, lifting her eyes to meet Ye Yun’s.
Yang Qin shivered under that sharp, almost sinister gaze, her footing wavering.
Logically, with Ye Yun supporting her, she should’ve been fine.
Yet somehow, Yang Qin felt Ye Yun’s grip loosen.
Her weight, entirely reliant on Ye Yun, suddenly had no support—
And she tumbled down the stairs.
Grandma Ye arrived just in time to see Yang Qin rolling to the bottom.
Her voice trembled with fury. “Yang Qin! Are you alright? Damn you, Ye Shaohua! Why don’t you just die? How dare you harm my grandson!”
Tears streamed down Grandma Ye’s face as she took in the blood staining Yang Qin’s legs. Between shouting for an ambulance and hurling venomous glares at Ye Shaohua, she snatched a scalding teapot from the side table—
And hurled it at Ye Shaohua.
Ye Shaohua sidestepped it effortlessly.
The utter lack of remorse on her face sent a chill down Grandma Ye’s spine. “You’re even smiling! Such malice at your age! Someone call Guofu—this monster needs to be thrown out of the Ye family!”
The butler rushed in at the commotion, followed by a senior executive from Ye Corporation who’d come to fetch Ye Yun.
Both froze at the sight of Yang Qin sprawled on the floor, blood pooling beneath her.
“Madam, there might be a misunderstanding…” the butler began instinctively. “The young miss has exams today—”
SLAP!
Grandma Ye struck him across the face. “Exams? Trash like her deserves to take exams? Who else could’ve pushed Yang Qin besides her? Ye Yun? Would she be stupid enough to shove her own mother down the stairs?!”
The butler clutched his cheek, speechless.
The executive beside him studied Ye Shaohua, suspicion and undisguised disgust flashing in his eyes.
Of course. Yang Qin was on the verge of delivering the heir Ye Yun’s position depended on.
Would Ye Yun really be foolish enough to endanger her own mother?
There was only one possible culprit—
Ye Shaohua.
To her, Yang Qin’s unborn son was the greatest threat.
By every logical measure, only Ye Shaohua had motive.
In the entire Ye household, apart from the butler, only Ye Guofu might stand by her.
“Call the police. We want no part of this viper,” Grandma Ye spat, hands shaking. “Ye Shaohua, if my golden grandson doesn’t survive, I’ll make sure you pay—even if it costs me my life!”
Tears streamed down Ye Yun’s face as she glanced at Ye Shaohua.
With Ye Guofu conveniently away on business, she lowered her lashes to hide a cold smirk.
Without her father’s protection, Ye Shaohua was vulnerable.
By the time Ye Guofu returned, she might already be in juvenile detention.
Attempted harm to a pregnant woman? Once this hit the internet, public outrage alone would drown Ye Shaohua.
She’s just a high school student, Ye Yun mused.
With Father gone, she’s putty in my hands.
Still standing on the stairs, Ye Shaohua noted Ye Yun’s triumphant gaze.
Below, the crowd avoided looking at her outright.
In the vast Ye mansion, the mighty Ye Corporation—
Aside from Ye Guofu and the butler,
Not a single soul believed her.
Her own grandmother wished her dead.
Her phone rang again.
This time, when she answered, she didn’t wait for the caller to speak.
Leaning against the stair rail, she adopted a pitiful, trembling tone—frail, helpless, and utterly terrified:
“Where are you? Someone’s trying to drag me to the police station… I’m so scared.”
