Too Late to Regret, She’s Now With the Big Boss - Chapter 20

“You what? Don’t be too jealous of me. Being naturally beautiful is a hassle, just throwing on anything gets accused of dressing up on purpose!”

Ye Qianqian sneered at Li Xiangwei’s flustered expression, raising an eyebrow provocatively. Li Xiangwei was so furious she nearly lunged at her.

“Wei girl, enough fooling around. The dishes are almost all served, sit down and eat.” Old Master Lu suppressed his impatience with effort.

His sharp eyes could tell at a glance that Ye Qianqian wasn’t wearing makeup. Still, credit where it was due, this third daughter-in-law was truly a natural beauty.

Her brows were thick without pencil, her lips red without rouge. Even bare-faced, she radiated a bright, captivating charm, like a lotus rising from clear water.

As for the niece from the second branch, pretty as she was, there was a touch of vulgarity to her. Especially daring to throw tantrums in someone else’s home, utterly ridiculous!

“Grandpa Lu, look how shameless she is! Who praises themselves like that?”

Li Xiangwei stomped her foot with every word, pouting as she clung to her aunt’s side, refusing to sit down.

“Li Xiangwei, what’s gotten into you today? Can’t we say Qianqian is pretty?” Lu Yao stuck her tongue out at Li Xiangwei teasingly.

“Tch. ‘Born beautiful, hard to abandon.’ No matter how much you stomp, you’ll never have this. And you’ll never understand my kind of troubles.”

Watching Li Xiangwei tremble with rage, Ye Qianqian happily sipped her rich and flavorful seafood radish soup.

Then she glanced at the table laden with mouthwatering dishes: stir-fried beef, freshly killed spiny lobster, freshly harvested black truffles, sautéed pea shoots…

Not to mention her devoted best friend piling food onto her plate. Between delighted bites, she basked in her own glory.

“Hmph! As if I’d envy you!” Li Xiangwei’s head buzzed with anger. She had always prided herself on her flawless skin.

Who knew Ye Qianqian’s would be even fairer and smoother? Could Third Master have fallen for her because of that?

Her earlier disdain instantly twisted into burning envy. The glare she shot at Ye Qianqian was venomous.

Sensing the hostility, Ye Qianqian smirked. “I’m this gorgeous for people to admire, not for toads to gawk at.”

Pfft.

Eldest Sister-in-law Lu couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Clink.

The delicate porcelain spoon slipped from Old Madam Lu’s fingers into her bowl with a crisp sound.

Her icy gaze at Ye Qianqian was like a blade frosted over. “Will you ever stop? Young as you are, instead of learning proper manners, you’ve picked up the worst traits of shrews, harping on trivial matters without end.”

“Hear that? Grandma Lu says you’re disgraceful!” Li Xiangwei rushed up to Ye Qianqian triumphantly, as if she’d finally found backup.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Ye Qianqian landed six sharp strikes across Li Xiangwei’s face, three on each side. Why let such an opportunity pass?

“Ow, that hurt.” Ye Qianqian shook out her wrist. “How is her face so thick?”

Old Master Lu’s temple twitched violently. Who was the thick-skinned one here?

The one who got hit hadn’t even cried out, yet the hitter was complaining first.

The Lu family shared the same thought when Li Xiangwei suddenly clutched her cheeks and wailed, “How dare you hit me?! I’ll fight you-”

“Want a fight? Who knew someone so young could have a heart blacker than decade-old smoked liver?”

Ye Qianqian rolled up her sleeves, adopting a battle-ready stance that sent Li Xiangwei scrambling backward in fear.

“Watch me not cripple you. I was only teasing you because I’m in a good mood today. Everyone knows arguing with fools is worse than playing the lute to a cow. At least cows can produce milk! What can you produce? If stupidity could generate electricity, you… could probably light up the entire Lanjing Garden. If you want to stay for dinner, eat properly. If not, get the hell out. Do you even know whose house this is? Don’t confuse the subject, verb, and object!”

Ye Qianqian pointed in Li Xiangwei’s direction, unleashing a torrent of scathing words, her true target was clear.

Just then, Li Xiangwei, frightened, hid behind Old Madam Lu. Her sickly sweet voice slithered out like a venomous snake hissing.

Don’t confuse the subject, verb, and object!

The entire Lu family froze mid-breath.

Their lips twitched violently, this sister-in-law (Third Aunt) had a mouth like poison.

Old Master Lu, who had initially felt a twinge of guilt over his young wife’s deliberate provocation, instantly tossed that guilt to the winds.

Old Madam Lu wanted to slam her bowl down and storm off, but she didn’t want to be imprisoned by her own son again. “Husband, isn’t this our son’s home?”

Hearing this, Old Master Lu’s frown deepened enough to crush a fly. Back when he was the head of the household, kicking Ye Qianqian out to appease his young wife would’ve been as easy as plucking a leaf from a tree.

But his third son took after him, when he did something, he either didn’t do it at all or executed it flawlessly.

Love? Either he didn’t love at all, or he loved to the marrow, even willing to throw away his life!

Earlier, he had seen how his son treated her, this woman had already sunk deep into his bones!

He couldn’t afford to offend his son just to vent his young wife’s anger and risk an irreparable fallout.

Slowly, he stood and pulled his young wife along. “Ruyi, you said it yourself, this is our son’s home. If you don’t want to stay, let’s go.”

Seeing that even her husband didn’t dare provoke his son’s plaything, Old Madam Lu refused to be scared off by some worthless woman.

Instead, she glared venomously at Li Xiangwei. Useless trash. She itched to slap her a few times, but after decades of pampered living, she couldn’t bring herself to make a scene. All she could do was cling to her husband.

Pouting pitifully, she said, “Husband~~ It’s all my fault for misjudging people and helping that ungrateful Wei girl.”

Lu Yao, who had been peeling shrimp for Ye Qianqian, placed them in Old Master Lu’s bowl. “Grandfather, eat. It’s all Li Xiangwei’s fault for acting crazy and ruining your mood.”

“Mm, it’s all Wei’s fault for being so thoughtless. I’ll have the bodyguards escort her home so she stops offending Qianqian’s eyes.”

Old Master Lu seized the opportunity to issue orders, reveling in his young wife’s clinging and his granddaughter’s fawning.

“You venomous shrew! Now Grandpa and Grandma Lu blame me, are you happy now?” Li Xiangwei snarled, her face twisted with rage.

“Happy? How could I not be?” Ye Qianqian leisurely picked at her food. “Some people are just born troublemakers, no point in restraining them.”

“You… you!”

“Me what? Get out now, or I’ll beat you to death!” Ye Qianqian raised a fist, sending Li Xiangwei scrambling away in panic.

Eldest Brother Lu watched Ye Qianqian, thinking, For someone so beautiful, she’s more poisonous than a viper.

In just one meal, he had broken out in a cold sweat. Even his father, a seasoned tycoon, and his drama-loving stepmother had nearly fled in defeat.

He shot his wife a look: Darling, Third Sister-in-law is terrifying. Should we make a run for it?

Sister-in-law Lu: “Withdraw what? Are we supposed to rely on you selling paintings to support us? If it weren’t for Third Brother, would your paintings even sell?”

“Qianqian, eat more vegetables, don’t be upset.” After glaring at her husband, Sister-in-law Lu smiled and began serving Ye Qianqian more food.