Thinking of Xie Lianqing, the victorious Xu Qingqing felt a bit down again. Seeing her despondent expression, Zhou Chenyu suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Regretting it now, aren't you?"
Seeing that Zhou Chenyu was about to start his nagging, trying to persuade her to get back together, Xu Qingqing began playing with her fingers, ignoring him.
Coincidentally, the Zhou family was hosting a banquet tonight for Zhou Chenyu's grandfather's eightieth birthday. Zhou Chenyu's father told Zhou Chenyu and Le Jiaojiao to go entertain the guests, leaving Xu Qingqing alone.
During dinner, the heartbroken Xu Qingqing ate an entire air-flown lobster by herself.
The other guests around her stole glances. Everyone at such banquets wore formal dresses, afraid of eating too much and revealing a little belly, which would be unbecoming. So, they usually socialized and discussed matters; few actually came to eat.
Xu Qingqing finished one lobster by herself and, after some thought, still felt a bit empty, so she ate another one.
The other people at the table: ... Could she really be here just for the food?
Not far away, at another table.
Xie Lianqing sat with his hands clasped, staring intently at Xu Qingqing, who was focused solely on her meal.
Zhou Chenyu, standing beside him, chuckled and said, "Her appetite is still quite good."
Xie Lianqing: ...
He wondered what was going on with Xu Qingqing. Since their breakup, her appetite had been remarkably good—either eating desserts or devouring lobsters.
So, was being with him affecting her appetite?
At the thought of this possibility, Xie Lianqing's face turned livid with anger.
Holding a wine glass, he stood with Zhou Chenyu. Many people nearby had wanted to seize the opportunity to network with him, but seeing his sharp gaze and cold, imposing aura—clearly in a bad mood—they thought better of it and retreated.
It's about making connections, not enemies. Better to try another day. It's said General Manager Xie's ex-girlfriend is also attending today's event. Men, well, probably find dealing with an ex-girlfriend tiresome...
Xu Qingqing was still unaware that her dedicated eating had been witnessed by her ex-boyfriend.
She had been deliberately avoiding Xie Lianqing today. It was Zhou Chenyu's father's birthday, and Xie Lianqing's family were old friends of the Zhou family. Even if he was busy with work, he was highly likely to attend.
So, Xu Qingqing didn't even dare go to the seat Zhou Chenyu had arranged for her. Instead, she quietly found a corner to sit in, pretending to be a mushroom.
Anyway, the food at this table was good, and no one was eating.
It was only then that Xu Qingqing realized something was off with these people. Why wasn't anyone eating such delicious food? What a waste. Thinking that she used to be one of them, Xu Qingqing felt she had missed out on too much.
While eating, Xu Qingqing quietly pondered whether she should poach the chef. She was a heartbroken person and needed to replenish her energy lately.
When Xie Lianqing walked over, Xu Qingqing was still thinking about how to discreetly slip into the kitchen to poach the chef. Just as she was lost in thought, the chair beside her was pulled back, and someone sat down.
"Enjoying the food?" a familiar voice asked.
Xu Qingqing looked up and saw it was indeed Xie Lianqing. She had hidden all the way here, how did he still find her?!
And Xie Lianqing's timing couldn't be worse! Xu Qingqing had been burying her head in her meal, with two large lobster shells displayed in front of her.
Moments ago, channeling her sorrow into eating, she hadn't felt anything. But now with Xie Lianqing sitting beside her, she suddenly felt a bit too full.
Her ex-boyfriend looked dashing in his suit, as handsome and elegant as ever, while she was no longer her former radiant self and had actually overeaten.
This reunion scene didn't seem very favorable for Xu Qingqing.
Xu Qingqing held a fork, looking at the piece of lobster meat on it, hesitating whether to eat it or not.
Xie Lianqing looked at the lobster shells in front of her and was almost amused with anger. "Didn't you say you didn't like it before?" he asked, referring to when Xu Qingqing was with him.
Back then, Xu Qingqing was extremely pampered, always ordering him to shell everything for her. She loved small sea shrimp the most. Every time they ate, Xie Lianqing had to serve her, shelling a plate for her first before eating himself.
There was a period when Xie Lianqing found this way of eating too time-consuming, so he instructed the chef to shell the shrimp in advance. As a result, Xu Qingqing threw a fit all afternoon, complaining incessantly and even going on a hunger strike, protesting that she would only eat food shelled by Xie Lianqing's own hands.
At that time, Xie Lianqing, exasperated by her antics, pleaded for mercy and promised to shell shrimp for her for a lifetime.
While feeling helpless about his girlfriend's dependence, Xie Lianqing also felt immensely happy, secretly sighing that it was a sweet burden.
But now it seemed that without his help, Miss Xu Qingqing could eat just fine! So back then, she was just deliberately sweet-talking him to justify her spoiled behavior!
Xie Lianqing looked at Xu Qingqing, his temples throbbing with anger.
Xu Qingqing still hadn't realized she'd given herself away. She mumbled vaguely, "It's okay, I just have a good appetite today."
Her casual remark almost made Xie Lianqing spit blood. Was this indirectly admitting she had a poor appetite when she was with him?
Xu Qingqing then suddenly realized her words might not have been very friendly. After thinking, she added, "Because you used to shell the shrimp for me."
"Now there's no one to shell shrimp for me, so I can only eat this." Speaking of this, Xu Qingqing felt quite sad too.
In the past, Xie Lianqing would have done this for her, but now she had to do it herself. Since losing her boyfriend, even the quality of her meals had declined so much.
Xu Qingqing grew even more melancholy. She felt she needed to quickly find a shrimp-shelling tool—ahem, a new boyfriend.
Xie Lianqing was still angry, but hearing her words now, he also felt a sense of wistfulness. He glanced at Xu Qingqing and said softly, "Shall I help you?"
Xu Qingqing was immediately tempted, but she quickly remembered the secretary Xie Lianqing had brought today.
In the past, Xie Lianqing always brought her to such events. Probably because they had broken up, he now brought his secretary instead.
Xu Qingqing suddenly realized. After the breakup, even if it was just a secretary for now, sooner or later, someone else would appear by Xie Lianqing's side. She sighed and said proactively, "Forget it."
Xu Qingqing felt it was pointless and decided to leave. "You're not my boyfriend anymore. It wouldn't be right for you to shell shrimp for me."
If Xie Lianqing's future girlfriend found out, she would definitely be angry.
Although Xu Qingqing was spoiled, she knew better than to meddle in other people's relationships. She wasn't one of those bad women online who entangled themselves with exes, making their current partners feel uneasy.
After saying this, Xu Qingqing prepared to leave. After all, in novels and movies, such a philosophical line would be perfectly followed by a graceful departure, leaving her ex-boyfriend with a beautiful, melancholic silhouette as she walked away.
But as she rose halfway, she silently sat back down.
Help! She had eaten too much just now, and now her little dress seemed to show a little belly!!
As a bona fide drama queen, even though she had broken up with Xie Lianqing, Xu Qingqing still cared deeply about her image!
She wished that in Xie Lianqing's eyes post-breakup, she would remain that ethereal beauty untouched by worldly cares, not this comedy character who had just devoured two large bowls of rice.
Xie Lianqing was still lost in thought over her earlier words when he snapped back to reality and noticed her awkward posture. He immediately asked with concern, "What's wrong?"
Xu Qingqing swallowed her irritation and said, "I'll just sit for a while."
Xu Qingqing assumed Xie Lianqing would leave soon, but to her surprise, when he saw she wasn't leaving, he also sat down beside her, unmoving as a mountain. He even picked up a knife and fork, ready to start eating.
Noticing Xu Qingqing staring at him, he turned to her and said calmly, "I'm just tasting it."
He was determined to find out just how delicious these dishes were that had so captivated Xu Qingqing's appetite—dishes that had actually caused him, her dedicated shrimp-peeling assistant of over a year, to lose his job!
Xie Lianqing took a slow, deliberate bite, raised an eyebrow, then sat up straight, put down his chopsticks, and wiped his fingers with a napkin.
Watching him put on such airs, Xu Qingqing couldn't help but lean in and ask, "Are you planning to poach Zhou Chenyu's family chef now?"
Xie Lianqing didn't reply. Xu Qingqing instantly understood and said, "I saw him first. By the rules, if you want to poach him, you'll have to wait your turn."
Xie Lianqing was amused and exasperated by her. He was about to say something when his secretary approached, bent down, and whispered something in his ear.
Xie Lianqing immediately stood up and said to Xu Qingqing, "There's an issue at the company. I have to go. We'll talk next time."
Before leaving, he added, "Remember to take me off your blacklist." He didn't understand Xu Qingqing's infuriating habit of blocking anyone who upset her.
After leaving the Zhou residence, Xie Lianqing sent a message to Zhou Chenyu, asking him to recommend the chef. As for what Xu Qingqing had said...
He no longer had a girlfriend, so why should he follow any rules? Today, he was cutting in line. From now on, if Xu Qingqing wanted to taste this chef's cooking, she'd have to come to his house!
Sure enough, Xu Qingqing couldn't outmaneuver Xie Lianqing. On her way home, she took Xie Lianqing off her blacklist, sent him a message saying, "You shameless scoundrel!" and then swiftly blocked him again.
Xie Lianqing, who had just seen the message and was about to reply: ...
After leaving the Zhou family, a dejected Xu Qingqing suddenly received a call from Xu Changshan: "Xu Qingqing, I need to..." His tone was self-righteous, but the rest of his words were swallowed by the dial tone after she hung up.
Xu Qingqing's fingers moved slightly, and she nonchalantly blocked the number. Normally, she might have had the mood to tease Xu Changshan a bit, but lately, she was in a foul mood and had no patience for his nonsense.
Out of sight, out of mind. Blocking the trash solved the problem.
Soon, another call came in, and Xu Changshan's familiar, furious voice rang out again: "Xu Qingqing!!"
Hearing his voice, Xu Qingqing was surprised for a moment and couldn't help but sincerely ask, "Just how many phone numbers do you actually have?"
She had lost count of how many of Xu Changshan's numbers she had blocked over time, yet he persistently managed to contact her with new ones!
Xu Changshan, holding the housekeeper's phone, coughed, "Ahem... that's not important. I'm contacting you about something else!"
"I heard you broke up with that Xie boy?" Xu Changshan's words were as unpleasant as ever. "If you don't change your selfish nature, breaking up was bound to happen sooner or later. Who could tolerate you..."
By the end, he even sounded somewhat gleeful.
Despite having never genuinely cared for or educated Xu Qingqing, and despite being the scoundrel who had cheated, contributed to his wife's death, and driven his daughter away, Xu Changshan still had the audacity to posture as a father and shamelessly lecture Xu Qingqing.
Xu Qingqing rolled her eyes and impatiently interrupted, "Do you have anything else useless to say? If not, don't contact me."
Afraid she might hang up, Xu Changshan on the other end quickly said, "Come back home next week and stay for a few days."
Xu Qingqing, who had been about to hang up, paused, stunned. "Have you been eating too many cephalosporins?"
What kind of relationship did she and Xu Changshan have? They were enemies who, upon seeing the other fall into water, would gladly grab a brick to deliver another blow!
Xu Changshan was actually inviting her to stay at the Xu family home for a while?
Back then, Xu Qingqing was so young, her mother had just passed. On the very day of the funeral, Xu Changshan had gleefully welcomed Bai Yaxiu and her family into the house and, in the process, tossed out his eldest daughter, the unwanted burden.
Over the years, although Xu Qingqing's room in the Xu family home had been preserved at the request of Grandpa Xu and others, Xu Changshan had never once suggested she come back to stay.
After all, he had a new family. The eldest daughter from his previous marriage was nothing but an eyesore, so of course he wouldn't invite trouble by having her return and upset the household.
"What did you say?" Xu Changshan didn't understand her meaning but could tell it wasn't complimentary. He said irritably, "Are you coming back or not?!"
Xu Qingqing hadn't expected Xu Changshan to be serious, so she also became serious and sincerely advised, "If you've gone mad, you should take some medication."
Xu Changshan was left speechless, gasping with anger, but he still restrained himself and tried to persuade her, "I've already had your room tidied up for you. Last time, Tianbao was being childish, and you already taught him a lesson. As his elder sister, surely you're not so petty as to hold a grudge against a child."
He rambled on for a bit, then realized there was no response on the other end. Lifting the phone to look, he found, sure enough, he had been blocked again!
When an enraged Xu Changshan tried to call back, he discovered that the phones of everyone around him—his wife, daughter, assistant, housekeeper, part-time help—had all already been added to Xu Qingqing's blacklist...
Xu Qingqing treated this incident as just a minor episode in life, not paying it much mind. After all, Xu Changshan had his share of crazy moments.
However, a few days later, Xu Changshan suddenly contacted her again: "Come to the Xu house tomorrow. It's about your mother. She left some things for you."
Xu Qingqing sat up straight, frowning suspiciously. "My mother's things? How could they be in your hands?"
During the final years of Lin Jiangxue's serious illness, Xu Changshan had almost permanently resided at Bai Yaxiu's home, only occasionally returning to the Xu house to pressure his wife into divorcing him.
Knowing her husband was unreliable and utterly disappointed, Lin Jiangxue had transferred all her assets under her name to Xu Qingqing. Even her jewelry, heirlooms, and other personal effects had all been given to her daughter.
Out of deep love for her daughter, how could anything she left for Xu Qingqing end up in Xu Changshan's hands?
Xu Changshan sensed the implication in Xu Qingqing's words and said with great displeasure, "What do you mean? You think I'd withhold your mother's dowry? If the housekeeper hadn't found that safe while cleaning the room..."
Xu Changshan had always been somewhat resentful that Lin Jiangxue had, behind his back, given all the assets under her name to Xu Qingqing. As her legal husband, he felt he was entitled to half of the inheritance along with Xu Qingqing. Yet when Lin Jiangxue died, all the property went to Xu Qingqing, without even a single piece of expensive jewelry being left for him.
When it came to dividing the assets, Xu Changshan conveniently forgot about his eagerness to divorce his then-wife and instead claimed he had every right to inherit her estate.
However, at the time, although Xu Changshan was somewhat displeased, he was busy marrying Bai Yaxiu. In his joy, he didn't bother pursuing his ex-wife's little schemes any further.
In his view, Xu Qingqing was his own daughter and hadn't even turned eighteen yet. As her guardian, wanting control of her assets was perfectly justified and easy. It's just a pity he hadn't anticipated his parents suddenly interfering, not only taking Xu Qingqing away to raise her but also forcing him to transfer a significant portion of shares...
Recalling the past, Xu Changshan's inner resentment was more than just a little.
Back then, he was the Xu family heir. Although it pained him, he didn't really care about that amount of money. But now, with his younger sister in charge, the performance of the companies under his control isn't great. Without real power, he can only rely on dividends, and money has become somewhat tight.
If it weren't for Bai Youlan's current situation, he wouldn't have thought of giving the things to Xu Qingqing.
Xu Changshan said, "Come over here and take your things."
Xu Qingqing thought for a moment and said, "Then have someone deliver them to me." Under normal circumstances, she might be willing to go to the Xu house to add some fuel to Xu Changshan's hypertension, but recently she wasn't in the mood to play games with him, so she decided to let them off the hook this time.
Moreover, after the incident with Le Jiaojiao, Xu Qingqing was increasingly reluctant to have any contact with Bai Youlan and that system.
Clearly, this answer dissatisfied Xu Changshan. He flatly refused, "No, you come and get it yourself!"
Xu Qingqing was puzzled, "What, is what my mother left behind the 'Heart of the Ocean'?" So important that she must personally retrieve it?
Xu Changshan insisting she go to the Xu house, coupled with his invitation a few days ago for her to stay there, made Xu Qingqing feel he was definitely plotting something.
Xu Changshan was left speechless by her remark. He said curtly, "You'll know when you come the day after tomorrow. The items are very important. I must hand them to you personally to avoid you later accusing me of embezzling your mother's belongings."
Having said that, and probably afraid Xu Qingqing would change her mind, he quickly hung up the phone.
Xu Qingqing held her phone, silent for a moment. No matter what disgusting scheme Xu Changshan was hatching, she still had to retrieve her mother's belongings.
But wasn't Bai Youlan recording her show at home? For Xu Changshan to insist on luring her to the Xu house at this time, no one would believe there wasn't something fishy going on.
At the same time, in the Xu household.
Under the cameras, Bai Youlan in the center of the piano room was playing the piano, smooth music flowing from the keys. Bai Yaxiu, holding her young son, sat on a chair watching her daughter not far away, her eyes filled with pride and affection.
The show had just started airing today, with sporadic bullet comments floating by from fans and viewers—
——【My Youlan is amazing, talented in both arts and studies! Those who said her piano playing was fake before, does your face hurt now?】
——【A family of four, is no one wondering where Mr. Xu went?】
——【This place has been taken over by Bai Youlan's brain-dead fans. Is anyone else here like me, visiting to observe the peculiar creatures?】
——【Me, me! I thought I was the only comrade-in-arms!】
——【Tour group +1, I'm here today to see just how low Bai Youlan's brain-dead fans can go.】
"Celebrity Family" was a reality show/livestream program initiated and produced by Bai Youlan herself. It adopted a 12-hour continuous live broadcast format, tracking the lives of the celebrity's family and her own. It aimed to document Bai Youlan's journey from being the young lady of the Xu family to her wealthy married life after wedding into the wealthy Lin family.
To support their daughter's career, Xu Changshan and Bai Yaxiu, who had been heavily criticized online, braved the cameras and appeared on the show to broadcast their lives.
The door to the piano room was pushed open, and Xu Changshan appeared at the doorway. Dressed in loungewear and slippers, he carried a fruit plate in one hand and quietly walked in. He placed the fruit plate on the table and sat down next to his wife.
Bai Yaxiu whispered to her husband with a hint of reproach, "What took you so long? You almost missed Youlan playing."
Xu Changshan patted Xu Tianbao's head and said, "Youlan is the apple of our eye, how could I dare?"
Bai Yaxiu picked up a segment of orange and gently fed it to her young son in her arms, casually asking in a soft voice, "Is everything settled?"
"Mhm," Xu Changshan replied succinctly.
Ever since Bai Youlan collaborated with the Lin family, and Xu Changshan was kicked off the heir list by Chairman Xu and his wife, his status in their social circle plummeted. He gradually developed business dealings with the Lin family. Now he held a meager share of the joint ventures that Bai Youlan and the Lin family had allotted him.
Since losing his inheritance rights and having to rely on his stepdaughter and former in-laws for support, Xu Changshan had lost all his former vigor and seemed to have aged several years. He no longer had the same confidence when dealing with Bai Yaxiu and Bai Youlan.
Watching fans thought Xu Changshan and Bai Yaxiu were talking about the fruit plate, but only they themselves knew they were referring to the matter of "inviting Xu Qingqing over."
This was Bai Youlan's idea. She possessed an "Out-of-Control Talisman," a prop she had acquired when she first tried to lure Xu Qingqing into the entertainment industry.
According to her original plan, after Xu Qingqing signed with Lin Donghan's company, she would unknowingly appear on the show with her. Every word and action online would be magnified. Given Xu Qingqing's personality combined with the prop talisman, she would quickly become universally hated online.
Although this plan initially failed, Bai Youlan now felt there might be an opportunity.
After all, whenever Xu Qingqing came to the Xu household she never did anything good, always acting arrogant and unreasonable. As long as the other woman showed her usual personality in front of the cameras, and she herself used the props, everything would proceed smoothly according to her original plan.
It was just a pity that this prop talisman required physical contact to use. So only if Xu Qingqing came could she slip the item to her and make it work...
On camera, Bai Youlan, wearing a small white dress, had a slender neck. Her fair fingers danced across the piano keys, appearing noble and beautiful.
Fans watching the live stream were immersed in this scene of serene tranquility, unaware of Bai Youlan's thoughts. The three members of the Xu family had some inkling but were not clear about her deeper schemes.
Bai Yaxiu simply believed her daughter was successful. Xu Changshan, however, saw a bit more and finally realized his stepdaughter was far from the naive and innocent girl she once was; she was ruthless. But now that he had been abandoned by the Xu family and was on the Lin family's boat, he could only see this dark path through to the end.
On the other end, Xu Qingqing had no intention of obeying Xu Changshan and waiting until the next day to go to the Xu house. After hanging up the phone, she grabbed her keys, went out, and drove straight there. This time, pressed for time, she didn't bring her bodyguards but borrowed two life assistants from her grandmother's side instead.
Xu Qingqing glanced back at the two impeccably dressed, white-collar elites who didn't look very capable in a fight, and felt rather melancholy.
At times like this, she inevitably thought of Xie Lianging, missing those tall, strong, 1.8-meter-tall bodyguards of his who radiated a sense of security...
She could, of course, hire a few from a security company, but it was too late to arrange now. Besides, Bai Youlan was probably live-streaming her show right now, and bringing bodyguards onto the program wouldn't be good for her image either.
Xu Qingqing had always remembered how she died in the book—it all started with the comparison between her and Bai Youlan during that live broadcast program.
Thinking about Bai Youlan and the system's strangeness, Xu Qingqing still felt somewhat uneasy. If it weren't for her mother's keepsake this time, she truly didn't want to go to the Xu family to face that eerie system.
She had already figured out that the anxious party right now was Bai Youlan and the system. Their recent small, frequent maneuvers, always rushing to take the initiative and attack, indicated that someone behind them was pushing them or threatening them.
The more rushed they were, the more prone to mistakes, and the more flaws would appear. Judging from their previous actions, no matter what Bai Youlan and the system wanted to do, she just needed to stay steady and counter their moves as they came.
Moreover, having interacted with Bai Youlan for over a decade before, the other party had never made a move against her. Yet now, their actions were becoming increasingly frequent, even invading her dreams to confuse her. The fortune value above their heads was also getting lower and lower.
Xu Qingqing thought of Le Jiaojiao and her own speculation. Le Jiaojiao had casually complained, wondering if Bai Youlan had been too unlucky lately, causing her actions to become increasingly extreme. Xu Qingqing thought that was entirely possible.
...
After getting in the car, Xu Qingqing asked her two assistants, "Do you know how to fight?" The assistants were bewildered.
Xu Qingqing thought for a moment and said, "If a fight breaks out later, remember to cover for me."
The assistants: ... This wasn't in the contract!!!
Under the assistants' horrified gazes, the car finally arrived at the Xu residence. The door opened, and from the sleek sports car emerged a pair of exquisitely slender legs first.
The program crew's cameramen outside the house noticed the movement immediately and quickly switched their lenses over.
"Director? Who is this, a special guest?" a field assistant urgently contacted the director.
Many shared the same question. On the screen, the camera hidden in the garden was well-concealed. Xu Qingqing glanced around after getting out of the car, seemingly not noticing it.
She wore sunglasses, followed by two assistants. The group walked with imposing presence toward the Xu family's main door. Her fair, slender finger pressed the doorbell.
The housekeeper opened the door quickly. As soon as Xu Qingqing stepped inside, she saw numerous cameras and busy recording staff.
She frowned at the lens almost shoved in her face. "What is this?"
The audience watching the live stream was also stunned. After a moment of silence, the comments began to scroll frantically.
[Whoa, why is Miss Xu here? Doesn't she have a bad relationship with Bai Youlan and them?]
[Fans are ecstatic! Came to watch the diversity of life forms, never expected to see the 'little princess' who's been absent for months!]
[Is no one wondering why Xu Qingqing is here? Her aura is so fierce, is she here to cause trouble?]
[Even though she's the daughter of the first wife, actively coming to their door to pick a fight is a bit too much...]
[Wanted to say this before, everyone online hypes her 'genuine personality,' but am I the only one who thinks she's particularly domineering and unreasonable?]
Inside, Bai Yaxiu and her daughter were playing the piano, aiming to showcase their talented personas for the audience and indirectly dispel the previous rumors about not being able to play.
They never expected Xu Qingqing's sudden visit, which instantly disrupted everyone's rhythm. Seeing the cameras switch focus, Bai Youlan couldn't just continue playing as if nothing happened, or her plan would be ruined.
She got up and walked toward the door, speaking softly, "Qingqing, you're here?" Didn't Xu Changshan tell her to come in a couple of days? Why is she here now!
These past two days, Youlan needed the program to solidify her fanbase, hoping to change the public's perception of her and her mother through the live stream, and incidentally try to sway the audience's impression.
Now with Xu Qingqing's sudden arrival, before the audience's impression of them has shifted, it's very detrimental to their plan.
Bai Yaxiu walked out from the kitchen, looking kindly. "Changshan said you were willing to come back today. I specifically asked Nanny Zhong to prepare congee for you."
She used a subtle trick in her words, saying Xu Qingqing was 'willing to come back,' while actively adopting a very humble attitude, instantly establishing her persona as the virtuous stepmother.
Xu Qingqing had no mood to engage with her. Looking at the lens almost in her face, she took off her sunglasses and frowned impatiently. "Can you move that away from me?"
Her tone was somewhat irritable. Not far away, Bai Youlan lowered her eyes, hiding the glee within.
In a reality show live broadcast, everyone pays extreme attention to their demeanor and words, afraid of causing misunderstandings and creating a bad impression among the audience. Yet this fool Xu Qingqing, seeing the cameras, still acted like her usual spoiled, demanding self...
She probably thought many viewers were already starting to question her now.
But contrary to Bai Youlan's expectations, when Xu Qingqing spoke impatiently, there were only sporadic complaints. However, the moment she took off her sunglasses, the comments almost froze for an instant.
On screen, the girl wore a black dress, her hair casually draped over her shoulders. She held her sunglasses in one hand, posture relaxed, chin slightly raised, the corners of her eyes lifted with impatience, her lip color captivating.
After that still moment, the comments began to swarm back densely—
[I'm crying, a beauty overload, sisters!!]
[The death-angle lens is right on her face, I can see her skin condition so clearly, it's amazing!!]
[Help, how is she so beautiful? Even her frown is gorgeous!]
Currently under the assault of her beauty, the comments were frantically taking screenshots.
The program crew also understood the audience's thoughts, knowing this was a major highlight. They immediately, disregarding Xu Qingqing's aversion, continued pushing the lens toward her.
The TV station this program belonged to was always the ratings champion. The crew controlled editing and publicity, and few celebrities dared to disrespect them. Even big-name actors would restrain themselves and suppress their anger when facing the cameras.
The director's team was accustomed to actors and celebrities swallowing their pride, so they habitually used the same tactics against Xu Qingqing this time.
Moreover, the investors this time were Bai Youlan and the Lin family. As the major backers, they had already instructed the crew to give Xu Qingqing 'special attention.'
However, Xu Qingqing was not a celebrity from the entertainment industry. She had family capital backing her and didn't rely on fan popularity to make a living. Why would she care about the program crew's little schemes?
No one answered. Xu Qingqing frowned, glanced at the staff behind the camera, and said, "Move this thing away from me." She impatiently pushed away the lens aimed at her face. The screen showed her fair, slender fingers, prompting another wave of exclamations.
Glanced at by Xu Qingqing, that photographer with his little schemes instantly sobered up. This was the genuine Miss Xu of the Xu family, deeply doted on and holding shares, not comparable to those begging to be on their show.
Xu Qingqing had the backing of the Xie and Xu families. What good would come from offending her? With one word from her, his job might not be secure. The Lin family and the Xu Group were fighting their battles—why should a small fry like him get involved?
Perhaps sensing that this young lady had a temper not to be trifled with, and having thought it through, the photographer sheepishly didn't dare to move the camera against Xu Qingqing's wishes anymore.
Seeing this, Bai Yaxiu and Bai Youlan stood to the side, looking rather disappointed. Their original plan relied on the cameraman provoking Xu Qingqing so that the temperamental young heiress would lash out right in front of the livestream cameras.
Bai Youlan, in particular, grumbled inwardly. She had given specific instructions beforehand, yet this cameraman still lacked the sense to act accordingly. What a waste of a golden opportunity.
Seeing the potential storm diffuse without a sound, Bai Yaxiu lowered her gaze and stepped forward to offer an explanation. "Qingqing, you probably didn't know, did you? Your sister is participating in a variety show, and filming started today." She deliberately omitted the fact that it was being broadcast live.
Based on Xu Qingqing's arrogant behavior just moments ago, they surmised that she believed this to be a standard pre-recorded program and was unaware of the livestream. If this were a show that underwent editing, the Xu family had the resources to protect their own. Even if Xu Qingqing lost her temper or did something unsightly, they could simply throw money at the problem during post-production to cover it up.
Unfortunately for her, this was live. If Xu Qingqing threw a tantrum now, her doting grandparents and aunt would have absolutely no way to clean up the mess.
Xu Qingqing, oblivious to the scheming of the Bai mother and daughter, frowned impatiently. "I'm here as you asked. Where is the item my mother left behind?"
She turned her head slightly and addressed the assistant behind her. "Go with him to retrieve it."
At her crisp, decisive command, the livestream comments exploded once again. Bai Youlan's fans struggled to post sour remarks amidst the flood, but they were overwhelmed by the sheer number of onlookers arriving for the drama.
[The Young Miss looks so cool when giving orders!]
[Sob sob, she's truly so beautiful. Even when she's impatient, she's gorgeous. I want to see her in a movie!]
[Is no one paying attention to what the Young Miss just said? Her mother's legacy... is that the ex-wife who was angered to death by Xu Changshan and his mistress?]
[I really don't know where Xu Changshan and Bai Youlan get the nerve to call themselves a loving family. True love built on the corpse of the ex-wife? Ugh, disgusting.]
[Xu Qingqing isn't exactly a good person either. She's so rude to her own father. No matter what, that's still her dad...]
[Does Xu Qingqing not realize this is a livestream? She looks so impatient. If she knew it was live, she'd probably restrain herself a bit, right?]
[Agreed with the comment above. She glared right at the camera earlier; it looks like she doesn't know. When Bai Youlan's mom explained, she only mentioned recording a show, she didn't say it was live.]
How could Xu Qingqing not know that this program was being livestreamed? She even knew who the contestants were and the series of events that were about to unfold.
In the original book, it was precisely because she participated in this reality show alongside Bai Youlan that she was compared unfavorably in every aspect during the livestream, leading to her being blackened and reviled by the entire internet.
She hadn't expected that after blocking Bai Youlan from changing her surname and refusing Lin Donghan's invitation to enter the entertainment industry, the plot would twist and turn only to circle back to this point.
Xu Changshan had gone to such great lengths to trick her into coming back today; wasn't his sole purpose to use her as a stepping stone for Bai Youlan?
She wondered if Bai Youlan was satisfied with her performance just now.
Because of the recent incident where Bai Youlan and her System were searching for her in Le Jiaojiao's car, Xu Qingqing sensed that they might have discovered something. Consequently, she had deliberately ignored Bai Youlan since entering the house, keeping her eyes fixed on Xu Changshan and the others. She didn't dare check the System interface or the luck values displayed above their heads.
As a result, she didn't dare to look now to see if the luck value above the other woman's head had changed.
Bai Youlan had been constantly looking for an opportunity to make physical contact with Xu Qingqing. Unable to hold back any longer, she took two steps toward her, intending to seize the chance to grab her.
Xu Qingqing, who had been keeping a vigilant watch on Bai Youlan the entire time, saw the move. Alarmed, she immediately twisted her body to dodge out of the way.
She felt that Bai Youlan was becoming increasingly eerie. Thinking of the strangeness surrounding the woman and her System, she unconsciously wanted to get as far away from her as possible.
While lost in thought, Xu Qingqing subtly put more distance between herself and Bai Youlan.
Seeing that Bai Youlan seemed ready to try again, Xu Qingqing immediately pulled her two assistants over to block her front. She glanced at the motionless Xu Changshan and raised her voice slightly. "Why are you just standing there like a statue, Dad? Didn't you say you had a keepsake from my mom? You said it was so important that I had to come get it personally. You weren't lying to me, were you?"
Facing Xu Qingqing's questioning gaze, Xu Changshan looked embarrassed. Suppressing his anger, he said, "I asked Nanny Zhong to take him to get it."
He called it a keepsake, but in reality, it was just one of the jewelry pieces he had used to propose to his ex-wife. Later, when he got together with Bai Yaxiu, she had taken a fancy to the diamond, so he had casually gifted it to her.
The item was brought down quickly—a three-carat pink diamond worth tens of millions. But even the most beautiful jewelry gets boring after being worn for over a decade. In the beginning, this pink diamond had been something Bai Yaxiu could only dream of; she had adored it and wore it everywhere.
However, she was now Mrs. Xu, and her daughter was the young mistress of the Lin family, holding company shares. Wealth and glory were at her fingertips, and she possessed countless jewels more expensive than this pink diamond. Besides, the style was already out of fashion.
So, returning it to Xu Qingqing caused Bai Yaxiu no heartache at all. In fact, she inwardly mocked Xu Qingqing for collecting scraps.
Xu Qingqing held the ring and spoke softly, "I remember my mom saying you gave her a pink diamond back then, but she accidentally lost it later. What a pity..."
She turned the ring slightly in her fingers, tilting her head to gaze at the glittering gem. After a moment, Xu Qingqing smiled and said, "It's good that it's been found now. In a few days, I'll send this ring down to accompany her." Hopefully, that bastard Xu Changshan will go down early to join her too.
Xu Qingqing's expression was calm; no one could discern her emotions.
The Xu family knew the origin of this ring very well and understood its significance to Xu Qingqing. This was exactly why they deliberately presented it to her in front of the cameras: to make her explode in rage and humiliate herself by throwing a tantrum in front of the audience.
At this moment, everyone stared nervously at Xu Qingqing.
Just when everyone thought she would erupt the next second, Xu Qingqing grasped the ring and said, "Oh? The sun has gone down? I need to go back. Grandpa and Grandma are waiting for me for dinner."
With that, she turned and walked toward the exit.
Not getting the expected reaction, Bai Yaxiu grew anxious and tugged at Xu Changshan. He frowned; Xu Qingqing was his daughter after all, and seeing that ring again hadn't left him entirely without emotion.
However, looking at his beloved wife and son, he still spoke up to stop her. "It's getting late, Qingqing. Why don't you stay here for a few days?"
Bai Youlan immediately chimed in, "That's right, Qingqing, just stay for a few days. Lin Donghan and I are getting married soon. I know we were wrong about some things in the past; can you give us a chance to apologize?"
In the plan concocted by Bai Yaxiu and her daughter, if they had a few days, they were sure they could find an opportunity to make Xu Qingqing lose her temper.
Xu Qingqing paused slightly, turned her head to frown at them, and asked with genuine suspicion, "Are you people sick in the head?"
Amidst the Xu family's ugly expressions, Xu Qingqing looked at Xu Changshan and said, "You—the scumbag who cheated during your marriage and brought your mistress to my mother's deathbed to hound your lawful wife to death."
Her gaze shifted, landing on Bai Yaxiu. "And you, the mistress who climbed to the top over your best friend's dead body."
"Xu Qingqing! Are you still refusing to forgive Mom and Dad?" A sudden sense of dread washed over Bai Youlan.
Her voice trembling, she forcefully interrupted her. "Dad knows he was wrong. The reason he asked you to come home this time is because..." She spoke with desperate urgency, trying to block whatever was about to be said next.
Xu Qingqing gave a short laugh. Looking at the deathly pale Bai Youlan, she said, "Save your breath. You are even worse. At such a young age, you were already playing the little informant, standing guard outside the bedroom to keep watch while Xu Changshan and Bai Yaxiu carried on their affair."
