Ye Yunzhu was even more infuriated. As someone from the officialdom with a strong background, she had always been a very assertive person. She wasn’t like Xu Yingying, who had to mix truth and lies when doing business and negotiating, so her patience was far inferior to Xu Yingying’s. Being openly called a mistress by Ning Xin’er was something she couldn’t tolerate.
"You’re the mistress, Yifei’s wife is right here," Ye Yunzhu managed to keep her cool amidst the anger, bringing Xu Yingying into the argument.
Ning Xin’er curled her lip and said, "How long has Yifei been married? My daughter is already three years old. Xu Yingying, you just have a marriage contract with Li Yifei, and in reality, you are the mistress, you know?"
At that moment, Xu Yingying smiled faintly and said, "Ning Xin’er, there’s no need to provoke me, it’s useless. No matter what, my marriage with Yifei is protected by the law. I acknowledge that you have Yifei’s child, and we can definitely discuss the issue of the child’s upbringing. As for marriage or anything like that, I’m afraid it’s no use even if you think about it, Yifei won’t be with you just because you have his child."
"Is that so? Didn’t you kick Yifei out? How come now you want him back?" Ning Xin’er pouted her lips again.
"He came to your place?" Xu Yingying hoped Yifei wouldn’t come here on her way over.
"Yeah, he’s with me. He’s been staying here for the past few days," Ning Xin’er stretched lazily, speaking with a flirtatious tone, "After so many years, this guy is really like a starved wolf."
Ye Yunzhu and Xu Yingying both knew full well that Li Yifei was quite strong in that aspect and could always take them to the peak of happiness. Hearing Ning Xin’er’s words, both couldn’t help but subconsciously believe that Li Yifei was indeed there.
"Where’s that bastard? Get him out here!" Ye Yunzhu hissed through gritted teeth.
At this, the smile on Ning Xin’er’s face grew even brighter as she said, "Unfortunately, Yifei has gone out and won’t be back until tonight. If you’re willing to wait, you can wait for him to come back tonight."
As she spoke, Ning Xin’er’s eyes glanced at the clothes hung in the courtyard. Both Xu Yingying and Ye Yunzhu inadvertently followed her gaze, only to spot, among the women’s clothes, a pair of men’s underwear and some socks. Xu Yingying recognized them at first glance—they were the brand she often bought for Li Yifei. Her complexion immediately changed, which clearly proved that Li Yifei was indeed staying there.
Taking a deep breath, she said, "Since Yifei is willing to be with you and raise your child together, I have no objections. Then, please tell him, when he returns, to come find me to go through the divorce procedures."
A complex expression flickered across Ning Xin’er’s eyes. Although she used to be quite a troublemaking girl, she had changed a lot over the years, and with maturity, her mind had become much more sophisticated. Her mental battle with Xu Yingying this time was all to get Li Yifei back by her side. Now seeing the sadness and pain in Xu Yingying, she genuinely felt reluctant to cause her sorrow.
But for Li Yifei’s sake, she hardened her heart and said, "Then thank you. I know this is also hurtful for you. If you have any requests, Yifei and I will certainly fulfill them."
Xu Yingying forced a smile and replied, "He doesn’t owe me anything. Come if it suits, leave if it doesn’t."
Seeing Xu Yingying , Ning Xin’er finally spoke apologetically, "I’m truly sorry, but I have Yifei’s child, and I can’t help but consider my daughter."
"I understand," Xu Yingying nodded and was about to stand up and leave.
But at that moment, Ye Yunzhu suddenly grabbed Xu Yingying’s hand and stared intently at her, saying, "Are you sure, you want to leave Yifei?"
Xu Yingying forced a bitter smile and said, "What can I do? He chose to be with the child and its mother for the sake of the child, which is only right and proper."
Ye Yunzhu took in a deep breath and said, "Alright, since you’re stepping back, then I will be the one to compete with her, Ning Xin’er!" Ye Yunzhu then turned to Ning Xin’er, touched her own stomach, and said, "I’m telling you now, the child in my belly is also Yifei’s."
"What?" Xu Yingying cried out in shock, staring blankly at Ye Yunzhu.
Ye Yunzhu turned her head towards Xu Yingying, smiled apologetically, and said, "It was an accident, I didn’t expect to be carrying his child. I thought about terminating the pregnancy at the hospital, but the doctor said this might be my only chance to become a mother, so I had no choice but to keep it. I didn’t tell you before because I didn’t want to affect your life, but now that you’ve chosen to step aside, I have no choice but to fight for a father for my child and me."
Xu Yingying’s lips twitched a few times, but she was unable to utter a word.
Meanwhile, Ning Xin’er was staring at Ye Yunzhu, not expecting that after just convincing Xu Yingying, another competitor in Ye Yunzhu would suddenly emerge.
Ye Yunzhu gave Ning Xin’er a faint smile and said, "Did you not say you’ve known Yifei for a long time? Well, I can tell you that Yifei and I were high school classmates. Back in high school, he turned me from green rice into cooked rice, so to speak. Tell me, isn’t our time together even longer than yours?"
Ning Xin’er snorted and said, "So what? Yifei is still living with me now, isn’t he? He still wants to be with me, doesn’t he?"
This matter also greatly annoyed Ye Yunzhu, but she managed a laugh and said, "So what if he lives with you? That might just be seen as compensation to you. We both have Yifei’s child, can you be so sure whom Yifei will end up with in the end?"
"Of course I can be sure," Ning Xin’er retorted, flipping her hair in a display of allure and said, "He told me he will raise our child with me, making up for what he owes us."
"Forget it, you’re a big star now. Not to mention having a child with Yifei, even if it gets out that you’re dating him, your acting career would be over."
Yet, Ning Xin’er still said with a smile, "Being a star is just an idle game for me. Now that I’ve found Yifei, I’ve long stopped wanting to be a star and just want to be with Yifei."
"Fine, even if you could give up your career, but the number of days you and Yifei have been together is limited, how could he possibly love you? What happiness can there be in a family formed out of obligation? I’m different, Yifei and I have been childhood sweethearts since we were little, our feelings are deeply rooted. You could ask Yifei whether he returned to Mile City for me, and whether he hasn’t married all these years because of me. I think he wouldn’t tell you these things, because I am his first love, irreplaceable by anyone else."
At these words, Ye Yunzhu couldn’t help feeling immensely proud. On this front, no other woman could compare to her, and she suddenly realized she had such an advantage in competing for Li Yifei.
"Hmph, childhood sweethearts? That’s just childish ignorance. A first love is merely a memory. Look around and see how many couples come from first loves. You’re just another of Yifei’s memories. Although I haven’t been with Yifei for very long, or even just that once before, now I’ve given him a fresh perspective on me. Plus, I’m a star after all, which gives a man a certain sense of achievement. Can you match that?"
As Ye Yunzhu and Ning Xin’er engaged in their war of words, Xu Yingying stood there in a daze, Ye Yunzhu unexpectedly also had Li Yifei’s child, Ning Xin’er had already given birth to Li Yifei’s daughter, and she, as the wife, only had a marriage contract with Li Yifei, seemingly lacking everything else. She felt so disadvantaged and seemingly didn’t even have the right to compete anymore.
Dejectedly standing up, Xu Yingying silently walked out. Ye Yunzhu quickly sprang up, glared at Ning Xin’er, and said, "Ning Xin’er, just you wait, Yifei will definitely come back to my side." Then she hurried after Xu Yingying.