“How dare you insult me?”
Li Man was seething with anger.
The man in front of her, Huang Feng, suddenly smirked and stepped forward, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Li Man, I know what’s on your mind. You’re jealous of the Li family’s heiress, aren’t you?”
Caught off guard, Li Man averted her eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“No need to pretend with me. I’ve seen your diary—every page of it. Li Man, you really hate Li Qiao, don’t you?” The pages were filled with Li Man’s curses toward Li Qiao.
After some digging, Huang Feng had learned that Li Qiao had once lived with Li Man’s family.
She was the real heiress the Li family had recently reclaimed!
“Huang Feng, are you threatening me?”
“No, I want to help you, Manman. Your family took care of Li Qiao for years. Why should she get to enjoy all the privileges while you’re left to rot in some backwater village?”
Huang Feng coaxed her, carefully watching her expression.
When he saw her deep in thought, a smirk curled at his lips.
Then, without warning, he grew bolder, pushing Li Man down forcefully.
She reacted instantly, shoving him onto the grass and screaming, “Help! Someone, help!”
“Stop yelling, Manman. I’ll make you happy, I swear!”
With that, Huang Feng lunged at her again.
Li Man fought back desperately, finally sinking her teeth into his arm hard enough to make him recoil. Seizing the chance, she scrambled away.
Huang Feng glared at the bite mark on his arm, his expression darkening.
“Li Man, you’ve got guts.”
One day, I’ll make you beg for me.
Back home, Li Man clutched her phone and dialed Liu Yulan’s number.
She could use some of the knowledge she had from her past life to win Liu Yulan’s favor.
The plan seemed feasible.
Unfortunately, when Liu Yulan answered, she didn’t believe a word of it.
Scammers are getting more creative these days.
…..
After returning from the hospital, Liu Yulan lounged on the sofa, being pampered by servants.
Right now, she was the undisputed mistress of the Liu household.
When Old Madam Liu returned home and saw the servants massaging Liu Yulan’s legs and serving her tea, fury exploded in her chest. She stormed over and slammed her palm on the table with a loud “Bang!”
“Who gave you permission to wait on her?”
The two servants paled and immediately backed away.
Liu Yulan set down her teacup and looked up at the old woman.
Why is she back so early today? She’s usually still out for her walk at this hour.
“Mother.”
“Who said you could call me that? Get out!”
Old Madam Liu roared, her entire body trembling with pain. The men who had kidnapped her had tortured her relentlessly.
In the end, they dumped her at the foot of a mountain. She had to beg a passerby for clothes before she could return presentably—though the bruises on her face were still visible.
“Mother, you’re hurt?” Liu Yulan’s eyes flickered with a hint of smugness.
The mention of it sent Old Madam Liu into a rage.
“You vile wretch, this was your doing!” She pointed a shaking finger at Liu Yulan, her chest heaving like an enraged lion.
Liu Yulan feigned innocence. “Mother, what have I done wrong?”
“Still playing dumb?” Old Madam Liu sneered, grabbing the teapot and hurling it at Liu Yulan.
“Crash—”
Water splashed everywhere. Liu Yulan cried out as blood trickled from her forehead, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Mother, why would you hit me?” She covered the swelling wound, her voice trembling with feigned confusion.
“What have you done?” Old Madam Liu’s eyes burned red. “Listen well—as long as I’m alive, you’ll never be the mistress of this house!”
With that, she slapped Liu Yulan hard across the face.
Caught off guard, Liu Yulan’s cheek instantly reddened. She clutched her face, tears glistening. “Mother, how could I ever harm you?”
“If not you, then who? Those bastards were sent by you! I nearly died at their hands! Liu Yulan, you heartless snake—I won’t let you get away with this!”
She raised her hand to strike again.
Liu Yulan shrieked and scrambled back, sobbing. “Mother, it really wasn’t me!”
Liar.
Just wait, old hag. Today’s the day you die.
“You’re a viper! I must’ve been blind to ever bring you into this family. Now that you’ve grown wings, you dare scheme against me?”
The thought of how she had doted on Liu Yulan, only to be betrayed twice, made Old Madam Liu wish she were dead.
All these years, she had been nurturing a venomous snake.
“No, Mother, it wasn’t me—” Liu Yulan pleaded desperately, but Old Madam Liu wasn’t buying it.
Tears streamed down her delicate face as she whimpered, “Mother, I’d never dare hurt you. If not for you, I would’ve starved to death on the streets. Mother…”
“Stop with the act! The sight of you disgusts me. Get out—now!”
Old Madam Liu glared at her with pure loathing.
“Mother, I didn’t—”
“You did!”
Old Madam Liu suddenly yanked Liu Yulan’s hair and rained blows on her. “Liu Yulan, mark my words—as long as I’m breathing, you’ll never marry into the Liu family!”
Just then, a servant rushed in, panicked.
“The old master is back!”
Finally.
Liu Yulan forced herself to stand, tears still flowing, just as Old Master Liu hurried inside. Taking in the wrecked living room, he frowned.
“What’s going on here?”
Then he spotted Liu Yulan—disheveled, bleeding from the mouth—and his heart ached. He rushed to her side. “Yulan, what happened? Who did this to you?”
“Father, it’s not Mother’s fault… She misunderstood. She thinks I hired people to attack her. It’s all my fault for upsetting her.”
Her gentle, forgiving tone only fueled Old Master Liu’s protectiveness. Without hesitation, he slapped Old Madam Liu across the face.
“You vicious woman!”
“Are you blind? She’s faking! She’s putting on an act to manipulate you! Can’t you see?”
“Yulan has always been kind and gentle. She’s not the schemer you’re making her out to be. At your age, you should know better than to bully a child.”
After scolding his wife, Old Master Liu helped Liu Yulan upstairs.
Downstairs, Old Madam Liu’s eyes burned with fury.
In that moment, a memory from years ago flashed in her mind.
Back then, Liu Yusi had stood exactly where she was now, seeing Liu Yulan for what she truly was.
So…
Yusi really was innocent. She never bullied Liu Yulan.
This was all my fault. My selfishness and ignorance broke Yusi’s heart.
Agony twisted inside her, her chest tightening painfully.
A servant approached hesitantly. “Madam, Young Master Liu is throwing a fit upstairs.”
“About what?”
In her eyes, Liu Yusheng was her last hope.
“Young Master Liu says… that you’re using your status as an elder to bully Miss Yulan. He’s refusing to eat until you stop. He says… if you keep this up, he won’t acknowledge you as his mother anymore.”
Old Madam Liu’s heart shattered. Her entire body trembled.
This is the son I loved so dearly.
Her husband and son—both standing by that wretch’s side…
