Chapter 402 - 349: I’ll Just Say This Much
Chapter 402: Chapter 349: I’ll Just Say This Much
Ignoring the bus at the stop, she pulled Yang Liu’er aside. "Are you sure you weren’t just dreaming? You’ve really lived a whole extra life?"
Yang Liu’er pursed her lips. "Of course it’s true. Why would I lie to you?"
"I think you’re lying. Watch it, or you’ll get hauled off to the police station!"
"You!" Yang Liu’er frantically shook off Xiao Man’s hand. She glanced around, her face pale. "I told you because I trusted your character! How could you say that?"
"We’re not related. We’re not even friends. Why on earth would you trust me?"
Yang Liu’er bit her lip, her eyes welling up. "I’ve been watching you for a long time... I feel like you’re a kind person. There are so few good people in this world, even I’ve been tempted to turn bad. But you... one look at you makes a person feel warm, like they can trust you."
Xiao Man blinked, speechless. ’My face has that kind of effect?’
"Does anyone walk around with ’kind person’ written on their forehead? Don’t be so naive. I’m not who you think I am! You keep whispering in people’s ears about past and present lives. And yeah, your ’past life’ sounds amazing, but why do you get one and I don’t? It’s annoying, you know? I’m just saying, if you ran into someone who’s actually jealous, like Tang Yaxuan, they might really call the police and have you locked up in an asylum!"
The word "asylum" clearly frightened Yang Liu’er. Her mouth fell open, and she quickly shook her head. "No, no! I’ve only ever told you and Brother Jun Fan. No one else has heard a word of it!"
Xiao Man narrowed her eyes at her. "So you told Bai Junfan about your extra life, and then had him come find me to create an opportunity to marry a Tang Family Girl?"
"I’m not that stupid!" Yang Liu’er exclaimed. "Brother Jun Fan is my man. I was worried you’d steal him from me, so why would I send him to you? I didn’t tell him everything. I just... I just gave him a hint once... that time Mr. Bai was on the verge of death, but then somehow, he didn’t die!"
Yang Liu’er’s voice trailed off. She didn’t understand why Mr. Bai hadn’t died. What she didn’t know was that Bai Junfan, acting on her "warning from a dream," had rushed to the Tang Mansion. He had put on a tragic performance for Mr. Tang and begged for a Heart Nourishing Pill, saving his grandfather’s life.
Bai Qingyue had given strict orders regarding the medicine from the Tang Mansion. Besides Doctor Jia and Bai Junfan, no one else was told how the life was saved.
Xiao Man knew about this; Grandpa Tang had told her. She had just assumed the Bai family had discovered the Tang family possessed rare herbs by pure coincidence. It was only today that she finally understood. ’So that’s how it was!’
The bus had driven away, leaving Xiao Man no choice but to continue her squabble with Yang Liu’er. "Is your Brother Jun Fan some kind of priceless treasure? You think everyone wants him, and that I’d try to steal him? I’d have to be crazy!"
Yang Liu’er’s face flushed red. "I’m sorry! I know now, you’re not interested... I-I was just running my mouth!"
"You can be careless about what you eat, but not about what you say! Especially in a place like Beijing, it’s best to keep your mouth shut and be careful. You just said Bai Junfan is your man—is that true? Do you have a marriage certificate? The Bai family already doesn’t like you. If they hear you running your mouth like this, what do you think they’ll do? The Bai Family is powerful and influential; getting rid of an orphan girl like you would be as easy as swatting a fly. If they decide they don’t want to see you, they can make you disappear with any excuse. Let’s say you try to claim a common-law marriage and start spouting nonsense about being reborn—Bai Qingyue is an expert at seizing on weaknesses like that. She’d countersue you for slandering a soldier, have you locked up as a lunatic, and you’d be finished!"
The color drained from Yang Liu’er’s face, leaving even her lips white. "I’m already so careful in the Bai Family home. I usually serve the Old Master, and he doesn’t like chatty people, so I pretend I’m a mute and never speak out of turn... I really did live a whole extra life. Other than you, I haven’t dared to tell anyone. I only told Brother Jun Fan that I had a dream. Of course I know the Bai family is powerful. Didn’t I suffer enough because of them in my last life? I don’t plan on complaining to the higher-ups. I just want to wait in peace for Brother Jun Fan to return."
"What’s going to change when Bai Junfan comes back? Will you be able to marry him and become his legally recognized wife?"
The corner of Yang Liu’er’s mouth twitched. "With Aunt Bai and the Old Master around, it’s probably not possible right now. But... Brother Jun Fan is going to arrange for me to get into a university. After I graduate with a diploma and get assigned a decent job, then it... should be okay, right?"
Xiao Man sighed. She knew that saying more was probably useless, but she patiently finished her thought. "Yang Liu’er, you had that dream, you think you had a past life, and you know full well that Bai Junfan won’t marry you or protect you in the end, yet you insist on waiting for him. People who understand would call it deep devotion. People who don’t will just think you’re a fool. And the Bai family, even Bai Junfan himself, will see you as a burden they can’t shake, a stray they can’t chase away! Your family did the Bai family a great favor, and now it’s come to this. You, the benefactor, are the one at a disadvantage. What’s the point? You’re an adult. You can leave the Bai Family and live on your own. Don’t eat their food, don’t wear their clothes. In the future, when you stand before Bai Junfan, you’ll feel completely different! If you don’t believe me, you can try."
Yang Liu’er looked at Xiao Man, a hint of conflict in her eyes. "I’ve thought about leaving the Bai Family, but... I’m a little scared. I’m afraid I can’t support myself."
Xiao Man scoffed. She pointed to a row of fruit stalls under the shade of the trees across the street, and to the vendors pushing tricycle carts and calling out their wares. "Our country is going through reform and opening-up. Anyone can start their own business. As long as you’re hardworking, there’s no way you can’t make money! And if you look down on these small-time gigs, what about Weiwei’s aunt? She went and rented a shop in a department store. Isn’t her clothing business doing great?"
"But I still want to study. And once I leave the Bai Family, it’ll be hard to get back in again. What will happen with me and Brother Jun Fan then?"
Xiao Man shook her head. "That I can’t help you with! I’m busy with my coursework and other things, so I don’t get out much. This is all I can tell you today. Don’t follow me anymore. And don’t worry, I have absolutely zero interest in Bai Junfan! You’ve met my fiancé, haven’t you? He’s a hundred, a thousand times better than Bai Junfan!"