Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Wen Xinya stared at Xia Ruya, whose expression kept changing. “Miss Xia, what’s the matter? Was my request overboard?”
Xia Ruya’s face stiffened. However, she still had to continue with the act. She hurriedly said, “It’s Dr. Luo Le. I have a friend who knows him well.”
Wen Xinya said calmly with a smile, “Oh, I see. Dr. Luo is rather well known in the medical field.”
However, no one was a match for Du Shinan, in terms of skills and medical knowledge.
Xia Ruya bit her lip, feeling a little embarrassed.
Wen Xinya continued, “Miss Xia, did you ask clearly if Grandpa’s medication is going to clash with the tonic soups?”
“I didn’t,” Xia Ruya answered with a gloomy expression. Although Luo Le had mentioned that Western medication would clash with Traditional Chinese medicine, he did not mention specifically if Old Mr. Wen’s current medication would clash with the tonic soups.
Wen Xinya nodded and said, “Miss Xia, you probably don’t know that all of the ingredients that are in Grandpa’s tonic soups are used for nourishing and not for treating illnesses. They won’t clash.”
In other words, Wen Xinya was just trying to say that Xia Ruya was spouting nonsense.
Xia Ruya bit her lip, at a complete loss for words. She felt as if she could not breathe at all. She was overwhelmed with resentment the moment she thought about Wen Xinya mocking her during her scandal.
Old Mr. Wen was no longer gazing at Xia Ruya in a loving and sympathetic manner. He said, “The tonic soups that Xinya has been feeding me are very potent, and they’ve helped cure my insomnia as well as several other health issues.”
Old Mrs. Wen was at a loss for words, for she knew that it was true since she had been sleeping beside him for years.
Wen Xinya smiled and said, “Good that Grandpa thinks it’s suitable.”
Xia Ruya looked at Old Mr. Wen to see that he had a sullen expression on his face. It seemed like he was glaring daggers at her. She remembered how much he used to trust her. Yet, everything had changed within just half a year. Indeed, people do change easily.
Old Mrs. Wen said, “Old Man, the Xia Family has never once given Ruya any help in settling the issue about her scandal. She had no choice but to tarnish her own reputation to clear her name. I’m thinking of bringing Ruya home to live with us. After all, we’ve raised her for twelve years and it’s only right that she moves back in with us.”
A cold and menacing gaze formed in Wen Xinya’s eyes. She thought to herself, Turns out this is what Xia Ruya is planning to do. However, she was not certain if Old Mr. Wen would agree to it or not. After all, they had indeed raised her for twelve years.
Old Mr. Wen glared at her austerely and questioned, “What do you mean?”
Old Mrs. Wen answered, “I’m just thinking that there’s no need for Ruya to continue staying with the Xia Family since they’re so cruel and heartless towards her. Why don’t we just adopt Ruya?”
A sullen expression formed on Old Mr. Wen’s face and he looked at Xia Ruya. “Is this what you’re thinking too? Are you planning to walk out on the Xia Family because you find them heartless, and become our adoptive daughter?”
He sounded extremely stern and blunt, causing Xia Ruya to be at a loss for an answer. She was tongue-tied and unable to continue pretending to be pitiful.
She obviously wanted to become the Wen Family’s adoptive daughter again. Considering that Old Mrs. Wen was extremely close to her and Old Mr. Wen was not exactly cold and unfeeling towards her, she’d definitely succeed in getting adopted again so long as nothing went wrong with her meticulously-planned strategy.
However, she had no idea how she should answer Old Mr. Wen’s blunt words.
Old Mr. Wen stared at her and asked, “So, what do you think?”
Xia Ruya hung her head low, stuck in a dilemma.
Old Mrs. Wen hurriedly chided. “Old Man, why do you have to put Ruya in a spot? She’s kindhearted. Of course she’s going to be conflicted.”
Old Mr. Wen glanced at Xia Ruya before glowering at Old Mrs. Wen. “Shut up, why are you interrupting? You have to seek Ruya’s opinion first!”
Wen Xinya knew exactly what was going on. Old Mr. Wen obviously had no intention of taking Xia Ruya in. Hence, he was putting Xia Ruya in a spot and making her answer a difficult question.
Old Mr. Wen would have sympathized with Xia Ruya if the topic about the clashing of medicines wasn’t brought up in discussion, and he would have very likely conceded after Old Mrs. Wen’s eager persuasion. However, Old Mr. Wen had changed his mind, especially since he had to consider Wen Xinya’s feelings as well. After all, she was the real flesh and blood of the Wen Family and wouldn’t be able to withstand living under the same roof as someone who took her place and enjoyed a life of luxury for twelve years.
Xia Ruya hung her head low, for she had already understood what Old Mr. Wen meant. She looked up and said, “I can’t make any comments about the Xia Family. After all, they’re the ones who have given me life, and I can never cut off the blood ties that I have with them.”
Old Mr. Wen nodded and said, “Good that you’re clear about that. If you really walk out on the Xia Family and become our adoptive daughter just because they ill-treat you, we wouldn’t want you either.”
Xia Ruya’s face stiffened at the instant that she heard his words. Try as she might, she could not hide her emotions and keep up with the pretense. It turns out Old Mr. Wen was giving her a tricky question and she would never achieve her goals regardless of how she answered.
She finally realized how shrewd the cunning businessman Wen Zhihang was. He was no longer as personable and benevolent as he used to be. He no longer doted on her either.
Just as Old Mrs. Wen was about to say something, Old Mr. Wen glared at her and said, “Ruya doesn’t want to be adopted at all, why are you stirring so much trouble? Ruya may be close to us, but we can’t let her commit such an atrocious act as to abandon her blood kin. If word about this spreads, others are going to think that the Wen Family is the culprit of it all. How are we supposed to face the world?”
Old Mrs. Wen finally realized how serious the matter was. Reluctant to concede, she murmured, “Old Man…”
Old Mr. Wen interjected. “Fine, Ruya may stay with us for a short while. She’ll go home after the New Year.”
Since the arrangement was reasonable, Old Mrs. Wen had no choice but to remain silent.
Xia Ruya hung her head low, concealing the resentment and austerity in her eyes.
