Because Xu Lingxuan had nearly been swapped, Xu Liang Han learned his lesson. He hadn’t lied to Ruan Yao Yao—everything he said was true. He had indeed made thorough arrangements.
Previously, Cao Man Hui had succeeded in swapping Xu Lingzhi because he had assumed the hospital was safe, being their own family’s facility, and hadn’t given it much thought. Now, with this precedent staring him in the face, how could he dare to be careless?
He had truly stationed people in every aspect, with surveillance monitoring around the clock.
If, under such circumstances, someone could still manage to swap his daughter, he’d have to admire them.
“Are you actually hoping someone steals your daughter?” Ruan Yao Yao shot him a glare.
Xu Liang Han quickly replied, “Mom, it’s a hypothetical, understand? How could I possibly hope someone steals my daughter? Am I that kind of person?”
“You’re a scumbag dad—who knows what you might do?”
Xu Liang Han: “…”
Was this label never coming off?
Of course, he didn’t dare lose his temper at Ruan Yao Yao. He could only sulk and complain to his wife, Yu Xiang Qiao, saying his mother had recently taken a sudden dislike to him for some reason.
Lying in bed and eating her postpartum meal, Yu Xiang Qiao didn’t even glance at him. “When has your mother ever liked you? In all the years I’ve been married into your family, she’s never given me a single kind look. If it weren’t for the fact that I fell for your face back then and insisted on marrying you, I would’ve called off the wedding right then and there because of the attitude she showed.”
So, just from giving birth, what had happened between her mother-in-law and her husband that made him suddenly act like a three-year-old and start tattling?
Xu Liang Han hadn’t told Yu Xiang Qiao about their daughter nearly being stolen. He only mentioned that child traffickers were rampant lately and it wasn’t safe, so he had strengthened security for their precious daughter.
As for their mother, she seemed to really like this granddaughter. She had even given her a name, Xu Lingxuan, and came to the hospital every day to spend time with her when she had nothing else to do.
“So, your mother favors girls over boys? No wonder she never gave me a kind look even after I gave birth to twins. Could it be because I never gave her a granddaughter?” Yu Xiang Qiao said sarcastically. “I know exactly what kind of person your mother is. You don’t need to cover for her.”
“No, I’m telling the truth. Mom really does like Lingxuan. Look, she even gave her a name. When did she ever pay much attention to the previous ones?”
…
After leaving the hospital, Yu Xiang Qiao went to a postpartum care center. Not only did the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law not meet, but Yu Xiang Qiao stayed there for two months. If Ruan Yao Yao missed her granddaughter, she had to go there to see her.
The two despised each other, with neither having any goodwill toward the other. When Yu Xiang Qiao’s family came to visit her, Ruan Yao Yao avoided them, not bothering to join the gathering. If she visited, it was only to see her granddaughter.
With such an absurd mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, even though he could now hear Ruan Yao Yao’s Inner Voice, Xu Liang Han had no immediate solutions.
His wife acted this way to protect him, so he really couldn’t say much. As for Ruan Yao Yao, she showed no kindness to anyone and didn’t care how her daughter-in-law’s family treated her.
Helpless, Xu Liang Han could only take things one step at a time.
A month passed. Just as Ruan Yao Yao thought the house would remain quiet until her daughter-in-law returned, Xu Liang Han brought a woman home.
Ruan Yao Yao was stunned.
Seeing her expression, Xu Lianghan thought she had misunderstood and explained that this was his wife’s best friend. She had left something at his wife’s place and had come to retrieve it.
On the surface, Ruan Yaoyao said, “Oh, I see.”
But in reality, Ruan Yaoyao’s tone was strange: [Oh, I see, no wonder, best friend~]
[No wonder she has the nickname ‘Female Supporting Character Dedicated to Stealing Her Best Friend’s Man.’ Truly worthy of being a best friend!]
Xu Lianghan: “…”
Could the “man” his mom mentioned be him?!
When he looked at Bing Qingxue again, he couldn’t quite face her directly: Was this the so-called “best friend” his wife always talked about?
“You’re actually Lianghan’s mom?! Oh my goodness, you look so young! If I saw you on the street, I’d definitely think you were a young lady…” Bing Qingxue lightly covered her mouth, looking genuinely surprised. “Xiangqiao is so lucky to have such a young mother-in-law. If you two walked out arm in arm, you’d look like sisters. Madam, how on earth do you take care of yourself? How do you stay so youthful?”
Even though she knew the other woman’s identity, hearing such compliments still made Ruan Yaoyao quite happy. She smiled and said, “Oh, come on, it’s nothing special. I was just born this way. You’re so sweet, always knowing just what to say. Keep the compliments coming!”
Bing Qingxue naturally didn’t miss the opportunity and cheerfully showered her with a string of flattering words, as if they were free.
As they chatted, Bing Qingxue proactively sat down beside Ruan Yaoyao, linking arms with her in a display of “sisterly affection.”
Ruan Yaoyao waved her hand, signaling Xu Lianghan to go about his own business. It was rare for someone to keep her company and make her this happy.
While talking, she had already opened the article floating above Bing Qingxue’s head and started browsing through it.
Xu Lianghan had no intention of leaving. He knew his mother all too well—usually so aloof, yet suddenly so warm and welcoming to a “homewrecker,” even letting her link arms. Something was definitely up.
Sure enough, the next second, he heard his mother’s Inner Voice:
[Oh wow~ This is juicy!]
[So this Bing Qingxue is so scheming? She paid someone to snatch my daughter-in-law’s bag, then pretended to be the good Samaritan who helped retrieve it, and that’s how she got to know my daughter-in-law?]
[She even framed my daughter-in-law’s friend for stealing her things, then played the hero again by “catching the thief,” further winning my daughter-in-law’s trust.]
[No way? Is my daughter-in-law really that naive? How could she not see through this?]
…
Xu Lianghan felt utterly unsettled.
So this was the “righteous heroine” his wife always talked about?
Good grief, my wife has been completely fooled!
Bing Qingxue had crafted an image of herself as someone who “treated money like dirt” and was “brave and righteous,” but it was all a facade.
Every time she went out with his wife, she ate and used things at his wife’s expense, all while “criticizing” his wife for spending money recklessly and not knowing how to save.
Wait, if you think my wife spends too much, why don’t you refuse the gifts she gives you? Yet you accept every single one?
When it comes to food and clothes, you always pick the most expensive options. How come you never say no?
[Tsk, tsk, tsk… Saying one thing but doing another, accepting every gift while pretending to be reluctant, claiming it’s only for the sake of “friendship.”]
【Oh my goodness, I’m almost forgetting how to write the word ‘friendship.’ If ‘friendship’ means gifting clothes, bags, and pearls, then bring me a bundle of that kind of ‘friendship’—I won’t complain. I just happen to have a set of jewelry worth over ten million that I want to buy…】
Xu Liang Han: What does Mom want to buy? What jewelry?
Unfortunately, Ruan Yao Yao only mentioned it in passing and didn’t name the jewelry set, leaving Xu Liang Han somewhat disappointed. He had thought he could buy it to cater to his mother’s preferences and win her favor.
What a pity!
After thoroughly exposing Bing Qingxue’s secrets, Ruan Yao Yao felt bored and decided to leave. She simply said she was tired and needed an afternoon nap, then handed the “guest” back to Xu Liang Han for him to entertain.
Xu Liang Han: Mom, since when do you have the habit of taking afternoon naps?
Ruan Yao Yao paid no attention to this, swaying gracefully as she went upstairs.
Having learned Bing Qingxue’s “true nature,” Xu Liang Han had no desire to entertain her and wished he could immediately expose her. However, realizing his wife still didn’t know, he decided to employ a clever tactic—sacrificing himself a little. He took Bing Qingxue to the adjacent tea room and called his wife, Yu Xiang Qiao, setting the volume to the lowest level (mute).
—Darling, I’m making a huge sacrifice for you.
—Once you’re out of confinement, you better reward me properly!