CHAPTER 168: CHAPTER 168: PROTECTING HER LIKE A MAN

Ye Ningwan smiled slightly, her voice full of charm, as she replied, "I’m here on behalf of the Xie Family to celebrate Young Master Leng’s birthday. I didn’t expect to encounter such a lively scene when I arrived."

"How did you get involved with the Xie Family?" Mrs. Leng questioned.

No wonder the Xie Family suddenly sent her an invitation; it turns out it was because of this woman, Ye Ningwan.

"Forget it, I don’t care why you’re associated with the Xie Family. This has nothing to do with you, and the Leng Family doesn’t welcome you. Leave immediately." Mrs. Leng scolded.

Ye Ningwan said, "I know Mrs. Leng doesn’t welcome me. But I can’t help it, Wu Taotao is my friend. She’s here alone, and I’m afraid Mrs. Leng might bully her."

"Ha, I wondered where this homewrecker came from, turns out it’s just birds of a feather." Mrs. Leng understood.

Ye Ningwan looked at Wu Taotao, "Taotao, did you hear that? They don’t welcome you; you should leave! Young Master Leng, are you going or staying?"

"I’m leaving with Taotao." Leng Ziqing said.

Lady Leng’s face turned livid with anger, "Leng Ziqing, if you leave, you are no longer part of the Leng Family."

"Leng Ziqing, don’t be afraid, if the Leng Family doesn’t want you, Wu Taotao does. You can become a live-in son-in-law with the Wu Family, and you’ll never have to worry about food and drink."

"Ye Ningwan, you bitch. You caused my brother’s death, and now you want to harm my son?" Lady Leng gritted her teeth.

Ye Ningwan’s expression turned serious as she righteously said, "Lady Leng, I’m very sorry about Mr. Zhan. However, this has nothing to do with Wu Taotao and Leng Ziqing. You’re the one who doesn’t want your son, not me making him leave you."

"Hanjue, aren’t you going to do something about this?" Lady Leng, feeling isolated and helpless, had no choice but to question Zhan Hanjue.

Zhan Hanjue took a step back, "Aunt, you said yourself that the affairs of the Leng Family were none of my business."

Lady Leng: "..."

She indeed had said something like that.

It was when Leng Ziqing applied for the art department in his college entrance exam.

At the time, she was furious, and only learned of his choice afterward.

Originally, she planned to change his major. But for the first time, her son, who was always obedient, insisted on applying for that department.

At the time, Zhan Hanjue happened to be there, knew about it, and advised her to respect Leng Ziqing’s choice.

She was very angry and said to him, "The matters of the Leng Family are none of your business."

Unexpectedly, after so many years, he still remembered.

And today, he returned those words to her just as they were.

"Changxin, it seems you can’t control your son or nephew anymore. But it doesn’t matter; our Meimei doesn’t care for a man who doesn’t like her anyway, the marriage is off." Feng Qi snorted coldly.

Lady Leng looked grim.

She once again looked coldly at Leng Ziqing and questioned, "Leng Ziqing, have you thought it over, are you really deciding to abandon your mother and leave with this woman?"

"Mother, I’m sorry." Leng Ziqing lowered his head in guilt.

"Fine, very well, get out! I’ll consider as if I never had a son like you. From now on, don’t ever come to see me again." Lady Leng roared.

Leng Ziqing tightly held Wu Taotao’s hand, left with her without looking back.

Ye Ningwan was quite surprised by Leng Ziqing’s resolution, thinking he was a cowardly man.

Unexpectedly, in a critical moment, he could still be so reliable?

If not for Mrs. Leng’s extremely unpleasant expression, she almost wanted to applaud Leng Ziqing.

With Leng Ziqing gone, what meaning could this birthday celebration still hold?

Lady Leng stumbled and fell into her chair.

Zhang Wenchi also looked upset and said to Feng Qi, "We should leave!"

Zhang Meimei was already in tears.

The moment Leng Ziqing left, her tears couldn’t help but flow.

Before, she never thought about how much she liked Leng Ziqing.

After all, she always knew they were engaged since childhood.

Leng Ziqing, with his cold demeanor, had always been like that since he was young.

She thought he was just such a person.

Never did she think that he simply didn’t like her.

Because he didn’t like her, he was always cold to her.

This fact was unbearable for her.

It was heart-wrenching.

Feng Qi also looked angry, tugging her daughter to leave.

Zhang Meimei knew she should leave with her parents immediately to keep her last shred of dignity.

But the thought of leaving meant she would have no more ties to Leng Ziqing from then on was unbearable.

"I’m not leaving. Auntie, I’m the daughter-in-law you chose. As long as you’re willing to accept me, I won’t leave. Ziqing is just confused for a moment; he will eventually understand we’re all doing this for his good."

Zhang Meimei let go of her mother’s hand, suddenly squatted in front of Lady Leng, grasped her hand, and earnestly spoke.

Lady Leng looked at her in surprise.

Then she became excited, her hands trembling.

She stroked Zhang Meimei’s face with one hand and promised her, "Meimei, good child. I never expected you to be so sensible. Auntie promises you, I’ll definitely bring him back."

"Meimei." Feng Qi frowned.

Although she also wanted to be in-laws with the Leng Family, she cared more for her daughter.

To marry a man who doesn’t love her, she knows exactly how painful it would be.

She herself was a precedent.

How could she bear to let her daughter walk the same path?

"Mom, I’ve already decided. If you and Dad want to leave, go ahead! I want to stay with Auntie." Zhang Meimei said.

Feng Qi’s face turned blue with anger.

Zhang Wenchi’s face also didn’t look good; he didn’t expect his daughter to make such a decision.

"If she won’t go, we will."

Zhang Wenchi said with a stern face, pulling Feng Qi to leave.

Ye Ningwan frowned, also surprised by Zhang Meimei’s decision.

However, she came here today with another purpose.

Since Wu Taotao was already gone, Zhang Meimei’s affairs were no longer her concern.

"Meimei, Auntie will take you to the front and officially announce that you are the Leng Family’s future daughter-in-law."

Zhang Meimei’s words gave Lady Leng renewed energy; she wiped her eyes, stood up, and led Zhang Meimei forward.

Zhan Hanjue and Ye Ningwan followed along.

The man deliberately slowed his pace to speak with Ye Ningwan.

"You didn’t come here today just for Wu Taotao, did you?"

Ye Ningwan smiled, "Indeed, nothing escapes you. I wanted to ask Lady Leng something, but I don’t know if I’ll have the chance."

"Are you still investigating my father’s car accident?" the man asked.

Ye Ningwan looked at him with watery eyes, "I just want to find out the truth as soon as possible, so Grandma will have a better impression of me."

"Actually, if you want Grandma to accept you, there are other ways too." The man looked deeply into her eyes.

Ye Ningwan was a smart person.

Seeing his gaze, how could she not understand?

She immediately blushed.

Yet she hadn’t felt shy for long before a slight cough interrupted from beside her.

Tingyu gave Zhan Hanjue a cold glance and wedged herself between them.

Ye Ningwan was speechless.

Engaged in conversation with the man, she hadn’t noticed when Tingyu had arrived.

She wasn’t sure if Tingyu had overheard those words.