Chapter 101: Don’t Push Me

"Bingyu, stop messing around! I must give Xue’er an explanation for this."

Hearing Yang Bingyu’s words, Ye Xuan’s brows instantly furrowed. He knew she was still deeply upset with him about what had happened yesterday, but that was a separate issue altogether. Yang Jie had to receive the punishment he deserved.

He originally thought Yang Bingyu would understand, but to his surprise, she suddenly sprang to her feet the very next second. Slamming her hand angrily on the table, she pointed right at Ye Xuan’s nose. "I’ll say this one last time. Either stay and eat, or get out!"

It was the first time Ye Xuan had ever seen Yang Bingyu act so unreasonably, and a hint of shock flickered across his face.

Beside them, Yang Jie wore a gloating expression. He continued eating at a leisurely pace, completely disregarding Ye Xuan’s presence.

At a total loss for what to do with Yang Bingyu, Ye Xuan clenched his fists and sat back down. "Fine, we’ll talk after we eat." With that, he shot a glance at a nearby servant, gesturing for an extra place setting.

"We’re all family here. There’s no need to ruin the harmony. Let’s just eat," Yang Zhennan chimed in, rushing to smooth things over and ease the rigid atmosphere. Although he didn’t quite understand how this matter had dragged Yang Jie into it, his heart still favored Yang Jie. If Yang Bingyu was willing to protect him, that couldn’t be better.

Seeing Ye Xuan take his seat, Yang Bingyu’s eyes flickered for a moment before she let out a cold snort and sat back down.

The meal proceeded in a highly oppressive and uncomfortable silence, though no one dared to voice any complaints given Ye Xuan’s status. Yang Bingyu finished eating quickly. Putting down her chopsticks, she looked at Ye Xuan.

"Come with me." With that, she rose and headed upstairs.

Ye Xuan was only halfway through his meal. His handsome brows furrowed, but he grabbed a tissue, wiped his mouth, and followed after her. Before leaving the dining room, he threw a look at White Snake, signaling him to keep a close eye on Yang Jie and absolutely not let him escape. Understanding the unspoken command, White Snake nodded and silently took a position behind Yang Jie.

Up in her room, Yang Bingyu stood with her back to Ye Xuan. "Now that things have come to this, you’ve thrust me into the eye of the storm," she said, her voice chillingly indifferent. "Have you never even thought about how you’re going to explain this to me?"

This version of Yang Bingyu felt entirely foreign to Ye Xuan. He reached out to grab her arm, but she violently slapped his hand away.

"Don’t touch me with the same hands that touched Lin Aoxue! You disgust me!"

The undisguised revulsion in her eyes sent a sharp pang through Ye Xuan’s heart. He sheepishly lowered his hand.

"Bingyu, you should know that the one I’ve liked from the very beginning has always been Xue’er. Our engagement was entirely your grandfather’s own doing.

"In that situation yesterday, if I didn’t take action, Xue’er’s life would have been in danger.

"I had no choice but to do what I did. I’ll hold a press conference tomorrow to explain everything clearly."

Hearing him state outright that he liked Lin Aoxue, the resentment Yang Bingyu harbored for the other woman thickened.

She thought furiously, "Why? What gives Lin Aoxue the right? Looks, figure, family background—in what way am I not better than her? Why does she get to have Ye Xuan’s affection? She deserves to die! As long as she is dead, no one will ever stand in the way of Ye Xuan and me."

At that thought, a chilling murderous intent surfaced in Yang Bingyu’s eyes.

"You keep going on and on about how much you like Lin Aoxue, so why did you do it with me in the car yesterday?" she demanded.

"Are you just relying on the fact that I, Yang Bingyu, like you, so you can humiliate me like this?

"Do you dare to swear that you don’t feel a single thing for me in your heart? Ye Xuan, can you stop deluding yourself?

"Is it really that hard to admit you like me?"

Yang Bingyu’s aggressive questioning made Ye Xuan’s face stiffen for a brief moment. His gaze darted away, unable to meet her eyes directly.

"Bingyu, my feelings for you are purely those between a brother and sister," he said. "Yesterday was just a moment of impulse.

"Don’t worry, I will compensate you. I’ll make up for the harm I’ve caused you tenfold."

Hearing Ye Xuan’s response, Yang Bingyu let out a bitter laugh.

"Heh heh heh, compensate? What exactly are you going to use to compensate me? Unless you marry me, you will never be able to make up for the damage you’ve done in this lifetime.

"Feelings between a brother and sister? What kind of brother sleeps with his own sister?

"I never expected you, Ye Xuan, to be such a coward. You don’t even have the courage to face your own feelings.

"Let me tell you, I recorded everything that happened in the car yesterday. If you don’t want Lin Aoxue to see it, then don’t ever bring this matter up again.

"My grandfather’s health can’t withstand any more stress, so no matter what, I won’t let you take Yang Jie away."

These words caused Ye Xuan’s brows to knit together even tighter. He never anticipated that Yang Bingyu would defend Yang Jie so fiercely this time. But on second thought, Yang Zhennan had less than half a year left to live; it was normal for Yang Bingyu to want him to enjoy the bliss of having his family around him.

However, simply letting Yang Jie off the hook for nothing left a genuinely bitter taste of reluctance in Ye Xuan’s mouth.

"Bingyu, have you forgotten what Yang Jie did to you?" he pressed. "However much you hated Yang Jie back then is exactly how much Xue’er hates him right now.

"As a fellow girl, I think you should be able to understand Xue’er’s perspective, instead of making things so difficult for me."

She hadn’t expected that even after pushing her words to this extent, Ye Xuan would still refuse to relent. A trace of panic flashed through Yang Bingyu’s eyes. Her mind raced, and suddenly, a plan formed.

Shattering her relatively calm demeanor, she erupted into a frenzy, furiously smashing the objects around the room.

"My grandfather has less than six months left! I just want his children and grandchildren by his side for his final days, is that so wrong?!

"Why must you force my hand! Is Lin Aoxue really that important to you? You don’t consider my feelings in the slightest!

"Even if Yang Jie did something worse than a beast to me, what am I supposed to do? Do you expect me to throw him in prison with my own two hands?

"Get out, all of you! Get out!"

Caught completely off guard by Yang Bingyu’s sudden outburst, Ye Xuan jumped in shock, instinctively taking a step back. Then, worried that she might hurt herself, he strode over to her and scooped her tightly into his arms.

"Alright, alright, I won’t push you anymore. Be good, just calm down, okay?"

Seeing her like this left Ye Xuan feeling both heartbroken and helpless. He knew that everything that had happened recently had been far too massive of a blow for her to bear. Even if Yang Bingyu had been at odds with Yang Jie since childhood, and even if he didn’t share the Yang Family’s blood, over twenty years of emotional attachment couldn’t be so easily severed.

Even if he were to forcibly take Yang Jie away today, the Yang Family would eventually pressure Yang Bingyu into coming to him to plead on Yang Jie’s behalf.

He figured Yang Zhennan didn’t have many days left to live anyway. Once his time came to an end, it wouldn’t be too late to settle the score with Yang Jie then.