Help! Please Take the Heroine Away [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 32

Xie Mingyao jolted awake, quickly pushing her away and sitting up abruptly in bed, wrapping herself tightly in the blanket. “You go out first,” she said.

Normally, two girls changing clothes in front of each other wouldn’t be a big deal. But ever since that had happened, Xie Mingyao couldn’t bring herself to change in front of Ye Qingyu anymore.

Ye Qingyu didn’t refuse. She turned and left the bedroom. Xie Mingyao waited a while, making sure she was really gone, before finally throwing off the covers and getting dressed.

After washing up, she went downstairs to find breakfast already prepared.

The atmosphere in the dining room was warm and cozy.

Xie Mingyao kept her head down, silently eating her meal, while Ye Qingyu occasionally added food to her plate. Knowing Xie Mingyao only liked egg whites and not the yolks, Ye Qingyu ate the yolks herself and placed the whites on a small dish beside Xie Mingyao.

If outsiders saw this scene, their jaws would probably drop in shock. But Xie Mingyao was so used to being taken care of like this that she didn’t react at all, casually picking up the egg whites and eating them.

After breakfast, Xie Mingyao was too exhausted to go to the office. Her legs felt like they didn’t even belong to her anymore, she was sure they’d tremble if she tried walking around the company. The last thing she wanted was to become gossip fodder.

Unfortunately, Xie Mingyao had no idea she was already the center of the rumor mill.

Ye Qingyu told her to rest at home and didn’t go to the office either, staying to keep her company. But she still worked from her laptop, even holding a meeting.

The fact that both of them were absent from the office that day only added more fuel to the gossip fire. In the company group chat, where no higher-ups were present employees were buzzing about their CEO and the new assistant. Some even let their imaginations run wild, writing short, spicy little stories in the chat.

One employee accidentally sent a screenshot of these stories to a manager instead of a friend. From there, it spread like wildfire, ten people told ten more, until it eventually reached Ye Qingyu’s phone.

Ye Qingyu silently read the spicy fiction her employees had written, her ears turning slightly red, her gaze unfocused. Who knew what she was thinking about?

That night, Ye Qingyu decisively dragged Xie Mingyao into trying out some of the scenarios from the story. And so, for several days afterward, Ye Qingyu couldn’t get enough.

A day or two was fine, but every single day? Even if Xie Mingyao enjoyed it, she couldn’t take much more.

Where the hell did this girl learn all these shameless tricks?! That evening, when Xie Mingyao saw Ye Qingyu step out of the bathroom in a spaghetti-strap nightgown, fear flashed across her face.

“You have work tomorrow, you should sleep early,” she said, then immediately burrowed under the covers, determined to fall asleep right then and there.

Ye Qingyu set her towel aside, climbed onto the bed, slipped under the blankets, and wrapped an arm around Xie Mingyao’s waist. “It’s fine. Work isn’t that tiring.”

Thanks, but I wasn’t worried about you!

Xie Mingyao mentally rolled her eyes, knowing her excuse wouldn’t hold up. When Ye Qingyu’s hands started wandering, she frantically grabbed them and snapped, “Were you a dog in your past life or something? Biting every single day, it’s annoying! Get lost!”

Ye Qingyu’s breath was warm as she gazed at her with dark eyes, speaking unhurriedly, “You cursed at me. I deserve an apology not a verbal one. Actions will do.”

Damn dog! What happened to the untouchable ice queen? What happened to the cold, aloof, and restrained persona?!

Xie Mingyao resisted the happiness that Ye Qingyu brought, her almond-shaped eyes glaring fiercely at her. Yet, under the shadowed depths of Ye Qingyu’s gaze, she could only relent in the end: “I’m tired.”

Ye Qingyu fell silent for a long moment, reflecting on how they had indeed been indulging night after night. Realizing she might have gone too far, she couldn’t help but lean in and kiss Xie Mingyao’s cheek gently. “Alright!”

Xie Mingyao was surprised, she hadn’t expected that to actually work.

The next day, Xie Mingyao followed Ye Qingyu to work. With nothing to do, she idly played on her phone at her desk, switching between watching shows and gaming. Occasionally, she’d bring Ye Qingyu a cup of coffee and endure some teasing, but beyond that, there wasn’t much else to occupy her time.

After chatting with Zhou Ruohan for a while, Zhou asked how she was doing. Xie Mingyao felt too embarrassed to mention her relationship with Ye Qingyu and only replied awkwardly that she was fine.

On the other end, Zhou Ruohan typed and deleted repeatedly, the “typing” indicator flickering without any message actually being sent. After waiting for a while, Xie Mingyao finally received a question, Zhou asked if she would attend a banquet at her house that evening.

Xie Mingyao wasn’t interested and declined outright. But to her surprise, when they got off work in the afternoon, Ye Qingyu took her there anyway.

First, they went for styling. Xie Mingyao was fitted into an elegant, off-white strapless gown.

When she stepped out of the fitting room, she collided with Ye Qingyu, who was dressed in a sleek black suit.

Both froze for a moment, their eyes flashing with mutual admiration.

During her time at the company, Xie Mingyao had kept her long hair tied up for convenience. Now, it cascaded freely, the ends naturally curled and dyed a chestnut brown, falling over her fair shoulders and making her skin appear even more luminous. The off-white knee-length dress clung to her figure, accentuating her graceful curves. The hem stopped just above her ankles, revealing slender, pale feet.

As she moved, the skirt swayed like waves, the embroidered patterns seeming to come alive. Her shapely calves peeked through subtly.

Standing under the crystal chandelier in the boutique, she radiated a dazzling allure both innocent and seductive, impossible to look away from.

For a moment, the shop fell silent. Then, a delighted sales assistant exclaimed, “Miss Xie, you look absolutely stunning in this!”

Xie Mingyao tore her gaze away from Ye Qingyu, who had been staring at her in awe, and quietly thought to herself, the female lead isn’t bad either.

Dressed in a black suit, Ye Qingyu exuded sophistication and poise. Her cool demeanor and noble aura added an air of restrained elegance. Most strikingly, their outfits made them look like a newlywed couple.

But the moment the sales assistant finished speaking, Ye Qingyu suddenly said, “It’s too revealing. Change into something else.”

The sales assistant: “…”

But evening gowns are all like this!!!

After an awkward silence, under Ye Qingyu’s unwavering stare, the assistant finally picked out a traditional Chinese-style dress that covered Xie Mingyao from neck to toe even her arms were completely wrapped up.

Xie Mingyao gave an exasperated look at the outfit that concealed everything from her collarbone to below her ankles. Rolling her eyes, she muttered, “Might as well just wrap me in a burlap sack, that’d cover even more.”

Ye Qingyu replied flatly, “Sure, if you’re willing.”

Xie Mingyao: “…”

The banquet was held on the lawn of Zhou Ruohan’s family villa, which had been decorated in advance, glowing as bright as day and breathtakingly beautiful.

After Ye Qingyu and Xie Mingyao got out of the car, it was taken away by the valet to the parking lot. The two walked toward the venue together, but just before they arrived, Ye Qingyu suddenly stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Xie Mingyao asked, puzzled.

Ye Qingyu didn’t speak, but the arm near her position moved slightly, the meaning clear. Under Ye Qingyu’s gaze, Xie Mingyao had no choice but to place her hand on Ye Qingyu’s arm.

Standing at the entrance to greet them, Zhou Ruohan was stunned to see the two so intimate, momentarily frozen in surprise. In contrast, her husband smiled warmly as he welcomed them.

The Ye Group was now a colossal ship, and everyone wanted a piece of it. Though they found it odd that Ye Qingyu had brought a female companion, the upper-class circles had seen it all, so they kept their reactions in check.

Once inside, a steady stream of people approached with wine glasses in hand, eager to exchange pleasantries. Most were partners collaborating with the Ye Group, while others sought opportunities for future cooperation.

Ye Qingyu remained cool yet polite, occasionally interjecting a word or two when someone spoke at length. Each time she did, the speaker would grow visibly excited and redouble their efforts.

This was the first time Xie Mingyao had seen this side of Ye Qingyu natural, effortless, elegant, and poised. Combined with her aloof, noble demeanor, every movement and word was irresistibly captivating.

Xie Mingyao felt a daze come over her. She recalled Ye Qingyu from their high school days still beautiful, but weighed down by life’s pressures, silent and brooding, like a lone wolf always on guard, ready to tear out someone’s throat.

Now, she was the complete opposite like a pearl wiped clean of dust, revealing its radiant luster.

Sitting beside her, Xie Mingyao gazed at her flawless profile, her heart fluttering uncontrollably. Of course, she quickly suppressed it. If the system caught even a hint of her feelings, all her previous efforts would be for nothing!

Occasionally, those with closer ties to Ye Qingyu couldn’t help but glance curiously at Xie Mingyao. When Ye Qingyu frowned slightly and wrapped an arm around her waist, they would sigh in disappointment before teasingly asking about Xie Mingyao’s identity.

Though Xie Mingyao was the heiress of the Xie Group, she had never taken over the family business or formally appeared in high society. Moreover, the family’s main successor had never attended the same school as a troublemaker like her, so no one recognized her.

After Ye Qingyu introduced her by name, before anyone could express surprise that she was the bankrupt Xie Group’s heiress, she added in French, “Mon amour.”

The original host of Xie Mingyao’s body had been an academic disaster, the epitome of a spoiled rich kid. Though she had studied abroad in the U.S. and barely scraped by in English, French was beyond her. But while the original Xie Mingyao wouldn’t have understood, she did.

Under the guests’ surprised and then suggestive gazes, Xie Mingyao couldn’t help but look at Ye Qingyu again.

“What’s wrong?” Ye Qingyu turned to her after the guests had left.

Perhaps it was the dim lighting, but in the half-shadows, Xie Mingyao saw nothing but tenderness and affection in Ye Qingyu’s eyes enough to make anyone lose themselves.

A blush crept onto her cheeks. Afraid Ye Qingyu might notice, she coughed lightly and excused herself. “I’m going to the restroom.”

In the distant garden.

Zhou Yanfeng stood in formal attire, his hair slicked back with wax, his once-youthful face now mature. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, giving him the air of a seasoned businessman.

Tang Yan, dressed in an elegant gown, stood beside him, swirling a wine glass gracefully. “Who would’ve thought? President Ye not only didn’t take revenge on Xie Mingyao but even helped her pay off all that debt.”

This colossal ship, if not for the support of cutting-edge technology, would be impossible to maneuver even if one wanted to.

Zhou Yanfeng’s expression was icy as he remained silent, stepping off in the direction Xie Mingyao had left. Seeing this, Tang Yan shrugged and was about to leave when a man in a suit approached.

The man was handsome, his suit undoubtedly expensive, yet his overall demeanor lacked refinement, giving off an air of being somewhat unsophisticated.

But Tang Yan cheerfully linked arms with him and walked toward the crowd.

Her family had hoped she would form a marriage alliance with Zhou Yanfeng, but after seeing the possibilities with someone like Ye Qingyu, Tang Yan refused to become a man’s accessory, she wanted to compete with her brother.

Of course, the prerequisite was not marrying into another wealthy family, and the man she had chosen was her first chess piece in this game.

Tang Yan led her companion over to Ye Qingyu’s side, greeting her like an old acquaintance: “President Ye, it’s been years. I never expected you to be so impressive. I wanted to greet you earlier, but I couldn’t find the opportunity.”

Ye Qingyu’s expression remained indifferent as she gave a slight nod but said nothing. Undeterred, Tang Yan had only come to test whether Ye Qingyu truly had feelings for Xie Mingyao.

She had once been one of Xie Mingyao’s followers. If Ye Qingyu’s kindness toward Xie Mingyao was just a facade, she would surely take her anger out on Tang Yan. But if it wasn’t…

Tang Yan smiled sweetly. “President Ye, I just saw President Zhou go after Xie Mingyao. You know how much Xie Mingyao likes him.”

At these words, Ye Qingyu lifted her gaze and silently studied Tang Yan, who forced an awkward laugh. “President Ye, I just wanted to do you a favor, no ulterior motives.”

Ye Qingyu could no longer remain composed. Following Tang Yan’s hint, she strode in the direction Zhou Yanfeng had gone.

The lawn, far from the lights, was dimly lit. Amid the dense flower bushes, two indistinct figures emerged. Yet, no matter how faint the light, her familiarity with Xie Mingyao allowed her to instantly recognize one of them as the person who had claimed to be going to the restroom.

Ye Qingyu’s expression darkened, emotions churning in her eyes. She stared fixedly at the two figures drawing closer, her grip tightening around the wine glass until it shattered. Shards pierced her palm, drawing blood.

In the garden.

Xie Mingyao looked up at the tall, handsome man she hadn’t seen in years, her face alight with joy. “Yanfeng, I never thought I’d see you here. This is wonderful.”

Zhou Yanfeng scrutinized Xie Mingyao from head to toe.

She was indeed beautiful, but he couldn’t fathom how such an airhead could make Ye Qingyu defy gender norms to love her.

Over the years, because of his past attempt to harm Xie Mingyao abroad, Ye Qingyu had relentlessly suppressed the Zhou family. His parents never stopped blaming him for provoking Ye Qingyu back then, if not for being their only son, his position as heir would have long been unstable.

All of Zhou Yanfeng’s affection for Ye Qingyu had turned to hatred as his company grew increasingly unstable. Unable to retaliate against Ye Qingyu directly, he could still exact indirect revenge through Xie Mingyao.

“I only just learned you’d returned to the country, Mingyao. I’m so sorry and heartbroken about what happened to you. Why didn’t you come to me? No matter what, our childhood bond was real, I would have helped you.” Zhou Yanfeng spoke with deep emotion, as if unaware of his mother’s actions.

Xie Mingyao cursed Zhou Yanfeng inwardly but feigned gratitude on the surface. “Yanfeng, I wanted to find you, but I…”

She couldn’t bring herself to speak of Mrs. Zhou’s rejection and humiliation, nor could she mention what Ye Qingyu had done to her. In the end, she simply lowered her head.

Zhou Yanfeng sighed and pulled Xie Mingyao into his embrace, murmuring softly, “Mingyao, after all these years, I’ve come to realize that the person I truly love is you. Would you still be willing to be with me?”

Outside the garden.

Watching Xie Mingyao in Zhou Yanfeng’s arms making no move to push him away but instead gazing up at him Ye Qingyu felt a surge of anguish.

Was Zhou Yanfeng really that good?

Yet, she seemed unable to let go.

“If you don’t want to be boiled alive like a frog in warm water, then it’s time to change tactics,” Ye Qingyu’s cool voice was slightly hoarse. She glanced down at her bleeding, throbbing right hand, casually brushing off the shards of glass before stepping forward.

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