Her eyes sparkled with delight, looking utterly pleased and congratulatory.
It was as if she truly had no idea what kind of impact her words had just delivered to the three people present.
It was like dropping a bomb out of nowhere, leaving the three of them with expressions that could only be described as spectacularly vivid.
Especially Gu Yuqing, the person at the center of it all. Her face alternated between shades of green and black, and even the muscles in her cheeks twitched.
She had expected Tangxi Li not to say anything pleasant, but she never imagined she would know so much!
How did she find out?
Meanwhile, An Qian, who grew more shocked and furious with every word, exploded. She flew into a rage, shouting, “An Wu Yang, what nonsense are you spouting? Are you insane? Did you just escape from a mental hospital?”
The only outsider present, the young maid, widened her eyes in disbelief. Were the eldest young master and second young lady actually Mr. An’s biological children?
Weren’t they said to be stepchildren?
It was even rumored that when the two siblings changed their surnames, it became a heartwarming story in the capital.
People praised Mr. An for his broad-mindedness and noble character, treating his stepchildren as his own, calling him an exceptional man.
But after hearing what the eldest young lady said… Mr. An did bear a striking resemblance to the eldest young master and second young lady…
Oh my god, she had heard something she shouldn’t have. Would she be silenced?
Terrified, the young maid didn’t dare stay a second longer. She quickly found an excuse and fled the scene.
The last rays of the setting sun fell on the floor, cutting across the carpet and dividing Tangxi Li from An Qian and her mother.
It was like a chessboard, with clear lines drawn, distinct and unblurred.
After her outburst, An Qian noticed Tangxi Li showed no reaction—not even a glance in her direction. Enraged, she continued to shout, “An Wu Yang, say something! How dare you slander my mother like this?”
“Slander…” Tangxi Li let out a mocking laugh and once again strolled behind Gu Yuqing.
Her slender, pale hands, as delicate as spring willow branches, gently rested on Gu Yuqing’s shoulders. Looking past her at An Qian, Tangxi Li’s voice was calm yet icy.
“If I remember correctly, Ms. Gu’s son is two years older than me, and you, An Qian, are three months older than me. That means…”
“Mr. An was already involved with Ms. Gu and had conceived children before marrying my mother.”
“Hahaha…” Tangxi Li suddenly laughed again, tilting her head with a touch of madness. “How does that saying go again? A bitch and a dog, a match made in heaven. Ms. Gu…”
She sighed, her rosy lips slowly approaching Gu Yuqing’s ear, stopping just three centimeters away, and whispered, “You and Old Dog An… must stay together forever!”
Her melodious voice carried a hint of malicious delight, like a demon’s curse, striking straight at the soul.
Gu Yuqing broke out in goosebumps, her face darkening. She shook off Tangxi Li’s hands, took a step to the side, and glared at her intently.
After a moment, she too laughed.
Shedding her disguise, she revealed her true nature—vicious, cunning, and intelligent.
It was as if she had encountered a worthy opponent, a flicker of appreciation and anticipation gleaming in her eyes.
“You’re much smarter than that bitch,” she said coldly.
But before her words had fully left her lips, she was caught off guard by a slap.
A sharp, crisp sound echoed through the hallway.
A burning pain spread across her face, reaching every nerve ending.
Gu Yuqing’s head snapped to the side from the force of the blow. A few strands of her neatly styled hair came loose, covering her flushed cheeks.
She looked utterly disheveled.”You dare hit me?” Even though she was prepared for a confrontation, Gu Yuqing was still somewhat taken aback, never expecting her to disregard all decorum and strike so suddenly.
An Qian, standing nearby, was also stunned, unable to believe that this illegitimate child had dared to hit her mother right in front of her on her very first day back home.
Shocked and furious, she screamed sharply, “An Wu Yang! How dare you?”
Had she grown a death wish?
“How could you think I wouldn’t dare?” Tangxi Li retorted. “Halfway into the grave and still incapable of speaking like a human—doesn’t that deserve a beating?”
She turned to Gu Yuqing and asked, “How about I call you a bitch from now on? If you can accept that, then I’ll apologize for my earlier actions. If you can’t, then you’ve got it coming!”
“Remember this: if you dare insult my mother again, I’ll beat you every time I see you, until you change your ways—or until you’re dead!”
The girl was still smiling, calm and composed.
Yet her tone was icy to the extreme, and in her final words, she carried an undeniable killing intent that left no doubt about her determination to follow through.
Gu Yuqing’s heart skipped a beat, and the moment she met Tangxi Li’s gaze, an inexplicable fear stirred within her.
“Hah…” She sneered, laughing at herself for having navigated life for half a century only to be intimidated by a mere brat. “How amusing…”
When she looked up again, she had concealed her true self, reverting to the gentle and dignified noble lady, exuding an aura of elegance and grace.
Tangxi Li, noticing this transformation, smiled even more deeply, as if the real battle had officially begun at that very moment.
“It seems Ms. Gu has come to her senses. Well then, let’s have a fair fight.”
Gu Yuqing nodded slightly. “Miss An, likewise.”
Tangxi Li lazily corrected her, “My surname is Tangxi, and my given name is Li. Let’s not get it wrong from now on, alright?”
It was just a name, so Gu Yuqing obliged. “Miss Tangxi.”
The clashes between clever people never needed to be spelled out to be understood.
Only An Qian failed to grasp it, bewildered as to why her mother was suddenly being polite to an illegitimate child.
Clearly, this wretched girl had been disrespectful and even threatened her!
Her mother could tolerate it, but An Qian would not—she refused to indulge such behavior!
“An… Tangxi Li, how dare you threaten my mother? I’ll make you pay for this!”
After hurling her threat, An Qian charged at Tangxi Li with fierce determination.
If she didn’t beat this little bitch until she was crawling on the ground today, she wouldn’t bear the surname An anymore!
“Qianqian—” Gu Yuqing cried out urgently, reaching out to stop her, but her hand closed on empty air.
An Qian had already rushed up to Tangxi Li, raising her hand to deliver two sharp slaps.
But her wishful thinking came to nothing—before she could succeed, Tangxi Li seized her wrist.
With a swift shoulder throw, Tangxi Li slammed her heavily to the ground.
Before An Qian could get up, a black high heel studded with crystals pressed unceremoniously against her ribs, pinning her firmly underfoot.
“Ahhh…” An Qian howled in pain.
Though Gu Yuqing was skilled at maintaining composure, she couldn’t simply stand by and watch her daughter being beaten.
She hurried over to rescue her daughter.
Unexpectedly, Tangxi Li backhanded her, sending her stumbling back a meter.
“Ms. Gu, this is between her and me. Best not to interfere…”