Chapter Thirty-Five: Substituting Concepts

Yan Xiufang no longer bothered with Du Zhiye and turned her attention to Chen Auntie and the others preparing food. Du Zhiye licked her lips, watched Yan Xiufang for a while, then wandered out.

Even if she hadn’t figured it out at first, Du Zhiye now understood where Yan Xiufang’s confidence came from. Wasn’t she just relying on Du Xin dating Jiang Yingnan?

Instead of returning to the living room, Du Zhiye went upstairs. She didn’t enter any room, just leaned half against the carved railing, looking down.

Jiang Yingnan sensed the gaze from above. When he looked up, he saw Du Zhiye.

During dinner, Du Zhiye sat opposite Jiang Yingnan. Whenever he glanced her way, she’d throw him a flirtatious look. Du Qi and Yan Xiufang couldn’t see from their seats, but Du Xin, sitting right next to Jiang Yingnan, saw everything clearly.

When Du Zhiye winked at Jiang Yingnan again, Du Xin couldn’t hold back. “Sister, is something wrong with your eye?”

Du Zhiye paused, then smiled meaningfully. “Yes, my left eye keeps twitching. It must mean romance is in the air.”

Listening to her shameless words, Du Xin’s face turned an angry shade of green. “You and Brother Ranming just broke up. If any rumors spread now, it’ll ruin your reputation.”

Du Zhiye picked up a piece of rib and ate with relish. “I broke up with Tao Ranming because he cheated. What’s that got to do with my reputation?”

“One hand alone doesn’t make a sound. If Brother Ranming cheated, it must be because you weren’t doing something right,” Du Xin retorted forcefully.

Du Zhiye let out a drawn-out “Oh,” picked up her glass of red wine, took a sip, and looked at Du Xin with the curiosity of a child. “What you’re saying makes it sound like the cheater isn’t at fault. But what about the one who comes between them—the home-wrecker?”

Faced with Du Zhiye’s shifting of blame, Du Xin’s hand clenched into a fist at her side. If she said the third party was wrong, she’d slap Yan Xiufang in the face. Everyone in North City knew that back when Yan Xiufang got pregnant with Du Xin, Du Qi was still married to Gu Qingcheng.

Scandals among the wealthy, especially romantic ones, were always a favorite topic. Even after nearly twenty years as Mrs. Du, Yan Xiufang still felt insecure among the other society ladies.

It was the same for her—when she was young, the other children called her an illegitimate child and said her mother was a homewrecker. If she hadn’t been so accomplished, not even the people in this circle would accept her now.

But if she said there was nothing wrong with it, she’d be supporting Du Zhiye flirting with Jiang Yingnan. Steadying herself, Du Xin replied, “You’re twisting things, Sister. Right and wrong are never so simple.”

“All right, enough bickering the moment you see each other. Don’t forget you’re sisters,” Du Qi said, frowning in displeasure.

Du Zhiye shrugged. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jiang Yingnan reaching for a rib. Quick as a flash, she used her chopsticks to grab the same piece at the same time.

Jiang Yingnan lifted his gaze and saw Du Zhiye’s triumphant smile. He pressed his lips together, released the rib, and said, “Sorry.”

Du Zhiye blinked and put the rib in Jiang Yingnan’s bowl. “What a coincidence, Second Young Master. You like ribs too.”

Du Xin glared at Du Zhiye, so furious she could barely see straight.

Jiang Yingnan shot Du Zhiye a subtle warning glance. Unbothered, Du Zhiye raised her brows. “I like them too. What a fated connection, Second Young Master.”

“Zhiye, don’t be ridiculous,” Du Qi snapped, seeing through her intentions.

Du Zhiye pouted, lowered her gaze, and continued eating with great enthusiasm.

Except for Du Zhiye, everyone else picked at their food absentmindedly. Especially Du Xin—she was about to be driven mad by Du Zhiye. If she hadn’t noticed that Jiang Yingnan never touched the rib Du Zhiye gave him, she wouldn’t have been able to sleep that night.

After dinner, Jiang Yingnan excused himself. Du Zhiye immediately stood as well. “It’s getting late, I’ll head back too.”

Du Xin, her face now livid, gripped Jiang Yingnan’s arm tightly.

Yan Xiufang saw through Du Zhiye’s intentions and, for once, spoke with rare authority. “Zhiye, since you’re finally home, why not stay the night? I’ll have the maid get your room ready.”