Chapter Two: Driven Out of the Family

"Qiuyu, listen to me, let me explain. It's not what you think. I just came in to get Luoyu's clothes so I could help her wash them... Luoyu, isn't that right? There's nothing between us!" Ye Cheng's mind was in chaos; he hurriedly pushed Luoyu away and tried to explain to Luo Qiuyu.

Just as Ye Cheng expected Luoyu to clarify, her expression changed dramatically. The coquettishness vanished, replaced by overwhelming terror. "Sister, don’t believe him! This brute barged into my room while I was changing. If you hadn’t come just in time, he would have... sob, sob..."

Ye Cheng was stunned, then burst out, "Luoyu, what are you saying? You clearly invited me in and handed me your clothes!"

"Ugh! Ye Cheng, you disgust me. How could I possibly give my clothes to you? If you’re going to lie, at least come up with a better excuse," Luoyu said with utter contempt.

"Is there anything left for you to explain? If not, let’s just get divorced," Luo Qiuyu said, her face dark and cold.

A moment later, Ye Cheng finally understood. Why had Luoyu tried to seduce him? Why had Luo Qiuyu barged in so suddenly? It was all a scheme! The two of them had conspired together to frame him, all so they could drive him out!

"What is there for me to explain? Luo Qiuyu, you and Luoyu have plotted meticulously just to divorce me and throw me out of the Luo family," Ye Cheng said with icy disdain.

Luo Qiuyu was briefly taken aback, evidently surprised that Ye Cheng had guessed the truth. She continued to feign outrage: "Why can’t you admit to what you’ve done? What, you had the nerve to lust after my sister but not the guts to confess? Ye Cheng, there are plenty of ways for me to drive you out—I wouldn’t stoop to having my sister seduce you."

"You know the truth in your heart," Ye Cheng replied, his gaze cold as frost.

If not for the medicinal herbs his mother needed, he would never have stayed in the Luo household for so long. A year ago, he’d already considered leaving. The world was vast, his medical skills extraordinary—he had no fear of earning a living. But Luo’s old patriarch had always cared for his mother, providing the best herbs and treating Ye Cheng as a grandson. The accumulated kindness made Ye Cheng secretly vow to help the Luo family three times. Otherwise, he would have left with his mother long ago. Yet, in these years, the Luo family had prospered continuously, and Ye Cheng had found no opportunity to repay their favor.

"So let me be blunt: Ye Cheng, how has my Luo family treated you these past years? Not only did we feed and house you, we cared for your sickly mother. And you? You’re lazy and idle, lounging at home all day—a parasite! Ye Cheng, we don’t need your kind of useless trash!" Luo Qiuyu finally tore away all pretense and laid it out plainly.

"Fine. I hope you won’t regret this," Ye Cheng answered calmly.

Unexpectedly, Luo Qiuyu scoffed, "Regret? Why would I regret it? Throwing you out is the best thing the Luo family could do!"

Ye Cheng nodded silently and walked out of the Luo residence. To the servants, he looked like a stray dog, fallen and forlorn. They laughed behind his back, mocking him.

"That parasite is finally gone! Sister, you don’t have to be married to that useless man anymore—we can find someone better!" Luoyu’s terror was replaced with a beaming smile.

"Let’s not talk about that. We need to go find Grandfather and tell him everything Ye Cheng did. I refuse to believe, after all this, Grandfather will still want to keep him in the Luo family!" Luo Qiuyu said, her eyes glinting with delight.

Yet in the largest villa of the Luo estate, when the old patriarch heard what had happened, his face darkened instantly. He thundered, "The two of you are nothing but trouble! How dare you frame Ye Cheng and drive him out? Kneel before me at once!"