Zheng Huaiyu was Mo Pingxin’s longtime frenemy. The two had loved bickering since childhood, and their rivalry had lasted for decades. Zheng Huaiyu loved to compare herself to others but always fell short of Mo Pingxin in every aspect. However, she was the undisputed champion of sarcastic remarks and had a sharp tongue, which gave Mo Pingxin a headache whenever she saw her!
Despite her age, Zheng Huaiyu was well-maintained. Swaying her hips, she approached with a young girl—her daughter-in-law, who was obedient and sensible. Though Zheng Huaiyu couldn’t surpass Mo Pingxin in anything else, she had triumphed in the matter of grandchildren. Her daughter-in-law had given birth to three grandsons in just four years of marriage, sending Zheng Huaiyu over the moon. She seized every opportunity to boast about it to Mo Pingxin.
Mo Pingxin, being an open-minded parent, believed that children and grandchildren would find their own happiness. But after hearing Zheng Huaiyu’s constant gloating, she couldn’t help feeling unsettled. She’d return home and pressure her eldest son, Song Xiangbei, to go on blind dates. Whether she got grandchildren or not was secondary; her main concern was that Song Xiangbei was nearly thirty and still didn’t have a girlfriend, which genuinely worried her.
However, while Song Xiangbei appeared to be a Ba Zong on the surface, deep down he was a Pure Love Warrior. He firmly believed that relationships formed through blind dates lacked purity, so nothing ever came of them. To make matters worse, Zheng Huaiyu, with her big mouth, spread rumors, and soon people in their social circle were gossiping that Song Xiangbei, still single at thirty, might prefer men…
As the saying goes, enemies see red at the sight of each other. Mo Pingxin’s face instantly darkened.
It was only when Zheng Huaiyu came closer that she noticed the unfamiliar face beside Mo Pingxin. She scrutinized You Xiaoxia warily, afraid that she might be a potential daughter-in-law Mo Pingxin had found. After all, grandchildren were the only thing she currently had over Mo Pingxin!
“Who is this?”
Mo Pingxin had no desire to engage with Zheng Huaiyu, but since they moved in the same social circles, she had to maintain basic courtesy. Holding You Xiaoxia’s hand, she said, “My daughter!”
Zheng Huaiyu’s wariness turned to astonishment. “Didn’t you only have Linlang as a daughter? When did this one pop up?”
Because Song Linlang had been beautiful and clever since childhood, outshining Zheng Huaiyu’s own daughter in every way, Zheng Huaiyu had envied Mo Pingxin countless times over it. How could another daughter suddenly appear now?!
Mo Pingxin’s face fell, and she couldn’t even bother with politeness anymore. “What do you mean, ‘pop up’?! This is my biological daughter! What’s it to you? Stop prying!”
With that, Mo Pingxin took You Xiaoxia and Song Linlang into the store to shop.
Zheng Huaiyu, who had already finished her purchases, turned and followed them inside with her daughter-in-law. She wasn’t interested in You Xiaoxia—as long as she wasn’t Mo Pingxin’s daughter-in-law, that was all that mattered. As for this “daughter,” she could very well be an adopted goddaughter or something similar. In any case, it wasn’t important.
Mo Pingxin sat on the sofa with her daughters. The shop assistants first served exquisite tea and pastries before wheeling over several clothing racks for Mo Pingxin to browse.
You Xiaoxia, experiencing such treatment for the first time, felt like a country bumpkin in the city, floating on cloud nine with delight. Surrounded by several shop assistants, she entered the fitting room. She didn’t have to lift a finger—just spread her arms, and someone helped her change clothes. She was truly being treated like “God”!
After putting on the latest dress, You Xiaoxia came out to show Mo Pingxin and saw that annoying Zheng Huaiyu sitting beside her.
A shop assistant was about to kneel and help Zheng Huaiyu try on shoes, but Zheng Huaiyu waved her away. “Lanlan, their hands are too rough. You come and help me try them on.”
Zheng Huaiyu’s daughter-in-law obediently rose upon hearing this, crouched down, and personally removed Zheng Huaiyu’s shoes.
Zheng Huaiyu cast a smug glance at Mo Pingxin: “My daughter-in-law is both sweet and sensible, and most importantly, she’s blessed with fertility—she gave me three grandsons in one go! Pingxin, I don’t mean to criticize, but your Xiangchen isn’t getting any younger. He ought to do you proud!”
Mo Pingxin rolled her eyes outright. “Our Xiangchen is in no hurry. After all, we don’t have a throne to inherit. Our modest assets are barely enough for our own indulgences, unlike your family, which can afford to raise as many children as you like!”
Zheng Huaiyu was left speechless. The Song family’s wealth undoubtedly surpassed that of her husband’s family. Wasn’t Mo Pingxin openly mocking and humiliating her?
Her lips twitched as she forced an awkward smile. “But grandsons are still essential! By the way, would you like me to introduce someone to your Xiangchen? Though she may not be as sweet-tempered as our Lanlan, a slightly lesser match would do. The key is she must be able to bear grandsons!”
Mo Pingxin frowned deeply, and even the shop assistants present subtly pursed their lips in disapproval.
[What era is this? Grandsons this, grandsons that! As if life isn’t worth living without grandsons!]
Well said! Everyone present silently echoed those words.
Yet, the room fell into a brief silence. Both women were esteemed guests, and the shop assistants would never voice such thoughts. Mo Pingxin remained silent, and Song Linlang hadn’t spoken. Zheng Huaiyu glared at You Xiaoxia—this ill-mannered brat dared to contradict her in public!
At that moment, she hadn’t yet grasped the peculiarity, but the next second: [Who is this woman? So tactless! Can’t she see my mom dislikes her? Yet she insists on pushing herself forward!]
[Let me see if there’s any gossip about her… Huh? Her son is infertile? Then where did those three grandsons come from?!]
Dead silence. The luxury boutique was enveloped in a tomb-like stillness…
Only Mo Pingxin, Song Linlang, and the previously silent Song Ankang and Song Xiangchen had their eyes sparkling with curiosity!
Zheng Huaiyu trembled with rage, but then she realized—You Xiaoxia had been eating snacks and hadn’t spoken at all. Could it be that the voice didn’t belong to her?
No, that voice had said ‘my mom.’ The only ones who could call Mo Pingxin ‘mom’ and had a female voice, aside from Song Linlang, were that brat who hadn’t uttered a word!
She stood up, ready to lash out at You Xiaoxia: I’ll tear your mouth shut for spouting nonsense!
But the next moment, she clutched her wrist as if an invisible iron grip had seized it. Tears welled in Zheng Huaiyu’s eyes from the pain. Mo Pingxin stared coldly at her, and Zheng Huaiyu suddenly understood. Tentatively, she thought: I won’t tear it, I won’t! Such a sweet little mouth—I won’t tear it!
Sure enough, the pain in her wrist vanished instantly.
Zheng Huaiyu stared in astonishment at her wrist, then at You Xiaoxia. She wanted to ask something but found herself unable to speak.
By then, You Xiaoxia had already dug up all the gossip. She wrinkled her nose in disdain: [What a mess! So that’s how it is. No wonder her son is infertile—serves him right!]
[This outcome is far too lenient for him!]
Zheng Huaiyu’s face turned ashen…