Bai Youran itched to throttle A Miao to death at this moment.
With a face full of tears, Xia Wan had told him about the circumstances back then. She said that she had no idea what happened to him and Xia Mei until A Miao showed up saying that both of them were drugged. It was also A Miao who came up with the antidote.
"Mom, I don't agree with the change in my fiancee. Get Grandma to tell the Xia family that we'll cancel the marriage alliance if I can't marry Xia Wan!"
That wretched woman had schemed against him. Had Xia Mei not gone with him, he would have slept with that woman and he would have been forced to marry her. He would not have let A Miao off if not for the fact that Xia Wan worried about the impact on Xia Mei if this incident became public.
Yan Huihong looked at her son and sighed. "Do you really like Xia Wan that much?"
"This isn't about whether I like her or not." Bai Youran resolutely exhaled a breath of smoke. "I've treated her like a princess for so many years but you tell me that she's being exchanged with an illegitimate child who has popped out of nowhere? There's no way I'll endure such an insult."
He would not have protested if Xia Wan was being exchanged for a woman with a higher status. However, he would never accept an ugly woman like A Miao. He would truly settle her one day.
"Xia family will hold a banquet at the end of the month. I'll get your father to discuss this with old Mr. Xia then."
Meanwhile, A Miao was oblivious to the fact that Bai Youran was truly loathing her.
On the weekend, she returned to the old street that she had lived in for more than ten years. Nothing had changed and it was still as worn-out as before. There were still the same filthy trash on the ground and small traders on the street. However, she also felt as if everything had changed.
"Isn't that A Miao?"
"Why did she come back?"
"That's right! I heard her relatives took her home and they're particularly well-off!"
There was no shortage of people pointing and whispering about her. A Miao felt her heart sink. She walked along the dark and filthy corridor until she reached her door, where she saw Zhou Xiao pressing coal briquets.
"A Miao!" Zhou Xiao cried in surprise. "You... You..."
"I'm here to see you." A Miao smiled. "Do you need help?"
Zhou Xiao hastily washed her hands and pulled her into the house. She was about to ask A Miao to sit down when she noticed A Miao's beautiful dress. She became unsure what to do.
"The house... The house is dirty... Your dress..."
A Miao planted her bottom on the folding chair. "What are you saying? It's so clean!"
It was only then that Zhou Xiao finally grinned. She got A Miao a glass of water and said, "Boiled water!"
"I have something to discuss with you." A Miao accepted the glass of water. "I want to rent out my house. That way, we'll be able to get 500 yuan at least."
"You're already a rich person!" Zhou Xiao was startled. "Why would you care about 500 yuan?"
A Miao pulled her so that she would sit down. "It's for you and Auntie Song."
"No!" A woman lifted open the cloth that lined the door. "We can't take your money."
"Auntie Song..." A Miao rose to her feet. "You're home so early today!"
The woman looked to be in her fifties. She had tanned and dry yellow skin and wore a faded set of sportswear. The hardships of life were clearly etched on her face.
"The weather's hot these few days. No one would want any steamed stuffed buns in the afternoon." Song Baohua put her things down before taking a seat. "It's good enough that you're here to see us. Don't talk about money anymore."
A Miao smiled wryly at her. "Auntie Song, if not for you adopting me from the orphanage, I fear I would be wandering the streets and kidnapped by evil people."
"Don't say that." Song Baohua immediately tugged at her. "I received favor from your mother many years ago. Unfortunately, she had already passed away by the time I found you. I once said I'd treat you like my own daughter. You're treating yourself like an outsider when you act like this."
"You're the one treating me like an outsider!" A Miao pressed a thousand yuan she got from the Xia family into Song Baohua's hands. "Since you said you're treating me like your own daughter, how cannot accept your daughter's money?"
"That's right, Mom! It's not like A Miao is hurting for that money. She's a wealthy young lady now," Zhou Xiao cried.
Song Baohua glared at her. "A Miao, we can't take your money. You..."
"Sure enough, you're treating me like an outsider." A Miao lowered her head. "We've already lived together for so many years and you've always cared for me. Yet you won't accept my money now."
"Oh, you child!" Song Baohua caressed A Miao's head. "Did they bully you?"
A Miao raised her head. "Do I look like I'm easily bullied? Look, I've even gotten fatter!"
"Come back if they're not treating you well," Song Baohua said solemnly. "We might be poor but we're all sincere. Those wealthy people look good from the outside but they're all scheming behind each other's backs."
"Don't worry! I know this very well."
When night fell, A Miao pointed at the large shopping bag that she brought with her and told Zhou Xiao, "There are all sorts of good food inside the bag. Enjoy them slowly! I'll also bring over medicine every now and then. You must get Auntie Song to eat them. Once I save enough money, we'll send her for the surgery."
"Got it." Zhou Xiao smiled at her. While sending A Miao off, she kept asking about how the grand residence looked like, whether there really was a swimming pool there, and if there were a lot of servants and housekeepers.
"Why don't... Why don't you come over and play?" An idea suddenly came to A Miao. "Someone will be celebrating their birthday at the end of the month with a banquet."
Zhou Xiao was overjoyed that she jumped. "Really? Can I really go?"
"Yes. I'm inviting you." A Miao thought that no one would notice the presence of an additional person with so many guests there.