Severing Kinship

Seeing their plan going awry again, Ye Chengxuan suddenly collapsed to the ground, howling, "Ahh, my foot, it's broken!"

Li Aixin was once again thrown into chaos, rushing to help her son. Old grievances resurfaced instantly, "Gu Qingqing, you are a bringer of misfortune. You devil, why didn't you die outside? You had to come back to cause trouble for our Ye family!"

Auntie Zhang, instinctively protecting Gu Qingqing, interjected, "Madam, how could you say such things? Miss Qingqing is your own..."

"That's enough!" Ye Shengming was irritated. "Auntie Zhang, escort the guests out! Aixin, call the doctor to check on the two kids! Gu Qingqing, come with me to the study!"

In the study, Ye Shengming lit a cigarette, trying to suppress his simmering anger. He gestured to the chair opposite him, indicating for Gu Qingqing to sit down, but she didn't move.

Not insisting, Ye Shengming tried to speak in a gentle tone, "Qingqing, you see, in just two months, you've turned our home upside down."

Today, he consulted a fortune teller again. Ever since Gu Qingqing entered the house, he faced setbacks in his career and his health declined. The fortune teller said Gu Qingqing was his bane. Keeping her would only lead to the downfall of the Ye family.

Some things were better believed than doubted. Gu Qingqing had been abandoned by them in the past. Now that she was back, there was no guarantee she wasn't seeking revenge!

Flicking the ash off his cigarette, Ye Shengming continued, "Do you think you still belong here?"

Gu Qingqing remained silent, her dark eyes hiding a vortex, ready to erase all the filth and disgrace.

Ye Shengming's irritation grew like wild grass. He stubbed out his cigarette and finally made a decision, "How about you going back to the orphanage for a while, and coming back when your mother and siblings calm down?"

The girl finally spoke, "No need, let's sever ties."

Ye Shengming's finger stiffened. "Gu Qingqing, do you know what you're saying?"

The choice was on me! Who gave you the right to say these words?

"I can still send you money if you stay in the orphanage. Sever ties, and you won't get a single cent!"

"I don't need it."

Ye Shengming was on the verge of exploding on the spot. "Fine! Fine! Don't come crawling back to me crying later!"

"I won't."

This person may have few virtues, but her decisions were never to be regretted.

She gave herself a chance, and she gave this family a chance. The fact was, they couldn't make it work. Since they couldn't, it was better to cut ties cleanly, without any muddy water.

Ye Shengming paced around the room in anger. Finally, he opened the study door and shouted, "Auntie Zhang, call the orphanage and have them take Gu Qingqing back. We don't want this person in our Ye family!"

The man's rage filled the entire villa.

Auntie Zhang had just returned after seeing off the guests. Hearing this, she trembled in fear, "Sir, you must think this over! Miss Qingqing is still young. She can be taught!"

"What's there to teach? She wants to sever ties with me!"

The three people in the living room heard it. Ye Chengxuan stopped making noise, Ye Qingcheng stopped crying, and even Li Aixin wasn't angry anymore.

Their gazes all fell on Gu Qingqing as she emerged from the study, as if their wishes had suddenly been fulfilled but they didn't know where to channel their energy.

"Why are you still standing there? Get out!" Ye Shengming urged.

Auntie Zhou looked at Li Aixin. "Madam?"

Li Aixin sneered, "She has repeatedly hurt my children. Such a person cannot stay!"

Auntie Zhang looked at Gu Qingqing again.

Gu Qingqing said, "Go make the call."

Auntie Zhang felt hopeless.

She made the call hesitantly. "The director said he'll be here in half an hour."

No one spoke. Everyone looked at Gu Qingqing.

Gu Qingqing turned and headed back to her room.

Bang!

Ye Shengming slammed the ashtray.

Auntie Zhang, trembling with fear, said, "I'll help Miss Qingqing pack her things."

Gu Qingqing didn't have much: a notebook, an ipad, a phone...

She came with them, and she left with them. The only addition was a dress Auntie Zhang had given her.

Auntie Zhang stole a glance at her. The young girl hung her head, looking somewhat displeased, but that was about it.

"Miss Qingqing, why don't you ask Mr. and Mrs. for mercy? They probably won't actually send you back to the orphanage."

"They didn't just decide to drive me away today."

Auntie Zhou felt a pang in her heart. "Aren't you sad?"

"I suppose I am a little." After all, they were her biological parents.

Auntie Zhou looked up. The girl's porcelain face was exquisitely beautiful but also cold, even though a good cry at this moment would be appropriate.

It's said that crying children get sweets. This child didn't even know how to cry. What had she been through in those seventeen years?

Suddenly, Auntie Zhou's heart felt a pang, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Gu Qingqing looked at her somewhat puzzled, which made Auntie Zhou feel embarrassed.

"You mind your own business! There's something in my eye!" Auntie Zhang blurted out.

Gu Qingqing: ...

Finally, Auntie Zhang couldn't hold back her tears. "Miss Qingqing, let me give you some advice: when you're feeling wronged, speak up. As long as you speak up, there will always be someone willing to believe you."

Gu Qingqing didn't understand why Auntie Zhang was crying, but the tears that fell on her hand were a bit scalding. In the end, she nodded slightly.

The director of the orphanage arrived quickly. Over the past year, Gu Qingqing had come and gone four times, and he'd worried himself grey over her.

"Mr. Ye, Mrs. Ye, have you really made up your minds?"

Ye Shengming was calm now. Sending Gu Qingqing away had relieved the weight on his heart.

He took out a check for a hundred thousand yuan, wearing a righteous expression. "It's for her education expenses."

It was more like hush money than educational expenses.

"No need. If you've really decided, just sign this abandonment document. After all, you're her biological parents. That way, our orphanage can find her another family..."

Ye Shengming's expression changed slightly. "Find her another family? She's seventeen already. Who would want such a big daughter?"

A seventeen-year-old was a wild card that couldn't be easily tamed. Who would be foolish enough to take her in?

"You needn't worry about that, Mr. Ye!" The director's tone was a bit impatient.

Ye Shengming gritted his teeth and hesitated for a moment before signing the document.

By the time Gu Qingqing came out, the paperwork had been done. The director stepped forward to take her suitcase, comforting her softly, "Don't be sad. We still have another chance."

Gu Qingqing nodded slightly and turned to leave the Ye family without a hint of nostalgia.

"Is she really leaving like this?" Ye Chengxuan couldn't believe it.

For the past two months, he had been locking horns with Gu Qingqing for this very purpose. Suddenly, there was no one to compete with, and he felt a bit empty.

Li Aixin and Ye Qingcheng remained silent.

September's weather was hot, the girl's face was cold, and the director felt a chill in his heart.

"Who will be the next family?" The girl's voice was calm and faint, revealing no emotions.

With no outsiders present, the director became more respectful.

"Do you remember Mrs. Tang from two months ago? She has two sons and has always wanted a daughter. She took a liking to you at first sight, but we found your biological parents at the time, so they missed the opportunity. When you arrived today, I notified them immediately, and they were very happy. They immediately drove over."

After a pause, he added, "I think this family is more suitable for you."

She had been given five chances by higher-ups, and this was the last one. If she failed again...

Sweat formed on the director's forehead.

"Give Auntie Zhang five million dollars to retire comfortably."

The director was stunned. They said of the nine people in GF9, she was the youngest, with the worst temper and the most problems. But why did he feel that this girl actually had a lot of humanity in her, just that she hadn't met the right people?

"Okay."

The Ye family probably didn't realize how precious their lost daughter was—the only national treasure-level experimental subject that perfectly integrated ancient tombs and ancient genes.

That was a true little ancestor!

Ye Shengming paced in the living room for two laps before following.

"Take this check. Don't say I, as a father, didn't take care of you!"

Although they had driven her away, the Ye family's reputation still mattered. A hundred thousand was probably the most money she'd ever seen in her life!

Ye Shengming was confident, but the girl didn't accept it.

Ye Shengming put on a kind expression and advised earnestly, "The families that adopted you before weren't good, and this time won't be an exception. You..."

At that moment, a Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled up at the door, and Ye Shengming's voice abruptly stopped.

"Qingqing, the car's here."