Chapter Twenty: The Wolf with the Grand Tail

Du Zhiye felt that something was wrong. When Du Qi asked that question, the corners of his lips were curled up—almost as if he was plotting something.

She hesitated for a second, then still replied, "I'm not going."

Du Qi smiled and directly instructed the servant standing nearby, "Take Miss back to her room. Without my permission, no one is to let her out."

This was essentially placing her under house arrest.

Normally, Du Zhiye wouldn't be afraid. After all, in a week, Du Qi would let her out again. But now she only had two days, and Jiang Yingnan had already deleted her from WeChat.

She couldn't be sure she'd complete Task 39 even if she were outside, let alone now, locked up at home by Du Qi. The prospect seemed even more hopeless.

Du Zhiye grew anxious. She turned and tried to run, but the servants moved faster. As she took her first step, one of them grabbed her arm, then two more joined in, sandwiching her from both sides and holding her firmly.

Breathless, Du Zhiye glared at Du Qi and said, "I'll do it, I'll do it, isn't that enough?"

Du Qi didn't even look at her. He waved a hand at the servants. "Take her upstairs."

And so Du Zhiye found herself under Du Qi's house arrest, her phone confiscated as well.

At noon, Yan Xiufang brought her lunch. "Zhiye, Auntie made your favorite dishes. Come and have a taste."

Du Zhiye got up from the bed, propped her chin on the vanity, and looked at Yan Xiufang. "Auntie, can you guess when my father will let me out?"

Yan Xiufang's smile was gentle and soft. She shook her head lightly. "Eat up, dear. It'll taste bad when it gets cold."

But Du Zhiye wouldn't let her off the hook. She kept pressing, "Auntie, do you think if I died in this room, my father would suspect you?"

Yan Xiufang's smile deepened, but she remained gentle. "Child, why do you say such nonsense?"

Du Zhiye blinked. "Come on, Auntie, there's no one else here, just say it!" She looked at Yan Xiufang thoughtfully. "Have you ever considered that if I died, all the Du family’s assets would belong to you and Du Xin?"

Yan Xiufang shook her head, her expression calm. "I haven't thought about that." She paused, then added, "Zhiye, all I want is to get along well with you."

See, this old fox's skills run deep!

Du Zhiye laughed. Who doesn't know how to play the wolf in sheep's clothing?

We'll see who disgusts whom in the end.

She said, "Auntie, I'm just joking with you." Then, deliberately trying to annoy her, she added, "Actually, I really... like you to death."

Yan Xiufang said nothing, only looked at Du Zhiye with that gentle smile. If one looked closely, there was a hint of indulgence and affection in it.

It really made Du Zhiye feel sick.

In terms of cunning and acting, she was no match for Yan Xiufang.

It was enough to make her grind her teeth in frustration.

Du Zhiye wiped the smile from her face. "Auntie, have you noticed I haven't been driving lately?"

Yan Xiufang didn't reply, her expression showing a trace of surprise as she quietly waited for Du Zhiye to continue.

Du Zhiye stared at her for a moment, uncertain for a split second whether Yan Xiufang had been the one to tamper with her car.

But none of that mattered now. The most important thing was getting out.

"Auntie, if you really care about me, let me go!"

Yan Xiufang shook her head, smiled gently, and soothed her, "Zhiye, just listen to your father."

After Yan Xiufang left, the smile fell from Du Zhiye's face.

She couldn't figure out what Du Qi was thinking, nor could she predict when she'd be allowed out.

If fate played a trick, she might die as soon as she stepped outside—and who would she complain to then?

If Du Qi wanted to keep her locked up for a week like before to wear down her temper, she might actually die in this room.

She thought about dying here—it almost seemed amusing.

Given Du Qi's suspicious nature, he would inevitably suspect Yan Xiufang and Du Xin. If she left a few clues behind...

Ah, but by then she’d be gone. Even if Du Qi suspected them, he wouldn’t really do anything to them—after all, he'd only have Du Xin left.

The thought left her feeling truly unwilling.

That afternoon, Yan Xiufang brought Du Zhiye her meal again. As she pushed open the door, she stopped dead in her tracks. The tray in her hands slipped and fell to the floor with a clear, ringing sound.