Bai Li was deep in thought when a sudden wave of drowsiness washed over her, causing her eyelids to droop uncontrollably.
The body of a human child was rather fragile—having only been awake for a few hours, she already needed to sleep again.
Seeing her daughter sitting on the sofa with her eyes closed, swaying left and right, Yu Lixia knew the little one was tired. She shook her head helplessly, picked up her daughter, and headed toward their room.
Nestled in Yu Lixia’s arms, Bai Li was just about to drift off to sleep when, as they passed by a room, she overheard a conversation inside. The voices instantly roused the nearly unconscious Little Pi Xiu back to full alertness.
It seemed that thinking about something truly made it happen. She had just been worrying about who to ask for the truth of what happened back then, and now, her uncle and aunt had given her such a big surprise.
However, Bai Li was concerned that if she opened her eyes wide, Yu Lixia might ask her questions and interrupt her chance to listen to the story of the past. So, she deliberately made her breathing long and steady—anyone who saw her would think the Little Pi Xiu was already fast asleep.
Thanks to the two points of Karmic Merit she had gained today, the Little Pi Xiu could hear every word her uncle and aunt were saying in their room, even while lying in her own room.
In the other room, Qin Xiuqiao helped Yu Yingyi back to bed, sighing softly as she complained, “I never expected that after the ordeal Lixia and Li Li went through today, both of them would change so much.”
“I told you Qingqiu and Linlang went too far today, constantly bullying Li Li.”
“That child Li Li is truly heartbreaking—so well-behaved and sensible. I think she never intended to argue with Linlang in the first place. If Linlang hadn’t said such hurtful things, Li Li wouldn’t have lashed out.”
Yu Yingyi spoke up to defend Yu Qingqiu, “Linlang is a bit spoiled, but she’s only three and a half—it’s normal for her not to understand things. But why must you drag Qingqiu into this?”
Qin Xiuqiao let out a “hmph” through her nose. “I know Qingqiu is the sister you’ve watched grow up, and you have a deep bond with her. So, in your heart, Yu Qingqiu is the best sister in the world.”
“That’s why, in your eyes, Qingqiu can do no wrong. But, Commander Yu, have you ever stopped to consider that Qingqiu isn’t completely innocent? For example, today, didn’t Li Li say that Qingqiu stopped her from rescuing Lixia?”
“Yet all of you acted as if you didn’t hear it, automatically ignoring it!”
Hearing his wife’s words, Yu Yingyi unconsciously furrowed his brows. “Didn’t Qingqiu just explain that she didn’t take Li Li’s words seriously because Li Li is too young?”
Seeing her husband defend Yu Qingqiu without a second thought, Qin Xiuqiao couldn’t help but glare at him. “Only you would believe that. Anyway, I think Qingqiu’s explanation doesn’t hold up. Li Li may be young, but that doesn’t mean her words are completely worthless.”
“You know, when I was helping Li Li bathe today, she suddenly asked me why Lixia always gives in to Qingqiu.”
“Don’t you ever reflect on how your tolerance toward Qingqiu and your unfairness toward Lixia have made even a child feel uncomfortable?”
Hearing his wife say this, Yu Yingyi was somewhat taken aback. “Xiuqiao, did Li Li really ask you that?”
Qin Xiuqiao pursed her lips. “It’s just you and me here—why would I lie to you?”
Then, she shifted the topic and began analyzing the past events that had made the Yu family feel indebted to Yu Qingqiu.
“Back then, Lixia had only been recognized by her parents for less than two months. Seeing that Lixia was quiet and reserved, not good with words, Father arranged a marriage for her with Wei Wenfeng. Meanwhile, Qingqiu and Dingting had long been engaged. Although Dingting’s position was much higher than Wenfeng’s at the time, everyone thought both couples were well-matched, a perfect pairing of talent and beauty.”
“So later, when Lixia and Dingting were discovered sleeping together, they simply went along with the mistake and got married, while Wenfeng ended up with Qingqiu. You all believed that Lixia had wronged Qingqiu, deeply wronged her.”
“But in my view, Qingqiu and Wenfeng get along quite well. Several years have passed, and everyone should let go of the past.”
Yu Yingyi sighed deeply, his voice tinged with melancholy. “Although it seems now that Wenfeng and Qingqiu are also a good match, we still owe Qingqiu a debt.”
Qin Xiuqiao was angered by her husband’s words and let out a bitter laugh. “I know you all feel guilty toward Qingqiu and want to make it up to her. Lixia feels the same way. But Li Li hasn’t wronged Qingqiu in any way. You shouldn’t expect Li Li to constantly yield to Linlang.”
“Take today, for example. Even if Lixia and Li Li are safe and sound now, it’s only because they were a bit luckier. If luck had been worse, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”
“In my opinion, children should be disciplined when necessary, not let off without consequences.”
Yu Yingyi disagreed. “Encountering human traffickers was an accident. You can’t blame Linlang for that. Besides, Linlang is still young. We can teach her slowly in the future.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Xiuqiao felt a surge of helplessness and anger, a frustration that seemed impossible to resolve. She said angrily, “Forget it. I knew you’d defend Qingqiu and Linlang.”
With that, she reached out and turned off the light, pulled the blanket over herself, closed her eyes, and ignored Yu Yingyi.
In the adjacent room, Bai Li pretended to be asleep, her breathing steady, but her mind was racing.
After listening to her uncle and aunt’s conversation, Bai Li pieced together an incomplete story based on the novels she had read.
Her mother was the daughter of her maternal grandparents, while her aunt was the daughter of her mother’s adoptive parents. For some unknown reason, the two had been swapped, and the truth only came to light four years ago, when her mother returned to the Yu family.
Her aunt was engaged to her father. After her mother returned to the Yu family, she became engaged to her aunt’s husband-to-be. But for some reason, her father and mother ended up sleeping together, and so they got married, while her aunt married her aunt’s husband-to-be.
And the little cub was the result of that one time between her father and mother.
Thinking of this, Bai Li couldn’t help but click her tongue in amazement—what a melodramatic plot.
In Yu Lixia’s eyes, her daughter was sleeping soundly when she suddenly smacked her lips, looking utterly adorable. Unable to resist, she reached out and gently stroked her daughter’s soft, smooth cheek.
Feeling the warmth transmitted through her fingertips, Bai Li secretly resolved that Little Pi Xiu must make her father and mother more loving than her aunt and Wei Wenfeng.
With this thought, Bai Li unknowingly drifted into a deep sleep.
The next day, while Bai Li was still dreaming, she felt someone gently stroking her face and softly calling, “Li Li, it’s morning. Time to wake up.”
Who dared to disturb Little Pi Xiu’s sleep?
Thinking this, Bai Li suddenly opened her eyes, glaring sharply at the source of the voice.
And so, Yu Lixia’s gentle smile came into view.
Bai Li instantly remembered—she wasn’t in the Beast Realm anymore but was inhabiting the body of a young cub.
Yu Lixia had originally intended to wake her daughter, but the moment her daughter opened her eyes, the sharp gaze startled her. She couldn’t help but reach out to stroke Bai Li’s hair. “Li Li, what’s wrong? Were you frightened by what happened yesterday?”
The look in her daughter’s eyes just now was almost identical to the way her husband would look at an enemy. It must have been because yesterday’s ordeal was too traumatic, causing her daughter to forget she was already safe at home.
“Mom, Li Li is fine. I just dreamed about a bad person!” Seeing the shock in Yu Lixia’s eyes, Bai Li realized she had overreacted and frightened her mother. She quickly made up an excuse to brush it off.
It seemed that Little Pi Xiu would have to be more careful about her words and actions from now on.