Chapter 9: How Could One Compare to Her?

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“Miss Yao Yao, you’ll have to endure a bit of discomfort here for now,” Aunt Wu said as she tidied up the room, speaking to Lu Yao.

This room had always been her sole residence.

Consequently, the other single bed was piled high with bedding and other shoes and clothes packed in snake-skin bags.

Since the room was too small to accommodate everything, Aunt Wu had the idea to pack these items into bags for easy storage and so nothing would get lost.

“No trouble at all!” Lu Yao replied honestly.

This living space was even better than where she had lived in Baiyan Village.

She liked it very much.

It was far better than constantly being schemed against by the Xu family.

A look of helplessness flashed in Aunt Wu’s eyes; she was unsure whether Lu Yao was telling the truth or not, but she continued tidying without pause.

Lu Yao did not idle either; while Aunt Wu made the bed, she helped along.

Though Aunt Wu interrupted her midway, she persisted.

She was no longer the Xu family’s young lady.

Like Aunt Wu, she was just an ordinary person now.

She had no right to expect Aunt Wu to treat her like Xu Xingyue.

“All done, Miss Yao Yao, please rest now,” Aunt Wu said after finishing the bed, noticing the fatigue on Lu Yao’s face and urging her to rest, afraid she would continue working behind her back.

“I’m going out to give Madam a reply.”

Mrs. Xu was probably still worried about her.

“Thank you, Aunt Wu,” Lu Yao said without pretense or refusal; after a long day, her body was indeed weary.

But after Aunt Wu closed the door and left, Lu Yao lay on the bed, unable to fall asleep.

Though she had left the troublesome Baiyan Village behind, the Xu family was nothing less than a living hell for her.

There was no one in the family who sincerely cared for her.

Only endless schemes and calculations.

If she wanted to fully break free from the Xu family and live peacefully in Port City, she either had to marry a Hong Kong resident to apply for Hong Kong status or have her own business, job, or house in Hong Kong.

Given her current situation, none of these seemed achievable.

But… as for marrying a Hong Kong resident, a certain noble face suddenly appeared in Lu Yao’s mind—Xiang Zhihua’s.

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But she quickly shook her head to dismiss the thought.

Though she had never met Xiang Zhihua in her past life, from their last encounter at the airport, it was clear he was no good.

Arrogant, domineering, and extremely obsessive.

Such a powerful man would never give a weaker person a chance to scheme against him; instead, he might become reckless.

If she provoked him, it definitely wouldn’t end well.

She had to find someone else.

As for who to choose, Lu Yao found it hard to decide at that moment.

Eventually, her thoughts drifted off, and she fell asleep.

*

The next day, at dawn, Xu Feng returned from the United States after completing an investment deal and was stunned to see Lu Yao walk out of Aunt Wu’s room.

“Yao Yao!” Xu Feng called uncertainly, thinking he must be dreaming.

Wasn’t she supposed to be sent to the countryside? When did she come back?

Lu Yao’s face showed no expression or reaction.

She had recognized him the moment he entered—the masculine aura radiating from the muscular man who looked like he had just come from the gym next door.

“Good morning, Second Young Master!”

Lu Yao hadn’t expected to bump into Xu Feng just as she got up to eat something. She stiffened for a few seconds, realizing her luck wasn’t great today.

She lowered her eyes and bowed her head, politely greeting him in the manner of a Xu family servant.

She despised Xu Feng.

In their past life, he had feigned brotherly affection before her face, but secretly drugged her and sent her to that fool Huang family’s bed.

How could he be so heartless?

Xu Feng frowned. “When did you come back?” He stepped closer and asked, “And why did you just address me that way?”

“Yao Yao, call me brother!”

Xu Feng cherished Lu Yao as his sister.

But what had happened over the years was so inexplicable—he never imagined his once sweet and obedient sister would secretly steal from Xu Xingyue.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be disappointed in her.

“Second Young Master Xu, I’m not a daughter of the Xu family.”

Lu Yao calmly reminded him.

She had no right to call him brother.

She didn’t deserve to.

Nor did she want to.

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Did he understand what she meant?

Xu Feng was stunned.

He couldn’t believe that the sister who used to cling to him affectionately now spoke so coldly, as if she were a stranger.

What had happened to her in the past three years?

Why had she changed so drastically?

His gaze was complex as he stared at her.

Before he could speak, a sweet voice called from upstairs.

“Second Brother, you’re back?”

Upstairs, Xu Xingyue, dressed in a pink silk robe, had just woken and was feeling thirsty.

She intended to come downstairs for a drink but, upon stepping out, saw Xu Feng and Lu Yao talking at the staircase.

A flicker of jealousy and anxiety stirred in her heart. Ignoring their conversation, she excitedly ran down to interrupt.

“Slow down!”

Seeing his little sister rushing toward him, Xu Feng stopped questioning Lu Yao and turned all his attention to Xu Xingyue, his eyes filled with unspoken affection.

“Isn’t it because I’m happy?”

Xu Xingyue clung tightly to Xu Feng’s arm, resting her head on his shoulder and pouted coquettishly.

“Second Brother, didn’t you say you’d only be back tomorrow? How come so soon?”

Had the company matters already been resolved?

Xu Feng smiled and lightly tapped Xu Xingyue’s nose.

“A few days ago, you mentioned on the phone wanting to try an American Turducken. Coincidentally, a friend asked the Filipino maid to make one yesterday, so I flew it back for you this morning.”

“Look, do you like it?”

He waved the Turducken in front of Xu Xingyue’s eyes, as if to say, “If you don’t like it, I’ll take it back immediately.”

Xu Xingyue was not about to let such a delicacy disappear before her eyes and quickly reached out to take it.

“I like it, I like it, of course I do.”

She said excitedly, “Second Brother, you’re so good to me.”

Unexpectedly, Xu Feng had really brought the American Turducken back for her.

This delicacy was rare in the United States, only made for major holidays and celebrations.

It seemed she was still very important to Xu Feng.

What chance did Lu Yao have to compete with her?