Bai Qingzhi wrinkled her nose in protest, gave a soft snort, and turned to go upstairs.
Bai Qingyu sat back on the sofa, looking sentimental, and then suddenly hugged her older brother's arm.
"Big brother! Little sister is about to be scammed!" she cried, wailing like a banshee.
Bai Qinghuai, unable to bear it any longer, slapped him across the face, then asked mockingly:
"What, so you're going to give up your white moonlight and choose Qingzhi?"
Bai Qingyu remained silent.
"My little sister won't blame me. After all, she certainly wouldn't want her third brother to be all alone." With that, she ran off like the wind.
Back in her room, Bai Qingzhi stared blankly at the dazzling sapphire.
She picked it up and held it high in the sunlight; the light reflected off the ground almost dazzled her eyes.
"Nuan Nuan, I received a gift today." Bai Qingzhi picked up her phone and sent a message to her best friend.
Lin Nuannuan was working part-time at a coffee shop when her phone vibrated. She furtively pulled it out and typed rapidly:
"What gift? Who gave it to you?"
Bai Qingzhi told her about it, and Lin Nuannuan almost jumped for joy when she learned the value of the sapphire.
After handing over her work to others, Lin Nuannuan ran to the bathroom and made a phone call.
"Sister, he's definitely interested in you!" Lin Nuannuan said with absolute certainty.
Hearing the deafening roar from the other side, Bai Qingzhi rolled her eyes helplessly.
No longer listening to Lin Nuannuan's heart-wrenching excitement on the other end of the line, Bai Qingzhi decisively hung up the phone. After thinking it over, she decided to find a return gift of similar value later.
Although the gemstone is expensive, her savings over the years should be enough.
Three days later, it will be Madam Bai's seventy-seventh birthday. The Bai family plans to hold a grand celebration, and the venue will be their own manor.
Bai Qinghuai found a jewelry designer to quickly create a blue and white necklace, which he retrieved on the old lady's birthday.
The one Xiao Yuan gave him was set in the very center, surrounded by sparkling diamonds, while the chain featured a smaller sapphire, also surrounded by diamonds.
The dress Bai Qingzhi prepared for that day was also blue, with a touch of retro style.
The strapless design features layers upon layers of fabric that shimmer with blue light as you walk.
Luxury cars drove into the manor one after another, and Bai's father, as the eldest son of the Bai family, was already waiting inside to greet the guests.
The old lady sat in the backyard lounge chatting with the younger generation.
When Bai Qingzhi arrived, almost the entire Bai family was already there, mainly because her outfit today was rather elaborate.
The moment she pushed open the door, everyone's eyes turned to her. Bai Qingzhi smiled sweetly and then sat down next to her mother.
Bai Qinghuan had been abroad for some time and hadn't seen her sister for almost a month, so she immediately took Bai Qingzhi's hand.
"Qingzhi is even prettier now!" Bai Qinghuan couldn't help but pinch Bai Qingzhi's bouncy cheeks.
Bai Qingzhi's eyes narrowed with laughter as she nuzzled her sister's arm.
Looking at the two sisters, Bai's mother's eyes also showed a smile.
"Where has my little sister been? She's so busy that she hasn't even prepared a gift for Grandma?" Bai Qingzhi's cousin, Bai Lian, suddenly spoke up.
His tone was full of accusation.
Bai Qingzhi turned her head and met the other person's jealous eyes, then smiled and answered as if she hadn't noticed anything amiss:
"Yes, I've been quite busy lately, but Grandma certainly won't blame me." After saying that, she stood up and squatted down at Madam Bai's feet. Madam Bai smiled and patted her head.
"Qingzhi is still a child. Her presence is the best gift."
When it was discovered that Bai Qingzhi was not a child of the Bai family, it was the old lady of the Bai family who was the first to stand up and acknowledge Bai Qingzhi's identity. She really liked this granddaughter, who was well-behaved, sensible and clever.
Therefore, the grandmother and granddaughter had a very good relationship. Bai Qingzhi often came back to visit the old lady and would tell her about any troubles she had.
Bai Lian's expression was rather unpleasant, especially since her grandmother was clearly biased towards this outsider, which made her even more displeased.
"Grandma is so good to Qingzhi. We always have to bring something when we come." Bai Lian and Bai Qingzhi are the same age, and she deliberately made a coquettish expression.
The old lady had seen all kinds of people in her long life, and besides, she never liked the second son's daughter; she was too scheming.
But before she could speak, Bai Qingzhi said:
"My sister is just concerned about me. Qingzhi knows that Grandma likes me. If she came without bringing a gift, wouldn't that be her granddaughter being inconsiderate?" After saying that, she took out a gift box from her bag.
The gift box was very simple, a world apart from other gifts that were as lavish as they could possibly be.
Some of the people around her looked disdainful, while Bai Lian's eyes were full of mockery.
"Mom, Qingzhi knows you haven't been feeling well lately, so she specially went to Lingyin Temple to get these Buddhist beads," Bai's mother said casually.
“That’s right, Grandma. When my sister found out you were sick, she skipped school and went up the mountain overnight. She bowed every three steps and kowtowed every five steps until she finally moved the abbot of Lingyin Temple. He then led all the monks in the temple to pray for blessings and consecrate the temple.” Bai Qinghuan said with heartache.
The room fell silent in an instant.
Lingyin Temple is the most sacred temple in China, and countless high-ranking officials and nobles have been refused when they tried to obtain a token there.
The host said that only those who are truly sincere deserve to be there.
Lingyin Temple is very tall, with more than 9,000 steps.
The old lady was also surprised. She thought of something and pulled Bai Qingzhi up. Then she lifted her skirt and saw the bruises on her knees.
"It doesn't hurt anymore," Bai Qingzhi said with a gentle smile.
"Good child, good child," the old lady murmured as she hugged Bai Qingzhi.
She's already in this position, and there are countless people in her family, both main and collateral branches, almost everyone wants something from her.
But this child, who has no blood relation to us, doesn't want anything...
Bai Lian looked somewhat embarrassed and glanced furtively at her mother.
"Qingzhi is a good child," Bailian's mother said as if nothing had happened.
Bai's mother glared at her. She had always known that this sister-in-law had ulterior motives.
Bai's father was born to the old lady, but due to injuries sustained during childbirth, he has been unable to have children since.
The Bai family is powerful and influential, so it's impossible for them to have only one son. That's why Mr. Bai spent money to have several surrogates abroad.
Although they were raised by their side from a young age, they were ultimately not of one mind with the family. Apart from their father, the other four children in the Bai family all had their own ulterior motives.
The two daughters are already married and can't cause any trouble anymore, but the second and third sons have become increasingly wild in recent years.
But neither of them was very capable, and the wives they found were just good-for-nothings, not worth considering.
"Sister-in-law, you're only finding out now? That's really a bit late," Mother Bai retorted with a cold laugh.
Bai Lian's mother felt awkward. Bai's mother was the eldest sister-in-law and the current matriarch of the Bai family, so she didn't dare to confront her directly.
As if oblivious to the subtle atmosphere, the old lady didn't even glance at the gifts from others before opening the box and putting on the Buddhist prayer beads.
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