Tian Tian knew that when Sun Qian was alive, she had taken Ye Shu to experience many grand scenes, as the Sun family also had a reputation. Otherwise, she wouldn't have ended up making Tian Xin a love child. Now that she had returned to the Ye family, Ye Wenzhao was still worried that the Sun family people might come knocking, so they couldn't reveal Tian Xin's identity.
Now that the Sun family was far away in North City, they naturally couldn't manage the affairs of the Ye family. Moreover, Sun Qian had died of illness; no one was to blame.
With the death of Sun Qian, Tian Tian's entry into the Ye household naturally meant she was eager to marry off Ye Shu.
Once she released the news, she hadn't expected Ye Shu to be so popular. She was reluctant to see Ye Shu marry too well, so she could only pick from among the worse candidates, yet she couldn't be too overt in her arrangement.
The people from the Huo family were suitable; picking someone from the least prominent branch, the seventh branch of the Huo family, would surely lead to no gossip about her. All she had to do was to ensure that Ye Shu was "gloriously" married off, and she would have fulfilled her duty as a stepmother.
After all, marrying off a daughter wouldn't cost much money, and Huo Wenrong had even promised a considerable dowry.
However, she hadn't expected Ye Shu to bring up Huo Shenting at this time. Everyone knew that Huo Shenting was the legitimate eldest grandchild of the main branch of the Huo family, currently in charge of the Huo Group.
Though young, he was a man who could shake the business circles of G city with a single stomp of his foot.
"Xiao Shu, you've only met Mr. Huo a few times; why bring him up now? Mr. Huo is generous not to hold it against you, but you really shouldn't be capricious."
Ye Wenzhao walked in from outside just in time to hear what Tian Tian had said.
Tian Tian spoke earnestly, but Ye Shu didn't buy it at all, causing Ye Wenzhao's face to turn ugly immediately.
"Ye Shu, how can you be so thoughtless? When has your father ever harmed you? Aside from Mr. Huo, can you find a better family?"
Ye Wenzhao continued into the living room and saw Huo Wenrong there, instantly putting on a smile.
"Mr. Huo, Ye Shu has really been spoiled by me; she understands neither the ways of the world nor human emotions. You will have to bear with her a lot in the future."
Recently, Ye Wenzhao was hoping to use Huo Wenrong's help to secure business deals with the Huo family, so naturally, he was going out of his way to please him.
Ye Shu had received his boundless favor for many years. Now that her mother was dead, it was time for her to contribute something to the Ye family.
Seeing her father acting so obsequiously chilled Ye Shu's heart.
"Dad, since you're back, I'll tell you directly, your plans for my marriage probably won't work. Before my mother died, she said that my marriage was my own business, and you have no right to interfere."
Upon hearing this, Ye Wenzhao's face turned furious, and he raised his hand to hit Ye Shu.
Tian Tian, seeing this, hurriedly stepped forward to mediate.
Tian Xin watching her father get angry, couldn't be more thrilled inside. She hoped he would go ahead and slap Ye Shu, preferably disfiguring her.
But under Tian Tian's warning gaze, she still stepped forward to mediate.
"Dad, my sister doesn't understand; don't take it to heart. Mr. Huo is still in the house."
As Tian Xin spoke, she glanced at Huo Wenrong.
Even if Huo Wenrong was good-tempered, having been rejected so many times by Ye Shu had built up quite a lot of anger inside him, especially since he was not a man known for his patience.
"Wenzhao, it seems you haven't explained anything clearly before sending me here. Miss Ye's actions, aren't they just disrespecting me? Does she really think your Ye family's daughter is so precious?"
Ye Shu saw Ye Wenzhao get even more agitated under Huo Wenrong's words and struggled to break free from Tian Tian to hit her.
It was unclear whether Tian Tian really couldn't hold her back or was pretending, but Ye Wenzhao didn't use much force and she let go of her hand.
How could Ye Shu let Ye Wenzhao hit her? She immediately shouted angrily, "Even you wouldn't dare to offend the seventh branch of the Huo family, nor would you dare to offend the main branch, right?"
When Ye Wenzhao heard Ye Shu's angry voice and her serious expression, she was immediately intimidated, and her hand paused in mid-air.
"What do you mean?"
Ye Shu coldly glanced at Huo Wenrong, who was also clueless about the situation, "After all, calling you uncle for Shenting shouldn't be wrong."
Now Huo Wenrong suddenly understood and incredulously remarked, "Are you dating Shenting?"
Huo Shenting was not someone easily trifled with. Even the second branch of the Huo family had to give him face despite his being under thirty, for he had great skills and an even greater temperament.
"If it were just dating, I wouldn't be so bold. At every future family banquet of the Huo family, Uncle Huo, you will inevitably see my presence."
Now Huo Wenrong dared not say anything further and immediately glared at Ye Wenzhao, "Wenzhao, well done, playing tricks on me? You're so capable, why don't you negotiate the projects with Huo Group yourself?"
After speaking, he hurriedly grabbed his briefcase and rose to leave, worried that staying another second might offend Huo Shenting.
Ye Shu watched his hasty retreat with a smile on her face and coldly glanced at Ye Wenzhao, "Dad, this is the good son-in-law you found for yourself? He's so easily frightened?"
"Frightened? Ye Shu, do you mean to say that what you just said was to scare Mr. Huo?"
Tian Xin was the first to react. Hearing Ye Shu's words, she even breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought how could Huo Shenting possibly fancy Ye Shu.
After returning to the Ye family, although she hadn't seen Huo Shenting, she had heard of his exploits, and every noteworthy young lady in G City wanted to marry Huo Shenting.
There were indeed many ladies of better family status than the Ye family. Ye Shu was not in their league yet; even Tian Xin, despite her efforts during this period, had only managed to acquaint herself with Huo Zijun from the third branch of the Huo family.
She had planned that once Ye Shu married Huo Wenrong, she would have a chance to go to the Huo family, naturally gaining more opportunities to interact with Huo Zijun. But she didn't expect that Ye Shu would refuse to agree at this time.
Hearing Tian Xin's words, Ye Wenzhao naturally chose to believe Tian Xin.
"Ye Shu, you are fearless. Let's see how I deal with you today."
"Dad, don't rush to discipline me. Mom has been dead for only half a year and you've already brought a new person into the house. Grandpa is really upset about it."
Hearing this, Ye Wenzhao panted heavily in anger, and Ye Shu went upstairs unaffected.
"This unfilial daughter is really going to anger me to death."
Tian Tian, seeing Ye Wenzhao in such anguish, immediately comforted him, "Don't be too angry, Ye Shu is not young anymore. Once we marry her off after some time, she will naturally behave sensibly at her in-laws' place."
Hearing this, Ye Wenzhao looked at the well-behaved Tian Xin standing aside and shook his head, "Why is Tian Xin so well-behaved, yet Ye Shu is so difficult?"
Tian Tian secretly wiped away tears, "Tian Xin has been by my side since she was young, enduring hardships, naturally she is more sensible and obedient than other children."
Ye Wenzhao looked distraught, "It's my fault for letting you down."