Chapter 19
Chapter 19: The Elegant Lady, Gu Mama
In this world, there’s always something that can subdue another, as if nature insists on balance.
Even someone like Ye Xiao, with her mischievous, devil-may-care attitude, harbors deep-seated fears.
And the thing that strikes fear into her the most is her own mother—Liu Yun.
The number one thing Ye Xiao fears is a “person of action.”
When the little imp arrogantly provokes others and shouts about with no regard for anyone, those who lack the will to act can only tremble with anger, clenching their fists and gritting their teeth, but in the end, doing nothing to stop her.
However, when facing someone who is willing to act, things take a very different turn.
A person of action will respond to her provocations with a swift punch to the stomach, wiping the smirk right off the imp’s face and ensuring she can’t wear that smug look again anytime soon.
And Ye Xiao’s mother, Liu Yun, is exactly such a person. She wouldn’t make Ye Xiao into a literal cream puff, but just thinking about her was enough to make Ye Xiao’s behind ache with phantom pain.
This fear wasn’t just carved into the original owner of her body’s soul, but also into its very physical memory.
The remnants of the original soul’s terror now affected Ye Xiao herself. She had been so caught up in teasing Su Ruoxue earlier that when her phone rang, she absentmindedly hung up without even looking at the caller ID.
“Hahaha, oh! It’s you, Mom! What brings you to call me so suddenly? Is something urgent?”
Ye Xiao instantly caved, trying to laugh it off. From the memories of her former self, she knew that when Liu Yun was upset, she would not hesitate to drive through the night just to give her daughter a stern talking-to, leaving Ye Xiao so sore the next day that she wouldn’t be able to get out of bed.
All she’d be able to do was lie there and accept her mother’s “loving” care in the form of medicine for her bruises.
“You little brat! Youran is coming back from abroad tomorrow. Her flight arrives at 2:00 p.m., so make sure you pick her up!”
“So soon?” Ye Xiao thought. The seductive older sister, who had stolen the affections of a married man, was finally coming back. The plotline tied to Su Ruoxue’s fate was about to officially kick off.
Ye Xiao was curious about what kind of magic her cheap elder sister possessed to have captivated a scumbag like Gu Tingyuan.
She also wondered if, by befriending her sister, she could steal Gu Tingyuan’s fortune somehow.
It wasn’t like she intended to have an unethical relationship with her sister. But if she could get close enough to her to sow some distance between her and that scumbag, that should be fine, right?
“Heh, looks like the slimy host is willing to do anything,” said Tongzi, her system.
“Even going after your own sister, huh? Well, your sister may not be the main character, but she’s a secondary lead, so weakening Gu Tingyuan’s fate by getting closer to her is possible. Just be careful not to overdo it!”
It could actually work?! Ye Xiao’s mind spun with the possibilities. She could isolate the so-called “Heaven’s Chosen” and slowly take all of his fortune for herself. If she didn’t weaken his fate to the utmost degree, she wouldn’t dare take him on.
After all, Gu Tingyuan was a “Heaven’s Chosen” one. In business circles of Binhai City, he operated like a god, winning every battle and always coming out on top. The Gu family’s status wouldn’t be what it was today without him. That’s why so many social climbers were eager to form alliances with the Gu family, hoping to marry into it.
“Remember 2:00 p.m. tomorrow. If you don’t go or cause any trouble, you’d better be prepared for your backside to suffer!” Liu Yun warned.
After hearing her mother’s words, Ye Xiao subconsciously protected her butt.
“Alright, Mom, I get it. I’ll make sure to pick her up at 2:00 p.m. sharp!”
“Also, don’t—”
Click. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Before her mother could finish, the busy tone of a disconnected line echoed in Ye Xiao’s ear.
As soon as Ye Xiao had agreed to pick up her elder sister, she quickly hung up, afraid that if she kept talking, she might accidentally slip in a snide remark. If that happened, she’d be in for a world of pain.
She knew her mother was not the kind of woman to be trifled with. And if her secret of being a “姛” (Male posing as female) were to slip out, the consequences would be catastrophic.
“Was that your mom?” Su Ruoxue asked quietly, noticing Ye Xiao’s sudden switch from arrogance to submission.
Even a brazen person like Ye Xiao had someone who could put her in her place.
And it seemed that person was finally coming back.
“So, Ye Xiao, even you have someone you’re afraid of? I thought nothing could scare you,” Su Ruoxue teased with a smirk.
“Haha? You think you can look down on me just because you’re Su Ruoxue? Don’t get too cocky!”
Feeling challenged, Ye Xiao immediately fought back. She needed to restore her authority over Su Ruoxue.
The afternoon passed in a blur, with Su Ruoxue paying the price for teasing Ye Xiao.
She had never flirted with anyone before and didn’t know how to pull back, resulting in total exhaustion.
“Ugh, such a weakling, Su Ruoxue. You can’t even handle that. Pathetic! A grown adult, but you can’t take the heat? Useless! Utterly useless!”
Later that evening, Ye Xiao had planned to make some congee for Su Ruoxue to help her recover from the ordeal. After all, she had pushed things a little too far. But just as Ye Xiao was tidying up and getting dressed, the doorbell rang.
When she opened the door, there stood an elegant woman at the entrance. The woman appeared to be in her thirties, dressed in the fine attire of someone well-to-do. She carried a food container, presumably for Su Ruoxue.
Looking down at the cute little girl in front of her, the elegant lady’s face softened into a smile.
“Not even 150 cm, huh? Blond little girl. You must be that troublesome Ye Xiao my son keeps talking about, aren’t you?”
The woman’s gaze lingered on Ye Xiao, who hadn’t responded yet, finding her more and more adorable with each glance. Ye Xiao’s cuteness tugged at her heart, making her want to ruffle her hair.
Ye Xiao’s mind whirled as she quickly adopted a sweet, innocent tone: “Big sister? Who are you? How do you know me? You’re so pretty!”
Temporarily shelving her mischievous persona, Ye Xiao’s sugary voice and cute demeanor were enough to melt anyone’s heart. The woman’s smile brightened even more, clearly impressed by the girl’s sweetness.
“Such a sweet-talker! You’re nothing like what Tingyuan said! I’m Ruoxue’s mother-in-law—Tingyuan’s mother,” the woman introduced herself.
Ye Xiao’s jaw dropped. This elegant lady was Gu Tingyuan’s mother?! She had to be at least in her fifties! But her skin was flawless, practically glowing, like she was only in her thirties. Could someone really maintain their looks that well?
“I heard Ruoxue came back today. She hasn’t been in great health lately, so I brought over some nourishing food for her,” Gu Mama explained before stepping into the house.
“Mom? What are you doing here?”
Su Ruoxue’s face showed a flash of panic as soon as she saw the elegant woman. Perhaps it was because of the events that had transpired earlier that afternoon.
Night Day
hope theres no trouble here