Chapter 71 Chapter 71
System:【Back then, the grandmother abandoned her husband and daughter to elope with another man. Many years later, she found out that her daughter had married into a wealthy family and came back to find her. The fake daughter was actually her child with another man, and then she took her granddaughter away and let her eldest daughter raise her younger daughter.】
Gu Xing Shi:【Didn't the real daughter's parents know? Didn't they suspect anything?】
System:【Hey, a normal person wouldn't think of this kind of thing.】
【Moreover, at that time, the grandmother was already in her forties and almost fifty. Who would have thought that she would have an affair and even have a child out of wedlock? After giving birth to the child, she didn't want to raise it, and her lover didn't want to raise it either, so she decided to use her eldest daughter, who had married into a wealthy family. It wasn't for the sake of her younger daughter, she just wanted to have another wealthy daughter who could support her in the future.】
Gu Xing Shi:【System, let's recap. This means the fake daughter and the real daughter's mother are half-sisters, and she's actually the real daughter's aunt?】
System:【Correct.】
Gu Xing Shi:【The real daughter had just been lost, and her mother brought another girl home. That's too coincidental, wouldn't they think more about it?】
System:【The grandmother said it was because she was afraid that her daughter would be too sad, so she persuaded her to raise another daughter, and falsely claimed that the fake daughter was the child of a rural relative. The real daughter's mother only thought that her mother was feeling sorry for her and was too moved to think anything else. As for the real daughter's father, he only treated his daughter as a tool for marriage, and the fake daughter was well-behaved and obedient and beautiful, so he didn't care.】
Gu Xing Shi sighed:【The real daughter is so pitiful...】
System:【Yes, and the fake daughter had known her identity for a long time. After the real daughter was found, she was afraid of being kicked out of the Ruan family and losing her wealth and status, so she secretly framed and suppressed the real daughter. On the surface, she pretended to be a weak and innocent flower, making the Ruan family dislike the real daughter. They didn't publicly announce the identities of the two girls, so outsiders always thought the real daughter was the adopted one!】
Gu Xing Shi frowned and couldn't help but look at Ruan Wen Rou.
Ruan Wen Rou suddenly felt a little cold: “Mr. Gu, is there something on my face?”
Gu Xing Shi blinked: “I just think you look very much like your mother. No wonder you're mother and daughter.”
Ruan Wen Rou knew her own background, she felt guilty and her face changed slightly.
On the other hand, Ruan Yi frowned, feeling suspicious.
Since their biological daughter was born, his wife, Xiang Li, had been busy taking care of her, and they had rarely had any conjugal life.
He was away from home for a long time, and when he came home, he just slept. He didn't care what Xiang Li was doing at all.
Later, after their daughter disappeared, Xiang Li cried at first, but not long after, she adopted Ruan Wen Rou.
If you calculate the age, Ruan Wen Rou is exactly one and a half years younger than Ruan Xi Yin. Could it be... that she's Xiang Li's illegitimate daughter?
Ruan Yi's face also changed.
Although rationally he thought it was impossible, once the seed of doubt was planted, it was difficult to eliminate.
He left with Ruan Wen Rou absentmindedly.
Xiang Li saw that both of them looked unwell, and she was a little puzzled: “What's wrong?”
Ruan Yi coldly glanced at her.
He didn't think much of it before, but the more he looked at it, the more he felt that Ruan Wen Rou's facial features and contours were very similar to Xiang Li's, especially her eyebrows and eyes, almost like they were carved from the same mold. They were even more similar than their biological daughter, Ruan Xi Yin.
Ruan Yi's suspicions grew stronger. Thinking that he might have been wearing a green hat for so many years and raised this illegitimate child, the anger in his heart couldn't be suppressed.
However, in public, he still retained a trace of reason, not wanting to make a scene, he forcibly held back, squeezing out a sentence from between his teeth: “Let's talk about it when we get back home…”
With that, he walked away sullenly.
Xiang Li was puzzled, but she could only pull Ruan Wen Rou and follow him away.
Gu Xing Shi looked at their backs and smiled meaningfully.
However, in Wen Yue's eyes, this was the first time he had seen Gu Xing Shi care about a girl so much.
His heart suddenly tightened, he couldn't help but grab Gu Xing Shi's wrist, and asked in a low voice: “She's pretty?”
Gu Xing Shi didn't think much of it, and casually said: “So-so.”
This answer did not appease Wen Yue. He slightly tightened his grip, making Gu Xing Shi look at him: “Then why did you keep looking at her?”
Gu Xing Shi only then realized something was wrong, turned his head, and found that Wen Yue was intently looking at him.
His light-colored eyes were like a calm sea, but underneath, there was a deadly undercurrent.
Wen Yue's palm was slightly hot, and the skin where he touched Gu Xing Shi's wrist seemed to be burning.
At that moment, Gu Xing Shi once again felt the strong aggression from him.
Like a fierce beast whose territory has been invaded.
However, Gu Xing Shi inexplicably felt a hint of sourness from it.
He realized something, slightly raised his head, with a smile on his lips, he said very calmly: “I think you're better looking.”
The sweet scent of oranges lingered in the air.
Gu Xing Shi's turning the tables caught Wen Yue off guard. The slight sourness was instantly overwhelmed by the rising sweetness, and the emotions in his heart were stirring.
The next second, Gu Xing Shi calmly withdrew his wrist, and coldly said: “Then I'll go find someone to discuss cooperation.”
Wen Yue: “…”
-
Ruan Yi returned home, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
He got out of the car and walked away sullenly, not intending to wait for Xiang Li and Ruan Wen Rou.
Ruan Yi angrily returned home, and without waiting for Xiang Li and Ruan Wen Rou, he silently walked forward.
Xiang Li was holding her skirt, and Ruan Wen Rou was supporting her. The two of them hurriedly caught up with him.
“Husband, wait for me! What happened?”
They entered the house one after another, but they happened to run into Ruan Xi Yin who had just returned.
Ruan Xi Yin was wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans, with a large backpack on her back. She was startled when she saw them return.
She thought they would be attending the banquet tonight and wouldn't be back so early, so she wasn't as alert as usual.
She sullenly lowered her head, waiting for their scolding.
Unexpectedly, Ruan Yi only glanced at her, then silently walked forward.
Ruan Xi Yin was stunned.
Since she came to the Ruan family, Ruan Yi had never given her a good look. Especially every time he saw her wearing clothes that were “not suitable for a wealthy family,” he would scold her severely, then ask her to learn from her sister, Ruan Wen Rou.
Following that, Ruan Wen Rou, supporting Xiang Li, caught up. The two of them treated her as air, ignoring her, and hurriedly followed Ruan Yi's footsteps.
Looking at the two of them hurrying along, out of breath, and sweat almost smearing their makeup.
Ruan Xi Yin was surprised.
In her impression, Xiang Li had always been the standard image of a wealthy lady, with exquisite makeup, walking slowly and unhurriedly. Ruan Wen Rou was even better, when had they ever been so flustered.
Ruan Xi Yin didn't know what happened, but she didn't care.
Perhaps when she first came back, she had expected family affection, but after two years of attrition, she no longer had any expectations.
She pressed her aching stomach and glanced into the kitchen.
It was clean, no one had thought about her not eating and leaving her something to eat.
She gave a wry smile, she had long since gotten used to this indifference, and resignedly went to the kitchen to make something to eat.
On the other hand, Xiang Li and the others finally caught up with Ruan Yi.
Xiang Li had never been so unpresentable before. She gasped for breath while anxiously asking Ruan Yi: “Husband, what's wrong with you today?”
Ruan Yi was still gloomy and silent.
Along the way, his mind had been replaying this matter.
He wanted to find out the truth, but if it got out, the Ruan family would lose face.
But if he didn't investigate, he would be filled with resentment.
Xiang Li asked several times, but Ruan Yi didn't speak.
She couldn't help but gesture to Ruan Wen Rou with her eyes, asking her to try.
Ruan Wen Rou vaguely guessed the reason for Ruan Yi's sulking, and her heart was already uneasy.
But she also knew that if she didn't say anything, it would be even more suspicious.
So she bravely and softly persuaded: “Dad, Mom is also worried about you…”
Ruan Yi was already annoyed, and when he heard this, he directly shouted: “Shut up!”
Ruan Wen Rou immediately burst into tears, hanging her head in grievance.
Seeing this, Xiang Li immediately protected her: “What's wrong with you today? Why are you yelling at your daughter for no reason!”
Ruan Yi was already half-convinced, but now that he saw Xiang Li protecting her like this, he became even more suspicious.
He gritted his teeth: “What's wrong with me, you know it yourself!!”
Xiang Li frowned: “I know, what do I know?”
Ruan Yi coldly snorted, just as he was about to go back to the room, he suddenly saw Ruan Xi Yin busy in the kitchen, so he said: “Xi Yin, come here.”
Ruan Xi Yin's movements froze.
Her stomach ached more and more.
But she also knew that if she didn't listen to Ruan Yi, the consequences would be even worse.
So she could only endure the stomach ache, walked to Ruan Yi, and according to the etiquette teacher's teaching, respectfully said: “What's the matter, Dad?”
Ruan Yi frowned at her and scolded: “Your timid appearance makes me angry. You're so unrefined, you don't have the slightest air of a wealthy family's daughter. Straighten your back!”
Ruan Xi Yin bit her lip, but could only endure it, forcing herself to stand up straight.
He looked at Ruan Xi Yin.
Before, with Ruan Wen Rou around, he had never looked at this daughter properly. Now looking at her, although Ruan Xi Yin was not as gentle and obedient as Ruan Wen Rou, her looks were not bad either. She also got into a prestigious university by herself. If she was properly trained and sent to a marriage alliance, it would be better than letting Ruan Wen Rou, the illegitimate child of unknown origin, benefit from it.
Ruan Xi Yin was sweating profusely from pain, she didn't care what he was looking at, she just wanted it to end quickly.
After a while, Ruan Yi slowly said: “The Lan family is holding a ball in a few days, Xi Yin will go with me. You've been back for so long, it's time to go out and see the world!”
Ruan Wen Rou suddenly raised her head, looking at Ruan Yi in disbelief.
Xiang Li was stunned: “Why Xi Yin? It's always been Wen Rou who goes with you.”
These balls were essentially blind dates. Compared to the quiet Ruan Xi Yin, Ruan Wen Rou was always the center of attention in such occasions.
They were still hoping for Ruan Wen Rou to shine and find a good match, so these occasions were always for Ruan Wen Rou. Why today…
Ruan Yi coldly said: “Wen Rou is just an adopted daughter after all, Xi Yin is our biological daughter. Don't hurt the feelings of our family for an outsider…”
Xiang Li seemed to hear a warning in his tone and immediately softened her voice: “I didn't mean that, but you also know that Xi Yin has always been bad at those rules and etiquette, and her dancing is also mediocre. Two years ago, when we took her to a ball, didn't she make a fool of herself? Wen Rou is different, she excels in everything, taking her out will only bring honor to our family, I'm also for our Ruan family…”
Ruan Yi paused, looking hesitant.
Ruan Xi Yin's cold sweat slid down her cheeks, she tightly pursed her lips.
She had heard these words hundreds of times, but every time she heard them, she still felt uncomfortable.
At the ball two years ago, she hadn't done anything wrong, she was played by Ruan Wen Rou's group of friends, losing face. Ruan Yi and Xiang Li not only didn't believe her, but also didn't allow her to talk about it, lest she “lose the face of the Ruan family”.
Later, Ruan Yi and them would not let her participate in such balls.
Ruan Xi Yin was happy to be free, just not knowing what whim Ruan Yi had today.
But she really didn't want to go, especially not with Ruan Wen Rou.
She gritted her teeth: “Wait a minute…”
However, Xiang Li had already persuaded Ruan Yi. Ruan Yi didn't care: “Then let's do it this way, give the two of them a good dressing up, especially Xi Yin, you must correct her unrefined habits…”
Xiang Li smiled softly: “I know, the two sisters will also take care of each other at the ball.”
Ruan Xi Yin wanted to argue, but Ruan Wen Rou came over and grabbed her arm tightly, her voice smooth: “Don't worry, I'll take good care of my sister.”