Chapter 7: The Realm of the Expert

I saw my ‘mother’ look at Xiao Ruoxue before her, saying only one word: “Get out—!”

“You—!” Xiao Ruoxue had never suffered such an insult. Her charming eyes instantly filled with mist.

She glared at the woman opposite her, on the verge of exploding in rage, but was stopped by Lin Suwan at her side, who shook her head imperceptibly.

Feeling the firm grip of her mother’s hand, Xiao Ruoxue swallowed her anger, flicked her sleeves, and retreated behind her mother.

How satisfying. Xiao Min, hiding in the crack of the door watching everything outside, never expected this ‘mother’ she had picked up for free to be so fierce, just as she had been when they first met. She felt a secret joy in her heart; her luck had truly turned. Given the current situation, would she ever have to worry about being pushed around again?

After hearing that, Lin Suwan felt as if someone had ripped off a scabbed-over wound. She struggled to suppress the anger in her heart, and instead, a more dazzling smile bloomed on her face.

Ignoring the previous incident, she stretched her neck and cast a meaningful glance toward the room.

“I heard that elder sister has had a rather large appetite lately. I was worried about your health, so I brought Xue’er here to see you!” Her voice was so charming that even a woman would feel a tingle, let alone a man.

Seemingly unintentional, yet clearly deliberate, she continued, “I just saw that you were lonely, sister, so I brought Xue’er to pay our respects to you. Otherwise, wouldn’t you have missed out on the joys of maternal love?” Her bright, sharp eyes were fixed tightly on the woman’s face—which lacked makeup yet was even more beautiful than her own—while her hands were clenched tightly together.

The woman in plain clothes stiffened visibly. “Heh—! No need for your concern. This lady has already found the daughter she lost many years ago!” Her voice was filled with undisguised pride.

Xiao Min always felt that there was something off about this ‘mother’ of hers! She was even more normal than a normal person! But looking at the confident woman in red and her ‘mother’ who was beaming with joy, a bad premonition arose in Xiao Min’s heart.

Seeing the woman so happy, Lin Suwan’s smile deepened. “Oh—! Is that so?”

She paused. “Then I must congratulate you, sister!” Her face was full of smiles as she looked at the woman, though a trace of hidden malice flickered in her eyes.

“Then, sister, won’t you introduce me and Xue’er to her?” Her voice was warm, seemingly filled with genuine concern.

“Uh!” The woman was clearly hesitant. A moment later, seeing Lin Suwan’s sincere expression, she looked toward the room.

Watching all this, Xiao Min felt her heart go cold. Was she trying to trick her into coming out and then subdue her? She wailed internally at her cheap mother, *‘Please don’t call me, please don’t!’*

However, the thing she feared most was exactly what happened.

“Min’er, come out quickly!” The woman was clearly happy, her face full of smiles as she called toward the room.

Xiao Min’s face darkened. She knew that as soon as she saw that arrogant young lady, her cover would be blown. That woman’s mind was already a bit confused; if she were further incited by that scheming woman into believing she had been deceived, the consequences would be...

“Come quickly, Min’er!” The soft voice came again, but Xiao Min’s heart was bleeding!

A moment later, knowing this wasn’t a long-term solution and seeing the woman walking toward her, she reluctantly shuffled outside.

When the woman, beaming with joy, pulled Xiao Min out before everyone, Xiao Ruoxue was clearly the most agitated. She immediately wanted to step forward and say something.

But she was pulled back by Lin Suwan at her side. Without waiting for her to speak, Lin Suwan looked with a smile at the woman beside her, whose eyes were only on Xiao Min.

“Truly, congratulations, sister. You must have been waiting for such happy news for many years!” She cast a meaningful glance at the shrinking Xiao Min.

Feeling a scorching gaze, Xiao Min felt like needles were pricking her back. She muttered to herself, *‘Damn it, if you want to expose my identity, just hurry up! What the hell, it’s just death anyway!’*

Having realized this, she felt much calmer. She raised her head and looked at everyone with poise.

Seeing her mother speak this way, Xiao Ruoxue glared viciously at Xiao Min. She was about to lash out, but it seemed her motive was noticed by the woman beside her.

Ignoring her mother’s restraint, Xiao Ruoxue walked straight up, intending to expose this ugly woman’s identity. But before she could speak—

“Slap—!” A loud sound of a slap rang out.

Suddenly, everyone looked at Xiao Ruoxue, who was usually pampered and spoiled. Five clear finger marks instantly appeared on her fair, clean face.

Xiao Ruoxue pointed at the woman in disbelief. “You, you bitch, how dare you hit me?” Her face was full of shock, and unable to suppress her true nature any longer, she roared.

Just as the woman in plain clothes was about to lash out again, Lin Suwan pulled her daughter over, her face looking extremely ugly.

“Xue’er, don’t be rude!” Although she was scolding Xiao Ruoxue in a low voice, her tone was filled with suppressed anger. No one knew who she was angry at.

Lin Suwan pulled Xiao Ruoxue to her side and carefully checked her body, seeing she was unharmed. In an instant, she looked at Xiao Min, then at the woman in plain clothes who was comforting Xiao Min, her face cold as frost.

The maids and servants below all kept their eyes down, acting as if they hadn’t seen the scene just now, terrified that the fire would spread to them.

Even if Xiao Min had thought of hundreds of ways, she never expected this ‘mother’ she had picked up to be so protective of her, not even allowing her to suffer the slightest grievance. In an instant, Xiao Min felt so happy!

“Heh, seeing you today, the young lady truly resembles the Prime Minister and sister a bit, but...!” The anger in her voice was gone, replaced by a tone of satisfaction. The woman in red smiled instead of getting angry, looking at the woman in plain clothes with a hesitant expression.

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Min raised her eyes to look at this woman who hadn’t exposed her. However, the strange look in the corner of her eyes did not escape her. Alarm bells rang in her heart!

“But what?” The woman in plain clothes looked at Lin Suwan with genuine curiosity, wanting to know the reason.

“This... I don’t know if I should say it or not?” She seemed troubled. Leaving half her words unsaid, she truly left the woman in plain clothes unable to stop herself.

Seeing the woman in red remain silent for a long time, the woman in plain clothes couldn’t hold back anymore and pressed, “Tell me!” Xiao Min didn’t know why, but listening to this, she felt as if some great conspiracy was afoot.

“Heh, it’s like this. I have always heard that sister has two charming and lovely daughters. Seeing one today, I wonder about the second...?” She looked at the woman in plain clothes, who was still excited, with a probing expression, leaving the rest of her sentence unsaid.