When Yun Manxia was about to leave, she deliberately ran to the study door and said, “Husband, I’m leaving!”
Bai Hedu nodded. “Go ahead.”
But Yun Manxia didn’t move.
Bai Hedu looked up from his desk. “What is it?”
“Why don’t you call me Xiaxia anymore?” She leaned against the doorframe, looking at him expectantly. Though shy, her words were direct. “I like it when you call me that.”
Bai Hedu’s breathing lightened for a moment. Looking at the girl gazing at him eagerly, his eyes deep and unreadable, after a pause—
“Xiaxia.”
There seemed to be a hint of helpless compromise in his voice.
Yun Manxia’s face instantly bloomed with a radiant smile. “Mm, I’m going now!”
Holding up her skirt, she ran off happily.
Watching her barely concealed joy as she left, Bai Hedu’s gaze deepened. Only after her figure disappeared did he withdraw his eyes.
But for a long time, he couldn’t focus back on the documents in front of him.
“Go investigate how she has lived in the Yun family all these years.”
He wanted to know how she had been treated there.
Lin Shen accepted the order.
…
Yang City Hotel.
The venue for Xia Lian’s birthday banquet.
Even before the banquet began, many guests had already arrived.
Yun Yiyi was dressed elaborately, surrounded by several young socialites her age.
“Yun Manxia isn’t here yet?”
“Is she really going to dress like that?”
“This one is even worse than last time. Just thinking about it makes my eyes hurt!”
“My god, your Yun family’s reputation is going to be ruined by her!”
When they talked about Yun Manxia, their tone was full of disdain and contempt.
The reason for this conversation was that earlier, Yun Yiyi had already posted a photo in their group chat, claiming it was the dress Yun Manxia would wear today.
—She was certain Yun Manxia would dress as she arranged, just like every time before, so she had spread the news without hesitation.
Listening to everyone’s ridicule of Yun Manxia, she felt secretly pleased.
“This is your mother’s banquet. You’re really letting her mess around like this?”
Yun Yiyi smiled bitterly. “I tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t listen. She insisted on dressing like that…”
“If you ask me, she shouldn’t even be allowed to come! If she shows up, it’ll ruin the whole banquet! It’s your mother’s birthday!”
Seeing the disgust on everyone’s faces, Yun Yiyi’s lips curved ever so slightly.
But she sighed helplessly. “No matter what, Manxia is still my sister. It’s my mother’s birthday—how could she not come? If she makes a fool of herself later, I hope everyone can be understanding.”
Someone beside her spoke in frustration, “You’re just too kind! She’s not even your biological sister—why treat her so well? She doesn’t belong in our circle. Just let her fend for herself!”
As they spoke, they completely forgot—Yun Manxia was not Yun Yiyi’s biological sister, but she was the legitimate daughter of the Yun family. Yun Yiyi was only a stepdaughter.
If anything, Yun Yiyi was the one who didn’t belong in this circle.
But Yun Yiyi herself seemed to have forgotten as well. She simply maintained a helpless expression and did not refute them.
At that moment, someone suddenly ran over. “Yun Manxia is here!”
Everyone’s eyes lit up, expressions full of anticipation for a good show.
“She’s here, she’s here! Ah, my eyes already hurt!”
“I should’ve brought eye drops today!”
“I wonder what kind of makeup she’s wearing today?”
“It must be terrible. Just think of before—gothic, punk, oh my god, why does she torture our eyes like this!”
“She doesn’t belong in a place like this. She should go to a circus—they’d definitely welcome her there…”
They chatted excitedly, not noticing the strange expression of the person who brought the news.
“Not really…” the person hesitated. “Yun Manxia looks… a bit different today.”
Someone laughed mockingly. “Different how? Even more eye-burning than before?”
The others burst into laughter as well and looked toward the entrance.
Then suddenly, all laughter stopped.
Smiles froze on their faces as they stared in disbelief.
The entire banquet hall fell silent for a moment. Countless eyes turned toward the entrance.
At the center of their gaze was a young girl walking in leisurely.
Her eyes were clear and beautiful like glass, her face delicate like a blooming flower. She wore a lake-blue evening gown, its hem adorned with sparkling crystals that shimmered like a flowing galaxy as she moved.
Yun Manxia’s dress had been specially made for her by Bai Hedu, and her makeup and hairstyle were done by a professional styling team.
—Of course she wouldn’t foolishly wear the dress Yun Yiyi prepared. With her husband’s status, was there any shortage of gowns?
“Am I seeing things?” someone murmured in shock. “Why does she look so much like Yun Manxia…?”
“Could Yun Manxia be this beautiful? I only remember her wearing those awful outfits and makeup, like a clown…”
Yun Yiyi’s smile stiffened, her nails digging hard into her palm, nearly breaking.
How could Yun Manxia dress like this?!
Seeing the looks of amazement all around the hall, she almost ground her teeth to dust.
Near Xia Lian, someone said in surprise, “Your stepdaughter is actually this beautiful when dressed properly? Then why did she look like that before?”
Xia Lian’s heart sank.
Again—Yun Manxia had slipped out of her control once more.
Was it a coincidence, or had someone at Yujing Garden taught her?
On the surface, she smiled helplessly. “Who knows what she’s thinking? She liked dressing like that before, so I couldn’t interfere too much.”
Back near Yun Yiyi—
“What’s going on? Didn’t you say she’d wear that dress?”
Several girls looked at Yun Yiyi.
Yun Yiyi forced a smile. “I’m not sure either. I’ll go ask her…”
She quickly walked to Yun Manxia and asked in a low, urgent voice, “Manxia, why didn’t you wear the dress I prepared for you?”
Feeling the gazes from all directions, Yun Manxia sneered inwardly. Wear her dress? Continue being a clown for everyone’s amusement?
Lifting her eyes casually, she twirled her skirt and asked, “Don’t I look good like this?”
Noticing that everyone—men and women alike—seemed unable to take their eyes off Yun Manxia, Yun Yiyi forced a smile and said against her conscience, “You do look good, but it’s a bit ordinary… not as unique as before. The previous style suited you better.”
A blatant lie.
Yun Manxia glanced at her, then suddenly smiled. “Second Sister, do you like that dress very much?”
Yun Yiyi, focused on coaxing her, replied instinctively, “Of course…”
“That’s easy then. I brought it. Wouldn’t it be better if you wore it yourself?”
As she spoke, Yun Manxia made a gesture behind her.
The next moment, someone carried in a dress.
Hanging on a rack, it was displayed in full—revealing just how eye-offending it truly was.
Someone even made a disgusted sound, as if needing to cleanse their eyes.
Yun Yiyi’s heart skipped a beat. She was about to speak when Yun Manxia’s clear voice rang out—
“Second Sister, didn’t you say you like this dress? I brought it for you—you should wear it yourself!”
“In the future, you and Aunt Lian don’t need to prepare clothes like this for me anymore. Even if you think they look good, I don’t!”
“Before, you insisted I wear them, so I had no choice but to wear them for you. But now I don’t want to anymore—because my husband also said they don’t look good!”
She didn’t lower her voice at all, her displeasure completely undisguised.
Everyone around heard it and froze.
Then they all cast subtle looks toward Yun Yiyi and Xia Lian.
In the past, Yun Manxia had been nothing but a joke.
Whenever she was mentioned, people immediately thought of her clown-like appearance. Those her age in the circle disdained associating with her.
But now, from what she was saying—those images had been deliberately created by Xia Lian and her daughter?!