Chapter 72: How About Becoming Friends?

A trace of mockery flickered in Qiao Wan’er’s eyes as her hand deliberately caressed her belly.

With a sneer, she said, “I am carrying the eldest grandson of the Ye family. Soon enough, Zehong will inherit the entire Ye family, and I will be the future mistress of this house. Women like you, who’ve spent a lifetime in poverty and never even seen a true gentleman, shouldn’t even dream of stepping foot through the Ye family’s door—not even half a step.”

Lu Yao’s gaze turned cold. “Miss Qiao, you overthink things. I’ve never wanted to enter the Ye family—never in the past, and not now either.”

“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting.” She took a step closer, her eyes coldly scrutinizing Lu Yao’s delicate face, her disdain obvious. “When you failed to seduce Zema, you set your sights on my man instead. Do you even know your own worth? Someone like you isn’t even qualified to stand on equal footing with me, let alone compete for my man!”

Lu Yao let out a light laugh. “Miss Qiao, things you treat as treasures might be utterly worthless to me. Besides, aren’t you a bit too confident? What makes you so sure that I’m the one trying to seduce Mr. Ye, and not the other way around?”

Qiao Wan’er’s face instantly flushed a deep, ugly red, then turned ashen green.

Seeing her embarrassment, Lu Yao’s lips curled in the faintest of smiles. “To me, true strength is strength you possess yourself. A woman who does nothing but cling to men is nothing more than a parasite—take the man away, and she wouldn’t survive a day.”

“Lu Yao, how dare you call me a parasite!” Qiao Wan’er, furious, raised her hand again.

Lu Yao’s icy gaze stopped her in her tracks. With a cold sneer, she said, “Miss Qiao, I’m merely stating my opinion. There’s no need for you to take it personally—unless it hits too close to home.”

Qiao Wan’er was so angry she could hardly breathe. Her eyes landed on a bottle of hand soap nearby, and she grabbed it, hurling it at Lu Yao.

Lu Yao sidestepped nimbly, dodging the attack.

When Qiao Wan’er snatched up something else, ready to throw again, Lu Yao smiled and said, “Miss Qiao, think carefully. This is the Ye family’s house. You really don’t want to show your shrewish side here. After all, your reputation as the ‘Qiao Witch’ hasn’t been fully whitewashed yet. If you ruin your image as the well-bred heiress in front of the Ye family, that would be most unfortunate.”

Qiao Wan’er froze, clearly stung. Her hand, just about to throw, stopped in midair.

She marched to the sink, took a deep breath, and fixed her hair and clothes in the mirror, straightening her back. She shot Lu Yao a glare, then stormed out in a huff.

Before leaving, she threatened, “Lu Yao, I’ll pay you back double for this humiliation.”

Lu Yao watched Qiao Wan’er’s retreating figure, a subtle bitterness rising in her heart.

Was Ye Zehong really going to be a father?

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Ye Hua approaching with a smile.

Lu Yao was momentarily surprised to see him.

As if he’d anticipated her reaction, Ye Hua raised his brows slightly. “Miss Lu, wine stains are difficult to clean, aren’t they?”

Lu Yao paused, then shook her head.

Ye Hua’s gaze was fixed intently on her, hot and piercing in a way that made her uncomfortable.

She took a step back, increasing the distance between them.

Ye Hua’s eyes turned cold, though his lips curled into a sly, unfriendly smile. “I heard everything you said to Wan’er just now. Quite impressive. No wonder both my father and my third brother are fond of you—even I find you rather charming and attractive.”

Ha! Lu Yao didn’t believe for a second that Ye Hua genuinely admired her.

She smiled faintly. “Thank you, but I’m nowhere near as remarkable as you say, Miss Ye. You flatter me.”

Ye Hua flashed a grin. “If you don’t mind, shall we be friends?”

With that, he extended his hand toward her.

Lu Yao stared quietly at his hand, making no move to take it.