Taishu Yuanxiang had thanked him profusely for a long time. He never imagined that Yan Aohan’s true intent was merely to use Taishu Yuanxiang as a test subject to observe Zhu Shun Yao’s reaction.
Zhu Yanyi glanced at Yan Aohan. She understood his scheme instantly. This man truly spared no effort when calculating others.
"There is a way," Zhu Yanyi said with a grin. "When she arrives, don't show any hesitation. If you hesitate, she won't marry you."
Taishu Yuanxiang was slightly startled. "Did you have someone bring An'ni over?"
"Obviously. I came here today to resolve your matters. If you didn't meet my standards, I would have cut off your connection immediately." Zhu Yanyi looked at her with a faintly approving expression. "Since you are barely acceptable, I must find a way to help you. But how can we perform without the main character?"
Hearing this, Taishu Yuanxiang knew Zhu Yanyi was serious. If she were not sincere toward Zhu Yanli, she would truly sever their ties. She felt secretly relieved. She was deeply sincere toward Zhu Yanli. If she could gain Zhu Yanyi’s approval for their marriage now, she would have no regrets.
Zhu Yanli had been invited to the club under the pretext of a sisters' gathering. She did not suspect anything, though returning here made her recall past events. She did not dislike the place, but memories lingered.
Chen Yun and Chen Lu escorted Zhu Yanli to the seventh floor. Upon seeing Taishu Yuanxiang, Zhu Yanli paused in surprise. Seeing Zhu Yanyi and Yan Aohan again, she gave a dry laugh. "Ani, hello."
"I am not doing well," Zhu Yanyi said seriously. "I wonder what Father and Mother will think when I tell them their daughter has a man and kept it secret."
Zhu Yanli’s face flushed slightly. She lowered her head. "How did you know?"
"When I visited your school last time to deliver items, I noticed you were no longer a virgin. I wanted to investigate then, but Aohan advised against it. He said you are an adult and must live your own life, so I did not probe further."
Zhu Yanyi continued, her tone sharp. "Then, when I returned home, Doumiao told me she saw you walking very intimately with Taishu Yuanxiang on the street. She asked Niu Jiu to investigate and reported back to me. That is how I learned the truth. You are becoming bolder. You hid such a major event from us. Were you planning to tell us only after the nephew is born?"
Zhu Yanyi grew angrier as she spoke, her smile vanishing.
"Nephew? It is not that certain. Besides, we took precautions," Zhu Yanli said, looking down.
"Precautions?" Zhu Yanyi laughed in anger. "Did your precautions go to the dog mountain? Have you not noticed a faint spot appearing at the corner of your right eye? You have been pregnant for nearly a month."
Taishu Yuanxiang’s eyes lit up. "Yanyi, is it true? An'ni is pregnant?"
"Otherwise, why would I be so angry?" Zhu Yanyi retorted, glaring at Taishu Yuanxiang.
Hearing this, Zhu Yanli froze. Her hands instinctively moved to her lower abdomen. "Ani, am I really pregnant?"
"Would I lie?" Zhu Yanyi looked at her speechlessly.
Zhu Yanli frowned, glaring at Taishu Yuanxiang. "I told you to take precautions. I have a performance next month. How can I go on stage?"
"Forget the performance!" Zhu Yanyi snapped before Taishu Yuanxiang could speak. "Zhu Yanli, have you grown too bold? You still talk about performances? Think about the consequences when Father and Mother find out. What have you learned from your studies?"
She is truly angry, Zhu Yanli thought, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Zhu Yanyi was not just angry; she was concerned about Zhu Yanli’s emerging arrogance. In her previous life, Zhu Yanli had lower education. Though straightforward, she was gentle and family-oriented. Now, due to Zhu Yanyi’s influence and attending a prestigious music conservatory with a strong artistic atmosphere, Zhu Yanli had developed vanity and pride. Zhu Yanyi scolded her to wake her up.
"Ani, are you angry?" Zhu Yanli had never seen Zhu Yanyi so furious. She looked at her sister cautiously. "I just didn’t expect to get pregnant so soon."
"That is not the point," Zhu Yanyi said, rubbing her forehead. "The point is, why did you hide the fact that you have a boyfriend? You are an adult. Having a boyfriend is normal. Why hide it? I initially thought Taishu Yuanxiang did not want us to know. But it turns out, it is entirely your fault."
Zhu Yanli hurriedly explained, "I did not plan to hide it for long. I was worried Father and Mother would not approve if they knew about Yuanxiang and me."
"So you decided to get pregnant first and ask for permission later?" Zhu Yanyi tilted her head, surprised by her sister’s unreliability.
"I didn’t plan to hide it for long. I just wanted to wait until after the performance in March next year, then bring him home," Zhu Yanli said earnestly.
"What is the difference between knowing in March next year and knowing now, other than you being one year older?" Zhu Yanyi asked.
Zhu Yanli paused. She had simply wanted to delay the matter, without deeper thought.
Zhu Yanyi sighed. "Sister, is your vanity acting up?"
"No," Zhu Yanli did not understand why Zhu Yanyi accused her of vanity. "I have never had vain thoughts."
"Really?" Zhu Yanyi asked again. "If not, why did you refuse to let Taishu Yuanxiang meet Father and Mother? You are merely afraid that Taishu Yuanxiang will look down on them. Even though Father founded the Azure Sovereign Qingdi Group, she was once a peasant. How can the group compare to the true strength of Taishu Industry?"
"You are talking nonsense. I never had such thoughts," Zhu Yanli felt wrongly accused. She did not know why she had not brought Taishu Yuanxiang to meet her parents. Perhaps it was anxiety.
Taishu Yuanxiang’s status was too high for her. She feared they could not end up together, so she thought it better to have no relationship at all. But Taishu Yuanxiang was too charming, and she could not bear to part. So, she decided to live in the dream as long as possible.
"Ani, I do not have the vanity you described. I just could not believe it," Zhu Yanli said. She would never tell anyone else, but in front of Zhu Yanyi, she revealed her true feelings.