Billionaire's Long Journey of Chasing His Love-Chapter 327 - 296: Reaching the Pinnacle (Part 1)

You Jia turned to look at his mother, "Mom, please don’t interfere. I can let her have her way in everything, but the condition is that she must treat you well."

Teng Ai Ni pinched You Jia hard where his mother couldn’t see.

You Jia held back his reaction without making a sound.

Clarissa shot her son a glare. "Haven’t you seen how Ai Ni treats me? She’s much better to me than you or your brother! If you dare bully Ai Ni, I won’t let it end peacefully! Earlier, I said a couple of things to Ai Ni in an effort to save face for your aunt, and you don’t know how much it hurt me."

After scolding her son, Clarissa softly patted Teng Ai Ni’s shoulder. "Ai Ni, don’t cry anymore. From now on, I’ll make Shi Qing visit the palace less often, so she doesn’t cause unnecessary trouble. Honestly, I don’t know whom that child takes after."

Teng Ai Ni slipped out of You Jia’s embrace and said sincerely, "Mom, I was wrong just now. I let my emotions get the better of me. I made a mistake, and you have every reason to call me out on it. I should’ve at least responded, but... Mom, please don’t be mad at me, okay?"

"Mom’s not mad at you," Clarissa said, heart aching as she gently patted Ai Ni’s cheek. "If I were misunderstood like that, my reaction would’ve been even bigger. Given the circumstances earlier, there was no choice but to make you suffer some grievances. You should also try to understand Mom."

Teng Ai Ni pursed her lips and hugged her mother-in-law by the shoulders. "Mom, I don’t feel wronged no matter what you say to me. We’re family, and in my heart, you’re just like my own mother."

"Mom doesn’t have a daughter. I loved the wrong person before, but from now on, you’ll be my real daughter." Clarissa smiled and patted Teng Ai Ni’s shoulder. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The heavy clouds finally parted. You Jia exhaled a long breath of relief.

However, he relaxed a little too early. No sooner had Clarissa left than Teng Ai Ni, with a stern face, grabbed hold of his ear.

You Jia winced in pain, baring his teeth. "Honey, easy, you’re going to rip it off!"

"Hmph! If it rips off, you deserve it! Who told you to deceive me?" Teng Ai Ni huffed, but her hand wasn’t as forceful as before.

You Jia chuckled as he pulled her hand down. "I didn’t deceive you."

"But I saw you lying to your mom. If you can lie to her, how can I trust you not to lie to me?"

You Jia enveloped her in his arms with a smile. "Mom is Mom, and wife is wife. I know in my heart who’s closer and dearer. To me, you’re number one. I acted for Mom’s sake to make her happy—when she’s happy, everyone has a better time."

"You make it sound convincing enough." Teng Ai Ni twisted her lips. "Fine, I’ll believe you for now."

"Not just for now—believe me for a lifetime. In this world, there’s no one more deserving of your trust than me."

Teng Ai Ni bit her lip and hooked her arms around You Jia’s neck. "Honey, I’m falling more and more in love with you!"

You Jia kissed her forehead with a smile. "Honey, I’m falling more and more in love with you too. Thank you for playing along with me, and thank you for giving me face."

Teng Ai Ni’s eyes turned red with emotion. "You Jia, I know full well how much you’ve suffered for me over the years. If I didn’t stand on the same side as you, I wouldn’t deserve your love. Also, what I said to Mom earlier wasn’t just to make her happy—I meant it sincerely. She raised you so well and then handed you over to me so easily; I really need to thank her."

"What do you mean ’handed me over to you so easily’?" You Jia asked with amusement.

"Basically, I got the better end of the deal." Teng Ai Ni laughed and nipped at his chin. "Just earlier, I told my sister-in-law that I wanted to go home, but now I don’t want to leave you at all."

You Jia affectionately ruffled her hair. "Then stay a few more days. Once I finish my work, I’ll go back with you."

Teng Ai Ni’s face lit up with joy, but she quickly restrained her smile. "You always accompany me back home. Dad and Mom might not be happy about that."

"Dad and Mom said that there are only a few months left before you get married. During these months, they want me to spend as much time with you as possible. Once we’re married, everything will work itself out."

"Sister-in-law, I heard Shi Qing came around to make trouble again?" Lu Jia’s voice came from outside the door.

Teng Ai Ni immediately let go of You Jia and turned to Lu Jia with a cheerful smile. "You’re back from school?"

"Yeah, I just got home and heard Shi Qing came to stir things up again. Is she trying to get herself killed?" Lu Jia asked angrily, his indignant blue eyes identical to his brother’s.

"Stay out of grown-up matters!" You Jia cast an annoyed look at his little brother.

Lu Jia protested, indignant. "I’m already twenty-one! You all keep treating me like a child. That Shi Qing—I could tell she wasn’t any good even when I was a kid. Just for a single extra piece of candy, she’d scheme endlessly. But when I called her out, none of you believed me! Especially Dad and Mom—they’ve always favored her so much. Whenever I said Shi Qing was bad, they’d tell me to be kind and let her have her way because I’m older."