Bai Youran itched to throttle A Miao to death at this moment.
With a face full of tears, Xia Wan had told him about the circumstances back then. She said that she had no idea what happened to him and Xia Mei until A Miao showed up saying that both of them were drugged. It was also A Miao who came up with the antidote.
"Mom, I don't agree with the change in my fiancee. Get Grandma to tell the Xia family that we'll cancel the marriage alliance if I can't marry Xia Wan!"
That wretched woman had schemed against him. Had Xia Mei not gone with him, he would have slept with that woman and he would have been forced to marry her. He would not have let A Miao off if not for the fact that Xia Wan worried about the impact on Xia Mei if this incident became public.
Yan Huihong looked at her son and sighed. "Do you really like Xia Wan that much?"
"This isn't about whether I like her or not." Bai Youran resolutely exhaled a breath of smoke. "I've treated her like a princess for so many years but you tell me that she's being exchanged with an illegitimate child who has popped out of nowhere? There's no way I'll endure such an insult."
He would not have protested if Xia Wan was being exchanged for a woman with a higher status. However, he would never accept an ugly woman like A Miao. He would truly settle her one day.
"Xia family will hold a banquet at the end of the month. I'll get your father to discuss this with old Mr. Xia then."
Meanwhile, A Miao was oblivious to the fact that Bai Youran was truly loathing her.
On the weekend, she returned to the old street that she had lived in for more than ten years. Nothing had changed and it was still as worn-out as before. There were still the same filthy trash on the ground and small traders on the street. However, she also felt as if everything had changed.
"Isn't that A Miao?"
"Why did she come back?"
"That's right! I heard her relatives took her home and they're particularly well-off!"
There was no shortage of people pointing and whispering about her. A Miao felt her heart sink. She walked along the dark and filthy corridor until she reached her door, where she saw Zhou Xiao pressing coal briquets.
"A Miao!" Zhou Xiao cried in surprise. "You... You..."
"I'm here to see you." A Miao smiled. "Do you need help?"
Zhou Xiao hastily washed her hands and pulled her into the house. She was about to ask A Miao to sit down when she noticed A Miao's beautiful dress. She became unsure what to do.
"The house... The house is dirty... Your dress..."
A Miao planted her bottom on the folding chair. "What are you saying? It's so clean!"
It was only then that Zhou Xiao finally grinned. She got A Miao a glass of water and said, "Boiled water!"
"I have something to discuss with you." A Miao accepted the glass of water. "I want to rent out my house. That way, we'll be able to get 500 yuan at least."
"You're already a rich person!" Zhou Xiao was startled. "Why would you care about 500 yuan?"
A Miao pulled her so that she would sit down. "It's for you and Auntie Song."
"No!" A woman lifted open the cloth that lined the door. "We can't take your money."
"Auntie Song..." A Miao rose to her feet. "You're home so early today!"
The woman looked to be in her fifties. She had tanned and dry yellow skin and wore a faded set of sportswear. The hardships of life were clearly etched on her face.
"The weather's hot these few days. No one would want any steamed stuffed buns in the afternoon." Song Baohua put her things down before taking a seat. "It's good enough that you're here to see us. Don't talk about money anymore."
A Miao smiled wryly at her. "Auntie Song, if not for you adopting me from the orphanage, I fear I would be wandering the streets and kidnapped by evil people."
"Don't say that." Song Baohua immediately tugged at her. "I received favor from your mother many years ago. Unfortunately, she had already passed away by the time I found you. I once said I'd treat you like my own daughter. You're treating yourself like an outsider when you act like this."
"You're the one treating me like an outsider!" A Miao pressed a thousand yuan she got from the Xia family into Song Baohua's hands. "Since you said you're treating me like your own daughter, how cannot accept your daughter's money?"
"That's right, Mom! It's not like A Miao is hurting for that money. She's a wealthy young lady now," Zhou Xiao cried.
Song Baohua glared at her. "A Miao, we can't take your money. You..."
"Sure enough, you're treating me like an outsider." A Miao lowered her head. "We've already lived together for so many years and you've always cared for me. Yet you won't accept my money now."
"Oh, you child!" Song Baohua caressed A Miao's head. "Did they bully you?"
A Miao raised her head. "Do I look like I'm easily bullied? Look, I've even gotten fatter!"
"Come back if they're not treating you well," Song Baohua said solemnly. "We might be poor but we're all sincere. Those wealthy people look good from the outside but they're all scheming behind each other's backs."
"Don't worry! I know this very well."
When night fell, A Miao pointed at the large shopping bag that she brought with her and told Zhou Xiao, "There are all sorts of good food inside the bag. Enjoy them slowly! I'll also bring over medicine every now and then. You must get Auntie Song to eat them. Once I save enough money, we'll send her for the surgery."
"Got it." Zhou Xiao smiled at her. While sending A Miao off, she kept asking about how the grand residence looked like, whether there really was a swimming pool there, and if there were a lot of servants and housekeepers.
"Why don't... Why don't you come over and play?" An idea suddenly came to A Miao. "Someone will be celebrating their birthday at the end of the month with a banquet."
Zhou Xiao was overjoyed that she jumped. "Really? Can I really go?"
"Yes. I'm inviting you." A Miao thought that no one would notice the presence of an additional person with so many guests there.
At the end of May, the notable young lady of the Xia family, Xia Wan, held her 24th birthday banquet in their family villa. Every notable young ladies and young masters in their network were invited. Those in the older generation were well aware of how much Xia Yongqiang's greed had expanded over the years. They knew he was planning to pull two families, the Bai and Ji families, to his side. However, he would still have to get both families to agree. The Xia and Bai families had great relations over the course of three generations and the marriage agreement decided back then never specified names. Thus, the Xia family intended to marry off a girl who had come out of nowhere to Bai Youran. If the Bai family was to agree, it would be a loud slap across their faces. "Mom, I heard that the Xia family invited Shen Xinglan today." Yan Huihong appeared to be in a good mood on the outside but there was a hint of mockery in her smile. "The Xia famil
A Miao placed herself in front of Zhou Xiao. "This is my friend. If you don't have anything nice to say, don't show up in front of us." "What gives you the right to dictate that?" Xia Mei sneered. "This is my home! Do you trust that I'll go and get someone to throw her out?" "Very well. Go ahead and do it!" A Miao looked in the direction of the second floor. "Ruin Xia Wan's banquet and let's see who'll be the disgraced one in the end!" Xia Mei's expression changed. Truly, she had no courage to do so. She clenched her teeth. "Hey! You’d better be honest! If I catch you stealing things, I'll send you to the police station!" After threatening Zhou Xiao, she shot A Miao a glare before turning around to leave. Downstairs, Xia Wan appeared in the crowd with people surrounding her. Xia Yongqiang was currently introducing her to everyone. A Miao quietly brought Zhou Xiao to a corner of the hall. They sat
"Damn it!" A Miao cursed. She estimated that no more than two minutes had passed since the blackout. She could not make any more delay. However... The direction was headed toward the garden. She remembered that there was a large fountain there. She closed her eyes and in the next second, she turned around without hesitation. "Let her go!" The scene in the garden caused A Miao's anger to erupt. Xia Mei was suppressing Zhao Xiao at the fountain, forcing the latter's head into the water. A Miao ran to them and shoved Xia Mei aside. With a turn of her body, Xia Mei plunged into the water. "Zhou Xiao, are you okay?" A Miao helped Zhou Xiao sit down, frantically patting her back. "Ha... A Miao... Ha..." Zhou Xiao was gasping for breath. She then burst into tears and threw herself into A Miao's embrace. "A Miao! I thought I'm going to die! I nearly died earlier." Xia Mei pathetically c
"What's wrong with your car?" "The engine burnt out. I'm calling for a repairman." Bai Youran glanced at A Miao who was seated in the backseat without concealing his loathing at all. "Where are you going?" Xia Wan chuckled. "I'm treating A Miao to dinner today. Why don't... Why don't you come with us?" Thinking that he was being humorous, Bai Youran replied, "I'm coming along even if you don't ask me! I'll drive, so ask your driver to drive my car to your home." If it was Xia Wan who planned for their meeting with Bai Youran, then A Miao had become thoroughly stupefied after seeing Shen Xinglan in the restaurant... "Mr. Shen!" Xia Wan cried in surprise. "So you're also here for dinner!" Shen Xinglan was not alone and his female companion was a familiar face. A Miao felt like it was a face that she frequently saw on television. However, it was not the same one she met in Xi
A Miao was walking downstairs for her meal when she heard Xia Mei's voice. She then turned around to go upstairs. "Stop right there!" Xia Mei threw the photo at her. "It's fine if you embarrass yourself, don't get us involved!" The photo depicted A Miao, dressed in a chick costume, delivering condoms. She picked up the photo but before she could take a clearer look, Yao Lili's voice resounded. "What is this?" Yao Lili snatched the photo out of A Miao's hands. Before long, she began screeching. "Disgusting! How can you do something like this?" Seeing the development of events, A Miao thought she might as well sit down. "It's just a job. You all don't have to make a fuss about it." "Job?" Xia Mei grabbed the photo and waved it in front of A Miao's face. "This photo is pinned up in our school board. Now everyone knows that there's someone in Xia family that does this sort of shady busine
"Is this stinky tofu?" Shen I pinched a block of the tofu with his fingers and gave it a sniff. He nearly vomited. He rushed to the door, about to open it. "Don't open the door." Shen II stopped him while he opened the windows. "The smell will get out." Shen I was dumbstruck as he imagined the entire office floor being filled with the smell of stinky tofu. He could not help but wanting to retch. "Boss, why don't you take a shower and change your clothes?" Shen II did not dare to look directly at Shen Xinglan. Shen Xinglan, who had not spoken all this while, slowly raised his head. The first thing he did was loosening his necktie. Then he took off his suit and shirt and walked into the bathroom. While walking in, he began to slowly turn around. "Hehehehehe..." Shen I swallowed uneasily. "Boss..." "Oh no. Did he get so mad that he lost his mind?" "Go.&quo
A ripping sound resounded as the man tore A Miao's shirt and began touching her all over. She felt something rising from her stomach and then vomited all over herself and Xia Mingde. "Let me go… You bastard, let me go!" Without even bothering to wipe her mouth, she felt around for the table lamp on the floor and swiped Xia Mingde with it. "F*ck!" Xia Mingde blocked her attack with his arm and snatched it out of her hands. With a turn of his hand, he landed a hard slap on her face. "You bitch." A Miao fell on the floor. Xia Mingde once again grabbed her thighs and ripped her skirt with one smooth movement. "No! Let me go… Mom… Help!" A Miao stared at the ceiling with tears streaming down her face. The only thing she could think of was her mother's final words. Thud! Just as she was about to close her eyes and waited in despair for Xia Mingde to climb over her, the door abruptly opened. "Boss, how s
Shen I held onto A Miao's arm and took no more than a few steps before turning his head to ask, "Boss, where should we…" "Just find a random dark room." Shen Xinglan waved impatiently. "Not the underground." "Understood." Noticing that A Miao was faintly trembling, Shen I comforted her while dragging her. "Don't worry. I'll be locking you in the storeroom. When boss' mood improves the next morning, I'll let you out." Worrying that she would catch a cold at night, Shen I kindly found a particularly small storeroom and even placed a quilt inside. When he saw how A Miao lied on the quilt without moving, he said nothing and locked the door. It was pitch-black inside the storeroom without even a hint of the moonlight. In the darkness, A Miao began to quiver. She could not stand staying in a cramped space like this. To a claustrophobic person, this was life-threatening torture. "Let me out! Let me ou