May Buddha have mercy. One slash to the throat, and the chicken blood flowed. This old hen, who had worked hard for humans her whole life, stretched her legs and passed away.
Deng Xiaoxiao performed the series of actions with fluid grace. Seeing this vigorous posture, Chen Xiaoyan stood to the side, unable to help at all. She could only start talking.
“Mom, that friend of mine is coming over to see you.”
Deng Xiaoxiao was plucking the old hen’s feathers with boiling water. Hearing Chen Xiaoyan’s words, she didn’t look back but asked directly, “Which friend?”
“The one who’s extremely wealthy.”
This time, Deng Xiaoxiao reacted. She stopped her movements and turned to look at her. “That friend is coming to see me? What for?”
Chen Xiaoyan scratched her face and replied, “She’s probably just coming to say hello.”
Deng Xiaoxiao gave a simple smile and went back to plucking. “Let her come then. I bought plenty of food; having one more person is just right.”
“Mom, that friend of mine has a kind of mental trauma.”
“Trauma?” Deng Xiaoxiao was confused again.
“Yes, she especially hates men.”
Hearing this, Deng Xiaoxiao became interested in Mu Qingxue. She put down the chicken and asked curiously, “Why does she hate men?”
Chen Xiaoyan told her about Mu Qingxue’s childhood experiences. Deng Xiaoxiao listened with both melancholy and anger, wishing she could give that human trafficker a few slaps. Those beasts… to lay hands on such a small child, they weren’t even human.
“Poor child, sigh.”
“Exactly. That’s why I haven’t told her about your son. I’m afraid she might have an episode.”
Deng Xiaoxiao frowned. She finally understood Chen Xiaoyan’s meaning. “Daughter, you’re saying your friend doesn’t know you and Xiaoyan are dating?”
Chen Xiaoyan rubbed the back of her head with an embarrassed look, but she still nodded.
“Um, you could say that. After she found out I moved here, she bought all the houses in the complex to rent out and take care of me along the way. Of course, taking care of me is just a side thing; the main part is still renting to nearby office workers to make money.”
These words made Deng Xiaoxiao think it was incredible. Was there really such a good friend and sister in the world?
“Daughter, does your friend know that brat lives here?”
Chen Xiaoyan shook her head. “I didn’t tell her. He went on a business trip half a month ago, and the house was bought recently. So, Mom, help me act a bit later, okay? You don’t want Xiaoyan to have nowhere to live when he gets back, right? That friend of mine is very rich and powerful. If she finds out I’m lying to her, she’ll be furious and target your son.”
“She dares!!!” Deng Xiaoxiao was instantly filled with rage.
“Mom, don’t be angry. Xiaoyan’s company boss is that friend of mine. We can’t win against her.”
“This…” Deng Xiaoxiao’s momentum immediately withered upon hearing that. Her son had finally found a high-paying job; he couldn’t just lose it like that.
‘Brat, good luck to you. Mom is powerless to help.’
“Fine, daughter. Tell me what I need to do.”
Seeing her mother compromise, Chen Xiaoyan breathed a sigh of relief, a smile of a successful scheme appearing on her face. “Mom, right now, I am your daughter, Chen Xiaoyan.”
Deng Xiaoxiao didn’t agree immediately. She began to think over whether it was feasible.
“Mom, it’s just acting. It’s not real. You have to think about your son,” Chen Xiaoyan urged anxiously.
“Alright, alright, I know.” Deng Xiaoxiao’s tone was a bit helpless.
“Thanks, Mom!” Chen Xiaoyan was extremely excited.
“However, daughter, paper can’t wrap fire forever. I think that friend of yours is quite good to you. You should find a time to come clean.”
“I know that, Mom. I’ve been looking for an opportunity.”
“Mm, you’re an adult. I won’t say more. As long as you know what you’re doing.”
“Don’t worry, Mom.”
With her mother settled, she also needed to talk to Mu Qingxue to prevent her from saying something she shouldn’t. Sitting on the sofa, Chen Xiaoyan took out her phone and sent a message to Mu Qingxue.
—
Qingzhou Airport.
Mu Qingxue had just gotten off the plane. Not long after walking out of the airport, she heard the notification sound from her Penguin app. She pulled out her phone and saw it was a message from Chen Xiaoyan, a smile touching the corners of her mouth.
Chen Xiaoyan: “Xue-bao, are you coming to my place?”
Mu Qingxue’s brows immediately furrowed: “Yaoyao told you?”
Chen Xiaoyan: “Yeah.”
Mu Qingxue narrowed her eyes, which were filled with cold light: “What did Yaoyao say?”
Chen Xiaoyan: “She said she told you my mom was coming, and you wanted to come over and say hello.”
Seeing this, the cold light in Mu Qingxue’s eyes gradually disappeared.
Mu Qingxue: “Yan Bao, is it really your mom?”
Chen Xiaoyan: “Yeah.”
Mu Qingxue: “Your biological mom?”
Chen Xiaoyan: “Biological mom.”
Mu Qingxue: “Okay, I got it.”
Closing Penguin, Mu Qingxue quickly searched for a question on Baidu. The keywords were: “What gift should I prepare for meeting my mother-in-law?”
On the other side, Chen Xiaoyan kept holding her phone, watching the Penguin chat interface, waiting for Mu Qingxue to ask more questions. But after waiting for a long time, she still hadn’t spoken.
Chen Xiaoyan: “Xue-bao, don’t you have anything you want to ask?”
Mu Qingxue: “Didn’t I say it? I’ll wait for you to give me an answer. I don’t care about the rest. If you want to talk, then talk. I won’t press you, as long as you’re still the original Chen Xiaoyan.”
Mu Qingxue: “By the way, Yan Bao, what does your mom like?”
Chen Xiaoyan: “Eh? Why the sudden question?”
Mu Qingxue: “No way, Yan Bao. You want me to come over empty-handed?”
Chen Xiaoyan: “Coming empty-handed is fine too. I don’t mind.”
Mu Qingxue: “I mind. Hurry up and tell me what Auntie likes!!! (Thai Boxing Warning)”
Chen Xiaoyan: “Let me think. It should be bracelets or something like that. Before, my dad bought her a pure gold bracelet. She was happy for a long time and wore it on her wrist to look at every day.”
Mu Qingxue: “Received. Wait for me.”
Chen Xiaoyan: “Okay.”
Mu Qingxue turned off her phone screen and began to deliberate on what kind of bracelet would be good. A gold bracelet—Auntie already had one. Then she would buy a jade one. The price shouldn’t be too expensive—under ten million. If it was too expensive, Auntie might not accept it. After all, Yan Bao was just from an ordinary family; something too expensive could easily bring trouble to Auntie.
“Qianqian, check which one is the authoritative jewelry store in Qingzhou. We’ll buy something before heading over.”
“Yes, Missy.”
Afterward, Mu Qingxue opened Penguin again and sent a message to Qian Renxue.
Mu Qingxue: “Well done. Don’t do it again next time.”
An hour later.
Mu Qingxue had already bought the jade bracelet and arrived at the apartment complex. Looking at the elegantly packaged box in the bag, she took a deep breath and began to cheer herself up.
‘It’s fine, Mu Qingxue. It’s just Yan Bao’s family. What is there to be nervous about? You’re the Eldest Daughter of the Mu Family. Just face it normally.’
“Missy, we’ve arrived.” San Yue Bu Xia Xue opened the rear side door and reminded her.
Mu Qingxue mustered her courage and got out of the car.
At the entrance of the first-floor stairs, Qian Renxue had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Mu Qingxue get out, she hurried over.
“Missy.” Qian Renxue bowed her head obediently, adopting a posture of admitting her mistake.
“Yaoyao, no punishment this time, but don’t let there be a next time.”
“I understand.” Qian Renxue knew that although there was no punishment this time, the situation was much more serious than if she had been punished.
“Alright, just remember not to do it again. No need to be so tense. Tell me, how is Xiao Yan’s mother? Is she easy to get along with?”
Qian Renxue made a bitter face. “That… Missy, actually, I’m not sure. I haven’t really had much contact with that Auntie. Every time I tried to approach, I was sent away by the great Xiaoyan.”
Mu Qingxue nodded. “Then forget it. I’ll see for myself. Let’s go.”
The two Xues followed behind Mu Qingxue and arrived in front of door 301.
Just as Mu Qingxue was about to ring the bell, Qian Renxue simply opened the door. She awkwardly said to the former, “Missy, the door isn’t locked.”
“Xue-bao, you’re here?” Chen Xiaoyan, who was sitting on the sofa watching mobile videos, saw the door open and hurried toward Mu Qingxue. Then, she hugged her and said coquettishly, “Xue-bao, I’ve been waiting for you for so long. I waited so long that grass is almost growing on me.”
*Boom!!!*
An explosion suddenly went off in Mu Qingxue’s mind, stunning her. She stood there like a wooden statue, being held in her arms. The bag in her hand also fell to the floor.
The two Xues also covered their mouths in surprise at this scene. They glanced at each other, both showing a knowing smile, and quietly retreated into the house to give the two of them space.
“Yan Bao, you…”
“Daughter, has your friend arrived?” Deng Xiaoxiao, wearing an apron and holding a kitchen knife, peeked half of her body out from the kitchen doorway.
“Mom, she’s here, she’s here.” Chen Xiaoyan turned her head to respond, then tried to pull Mu Qingxue into the house, only to find the other girl breaking free.
Chen Xiaoyan was stunned for a moment.
“My bag.”
Mu Qingxue went back to pick up the bag, patted off the non-existent dust on the bottom, and then followed Chen Xiaoyan to the kitchen door.
“Mom, this is Qingxue.”
“Oh, Qingxue is such a beautiful girl.” Deng Xiaoxiao praised with a face full of smiles.
Mu Qingxue’s cheeks were like rosy clouds. she shyly bowed to Deng Xiaoxiao. “Hello, Auntie.”
Deng Xiaoxiao nodded with a beaming smile. “Good, good. Daughter, take Qingxue to the living room to play first. I’m currently cooking and still need some more time. There’s a lot of smoke here, so don’t get choked.”
“Okay, Mom.”
“Let’s go, Xue-bao.”
Chen Xiaoyan pulled Mu Qingxue to the living room and sat on the sofa. The two Xues stood to the side, feeling incredibly awkward, as if they were two lightbulbs.
‘Missy, can we leave for a bit?’
“Xue-bao, what’s in this bag?” Chen Xiaoyan had noticed the bag in her hand just now and was about to take a look.
“This isn’t for you.” Mu Qingxue hurriedly snatched it back.
“It’s not for me? Then who else could it be for?” Chen Xiaoyan was puzzled.
Mu Qingxue shot back at her, “Can’t I give it to Auntie?”
“So this is the bracelet you bought. How much did it cost?”
“A few tens of thousand, I guess.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Believe it or not.”
Chen Xiaoyan folded her arms across her chest and leaned back on the sofa, a curve appearing at the corner of her mouth. “Xue-bao, I don’t think you would let yourself be outdone by Chong Chong.”
Mu Qingxue rolled her eyes. This brat was actually quite smart. Since she couldn’t hide it, she might as well admit it. “Three and a half million. Ice-species Emerald Jade.”
Chen Xiaoyan didn’t know much about jade. Aside from the price, she had no idea what the classification meant. “Three and a half million? Why buy something so expensive?”
“Hmph, didn’t some brat just say I wouldn’t let myself be outdone by a little Internet celebrity? Forgot already?” Mu Qingxue said disdainfully.
“No, no. You could’ve just bought one for over a million. It would still be more than that girl’s,” Chen Xiaoyan said with a playful smile.
“No, this was the cheapest one.”
“Uh…” Chen Xiaoyan was instantly speechless.
‘Fine, my horizons are too small. Sorry for the bother, rich lady.’
“Xue-bao, buying such expensive jewelry… how could I be so bold as to accept?”
“Embarrassed? Simple, I’ll just deduct it from your salary.”
Chen Xiaoyan’s expression changed instantly. She quickly hugged Mu Qingxue’s left arm and frantically rubbed her head against it.
“What are you doing?” Mu Qingxue had a disgusted look, trying to push her away. However, the more she resisted, the more the other girl pushed her luck and rubbed against her.
“Xue-bao, no, no! This is something you’re giving to my mom, not to me. Why should my salary be deducted?”
Mu Qingxue couldn’t help but laugh and countered, “Because she’s your mom!”
“This…” Chen Xiaoyan was speechless.
After thinking for a long time without coming up with a reason for a “free pass,” she began to act cute and play the “shameless” card.
“I don’t care! I don’t care!”
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