Chapter 433: Complete Breakup

Chapter 433: The Final Break

Ye Changning knew it was Hao Yanyan the moment he heard her voice.

However, he remained unmoved by her pitiful, guilt-tripping tone. "Hao Yanyan..."

His voice was cold, laced with unspoken meaning in the way he addressed her.

Hao Yanyan, oblivious to Ye Changning's detachment, pleaded urgently, "Third Brother, I know it was you who saved me. I know I messed up. Could you please come to the hospital to see me?"

Ye Changning replied flatly, "No. Last I checked, we no longer have any relationship. Are you calling to return the medical expenses I covered for you?"

It finally hit Hao Yanyan how icy his tone was.

"Third Brother, I truly know I was wrong. Please, come see me."

"No," Ye Changning said firmly. "You don’t even get what you did wrong.

If you really knew, then tell me—what was your involvement with Li Deshu? And what about your cousin who’s now in prison?"

Hao Yanyan froze on the other end of the line. She hadn’t expected Ye Changning to uncover this.

"Third Brother, I had nothing to do with this! You have to believe me."

"You think I wouldn’t find out?" Ye Changning’s voice was colder than ever.

"Xiao Xiao never wronged you. Why did you try to harm her?"

"No, I didn’t—"

Hao Yanyan was sobbing now.

Ye Changning cut her off. "Stay away from me and the Ye family. Did you really think we’d forgive you after learning you tried to hurt Xiao Xiao?"

At first, the Yes might’ve taken pity on her, but the moment they discovered her malicious intentions, they resolved to cut her off completely.

Though only Ye Changning knew the full truth now, he would make sure the rest of the family learned it.

No way would he let his parents, brothers, or sisters-in-law be manipulated by Hao Yanyan again. The only way was to reveal everything.

Hao Yanyan had no comeback under his interrogation.

She might have been able to lie to others, but not to Ye Changning—the man who’d known her since childhood and knew exactly what kind of person Li Deshu was. There was no room for deception.

Coldly, Ye Changning declared their relationship over and hung up. He then instructed his assistant to ignore any further calls from her and just hang up.

Though the assistant hadn’t overheard the conversation, he could tell Ye Changning was fuming.

"Yes, sir," he replied nervously.

Just then, someone else arrived to see Ye Changning, allowing the assistant to slip away.

The visitor was Yu Gang, no longer the backwater bumpkin he once was—now the Guangdong branch’s GM.

Dressed to impress and carrying himself with confidence, he held his own at social gatherings.

"Gangzi, take a seat."

Yu Gang had come to discuss work, along with updates on the whereabouts of Wang Sheng, whom he had been inquiring about earlier.

"Changning, looks like Shengzi’s really in trouble. I contacted his former boss, who said Wang Sheng had quit a while back, and now he doesn’t even know where he is."

Yu Gang sighed, "And there’s some bad news—Wang Sheng got involved in gambling. That never ends well."

Both Yu Gang and Ye Changning knew exactly how much money Wang Sheng had.

His paycheck was barely enough to scrape by, let alone provide funds for gambling.

Once he couldn’t pay up, those Guangdong loan sharks wouldn’t think twice about gutting him.

Ye Changning sighed, "I’m not worried about that bastard Wang Sheng. What kills me is Uncle Wang and his wife—at their age, still stuck worrying over their deadbeat son."

Yu Gang went quiet. Wang Sheng had once been their good brother.

When they left home, the three of them swore they’d make it big together. Now they had money, but they’d drifted apart.

"I’ll still arrange for someone to keep looking for him. As for Uncle Wang’s family, I’ll send them some money—at least enough to ensure the old couple can live out their years in peace."

Yu Gang was wealthy now, and the amount he’d send was a drop in the bucket for him.

Ye Changning sighed. He’d chip in too.

As for Wang Sheng’s whereabouts, all they could do was keep looking.

...

Yu Gang stayed in Beijing for only a few days, but to his surprise, he bumped into someone he knew during that time.

While passing by a hospital, he spotted someone who looked faintly familiar at the entrance.

Uncertain, he found himself walking up to her before he realized it.

"Yan Yan?"

The second the name left his mouth, he cringed.

The year he left home, he’d heard that Ye Yanyan was a child switched at birth and had returned to the big city. By rights, she should’ve been doing great.

But the woman in front of him…

Hao Yanyan sat in a wheelchair. She could walk, but not for long, so Hao Chengbing had bought her one.

She was being discharged today. According to Hao Chengbing’s plan, they were heading back to his hometown.

Hao Chengbing’s hometown was also in the north—some podunk town Hao Yanyan didn’t know existed.

Who knew if they’d even have a roof over their heads? But more importantly, Hao Yanyan’s rich-girl fantasy was over.

A few days ago, Ye Changning’s words had hit her like a ton of bricks.

Ye Changning had made it big—and still wouldn’t lift a finger for her.

Hao Yanyan blinked at Yu Gang, recognition nowhere in her eyes. No clue who he was.

"It's me, Yu Gang—your big bro! You don’t remember me?"

Yu Gang took a few steps closer, hoping Hao Yanyan would recognize him.

Hao Yanyan didn’t know about Yu Gang and Ye Changning going out to make money.

"Brother Yu Gang, how’d you turn out like this?"

Hao Yanyan sized up Yu Gang—his whole outfit was designer, and even his belt must’ve cost hundreds.

She remembered Yu Gang as just a lanky goofball, but now he looked so successful.

Yu Gang rubbed his neck. It was all thanks to his good brother—without Ye Changning, he wouldn’t have been able to become a big boss himself.

"Eh... just running a little business now."

Hao Yanyan burned with envy. Others made money like it was nothing, while she faced endless struggles.

Was this the price of rebirth?

"Anyway, forget that. Yan Yan, why are you here? Are you sick?"

Yu Gang also wanted to ask if Ye Changning knew about her current state.

Though Hao Yanyan was dressed well, her face was all skin and bones, her cheeks hollow—clearly suffering from illness.

When he had last seen Ye Changning, the man hadn’t mentioned this sister.

Did he not know, or was he just turning a blind eye?

Yu Gang had learned a thing or two now and didn’t ask outright.

Seeing Hao Chengbing about to return, Hao Yanyan shot Yu Gang a look and realized that if she didn’t want to go back to the countryside with Hao Chengbing, Yu Gang might be able to help her.

"Brother Yu Gang, I need a favor. I can’t tell you what’s wrong with me now, but come to this address tomorrow at 10 a.m. You gotta come—please."

Hao Yanyan handed Yu Gang an address, then, spotting Hao Chengbing approaching, immediately pretended not to know him.