Help! Please Take the Heroine Away [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 26.2

Ye Qingyu opened the car door, then walked around to the passenger side to open Xie Mingyao’s door. Bending down, she unfastened her seatbelt and gestured for her to step out.

Xie Mingyao stepped out gracefully, still wearing an expression of disbelief as she followed Ye Qingyu. It wasn’t until they entered the house that she finally accepted the truth, this place now belonged to Ye Qingyu.

She stood dazedly at the threshold of the familiar living room, then turned to glance at the garden outside.

Every flower, every blade of grass, every piece of furniture even the tiles on the floor were exactly as she remembered. Nothing had changed.

Her lips parted slightly as she looked at Ye Qingyu.

The young woman wasn’t wearing a suit today. Instead, she had on a sleek black silk slip dress with a casual black blazer draped over it, exuding an undeniable aura.

This version of Ye Qingyu reminded Xie Mingyao of the confrontation with Zhao Mingyuan at the restaurant the night before.

She really was different now.

A sudden unease crept into Xie Mingyao’s heart.

She thought back to four years ago, how she had bullied and humiliated the woman standing before her. The belated realization that Ye Qingyu could retaliate at any moment made her take two involuntary steps back.

“Thinking of running?” Ye Qingyu closed the distance, looking down at her with an indifferent expression.

Xie Mingyao pressed her lips together, hands clenched tightly at her sides. “What’s it to you?” she muttered. “I get it this place is yours now. I’ll just leave.”

She turned to go, resisting the urge to bolt outright, if only to save face.

No footsteps followed her. Xie Mingyao exhaled in relief, though a thread of tension remained.

Why wasn’t she chasing after her? Had she pushed things too far?

Ye Qingyu stood motionless at the living room entrance, watching Xie Mingyao’s figure grow smaller in the distance.

The villa wasn’t located in the city center, but it wasn’t in the suburbs either. The estate was vast, with each property separated by expansive greenbelts that resembled private gardens. Without a car, walking to the gate on foot would take an eternity.

Xie Mingyao was panting heavily by the time she stopped, her feet aching. Just as she was about to sit down by the roadside to rest, the sound of a car approached from behind. Without turning, she moved aside to let it pass.

But the car pulled up beside her. The window rolled down, and a familiar voice called out, “Get in.”

Xie Mingyao turned her head, it was Ye Qingyu, who hadn’t chased after her after all.

It seems she wasn’t planning to let her off the hook, just trying to apply some psychological pressure. Truly worthy of a female lead who’s battled in the business world. Tsk, she’s even learned to play these games now.

Xie Mingyao felt a flicker of joy inside, but her face showed resistance. “No need.”

She ignored the car parked beside her and continued walking without even pausing to rest.

The rival she once bullied had now become a powerful figure, while her own family had gone bankrupt. For this person to approach her now clearly, she was up to no good.

Xie Mingyao had no intention of bowing her head in front of her.

The sound of a car door opening followed by footsteps reached her ears. Xie Mingyao guessed Ye Qingyu had stepped out of the car, but she didn’t turn around, afraid it would make her seem weak. Yet, after just a few steps, she was suddenly embraced from behind. A scorching warmth seeped through her clothes, pressing against her back, accompanied by the faint, familiar scent of roses.

How suffocating, she even used the same shower gel fragrance Xie Mingyao liked.

“Why are you running? Are you that afraid of me? Worried I’ll bully you?” The hot breath against her ear carried a low, teasing voice.

Xie Mingyao felt mocked. She stiffened her neck and replied icily, “Afraid of you? What a joke. I can’t be bothered to talk to you. Get lost.”

Even now, the young mistress dared to angrily curse at the once-rival who now stood far above her.

“I just want to help you, A’Yao. You’re penniless and drowning in debt. You could be my personal secretary.”

Before she could finish, Xie Mingyao struggled free and snapped, “No need for your concern. I have hands and feet, I don’t need your charity.”

Seeing her resistance, Ye Qingyu fell silent for a moment before slowly releasing her. The moment she was free, Xie Mingyao immediately stepped back, eyeing Ye Qingyu warily. A shadow flickered in Ye Qingyu’s eyes.

“Fine. Think it over carefully.” With that, she placed a room key in Xie Mingyao’s hand, turned, and got back into the car.

After the car drove away, Xie Mingyao stared blankly at the key in her hand.

She just… left? No more persuasion, no forceful tactics? Then where was she supposed to stay tonight? What would she eat? Drink?

With these thoughts, Xie Mingyao turned and headed to Zhou Yanfeng’s house. The Zhou family also lived in this neighborhood, though their villa was quite a distance from the Xie family’s.

The scorching heat made Xie Mingyao’s makeup melt by the time she reached the Zhou residence. Many of the Zhou family’s servants were long-time staff who recognized her. Upon seeing her, they immediately informed Zhou Yanfeng’s mother.

Disheveled, she sat on the living room sofa. Under the blast of the air conditioner, her sweat quickly dried, leaving her feeling a little cold.

Back when the Xie family still mattered, every time Xie Mingyao visited the Zhou household, if she so much as broke a sweat, she would be escorted to a room reserved just for her to freshen up. Now, she was left waiting in the living room.

Xie Mingyao smoothed her hair. She waited nearly half an hour before Zhou’s mother finally descended the stairs.

“Oh, it’s Mingyao. My apologies, the servants didn’t make it clear who was here, or I wouldn’t have kept you waiting so long.” Zhou’s mother smiled warmly, her words tactful yet devoid of any real apology as she walked leisurely toward her.

Xie Mingyao keenly sensed the shift in Zhou’s mother’s attitude. After a pause, she murmured, “Auntie Zhou.”

“What brings you here today, Mingyao?” Zhou’s mother took a slow seat across from her, her smile polite.

Xie Mingyao hesitated before speaking. “Auntie Zhou, do you know how to contact my parents?”

“Mingyao, I don’t mean to speak ill of them, but your parents have really gone too far this time. To call you back only to sneak away themselves by the time your uncle and I found out, they’d already fled the country.” At this point, Mrs. Zhou sighed, her voice dripping with pity. “Poor child, now you’ll have those debt collectors breathing down your neck. You’re so young, saddled with all this debt, how will you manage?”

As she spoke, Mrs. Zhou pulled out a tissue and dabbed at the corners of her eyes in a show of false sympathy.

“Auntie Zhou,” Xie Mingyao’s eyes reddened slightly. “I don’t have any money, and my family.”

Mrs. Zhou feigned confusion. “Mingyao, when your parents were in trouble, our Zhou family lent them quite a sum. I even gave them a good portion of my private savings. Didn’t they leave you anything at all?”

Xie Mingyao’s words caught in her throat.

She had no idea whether the Zhou family had actually lent money or if Mrs. Zhou had truly given her personal savings. The only thing she knew was that she couldn’t borrow a single cent from them, she couldn’t even ask for help.

After sitting for a while longer, Xie Mingyao excused herself. Mrs. Zhou didn’t press her to stay, merely instructing a servant to see her out.

The moment she stepped out of the living room, she heard Mrs. Zhou murmur softly, “Throw this cup away.”

Xie Mingyao’s footsteps faltered, her body freezing in place.

This was the same woman who had once showered her with praise, even saying she wished to take her as a goddaughter. The woman who had doted on her like her own when their families were discussing a marriage alliance. And now, this.

It was blatant disdain and humiliation.

Xie Mingyao’s lips twisted into a bitter smile, her face deathly pale. Not daring to look back, she hurried away, her cheeks burning with shame.

After leaving the Zhou residence, the penniless Xie Mingyao wandered pitifully along the tree-lined sidewalk. Her stomach growled with hunger, her clothes damp with sweat. The urge to cry welled up inside her, but she swallowed it down.

Why hadn’t the female lead appeared yet? Wasn’t she miserable enough?

Pulling out her phone, she messaged Tang Yan, someone she’d once considered a close friend, hoping to borrow some money. But there was no reply. Desperate, she reached out to other, more distant classmates for help.

Yet her pleas either vanished without a trace or were met with seemingly kind words of comfort that masked ridicule and scorn.

Xie Mingyao bit her lower lip hard, a sour ache spreading through her chest. Just then, a car suddenly pulled up in front of her.

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