“I didn’t, I’ve been framed. How could you listen to outsiders and choose not to believe me? I’m your ‘own daughter’!”
Seeing the man's anger, Deng Wei instantly became aggrieved. She first sobbed, emphasizing the word "daughter" in her words. Then, she lowered her head and tried her best to squeeze out two small tears from her eyes.
She was gambling on this 'father's' bottom line, and also testing what the man really meant to her. Did he doubt her identity?
"Fine, fine. Since you're so unruly, I'm too lazy to say anything more. If one day you cause serious trouble outside and we can't handle it, you'll have to bear all the consequences. Don't say I didn't teach you a lesson then."
Commander Bai seemed agitated as he spoke these words. For some reason, his interactions with Deng Wei didn't bring him much of the warmth of a long-awaited reunion; instead, they left him feeling uneasy.
After saying that, she gave her 'daughter' enough time to reflect, caught in her own dilemma. Before going upstairs, she specifically asked the nanny to heat up a glass of milk for her.
Deng Wei hesitated, her initial bewilderment in front of the man transforming into a sharp, cursing gaze directed at everyone in the living room. She already harbored resentment towards this adoptive father; perhaps if she killed the old man, she could inherit a large sum of money.
When the thought flashed through my mind, I couldn't help but be startled. I wondered how I could have such a thought, if I was going crazy.
Upstairs, Bai Xiuye's second wife, Yin Yali, held a coffee cup in her hand, watching everything that happened below. From the moment this woman entered the house, it was clear that she was no ordinary person.
She's cunning, has a bad temper, and is utterly devoid of kindness. But that has nothing to do with her. When she married into the family, she appeared to be the wife of Commander Bai, living a glamorous life in front of outsiders, with money and power in her hands.
But she also had her own troubles, such as the three rules the man stipulated before marriage: 1. No children of his own. 2. Treat all children from his previous marriage as his own. 3. He could not use his money to help her family, which had caused her so much distress over the years.
The latter two conditions were barely acceptable, but after fulfilling the first condition, resentment would inevitably arise over time. Wasn't Bai Xiuye's refusal to let her have children precisely because he worried that the children would compete with her son abroad for the family fortune when they grew up?
His deep affection for his first wife was understandable. But the fact that a woman like herself, who frequented glamorous places, could be married as his legal wife, and that he presented himself as a loving husband in public, disgusted Yin Yali.
She also tried to persuade her husband through her stepson abroad, but the two men shared the same idea, and she was unsuccessful. Fortunately, just when she was about to give up, her ex-wife's daughter, who had been lost more than 20 years ago, returned.
Yin Yali never expected that after all these years of effort and trouble from the people she sent out, he would still find her in the end.
Fortunately, this 'biological daughter' is no pushover either, so it might be better to test the waters and see if we can join forces.
After lunch, while Bai Xiuye was out, Yin Yali invited Deng Wei to sit in the garden. She dismissed the servants and got straight to the point.
"You're not Old Bai's biological daughter, you're just an imposter. So why are you pretending to be his father? Money? Aren't you worried that one day when things are exposed, you'll be left with nothing?"
The woman crossed her legs, staring confidently at Deng Wei across from her. Her aura was insignificant compared to the legitimate wife, but she was more than capable of handling this imposter and novice.
"Auntie, what are you saying? Did you drink at noon and are you talking nonsense here?"
Deng Wei visibly panicked and avoided eye contact with the woman. She lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers, trying to appear as composed as possible.
She didn't know how the matter had reached the other party's ears, nor did she understand why they didn't confront Commander Bai directly, but instead came to her to question him about it.
"Stop pretending, Comrade Deng Wei. Although I don't know how you got the amulet, the truth will come out eventually."
Yin Yali spread her hands, giving a "do as you please" look, and couldn't help but laugh at this little fox, whose tricks were still a bit green.
"Since your aunt doesn't trust me, why did she specifically ask me to talk about this alone? If you told Commander Bai, wouldn't you gain his trust even more? Then your life would not only be much better than it is now, but even your stepson abroad would look at you with more respect."
While investigating Deng Wei, the woman also uncovered the woman's true nature. A woman who appears glamorous on the surface but crawls in the shadows doesn't have an easy life either.
"So, this is your tacit admission?"
Yin Yali stared at Deng Wei, her bright red lips curving upwards to reveal her white teeth as she smiled.
"Then why don't you cooperate with me and tell me everything you know? I'll help you settle this matter with Bai Ling. Old Bai will definitely not pursue this matter any further and will use it as a warning. In the future, he will not only continue to pamper you but will also feel guilty."
As she spoke, she pulled a pack of women's cigarettes from her pocket, took one out, lit it, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled. She then settled comfortably on the sofa, waiting for Deng Wei's choice.
"So what reason do you have to make me believe you?"
Seeing Yin Yali like this, Deng Wei was even more convinced of the resentment in the woman's heart. She stared into the other's eyes, desperately wanting an answer, and tried to probe.
"Don't talk about whether you believe it or not yet. There's a woman named Jiang Meier outside the door who's been following you ever since you were summoned back to the provincial capital. I had someone tie her up under the pretext of introducing her to a job, then beat her up and forced her to confess."
Of course, while this is a key point, there are even more serious matters waiting for you to devise solutions. Do you remember the younger brother that Old Bai mentioned when you first came to the Bai family for the family banquet? He'll be back in two days.
Perhaps Old Bai doesn't doubt your background, but what if there was another person in your family, a smart returnee from studying abroad, living with you day and night? Would you still be so comfortable enjoying it all?
Her words completely awakened Deng Wei. If she was indeed in a precarious situation, she really needed to find an ally. Apart from the woman in front of her, everyone else in the Bai family with influence would prioritize their family's interests and wouldn't care about her life or death.
"Tell me, what should we do?"
After a few seconds of contemplation, she opened her eyes and asked.
“Madam, there’s a woman outside who claims to be named Jiang Yu. She’s looking for Mr. Bai. I’ve already told her that Mr. Bai is not here, but she still insists on barging in.”
Seeing that Jiang Yu couldn't be stopped, the nanny hurriedly came over to report.
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