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Huo Shenting watched her charming demeanor, his eyes slightly narrowed, as he was curious to what extent this woman could be a willing accomplice.
"Correct."
Ye Shu, seeing his cooperative manner and the seemingly harmless, smiling expression in her eyes, appeared especially innocent. However, only Huo Shenting knew that in fact, she was harboring a bellyful of malicious schemes.
Tian Tian, seeing how doting Huo Shenting was toward Ye Shu and unable to bear it, spoke in a low voice.
"Xiao Shu, so many people at home can help out, you don't need to cling to Mr. Huo. Mr. Huo has a lot on his plate, so don't be willful."
She couldn't understand what Huo Shenting saw in Ye Shu. Ever since she had entered the Ye family, Tian Tian often wept in front of those high-society ladies, lamenting how difficult it was to be a stepmother. No matter how well she treated Ye Shu, Ye Shu just wouldn't accept her.
People outside believed that Ye Shu was spoiled and capricious by her family, which had tarnished her reputation in the city over the past few months.
Unfortunately, at this time, a Huo Shenting appeared, willing to associate with Ye Shu.
"Auntie, you're right, I really shouldn't pester Shenting, but the thing is, there are just too many items that need to be moved, and I still haven't gotten everything organized. How about you and Tian Xin go upstairs to help me sort things out?"
After marrying into the Ye family, Tian Tian had always been the one giving orders to others, never the one to take orders.
Now, with Ye Shu directing her in front of Huo Shenting as though she were a servant of the Ye family, she felt utterly humiliated.
Tian Xin clenched her palms tightly, her face changing colors several times before she stood up, wearing a delicate smile.
"Mom, let's go upstairs and help Xiao Shu pack up. After all, she is leaving home, and this is the last little thing we can do for her."
Tian Xin's voice was gentle and pleasing to the ear, displaying grace and propriety in stark contrast to Ye Shu's impolite request.
As far as Ye Shu was concerned, Tian Xin wasn't even worth an extra glance.
After all, what kind of person she was, Huo Shenting had a thoroughly clear understanding in his heart, especially since she had voluntarily climbed into his bed the previous night.
Huo Shenting was cooperating so obligingly now purely because he dreaded the video she held in her hands.
To him, she was probably more cunning and venomous than anyone else, so there was no need to care about Tian Xin's subtly demeaning comments.
Ye Shu's room contained many of her mother's keepsakes, and thinking of this, she immediately got up and spoke softly to Huo Shenting at her side.
"You chat with my father about something else for a bit; I need to go upstairs."
She finished speaking and scurried upstairs, worried that Tian Xin and Tian Tian might target her mother's things.
After all, some of her mother's items were collectibles that money couldn't buy on the market.
Now, in the spacious living room of the Ye family, only Ye Wenzhao and Huo Shenting were left.
Ye Wenzhao felt overwhelmed by Huo Shenting's commanding presence and, not knowing what to say, could only manage a strained smile and urged Huo Shenting to have some tea.
Upstairs, Ye Shu entered her room and indeed saw Tian Tian and her mother looking at an antique watch left by her mother.
Tian Xin, looking at the item, was filled with resentment. "This watch isn't available on the market anymore, right? That woman has luxuriously occupied your place for these years, while we've struggled to make ends meet in a rental property. How is that fair?"
Ye Shu walked into the room, eyeing Tian Xin and Tian Tian coldly, "What are you doing?"
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Tian Xin saw Ye Shu walk in, her grip on the watch tightened first, but in the next second, she released her hold, and the watch swung to the ground, shattering its glass into pieces.
"Ah… Xiao Shu, I didn't mean to do it."
Ye Shu looked at Tian Xin with a cold eye. Could she not see if it was intentional?
She stepped forward, grabbing Tian Xin who was about to crouch down to pick up the pieces. Pulling at the clothes on her shoulder, Ye Shu yanked her up and slapped her across the face.
"My mother's belongings are not for just anyone to touch. Can a simple 'I didn't mean to' really make up for the mistake you've made?"
Tian Xin, who had never been slapped in the face like this, immediately covered her face, staring at Ye Shu in shock.
"You dare to hit me?"
Ye Shu nodded, "So what if I did?"
Tian Tian saw Ye Shu in this state, seething with indignation. Tian Xin had been by her side for so many years, and she had never had the heart to scold her, let alone hit her. And now, Ye Shu had slapped her.
"Ye Shu, are you looking for death? Do you think the Ye family is still under your rule?"
As she raised her hand to hit Ye Shu, she was immediately caught by Tian Xin, who gave her a warning look.
With Huo Shenting still downstairs, if Ye Shu got hit, it would be them who would appear unreasonable.
Tian Tian, catching Tian Xin's look, immediately understood her intent. Pointing at Ye Shu's nose, she shouted angrily, "Just you wait, I'm going to find your father to set things straight. Your father ought to be fair and not favor your sister over you."
Upon hearing this, the corners of Ye Shu's mouth slightly curled up. If Ye Wenzhao didn't consider this favoritism, she wondered what would be.
Did Tian Tian really think she knew nothing?
The current state of the Ye family was entirely due to her mother's efforts. If it weren't for her maternal grandfather's financial support, Ye Wenzhao wouldn't have the status he had today.
Tian Tian went downstairs and complained to Ye Wenzhao, who immediately became restless and rushed upstairs, even leaving Mr. Huo in the living room.
Ye Shu picked up the watch from the floor, and sure enough, Ye Wenzhao stormed into her bedroom, fuming with anger.
"Ye Shu, what are you playing at? How could you hit your sister?"
Ye Shu replied with a cold smile, lifting her head to gaze at Ye Wenzhao, "Dad, I want to ask you, am I your daughter, or is Tian Xin your real daughter? How can you accuse me without knowing the full story?"
Ye Wenzhao was taken aback at her words. He couldn't let Ye Shu know Tian Xin's true identity yet.
If Ye Shu found out, it would only make life more difficult for Tian Xin and Tian Tian in this house, not to mention the Sun family wouldn't be easy to deal with either.
"Ye Shu, you cannot use the fact that you grew up in this family as an excuse to bully Tian Xin. No matter how you put it, she is the daughter your aunt brought in. To me, you are both my daughters."
Both his daughters? If she hadn't already known the truth, she might well have been moved by Ye Wenzhao's impartial attitude.
"Dad, you can be so lenient with a girl who has no blood relation to you, why be so stern and harsh with me? She broke my mother's keepsake; don't I even have the right to be angry?"
"To outsiders who don't know better, they would think she is your daughter and I am the outsider!"
Ye Shu's emotions were calm, and her tone was even as she spoke. Watching Ye Wenzhao's face change, her heart grew a few degrees colder.