Chapter 176: How Can It Be You!

Chapter 176: How Can It Be You!The room in the basement was spacious, about fifty square meters. It had a double bed, a private bathroom, a desk, and a bookshelf filled with books. Yang Siya, still adjusting to her new environment, felt a mix of comfort and confusion being kept like a canary by a handsome stranger. She was somewhat at ease yet uncertain about how long this situation would last.

Suddenly, the thick metal door opened with a "screech." Startled, Yang Siya quickly sat up and grabbed her clothes to cover her body. Zhang Yi walked in, glanced at her alluring figure with a smile, and said, "Come on, I want to introduce you to a friend."

"A friend?" Yang Siya asked, puzzled.

"You'll understand when you meet her." Zhang Yi thought for a moment and added, "Since she was here first, you'll have to call her 'sister.'"

Yang Siya instantly understood. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"Sort of, sort of." Yang Siya's head spun at the unexpected turn of events, realizing she was stepping into a complicated situation. "Get dressed and come up quickly!" Zhang Yi said before leaving.

Biting her lip, Yang Siya felt a mixture of emotions. She, a top-tier Chinese celebrity, now had to share her space with another woman. But she had no choice but to comply under the circumstances. She placed her long, black-stockinged legs on the floor and began dressing in the black dress Zhang Yi had given her. Determined, she knew that the first meeting between women often determined the power dynamic, so she decided to dress well.

Back on the first floor, Zhang Yi waited patiently, understanding that women never left without taking their time. As expected, it took Yang Siya a full twenty minutes to come up from the basement. Zhou Ke'er, sitting beside Zhang Yi, was equally alert, pulling out her makeup bag to touch up her appearance. Both women were silently competing.

Yang Siya entered the living room, ready to greet Zhou Ke'er with a smile, but as soon as their eyes met, the atmosphere became tense. Both women stared at each other in shock, anger, and shame.

"How can it be you!" they exclaimed in unison.

Zhou Ke'er’s eyes were filled with anger and indifference, while Yang Siya's gaze darted away, avoiding Zhou Ke'er's eyes. Zhang Yi, surprised by their familiarity, asked, "What’s your relationship?" Sᴇaʀᴄh the ɴøᴠel Fɪre.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Zhou Ke'er, biting her lip, replied with frustration, "She's my cousin!"

Zhang Yi was stunned by the coincidence that the two women he had saved were cousins. "But it seems like you two have some issues," he remarked.

"Yes, we have some disagreements," Zhou Ke'er said angrily, folding her arms.

Sensing something was off, Zhang Yi noticed Yang Siya signaling him to come over. She pulled him aside, pleading, "Zhang Yi, please don't let her know about us."

"About what exactly?" Zhang Yi asked, feigning ignorance.

"About our... arrangement," Yang Siya said shyly.

Seeing their contrasting reactions, Zhang Yi's curiosity deepened. He decided to get to the bottom of their relationship and called them over for a conversation. From their attitudes, he could tell Yang Siya was the more guilty party, while Zhou Ke'er harbored some resentment towards her.

After some questioning, Zhang Yi learned the whole story. Yang Siya’s mother was a Zhou, making her Zhou Ke'er's aunt by blood. Both families were renowned scholarly households with many distinguished members. The Zhou family excelled in the medical field, while the Yang family had produced numerous professors, including Yang Siya’s grandfather, a former president of Qingyuan University.

The conflict arose from Yang Siya's choice to enter the entertainment industry, which both families viewed as disgraceful. Especially for a woman to enter such a morally ambiguous field was seen as tarnishing the family name. Zhou Ke'er resented the ridicule their family faced because of Yang Siya.

"People in Shengjing’s elite circles mocked our family because of her. Even I was ridiculed for having an actress as a cousin. How could I not be angry?" Zhou Ke'er said.

Yang Siya sighed softly. "But I love acting and the spotlight. Is that so wrong?"

Zhou Ke'er scoffed, "It would be fine if you were a respectable actress. But you became famous because of your looks. Don't you know why you're popular?"

Zhang Yi's eyes roved over Yang Siya's body, clad in a low-cut black dress that highlighted her full bust and slender legs in black stockings. He nodded in agreement with Zhou Ke'er.

Yang Siya, unable to retort, knew that from a prestigious family, becoming a star known for her body was disgraceful. She felt guilty towards her cousin, especially now that she was her cousin’s boyfriend’s mistress.

Zhang Yi intervened, "Let's not dwell on the past. Here, you are neither a scholarly lady nor a top-tier actress. You’re neighbors helping each other survive." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. Zhou Ke'er had to suppress her grievances, while Yang Siya looked at her with a guilty expression.

Zhang Yi then assigned them tasks, mainly housekeeping and managing the garden and farmland. "Don’t let those areas go to waste. Take good care of the garden and the fields. Understood?"

Both women were happy to have something to do, as doing nothing would drive them crazy. Tending to plants and growing vegetables would keep them occupied and fulfilled.