Disliking his approach, Ye Jiuliang stepped back and said in a mild tone, "It’s not so much hostility, I simply dislike it."

"Dislike?" Xiao Lingchen laughed with an ambiguous undertone, "What about Li Mochan then?"

"Tsk tsk."

Ye Jiuliang crossed his arms with a roguish smile, "Mr. Xiao, I’m really troubled by this. If you like Lord Li, just confess to him. Stop beating around the bush with me. I can’t confess for you, can I? Don’t worry about me becoming your love rival. If Lord Li likes you, I’ll absolutely bless you both."

In his eyes, the reflection of the girl’s bright eyes and white teeth lingered, yet Xiao Lingchen still smiled gently and softly.

"With Jiuliang’s intelligence, you should know who I’m genuinely interested in. The restroom is over there; I’ll go back first and wait for you." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Ye Jiuliang watched his retreating figure, raised an eyebrow, and thought to herself that it was inappropriate to always covet her family’s Li Mochan.

By the time she returned to the private room, the dishes were all served.

"Jiuliang, the food here is not bad. Try it, and if it’s not to your liking, we’ll order more," Xiao Mengxue said.

Ye Jiuliang responded indifferently and barely ate a couple of bites before stopping.

Xiao Lingchen glanced at the untouched juice in front of her, his expression darkening.

An hour had passed by the time the meal was finished.

Before getting into the car, Grandfather Ye was still chatting with Grandfather Xiao, even making plans to visit the Ye Family in a few days.

On the way back, Grandfather Ye couldn’t help but start lecturing.

"Jiuliang, look at the attitude you had today. You’re young. How could you talk to your elders like that? You really lack a sense of proportion."

Ye Jiuliang tilted her head to look at him, her gaze cold, "Because I’m young, should I be bullied and act ignorant?"

Aren, who was driving up front, heard the conversation and felt his heart jump.

Another battle was about to begin.

"What do you mean by that?" Grandfather Ye’s face turned ashen.

"My marriage is not something anyone has a right to meddle with," Ye Jiuliang bluntly stated. "Don’t even think of using me as a bargaining chip for the Ye Family’s interests. I’m not like Ye Xin and the others. So, don’t try to manipulate me again. I won’t offer face a second time."

Her poignant words deeply wounded Grandfather Ye. His face changed colors, his eyes bulged with anger, barely able to catch his breath, "When have I ever said I’d sacrifice you for the Ye Family’s interests? How have I treated you all these years, don’t you know?"

"We both know very well whether you have or haven’t. Grandfather, you’re also aware that the reason I can stay in the Ye Family so calmly is because of my grandmother and my mother," Ye Jiuliang spoke blandly, "Stop the car."

Aren glanced at Grandfather Ye, turned the steering wheel, and pulled over to the side of the road.

Ye Jiuliang pushed open the car door, grabbed her backpack, and got out.

Slamming the car door shut, she leaned over, peered through the window at Grandfather Ye, and said with a clear, cold voice, "I won’t become another Ye Yuan, Grandfather. Don’t forget the original intention behind the name you gave me. Now, as you wished, that’s precisely the kind of person I am."

Before her words fell, she turned and walked away.

Residual anger flickered in Grandfather Ye’s eyes, overlaid with a shade of ash, as his thoughts drifted back to that rainy night.

"Arong, Lan Ning has given birth to a little girl, and she’s really delicate. Among all the children in the Ye Family, this girl is the most beautiful."

"No matter how pretty the little girl is, one day she’ll have to marry and won’t be able to achieve great things," he said.

"Look at what you’re saying. That’s no way for a grandfather to talk. Hurry up and give the little girl a name."

He pondered for a moment and came up with a name, "Call her Jiuliang then."

"Isn’t that name a bit strange? Does it have any meaning?"

"You’ve seen Ayuan and Lan Ning’s relationship. Their affection is as thin as ice and in the end, they couldn’t escape the fate of people parting ways when the tea turns cold. This child’s birth is destined to be a mistake. She was born in September, so this name couldn’t be more fitting."