Chapter 10: Coughing Up Blood

Lu Yao’s heart pounded so wildly she could feel it in her throat. Only a single step away, the approaching footsteps came to an abrupt halt.

“Sister Hua, this sunflower you painted is so vivid. Even though the sun is on the left, it gives a striking impression of movement from right to left. It would look perfect on the main background wall of my new jewelry store.”

“You do have a good eye. This is the only piece I have left from over ten years ago.”

…Over ten years ago—wasn’t that one of the paintings her mother created back then?

A sharp pain seized Lu Yao’s heart.

Ye Zehong sensed her sudden distress. In the darkness, he could vaguely make out a mixture of anger and hatred on her face—emotions he had never seen in the past three years.

From what he knew, Lu Yao had never interacted with the Ye family before, let alone harbored any grievance.

“This painting was sold a decade ago, but the buyer never paid and returned it. I still have the original box. I’ll fetch it from the storeroom and pack it up for you.”

“Great, I’ll come with you.”

With that, Ye Hua pushed open the door to the dim room and switched on the light.

The overhead lamp instantly illuminated the entire storeroom.

Relying on her memory, Ye Hua quickly found the original box, dust-covered and buried at the very bottom.

Just as she was about to leave, something caught her eye—a pile of boxes stacked in the farthest corner. She stopped in her tracks.

Qiao Wan’er followed her gaze and asked in confusion, “Sister Hua, what’s wrong?”

Ye Hua furrowed her brows, recalling her last visit to the studio. “It’s nothing. I just feel like these boxes have been moved since I was last here.”

Hearing this, Lu Yao lowered her eyes to glance at the boxes and caught sight of a brand-new tile peeking out from beneath them. Cold sweat broke out all over her body.

She pressed herself rigidly against Ye Zehong, not daring to make a sound.

Her heart thundered in her chest.

Ye Zehong responded by slipping his arm around Lu Yao’s slender waist. He smiled soundlessly and edged her further behind him, shifting his foot discreetly.

Qiao Wan’er’s sharp eyes caught sight of a shoe tip exposed at the side, and her heart clenched in alarm.

Wasn’t that Ye Zehong’s shoe?

She had heard from Qiao Wanliang long ago that Ye Hua and Ye Zehong were bitter rivals, always at odds in private.

For Ye Zehong to appear here now, he was likely up to something against Ye Hua.

Ye Hua was about to step forward to inspect, but Qiao Wan’er instinctively grabbed her hand and forced a nervous smile. “You rarely stay here, Sister. Maybe some stray cats or mice fought and knocked things out of place.”

Ye Hua glanced down at the hand gripping hers, her eyes flickering as she thought quickly, then nodded.

Afraid Ye Hua might decide to investigate further, Qiao Wan’er hurriedly pulled her toward the door.

“Sister Hua, let’s get the painting packed. If I’m not back at the main house soon, Zehong will be upset.”

“You’re the eldest lady of the Qiao family—are you really afraid of him?”

“Oh, I fell for him at first sight when I was ten. My greatest wish is to marry him and become the second mistress of the Ye family.”

Ye Hua snorted at her words. “Listen to yourself—so little ambition.”

As they chatted, the storeroom lights went out and the door closed.

Plunged into darkness again, Lu Yao stared at Ye Zehong, her feelings far more conflicted than before.

So Qiao Wan’er had loved Ye Zehong since childhood.

If she were the one to be favored by the first heiress, she too might have chosen to carry on a clandestine affair.

It was as if a fishbone was lodged in her throat.

Not until she was sure Ye Hua and Qiao Wan’er had left the Bamboo Garden did Ye Zehong take hold of Lu Yao’s arm. The sticky feel made him frown.

Lu Yao gasped in pain. A wave of nausea surged up her throat, and before she could turn away, she vomited everything onto Ye Zehong.

The metallic scent of blood filled the darkness.

“I think… I just threw up blood…”