Chapter 3: Her Rebirth Changed Everything

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Xu Yanran’s words brought great comfort to Xu Xingyue’s heart. She wanted to say more, but was angrily interrupted by her mother standing beside her.

“So you didn’t follow my instructions to bring her back from the mainland?” Xu’s mother glared at her with anxious eyes.

How could she have such a foolish daughter? Unable to handle even such a simple matter?

Xu Yanran shut her mouth briefly. She wanted to say yes, but when she met her mother’s furious gaze, she immediately denied it.

“No, I did bring her back.” A flicker of guilt crossed her eyes. She had wanted to avoid picking her up, but before leaving, her mother had repeatedly instructed her to bring the girl back properly. How could she dare disobey? Unless she wanted to ruin her own good life.

“It’s just that she didn’t want to ride with me, so after leaving her the address at the airport, I came back first.”

At the end, Xu Yanran’s voice softened considerably, afraid her mother would scold her on the spot.

Xu’s mother was furious at what Xu Yanran had done; her face immediately changed color.

“Idiot! How can you be the eldest sister?” She pointed at Xu Yanran’s nose and scolded, “Hong Kong is completely unfamiliar territory for Yaoyao. You left her at the airport—what if she ran into bad people? Where would I find someone else to help then?”

Xu Yanran hadn’t expected her mother to react so strongly just because she left Yu Yao at the airport and felt wronged.

How could she be blamed for this? If Lu Yao hadn’t kept giving her that deadpan look, would she have abandoned her at the airport? Why was it now her responsibility?

“Mom, don’t be so upset. Calm down,” Xu Xingyue quickly reached out to soothe the situation.

She hadn’t expected that after three years, they still remembered Lu Yao and even wanted to bring her back. Could it be that her efforts over these years hadn’t been enough?

“Actually, it’s not entirely the eldest sister’s fault.” A shadow flashed through Xu Xingyue’s eyes as she struggled to suppress her anger and spoke gently, “You know Yaoyao’s temper. She was probably upset about going to the countryside, and eldest sister couldn’t handle her at once, so she came back first.”

“But fortunately, Yaoyao was educated and could read and write. Even though she’s unfamiliar with Hong Kong now, she can find her way to the Xu family’s residence here if she tries. Nothing will happen to her.”

With Xu Xingyue speaking up for her, Xu Yanran finally found some courage to respond.

“Exactly, Mom. Our family has some standing here in Hong Kong. If she really wants to come back, she won’t get lost.”

Xu Yanran wasn’t worried at all that Lu Yao might lose her way.

She was an adult; who would dare harm her?

“If it really comes to it, I’ll send someone to look for her now. She definitely won’t be in danger.”

“Good, then hurry and send someone out to search,” Xu’s mother said firmly. She didn’t want empty promises; she wanted results quickly.

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Everything else was none of her concern.

* * *

“Young Master Xiang, we’ve found her.”

In the bronze mansion, Cheng Gang handed the information to Xiang Zhihua.

“This young girl didn’t lie; she really is part of the Xu family.”

“However, she’s an adopted daughter. A few days ago, someone from the Xu family brought her back from the mainland.”

“Apparently, there was a quarrel midway, so the person who picked her up left her at the airport.”

They knew the rest of the story: she accidentally fell onto Xiang Zhihua and was taken back by his people.

“Send her back,” Xiang Zhihua said.

Cheng Gang was surprised. Was Xiang not going to investigate further? Since when did he become so merciful?

He thought to himself but still followed orders to make arrangements.

Lu Yao arrived at the Xu family villa three days later.

Though she succeeded in her plan to trick the other party at the airport, she had been confined by Xiang Zhihua for three days.

During that time, she was constantly watched by his men.

It was no wonder that trying to hitch a ride back to the Xu family wasn’t easy.

It wasn’t until this morning that someone personally drove her to the villa’s outskirts.

Not even to the front gate.

“You’ve arrived, Miss Xu!”

After stopping the car, the person urged Lu Yao to get out hastily and quickly drove away.

Unlike in the previous life, after Xu Yanran abandoned her at the airport, she had spent three whole days and nights walking while asking around to reach the Xu family.

Hungry, she endured; thirsty, she drank leftover soda from others.

Along the way, many tried to bully her, but seeing her ragged clothes and the stench emanating from her, they all backed off.

When she encountered vicious dogs, she would fiercely fight them with sticks she found on the ground, even if bitten and battered all over, she never stopped.

But none of this happened in this life.

She felt very fortunate.

She had met Xiang Zhihua.

Though her plan hadn’t completely succeeded and was likely seen through, the other party thought it was a misunderstanding and sent her to the Xu family.

Now, as she once again saw the luxurious villa before her, it felt like another world.

Here, just as in her previous life, everything was strict, lavish, and spotless.

And she stood there like a foul fish emerging from black sludge,

Wearing patched clothes and reeking of filth.

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She stood straight, appearing pitiful and lonely under the light.

The two security guards at the gate immediately noticed her, just as before.

“Go away, where did this little beggar come from? Get lost! This is no place for vagrants like you.”

Hong Kong was precious land; not just anyone could roam freely.

Especially in villa districts, inhabited by people of status and influence.

Who would let beggars contaminate their surroundings?

Lu Yao glanced down at her clothes and smiled bitterly.

Indeed, whether in her last life or this one, her appearance was no different from a beggar’s—

Even worse than one.

In the previous life, she fought the vicious dogs and ended up ragged.

In this life, thanks to Xiang Zhihua, she was locked away in a dark place.

Though her clothes weren’t torn, the two small braids in her hair were already frizzy and dirty, her body reeked.

Her cloth shoes were worn through, revealing blackened feet.

Calling her a beggar was even too generous.

Yet even so, she had no choice but to lower her head and address the security guard respectfully, just as before.

“I’m here to see someone, sir.”

Her voice was soft and gentle.

At that moment, she had no other explanation or excuse.

The security guard looked her up and down with a strange expression.

“Nowadays, many come to join the Lu family through marriage or kinship, but your outfit is quite unusual, little girl. You’re young; don’t cause trouble here. Go on, leave quickly.”

The guard had a family too, and felt some pity for Lu Yao’s appearance.

But since he held this job, he couldn’t be negligent.

After all, the Xu family paid him well enough to support his household.

He didn’t want to lose his job over a little beggar.

“Sir…” Lu Yao raised her head, wanting to say more, when suddenly a sharp voice came from behind her.

“Where have you been? Why are you still standing there?”

Lu Yao turned around to see Xu Yanran had already parked her car behind her and was walking toward her step by step.

Her eyes blazing with anger.

And she looked ready to raise her hand and strike.