After Rebirth and Done Chasing, I Choose the Gentle and Rich Goddess Over the Scheming Campus Belle - Chapter 32:

Chapter 32: Liu Yuyan’s Little Scheme

As He Li carried Miao Xiaoyu down the street, passersby couldn’t help but stop and stare, their expressions filled with surprise, envy, and admiration.

He Li and Miao Xiaoyu were already strikingly good-looking, and with He Li carrying her on his back, their relationship was clear at a glance. A beautiful couple like that naturally drew attention.

“That guy is so handsome and gentle!”

“I want a handsome guy to carry me like that too.”

“Are they celebrities? I’ve never seen them on TV.”

“Sigh, that’s the 247th goddess I’ve wanted to chase.”

“Too bad. She’s already taken.”

“Honey, I’m tired too. Carry me like that!”

“Then take a cab. It’s not like we can’t afford it.”

“Do you even know what romance is? Take a cab? You’re not even handsome, and your EQ is rock-bottom!”

“Well, you’re not as pretty as that girl either…”

…

Ignoring the chatter around them, He Li carried the soft and delicate Miao Xiaoyu, his hands holding her warm, slender legs as he made his way home. Since there was no one at Miao Xiaoyu’s place to take care of her for now, He Li simply brought her back to his own home.

But as they entered the residential area, they ran into several familiar faces. The nearby elderly neighbors, seeing He Li carrying a girl, instantly started gossiping.

“Oh my, isn’t that Li‑zi’s girlfriend?”

“That girl is really pretty!”

“Wait, didn’t Li‑zi like that girl from the Liu family?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Li‑zi and the Liu family girl may hang out, but they’ve never been that close.”

“At most they were just good friends.”

“That may be true, but didn’t that Liu family girl go to the He household just now?”

“Won’t there be a fight if Li‑zi brings someone else home?”

Just as He Li was about to head upstairs, he heard the neighbors’ gossip in the distance and frowned slightly. He knew that the Liu family girl they mentioned referred to Liu Yuyan.

That woman had gone to his house again?

What was she trying to do now?

Coming over while he wasn’t home?

He Li didn’t think further. He carried Miao Xiaoyu upstairs quickly and arrived at his front door.

Creak!

Just then, the door opened.

He heard his mother’s voice alongside Liu Yuyan’s.

“Xiao Liu, just take your things back.”

“I can’t get involved in you and Li‑zi’s issues.”

“You know what his temper is like!”

“Aunt, please just accept them. Think of it as my way of honoring you and Uncle, no matter what happens between me and He Li.”

Just as Liu Yuyan was stepping out, she saw He Li standing coldly at the door. The sight of him made her heart jolt with guilt as she quickly greeted him, “He… He Li, you’re back?”

“Isn’t the studio busy? Why are you home so early?”

While speaking, she noticed He Li was carrying someone.

That’s… Miao Xiaoyu?

Liu Yuyan’s expression shifted rapidly. Her initial guilt was immediately replaced by unwillingness and hurt.

Before He Li could say anything, she said, “He Li, you used to treat me so well, but you never carried me like this. Do those three years we spent together mean less than the few days you’ve been with her?”

Her voice trembled with emotion, on the verge of tears. Deep in her heart, jealousy surged.

“Why? Why does she get this and not me?”

“I’ve never been carried by He Li. What gives her the right?”

She questioned inwardly, but He Li only looked at her coldly.

“Three years of relationship between us? Are you joking?”

He sneered, “It was just three years of one-sided effort from me. What relationship are you talking about?”

Liu Yuyan was speechless. He Li continued, “Let’s not even talk about whether there was any real relationship. Even if there was, what’s wrong with me thinking Xiaoyu is better than you?”

“You…” Liu Yuyan was stunned and choked up.

Wasn’t that a bit too harsh?

Who openly humiliates a girl like that in front of others?

The more she thought about it, the less she blamed He Li. Instead, she shifted all her resentment onto Miao Xiaoyu.

“It’s all her. If not for this little vixen…”

“He Li wouldn’t treat me like this. It’s all her fault!”

“She must’ve said something bad about me to He Li. That’s why he’s becoming more and more distant!”

“That damn little vixen!!!”

Liu Yuyan clenched her fists, her eyes filled with hatred. She couldn’t hold back and accused, “He Li, tell me the truth. Did that vixen say something bad about me? Is that why you’re treating me like this?”

He Li’s expression grew colder. “I don’t want to lay a hand on you, but…”

“If I ever hear you insult my Xiaoyu again…”

“Don’t blame me for being rude!”

Sensing the anger radiating from He Li, Liu Yuyan turned pale and fear crept into her heart.

At some point, Miao Xiaoyu, who had been resting on He Li’s back, had woken up. Blushing, she lay quietly on his back, peeking over his shoulder with sparkling eyes to observe Liu Yuyan.

Noticing the hostility in Liu Yuyan’s eyes, she stuck out her pink tongue and teased, “Bleh!”

After that, she smugly rubbed her cheek against He Li’s shoulder.

Seeing her smug expression, Liu Yuyan was livid.

“Miao Xiaoyu, you… just wait and see!!!”

Afraid of angering He Li further and still hoping to win him back, Liu Yuyan didn’t dare say anything too harsh in front of him. She could only spit out that one bitter line and leave with frustration and sadness.

She had come today knowing it would be hard to repair her relationship with He Li as he grew more distant, so she’d planned to take a roundabout approach.

Her idea was to first win over He Li’s parents. If they spoke well of her, her chances of chasing after He Li again would rise to seventy or eighty percent—at least that’s what she thought.

What she didn’t expect… was that He Li would come home right in the middle of her plan, and even worse, see Miao Xiaoyu looking so smug…

Had she known, she definitely would’ve chosen another time to try and win over He Li’s parents.

But Liu Yuyan’s little scheme was never going to fool He Li.

Glancing at the gifts she’d brought inside, He Li already understood her intentions.

“Hmph, so many little tricks in that head of yours.”

“But don’t even think about it—I’ll never give you a chance.”

“In this lifetime, there’s zero possibility between us.”

He let out a cold laugh and didn’t bother looking after the retreating Liu Yuyan. Turning around, he carried Miao Xiaoyu inside and gently set her down.

His mother looked over with concern. “What’s wrong with Xiaoyu? Is she sick? She looks so pale. You brat, how are you even taking care of her?”

She quickly sat beside Miao Xiaoyu, fussing over her while also glaring at He Li. While He Li didn’t think much of it, Miao Xiaoyu felt a bit guilty and quickly said, “Aunt, please don’t blame him. It’s my own fault.”

“He Li carried me all the way home. He’s been really good to me.”

“Please don’t scold him!”

As soon as she blurted it out, she felt like she’d been too direct. Especially when she noticed the way He Li’s mother was smiling—with a hint of something else—it made her a bit embarrassed.

But He Li’s mom was thrilled.

Seeing how fiercely Miao Xiaoyu stood up for He Li made her certain of the girl’s feelings. At this rate, she figured she might be hugging a grandchild in no time.

With a smile, she nodded, “Alright, alright. Aunt will listen to you and won’t scold this brat anymore.”

Miao Xiaoyu blushed and said nothing more.

He Li, seeing his mom’s grin, couldn’t help but shake his head. Was she seriously choosing a daughter-in-law over her own son now?