But it was very clear that everything before their eyes had deviated from what they had planned.
Gu Junzhu was not critically ill. He might not die within the next few years or decades, so they didn’t even have to discuss whether he would die in the next few days.
Moreover, Gu Junzhu looked very pleased and doting towards Ye Xingbei.
Now, Ye Xingbei was no longer a lonely and helpless widow—without any bit of power.
Instead, she was the Gu family’s honorable Young Madam!
How could they offend the Gu family’s Young Madam?
She must cajole Ye Xingbei into obeying her every word so that in the future, she could seize a steady flow of benefits from Gu Junzhu through Ye Xingbei!
Although Ye Xingbei’s attitude was nasty, Xu Yanlai was confident that she could not possibly know that she wasn’t in fact hers and Jiang Zhengxing’s biological daughter. She only assumed that Ye Xingbei still held a grudge because of how they had wronged her that year.
She knew how much Ye Xingbei longed for familial affection so she was certain that she would be able to coax Ye Xingbei into changing her mind. The latter was sure to be all compliant at her—this “mother’s”— every beck and call.
Acting intimately, she grasped Ye Xingbei’s shoulder and pulled the latter into her embrace while her tone rebuked, “This child! How could there be animosity between parents and their own biological children for more than one night? You are the child that Mom carried in her womb for 10 months and gave birth to after enduring bitter hardships! You are the piece of flesh on the tip of Mom’s heart! When we weren’t able to find you anywhere these few years, Mom’s heart hurt like it was being sliced by a knife. At least, you are back now. In fact, you’re living very well; you have a limitless future in front of you and became Star Sect’s company director. Mom has almost woken up from her dreams while laughing these past few nights!”
In reality, she had awoken from hatred these few nights.
How come Xie Qinyue’s daughter had better future prospects than her own?
That year, Ye Xingbei had already been stamped into a ball of mud by her. But after five short years, she actually underwent a complete metamorphosis and became the director of Star Sect International with a net worth of more than 100 million.
In contrast, both of her daughters were only two little artistes signed under Star Sect, whose lifelines were controlled by Ye Xingbei.
At present, Ye Xingbei had also become Gu Junzhu’s wife and the Gu family’s Young Madam.
Furthermore, Gu Junzhu looked like he was extremely fond and indulgent towards her.
All the fortuitous opportunities in the world had been taken by Ye Xingbei.
As soon as she thought about that, all of her organs would hurt from outrage.
But no matter how frustrated she felt, she had to put on a warm and motherly appearance to appeal to Ye Xingbei’s sentiments with her utmost best. Using familial love as her weapon, she hoped to conquer Ye Xingbei’s heart and rebuild the latter’s trust in her, so that she could make use of her as she pleased.
But it was a pity that Ye Xingbei was no longer that ignorant little girl who had longed for familial affection in the past.
That soft spot in her heart was only dedicated to Xiao Shu and her older brothers.
Facing Jiang Zhengxing’s family, her heart would only be as hard as ice.
Even if Xu Yanlai wept till her eyes went blind, she would never acknowledge her as her mother once more! Let alone the few drops of crocodile tears that the former was shedding!
She pushed Xu Yanlai away and her icy eyes could barely hide her contempt. “Mrs Jiang, do you have a bad memory or are you just too forgetful? Have you already forgotten? Five years ago, you once pointed at my nose as you castigated me for corrupting public morals, not having a sense of shame and tarnishing the Jiang family’s reputation. You said that you had never given birth to a daughter like me. Have you forgotten about all of these?”
The loving, motherly expression on Xu Yanlai’s face stiffened but soon transformed into a look of heartache and pity. Looking at Ye Xingbei, she squeezed out a string of tears and stated sorrowfully, “Bei Bei, what happened that year was because Dad and Mom loved you too much—we loved you so deeply that we criticized you even more cuttingly. In a moment of desperation, we spoke too harshly! But how could there be overnight enmity between biological mothers and daughters? After I finished speaking, I regretted my words and quickly sent someone to look for you and bring you home. Who knew that we would not be able locate you at all! You have no idea how much Mom regretted everything after you left. My heart had shattered from all the crying.”
“Is that so?” With a faint smile, Ye Xingbei looked at her meaningfully. “Mrs Jiang, let’s not forget how you personally said that you wanted to cut off all your ties to me five years ago. But even if you don’t sever our relationship, it seems like… You aren’t my biological mother either, right?”