Pfft.
Bai Liuyue couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.
This drew Xie Manyu's attention and displeasure:
"What's so funny? My sister-in-law went through something so awful, and you still have the nerve to laugh?"
"Do you have any empathy at all?"
Bai Liuyue wasn't angry, though.
After all, Xie Manyu was genuinely stupid, not malicious, so it was excusable.
Bai Baozhu consoled, "Alright, Manyu, Xiaoyue probably didn't mean it."
Bai Liuyue also nodded repeatedly and obediently, saying:
"Right, I didn't mean it. I just couldn't help but laugh."
Seeing her like this, Xie Manyu grew even angrier and clamored, "Sister-in-law, look at her. She is simply too detestable."
Xie Chengxiao, however, suddenly spoke up.
"Why couldn't you help but laugh?"
Bai Liuyue met his deep, obsidian-like eyes, curled her lips into a smile, and said:
"Oh, nothing much. I just think Xu Yanci is quite kind-hearted."
"Kind-hearted?!" Xie Manyu burst into an exclamation, looking at her in disbelief.
As if she were looking at a fool.
From Bai Baozhu's narrative just now, Xu Yanci was absolutely a downright bad guy. Why would she still call him kind-hearted?
Bai Baozhu could no longer maintain her gentle facade. A hint of displeasure flashed between her brows as she asked in return:
"Xiaoyue, why would you think a scum like him is kind-hearted?"
Bai Liuyue counted on her fingers and said:
"Well, you asked me to say it, Cousin."
"First of all, in the beginning, it was you, Cousin, who was dissatisfied with the arranged marriage set up by Grandfather, so you tried everything to resist it."
"Then Xu Yanci gave you a terrible idea, which you actually listened to and even carried out."
"You ran away time and time again. The second time, Xu Yanci even went through the trouble of rushing to the Northwest Train Station to receive you. Tell me, what was he after?"
"Was he after your money?"
She posed a soul-searching question.
Xie Manyu answered in dissatisfaction, "Xu Yanci must have been after my sister-in-law's beauty. He wanted to abduct her!"
Bai Liuyue let out a thoughtful 'oh', drawing out the syllable.
"So that's how it is. Cousin, there were no romantic feelings between you two; you are completely innocent."
"Yet Xu Yanci was after your beauty... It seems it was purely a case of a toad lusting after swan meat!"
As soon as these words were spoken.
The reactions of the people present varied.
Xie Manyu felt that she had finally said something sensible for once. She clapped her hands in strong agreement, saying:
"Exactly! That Xu Yanci is just a toad lusting after swan meat, daring to have delusions about my sister-in-law."
"My sister-in-law is so wonderful; only my brother is worthy of her."
"Right, Brother?"
Faced with his simple-minded sister, Xie Chengxiao helplessly rubbed his forehead. Did she really not hear the sarcasm in Bai Liuyue's words?
Bai Baozhu's face turned pale and green by turns.
How come she never noticed before that this little cousin had such a sharp tongue?!
She pursed her lips, revealing a sorrowful expression, and said:
"I truly only had friendly feelings toward Xu Yanci. As for what intentions he harbored toward me, I had no idea."
"I only found out later."
"When Chengxiao came looking for me on the southbound ferry, I was actually having a huge argument with him because I realized I had been deceived and wanted to return to the Marshal's mansion."
"But... anyone would have misunderstood under those circumstances..."
She paused, casting a tender gaze toward Xie Chengxiao, and said:
"I can understand that Chengxiao misunderstood. But he never gave me a chance to explain. It wasn't until today that I was able to tell the complete truth."
Xie Manyu chimed in supportively:
"Brother, look! Sister-in-law was truly deceived, and now she knows she was wrong!"
"Can you discuss this with Grandpa Bai? I really don't want Sister-in-law to leave."
The expression on Xie Chengxiao's face remained cold.
Facing Bai Baozhu, whose eyes were brimming with tears, he threw out a fatal question.
"When Xu Yanci was caught back then, he said the two of you were eloping, that the feelings were mutual, and that I was the Ma Wencai tearing you apart."
Bai Liuyue, who had been silently listening to the gossip on the side, couldn't help but let out another pfft.
Well then.
This Xu Yanci was quite the literary romantic, comparing himself and Bai Baozhu to the Butterfly Lovers.
Hearing the laughter, Xie Manyu immediately shot her a displeased look, glaring with her round eyes, looking somewhat fierce.
Bai Baozhu's heart tightened.
She hadn't expected that Xu Yanci would say all this after being taken away by Xie Chengxiao.
She felt nervous inside, but she didn't show the slightest bit of timidity on her face.
Steadying her nerves, she said in a calm tone:
"That was all his nonsense. I never knew he harbored such thoughts about me."
"Chengxiao, although I was cold toward you after marrying you, I never did anything to betray you or let you down."
"Although I am a woman who has learned modern ideas, I am still traditional at heart."
"I would never give my innocence to any man other than my husband."
Unexpectedly, Bai Baozhu's last sentence was so blunt.
It made the unwed Xie Manyu blush bright red.
She had thought that by saying this, Xie Chengxiao would surely be moved.
To her surprise, he merely twitched the corners of his lips, gave a slight nod, and said:
"Alright, then take your innocence back to Jinzhong."
"There will be a more suitable candidate for your husband."
"But that person will not be me!"
With that, he flicked his sleeve and walked away. His back exuded coldness and absolute resolve, not leaving the slightest bit of a chance.
Bai Baozhu was dumbfounded.
She had spoken from the bottom of her heart, so why was Xie Chengxiao still unwilling to believe her?
Could it be...
Her gaze fell upon Bai Liuyue.
Was it because of something this little cousin of hers had said to Xie Chengxiao at the department store today?
Bai Baozhu pursed her lips again and shot a glance at Xie Manyu.
Xie Manyu understood implicitly. She quickly walked up to Bai Liuyue and raised her voice, saying:
"Bai Liuyue, if you know what's good for you, get the hell back to Jinzhong immediately."
"In this house, I only recognize Bai Baozhu as my sister-in-law."
Bai Liuyue didn't even spare her an extra glance. She just lifted her feet and walked away, not bothering to respond at all.
Anyway, Xie Manyu was nothing but a gun in Bai Baozhu's hand, firing wherever she was pointed, without a single brain cell. What was the point of arguing with a fool?
"Hey, Bai Liuyue, why are you walking away? Didn't you hear me talking to you?"
Seeing her leave, Xie Manyu even chased after her with quick steps.
She was truly relentless.
It wasn't until she chased her to the corner of the second floor.
Bai Liuyue finally stopped in her tracks.
Xie Manyu then showed a smug expression, tilting her head up as if to say, 'You've finally been put in your place by me, haven't you? Not walking away anymore, huh?'
"Miss Xie, you are merely the Young Marshal's biological sister."
"What do you mean?" Xie Manyu was puzzled.
"If you truly love and respect your brother, then you should prioritize his preferences.
Instead of using your own preferences to demand that everyone fulfill your wishes according to your desires."
Although Bai Liuyue's voice was soft, every single word struck like a heavy hammer, pounding into Xie Manyu's heart again and again.
