Chapter 310 - 277: Is It Starting Again?
Chapter 310: Chapter 277: Is It Starting Again?
"I’ve taken her calls before. She’s..." Yang Liu’er was beginning to enjoy her studies and had grown quite fond of the night school. She was in the middle of an enthusiastic conversation with Bai Qingyue when the sudden question threw her. She didn’t switch gears fast enough, and by the time she realized her mistake, she had already blurted out half an answer. It was too late.
"Who is she?" Bai Qingyue smiled, her gaze encouraging. Steeling herself, Yang Liu’er continued, "She said her last name was Wu... Last time... she called then, too, but Second Uncle Bai wasn’t home!"
In this life, this was actually the first time Tang Yaxuan’s mother had called. Since Yang Liu’er had claimed to have taken her call before, she had no choice but to invent a "last time."
That was all Bai Qingyue needed. She didn’t press for details or even look at Yang Liu’er again, simply standing up and walking toward Bai Lihua’s study.
Yang Liu’er sat alone for a moment before leaving the main hall. She saw Shun Ma carrying a tray, apparently also heading toward Second Uncle Bai’s study. She rushed over and took the tray from her. Shun Ma yelped in alarm, "Oh, you silly girl, be careful not to spill it! This is the nourishing soup I made especially for the Second Young Master! He works so hard, always on the road, and when he gets home, he just holes up in his study to work. He needs to be properly nourished..."
Yang Liu’er scoffed inwardly. ’He’s been married twice and has six children, and she’s still calling him "Second Young Master"? It’s long past time to start calling him "Second Master"!’
Out loud, however, she said, "Don’t worry, Shun Ma. I’m quicker on my feet than you, and my eyesight is better. I won’t spill it. I’ll take this to Second Uncle. You’ve worked all day, you should get some rest!"
Shun Ma let out an exasperated laugh. "Now you notice I’m tired? I asked for your help earlier and you refused... Go on, take your time, don’t rush. Watch where you’re going!"
"Yeah, I got it!"
Yang Liu’er’s steps were silent. She tiptoed down the long corridor to Bai Lihua’s study door. After a glance to the left and right, she pressed herself against the door. Instead of knocking, she held her breath and listened to the voices coming from inside.
Inside the study were, of course, Bai Lihua and Bai Qingyue. Their voices were low, and what carried outside was faint and indistinct. Yang Liu’er focused with all her might, straining to hear, but she could only catch snippets of phrases, leaving her completely in the dark.
"Second Brother, Xiao Fan says he’s confident. He warned us repeatedly not to act rashly..."
"I’ve said it before, I know what I’m doing. I won’t ruin your plans."
"What do you mean, ’your’ plans? Second Brother, you’re the most important member of the Bai Family! You can’t let those old feelings of yours ruin everything!"
"Sigh, what ’old feelings’? Listen to yourself! Qing Yue, don’t worry. Your second brother isn’t muddle-headed."
"...I’m just afraid that if you get too close to her, it will start rumors and upset the Tang Family. After all, Wu Xiaowen is Tang Manman’s birth mother, and a lot of people know about you two back in the day!"
"That won’t happen. I’m very careful. As for Tang Manman, I think the Gu family is very protective of her. Gu Shaojun seems to have returned to Beijing just for her. He’s by her side every day. Xiao Fan is so far away, a young girl like her might not even remember him... Besides, isn’t Tang Yaxuan always with Wu Xiaowen? If that plan doesn’t work, she’s a decent enough substitute, right?"
"How can Tang Yaxuan possibly compare to Tang Manman? Let’s not forget she’s just an imposter. Tang Manman knows medicine and can acquire rare herbs. That’s what Father and Xiao Fan need and value most. Can Tang Yaxuan do that?"
"Tang Yaxuan might not have that ability, but Wu Xiaowen is Tang Manman’s mother. She must have some influence, right? I know Wu Xiaowen; she’s emotional, nostalgic, and dotes on Tang Yaxuan even more than on Tang Manman. If we can’t get ahold of Tang Manman, we can settle for second best. If Tang Yaxuan marries into the Bai Family, the Bai and Tang families become in-laws. If we need something, could Tang Manman really refuse to help?"
The room went quiet for a moment, then Bai Qingyue’s soft laugh was heard. "Second Brother, are you living under a rock? The reason Mr. Tang and his wife forbade Tang Qingyun and Wu Xiaowen from living in the Tang Mansion is because they doted on Tang Yaxuan too much. You really didn’t know? What’s more, Mr. Tang himself said that Tang Yaxuan has been returned to her birth family and has no connection to the Tang family anymore!"
Bai Lihua said, "That’s only temporary. Tang Manman was lost for over a decade and just came back. It’s natural for her to feel some resentment, so the Tang family has to put on a show for her benefit. Besides, Mr. Tang and his wife aren’t immortal. Tang Qingshan doesn’t have a son, so Tang Qingyun will eventually have to return to take over the Tang family. When that happens, Tang Yaxuan will still be a Tang Family Girl, and Tang Manman will have nothing to complain about. People have to look to the future, after all. There’s no sense in holding onto things from the distant past. That would be foolish!"
"Second Brother..."
"That’s enough. I understand! I still have to finish this work. You can go now if there’s nothing else."
"..."
Hearing someone about to come out, Yang Liu’er quickly backed away a few steps, tray in hand. Her heart calmed considerably. ’I only overheard a few scattered sentences, but I can tell that Second Uncle Bai and Bai Qingyue don’t see eye to eye. They’re arguing! This is great. As long as they aren’t working together in perfect sync like they did in my past life, it won’t be so easy for Brother Junfan to marry a Tang Family Girl!’
’And as for me, as long as I graduate from college, get a good, respectable job, and present myself well, I’ll surely be no worse than a Miss Tang. I’ll be a perfect match for Brother Junfan!’