Chapter 36: This Mistress Has Quite a Story!

"Mrs. Zhao, I despise lilacs. Find someone to dig up all these flowering trees for me!"

"Oh, and Brother Fei asked me to stay in the master bedroom with him. I find the wedding photo on the headboard to be an eyesore, so throw that out, too."

"Actually, the photo wall in the first-floor living room is also unsightly. I want it all replaced with photos of my husband and me!"

On the second-floor outdoor terrace, Lu Youyou, dressed in Lu Tian's red silk pajamas, acted as if she were the lady of the house, barking orders at the servants.

Standing downstairs, Mrs. Zhao looked troubled and offered a cautious reminder, "Miss Youyou, those lilacs were a token of love between the Madam and the Master; they are very precious. And as for the wedding photo in the master bedroom, the Master is also quite..."

"Husband, husband, since you invited me to stay here, does that mean I can decide to get rid of anything I don't like?"

"Hmm, do as you please."

It was an audio clip playing from a mobile phone.

Lu Youyou leaned lazily against the railing, the soft, arrogant vanity of a nineteen-year-old girl on full display. She arched her brows triumphantly, her demeanor overbearing. "Lu Tian is nothing but a fake heiress. My brother kicked her to the curb long ago, and now even Brother Fei can't be bothered to protect her. She's just an unloved pest. What are you afraid of her for?"

"Yes, yes, of course, Miss... no, wait, you are the Eldest Miss now. I will do exactly as you say." Mrs. Zhao knew well how to trim her sails to the wind.

As the group bustled about the villa, Lu Tian, wanting to avoid further conflict and seeing that no one had noticed her, slipped through the back door and made her way to the nursery. In this home where she had poured her heart and soul, only the mementos of her daughter, Nannan, remained worth caring about.

But...

The pink Barbie bed had been replaced by an infant's cradle. In the Pop Mart wardrobe, the little dresses Nannan had loved so much had vanished, replaced by a boy's tiny clothes and trousers.

In the doorway, Lu Youyou stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the frame with a brilliant, gentle smile. "Wondering where I threw that junk?"

"Or perhaps..." The young girl stepped closer, finally leaning down to whisper maliciously into her ear, "Is Mrs. Fei feeling angry now, wanting to hit me?"

"Who exactly are you? Why do you hate me so much?" If this were merely the petty squabbling between a wife and a mistress, why did she see such scorching, roiling fury in the girl's eyes?

Suddenly, Lu Tian recalled the message Lu Youyou had sent her while she was on the speedboat that day.

"Nanyuan Street, Number 301..." she murmured to herself unconsciously. If she remembered correctly, Fei Jing had insisted on developing 301, forcing construction to begin before any relocation preparations were complete. The shanty dwellers living there, having received not a penny in compensation, had clashed violently with the workers on the very first day.

Later, she heard Fei Jing say that only a few workers were injured and that compensation had been paid. As for the 301 project, after the serious consequences of that riot, the residents of the shantytown, unable to withstand the pressure from the large corporation, had no choice but to move away.

"What's the matter? Has the high-and-mighty Mrs. Fei finally remembered the little affairs of us lowly commoners?" Lu Youyou walked to the luxurious wardrobe, her white, jade-like fingers trailing over the high-end custom-made baby clothes. She glanced back with a smile, yet it carried the sense of total collapse of someone who had lost everything.

"These clothes, this manor that Fei Jing built for you personally—it’s very expensive, isn't it? Even a random painting, a rug, or a bed must cost millions, right?"

"But do you know? For a resident of a shantytown, ten thousand yuan is all they need to rent a place to shelter from the wind and rain and continue to live."

*Rip!* With a sharp sound, a dozen small boys' outfits were viciously torn down. Lu Youyou cradled them in her palms, sniffed the scent, and smiled so broadly her eyes crinkled. "So this is the fragrance of money. What to do? Lu Tian, I’m looking forward to it more and more now—looking forward to seeing you down and out, wretched, and having lost everything."

*Hahaha—*

She was only nineteen, in the prime of her youth. What could she have possibly experienced to be able to laugh so desolately with such a bitter, sharp voice?

"Ma... Madam, the young miss's things—the Master gave his tacit approval for the Eldest Miss to throw them away."

"The Master also asked me to pass on a message: he says that even the underwear you wear belongs to him. He loves you very much and wants you to think it over carefully and return as soon as possible. Otherwise, he can bestow the privileges and conveniences of being Mrs. Fei upon another woman, and you will surely regret it!"

As soon as Lu Youyou left, Mrs. Zhao ran over, trembling as she stood at the door. She must have summoned all her courage to repeat Fei Jing's words word for word.

Lu Tian simply smiled. The beautiful, soft morning light filtered through the elegant curtains, bathing her in its glow. Her stiff limbs and the body hollowed out by cancer felt, in that very moment, suddenly relaxed. She stretched fully, letting out a long, languid yawn.

Mrs. Zhao was stunned. "Madam, how can you still smile? You're a fake heiress; without the Master as your backing, how will you survive out there alone?"

"I'll live just fine! And I will make Fei Jing understand one thing: that evil-doers eventually bring about their own destruction. Sooner or later, the one who will be kicked out of this place will be him!"

Leaving the Fei estate empty-handed, she stood beneath the lilac tree that had been dug up into a ruin. Clasping the pendant containing the ashes, she whispered to herself, "Nannan, let's not love such a father anymore, alright? From now on, you only have Mommy. Mommy will love you for a lifetime, forever."

*Rumble—*

A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky.

Fei Jing, having just stepped out of the conference room, felt a sharp, stabbing pain in his chest, as if something he cherished most was slowly slipping away.

Chen Yi walked over, holding a phone, and repeated what Mrs. Zhao had said on the call earlier. "Ah Jing, there has to be a bottom line to a couple's fighting. You’re separated from Lu Tian now—aren't you afraid she’ll find someone new and really leave you for good?"

It was a classic case of touching a sore spot.

Back in his office, Fei Jing began drinking red wine like water. Ever since Lu Tian left home, he had appeared no different than usual, even intentionally bringing Lu Youyou over to use as an outlet. But as his best friend since childhood, Chen Yi could still tell that the man was likely consumed with thoughts of his little wife, hoping she would calm down and return to his arms.

"She’s the one who wanted to leave. I can't stop her." He remained stubborn, though his open computer screen displayed the homepage of a factory specializing in custom airplane models. The chat record with customer service contained only one line:

—[I want to give this to my wife. She is an expert in this field; it must be perfected. Money is no object.]
—[I just want her to be happy.]

Chen Yi read it out word for word and sighed helplessly. "Ah Jing, what's the point of always giving so silently? A woman's heart is as deep as the sea; if you ask me, just go and coax her. I'll help you."

"How?" A flash of fleeting anticipation appeared in his eyes.

Seeing his best friend trapped by love, Chen Yi patted his chest, full of confidence. "Don't worry, leave it to me. When it comes to coaxing girls, I'm the best in the world!"

Before leaving, he circled back to Fei Jing's desk and asked seriously, "That Lu Youyou—has Lu Tian noticed anything?"

"..."

For the first time, he fell silent on this question.

Chen Yi rolled his eyes. "Isn't she just a tool for bearing children? Send her overseas. I'll find people to take care of her; stop seeing her. Lu Tian has such high pride—could she ever accept two women serving one husband?"