The Counterattack of a Wealthy Family's Substitute

"I'm outside."

"Go back, I'll go to the apartment after I finish my social engagement."

Yao Yingxi opened one of the French windows on the balcony, stepped out of the house, and tightened her clothes as the cold wind blew: "Something happened to my sister, and I'm worried about her. I want to stay with her."

"Yao Yingxi," Xi Yuanchen's voice turned cold, "Don't forget who you are!"

“I know, of course I know.” Yao Yingxi smiled and looked down at the scattered cars below. “Mr. Xi, you don’t need to keep reminding me.”

Yao Yingxi felt a cool sensation on her face. She reached out to touch it and realized it was raining again. "But my sister is sick, and as her older sister, I want to keep her company."

“Mr. Xi…” Yao Yingxi took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in her heart, her voice trembling slightly: “Tonight, I’m begging you, okay?”

"No." Xi Yuanchen's voice was calm and indifferent: "Yao Yingxi, your sister is an adult, and you are an adult too. You need to remember that you have your responsibilities."

"My schedule cannot be disrupted by anything."

Yao Yingxi was startled by the wind and turned her back: "I understand."

After saying that, he hung up the phone.

Yao Yingxi put her phone in her bag and returned to the living room. She said to Liang Yu, "I have something to do, so I have to go now. Please take good care of Yueyue. I'll come to see her again tomorrow."

With that, Yao Yingxi picked up her things and prepared to leave.

“Yingxi…” Liang Yu called out to her, his expression complicated. “Was that your boyfriend who just called you?”

Yao Yingxi stopped and looked at Liang Yu. Liang Yu quickly smiled and said, "I didn't mean anything by it. Yingxi, you are a very good girl. I just... I just..."

“Liang Yu,” Yao Yingxi looked at him, “you are no longer qualified.”

"Take good care of Yueyue."

After saying that, Yao Yingxi left.

When Yao Yingxi returned to the apartment, the living room lights were already on.

After a pause, Yao Yingxi changed her shoes and took off her coat. Then she went to the kitchen.

She was drinking water in the kitchen, and before she had even finished her glass, Xi Yuanchen's voice rang out behind her: "What's wrong? Feeling bad after seeing your ex-fiancé?"

Upon hearing this, Yao Yingxi turned around, looked at Xi Yuanchen, pursed her lips, and remained silent.

"Speak!" Xi Yuanchen's voice was filled with anger, and his deep, eagle-like eyes stared at Yao Yingxi.

Upon hearing this, Yao Yingxi instinctively stepped back.

But her actions angered Xi Yuanchen. She had just taken a step back when Xi Yuanchen grabbed her wrist, dragged her into his arms, and roughly kissed her while pinching her chin.

Xi Yuanchen's kiss frightened Yao Yingxi. She already had a fear of intimacy, and after that night, she was traumatized by all intimate gestures. She was afraid.

Yao Yingxi struggled instinctively, and while waving her hands wildly, she accidentally slapped Xi Yuanchen across the face.

All movements stopped in an instant. Xi Yuanchen released her and looked up.

Yao Yingxi swallowed hard, her body trembling almost imperceptibly: "I...I'm sorry, I...I didn't mean to...I...I just..."

Before Yao Yingxi could finish speaking, Xi Yuanchen slammed the door and left.

Yao Yingxi stood in the kitchen, slowly squatted down, and covered her face with her hands.

After a long while, Yao Yingxi finally returned to her bedroom.

The next morning, Yao Yingxi rushed to Yao Yingyue and Liang Yu's house again.

When she arrived, it was still early, and Yao Yingyue was still asleep. Liang Yulai opened the door for her: "Yueyue is still sleeping."

Yao Yingxi nodded and walked into the living room.

After last night, the relationship between Liang Yu and Yao Yingxi became very strained.

The two stood silently in the living room. Liang Yu spoke up, "I'll go buy breakfast. You can sit down for a while."

Yao Yingxi nodded, and after Liang Yu left, she sat down on the sofa in the living room.

Yao Yingxi barely slept yesterday, her mind preoccupied with either Yao Yingyue's situation or her relationship with Xi Yuanchen. She thought about it all night, and even now, she still has no clue what to do.

Yao Yingxi felt like she had reached a dead end, and no matter which path she took, she couldn't move forward.

Liang Yu quickly brought back breakfast. He handed Yao Yingxi her favorite soy milk and steamed buns. Yao Yingxi took them and said, "Thank you."

Liang Yu was right across from her. Hearing this, he gave a wry smile: "Yingxi, you don't need to be so polite with me."

Yao Yingxi didn't look at him, and used a straw to poke open the soy milk.

The two ate breakfast in silence. Halfway through, Yao Yingxi spoke up: "Liang Yu, have you thought about what to do next?"

"Given Yueyue's condition, it's probably unrealistic for her to go back to school. But she's still so young; if she doesn't graduate from university, her life will basically be ruined."

Liang Yu put down his soy milk and looked at Yao Yingxi: "I've made up my mind. If Yueyue is willing, I want to move to another city with her."

"I do not want to!"

As soon as Liang Yu finished speaking, Yao Yingyue rushed out of the bedroom. She glared fiercely at Liang Yu and shouted at them, "I didn't do anything wrong, why should I leave?"

"I won't leave! I won't leave! If anyone should leave, it should be those vicious women!" Yao Yingyue looked at them emotionally, raising her hand to smash the breakfast Liang Yu had bought on the table onto the ground: "I will not leave!"

“Yueyue…” Liang Yu and Yao Yingxi were both a little surprised by Yao Yingyue’s sudden appearance, but seeing how agitated she was, all their surprise turned into worry.

Liang Yu tried to calm her down: "Yueyue, don't get agitated. Let me finish what I have to say, okay?"

"Oh no!" Yao Yingyue looked at Liang Yu, pointed at him, and tears streamed down her face. "Liang Yu, I'm not the only one who did wrong, and I'm not the only one who betrayed my sister."

Why am I being verbally abused by these people? Why is this happening?

Yao Yingyue shouted hoarsely, "Liang Yu, do you think I'm someone you can't face others? Is that why you chose to leave Yuncheng?"

"But none of this is my fault!" Yao Yingyue cried, her voice growing softer and softer, until she collapsed to the ground, her body going limp.

"Yueyue!"

Yao Yingxi and Liang Yu quickly reached out to catch Yao Yingyue. Liang Yu picked Yao Yingyue up and ran outside.

In the hospital, in the doctor's office.

"Based on what you've said, the patient appears to be suffering from depression."

"Depression?" Yao Yingxi looked at the doctor, her brows furrowing. She stood up abruptly. "She was perfectly fine just a few days ago. How could she have developed depression?"

"Don't get agitated." The doctor gestured for her to sit down. "I told you when the patient had her miscarriage that she was in a bad mental state."

"Perhaps I've been through some kind of trauma recently, which caused my mentality to completely collapse."

"There are many conditions that can lead to depression. I have only made a judgment that is not yet based on evidence. The accurate result can only be determined after the patient's physical condition has improved and an evaluation has been conducted."

Yao Yingxi closed her eyes, processing what she had just heard: "If my sister really has depression... what should we do?"