Xiang Wanwan cried with genuine emotion, even letting out a few soft sobs now and then.
She looked exactly like a pitiful little thing bullied by her scumbag father’s lover and illegitimate daughter.
Madam Lu immediately reached out and pulled her into her arms, gently patting her back.
There had long been rumors in Nanshi that the head of the Xiang family, Xiang Xinrong, was having an affair with his household nanny.
Who would have thought it was actually true!
And that the illegitimate daughter was already this grown!
One could only imagine what kind of life Wanwan had lived all these years in the Xiang household.
“Xiang Xinrong, shouldn’t you give us an explanation?”
Madam Lu’s face hardened, her voice carrying a chill.
“Our Lu family’s daughter-in-law following the army—since when does that require anyone else’s approval? Is she even worthy?”
Mr. Lu’s expression darkened as his words fell with force, echoing through the villa’s living room.
The shock made everyone shiver involuntarily.
Xiang Xinrong never expected the secret he had hidden for so many years to be exposed like this— and in such an occasion, right in front of the Lu family.
He stared at Xiang Wanwan, confusion churning in his heart.
How did this unfilial girl know about it?
After a moment, Xiang Xinrong forced a fawning smile toward the Lu family.
“親家, this is a misunderstanding, it’s not—”
At that moment, An Shuxue suddenly rushed forward and knelt in front of Xiang Xinrong.
“Dad, it’s my fault for speaking out of turn! But I really can’t bear to see my sister miss out on the one she loves for the rest of her life!”
Seeing this, Li Jinglan also burst into tears and threw herself into Xiang Xinrong’s arms.
“Xinrong, all these years, I haven’t been afraid no matter how much hardship I endured or how many scornful looks I received. But the children’s happiness—this concerns their entire lives. It can’t be wrong!”
This was the mother and daughter’s chance!
She had worked as a nanny in the Xiang household for over a decade, suffering countless hardships. She couldn’t just keep living like this, nameless and unseen.
They had to turn things around!
Since this wretched girl had already exposed the truth herself— why not just follow her words and admit it outright?
After today, she would no longer be the Xiang family’s nanny, but the Xiang family’s madam!
Xiang Wanwan lifted her head from Madam Lu’s embrace. When no one was looking, the corner of her lips curved slightly.
She knew it—such a golden opportunity was something these two would never let slip!
Sure enough, they exposed themselves without her having to do anything.
Xiang Xinrong looked at the woman in his arms. She had followed him for so many years; he really had wronged her.
His heart hardened. Fine! Since it had come to this, what harm was there in admitting everything?
Huo Qian had been dead for many years. Even if he married a new wife, it was only natural.
Surely the Huo family wouldn’t dare say anything!
Madam Lu was momentarily confused by all this talk of “true love” and “happiness.”
What were they even talking about?
Wasn’t Wanwan’s true love supposed to be Jingnian?
Her face darkened as she stared at Xiang Xinrong.
“What does all this mean, Xiang Xinrong?”
The scumbag father first let out a long sigh, then helped An Shuxue up from the ground.
“Sigh… I’m not afraid of being laughed at by my in-laws. Shuxue really is my and Jinglan’s biological daughter.”
“What she means is that Wanwan can’t go follow the army. She… she and that Ning family boy… they…”
Xiang Xinrong didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.
Mr. and Madam Lu’s faces instantly turned iron-blue.
Xiang Xinrong continued, speaking earnestly,
“I know why the Lu family wants Wanwan to follow the army this time—it’s simply to carry on the family line.”
“But she and Ning Feng truly love each other, so could you perhaps fulfill their wishes?”
“As for following the army, Shuxue is also my daughter. She can go in Wanwan’s place…”
The more he spoke, the quieter his voice became, his confidence draining away.
Even he felt how utterly ridiculous this sounded!
But since things had reached this point, he could only grit his teeth and continue.
Xiang Wanwan couldn’t help letting out a soft laugh.
Everyone turned to look at her.
“Dad, your favoritism really knows no bounds.”
“For the sake of letting An Shuxue—no, now she’s Xiang Shuxue—go follow the army and become the commander’s wife, you’ve really gone all out.”
“You’d even fabricate filthy rumors about your own biological daughter. Am I blind? Would I abandon Lu Jingnian, such a handsome and outstanding man, just to be with a nobody like Ning Feng?”
“And besides—what kind of family do you think the Lu family is? Do they take just any trash that comes along?”
Hearing Xiang Wanwan’s barrage, Madam Lu almost wanted to applaud.
Worthy of being her Lu family’s daughter-in-law!
She’d been saying it all along—her son was such an outstanding man. How could Wanwan possibly be interested in that Ning family’s useless waste?
“Xiang Xinrong, Wanwan is right. Our Lu family recognizes only her as our daughter-in-law. As for the one in front of us…”
Madam Lu glanced coolly at An Shuxue.
“Whether you acknowledge her as part of the Xiang family is your business. Our Lu family has no interest in her.”
“My wife is absolutely right,” Mr. Lu said directly, firmly backing her up.
Had this Xiang Xinrong gone senile?
He even dared try to fool them!
At this moment, Xiang Shuxue wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground.
What did “just any trash” mean?
How was she inferior to that bitch Xiang Wanwan?
The Lu family actually looked down on her this much!
Xiang Xinrong’s expression was equally unpleasant.
After all, Shuxue was also his daughter. Being spoken of like this by the Lu family made his old face burn.
But since Xiang Wanwan herself was willing to follow the army, and the Lu family had no intention of changing the bride, there was nothing more he could say.
“Since Wanwan is willing to follow the army, then let it be settled this way.”
In the end, Xiang Xinrong compromised.
Mr. and Madam Lu nodded.
Madam Lu turned back and took Xiang Wanwan’s hand again, her expression full of affection.
“Wanwan, then spend the next few days packing. In three days, I’ll have someone send you to the island.”
“The conditions there aren’t great. We’ll prepare some money and daily necessities for you. Go without worry.”
“And I’ll write to that Jingnian and tell him to take good care of you. If he dares bully you, Mom will personally take a boat over to back you up.”
Warmth spread through Xiang Wanwan’s heart.
She was liking this mother-in-law more and more.
Dominant and fiercely protective—having a mom like this, Lu Jingnian probably wouldn’t be too bad either!
……
After the Lu family left, Xiang Xinrong’s expression instantly changed.
He glared at Xiang Wanwan and scolded angrily,
“You really made me lose all my face today!”
“What? Dad, is it that you don’t want others to know you have an illegitimate daughter?”
“Or that you’re fooling around with the household nanny?”
“Or that, for the sake of your illegitimate daughter, you even schemed against your own biological daughter’s marriage?”
“Every single one of these things—you did them yourself. And now you’re afraid of people finding out?”
Xiang Xinrong was so furious his chest heaved violently.
He couldn’t utter a single word!
Seeing this, Li Jinglan hurriedly rubbed his chest to calm him, then looked at Xiang Wanwan.
“Wanwan, how can you speak to your father like this! He did everything for your own good. It’s clearly because you and the Ning family—”
“What about me and the Ning family? Do you have any evidence?” Xiang Wanwan cut her off coldly.
“If you don’t, you’d better shut your mouth. Otherwise, I’ll sue you for defamation!”
In the original host’s memories, she had merely spoken a few extra words with Ning Feng.
Though she liked him, she had never crossed any boundaries!
That was exactly why Xiang Wanwan wasn’t afraid of Xiang Shuxue bringing this up in front of the Lu family.
She stood upright and clear of conscience—what was there to fear?
On the contrary, it was them, with nothing but shady, unspeakable dealings!
“Y-you… get back to your room! Don’t come out!”
Xiang Xinrong was breathing erratically, looking as though he might faint at any moment.
Xiang Wanwan quickly spoke up,
“Dad! Don’t faint now! I’m about to follow the army, and the Lu family has already prepared things for me. As my biological father, you should at least give me something too, right?”
“How much do you want?”
“Fifty thousand!”
Xiang Xinrong’s eyes widened in disbelief.