Chapter Nineteen: Master of Subtle Seduction

After finishing his call with Mrs. Huang, Jiang Yingnan was silent for a moment before dialing the front desk. “Has that woman left?” He was so disgusted that he didn’t even want to call her by name.

Never before had anyone dared to use him as a tool for revenge the way Du Zhiye had.

The receptionist replied nervously, “We’ve already asked the young lady to leave.”

Hearing this, Jiang Yingnan irritably licked his lips, and with a sharp bang, hung up the phone.

...

Du Zhiye had just finished her morning tea when she received another call from Du Qi. This time, his tone was even harsher than before; he ordered her to come back immediately.

Du Zhiye understood perfectly well why Du Qi was angry—it was simply because the golden prospect he’d set his sights on had slipped away thanks to her.

Glancing at Jiang Yingnan’s schedule and knowing he’d be dining at the Jiang Corporation at noon, she realized she wouldn’t have a chance to see him for the time being. She might as well return to the Du family home and see what was going on there.

Du Zhiye picked up her bag and went back to the Du house.

She had barely stepped through the door when a slap landed on her face.

She was stunned. It wasn’t as though Du Qi had never hit her before, but this was the first time since she’d become an adult.

And not a word had been exchanged—he simply struck her without warning.

Du Qi didn’t hold back; the slap left her ears ringing, and it took her a long moment to recover. She clutched her face and glared angrily up at Du Qi.

Du Qi was furious as well, his eyes wide as he stared her down.

Father and daughter faced off in silence, locked in a battle of wills with only their eyes.

Seconds ticked by. Sitting on the sofa, Yan Xiufang had watched the scene for long enough and now came over, putting on a show of concern. She reached out to support Du Qi. “Old Du, she’s still a child. Whatever it is, talk it through calmly.”

But Du Qi had no patience for her. As soon as Yan Xiufang reached out, he brushed her hand away. “Get back inside. No one is to plead for this unfilial girl today.”

Du Zhiye had been furious, but seeing Yan Xiufang rebuffed so easily, her mood inexplicably improved.

Yan Xiufang and her daughter Du Xin had always excelled at playing the roles of saintly martyrs, but this time, they’d finally met their match.

Yan Xiufang’s expression stiffened, but for someone as practiced in manipulation as she was, this was nothing. She withdrew her hand awkwardly, cast a worried glance at Du Zhiye, opened her mouth as if to say something, then sighed softly and left, glancing back with every step.

Truth be told, those ten seconds of performance deserved only one word: brilliant.

Even Du Zhiye, watching, couldn’t help but be moved to tears for her stepmother.

What a kind, upright, generous woman, who had poured her heart and soul into this family!

If it weren’t for their respective positions, Du Zhiye would have liked to take a lesson or two from her. If she could have mastered even a fraction of that performance, perhaps she wouldn’t still be struggling with Jiang Yingnan.

“Go call Tao Ranming,” Du Qi said once Yan Xiufang had left, turning his full attention to Du Zhiye.

Du Zhiye knew perfectly well that Du Qi was furious because Tao Ranming had publicly announced their breakup.

She dropped her hand from her face and looked at Du Qi. “Isn’t Du Xin with Jiang Yingnan now?”

Her meaning was clear: if the Du family needed someone powerful to rely on, Tao Ranming was out of the picture, but Du Xin had managed to secure Jiang Yingnan.

Du Zhiye had a knack for provoking Du Qi, who now clutched his chest in anger. “I told you to call him, so do it! Stop arguing.”

“I won’t,” Du Zhiye replied, brushing past Du Qi and heading into the living room. She had come back to the Du home with a purpose: to sound out Yan Xiufang and Du Xin.

“You really won’t?” Du Qi narrowed his eyes, raising his voice.