The room fell into an inexplicable silence, a silence so profound it bordered on the eerie.
Tang Yuyao wiped her slightly reddened eyes with her hand. As if afraid the two of them hadn't heard clearly, she repeated what she had just said.
"There's no need to consider the marriage thing. Mom, you should just go on your way peacefully. During the New Year and festivals, I'll burn a bit more paper money for you."
Tang Shouye: "???"
Tang's Mother: "???"
If one could argue that Tang Yuyao had made a "slip of the tongue" before, or that they had both "misheard," then now that she had repeated those words, the possibilities of a mistake or mishearing were ruled out.
Giant question marks appeared simultaneously over the heads of Tang Shouye and Tang's Mother. *Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?*
Go on her way peacefully?
Burn more money during the New Year?
She had a conscience, but clearly not much of one...
The corners of Tang's Mother's mouth, which had been gradually rising, drooped. Her expression went from "tee-hee" to "un-tee-hee"—she couldn't smile anymore. She had even unleashed her "ultimate move" of moral kidnapping, yet her youngest daughter didn't take the bait?
It was one thing not to take the bait, but to say she'd burn more paper money for her during the holidays?
She was shutting down. Completely shutting down. If Tang's Mother's half-dead state before was an act, it was real now. Her body emitted a thick aura of "death"... simply put, she felt like she was done for.
Tang's Mother had already felt quite guilty and bore a huge psychological burden for using such underhanded methods to trick her own daughter. But she had no choice; a girl's best years were between twenty and thirty.
Once those ten years passed, no matter how much money one had, the partner one found wouldn't be "the best." Tang's Mother felt this deeply. It was safer to make a move on someone she had watched grow up.
The meeting between Tang's Mother and Old Master Tang, their years of waiting, and even their final union represented the sincerity of the older generation toward relationships.
But nowadays, such sincerity was unlikely, especially in this fast-paced world. It didn't matter if you were childhood sweethearts; under the double combo punch of money and novelty, even the strongest feelings and companionship would be beaten into pulp like beef balls.
It was precisely because she saw this clearly that Tang's Mother hoped her daughter would make plans early. She was already twenty-six or twenty-seven; in a few years, she would hit the big hurdle of thirty.
Tang's Mother was afraid that if she met someone she truly liked later on, but her age had gone up, her youngest daughter would be timid and afraid to make a move. If she felt inferior due to her age, she might end up with a lifetime of regret...
Watching the drama from the side, Tang Shouye saw his mother's half-dead appearance and his heart skipped a beat.
*Stop talking, Little Sister! If you keep going, Mom won't be able to take it!*
Tang Shouye felt it was time to do something, or else his mother's fake illness might turn real. He coughed twice to clear his throat and spoke up.
"Little Sister, was that a slip of the tongue just now? Did you say it wrong by mistake?"
As Tang Shouye spoke, he blinked rapidly, signaling his sister with his eyes.
Tang Yuyao saw it and understood his meaning, and then...
"Brother, I didn't misspeak. I am not getting married!" Tang Yuyao's tone was incredibly firm.
Silently, Tang's Mother, lying on the bed, took another heavy psychological blow. It felt as if her entire spirit and energy had vanished in an instant.
"Not only am I not getting married, but I'm going to stay single for the rest of my life!" Seeing the reaction, Tang Yuyao continued to "press the attack"!
Tang Shouye: "???"
Tang Shouye was getting anxious. *No... why is she still chasing her down to chop her up?*
Tang Shouye didn't dare let Tang Yuyao continue this output. If she kept going, his mother might actually develop a real condition, and then it wouldn't be a laughing matter. He hurriedly grabbed Tang Yuyao and dragged her toward the door.
"Mom, Little Sister and I are going out for a bit. You rest first, we'll be back later!"
Bang!
Only the half-dead Tang's Mother was left lying on the bed in the room.
"Sigh... there's really no point in living..." Tang's Mother looked utterly despondent. Before it was an act, but now it was real!
Her original thought was that since the child was getting older, she should find a good partner sooner rather than later. She didn't care about the conditions; finding someone she liked and found pleasing to the eye was enough. Their family was already prominent enough; the man's financial status didn't matter.
However... Tang's Mother had one hard condition: he had to marry into their family!
Of course, this wasn't "marrying in" in the traditional sense. The man didn't need to sacrifice anything; on the contrary, he could enjoy the benefits brought by their large family. The only requirement was that one of the children born had to take the Tang surname. Boy or girl, it didn't matter, but there had to be one.
This was an obsession of the older generation. Such a condition wasn't excessive; in fact, it was quite a bargain. After all, once one entered the Tang family, the resources available—whether visible on the surface or hidden behind the scenes—amounted to a terrifying volume.
Although she had many sons and even grandsons, whom Tang's Mother liked quite a bit, compared to this "miniature version" of her former self, she felt they were still lacking something.
Tang's Mother hadn't spoken much truth earlier, but one thing wasn't a lie: if she didn't see the day her daughter got married and had children, she wouldn't rest in peace!
She didn't even dare to die; she absolutely had to see it!!!
Tang's Mother continued to lie half-dead in the room, her brain starting to "reckon," seemingly trying to cook up a new "bright idea."
Meanwhile.
Outside in the corridor.
"Little Sister, why did you provoke Mom? Didn't you see the state she's in? Consider it a favor to your brother—lie to Mom later, okay? Here, this is a card Fourth Brother prepared for you. There's a few million in there. Just use it for pocket money for now..."
Tang Shouye pulled out the card faster than he ate. His mouth moved as if blessed by the gods, and his actions were smooth and continuous. Before Tang Yuyao could react, a black card appeared in her hand. A black card meant the balance was at least five million...
"Who wants your money, you damn fatty? All day long, it's just money, money, money. Can money solve everything?"
Tang Yuyao unleashed a torrent of abuse right in Tang Shouye's face. Tang Shouye's head was buzzing... *Wait, something's wrong. Why am I the one getting scolded?*
Tang Shouye's brain hadn't quite caught up, but he patiently continued to listen to what his sister had to say.
"Do you know why I said that just now?"
"Because Mom's life is too easy, so you wanted to crank up the difficulty setting?" Tang Shouye ventured tentatively.
Tang Yuyao: "???"
Upon hearing this, Tang Yuyao circled her chubby Fourth Brother, who looked just like the God of Wealth. Only after finding no traces of possession by some mischievous spirit did she breathe a sigh of relief.
She couldn't help it; the tone Tang Shouye used just now sounded too much like Ye Cheng. Tang Yuyao had developed a stress response from spending time with Ye Cheng recently.
Ever since she witnessed Ye Cheng lift the rear of a car—which probably weighed nearly half a ton—with his bare hands, and saw his "super assembly" skills, Tang Yuyao had developed an inexplicable confidence in Ye Cheng.
It felt as though there was nothing Ye Cheng couldn't accomplish with ease. If he couldn't do something, it simply meant he hadn't tried hard enough; as long as Ye Cheng put in a little effort, he could achieve it.
It was precisely because of this subconscious belief that Tang Yuyao began to suspect that her fourth brother standing before her was actually some overpowered brat in disguise...
Although such a thought was a bit neurotic, when applied to her suspicion of Ye Cheng, Tang Yuyao felt it was surprisingly logical.
"Little Sister, what are you looking at?" Tang Shouye looked at his younger sister in confusion.
"Oh, nothing. I just thought of someone," Tang Yuyao replied casually.
Tang Yuyao shook her head and continued what she hadn't finished saying earlier. "Mom's wish is to see me get married. What do you think will happen to Mom if this wish is fulfilled?"
"She'll be very happy?" Tang Shouye blinked his beady little eyes, his face affecting a look of profound wisdom.
Tang Yuyao: "..."
"Right, but also wrong. She will be very happy, and then... that holding breath will be released. At that point, Mom might just pass away directly. So... Fourth Brother, do you understand what I mean?" Tang Yuyao narrowed her eyes, her gaze somewhat meaningful.
It was like how many elderly people, when facing the end of their lifespan, linger on the verge of death. That final breath just won't go down, and as long as it doesn't, they can't die. This is because they still have an obsession. Only when that obsession is satisfied can they finally let go and pass on.
In Tang Yuyao's view, they absolutely could not satisfy her mother's request right now. Otherwise, if she really saw it and got too excited, she might just be gone...
Actually, just now, when Tang's Mother said she wouldn't have any regrets if she saw Tang Yuyao get married, a person subconsciously popped into Tang Yuyao's mind. Hmm... yes, exactly the one you're thinking of.
There was no sense of violation, not even any repulsion. After all... everything that could be seen had already been seen, so what was there left to reject?
Wasn't this just feigning innocence?
If she really had to "scam" her mother, she naturally needed someone to play the part. Without a doubt, Ye Cheng was the most suitable candidate. After all, if her mother didn't believe them and demanded they kiss or something, they wouldn't accidentally expose the lie.
She was doing this for her mother. She was very resistant to it, okay? She was being taken advantage of here. She was... letting a certain guy get a bargain, hmph!
Tang Yuyao could only accept Ye Cheng taking advantage of her. If it were anyone else... she wouldn't mind stabbing them to death with a scalpel.
After listening, Tang Shouye came to a sudden realization. So... that was it?
However... um, Little Sister, is there a possibility that Mom is faking it and was actually fine, but after you put it that way, it sounds like her fake illness is about to become real...
Tang Shouye braced himself and spoke, "How about this, Little Sister? You agree to it first. Say you have a boyfriend to give Mom something to hold onto. After all, you've seen that Mom's current condition isn't very optimistic..."
Tang Yuyao thought about it and it seemed... reasonable. Ultimately, she had to give her some sweetness. If there was no hope left at all, a person could easily fade away.
"Alright then, Fourth Brother, let's go in... Wait!"
Tang Yuyao seemed to think of something and frowned. "Where is that damn old man? Mom is in this state, what is he doing?"
Tang Shouye: "..."
In a moment of desperation, Tang Shouye improvised, "Dad is overcome with grief. He's very haggard right now and doesn't want you to see him in such a wretched state... Little Sister, let me whisper this to you: Dad cried. His eyes are all swollen. You absolutely must not tell Dad that I told you this. You know him, he cares about his dignity the most."
Sorry, Dad!
"Filial Son" Tang Shouye lied without skipping a beat, feeling absolutely no psychological burden as he threw the old man under the bus once again.
Tang Yuyao felt a mix of complex emotions, her thoughts unclear...
"I understand. Let's go in first. I'll go see him in a while..." He was her father after all. No matter how much Tang Yuyao said she disliked him, she couldn't truly be hard-hearted.
Tang Shouye: "..."
"Let's go, Brother. What are you doing?" Tang Yuyao turned her head to look at Tang Shouye, who was frozen in place.
Tang Shouye wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Nothing, it's just a bit hot, haha. I'll be right there..."
It seemed he was going to be strung up and beaten again?
Not long after, Tang Yuyao's voice came from inside the room, sounding slightly awkward and shy.
"Mom... I, I actually have a boyfriend. I..."
Tang's Mother: "!!!"
Instantly glowing with health!!!
...
Meanwhile.
At the Academy.
In an inconspicuous corner.
"Hamster, the President didn't suspect anything, right?" Ye Cheng asked with a sneaky expression.
"Mhm, mhm! The Miss didn't suspect a thing. She believed my words and was totally fooled by me!"
The Little Secretary nodded, looking extremely confident. Her big, sparkling eyes blinked, filled with a look of 'wisdom'.
Ye Cheng: "..."
Why... did he have an ominous premonition?
It should be... just an illusion, right?
reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
