Volume One, Chapter Seven: Marry Early

Lu Jingchen’s face wore a constant smile, though it never reached his eyes. Under Ye Zhaoying’s gaze, he calmly offered his suggestion.

“I can withdraw the one million investment. Of course, all the promises you made before would no longer need to be fulfilled. That way, we’ll be even, and there will be no further contact between us from now on. If you agree, I can have the lawyer draft the contract immediately.”

Ye Zhaoying’s heart jolted, her pulse racing. Lu Jingchen’s proposal was indeed reasonable—if she agreed, they would have no more ties. But that also meant her studio would be completely finished.

At home, her parents and brother favored their adopted daughter, Ye Qianyao. She herself was the least favored. And Fu Mingchi, whom she once thought she could trust for life, had long since betrayed her—not only cheating and deceiving, but also drugging her, resorting to despicable means.

Now, the only thing she could hold onto was her career.

If Lu Jingchen withdrew his investment, her career would collapse. She would truly have nothing left.

Ye Zhaoying suddenly lifted her head and met Lu Jingchen’s eyes, her voice resolute. “No, Mr. Lu, you misunderstand. This was an accident, but personal matters should remain separate from work. Although we have our private conflicts, they should not affect our professional relationship. The previous contract will remain unchanged.”

A fleeting glint of cunning flashed in Lu Jingchen’s eyes, but at that moment, Ye Zhaoying, unsettled as she was, did not notice it.

He was determined to have his way.

Having made up her mind, Ye Zhaoying quickly got up and dressed.

Without the cover of the blanket, her body was fully exposed to Lu Jingchen’s gaze. Her fair, smooth skin was covered with kiss marks, evidence of the passion from the night before.

Since it had already happened, Ye Zhaoying saw no reason to be coy. She dressed in front of Lu Jingchen and then took her leave.

“Mr. Lu, I have something to attend to. I’m leaving now.”

Lu Jingchen said nothing, and Ye Zhaoying took his silence as consent.

He also got out of bed, and on the white sheets, a vivid red stain appeared.

He truly hadn’t expected that Ye Zhaoying and Fu Mingchi, after three years together, were still virgins.

Ye Zhaoying, I gave you a chance. Now that you’ve crossed the line, don’t expect me to let you off again...

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When Ye Zhaoying opened her phone, countless calls and messages flooded in, most from Fu Mingchi, with the rest from Qin Lulu.

Ye Zhaoying had no intention of replying to any of them. These two—one scoundrel, one shameless woman—were playing a double act. Why bother?

All she wanted now was to return to her rented apartment, take a shower, and calmly rest.

But fate was unkind. Outside her apartment, she encountered Fu Mingchi, his head bandaged from the lamp she had smashed on him the night before.

He had clearly been waiting there for a long time. Seeing Ye Zhaoying approach, he hurried over, but upon noticing her disheveled clothes, his expression instantly darkened.

“Baby! Where were you last night? I searched everywhere you might have gone and couldn’t find you. I called and messaged you, but you didn’t answer. You didn’t come home all night. Could it be that…”

Fu Mingchi hesitated, but Ye Zhaoying knew what he meant and cut in with a question.

“Did you drug me last night?”

Fu Mingchi froze for a moment, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. “Baby, listen to me. That drug was just to set the mood; it’s harmless to the body. You’ve been with me for three years. Sooner or later, you’d be mine anyway. What’s the difference if it’s sooner or later? I’m a normal man with needs. If not you, then who else would I seek…”

Ye Zhaoying sneered inwardly. How many times had he sought others?

But she didn’t want to get entangled with Fu Mingchi any longer. She needed peace and to focus on stabilizing her studio.

Now was not the time to break up with him; it might even hinder her upcoming competition for a project with DL Company. She desperately needed a quiet space.

“Mingchi, please leave for now. I need some time to calm down.”

Fu Mingchi was reluctant and tried to come closer, but Ye Zhaoying looked at him steadily, her eyes misted.

He softened somewhat, realizing he was at fault for what happened last night. He relented. “Alright, rest well. I’ll come see you in a few days.”

Ye Zhaoying breathed a sigh of relief, went inside to shower and sleep.

For the next few days, she poured all her energy into work, feeling fulfilled and motivated.

One evening, as Ye Zhaoying was about to return to her apartment, her phone suddenly rang.

It was a message from her mother, Wang Huaiying: “Come home immediately.”

A chill ran through Ye Zhaoying’s heart, a foreboding sense creeping up.

Because her relationship with her family was strained, she had lived in dormitories throughout middle and university, and after starting work, she rented her own place. Her family rarely reached out.

This time, Ye Zhaoying sensed something was wrong.

She replied simply, “Okay,” then headed straight home.

Just at the door, she heard sharp curses from Wang Huaiying.

“Instead of working properly at Mingchi’s company to secure his heart and get married soon, she’s recklessly meddling with her own studio?!”

As expected.

Ye Zhaoying closed her eyes, took a moment to steady herself, then turned the handle and entered.

As she had anticipated, all three were there: her father, Ye Maocheng; her mother, Wang Huaiying; and the adopted daughter, Ye Qianyao, sitting in a row on the sofa.

Her parents’ eyes blazed with anger, ready to reprimand her, while Ye Qianyao sat beside her mother, gently rubbing her back to prevent her from getting too upset.

“Dad, Mom,” Ye Zhaoying greeted them first.

Before she could even put down her bag or sit, Wang Huaiying’s cold voice cut in with accusations.

“I heard from Qianyao that you started a studio? And you’re planning to compete for the same project with her company?”

“Have you lost your mind? Where did you get the money for this nonsense? And don’t you even consider your own abilities! You only have a bachelor’s degree with mediocre grades, while Qianyao graduated with honors and holds a master’s degree from overseas. Her professors praised her as a genius designer. Her company employs tens of thousands. What qualifications do you have to compare? All you do is bring shame to your father and me! Close down your worthless studio immediately, work at Mingchi’s company, and focus on securing his heart and marrying him. You have no talent yourself and yet you can’t even hold onto a wealthy man properly. What on earth are you thinking?!”

Beside her, Ye Qianyao looked at Ye Zhaoying with a mixture of pride and contempt, but her tone was gentle and caring, speaking with earnest concern.

“Sis, I know you’re strong-willed, but starting a studio isn’t a small matter. Your studio has just begun, and competing with our company is nearly impossible. If the studio runs poorly and loses money, what will Mom and Dad do? You can’t be reckless about this...”