Mrs. Helan’s cheeks spasmed at the scathing reply, but she recovered quickly. “I see you’re still so short-tempered even after all these years. I have wronged you, yes, but in the end…” she said, her tone still warm and friendly. “We’ve known each other for so long. I didn’t really do anything that harmful. Please don’t be so calculative with me. Fangnian’s father gave me a scolding that lasted several days already. Please, sis, don’t be angry at me anymore.”
Mrs. Yue had a disgusted expression. “Please, please, please. Please don’t pretend to know me when you don’t. Did you wrong me just once or twice? And what do you mean by you didn’t do anything that harmful? Don’t tell me you really wanted to create a ruckus and provoke me to kill you, then you’ll be happy?
“You’re speaking as though we were the best of friends once. Who are you and who am I? You better know your place. How dare you try to act all buddy-buddy with me now. You just want to bolster yourself, but I have no intention of soiling my reputation.”
Mrs. Yue tugged on Yan Qingsi and stalked off. “Qingsi, you must learn to see through some people,” she told her. “Some people are born rotten, and they are rotten. Worse still, they act like they’re a saint. Don’t follow my example—don’t be fooled like me.”
Yan Qingsi nodded her head. “I’ll remember that.”
Mrs. Yue pulled Yan Qingsi to leave while waving a hand at Yue Tingfeng, asking him to mingle around himself.
“Mom…” said Helan Xiuse, who had been standing quietly behind Mrs. Helan. “Don’t be angry.”
Mrs. Helan lifted her chin, flashing a wry smile. “Angry? Why should I be angry? I was never happier! Let her be this arrogant for a bit more; soon I’ll see how she sobs.”
Helan Fangnian sensed something amiss when he heard this. “Mom, what did you do?” he asked.
Mrs. Helan played with the hair curling at her temples. “Do what?” she said.
“What did you mean when you said that?”
Mrs. Helan smiled at him magnanimously. “Did I say anything? You must have heard me wrong, my son!”
Helan Fangnian had thought that his mother had genuinely wanted to make amends with Mrs. Yue. That was why he had steeled himself and brought Helan Xiuse to apologize. He never expected that his mother was… a leopard who never changed its spots.
Helan Fangnian only felt hurt and betrayed now. He had been manipulated by his own mother—his mother used that last strand of friendship between him and Yue Tingfeng, to make him invite Mrs. Yue over.
“Mom, I don’t care if you’ve used me but why do you have to mess up our relationship with Yue family? What is your final intention?”
Mrs. Helan’s expression suddenly turned vicious. “What do you know? All you did was give all your heart to an actress. You? My son? You’re practically useless now.”
Helan Xiuse bit on her lip. “Mom, don’t say that to Brother. His law firm is so established now,” she said. “Everyone says that he’s the best lawyer in Luo city. My brother is not… He’s not the trash you say he is.”
Mrs. Helan harrumphed indignantly. “None of you can be like me. I’ve already arranged everything perfectly. I’ll never forgive you if any of you dare to interfere with my plans.”
Anxiety spread over Helan Xiuse’s face. She tugged on Helan Fangnian’s hand. “Brother–Mom, she… she didn’t mean what she said about you. She’s angry…”
“I think she’s crazy.” Helan Fangnian’s features looked as though they were carved out of ice. “Xiuxiu, Mom loves you most,” he said, tone low. “What does she plan to do? Tell me.”
Helan Xiuse shook her head. “I… I don’t know. Mom didn’t tell me anything.”
“Do you really not know anything, Xiuxiu?” Helan Fangnian pressed on.
