A Real Heiress Quits (GL) - Chapter 22

In Jianghan stood before the mirror.

The girl in the reflection had been pampered for years; her skin was fair, and her features were delicate. She frowned with dissatisfaction and clawed at the mirror. Her looks weren’t ugly, but there was a “phoenix” in the house that made her look like a common hen by comparison.

Yu. Xin. Yue.

In Jianghan gritted her teeth as she mouthed the name, a surge of hatred rising in her heart. She raised her hand and gave the full-length mirror a violent shove; it toppled to the floor, shattering into fragments. Countless shards reflected countless faces. In Jianghan stomped on them mercilessly, the harsh, crunching sound echoing through the bedroom.

On her phone, she had just received a short, concise text from Shu Ziyu: “Let’s break up.”

It’s all because of that bitch! It’s all her fault! Otherwise, why would Ziyu break up with her?

Aunt Xu heard the noise and came upstairs. Opening the door, she saw In Jianghan with a distorted expression, stomping on the shattered glass covering the floor. The girl’s expression was truly terrifying, frightening Aunt Xu into silence for a long moment.

Realizing someone had entered, In Jianghan turned her back and quickly adjusted her expression. When she turned back, she looked as she usually did. “Aunt Xu, I accidentally knocked the mirror over. Please call someone to replace it later.”

Aunt Xu was so startled she stammered, “O-okay.”

In Jianghan: “By the way, Grandma is being picked up this afternoon. Is Uncle back yet?”

Aunt Xu: “Hongfei said there’s a big business deal to discuss today, so he might not be back. He wants you and Xinyue to go to the airport.”

Hearing Yu Xinyue’s name, In Jianghan’s face darkened again. “Her? She and Aunt have run off somewhere to play; how could she remember Grandma? I’ll go by myself later.”

Aunt Xu nodded. “That works too.”

In Jianghan walked out of her room, caught sight of the door at the end of the hallway, and walked over to twist the knob. It was locked. It wouldn’t open. Furious, she kicked the door, immediately grimacing in pain.

Damn it, she’s actually started locking her door.

In Jianghan turned back to ask Aunt Xu for the spare key. Remembering Yu Xinyue’s words from that day, Aunt Xu hesitated for a moment. This split second of hesitation fell into In Jianghan’s eyes, making her even more furious—even a servant was starting to help Yu Xinyue. After getting the key, she shot Aunt Xu a harsh glare, lacking the respect she usually showed in front of Yin Hongfei.

She opened Yu Xinyue’s door. The room was clean, and a sheet of music sat on the desk. In Jianghan picked it up; it was the composition Yu Xinyue had written that day, now with lyrics.

What kind of good song could that bumpkin write?

In Jianghan was disdainful, but her body was honest. After glancing at the lyrics and humming a few bars, she realized the song was written brilliantly. She was consumed by jealousy. In a heat of rage, she tore the lyrics in half, threw them on the floor, and stormed out.

But not long after, she opened the door and returned. She picked up the lyrics and stuffed them into her pocket. Since Yu Xinyue said she wanted to give this song to her, she would just accept it in advance.

As noon approached, In Jianghan took a car to the airport. The moment she saw her grandmother, aggrieved tears fell. She nestled into her grandmother’s embrace and sobbed silently, not saying a word.

Grandmother Yin hugged her favorite granddaughter with heartache. “What happened? I was only out of the country for a few days—did Hanhan miss me this much?”

It wasn’t until they were crying in the car that In Jianghan sobbed out her complaint: “Shu Ziyu broke up with me… It’s all because of Yu Xinyue! It’s all her fault!”

Song Wei caught In Jianghan’s eye in the rearview mirror, feeling utterly speechless.

Grandmother Yin, not knowing the details, was shocked. It was normal for children to bicker and break up, but the marriage alliance with the Shu family had been set years ago and concerned In Jianghan’s lifelong happiness; it was no small matter.

She said somewhat hesitantly, “Yueyue wouldn’t do such a thing, would she?” That child, Xinyue, was clumsy but honest; she shouldn’t be capable of interfering in someone else’s relationship.

However, Grandmother Yin couldn’t imagine that besides the cliché “homewrecker” method, a relationship could also be broken by sheer violence. In Yu Xinyue’s words, when your fists are hard, you can do whatever you want.

In Jianghan cried until she was breathless. “It was her! It was her! Otherwise, why would Ziyu break up with me for no reason?” She tugged at her grandmother’s sleeve. “Grandma, you have to stand up for me!”

Grandmother Yin held her granddaughter, feeling immense pity. To be honest, In Jianghan was the child she had raised herself. Back then, she had poured all the guilt she felt for her own daughter onto this child; naturally, she was closest to her and couldn’t bear to see her suffer. Even after learning the children had been swapped at birth and her biological granddaughter had been suffering in another’s home, she still couldn’t bear to send In Jianghan back.

“Don’t worry. If this is true, Grandma will definitely get justice for you!”

In Jianghan pushed further: “How will you get justice?”

“This…” Grandmother Yin was stumped. She thought for a moment. “I’ll go to the Shu family for an explanation.”

This obviously wasn’t the answer In Jianghan wanted. She shook her grandmother dissatisfactorily, making the elderly woman dizzy. “What about Yu Xinyue? If she stays here, she’ll keep interfering between me and Ziyu!” In Jianghan softened her voice. “Grandma, don’t let her stay in the Yin house, okay? She’s always bullying me and trying to cause trouble.”

Grandmother Yin turned serious. “How can that be?”

Hearing this, In Jianghan covered her face and wailed. “I know, I’m not biological, so none of you like me! Fine, I’ll just leave! My fiancé has been stolen anyway, why stay here?”

Song Wei silently opened the car window. The cool air diluted the smell of “green tea” in the cabin. He took a few deep breaths, finally feeling less nauseous.

Grandmother Yin: “How can you say that? We’re all family; it’s not good to ruin the harmony.”

In Jianghan suddenly spoke: “Grandma, then send her abroad, okay? Doesn’t she always hate staying in the Yin house? Let her go study abroad. You don’t know, she’s been cramming English just to leave—she even got first place on the recent test just to escape our family.”

“I-is that so?”

In Jianghan nodded emphatically. “If you don’t believe me, ask the teacher.”

Grandmother Yin sighed and took out her phone to call Yin Hongfei.

Yu Xinyue was completely unaware of this.

Only after they finished shaking hands did she hear Yan Yuan mention that Yin Hongfei was also there. She had been so absorbed in playing the piano that she hadn’t noticed his arrival at all—nor did she care.

The uncle and niece locked eyes across the piano for half a second before both turned away at the same time. Yin Hongfei frowned, looking utterly displeased. He strode over and spoke in an unpleasantly commanding tone: “What are you doing in a place like this? Let Ji Zhaohua take you home immediately.”

Yan Yuan’s smile became awkward. “A place like this” was a property of Tianhui.

Yu Xinyue was speechless. Even if Yin Hongfei wanted to act the way he did at home, he should consider the presence of his business partner. She often felt out of place with the Yin family because she wasn’t “idiotic” enough.

Yin Hongfei arched an eyebrow. “Still not leaving?”

Yan Yuan tried to smooth things over with a smile. “She’s just a child, why be so critical?” He turned to ask Yu Xinyue, “I have a sister your age who also studies at Siyuan. Her name is Yan Ji. Do you know her?”

Yu Xinyue revealed a faint, shallow smile. Yan Yuan dazed for a moment; the girl’s smile was too clean, like melting snow on a mountain peak in early spring.

Yu Xinyue: “She is very excellent. I’ve always wanted to get to know her, but unfortunately, I haven’t found the opportunity.”

As a sister-con, Yan Yuan beamed with joy upon hearing someone praise his sister. “I’ll introduce you sometime; she’ll definitely like you.”

Yu Xinyue pursed her lips and smiled, lowering her head slightly as if shy. Yin Hongfei felt ignored, his face turning somewhat embarrassed. But the child before him was vastly different from before; she showed no stage fright in front of strangers and could even chat happily with Yan Yuan. Such a scene was far beyond Yin Hongfei’s expectations.

Yan Yuan inquired, “President Yin, didn’t you say your wife brought Yueyue here? Why not introduce me?”

Yin Hongfei was caught between a rock and a hard place. He reluctantly led Yan Yuan to the window. Before they even reached it, Yan Yuan hurried forward with a face full of smiles. “Is this not the Eldest Miss? What brings you to my humble shop? It truly makes the place shine.”

Qin Qing gave a nod. Her gaze swept past the people in front and landed directly on the girl at the back. Her cold expression softened only when she saw Yu Xinyue.

Yin Hongfei recognized her as the woman who had picked up Yu Xinyue that day. Seeing this “second-generation” playboy Yan Yuan’s attitude toward her, he guessed her identity quite accurately. The closer his guess got to the truth, the more shocked he was. How had Yu Xinyue climbed into a relationship with a giant like the Guangyun Group?

Yan Yuan dropped the arrogance he had shown before Yin Hongfei and received Qin Qing with a hundredfold enthusiasm. Unknowingly, the conversation shifted to Yu Xinyue. Yan Yuan, seeing Qin Qing’s concern for the child, lavishly praised Yu Xinyue’s piano skills. He praised her so much that even Yu Xinyue felt a bit embarrassed.

Qin Qing listened and nodded, a faint smile on her face, her expression becoming more and more vivid. Yan Yuan marveled inwardly—this cold statue of a woman could actually have such a lively and vivid appearance. He looked back and forth between Qin Qing and Yu Xinyue, constantly guessing at their relationship—

Soulmates? Or a domineering president’s “canary” little lover?

Yan Yuan propped his chin, lowering his head to sip coffee to hide his smirk. Although unlikely, the second guess… was truly a stimulating thought.

The conversation among the three was unexpectedly harmonious, leaving only Yin Hongfei sitting stiffly, unable to get a word in. It wasn’t that they wanted to cold-shoulder him, but he knew nothing about music and insisted on critiquing art from a mundane, economic perspective. His tone was full of disdain, as if art were a useless product created by people with nothing better to do—as if money were the only currency in the world.

Someone so opinionated, who refuses to listen to advice or accept new ideas, might be okay for business, but if you wanted to be close friends or just sit and chat like this, you’d find his soul shriveled and tedious, making the time spent with him exceptionally grueling.

Yin Hongfei’s phone rang. After taking a call, he returned with a gloomy face and immediately demanded that Ji Zhaohua take Yu Xinyue back.

Yan Yuan laughed, “What’s wrong?”

Yin Hongfei said embarrassedly, “Something happened at home.”

Ji Zhaohua saw his expression and truly thought something major had happened. “What occurred?”

Yin Hongfei pulled her aside and whispered a few words. As she listened, Ji Zhaohua’s face gradually turned ugly. “That’s it?”

Yin Hongfei was dissatisfied. “What kind of tone is that?”

Ji Zhaohua whispered, “Are you sick? What does In Jianghan’s boyfriend breaking up with her have to do with us? Am I her mother?”

Yin Hongfei: “Don’t say that. You’re her aunt.”

Ji Zhaohua sneered. “I am not. Her aunt should still be in the countryside right now.”

Yin Hongfei was nearly choked by her words. “Mother is waiting, anyway. Can’t you be a little filial? Even if you aren’t Hanhan’s aunt, aren’t you the daughter-in-law of the Yin family?”

Ji Zhaohua pulled her hand away and gave him a look of disgust. “You’re hilarious. The ‘Yin family daughter-in-law’ is Yin Hongfei’s wife; what does that have to do with me, Ji Zhaohua?”

Yin Hongfei: “…My mistake, okay? Mother just got back, don’t upset her.”

Ji Zhaohua: “No.”

After the two walked away, only Qin Qing, Yu Xinyue, and Yan Yuan were left at the table. Yan Yuan scrutinized them, about to ask something, when a waiter leaned down to speak to him. Yan Yuan’s face turned solemn. “Eldest Miss, someone from the Qin family has come for you.”

The atmosphere instantly turned cold. Yu Xinyue instinctively bit her lip and turned to look at Qin Qing. Her eyes were downcast, her face showing no expression as she gave a slight nod, revealing nothing. When Qin Qing lifted her gaze and saw the newcomer, her tensed nerves instantly relaxed. She was still expressionless, but Yu Xinyue could feel the change in her emotions. She looked at the elegant old man and deduced that for Qin Qing, this must be someone trustworthy.

Yan Yuan, observing the situation, tactfully found an excuse to leave. Yu Xinyue was debating whether to follow, but Qin Qing suddenly took her hand and looked at her. Her gaze seemed to tell her not to be afraid.

Yang Fang saw the joined hands, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. He bowed slightly. “Miss.”

Qin Qing: “No need for formalities. I don’t want to go back yet.”

Yang Fang remembered Qin Xuanhuang’s words and smiled helplessly. “I was just worried about you. Is this the little friend you met that day?”

Qin Qing nodded, her gaze as soft as water.

Yang Fang smiled kindly and winked at Yu Xinyue. “Little friend, can I ask a favor of you?”

Yu Xinyue: “Please speak.”

Yang Fang looked at her, his smile fading as he said seriously, “In the future, please hold the Miss’s hand, just like you are now.”

“Don’t let her walk the road alone.” He bowed deeply to Yu Xinyue. “I’m counting on you.”