Chapter 7: We're Not That Close

“No, Yaoyao.”

Fear and guilt flickered in Madam Xu’s eyes, as if her inner scheming had been seen through, and she hurriedly defended herself.

“Listen to me, Mom—”

“Lu Yao, is it your intention today to drive us crazy until you’re satisfied?”

Before Madam Xu could finish her explanation, Xu Yanran interrupted sharply.

At that moment, she suddenly regretted bringing Lu Yao back from Baiyan Village.

People like her deserved to remain in the countryside forever, just like her former nanny, never to come out again.

She was unworthy of standing before them and throwing a tantrum here!

“Am I wrong, Madam Xu?”

Lu Yao ignored Xu Yanran’s words, calmly fixing her gaze on Madam Xu throughout.

“Wasn’t it you who promised with your own mouth?”

Lu Yao had not forgotten how, in both her previous and current lives, Madam Xu once stood before her, holding her hand with tears streaming down her face.

“Yaoyao, I heard that life in the countryside isn’t so harsh. You should go, and after a year I’ll bring you back. Just one year, and when you come back, you’ll still be my good daughter.”

It was because of this very promise that Lu Yao made such a resolute decision both times.

But in the end, what did she get?

A body covered in scars, countless misunderstandings, and immeasurable suffering.

And them?

Only two months after she was sent to the countryside, they moved to Hong Kong with Xu Xingyue.

It was clear—whether last life or this—deep down they never intended to bring her back after one year. It was just an excuse to stall her.

“As for changing my surname… Miss Yanran, have you forgotten? When Mr. Xu took Xu Xingyue back, they already changed both my and Xu Xingyue’s surnames.”

In her previous life, after Xu Xingyue was taken back to the Xu family, Mr. Xu had her name erased from the family genealogy and replaced with Xu Xingyue’s.

Lu Yao bore no resentment for this.

After all, she was truly not of the Xu bloodline.

But now, for Xu Yanran to use this against her was utterly ridiculous.

Madam Xu’s expression shifted rapidly. Upon Lu Yao’s reminder, she recalled this matter, a trace of embarrassment and sorrow flickering in her dark eyes.

“Even so, so what?”

Xu Yanran dismissed it as trivial. In her view, Lu Yao was never truly part of the Xu family; exchanging surnames was only natural.

The Xu family had raised her for fifteen years—was she supposed to hold a grudge over such a small matter?

“Yaoyao, look, you’ve come back after all this trouble. Let’s not bicker over trivial things, okay? Let’s look forward.”

Xu Xingyue, fearing Lu Yao’s continued words would deepen the guilt in Madam Xu and the others’ hearts and bring back more painful memories, quickly stepped forward to change the subject.

“Look how much Mom cares about you—she’s prepared all your favorite dishes.”

---

On the table were shrimp and fish—delicacies just like in her last life, truly rare and delicious.

Especially to Lu Yao, who had spent three years in Baiyan Village surviving on coarse grains and coarse, bran-filled cornbread.

But Lu Yao had been allergic to seafood since childhood, something everyone in the Xu family knew.

The seafood on the table was not for her but for Xu Xingyue.

Lu Yao lowered her gaze.

“Madam Xu, thank you for your kindness, but my stomach probably can’t handle these delicacies now.”

Her voice was calm, without emotion.

“Plain porridge and simple dishes are fine. If Miss Xu Xingyue likes them, she can eat them herself.”

She didn’t want them.

“Bang!”

“Lu Yao, did we not extend you enough courtesy today?”

Xu Xingyue’s distress and sorrow were evident to Xu Yanran.

Anger got the better of her, and she slammed the table as she stood.

“Xingyue is only trying to care for you with goodwill. If you don’t want to eat, then don’t. Who are you throwing that face at?”

Who was she trying to disgust here?

“It’s okay, Big Sister.”

Xu Xingyue quickly grabbed Xu Yanran’s hand and said, “Sister Lu Yao suffered for three years in the countryside on my behalf. It’s normal for her to feel uncomfortable and aggrieved. It’s nothing; as long as she’s happy.”

“What grievance does she have?”

Xu Yanran was dissatisfied.

“Isn’t it just three years in the countryside? Didn’t you also spend fifteen years there, enduring hardships? Compared to you, what is three years?”

Her own sister was supposed to be a noble princess but had been deliberately swapped.

As the daughter responsible for this, how could she let Lu Yao take her place in the countryside for three years?

They hadn’t even held that woman accountable, which was already quite generous to Lu Yao.

What more could she complain about?

Lu Yao kept her head down, eating the plain porridge and simple dishes before her without saying a word.

Her stomach was no longer what it used to be.

She had to eat on time, or pain would ensue.

In her previous life, after returning to the Xu family, she fainted from the pain caused by arguing with Xu Yanran at the dining table.

This time, she refused to be so foolish.

Because there was no need.

“All right, hurry up and sit down to eat.”

Seeing that Lu Yao remained silent, Madam Xu didn’t want to let the atmosphere stay awkward just because she had just returned, so she took the initiative to speak.

---

“Here, Yaoyao, have some meat.”

Madam Xu held her chopsticks and placed a freshly cooked tender piece of beef into Lu Yao’s bowl, eyes full of expectation.

“This is specially from the beef back just cut by the kitchen staff. Try it and see if it’s fresh.”

As a mother, she had even bowed to her—surely now she would soften her heart and forgive them?

Madam Xu’s intentions were clear to Lu Yao.

If she hadn’t been reborn, hadn’t experienced the hardships of her previous life, perhaps she might have softened at this gesture.

But not now.

“Thank you, Madam Xu.”

Lu Yao glanced at the beef in her bowl but didn’t touch it.

Instead, she continued to eat the rice porridge quietly.

A trace of sadness flickered in Madam Xu’s eyes.

“Hmph!”

Xu Yanran scoffed coldly and turned her head aside.

Otherwise, she feared she might lose control and strike her.

“Sister Lu Yao, can I sleep next to you tonight?”

Xu Xingyue, seeing that Lu Yao seemed unwilling to acknowledge anyone, eyes flickering with a dark light, suddenly turned to look at her and reached to hold her hand—but Lu Yao quickly dodged.

“We’re not close.”

Lu Yao spoke expressionlessly.

The implication was clear—don’t try to get close to me.

Xu Xingyue had long anticipated this rejection, but when her hand was withdrawn, her face still stiffened involuntarily, and the outstretched hand froze midair.

“Lu Yao!”

Xu Yanran raised her voice at Lu Yao for giving Xu Xingyue no face.

“Big Sister, please don’t be angry.”

Xu Xingyue’s pleading eyes sought Xu Yanran.

“Sister Lu Yao may have just returned and isn’t yet accustomed. It’s my fault for lacking tact and causing her discomfort.”

“Hmph, you don’t need to make excuses for her.”

Xu Yanran was infuriated by Lu Yao’s sullen expression, sneering sarcastically.

“I know exactly what kind of person she is.”