“Father. Mother.”
She addressed Liu Youcheng and Bai Manman.
Yan Changye released her hand, saluted Liu Youcheng first, and said, “Father-in-law.”
Then he turned to Bai Manman.
“Mother-in-law.”
Liu Youcheng hurriedly returned the salute before stepping forward.
“Young Marshal, Ayin, please come in.”
Yan Changye gave a slight nod, took Liu Xiyin’s hand again, and led her through the doorway.
Both Liu Youcheng and Bai Manman froze in surprise.
Liu Xiyin smiled awkwardly at them.
[The great villain really is an amazing actor. Father Liu is the Director of Military Logistics. Acting affectionate with his daughter is obviously the fastest way to build goodwill.]
[But have you ever considered that you’re showing off your affection to the wrong people? I’m not even close with them.]
During the month she’d spent at the Liu residence, Liu Xiyin had encountered the family fewer than ten times.
Liu Youcheng wasn’t too bad.
Every time they met, he would ask whether she was settling in well or whether she needed anything.
Bai Manman, however, remained constantly on guard, terrified that Liu Xiyin might harm Liu Mingyue.
When Liu Xiyin requested a private kitchen, Bai Manman hadn’t even asked whether she simply wasn’t used to the family meals before immediately arranging one.
As for Liu Mingyue…
They had met even less often.
The first time was the day Liu Xiyin returned home, when the entire Liu family—just like today—had gathered outside to welcome her.
Liu Mingyue had been there.
The second time…
Liu Xiyin happened to run into Liu Mingyue at a teahouse while scouting the city.
Hand on her heart…
She’d only said two sentences.
“Big Sister, you’re here too?”
“Haha, I came to try this teahouse’s pastries.”
…
The very next day…
Rumors spread throughout the city that she’d bullied Liu Mingyue.
Liu Xiyin clearly remembered the vicious supporting female characters in novels tormenting heroines.
But surely…
Not like this.
Afraid for her life, she began taking detours whenever she saw Liu Mingyue.
Today, Liu Mingyue wasn’t present.
Liu Xiyin knew exactly why.
But as long as it didn’t involve her…
She intended to stay out of it.
Ideally…
She’d never have anything to do with the heroine again.
They entered the Liu family’s reception hall to serve tea to Liu Youcheng and Bai Manman.
Yan Changye spoke first.
“This is now the Republic. Kneeling has already been abolished.”
“Yesterday, when we served Father and Mother tea, Father didn’t require us to kneel.”
“I assume Father-in-law and Mother-in-law won’t require it either?”
Since even Marshal Yan hadn’t required kneeling…
Liu Youcheng and Bai Manman would need extraordinary courage to insist upon it.
Liu Youcheng quickly waved his hands.
“No, no! Your presence alone is already our honor.”
Although Yan Changye had only recently returned to Ancheng and hadn’t yet established his influence there…
He was a man fresh from the battlefield.
He commanded troops.
Moreover…
Even when he was twelve years old with nothing to his name, he’d dared openly oppose Marshal Yan.
Marshal Yan already possessed the temperament of a bandit.
Yan Changye, who had stood against him, could only be even more ruthless.
Liu Youcheng had mentally prepared himself for the possibility that the Young Marshal might refuse to accompany Liu Xiyin home after the last-minute bride swap.
The fact that he’d come…
Opened the car door personally…
Held Liu Xiyin’s hand the entire way…
And was now serving them tea…
Already left Liu Youcheng deeply honored.
Yan Changye’s phoenix eyes remained calm.
“Then Madam and I shall excuse the impropriety.”
In front of Liu Youcheng and Bai Manman…
He still addressed Liu Xiyin as “Madam,” as though she had no familial relationship whatsoever with the couple before them.
Liu Xiyin secretly glanced at him.
The servants brought over tea.
Each of them picked up a cup and, remaining standing, respectfully offered tea to Liu Youcheng and Bai Manman.
The couple merely took symbolic sips before handing each of them a red envelope.
This…
Was Liu Xiyin’s favorite part.
[If we switch places and serve tea again, we’ll each get another red envelope.]
[The Director of Military Logistics’ red envelopes must be huge, right?]
She cheered happily inside.
As Yan Changye changed places with her, he cast her a meaningful glance.
To everyone else…
It simply looked as though the Young Marshal was carefully making sure his new bride didn’t stumble while walking.
One maid quietly witnessed the scene before slipping out of the reception hall.
Ever since falling into the lake, Liu Mingyue had remained bedridden.
Over the past few days…
Her vomiting had become relentless.
Her face had grown noticeably thinner.
The radiant beauty who’d once been Ancheng’s number one socialite was nowhere to be seen.
A maid entered carrying a tray.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Miss… Madam sent bird’s nest soup. Please have some.”
Liu Mingyue finally felt slightly better today.
She wasn’t vomiting anymore.
Struggling upright, she spoke weakly.
“…Did they come back today?”
The maid’s eyes reddened.
She turned away, unwilling to answer.
She didn’t want to hurt her young mistress further.
She had seen the Young Marshal.
He was even more handsome than in the newspapers.
Even more noble.
But…
He treated Second Miss even better than anyone had imagined.
Sister Dongmei, who’d delivered the bird’s nest soup earlier, had said the Young Marshal hadn’t even allowed Second Miss to kneel while serving tea.
Throughout the ceremony…
He’d constantly watched to make sure she didn’t trip.
Yet…
For sixteen years…
He had been Miss’s fiancé.
Even if the bride had ultimately turned out to be someone else…
With sixteen years of history between them…
How could the Young Marshal seem completely unconcerned about Miss’s feelings?
The kinder he treated Second Miss…
The more everyone would laugh at Miss.
Seeing the maid’s reaction…
Liu Mingyue already knew the answer.
She closed her eyes bitterly.
“Take the bird’s nest away.”
“I won’t eat it.”
What right did she have?
The bird’s nest belonged to the Liu family.
She wasn’t a member of the Liu family.
Everything here…
Belonged to the true daughter.
Besides…
Liu Mingyue quietly covered her stomach.
Her monthly cycle was already several days late.
Previously…
She’d blamed it on falling into the cold lake.
But the recent bouts of vomiting had plunged her into complete panic.
That night…
She had been far too reckless.
It was because of that man…
Gripping her clothes tightly, she resolved that this matter had to be dealt with as quickly as possible.
“Urgh—!”
She vomited again.
But she’d barely eaten for days.
There was nothing left to bring up.
Nor did she dare summon a physician.
She feared the truth would be exposed.
After finishing the tea ceremony…
Liu Xiyin and Yan Changye remained in the reception hall, exchanging stiff pleasantries with Liu Youcheng and Bai Manman.
[This is so awkward.]
[We still have to stay for the return banquet. I just want to get out of this place as fast as possible.]
[Anywhere the heroine appears is dangerous for me.]
[After today, the less I come back here, the better.]
[I wish I could return to the countryside. I miss Mother’s chicken noodle soup.]
If she had any choice…
Liu Xiyin truly wanted nothing to do with the Liu family.
In the original novel…
Around this time, the heroine had begun suffering severe morning sickness.
Everyone around her insisted the true daughter had poisoned her.
Whether she’d actually done so…
Liu Xiyin had no idea.
But in the novel…
Yan Changye hadn’t accompanied the original Liu Xiyin home.
The original Liu Xiyin had immediately provoked Liu Mingyue upon arriving.
Bai Manman punished her harshly.
She’d thoroughly humiliated herself.
Later…
When Liu Mingyue’s vomiting worsened…
Naturally the blame settled even more firmly upon the original Liu Xiyin.
She’d even smugly believed she’d gotten her revenge.
…
Liu Xiyin lowered her head.
She didn’t feel like speaking.
[Liu Mingyue had better not throw mud at me.]
[I truly haven’t done anything.]
[If she keeps vomiting, it has absolutely nothing to do with me.]
[But if she insists on dragging me into this… then fighting back in self-defense isn’t wrong, right?]
Liu Xiyin feared death.
She wanted nothing to do with either the heroine or the male lead.
But if they insisted on causing her trouble…
Then she’d have to stand her ground.
Otherwise…
Was she supposed to quietly accept every false accusation…
Only to end up skinned alive and fed to fish while everyone applauded?
Liu Xiyin straightened her back.
Her fighting spirit surged.
[Bring on the storm! Let it hit even harder!]