Mount Tai

Just as Peng Xinya was about to launch her tongue again, the sound of clicking heels filled the room and turned everyone silent. It was then that Bai Ruoxi raised her head and spot the presence of a goddess. Xu Liluo, her mother.

Maybe it had been due to the fact Bai Ruoxi was spoiled rotten as a child and lost herself to depression after Gu Yin's death, but it was only today Bai Ruoxi finally realized that her mother was so stunningly beautiful. It was as if age didn't affect her flawless skin and sparkling brilliance. She looked no more than a youth in her late twenties. Bai Ruoxi remembered when people had said that they looked more like siblings than a mother and daughter.

Today Xu Liluo wore an off-shoulder golden dress that reached just below her knee. Every inch of the dress was adorned by diamonds and precious stones. It was the latest release from her very own brand, Fericire. The name itself meant happiness in Romanian. And sure enough, Xu Liluo had always looked happy dressed in those beautiful clothes. Even with the fierceness and contempt in her eyes, she looked ethereal.

Sensing Bai Ruoxi's stare and the situation before her, Xu Liluo immediately understood what was happening. Her eyes were filled with disdain and murderous intent when they landed on Xu Linlang and Peng Xinya. She kept her gaze upon the mother-daughter pair, sending shivers down their spines.

But Peng Xinya wasn't going to back off this easily. She was already determined to sneak herself into the Bai Family and plant herself there. She would do anything, even if it meant to beg on her knees towards the woman she hated the most. The woman whose life should have been her mother's!

"Please, Aunt Liluo! Let my mother and I stay here! You must!" Peng Xinya cried while grabbing the hem of Xu Liluo's delicate dress, crumpling it in her hands.

One side of Xu Liluo's cherry colored lips perked up and formed a mocking smirk, finding the current situation amusing. "On what condition do I, Xu Liluo should let you stay under my roof? Though I bear this surname, do not forget that I have already severed my ties with the Xu's. Whether your mother and you live or die have nothing to do with me. And did you not know that your beloved mother has once driven me out of my own home? So why, pray tell, should I let you?"

Xu Linlang was burning in rage. How could her sister be so thick-skinned and kept on embarrassing her and her daughter like this in front of Bai Shizhen?! Peng Xinya was already begging on her feet yet she didn't show any kind of empathy. Xu Linlang would surely make her pay for this humiliation her daughter had received today!

Xu Linlang hated her, she hated Xu Liluo so much! Even though they were biological sisters, Xu Liluo had always been on the good side of karma, while she would be on the suffering end! Why?!

Before Xu Liluo was born, Xu Linlang had been the star of her family. They all doted on her fiercely even though she had no particular sort of talent. No matter how spoiled she acted, they would always tolerate it. But the Xu elders wanted sons, and when Xu Linlang was six years old, her parents had a twin. Unfortunately, it had been premature birth. Her baby brother didn't survive, but Xu Liluo did. And ever since then, Xu Linlang lost her place.

Her family was extra careful in raising the weak and frail Xu Liluo. They treated her like a true princess. It became worse when Xu Liluo started showing extraordinary traits for a child her age. Their sole focus was on her, and thus Xu Linlang was neglected.

No matter how much she tried, whatever she did, she would always lose to Xu Liluo. She thought it was her win when she manipulated the Xu Family to think of Xu Liluo as a bad omen and drove her out. Xu Linlang thought that it was finally her time to shine again. But who would know that Xu Liluo could be so lucky to meet Bai Shizhen?

Although the Xu's was rich, not even tens of it could compare to the Bai Family.

She had tried to pull Bai Shizhen away from that wench of a sister numerous times. But the man was like an unmoving iceblock. He never spared her a glance after finding out her intention.

Still, Xu Linlang hadn't given up yet. Even though she had been forced to marry Peng Zhenya, she still had her means to force her way into the Bai Family. And it would be through her daughter.

Even if she were to die, she would drag Xu Liluo down with her. That wench had stolen everything from her. She wouldn't forgive it! Bai Shizhen was supposed to be hers! This luxury life was supposed to be hers!

Xu Linlang continued to glare daggers onto Xu Liluo. If looks could kill, the latter would have probably died a couple of times. But who was Xu Liluo? She's the Matriarch of Bai Family. Outside her home, she was known for her aloofness and arrogance. Everybody feared and respected her. But still, there would always be people who went by the saying 'having perfectly fine eyes yet failing to recognize Mount Tai'.

Feeling tired of the drama that didn't seem like it would ever stop, Bai Ruoxi slumped her body onto the sofa. She was bored. Although she liked drama, she didn't favor the idea of directly being involved. Her past self would have loved it, but Bai Ruoxi was now a (possibly) self-responsible adult. Being caught up in this kind of drama didn't sit well with her anymore.

"Steward Tang," she called while handing out her hands. "My checkbook?"

"Here, Young Miss."

After getting her checkbook from Steward Tang, Bai Ruoxi tossed it towards Peng Xinya who was still on her knees. The latter furrowed her brows as anger continued to swell in her chest, growing impatient of the humiliation she received.

Peng Xinya tightened her jaws and her eyes were burning with hatred. Without further thinking, she threw herself onto Bai Shizhen instead, which resulted in Bai Ruoxi and Xu Liluo's wrath.

Bai Ruoxi yanked the woman away by her hair and pushed her onto the floor. "Wench, what do you think you're doing?!"

Although Bai Shizhen kept his silence, his eyes were glaring with murderous intent. It was as if he was already planning on how to slowly torture her before ending her vile lowly life.

On the other hand, Peng Xinya acted like she hadn't just been manhandled. A glint of excitement could be seen in her eyes, but it was immediately replaced by a pitiful stare.

"Uncle, please!" Peng Xinya half screamed. "You can't let them treat me like this! I'm carrying your flesh and blood!!"