Yun Manxia didn’t mention Xia Lian’s birthday to Bai Hedu, nor did she plan to bring him along.
—Her husband’s time was precious. What gave Xia Lian the face to deserve it?
She planned to casually mention it to him when she was about to head out.
But unexpectedly, Bai Hedu found out in advance—because Yun Yiyi personally delivered a dress.
When a servant reported that her elder sister had arrived and was currently downstairs speaking with Ninth Master, Yun Manxia’s eyes narrowed slightly. She quickly put down what she was doing and went downstairs.
She hadn’t forgotten what kind of intentions this so-called elder sister had toward her husband!
Downstairs, Yun Yiyi stood there shyly, holding out an invitation with both hands to Bai Hedu. “…The birthday banquet is in five days. My mother hopes Ninth Master can attend. I hope so too.”
Bai Hedu glanced faintly at the invitation, showing no intention of accepting it.
Yun Yiyi stepped forward again, moving closer to him, her voice soft and timid. “Ninth Master…”
Before she could finish, she suddenly stumbled, her body tilting.
As if unable to stand steadily, she let out a delicate cry and fell toward the man’s arms!
Seeing that Bai Hedu made no move to avoid her, a trace of joy flashed in Yun Yiyi’s eyes as she waited to “fall” into his embrace.
However—
“Ah!”
Her collar was suddenly grabbed from behind!
In that instant, Yun Yiyi was nearly strangled, almost rolling her eyes back!
“Second Sister, you were standing perfectly fine on level ground—how did you manage to fall?” Yun Manxia’s voice rang out leisurely. “Anyone who didn’t know better might think you were trying to seduce my husband!”
With a forceful pull, she yanked Yun Yiyi upright. A smile hung on her lips, but her eyes were icy.
Yun Yiyi’s expression stiffened as she tried to cover her guilt. “Manxia, what are you saying? I just lost my balance…”
Yun Manxia curled her lips slightly. “Oh.”
“Your sister said she came to deliver you a dress,” Bai Hedu spoke at this moment, his tone indifferent.
“I know, the servant told me earlier.” Yun Manxia’s expression instantly softened. She walked over to him and, seeing he was sitting on the sofa instead of a wheelchair, naturally sat down beside him—already carrying herself like the lady of the house.
She glanced at Yun Yiyi. “It’s just a dress. Why did Second Sister have to come personally? Wouldn’t it have been enough to send someone?”
Yun Yiyi was still staring in shock at how closely the two of them were sitting.
It had only been a few days—how had Yun Manxia become so close to Ninth Master already?!
Wasn’t he supposed to dislike physical proximity? Why hadn’t he pushed her away?
Suppressing these thoughts, she smiled gently. “I came to deliver the invitation to Ninth Master. How could I let a servant handle something like that? It would be disrespectful.”
An invitation?
Yun Manxia sneered inwardly.
Delivering an invitation was just an excuse—seducing her husband was the real goal!
“Invitation?” she said. “I already told Aunt Lian—Ninth Master isn’t going.”
As she spoke, she hugged Bai Hedu’s arm and said softly, “Right, husband?”
This intimate gesture made a flash of shock and jealousy pass through Yun Yiyi’s eyes.
But she suspected Yun Manxia hadn’t even mentioned the banquet to him. Hearing this, she hurriedly looked at Bai Hedu.
Bai Hedu felt a soft fragrance leaning against him, his arm being lightly shaken. Turning his head, he saw her blinking at him, secretly signaling with her eyes—lively and charming.
He felt both helpless and amused. When had she ever asked him?
But seeing how nervous she looked, afraid he might agree, he still said, “That’s right. I’m not going.”
Yun Manxia cheered inwardly. Their tacit understanding made her want to kiss him or hug him—but seeing Yun Yiyi still present, she restrained herself.
Turning her head, she said, “Second Sister, you heard him? Ninth Master isn’t going!”
Yun Yiyi bit her lip. “Ninth Master, the Yun family and the Bai family are now in-laws after all…”
Yun Manxia’s grip on his arm tightened slightly.
Bai Hedu noticed. He hadn’t investigated her life in the Yun family in detail, but he had heard that the current Mrs. Yun was not the original wife.
Judging from Yun Manxia’s reaction to this birthday banquet, her relationship with her stepmother was likely not good.
So he no longer spoke politely—
“I remember Xiaxia’s mother is no longer alive.”
The implication was clear: Xia Lian was not Yun Manxia’s mother—what right did she have to invite him?
Yun Yiyi’s expression froze.
Bai Hedu felt his arm being hugged tighter. Looking down, he saw Yun Manxia staring at him with bright, sparkling eyes.
After a pause, he asked, “What is it?”
“Nothing!” Yun Manxia said.
But inside, she was delighted—
He called her Xiaxia!
And his stance aligned with hers. Warmth spread through her heart.
She wanted to speak with Bai Hedu alone, but Yun Yiyi’s lingering presence was an eyesore. She wanted to send her away.
“Second Sister, leave the dress and go back!”
But Yun Yiyi had finally found an excuse to come to Yujing Garden—she didn’t want to leave so quickly.
She smiled. “I personally chose the dress for you. It took me a long time—go ahead and see if you like it!”
With that, she had someone bring it out.
The moment the dress was revealed, the air suddenly fell silent.
Lin Shen, who had just walked over, couldn’t help but widen his eyes.
Yun Manxia’s lips pressed downward as she belatedly remembered something.
She looked at the dress—
Bright red and green in color, with an outrageous design. Worn on the body, it looked more like a quilt—or perhaps a bedsheet… though there wasn’t much difference.
It was indeed her “favorite” style—the one Xia Lian and Yun Yiyi had deliberately cultivated in her.
“Manxia, do you like it?” Yun Yiyi asked with a smile, like a considerate older sister.
A trace of coldness flashed in Yun Manxia’s eyes. “I like it. It must not have been easy to find something like this—Second Sister must have worked hard.”
Yun Yiyi didn’t catch anything unusual. “As long as you like it, it doesn’t matter how much time I spent!”
“Since you like it, you must wear it at the banquet. It’ll definitely surprise everyone!”
Hearing that tone used to fool a fool, Yun Manxia lifted her lips in a faint, ambiguous smile. “Alright.”
Seeing her still as easily manipulated as before, Yun Yiyi’s earlier frustration completely vanished.
Heh. So what if she had latched onto Ninth Master Bai? She was still a fool!
This year’s birthday banquet would have another spectacle to watch!
Yun Yiyi left full of anticipation.
Bai Hedu looked at the dress, his brows slightly furrowed. After a long silence, he asked carefully, “You like this kind of style?”
Yun Manxia: “…”
She glanced at the eyesore of a dress and quickly said, “No!”
Hearing this answer, Bai Hedu’s furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
Lin Shen couldn’t help but interject, “Then why did the Yun family send Madam something like this?”
Her sister had even insisted Yun Manxia liked it.
Yun Manxia pursed her lips. “…Because I used to wear this kind of style.”
Lin Shen: “…?”
Bai Hedu’s brows furrowed again. “Didn’t you say you don’t like it? Then why wear it?”
Yun Manxia looked at him, looking pitiful. “These clothes aren’t nice at all. People laugh at me when I wear them. I don’t want to wear them—but every time I go to a banquet, my stepmother and sister prepare this kind for me.”
The first time, she had been deceived by Yun Yiyi, and many people laughed at her. The second time, she didn’t want to wear it anymore.
But Xia Lian and Yun Yiyi always told her it looked good, that others were just jealous.
Her mother had died early, and Xia Lian entered the household soon after. She had practically been raised by Xia Lian and grew up with Yun Yiyi, trusting them completely and always listening to them.
Thinking about it now, she felt foolish and pitiful.
Even after she had married into Yujing Garden, that mother and daughter still didn’t forget to “kindly” send her a dress!
After hearing her words, Bai Hedu’s gaze darkened.
“Since you don’t like it, don’t wear it anymore,” he said lightly, glancing at the dress. “Dispose of it.”
Lin Shen acknowledged.
But Yun Manxia said, “Wait—!”
She blinked, her tone innocent. “They kindly brought me this dress. How can I just throw it away?”
Three days later.
Xia Lian’s birthday banquet arrived.