Ye Qinru's Reaction (Please follow, urge updates, if you keep waiting I'll really die)

After a while, the heavy doors slowly creaked open.

A beautiful middle-aged woman stepped out from behind the door. A faint smile graced her face, and she bore a seven-to-eight-part resemblance to Ye Lingling, though her temperament was far more mature and elegant.

"Lingling, you're back."

The moment Ye Qinru opened the door and caught sight of her precious daughter's face, her heart filled with joy.

But soon, her gaze fell upon Fang Xuan, who was standing right beside her daughter.

Her expression shifted instantly, and when she noticed Ye Lingling's hand clasped in his, her brows furrowed slightly.

"Lingling, who is this?"

Ye Qinru did not overreact; she simply inquired about Fang Xuan's identity.

"Hello, Auntie. My name is Fang Xuan, and I am Lingling's boyfriend."

Fang Xuan stated his identity directly. After all, they weren't married yet, and he hadn't received the mother-in-law's approval, so he and Ye Lingling could not yet be considered husband and wife.

"Boyfriend? When did this happen? Why was I not informed?"

Ye Qinru's brows knit even tighter, and in the next moment, she noticed something amiss with Ye Lingling.

"Lingling, you!"

Just as Fang Xuan had anticipated, Ye Qinru had indeed discovered the change in Ye Lingling.

Her expression shifted from a frown to one of pure fury.

"Did you do this?!"

"Mom, listen to me, it's not what you think..."

Seeing her mother's intense reaction, Ye Lingling grew anxious and tried to speak up to defend Fang Xuan, but Fang Xuan pulled her back slightly from behind.

He shook his head, signaling her not to say anything more.

Ye Qinru's reaction was even more intense than he had imagined, even though he had mentally prepared himself beforehand.

Yet, facing it in reality still made his heart skip a beat; perhaps this was the nervousness every son-in-law felt when meeting his mother-in-law for the first time.

Especially with someone like Ye Qinru, who had acted as both father and mother to her daughter; the pressure she exuded was terrifying.

"Lingling, come here at once!"

Seeing her daughter shielding the young man, Ye Qinru's expression turned stern. She stepped forward and pulled Ye Lingling to her side.

Fang Xuan did not stop her; he simply stood there quietly.

"Auntie Ye, this matter is my fault. It has nothing to do with Lingling."

"I came here today specifically to resolve this."

"Resolve it? How do you intend to resolve it? With your life?!"

The fury on Ye Qinru's face did not wane. Her daughter had only gone out for a short trip, and her maidenhood was gone, taken by someone she had never even met before.

Now, the culprit had the audacity to show up at her doorstep claiming he would "resolve" it. Any mother in her position would be incensed.

"Mom!"

Ye Lingling was frantic. Her mother's reaction had completely exceeded her expectations; the woman truly looked ready to kill Fang Xuan.

"Shut up! How could I have such a shameless daughter? Is this how I raised you?"

"I taught you to have self-respect and to cherish yourself. Is this your idea of self-respect?"

"Auntie Ye, please calm down. It isn't what you think."

Just then, Dugu Yan's voice drifted in from a distance.

A moment later, a tall, handsome middle-aged man appeared at the side, accompanied by Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan hadn't expected Fang Xuan to clash with Ye Qinru so quickly. Hadn't she told him to wait for her?

Was he in such a rush to throw his life away?

"Head of the Ye Family, please calm yourself. Yan'er has already told me about the situation. It is not as dire as you think. For the sake of giving me some face, could you let this child finish what he has to say?"

Dugu Bo spoke up, interceding on Fang Xuan's behalf.

Though the two had never met, he trusted his granddaughter; she would not use such a matter to deceive him.

Moreover, the young man seemed to know how to solve the poison that had plagued him for years. Regardless of anything else, he could not allow the boy to come to harm here.

Seeing Dugu Bo intervene personally, Ye Qinru forced herself to calm down.

After all, what was done was done; no amount of anger would change the reality.

"I will grant the Senior some face. Someone, take the young lady inside and keep a close watch on her."

With that, Ye Qinru ordered her servants to lead Ye Lingling away.

Ye Lingling did not want to leave, but she was no match for her mother's resolve. No matter how she cried or pleaded, it was useless.

At this moment, Ye Qinru was as immovable as a mountain. Her mind was made up.

If the boy didn't provide a satisfactory explanation today, she wouldn't mind seeing him bleed out right there on the spot.

The door closed, completely isolating Ye Lingling from this space.

"Speak. I am giving you a chance to explain yourself."

Ye Qinru unleashed her full aura, causing even Dugu Bo to knit his brows involuntarily; seeing this, he feared today's matter would not end well.

Dugu Yan looked toward Fang Xuan nervously, unable to stop herself from worrying about him.

At that very moment, Fang Xuan's straight posture slowly sank.

He knelt on both knees and bowed his head heavily before Ye Qinru.

Admitting a mistake required the proper attitude, and since this matter was indeed grave, this kneeling was something he had to do.

He lifted his head, his eyes becoming incredibly resolute, and proceeded to recount the entire sequence of events to Ye Qinru in full detail.

"Auntie, this is the entire process of what happened. I returned this time specifically to explain this to you and to take the responsibility I should."

"Please betroth Lingling to me. I am willing to swear upon my martial soul that I will never betray her!"

Fang Xuan's words were sincere, but Ye Qinru, standing before him, remained unmoved.

After all, she had heard such words before; another man had once said the same to her, but what was the result?

"Do not speak such useless words to me. Do not think that just because you and Lingling have been intimate, I will betroth her to you."

"I, Ye Qinru, can afford to raise her, even for a lifetime."

"If you think you can use this to coerce me, stop daydreaming."

As she spoke, Ye Qinru turned to leave, which made Dugu Yan, standing to the side, anxious.

"Auntie Ye, I also bear responsibility for this. It was because I didn't look after Lingling properly that day that this happened."

"I know the sequence of events, and he truly loves Lingling. Please, give him a chance."

"He is a genius, and he has unique insights into pharmacology. I have already asked my grandfather to take him as a disciple; his current status should be worthy of Lingling."

"If he ever dares to do anything to wrong Lingling, I will be the first to deal with him for you. If you have any other conditions, feel free to state them."

Dugu Yan pleaded for Fang Xuan incessantly. She was not the type to take money and not deliver, but more importantly, she did not want to see her best friend forcibly separated over such a matter.

"The matter has already occurred, so it must be resolved, not shut out."

"Head of the Ye Family, how about giving this kid a chance? Consider it me, his master, interceding on his behalf."

Dugu Bo was also helpless. If it weren't for the fact that Fang Xuan had some utility, and his granddaughter was constantly putting in a good word for him, he would never have said such a thing even if he were beaten to death.

Besides, he hadn't agreed to take the boy as a disciple yet—how had this been arranged for him already?

Sigh, my own granddaughter; if I don't spoil her, who will?

It was just the title of a disciple, so giving it away was fine; he could just take it back later.

However, this time, Ye Qinru did not give Dugu Bo or Dugu Yan any face.

"Senior Dugu, this is my family business. I ask that you do not interfere."

With that, Ye Qinru turned her head to look at Fang Xuan, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said coldly.

"Don't say I didn't give you a chance. Seven days. If you remain here for the next seven days, I will give you a chance. Otherwise, go back to wherever you came from!"