Chapter 71: A Fiasco at the Critical Moment

Ye Yao Yao returned home with Ye Shen, and Liu Ruyan naturally ignored him, embracing Ye Yao Yao tightly.

“Yao Yao, Mommy missed you so much,” she said, her eyes reddening as she held Ye Yao Yao close.

It had only been half a month since they last saw each other, yet Liu Ruyan missed her daughter dearly. One could imagine how hard it must have been for her when she severed ties with the Ye family and lived beside Shen Yan, struggling to survive.

“Mom, I’m back now, aren’t I?” Ye Yao Yao replied playfully.

“That’s still a long time,” Liu Ruyan insisted.

Ye Shen had been away on a business trip for nearly a month, and Liu Ruyan hadn’t sent him a single message. Now he was being ignored again. Though he had grown used to this over the years, he still wanted to make his presence felt.

“Mom, I’m still here,” he protested.

Finally, Liu Ruyan looked at him directly, but as soon as she spoke, it was to scold him, raising her hand to slap his shoulder.

“How dare you say that! If you hadn’t chosen such a distant location for the Ye Corporation back then, would Yao Yao have only come home every half month?”

Ye Shen was taken aback. When he selected the company’s location, he had consulted his mother. She had said it was up to him, since he was the one traveling back and forth. Yet now...

Ye Yao Yao watched quietly, with no intention of defending Ye Shen. She adored this lively family atmosphere.

“So warm and noisy,” she thought.

“Mom, you can’t be like this, you—”

At that moment, a teasing voice cut him off.

“That’s right, Mom! Look, big brother even makes little sister manage company affairs. Couldn’t he handle it alone?”

When it came to competing for affection, both Ye Qian and Ye Shen were relentless.

“Unlike me—I truly care for my sister. I wouldn’t let her touch anything shady,” Ye Qian said, winking at Ye Yao Yao.

“Second brother!” Ye Yao Yao cried, throwing herself into his arms. “It’s been so long! You’ve become even more handsome. I missed you so much!”

And so, a world where only Ye Shen was left hurt became reality.

Ye Yao Yao called him ugly upon seeing him, Liu Ruyan deemed him unnecessary, and Ye Qian immediately began vying for attention, with his sister gladly responding. Ye Shen fumed, but could only glare fiercely at Ye Qian.

The playful commotion ended, and they moved on to business.

The four of them sat beside the tea table as Liu Ruyan produced an invitation.

“This is from the Shen family.”

“The Shen family? Shen Yan?” Ye Shen asked, leaving it at that.

Liu Ruyan shot him a glare. “Did you need to say that?”

Then her demeanor softened, and she looked gently at Ye Yao Yao. “Yao Yao, what do you think? Should we go?”

“Isn’t this a family banquet? Why would they send us an invitation?” Ye Yao Yao frowned.

“The so-called family banquet is just a way to silence those minor families,” Liu Ruyan explained patiently. “The families with deep roots are always invited.”

Every year, Liu Ruyan had attended, mainly to see Ye Yao Yao. But each time, her daughter was nowhere to be found. Back then, Liu Ruyan knew her daughter was not favored. She hated the Shen family, yet to see her daughter, she had to go.

Now that her daughter had returned, Liu Ruyan felt there was no need to participate. Still, since it concerned Ye Yao Yao, she decided to discuss it together.

Ye Yao Yao nodded, indicating she understood.

So, why did Shen Yan want her to go?

“So, Yao Yao, what do you think?” Liu Ruyan pressed.

“Mom, it’s just a trivial matter. Shen Yan is a very principled person. He wouldn’t sabotage work just because you skip the family banquet,” Ye Yao Yao reassured her. “It won’t affect the Ye Corporation.”

Liu Ruyan nodded. “Alright, I know what to do now.”

Since her daughter didn’t want her to go, she wouldn’t go.

With that matter settled, Liu Ruyan’s demeanor shifted again, returning to her affectionate motherly self. She wrapped her arm around Ye Yao Yao and leaned closer.

“Yao Yao, tonight you must sleep with Mommy!”

“Alright.”

Though mother and daughter, their relationship was as close as sisters.

Together, they headed upstairs, leaving Ye Shen and Ye Qian alone.

The two brothers looked at each other, their eyes full of competitive spirit.

“Getting more handsome lately? Hmph.”

Ye Shen sneered. “You knew our sister would be back, so you specially got styled, didn’t you?”

“So what? Are you saying you purposely made yourself look ugly to let me shine?” Ye Qian retorted coldly.

“You only look good because of your styling, nothing more,” Ye Shen said, standing up. “Wait until I’ve rested for a while. Then I’ll crush you.”

“We’ll see about that,” Ye Qian replied.

Ye Yao Yao enjoyed a full day of restful sleep at home. She’d been sleeping well these days, and her spirits had greatly improved.

But Shen Yan’s torment had not ended.

He bought matching jewelry and insisted she try it on.

Under his relentless pestering, Ye Yao Yao complied.

Shen Yan was very pleased with his taste.

“Not bad,” he commented.

“Is that enough?” Ye Yao Yao said, exasperated.

“Don’t you want to admire how beautiful you look?” Shen Yan asked.

“I see my devastatingly gorgeous face every day in the mirror, so I don’t need to,” Ye Yao Yao rolled her eyes.

“Next Friday, I’ll come pick you up.”

“I never agreed to go,” Ye Yao Yao stressed.

“The elders are putting pressure on you. You have no choice,” Shen Yan replied, unfazed.

“I said I’m not going!” Ye Yao Yao shouted angrily. “Shen Yan, I told you, we’re over!”

Upon hearing this, Shen Yan was silent for a long time. Just as Ye Yao Yao thought he was angry, he spoke again.

“Then I’ll make our relationship public.”

Taking Ye Yao Yao to the Shen family banquet was exactly for this purpose.

Relationships didn’t matter to Shen Yan.

When Ye Yao Yao’s affair with Gu Yancheng was exposed online, he hadn’t responded immediately—not out of worry, but disdain. He didn’t want people of low character gossiping about them.

Since Ye Yao Yao wouldn’t cooperate, he decided to change tactics.

“We’re over!” she insisted.

“That’s just your idea of an ending. On my side, it hasn’t ended yet,” Shen Yan replied calmly. “Choose for yourself.”

Ye Yao Yao was furious.

At this moment, she deeply understood what it meant for an ex to be a stain.

Just because she’d been with Shen Yan before, he now used it as leverage to threaten her!

Shen Yan clearly knew he was a stain, yet he took pride in it.

“Fine, I’ll go,” Ye Yao Yao gritted out.

Shen Yan nodded with satisfaction, though he felt displeased inside.

When Qin Miao heard about this, she was livid.

Something she had struggled so hard to obtain, Shen Yan simply handed to Ye Yao Yao?

Ye Yao Yao?

Why her?

Rumors about her were spreading endlessly online, yet Shen Yan would rather bring someone like that to the family banquet than choose her?

No, the family banquet was of enormous significance; she had to be the one to attend.

Qin Miao could only try her luck with the Shen family matriarch.

The old lady frowned, casting a disdainful glance at Qin Miao. “What’s wrong with you? Didn’t you have him wrapped around your finger before?”

Over the years, she had helped Qin Miao a great deal. Success was within reach, only to slip away at the crucial moment!