Chapter 7: The Lion’s Demands

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Seeing that Yiran finally relented, Ye’s father immediately asked gently, “Ranan, whatever you want, Dad will agree to it.”

“Dad, have sister clean the room first. I want to go inside and sleep afterward.”

“Yueyue, hurry up and go,” Ye’s father suppressed his excitement and gave his daughter a look that said she should be sensible.

Ye Ruyue saw an opportunity and rushed into the room to start cleaning without hesitation.

Ye’s mother never went against her husband’s decisions, but when it came to choosing between her husband and son, she sided with her son.

“Husband, Weiguo is hungry. Let Yueyue take him to eat first. I’ll clean the room.”

“Weiguo can go eat by himself. You two clean the room thoroughly. I have some things to discuss with Ranan.”

Ye’s father reached out his hand—wrinkled but fair—towards Ye Siran. “Ranan, get up.”

“Dad, my hands are dirty. I’ll get up by myself.” Ye Siran pushed herself up with both hands.

“Ranan, let’s go inside and talk.” Without waiting for a reply, Ye’s father headed towards the couple’s bedroom.

“Mm.” Ye Siran nodded softly and followed behind. She had only tried so hard earlier to ask for a little more.

In this life, she would never marry He Hongwen.

Looking back now, both her natal and marital families had been manipulating her, and she was the only one unaware of the son’s exchange.

No, even her upright father-in-law didn’t know. It was a pity he passed away too soon.

Uncle He had always been partial to her and often taught her that one need not always endure.

Even if she bore a daughter, it didn’t matter—his eldest son had already given him three grandsons.

While Uncle He was alive, Ye Ruyue was still happily married and had not divorced. Those were the sweet days she and He Hongwen once shared.

Ye Ruyue married for eight years before divorcing, and by then she and He Hongwen had been married for ten years.

He’s father’s death—whether from illness or being worn out by He Hongwen and Ye Ruyue—left her alone to face all hardships for the next twenty years.

After he passed, Ye Ruyue simply moved in with her family along with her son. Her mother-in-law treated Ye Ruyue as her own daughter and her grandson as her own.

Ye Ruyue worked at the same hospital as He Hongwen during the day, and they went home together after work. Outsiders assumed they were still husband and wife.

Rumors flew everywhere. At first, she suffered deeply, unable to sleep through the nights, crying and throwing tantrums.

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He Hongwen only showed annoyance, accusing her of having dirty thoughts, insisting that he and Ye Ruyue were purely friends.

He constantly frowned and warned her not to speak during meals—“Don’t talk while eating or before sleep”—as if she were a child.

At the time, she felt ashamed, thinking she lacked proper upbringing.

Later, she realized that with the wrong person, speaking out was always wrong.

They only spent time together eating and sleeping, and since they didn’t talk during those times, how could she have any chance to speak with her husband?

Though she was the bride on the marriage certificate, she lived like a joke.

Recalling the past, Ye Siran felt a sharp pang in her heart. Now that she had been reborn, she would distance herself from these worthless people and live a different life.

It was said that her grandparents were buried in the far northwest, just in the past couple of years. She wanted to find them.

Ye Siran looked up at her hypocritical stepfather. She had joined this family with her mother when she was five.

From the moment she arrived, she learned to cook and wash clothes. For her mother’s sake, she bore everything without complaint.

She survived on wild vegetables and steamed corn buns, constantly bullied and ordered around by her stepsister and brother.

Ye Ruyue claimed her smooth marriage to He Hongwen was all thanks to her, so out of gratitude, she obeyed and listened.

She never knew if He Hongwen and Ye Ruyue had ever been intimate, but she personally saw Ye Ruyue tangled up with a cousin from the He family.

Ye Ruyue was shameless and promiscuous, always seducing married men, committing all sorts of misdeeds.

This life, she would let He Hongwen experience the bitterness of being cuckolded. Thinking of that, Ye Siran looked forward to their marriage.

As soon as Ye’s father entered the room, he asked anxiously, “Ranan, are you really willing to give up the engagement with Hongwen?”

“Dad, you know I never wanted to give up, but sister is already involved with Hongwen. I don’t want you and Mom to be hurt.”

“Dad always knew Ranan was a good and soft-hearted child. Tell me what you want. As long as I have it, I’ll give it to you.”

Ye’s father thought his stepdaughter too weak. Such a person was beneficial to his daughter, so he was willing to offer some favors.

“Dad, you also know I didn’t force this engagement stubbornly. If I don’t agree, sister’s life is over.”

“……”

At this moment, Ye’s father no longer saw the stepdaughter as weak. She was about to make a lion’s demand.

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For the first time, Ye’s father looked her over carefully. “Speak. Whatever Daddy has, I’ll give you.”

“If I break the engagement, I won’t have the face to stay in the compound. I want to go to the far northwest countryside to find my grandparents. Help me arrange everything.

Also, give me two thousand yuan, some ration coupons, and fabric tickets. If sister wants the university quota from the He family, add another eight hundred.

If sister doesn’t want it, I’ll sell the quota to someone else for at least a thousand.”

Ye Siran lowered her head as she listed her requests, no longer calling him “Dad.” She wasn’t afraid he would refuse; this selfish man dreamed of becoming a close relative of the He family.

“Ranan, you want to find your grandparents. I can help, but you’re asking for too much……”

Ye Siran cut him off, “I might not even go find my grandparents. Actually, marrying Hongwen would be the best choice.”

“Haha… Ranan isI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.