Volume One, Chapter Two: I Never Liked Yu Mo at All

Yu Mo sent the photo to Fu’s mother, Sun Jingyi, with a flick of her hand.

Within seconds, Sun Jingyi called Fu Yanting.

Fu Yanting's face darkened to the color of burnt charcoal. He immediately hung up, then pointed at Yu Mo and cursed, “Yu Mo, you’re insane!”

He hadn't expected Yu Mo to really dare to do such a thing. If this matter was brought up at the family banquet, wouldn’t the entire family learn about his chronic illness? What a laughingstock he’d become.

“How much do you want?” he demanded.

Yu Mo thought for a moment. All the medicine she’d brewed for Fu Yanting had been made from precious herbs. Every cent she’d earned had gone to purchasing those ingredients.

“Over five million... I’ll round it off for you—let’s call it six million.”

“Yu Mo!” Fu Yanting nearly jumped with rage. “This is extortion, blackmail! Have you lost your mind for money?”

A flicker of disgust flashed through Lin Hua’s eyes.

She spoke softly, “Sister Yu Mo, even if you and Yanting have broken up, you can’t just open your mouth and ask for so much. Even if you can’t marry into the Fu family, you could still be friends with Yanting, couldn’t you?”

Yu Mo sneered, “Who wants to be friends with him? You think too highly of him. Only you would treat him like a treasure.”

Fu Yanting flared, stepping protectively in front of Lin Hua. “Yu Mo, if you’re angry, take it out on me. Stop being so sarcastic to Xiao Hua.”

Yu Mo ignored him and strode past them toward the main house.

Sun Jingyi spotted her and hurried over, beaming. “Mo Mo, what took you so long? Come in with me, let’s sit down and eat together.”

But when Sun Jingyi caught sight of Fu Yanting and Lin Hua entering behind, her expression immediately darkened. She turned on Fu Yanting with a cold voice, “Why did you bring this vixen over? Are you trying to drive your father and me to an early grave?”

Fu Yanting shot Yu Mo a vicious glare, holding her responsible for all his mother’s disapproval.

Sun Jingyi could have slapped her own son. How had she ended up with such a hopeless child?

But Fu Yanting was unyielding. “Mom, Xiao Hua is not a vixen!”

He looked back at Lin Hua, his eyes brimming with tenderness and affection. He seized Lin Hua’s hand tightly. “Mom, I’m going to marry Xiao Hua. I won’t marry Yu Mo. Just give up on that idea.”

He spoke to Sun Jingyi, but his words were meant for Yu Mo as well.

Beside him, Lin Hua lifted her delicate, innocent face, ready to speak her part to Fu’s mother, emotion already welling in her eyes.

But Yu Mo beat her to it, donning a look of deep grief, and said to Sun Jingyi, “Auntie, since he’s unwilling to continue this engagement, I’ll step aside for them.”

As she finished, she arched her brows at Lin Hua. So she wanted to play the gentle maiden? Yu Mo could do that too.

Lin Hua, unable to deliver her carefully rehearsed lines, flushed red with frustration.

Sun Jingyi had already decided that Yu Mo was the only rightful daughter-in-law for the Fu family; there was no room for any other woman. Pointing at Fu Yanting, she commanded, “Take her away right now. Our Fu family will not accept a woman of loose morals!”

At those words, Lin Hua’s eyes brimmed with tears. She looked at Fu Yanting, her gaze full of wounded innocence.

Fu Yanting’s heart ached at the sight. “Mom, how can you say that? Today, in front of the whole Fu family, I’m ending my engagement with Yu Mo.”

He pulled Lin Hua toward the living room. Fu Yanting sat in his usual place, inviting Lin Hua to sit beside him.

Sun Jingyi’s face grew even colder as she approached and scolded, “Fu Yanting, how could you let that woman sit there? That seat is reserved for Mo Mo.”

Hearing this, Lin Hua’s face changed dramatically. She cursed silently—this old woman was too much. Yanting clearly loved her. What did Yu Mo count for?

She shot Yu Mo a glare. Why did everyone side with Yu Mo?

With this in mind, she reached out and took Fu Yanting’s hand.

Fu Yanting turned and saw Lin Hua’s reddened eyes, her pitiful expression. His heart melted; he gripped her hand tightly.

Standing in front of Lin Hua, he declared to Sun Jingyi, “Mom, I want you to apologize to Xiao Hua.”

Lin Hua was the woman he loved. He would not let anyone trample on her, not even his own mother.

Sun Jingyi was livid. “So you’d turn against me for this woman?”

“Mom, it was your words that were wrong. Xiao Hua doesn’t deserve to be treated this way—she’s the most innocent here.”

“You—” Sun Jingyi’s chest heaved with anger.

Yu Mo quietly approached, all understanding and composure, gently soothing Sun Jingyi’s chest. “Auntie, I can sit anywhere.”

That seat had already been warmed by Lin Hua—Yu Mo found it distasteful.

“Yu Mo, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that was your seat. I’ll sit somewhere else,” Lin Hua said, rising slowly from her chair.

If this was a contest of demure performance, how could she lose to Yu Mo? True, Yu Mo had the support of the lady of the house, but she herself held the trump card—Fu Yanting. As long as he had feelings for her, she would not lose.

Sure enough, as soon as she stood up, Fu Yanting grabbed her hand and pulled her back.

His tone was sharp. “Xiao Hua, there’s no need for you to give way. This seat is meant for the future young madam of the Fu family—you have every right to sit here!”

He turned to Yu Mo, his face cold. “Yu Mo, do you think that with my mother’s support, I’ll marry you? Don’t delude yourself. We aren’t married yet—right now, I decide who sits here, and this seat belongs to her!”

Lin Hua shot Yu Mo a troubled look, her eyes filled with challenge as Yu Mo saw it.

Yu Mo smiled. “Since Miss Lin desires it, I’ll let her have it.”

She didn’t stoop to fighting over seats with trash.

“Yu Mo! As if I ever intended to give you this seat!” Fu Yanting’s eyes brimmed with contempt as he looked at her.

Just then, Old Master Fu, supported by a servant, descended the stairs.

All eyes turned to him. Sun Jingyi hurried forward to greet him.

Old Master Fu held the highest status in the family—he was the elder, the one whose word was law.

Fu Yanting and Lin Hua rose to greet him.

The old man walked slowly to the head of the dining table and took his seat. He surveyed the room, his gaze coming to rest on Lin Hua beside Fu Yanting.

His kindly eyes sharpened instantly, his voice dropped several degrees as he questioned Fu Yanting, “What’s going on here?”

The meaning was clear—how had another woman come to occupy Yu Mo’s rightful seat?

Fu Yanting shot him a cold, blade-like glare. “Grandpa, the one I truly love is Xiao Hua. I don’t like Yu Mo at all. I won’t marry her!”

Old Master Fu’s expression grew stern. “Even if you’re the sole heir of the Fu family, never forget who the real head of this house is. In this family, I speak the final word.”

He pointed to the seat beside him and said kindly, “Mo Mo, come sit here.”