The Courtyard House: Xu Damao's Aunt is the Queen of Women

Liu Hao pondered for a long time, then gently shook his head.

"Forget it, have you even considered that this isn't fair to Sister Xi?"

Ye Juan rolled her eyes and said irritably, "What's unfair about it? I wasn't forcing my older sister; I was asking for her opinion! If she disagreed, was I supposed to hold a knife to her throat and force her?"

"..."

Liu Hao was speechless, because the little queen's words made perfect sense.

Outside the door, Ye Xi stood by the kitchen door, her porcelain-like skin smooth and radiant, stretching from her ear tips down to her cheeks and neck. Her heart pounded wildly, filled with a mixture of shame, anger, and helplessness.

Has this girl gone mad? How dare she have such a rebellious idea!

Ehuang and Nüying?

"You cook, I'll go ask my older sister!"

Upon hearing Ye Juan's voice, Ye Xi hurriedly walked to the dining table and pretended to fold a banner.

Ye Juan walked over briskly and noticed that her older sister's face was flushed. She asked in surprise, "Sister, what's wrong with your face? Do you have a fever?"

Ye Xi calmed her chaotic emotions and casually said, "Oh, it's nothing, it's just too hot in the room. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Yes! Let's go to the room to talk."

Ye Juan pulled Lin Xi into the master bedroom, closed the door, turned on the light, and sat on the slightly hot kang (heated brick bed).

The little queen rolled her eyes, deciding to go against the grain and choose a direct approach!

"Sis, I know you like Liu Hao!"

"..."

Ye Xi was stunned. Was it really that straightforward?

Shouldn't you have first subtly probed, then gently coaxed me, gradually breaking down my psychological defenses, until I was ashamed and covered my face, apologizing to you, and then you took the opportunity to ask me to be with Liu Hao?

"Stop pretending. We grew up together, don't I know you? You appear aloof and gentle, but you're arrogant inside. The only person who can catch your eye is Liu Hao, right?"

Ye Xi knew she couldn't pretend anymore; her personality couldn't be faked.

"Yes, I do like Liu Hao. I overheard what you said to him just now, Juan'er. Thank you, but I won't..."

Ye Juan waved her hand, her eyes fixed on Ye Xi.

"I don't want to hear any of those rules and morals. Just tell me, do you want to be with me forever?"

Ye Xi and Ye Juan looked at each other, their feelings a mix of emotions, their thoughts a jumbled mess.

She wasn't stupid; she knew that Ye Juan's feelings for her went a little beyond sisterly boundaries. When the west wing was being built, she tried every means to make the house bigger, and coaxed Ye Juan to come and live with her.

Now it's even more outrageous. You're getting married yourself, and you want me to be your dowry?

Although I do like Liu Hao a lot, he's my brother-in-law!

She couldn't bring herself to do something so disrespectful and deviant.

"Juan'er, I... I can't get over this hurdle in my heart! I won't leave you, and I'll never get married in this life, okay?"

"Sister, you can't be so selfish; you can't just think about yourself!"

???

Ye Xi was completely bewildered, unable to understand Ye Juan's words.

Shouldn't you be the selfish one?

Ye Juan said sternly, "I'm just asking you, how much help has Liu Hao been to you?"

"Yes, it's a huge achievement. Without his guidance, I wouldn't have achieved what I have today!"

"So you should repay kindness!"

Ye Juan leaned forward, her eyes unwavering and her tone forceful.

"Think about it, Liu Hao has helped you get this far. Isn't that a great debt of gratitude? You care about him, but you only think about yourself and stick to those rules, unwilling to take a step forward. Isn't that selfish?"

"I'm not asking you to do anything unconventional. I just want the three of us to be happy together. I'll live with him, and you'll be by my side. You can protect me and the person you love, so you won't be all alone anymore. Isn't that good?"

Ye Juan took Ye Xi's hand and softened her tone.

"Sister, Mom and Dad are busy with work, and we've relied on each other since we were little. I've never thought about separating from you. Liu Hao is a good person and he likes you too. Where else in this world can you find such a perfect match? Don't keep clinging to those old-fashioned ideas. Life is for yourself, not for others to see."

"I've already made up my mind. After I give birth, I'll divorce Liu Hao! Then you can marry him. What's the big deal?"

"From now on, you'll be Liu Hao's official wife, and I'll be his ex-wife. Tsk tsk, playing some little games with my ex-husband will definitely be exciting, hahaha."

Ye Xi was stunned, staring at Ye Juan in astonishment.

She can develop world-leading symbolic integral algorithms and instantly understand the various world-class mathematical theories explained by Liu Hao, but she just can't figure out how her younger sister's brain works!

What an astonishingly unconventional problem-solving approach!

What does it mean to divorce after giving birth and make her the legal wife? What does it mean to play games with your ex-husband?

What absurd and heretical ideas these are!

Ye Xi opened her mouth, wanting to rebuke, but was so stifled by these outrageous words that she couldn't utter a complete sentence. She felt her cheeks burning and her whole body stiff.

Seeing Ye Juan's eager and smug expression, he felt a tightness in his chest and said, both angry and helpless, "What... what kind of nonsense is going on in your head? How can you just say such things?"

"Marriage is not a game. Divorce and remarriage? What kind of little game is this? What kind of talk will it make? Does our family have no face left?"

She became more and more anxious as she spoke, reaching out to poke Ye Juan's forehead, but Ye Juan dodged her with a smile, shaking her hand and continuing to persuade her.

"Sis, can saving face put food on the table? We're the ones living our lives, let people say what they want! Besides, if the three of us keep this a secret, who will know?"

"I'm thinking of buying the east wing of the neighboring No. 96 courtyard after the New Year, building three big rooms in it. If Liu Hao and I divorce then, it'll be reasonable for me to take those three rooms from him, right?"

"Wouldn't it be great if the three of us could stay in the same courtyard every day, just like we are now? We wouldn't be separated, it would satisfy you, and it would satisfy me too—a win-win-win situation!"

Ye Xi was so choked by her absurd and self-righteous words that her chest felt tight. She raised her hand to her forehead, feeling as if her head was about to explode.

Ye Juan's plan sounded absurd, but she couldn't find a way to refute it!

"So? Do you agree or not?"

"I...I'm scared..."

Ye Juan panicked and decisively unleashed her trump card.

"If you don't agree, I'll kill myself!"

After saying that, Ye Juan, that fierce girl, jumped off the kang (a heated brick bed), ran to the wardrobe by the wall, opened the door, and took out an M1 bayonet that was equipped with an M1 Garand.

This is a small gift that Grandpa Ye captured during the Korean War and brought back to give to Ye Juan.

"Juan'er, what are you doing?"

Ye Xi jumped up in fright and rushed over to try and snatch the knife.

"stop!!!"

Ye Juan shouted sharply, gripping the metal scabbard in her left hand and the black bakelite handle in her right, drawing out the bayonet that had killed three American soldiers, and holding it horizontally against her slender neck.

"I'll give you ten seconds to think it over. If you don't agree, I'll slit my throat!"