Chapter 27
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Volume 1 + Chapter 27: Cold And Warm
The Bai family only holds a family assembly when making major decisions, and although this particular gathering was convened on short notice, it had the highest attendance in recent years. Almost all key members of the Bai family were present. The reason was nothing other than the incident with the boiler factory.
At this moment, standing at the center of the hall, Bai Yuxuan—the main person responsible for the incident—was awaiting the reprimands of the family elders.
Most of the elders present were influential figures in politics or business. Years of experience navigating society had forged in them a powerful, cold aura. Just being watched by them made Bai Yuxuan feel suffocated.
“What the hell were you doing? Such a huge boiler factory, and it’s just gone like that?” As soon as the meeting began, one of Bai Yuxuan’s uncles was the first to lash out.
“I’m sorry. It was due to my poor management. I didn’t know they were doing such things in secret,” Bai Yuxuan replied, bowing her head to the uncle.
“You think a simple ‘I didn’t know’ is enough? Do you know how much damage you’ve caused our Bai family because of this incident?” Another uncle slammed the table and stood up, shouting.
“I…”
But that wasn’t the end. As the meeting went on, more and more elders joined in to accuse and denounce Bai Yuxuan. The one-sided outcry directed at her continued for nearly three hours. During those three hours, all Bai Yuxuan could do was apologize humbly and explain herself in front of the furious elders.
What chilled her even more was that the father who had made her take the fall showed no trace of guilt or concern in his eyes as he watched her being cornered. From beginning to end, he didn’t speak a single word in her defense.
Bai Yuxuan had never felt time pass so slowly. Those three hours felt like three months to her.
(If this is a nightmare, I hope I wake up soon, she prayed silently.)
“Enough. Yelling at you won’t solve anything. A problem of this scale has occurred—Bai Yuxuan must take responsibility for it!” One elder’s declaration brought the meeting to its most critical point: deciding her punishment.
“We’ll discuss this matter separately. Since you’re still an important member of the Bai family, go home and wait for our decision.”
Bai Yuxuan walked out of the Bai estate in a daze.
“Young Master, shall I take you home?” At that moment, Xiao Liu had already parked the car outside the gate, waiting.
But Bai Yuxuan just shook her head without saying a word.
“But it looks like it’s going to rain…” Xiao Liu said worriedly, but Bai Yuxuan ignored her and kept walking. Seeing this, Xiao Liu had no choice but to give up.
Not long after, rain began to pour from the sky, but Bai Yuxuan made no effort to seek shelter. She walked straight through it. The cold in her heart was far more biting than the cold raindrops hitting her body.
She didn’t know how much time had passed before she arrived in front of her apartment. But she had no intention of going inside. Instead, she found an outdoor bench in a nearby park and sat down, letting the rain fall on her.
She glanced at the date on her watch without thinking.
(Ah, it’s already the 28th? She hadn’t even noticed it was her birthday. I was still hoping to receive a blessing from Father… but he didn’t remember at all. The only thing he remembers is his power… the only thing he remembers is whether I’ve played the role of his scapegoat well enough.)
Recalling the scoldings from the elders and the unknown punishment that awaited her, Bai Yuxuan couldn’t help but curl up tightly.
“This is probably the most miserable birthday I’ve ever had. How many people in the world have celebrated their birthdays as tragically as I have?” she murmured, looking at the rain-swept and desolate street.
“But at least I can still enjoy this desolate city view alone… I suppose that’s a kind of unique birthday gift.” Bai Yuxuan laughed bitterly.
She looked up at the gloomy, rain-soaked sky, then down at the grey street blurred by fine rain. Everything felt bleak, cold, and devoid of warmth or color. Is this the kind of world I’m doomed to live in forever?
Just as that thought formed, a warm touch of gold entered her vision. At the same time, the rain above her suddenly stopped. A hand was holding an umbrella over her head.
“What the hell are you doing?” A familiar voice reached her ears.
“Huh?” She looked up and saw that the golden blur came from none other than her recent rival—Ouyang Qianxue.
“You okay? Sitting out here alone in the rain like this?”
Ouyang Qianxue looked at Bai Yuxuan with concern. Now that the umbrella shielded the rain, she finally realized that what was falling from Bai Yuxuan’s face wasn’t just rainwater.
“Hey, what’s going on? Don’t cry…”
Bai Yuxuan didn’t know why, but tears began to stream uncontrollably from her eyes. Growing up in such a cold household, she couldn’t even remember the last time she had cried.
“Why are you here? Are you here to laugh at me?” Bai Yuxuan asked expressionlessly.
“Laugh at you? What are you talking about? You rushed out of the exam hall two days ago and forgot your student ID. The teacher asked me, your seatmate, to return it to you. But you weren’t at school yesterday either, so I decided to bring it to you. Anyway, forget that for now—come inside quickly. You’ll catch a cold like this.”
Ouyang Qianxue helped Bai Yuxuan up and brought her into the apartment.
“You go take a hot shower and change your clothes. I’ll make some food. Judging by your state, you haven’t eaten anything today, have you?” Ouyang Qianxue said, putting down her schoolbag and heading to the kitchen.
Bai Yuxuan stumbled to the bathroom, undressed, and unbound the chest wrap over her heart. But even as the hot water poured over her body, she still couldn’t feel warm. She kept hugging herself tightly.
By the time she finished bathing and changed into fresh clothes, she saw a table set with several home-style dishes and a bowl of congee in the center.
“Hurry and eat while it’s hot,” said Ouyang Qianxue, coming out of the kitchen and removing his apron, pushing the bowl of congee toward her.
Bai Yuxuan took a small spoonful and put it in her mouth. A warm, soothing sensation spread from her mouth and stomach through her entire body.
“This… is the best congee I’ve had in my life.”
“You’re exaggerating. It’s just plain old century egg and lean pork congee. Come on, eat up—there’s still a surprise afterward.”
“Surprise?”
Bai Yuxuan, following Ouyang Qianxue’s request, quickly finished all the dishes on the table. Having not eaten all day, she felt this meal was a hundred times better than any gourmet food she’d had before.
“Now that you’ve eaten, it’s time for the highlight of today.” Ouyang Qianxue brought out a 6-inch birthday cake decorated with cream and fruit jam.
“Today is your birthday, right? Last time I was here, I remembered seeing a cake oven in your kitchen. So? I’m awesome, right?”
“How did you know today is…?” Bai Yuxuan was already choking up.
“Because it’s written on your student ID, of course.”
At that moment, Bai Yuxuan could no longer hold back her emotions. Tears streamed down her cheeks once again.
