The children all thought it was a terrifying feud, though they had no idea how dark things were beneath the surface.
The adults, however, felt that one girl had brutally tortured an animal while the other had bitten off such a large piece of human flesh that neither of them seemed entirely normal.
So the Yu family arranged for a psychologist to evaluate them.
After assessing them, the doctor said that Yu Xiaxing had no psychological disorder.
She was simply too grief-stricken, and combined with her hot temper, the trauma had triggered an intense stress response. Her way of expressing herself was vicious, but she had not intended to hurt anyone. She had merely lost control in the midst of overwhelming pain.
Huo Mian, however, was different.
She had already developed a strong pathological tendency toward controlling those she cared for through caretaking.
She had begun placing the people or animals she loved in dangerous, sick, or dependent situations in order to prove how important she was to them.
She craved being needed and could not accept losing control over the people or animals who depended on her.
Out of consideration for their promise to Huo’s father, the Yu family still did not abandon her. They simply separated her from Yu Xiaxing and sent them to different places to continue their schooling.
But they also understood that, since she had been only a child at the time, they could not simply have a psychologist tell Huo Mian that she was ill.
So they hired a psychologist and had her pose as Huo Mian’s nanny. She cared for Huo Mian and guided her through treatment over the years.
That was why Huo Mian herself did not know she had ever been ill… Now that she had grown up and recovered, she should have realized that something had been wrong with her as a child, right?
Some time ago, the psychologist had sent back a report saying that Huo Mian had made a complete recovery.
She had specialized in environmental science. She protected animals and the environment and was full of compassion. She would never again hurt the weak as she had when she was young.
Since she had recovered, the Yu family—true to their word—decided to honor their promise and go through with the marriage.
…
Now that Yu Xiaxing was demanding to know which of them had actually been ill back then, the elders exchanged glances.
The eldest uncle was just about to speak when the eldest aunt grabbed his arm and shook her head.
Huo Mian was a young girl whose father had died and whose mother was seriously ill. She was all alone in the Yu family. If they exposed her dark past in front of everyone now, wouldn’t it look as though the whole family were ganging up on a helpless girl?
The eldest aunt spoke first. “Xingxing, Mianmian, the doctor said back then that neither of you did it on purpose. Neither of you was sick.”
Yu Xiaxing let out a laugh when she heard that.
No wonder Fourth Sister had always been so good at smoothing things over. She must have learned it by osmosis.
Fourth Sister had now learned how to find her edge while maintaining appearances, but the eldest aunt was still as skilled as ever at glossing over conflicts.
But Yu Xiaxing was not going to let them smooth this one over today!
The truth was, she had never really let it go.
From childhood to adulthood, she had dreamed of Tang Tuan countless times, waking up in tears every single time.
There was no way she could let it go!
She would never be able to forgive the person who had killed the animal companion of her childhood!
Even if she couldn’t cause a major scene today, she was determined to make Huo Mian uncomfortable!
Yu Xiaxing suddenly raised her head and looked at the grandfather who had remained silent all this time. She questioned him, word by word, “Grandfather, you promised Uncle Huo that you would take care of Huo Mian, so you arranged for her to be engaged to Third Brother. Did you ever ask Third Brother what he wanted?”
The entire room fell silent.
No one in the family had ever dared speak to Grandfather like that.
The eldest uncle’s expression changed dramatically. “Xingxing! How can you speak to Grandfather like that?”
Yu Xiaxing ignored him and continued looking at Grandfather. “Uncle Huo was your trusted subordinate. Maybe he once took a bullet for you, and maybe he did a great deal for the Yu family. But that’s a debt you owe him. What right do you have to make Third Brother repay it?”
The instant those words left her mouth, everyone’s expression changed.
The eldest uncle said sternly, “Yu Xiaxing, go upstairs and take a shower. Stop talking!”
Her aunt frowned as well. “Xingxing, don’t make a scene.”
Of course Yu Xiaxing knew exactly what she was doing. It was the first time in her life that she had spoken so bluntly and disrespectfully to Grandfather.
But what else could she do?
She was a fake to begin with. Sooner or later, she would have to leave.
Might as well throw caution to the wind!
“I’m not making a scene. Ever since my brother left, Third Brother has always protected me at school.”
“Now that I’ve grown up, I want to protect Third Brother for once.”
“I heard everything just now. He said he doesn’t want this arranged marriage.”
“If he won’t say it himself, then I’ll say it for him!”
The moment she finished speaking, even Yu Xiaxing herself was nearly disgusted by how sanctimonious she sounded.
What did she mean, standing up for Third Brother? She sounded so noble.
Still, Third Brother had just exposed Huo Mian’s lies, and for once, he had taken her side.
So she would stand with him for now, too!
Yu Zhining was utterly shaken.
He had always maintained an indifferent attitude, as if nothing concerned him, and had already decided that even if the engagement was not called off, he would never honor it.
He had never expected this younger sister of his to stand up for him like this, even at the risk of defying Grandfather.
Even more surprising was that she still remembered how he had protected her when they were children.
All right… He gave Yu Xiaxing a deep look.
At least she had a conscience.
After Yu Xiaxing finished speaking, everyone watched for a reaction from Old Master Yu.
Seeing that his expression was growing grim, her aunt also tried to persuade her. “Xingxing, calm down first. The favors and promises exchanged between the elders aren’t something a child like you can understand.”
Her uncle chimed in as well. “That’s right…”
Before he could finish, Yu Zheng arrived too.
The moment he saw Yu Xiaxing standing by the swimming pool, soaked from head to toe, he looked up and swept his gaze across the faces of the eldest uncle, the eldest aunt, her aunt, and her uncle. Finally, his eyes came to rest on Huo Mian.
He had no idea what had happened, but that did not stop him from immediately taking sides.
“Elders, are you bullying my sister and me just because both our parents are away in war zones and can’t look after us?”
The moment he said this, the expressions of several elders changed.
His aunt laughed in exasperation. “Yu Zheng, have you no conscience? Who’s bullying you?”
The eldest aunt was helpless too. “We watched the two of you grow up. How could we bully you?”
His aunt was the angriest of all. She had only tried to hint that Yu Xiaxing should stop provoking Grandfather because she was afraid Xingxing would anger him.
One of these two little tyrants had already been difficult enough to handle. Now that they had joined forces, there was no reasoning with them at all!
The elders explained the situation in a few hurried sentences.
Unlike Yu Xiaxing, who had become the center of the confrontation, Huo Mian—the other central figure in the conflict—had already shrunk into the least conspicuous corner possible.
She was still sitting beside the pond, her face pale and her eyes red, looking as though she had been driven into a corner by the entire family, with nowhere left to go.
But inside, she was not panicking at all.
She remembered what her father had told her on his deathbed.
“Your Grandfather Yu values loyalty and gratitude above all else. He promised me that he would take care of you. So don’t worry. You’ll never have a hard life.”
She had always remembered those words. That was why she had dared to sit there and discuss the engagement with Yu Zhining.
As long as Old Master Yu remembered the debt he owed her father, there was no way he would truly abandon her.
But then, abruptly, Yu Zhengrong spoke.
“Third.”
“Grandfather.” Yu Zhining looked up at him, waiting for his decision.
His grandfather asked, “Do you want to go through with this marriage?”
Huo Mian immediately turned to look at him.
Yu Zhining answered without the slightest hesitation.
“No. I absolutely do not.”
