Volume One, Chapter Thirty-Five: Xiao Jin Coyly Begs for Forgiveness

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"Baiyu, I don't know what you're talking about."

Chi Baiyu sneered. "Let me make this clear. Whatever you want to do to Chi Xingwan in private is your business. But if you dare to make it public and drag the Chi family’s reputation through the mud, I will never let you off."

Chi Yueyao's heart skipped a beat. She had indeed been planning to create a scandal for Chi Xingwan; otherwise, at school, Chi Xingwan would soon be walking all over her.

But she couldn’t possibly admit it in front of Chi Baiyu, who cared deeply about appearances.

"Baiyu, how could you think that? Why would I want to harm Xingwan?"

Chi Baiyu gave her no face at all. "Of course you wouldn’t do it yourself. With that fool Qianyu charging ahead for you, all you need is a few words to egg her on. She does the dirty work, while you keep your hands clean and play the innocent, right?"

Chi Yueyao frowned. "Baiyu, if you keep talking nonsense, I’ll get angry."

"Angry?" Chi Baiyu laughed, unable to restrain himself, as if he'd heard a joke.

He stepped closer and lowered his voice by her ear. "Speaking of being angry, what do you think would happen if my mother and Qianyu found out you’re actually my father's illegitimate daughter? Would they be angry, do you think?"

A chill seized Chi Yueyao, her whole body stiffening as if she’d fallen into an ice pit, her blood frozen.

"Bai—Baiyu, what nonsense are you saying..."

Chi Baiyu studied her with interest. "Something like this only takes a paternity test to know the truth. Do I have any reason to make things up?"

Now Chi Yueyao was truly afraid. She grabbed his hand, crying, "Baiyu, I never meant to deceive Aunt and Qianyu. Please, I’m begging you, don’t tell them. Please!"

Chi Baiyu shook off her hand. "As long as you don’t cross the line, I don’t want chaos at home either. Like I said, I won’t tolerate the Chi family’s reputation suffering in the slightest."

Chi Yueyao nodded at once. "I understand. I’ll never bring shame to the Chi family."

Chi Baiyu cast her a cold glance and walked away, leaving Chi Yueyao standing there, needing a long time to recover, her heart still pounding with fear.

...

On the weekend, as usual, Chi Xingwan went to the Xiao residence to have lunch with Old Madam Xiao and check on Xiao Yue’s condition.

Dai Dai had vanished the moment she got out of the car, and Chi Xingwan didn’t bother going to the main villa, heading directly to the smaller one in the back.

"Xingwan, you’re just in time. Come take a look at this," Old Madam Xiao said anxiously, handing her a jade pendant.

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The jade pendant was blackened, with cracks running across it like spiderwebs. Chi Xingwan recognized it at once—it was the protective pendant she’d given Xiao Yue at their engagement banquet.

"This pendant is for protection, but it only works a limited number of times. Once it’s exhausted, it will shatter to dust," Chi Xingwan explained, taking out a new jade pendant and fastening it around Xiao Yue’s neck.

Old Madam Xiao asked, "So you’re saying something has been attacking Ayue?"

Chi Xingwan nodded. "He suffers from soul-loss. His soul is gone, but his body remains healthy, which makes him easy prey for certain things that want to take over. The jade helps drive them away."

Old Madam Xiao shuddered at the thought. She recalled that before Chi Xingwan appeared, there had been a few nights when Xiao Yue woke in great pain—he must have been fighting with those things for control of his body.

"Xingwan, I don’t know how to thank you. The chef has made all your favorite dishes today."

Chi Xingwan joined Old Madam Xiao at the table, along with Secretary He. After the meal, Chi Xingwan prepared to leave.

As she exited the small villa, she ran into Xiao Jin. Chi Xingwan cursed her luck and tried to turn away.

"Chi Xingwan, stop right there," Xiao Jin called after her.

Chi Xingwan turned back, expressionless. "Miss Xiao, is there something you need?"

The deliberate coldness irked Xiao Jin. She fidgeted, then pulled something from her pocket and tossed it to Chi Xingwan.

"For you."

Chi Xingwan glanced at it—it was a bottle of high-end perfume. "What’s this supposed to mean?"

"I said it’s for you. Why ask so many questions?"

"I can’t accept a gift I haven’t earned," Chi Xingwan replied, handing the perfume back.

Xiao Jin flushed with anger. "You think I want to? If my mother hadn’t forced me to apologize, I wouldn’t be giving you anything."

A vision of Lady Minying, the second mistress of the Xiao family, flashed through Chi Xingwan’s mind. It was Minying who had stepped in to smooth things over the day Xiao Jin had called Chi Yueyao ‘second sister-in-law’ to her face.

"I’ve given you the gift; I’m leaving," Xiao Jin muttered, fleeing in embarrassment.

Chi Xingwan’s impression of her remained poor, but she found herself feeling a little more kindly toward Minying.

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When Xiao Jin returned to her room, Minying was waiting.

"Well? Did you give her the gift? Did she say she forgave your rudeness that day?"

"It’s done," Xiao Jin mumbled. "As for whether she forgave me, who knows? I don’t care anyway."

Minying sighed in exasperation. "Why are you so stubborn? Can’t you see how much your grandmother likes her? Unless something goes wrong, she’ll be your second sister-in-law. Why antagonize her? Even if there’s no such connection, you shouldn’t treat people like that."

Xiao Jin bristled. "Who says she’ll be my second sister-in-law? Once my brother recovers, he’ll definitely choose Sister Yueyao."

"Not necessarily," Minying replied quietly. "Chi Yueyao is nothing but scheming. You’re far too naive to match her—best keep your distance."

Xiao Jin sprang up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Mom! Don’t talk about Sister Yueyao like that—and you can’t control who I make friends with!"

"Fine, fine, I won’t interfere," Minying replied, not bothering to argue.

After Minying left, Xiao Jin remained in low spirits. Just then, a message popped up in her group chat.

"Next Saturday, Wenwen’s new drama starts filming at the Yan Capital Film Studios. My cousin works with the crew and can take us for a visit. Anyone interested?"

Wenwen referred to Xiao Shangwen, a wildly popular actor. His new period romance was about to begin shooting at the studio on the outskirts of Yan Capital.

Xiao Jin wasn’t a superfan—at most, she was a casual admirer, supporting everyone in the industry equally. Since her roommate had asked, she joined in the fun and replied, "I’m in."

Early Saturday morning, Xiao Jin and her two roommates arrived at the film studios.

The place was vast. The crew was filming a boating scene on the lake, and the girls were brought in to watch. In the distance, they could see a beautifully decorated pleasure barge anchored on the water.

Roommate Guo Sihan exclaimed excitedly, "My cousin said that once they finish shooting, we can go on the barge and play!"

The other roommate, Zhao Wenqi, was also thrilled. "Let’s take lots of pictures on the barge. Once the show airs, we’ll be the first ones who were ever there!"

Hearing this, Xiao Jin started to look forward to it as well.