Chapter 4: Anyone But Xie Yuhuai

“I am your father!”

The moment Yu Cheng stepped through the door, he was met with Yu Zi’s blunt and scornful retort. The good mood he had, fueled by the upcoming alliance with the Xie family, vanished instantly.

“Hmph, such an obvious fact doesn’t even need you to say it. Or do you think everyone in the world is like you, fond of keeping mistresses?”

Even though the man before her was her father, Yu Zi felt nothing but disdain for him.

“Yu Zi, you’re becoming more unruly by the day!” Yu Cheng’s eyes widened, glaring furiously at her.

“There’s no helping it. Bad bamboo can’t produce good shoots. With you abandoning your wife, those good genes are certainly not something I can repay with gratitude,” she sneered, her tone laced with sarcasm.

Yu Cheng’s eyes turned bloodshot, as if on the verge of striking Yu Zi.

Watching from the sidelines, Jiang Shuqing felt satisfied. Though tempted to watch the drama unfold, she had to maintain her image, so she stepped forward to mediate.

She approached Yu Cheng directly, gently patting his chest and soothing him softly.

“Enough, Old Yu. Little Zi is still young—a child. Why quarrel with her? I know you’re angry. It’s my fault for not raising her properly. If anyone is to blame, blame me.”

Her voice grew choked, tears welling in her eyes, adopting a pitiful demeanor that begged for sympathy.

Yu Cheng’s expression immediately softened. Feeling a pang of tenderness, he replied, “What does this have to do with you? I’ve seen how you’ve treated her all these years. Don’t speak for her—she’s brought this misery upon herself.”

“You’re not allowed to speak about Yu Zi like that. She lost her mother to begin with, and isn’t it you as her father who’s hardly shown any concern? If I don’t protect her, she’d be crushed by you by now,” Jiang Shuqing put on a magnanimous facade, frowning as she whispered her reprimand.

But mentioning Yu Zi’s mother stirred a complex flicker in Yu Cheng’s eyes.

“Shut up. You have no right to speak of my wife.”

Yu Zi’s expression grew visibly colder.

Standing nearby, Yu Yangyang couldn’t help but defend her mother.

“Yu Zi, that’s enough! My mother was your father’s lawful wife, not some mistress. Show some respect when you speak!”

“If it weren’t for my mother protecting you all these years, Dad would’ve kicked you out long ago. Ungrateful wretch!”

As she spoke, she stepped close to Yu Cheng, linking her arm through his and pouted coquettishly.

“Dad, Mom arranged such a great marriage for her, but she refused. She insists on being with a ‘bent’ guy. I think she doesn’t want to marry at all—she’s just after the family fortune.”

Yu Yangyang’s words went unnoticed by Yu Cheng, whose face darkened briefly.

Words like “ungrateful wretch” and “living off others” had plagued him for over a decade—they were his sore spots.

He originally wanted to lose his temper, but after hearing Yu Yangyang’s last statement, he turned his gaze to Yu Zi.

“Yu Zi, is what your sister said true?”

Yu Zi crossed her arms, looking at him as if he were foolish.

“If I had such intentions, do you think you’d be able to see right through me? Don’t lump me in with fools like Yu Yangyang—she’s not even worthy of that.”

“As for the marriage, I’ve said it: that eldest son from the Xie family isn’t acceptable. I can marry Xie Xu instead.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Cheng immediately opposed.

“No. Xie Xu is an illegitimate son. What good will come from being with him? Xie Luo has already said he only has one son—Xie Yuhuai.”

“If you’re to marry into the Xie family, he’s your best option. Yu Zi, what on earth are you thinking?”

Only one son.

So that was it.

Xie Yuhuai had hidden it well.

Back when they were together for five years, he never once revealed his background.

She had thought he had some unspeakable secret, but now it seemed it was just a game played by a wealthy heir.

The love was false, and even his name was a lie.

Xie Yuhuai truly had no affection for her.

With this thought, Yu Zi’s heart grew colder, her expression more resolute.

“In any case, anyone but Xie Yuhuai.”

“Just him—no.”

Yu Cheng’s frown deepened.

Although the Yu family was still fairly wealthy, compared to the Xie family, it was a mere pittance.

If they could secure an alliance with the Xie family, the Yu family would surely rise to new heights.

Previously, Xie Yuhuai had been pursued, but the Xie family had rejected those advances.

Now, the Xie family was actively seeking this union, and he would not let this opportunity slip away.

Yu Zi must marry Xie Yuhuai!

Whether for the sake of the Yu family or Yu Zi herself, this was the best future she could have.

With this in mind, his resolve only grew stronger.

“Yu Zi, Xie Yuhuai is your best choice. Why are you unwilling?”

Suddenly recalling something, Yu Cheng eyed Yu Zi suspiciously.

“Don’t tell me you know Xie Shao?”

Yu Zi’s heart skipped a beat at the question, but her face remained composed.

“Of course not. I’ve only heard some of his scandalous exploits. I just don’t like him.”

“I don’t want to end up like Mom—betrayed within marriage.”

Hearing so much, it eventually became meaningless.

Yu Cheng had held this attitude ever since Yu Zi’s mother passed and Jiang Shuqing stepped in.

Yu Yangyang, however, looked at Yu Zi with envy upon hearing this.

“Yu Zi, you really don’t know how lucky you are. With such good conditions, you refuse. I’d be willing!”

After speaking, her eyes gleamed as she stared at Yu Cheng.

“Dad, I like Xie Yuhuai. I’m growing up fast—let me marry him!”

Yu Cheng glanced at Yu Yangyang, then shifted his gaze back to Yu Zi.

“Yu Zi, don’t act on impulse. What you’ve heard is probably all rumors. I’ve inquired myself. He’s only had one relationship before, which ended. He no longer has any contact with his ex.”

“The Xie family also assures that Xie Yuhuai has no scandals and won’t cheat. If you’re willing to marry him, he’s even willing to transfer three percent of the Xie family’s shares to you.”

At this, Yu Zi immediately caught the real motive, her eyes sharp as she stared at Yu Cheng.

“What alliance? I bet it’s all for that three percent of shares, isn’t it?”

As a daughter of a wealthy family, she knew the Xies well.

Though it was just three percent, it made more in a year than the Yu family’s profits over five years.

No wonder Yu Cheng hurried back and pleaded with her like this.

A deeper trace of mockery curled at the corner of her lips.

“Selling your daughter for status—looks like you’ve mastered that game perfectly!”

Though this was indeed Yu Cheng’s true intention, hearing it so bluntly from Yu Zi made him feel utterly humiliated.

A surge of shame rose from his feet to his head, nearly stripping him of reason.

“Yu Zi, you little brat, what nonsense are you spouting?”