Volume 1, Chapter 113: So-Called Loving Couple

Qin Minshu looked up abruptly, her heart skipping a beat. She instinctively glanced at Ye Sheng, who remained motionless on the sofa, watching with cold eyes as she endured this humiliation.

Qin Minshu gritted her teeth so hard she could taste blood in her mouth. Seeing her mother raise a hand again, she shuddered and, in defeat, knelt down.

"Apologize to Miss Ye," her mother commanded.

What? Qin Minshu looked up in disbelief. She would rather die than bow to Ye Sheng. She cast a desperate look toward her father, but Chairman Qin was focused on brewing tea, smiling as he greeted his guests, not giving her so much as a glance. He showed no intention of stopping his wife's public discipline of their daughter.

Yet, Qin Minshu could sense the subtle chill radiating from her father. She knew that if she failed to humble herself today and ruined her father's business prospects, he would crush her bones without hesitation. It reminded her of her second sister, who, having once refused a marriage, was left bloodied and broken; her father had simply looked on emotionlessly while ordering her to be locked in a cage in the attic, saying, "Want to die? Then die. The Qin family does not raise useless people; what use do I have for a useless daughter?"

Qin Minshu bit her lip hard, her reddened eyes fixed on Ye Sheng. In this moment, she found herself praying for Ye Sheng to speak up for her, to show mercy and let her go.

But Ye Sheng sat as steady as a mountain, her gaze fixed on her with a profound, unreadable expression, remaining silent. The look made Qin Minshu’s blood run cold—it was devoid of warmth, like a living ghost watching her demise from the depths of hell.

Qin Minshu trembled.

"...I'm sorry."

Just as her parents were losing their patience, Qin Minshu lowered her head. "I am sorry. I shouldn't have hired trolls to slander you or spread rumors, and I shouldn't have caused trouble at the hospital. I was selfish and reckless. Please, Miss Ye, be the bigger person and forgive me."

When one is under someone else's roof, one must bow. Seeing Qin Minshu kneeling there, eyes red and looking delicate and pitiable, she certainly appeared sympathetic. She even glanced toward Wan Sandao, hoping to signal him and perhaps find a savior to pull her from this fire. But Wan Sandao was oblivious, focused entirely on his tea, not bothering to lift his head.

With the apology delivered, the parents felt they had to show some attitude. Just as Mrs. Qin was about to scold her daughter a bit more to smooth things over, Ye Sheng spoke, "Is that all? Nothing else?"

The three members of the Qin family froze. Qin Minshu’s pupils constricted. The timidity in her eyes vanished, replaced by a coldness that made her want to point a finger at Ye Sheng and scream, "Are you ever going to stop?"

But given Ye Sheng’s current status, with Boss Wan sitting there backing her up, if Qin Minshu dared to speak out, her parents would likely enforce family law right in front of them, which would only lead to further disgrace. Knowing how to adapt to the situation, she forced a smile and asked humbly, "What else did I do wrong? Please enlighten me, Miss Ye."

Ye Sheng looked at her with indifferent eyes, the chill in her gaze freezing the atmosphere of the living room. She said, word by word, "At the Donglin Hotel underground parking lot, I was attacked. Was that your doing?"

Huo Mingting once evaluated Ye Sheng correctly: she only dealt in open schemes, never underhanded ones. Whether it was hatred or resentment, she kept it all out in the open. She was straightforward and sincere, which sometimes acted as a lure, making the other party's reactions immediate and clear.

Just as now, when Ye Sheng asked the question without a hint of subtlety, the expressions of the three Qins were vastly different: Qin Minshu was shocked, Chairman Qin was bewildered, and Mrs. Qin... was silent.

Interesting.

Wan Sandao, sitting beside Ye Sheng, was not idle. His sharp eyes scanned the living room, searching for the "eagle eyes" he had sensed earlier, but he found nothing.

"What hotel? What parking lot?" Chairman Qin turned to his daughter, finally questioning her, "What did you do?"

Terrified by her father’s stern demeanor and tone, Qin Minshu trembled, her breathing erratic. "N-nothing." Her face turned deathly pale, her voice grew faint, and she began to avoid his gaze.

Ye Sheng frowned. It was clear that while Qin Minshu might not know about the attack, she definitely knew who had carried it out.

"It really wasn't you?" Mrs. Qin said coldly. "If you dare to lie, your father and I won't spare you!"

Qin Minshu, her face ashen, shook her head frantically. "No, it really wasn't me!"

Mrs. Qin, appearing unconvinced by her daughter's words, turned to Ye Sheng and bowed slightly, assuming a very low posture. "Miss Ye, please rest assured. The Qin family has its own rules; we will investigate thoroughly. If this was indeed my daughter's doing, my husband and I will certainly give you an explanation. But... please allow me to say this: no one knows a daughter like her mother. Minshu may be willful, but she would never dare to commit attempted murder."

By the end, her voice was choked with sobs, as if she were the one suffering a great injustice. This single sob shifted the dynamic; suddenly, Ye Sheng and Wan Sandao became the ones bullying the weak.

Both Ye Sheng and Wan Sandao felt a jolt and looked at Mrs. Qin. Chairman Qin remained silent, though his tightly pursed lips revealed his dissatisfaction and the heartache he felt for his wife. Ye Sheng had no doubt that if they weren't sitting there, Chairman Qin would have pulled his wife into his arms to comfort her.

"Oh, what's this, Madam?" Wan Sandao reacted even more dramatically than the Chairman, quickly handing her a tissue and offering a way out. "Look, if the Madam is crying, it must be our fault. Ye Sheng, how did we manage to scare her?"

Ye Sheng stood up. "Indeed, it is our fault. Brother Wan, let’s skip the tea. We’ll come another day to apologize for the intrusion."

As the two turned to leave, the Qin family was taken aback. Chairman Qin panicked and rushed to stop them, though he couldn't force them to stay.

Ye Sheng got into the car, and Wan Sandao shook hands with Chairman Qin outside, continuing to offer apologies that left the Chairman’s face a sickly red. The more humble Wan Sandao acted, the more terrified the Chairman became; with the deal hanging by a thread, how could he not be worried?

Seeing things go south, Mrs. Qin ran out, hoping to speak with Ye Sheng. But Ye Sheng had already entered the car, and the windows were tightly shut, with no intention of being rolled down. Her stance was clear: we came to confront you, hoping for a private settlement; since you won't give us the respect we deserve, then let’s go our separate ways—no more talk.

As the car pulled away, Ye Sheng and Wan Sandao watched as Chairman Qin slapped Mrs. Qin across the face at the front gate.

They looked away, meeting each other's eyes in silent astonishment. Was this high society? Was this a loving marriage? It was nothing more than a play, with everyone performing their own scripted parts.