The Scheming Ex-Husband's Courtship-Chapter 716 - 620: Outsmarted by One’s Own Cleverness

Ye Rui’s reaction was also within the expectations of the mother and daughter of the Qin Family.

Qin Youyou smiled confidently, "It doesn’t matter. I’ll give you three days to think about it. Trading a potted flower for Ye Lin’s freedom, I think it’s a deal you won’t lose out on."

After the mother and daughter of the Qin Family left, the hospital room fell into an eerie silence.

Ye Xiangzhong always kept his head down, his fists tightly clenched on the blanket. After a long while, he sighed and slowly began, "Rui, Dad knows it’s tough for you. Last time you told me, that orchid has been carefully nurtured by you for three years, it’s unique in the world. You didn’t plan to propagate it extensively, nor did you want to market it for public enjoyment. It was meant for Shaoqing, you wanted it to be one of a kind. Dad knows it’s a bit selfish to say this, but Rui, after all, Ye Lin is the one who grew up with you from childhood. Even if there’s not much emotional attachment, you can’t just watch him go to prison. He’s still young, and moreover, what will people think of you if they find out?"

Ye Rui gently smoothed Ye Xiangzhong’s furrowed brow and managed a reluctant smile, "I’ll consider it."

Outside the hospital room, Luo Huafang pounded the wall next to her in frustration.

It’s just a broken orchid. Now, to use it to exchange for Ye Lin’s freedom from prison, she can’t even bear to part with it.

She only has this one son, Ye Lin. Although he’s not very reliable, they share blood ties. She would trade even the entire Ye Family’s company to save him, let alone a flower. Not being true siblings, how could Ye Rui truly consider this brother’s welfare in her heart?

"Humph, if you won’t give it, I’ll take it myself."

Luo Huafang made up her mind and immediately left the hospital.

Driving hastily, she arrived at the Leng Mansion. The butler wasn’t there; the servants inside accommodated her.

"Mrs. Ye." The servant knew her identity and naturally treated her with great courtesy.

Luo Huafang smiled elegantly, yet her eyelids bore an air of arrogance: "Your young mistress asked me to come take something for her." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"What thing?" the servant asked diligently.

"Do I need to tell you what it is? I’m the mother of your young mistress; would I steal something?"

The servant, in fear and trepidation, quickly responded, "No, no, it’s not that. I just want to help you fetch whatever Mrs. Ye wants."

"No need, I’ll get it myself. You go on with your work," Luo Huafang said as she walked into Ye Rui’s floral room. She recognized that pot of orchids; the last time she entered, she nearly tripped over it. She had thought it was just an inconspicuous plant, yet it turned out to be incredibly valuable. She had truly misjudged it.

Seeing Luo Huafang enter the floral room—Ye Rui’s most cherished place, where even they dared not tread lightly, as the flowers inside were all delicately cultivated by Ye Rui, some so fragile they could not endure wind or rain, more delicate than people—the servant didn’t know what Luo Huafang was up to and had no choice but to call the butler.

Luo Huafang found the flower and left. The servant wanted to stop her but couldn’t, as she fiercely scolded him into silence.

Less than half an hour after Luo Huafang left, Ye Rui returned.

Between a birthday gift and saving someone, she still chose the latter.

The flower could be cultivated again, but Ye Lin was facing at least ten years of prison; he was only twenty-two this year. Ten years, the best years of his youth, would all be spent behind bars. Even if this person were not her brother, just a common friend, she couldn’t just watch. For Shaoqing’s birthday gift, she could only apologize.

As soon as Ye Rui returned home, a servant hurriedly reported: "Ma’am, Mrs. Ye came by just now."

"What did she come for?" Could it be another plea?

"She said the Madam asked her to take something, then she went into the floral room and left with a potted plant."

Ye Rui inwardly cursed, rushing towards the floral room. In the room was a separate small greenhouse where Leng Yue had always been kept, and now, it was empty. Leng Yue was gone.

Ye Rui hurriedly took out her phone to call Luo Huafang.

Luo Huafang had anticipated that Ye Rui would call her now that she had taken the flower; surely, she wanted to question her.

"You Ye family members are all heartless," Luo Huafang muttered, "It’s just a flower. I don’t believe you can do anything to me."

She hung up the phone immediately and turned it off.

Ye Rui couldn’t get through to Luo Huafang, so she had no choice but to call the Ye Family, where the servant said Luo Huafang hadn’t returned. Ye Rui anxiously sent her several text messages, but all were like stones sinking into the ocean.